cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Bringing story to life: for programmers, animators, VFX artists, and interactive designers

This course has been designed for technical directors, artists, animators, modelers, programmers, and designers whose work is essential in making "the story" come to life. This information can be particularly useful when communicating with screenwriters, directors, producers, and supervisors. This course answers the question "what is story?" Entertaining with numerous clips to show how this has been used in animation, games, and VFX. The purpose is to take the mystery out of "what is story" for those programmers, artists, and game designers whose work is essential in making Animation, VFX, and Games successful. The attendees will know the basic elements of story, so the next time a producer or director talk about what they want for the story, they will know what specific story benchmarks the producer/director are trying to meet in connecting emotionally with an audience. This course will build from the knowledge that story "is a sequence of events (acts) that builds to a climax...." and then lays out the universal elements of story that make up plot, character development, and narrative structure. This course emphasizes story elements in context (i.e. theme, character, setting, conflict etc.) and their relationship to classic story structure (i.e. setup, inciting incident, rising action, climax, resolution etc.). It analyzes conflict (i.e. internal, external, environmental), turning points, cause & effect, archetype vs stereotypes, inciting incident, and how choice defines character. In all stories there must be questions raised: What is at stake (i.e. survival, safety, love, esteem, etc.)? What is going to motivate (inciting incident) the main character (protagonist)? Will that be enough to move them from the ordinary (where they are comfortable) to go out into a different world (where the action takes place)?, and How will the character "change"(necessary for all dramatic stories)? These are just a few of the storytelling elements necessary to structure a solid story. This course is for all whose work makes the story better but their job isn't creating the story.
WinMagic: subquery elimination using window aggregation

Database queries often take the form of correlated SQL queries. Correlation refers to the use of values from the outer query block to compute the inner subquery. This is a convenient paradigm for SQL programmers and closely mimics a function invocation paradigm in a typical computer programming language. Queries with correlated subqueries are also often created by SQL generators that translate queries from application domain-specific languages into SQL. Another significant class of queries that use this correlated subquery form is that involving temporal databases using SQL. Performance of these queries is an important consideration particularly in large databases. Several proposals to improve the performance of SQL queries containing correlated subqueries can be found in database literature. One of the main ideas in many of these proposals is to suitably decorrelate the subquery internally to avoid a tuple-at-a-time invocation of the subquery. Magic decorrelation is one method that has been successfully used. Another proposal is to cache the portion of the subquery that is invariant with the changing values of the outer query block. What we propose here is a new technique to handle some typical correlated queries. We go a step further than to simply decorrelate the subquery. By making use of extended window aggregation capabilities, we eliminate redundant access to common tables referenced in the outer query block and the subquery. This technique can be exploited even for non-correlated subqueries. It is possible to get a huge boost in performance for queries that can exploit this technique, which we call WinMagic. This technique was implemented in IBM® DB2® Universal Database" Version 7 and Version 8. In addition to improving DB2 customer queries that contain aggregation subqueries, it has provided significant improvements in a number of TPCH benchmarks that IBM has published since late in 2001.
Caveats in BerEP4 staining to differentiate basal and squamous cell carcinoma.

Background: Superficial skin biopsies of basal cell carcinoma (BCC) represent some of the most common dermatopathology specimens. Superficial shave biopsies containing partial samples of lesions with squamatization present difficulties in distinguishing BCC from squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). BerEP4 has been employed as a dependable marker in differentiating between BCCs and SCCs. Methods: We collected 12 cases of superficial biopsies of BCC with centrally located cords and strands suggesting squamous differentiation at the Yale Dermatopathology Laboratory over a 3-month period and stained them with BerEP4. Results: We found that all cases (12 out of 12) showed membranous and cytoplasmic staining with BerEP4 in the obvious areas of basaloid differentiation at the periphery of the tumors, while cords and strands of enlarged cells with squamoid features in the center and surface of the biopsy failed to label with BerEP4. Conclusions: BerEP4 labeling is not reliable in superficial biopsies of BCC with squamoid features. It is important to be aware of this caveat in interpreting BerEP4 staining for BCC and SCC. Yu L, Galan A, McNiff JM. Caveats in BerEP4 staining to differentiate basal and squamous cell carcinoma.
Military logistics: simulation-based acquisition: an impetus for change

The military has recently introduced simulation-based acquisition where simulation technologies would be applied throughout all phases of system design, development, production and deployment. Originally, a four-phase approach was defined to reflect the sequential steps occurring from the initial conceptualization of the system to its eventual deployment. In this paper, the acquisition process is redefined as a collection of concurrent functions that may be iteratively implemented throughout the acquisition process. Potential applications for simulation in this enhanced acquisition process are discussed. In addition, the need for further simulation development is conveyed.
Studies of aluminum Schottky barrier gate annealing on GaAs FET structures

Abstract Controlled annealing experiments on special GaAs FET structures have been used to assess the integrity of Al/ n GaAs Schottky barrier gates. Metallurgical properties of the Al/ n GaAs interface were analyzed using microspot Auger electron spectroscopy. Results indicate interdiffusion between Al and GaAs at the baseline annealing temperature of 275°C. At this temperature the three terminal static FET parameters were unaffected by the annealing, but the two terminal gate/source static characteristic was somewhat improved over unannealed control FETs. Annealing the Al gate up to 450°C does not appear to be harmful to the gate/source two terminal static characteristic although at this temperature three terminal static FET characteristics are severely degraded. The Al/ n GaAs interface is assessed as being both metallurgically and electrically stable when employed in inert ambient environments up to 275°C for 24 hr.
Abstract B71: Decreased expression of Tgfβ family members appears to be an acquired phenotype of progression to malignancy in the context of loss of Brca1 in mammary epithelial cells.

B71 Rational Loss of full length Brca1 in mammary epithelial cells of conditional knockout mice is associated with an aberrant proliferative response to estrogen treatment promoting cancer progression. We had previously found that loss of full-length Brca1 in mammary epithelial cells was associated with decreased expression of Tgfβ family members at early stage of malignancy. Initial time course study was conducted to find if decreased expression of growth inhibitory Tgfβ family members is directly related to loss of Brca1 in mammary epithelial cells. Methods Mammary gland tissue of Brca1f/f;MMTV-Cre and control wild-type mice from different time points: prior to puberty (age 2½ weeks), mid-puberty (age 6 weeks), end of puberty (age 10 weeks) and maturity (4 and 6 months) was isolated at the time of necropsy(N=3 per cohort). RNA expression levels of TGF-β 1,2,3 and TGF-βRI, II were measured by real time RT-PCR. Results No significant differences in the expression levels of Tgfβ family members between Brca1f/f;MMTV-Cre and wild-type mice were found at these time-points using current number of samples. Conclusions Decreased expression of Tgfβ family members in these mice does not seem to be directly associated with loss of Brca1 in mammary epithelial cells and appears to be an acquired phenotype as part of the malignancy progression, which would suggest that it is due to modulation of other signaling pathways. Funding: This study was supported by U.S. Army Medical Research and Material Command WX81XWH-07-1-0588(S. A. and P. A. F.) and Bridges to the Doctorate NIGMS 1R25GM075360-01(S. K. M.). Citation Information: Cancer Prev Res 2008;1(7 Suppl):B71.
Using MRP and EOQ/Safety Stock for Raw Materials Inventory Control: Discussion and Case Study

The MRP and EOQ safety stock model approaches are reviewed relative to raw materials inventory control. Useful methods for developing order quantities, lead time demand distributions, and other parameters are presented. Ways to use and combine these approaches are considered. In conclusion, a case study in chemical process operation is presented.
Evidence for two separate opiate peptide neuronal systems

WHEN Hughes et al.1 first described the sequences of the enkephalins, they pointed out that methionine–enkephalin (met-enkephalin) could be found in β-lipotropin (β-LPH 61–65). The entire C-terminal fragment of β-LPH was subsequently found to have opiate-like properties (β-LPH 61–91 or β-endorphin)2–7, and it seemed reasonable to hypothesise that the primary biosynthetic route for met-enkephalin was β-LPH to β-endorphin and eventually to met-enkephalin. Although this hypothesis awaits biochemical evidence, immunocytochemical studies of these peptides may shed light on the question. If β-LPH and β-endorphin are, in fact, enkephalin precursors which are stored by enkephalinergic neurones, one would expect them to be visualised in met-enkephalin-positive cells. Several laboratories produced immunocytochemical maps of the distribution of enkephalin-like-immunoreactivity (enkephalin-reactivity) in mammalian brain8–11. Watson et al.12 demonstrated β-LPH-reactive cells and processes in rat brain. This β-LPH reactivity has the same distribution as β-endorphin-like-immunoreactivity (β-endorphin-reactivity) as reported by Bloom et al.13 and Watson et al.14. However, the distribution of the ) β-LPH/β-endorphin-reactive system on the one hand and the met-enkephalin-reactive system on the other seemed quite different. Met-enkephalin-reactivity was seen in many local cell groups throughout the neuraxis, especially the lower brain stem8–11, whereas β-LPH- and β-endorphin-reactivities were found only in a single hypothalamic cell group with long ascending and descending processes12–14. We present here biochemical and anatomical evidence for the existence of two separate opioid systems in brain—an enkephalin system and a β-LPH/β-endorphin system. We also present immunocytochemical data for the coexistence in the brain of ACTH with β-LPH/β-endorphin.
Differential effects of endothelin A and B receptor antagonism on fetal growth in normal and nitric oxide-deficient rats.

Objective:To determine the role of endothelin (ET) in fetal and placental growth in rats with and without long-term nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibition.Methods:Pregnant rats were treated with Nω...
The saga of the American soul

T was a little more than a year ago that I journeyed into the dustblown desert for the first time. A strange descent it was. I was at home in the North where the mountains and the arcane ponderosas offered reassurance after a day's drive through the hostile barrens of New Mexico and Northeastern Arizona. But as I plunged into the new wasteland, a strange uneasiness came over me. The Valley of the Sun was to be my dwelling place. I was going to live in the desert, work there, do my thinking and writing there. An unusual fate for a lifelong Pennsylvania German. It was a foreign and exotic land I was approaching. The desert in this part of the world is like no other desert. There was no feeling of violence and hostility. Even the tremendous heat of the descent into 118 degrees wasn't enough to smother my excitement. The majestic saguaro cactuses seemed to beckon me on with their gesturing arms. Make no mistake about it, there was fear, but it was mysterium fascinans and I could begin to understand how those ancient people we call Amerindians saw fit to inhabit these regions. I asked myself, what have I in common with this place? How could I be drawn to it, I who have spent many years as a child of the lush green mountains and valleys of Pennsylvania? Was there any affinity between my twentieth-century fascination and the response of the Hohokam, those ceremonial engineers or even the omniscient Hopis of the North? A Pennsylvania German is often silent; he is seldom loquacious. He does not tell all because it is forbidden. There is ancient wisdom, secret truth that cannot be expressed. The pietism and the philosophical idealism that came to America from Germany came as the heritage of common people, of the dispossessed. And there were ingredients in that pietism and idealism which have never been exposed in their fullness. Scholars of church history have expounded the themes from the standpoint of the triumph of a dominant orthodoxy, a victorious party. Other scholars have made their separate evaluations of mysticism and theosophy. But there was a kind of synthesis, an appropriation and adjustment, that no one has fully narrated. The story has not been told, because in some sense it reaches back into the darkness where no one can discern its radicality. But the story has also been neglected, because it has seemed to have had uncomfortable assumptions for the modern mind with its positivistic inclinations and its harsh rationalism. Nevertheless, the story has been there and its truth has been at work. What we call mysticism and theosophy have
Enhancement of Ferroelectric Polarization Stability by Interface Engineering

By using theoretical predictions based on first-principle calculations, we explore an interface engineering approach to stabilize polarization states in ferroelectric heterostructures with a thickness of just several nanometers.
The retarded Josephson equation

The retarded Josephson equation, which takes into account, in a simplified form, retardation effects of the Werthamer equation, is a nonlinear, nonsimultaneous, causal integrodifferential equation. It will be solved for kernels which are essentially the asymptotic kernels from BCS theory. Of physical interest are the rotational solutions, especially the characteristics and dynamics, which describe the steady state of a Josephson junction.
Stimulatory and inhibitory differentiation of human myeloid dendritic cells.

Abstract Dendritic cells (DCs) play a critical obligate role in presenting antigens to T cells for activation. In the process, upon antigen capture, DCs undergo maturation and become more stimulatory. Human myeloid DCs can be generated from various sources, including blood, bone marrow, and CD34 + stem cells. As such, plastic-adherent monocytes from circulation have served as a ready source for generating myeloid DCs in culture in granulocyte–macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and interleukin-4 (IL-4) for translational research in active specific immunotherapy, especially in cancer, with the belief that they are essentially stimulatory or “immunogenic.” Here we show that in vitro cultures of plastic-adherent circulating monocytes in GM-CSF and IL-4 followed by further maturation in interferon-γ plus bacterial superantigens (DC maturing agents) can give rise to two diametrically opposite types of DCs—one stimulatory and another inhibitory. The stimulatory DCs express higher amounts of costimulatory molecules, synthesize IL-12, and efficiently stimulate naive allogeneic T cells in mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR). The inhibitory DCs, in contrast, express lower concentrations of the critical costimulatory molecules, synthesize large amounts of IL-10, and are nonstimulatory in allogeneic primary MLR. Moreover, while the stimulatory DCs further amplify proliferation of T cells in lectin-driven proliferation assays, the inhibitory DCs totally block T cell proliferation in similar assays, in vitro. Most interestingly, neutralization of the endogenously derived IL-10 with anti-IL-10 antibody in DC cultures repolarizes the inhibitory DCs toward stimulatory phenotype. Accordingly, these observations have important implications in translational research involving myeloid DCs.
KSHV strains: the origins and global spread of the virus.

Nucleotide sequence analysis at five distinct loci across the 140, 000 bp genomes of more than 60 KSHV samples from KS and PEL tumors from North America, Africa, the Middle East, Asia and the Pacific revealed that they cluster into four major subtypes (A, B, C and D) that have close associations with the geographic and ethnic background of the patients. In particular, the ORF-K1 protein subtypes encoded at the extreme LHS of the genome display up to 30% amino acid variability resulting from 85% non-synonymous nucleotide substitution rates. In addition, two alternative highly diverged forms of the complex spliced ORF-K15 gene (P or M) map at the extreme RHS of the genome and are essentially unlinked to the ORF-K1 genotypes. We conclude that: (1) KSHV is an ancient human virus with several major subtypes that reflect the migrationary divergence of modern human populations over the past 35,000-60,000 years; (2) the novel immunoglobulin receptor-like signal transducing protein ORF-K1 is subject to unusually strong biological selective pressures; and (3) a minority of KSHV genomes have undergone recombination events with a related virus producing two different alleles of the ORF-K15 latency membrane protein.
Sectoral Ethos: An Investigation of the Personal Values Systems of Female and Male Managers in the Public and Private Sectors

The personal values systems of 884 public- and private-sector managers are compared. From that comparison inferences are drawn regarding the ethos of each sector, and potential implications for managers are discussed. Although the personal-values systems in the two sectors are quite similar, results reflect a public-sector ethos that is significantly higher in Delayed Gratification and Self-Expansion and a private-sector ethos that is significantly higher in Competence, Personal Orientation, and Family Security. In addition, this study furthers the view that the personal-values systems of male and female managers within a given employment sector are not significantly different.
Experimental pyelonephritis in dogs. Result of urinary infection and vesicoureteral reflux.

Abstract An experimental model of chronic pyelonephritis was produced in dogs due to the effect of urinary infection and reflux. The persistent urinary infection was spontaneous in our epiziotomized dogs, since induced bladder infection by inoculation of Escherichia coli failed to become persistent in 8 of the 10 dogs. After an average of 36.4 weeks of infection and refux, only the histopathologic evidence of chronic pyelonephritis was present.
Do the Luddites Ever Win

Advocates for traditional newspapers have recently been calling for a tax on Internet activities that would support paper-based journalism. Concerns about new technologies destroying the old aren't new, but do the "luddites" ever win?
Calculation of farfield distortion for a tilted-facet SOA

We explain the crescent-shaped farfield intensity distribution of tilted-facet semiconductor optical amplifiers (SOAs) using vector wave optics, and discuss implications for coupling to other optical elements.
Comparative studies on the hemoglobins of representative salamanders of the families Cryptobranchidae, Proteidae and Hynobiidae.

Abstract 1. 1. Properties of hemoglobins in the blood of the salamanders Cryptobranchus alleganiensis, Necturus maculosus and Hynobius tsuensis were examined by starch gel electrophoresis and peptide mapping. 2. 2. Multiple hemoglobin components were found in individual specimens of N. maculosus and H. tsuensis, but a single component was observed in C. alleganiensis. 3. 3. Sedimentation coefficients of 4·8 S were found for the N. maculosus and C. alleganiensis hemoglobins. 4. 4. Cryptobranchus hemolysates exhibited a relatively low oxygen affinity, a Hill constant of 2·7 and an absence of a Bohr effect at pH near neutrality whereas N. maculosus hemolysates showed a higher oxygen affinity, a Hill constant of 1·7 and a Bohr effect.
Investigating xylose metabolism in recombinant Saccharomyces cerevisiae via 13C metabolic flux analysis.

Background To engineer Saccharomyces cerevisiae for efficient xylose utilization, a fungal pathway consisting of xylose reductase, xylitol dehydrogenase, and xylulose kinase is often introduced to the host strain. Despite extensive in vitro studies on the xylose pathway, the intracellular metabolism rewiring in response to the heterologous xylose pathway remains largely unknown. In this study, we applied 13C metabolic flux analysis and stoichiometric modeling to systemically investigate the flux distributions in a series of xylose utilizing S. cerevisiae strains.
Sustaining Evidence-Based Practices by Graduated Special Educators of Students With ASD Creating a Community of Practice

Supporting special educators’ sustained use of evidence-based practices (EBPs) is a priority for the field. In this study, the authors used multiple measures to evaluate the first graduated cohort ...
Siliceous Tuff Clasts in the Upper Paleogene of Southern California

Pebbles, cobbles, and boulders of rhyolitic and other siliceous tuffs are abundant in upper Paleogene conglomerates that crop out along and near the California coast between Los Angeles and San Diego. Typical clasts are made up of feldspar and quartz crystals in a fine-grained groundmass that is nonporous and in large part crystalline, although relics of the clastic texture are usually present, and some examples contain ghosts of pumice fragments. Possible source rocks of similar lithology and more or less appropriate age include the Sidewinder Volcanics of the Mojave Desert, northeast of Los Angeles and 70 to 140 miles north of the conglomerate outcrops, and the Imuris Volcanics of northern Sonora, 400 miles southeast of San Diego. Petrographic and chemical differences between the conglomerate clasts and the Sidewinder Volcanics show that few, if any, of the clasts can have been derived from the Mojave Desert formation. The Imuris Volcanics are more similar but perhaps too young; moreover, they seem to require 140 to 165 miles of fluviatile transport, as well as 300 miles of strike-slip movement on the San Andreas and related faults, with separation of a hypothetical Peninsular-Sonoran batholith into a very large California-Baja California portion and a very small Sonora portion. Possibly the conglomerate clasts were derived from much nearer but now unavailable sources, either higher levels of the Peninsular Ranges of southern California (above the present erosion surface) or rocks down-faulted beneath the Salton Trough east of these ranges. Exceptional tuff-clast conglomerates at and near the base of the Rose Canyon Formation (middle Eocene), in the La Jolla section of San Diego, were probably fed from very close, perhaps southern, sources.
Discriminant Classification of Fish and Zooplankton Backscattering at 38 and 120 kHz

Abstract Acoustic scattering layers were evaluated for species classification by means of 38- and 120-kHz mean volume backscattering strength () collected during a 1995 acoustic–trawl survey of Pacific hake Merluccius productus off the west coasts of the United States and Canada. Scattering layers selected for analyses were shallower than 150 m and were analyzed with a −79-decibel (dB) integration threshold. Pacific hakes, euphausiids, and Pacific hake–euphausiid mixes dominated the layers. Other scatterers (unidentified, noneuphausiid, or non—Pacific hake sources) were included in the analyses. The overall mean volume backscatter difference (Δ = 120 kHz – 38 kHz) was computed for each species category, and results varied depending on the species composition of the scattering layer (i.e., Pacific hakes = −7.1 dB, euphausiids = 11.9 dB, Pacific hakes–euphausiids = 3.5 dB, and other species = 0.1 dB). Discriminant function analysis of 120 kHz and 38 kHz separated echoes originating from each of the dominant...
Men and Women: Equal in Accounting?

Abstract This article reports results of a study of differences between men and women enrolled in a college-level principles of accounting course. Factors previously found to be correlated with successful performance on accounting exams were compared by gender; no significant differences for exam-related variables were found. Nor were there any significant differences observed when performance on exams and grade point average were compared by gender. Analysis through a psychological testing instrument revealed some significant differences: Males saw themselves as confident, assertive, and self-sufficient, whereas females saw themselves as more sensitive to criticism, taking things personally, and more inwardly oriented. We concluded that the genders performed equally well in accounting; however, the psychological study raised the question of whether they would perform similarly in business environments.
Development Of Diamond Based Power Microelectronics

Diamond based power device structures such as resistor, capacitor, Schottky diode, p-n diode, thyristor, and field emitters are being investigated. Diamond resistors similar to standard thick film components in form and dimension were fabricated of polycrystalline diamond film. Using PECVD (plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition) processing to achieve diamond dielectric layers, high power, high energy density capacitors have been built. Despite grain boundaries and defects of polycrystalline diamond film, electronic devices such as field-effecttransistors and Schottky diodes have been developed. We have fabricated micro-patterned microtip arrays with this versatile new diamond technology as electron emitters. This paper will review diamond technology and results of this work.
Canonical Sequence Directed Tactics Analyzer for Computer Go Games

We present an approach used in CSDTA (canonical sequence directed tactics analyzer) that uses canonical sequences (Joseki) in hoping to improve computer Go programs. We collect 1278 canonical sequences and their deviations in our system. Instead of trivially matching the current game to the collected sequences, we define a notion of similarity to extract the most suitable move from the candidate sequences for the next move. The simplicity of our method and its positive outcome make our approach a promising tool to be integrated into a complete computer Go program for a foreseeable improvement
Student critiques and teaching visual sociology

(1986). Student critiques and teaching visual sociology. Visual Sociology: Vol. 1, No. 1, pp. 8-10.
MPI performance study on the SGI Origin2000

The SGI Origin 2000 is a MIPS R10000 based distributed shared memory (DSM) multiprocessor machine. This paper presents detailed performance analysis of the MPI implementation on this DSM system. Based on the measured performance data for inter-processor communication (IPC), this paper describes a model for the IPC performance behavior. In addition, the performance for collective communication such as broadcast/reduction and gather/scatter is discussed. The performance impact of data moving distance and network contention on this machine is also addressed in this paper.
The insulin-like growth factor system and the coupling of formation to resorption.

In the adult skeleton, bone formation is regulated by an event referred to as the coupling of formation to resorption (i.e., formation is linked to resorption), which is thought to be mediated in part by locally produced growth factors. Although human bone cells produce and human bones contain a variety of growth factors, there is sufficient evidence to document an important role for the insulin-like growth factor (IGF) system in mediating this coupling process in bone. Studies on the basic aspects of the IGF system in bone reveal that it is complex and involves a number of components which include the IGF-binding proteins (IGFBPs; mainly IGFBP-3, -4, and -5), specific extracellular IGFBP proteases, and receptors (types 1 and 2). Based on recent experimental evidence from a number of laboratories, we propose the following models of IGF action on the regulation of the coupled increase in bone formation in response to bone resorption: (1) IGF release from bone during bone resorption promotes osteoblasts to initiate cavity refilling; (2) IGF production by osteoclasts creates a population of osteoblasts in proportion to the volume of bone tissue resorbed; and (3) IGF production by stromal cells and osteoblasts predominantly regulates the extent of cavity refill. The amount of growth factor production by osteoblasts and contemporary cells of osteoblast lineage can be further controlled by both systemic and local factors which together determine the eventual level of fill-in of the resorption cavity.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Scanning acoustic microscopy investigation of frequency-dependent reflectance of acid- etched human dentin using homotopic measurements

Composite restorations in modern restorative dentistry rely on the bond formed in the adhesive-infiltrated acid-etched dentin. The physical characteristics of etched dentin are, therefore, of paramount interest. However, characterization of the acid-etched zone in its natural state is fraught with problems stemming from a variety of sources including its narrow size, the presence of water, heterogeneity, and spatial scale dependency. We have developed a novel homotopic (same location) measurement methodology utilizing scanning acoustic microscopy (SAM). Homotopic measurements with SAM overcome the problems encountered by other characterization/imaging methods. These measurements provide us with acoustic reflectance at the same location of both the pre- and post-etched dentin in its natural state. We have applied this methodology for in vitro measurements on dentin samples. Fourier spectra from acid-etched dentin showed amplitude reduction and shifts of the central frequency that were location dependent. Through calibration, the acoustic reflectance of acid-etched dentin was found to have complex and non-monotonic frequency dependence. These data suggest that acid-etching of dentin results in a near-surface graded layer of varying thickness and property gradations. The measurement methodology described in this paper can be applied to systematically characterize mechanical properties of heterogeneous soft layers and interfaces in biological materials.
Optimized device design for radiation resistant and high dislocation solar cells for space

Electron and proton-induced point defects as well as extended crystalline defects (e.g. dislocations or grain boundaries) cause reduction of minority carrier diffusion length which in turn results in solar cell efficiency degradation. For hetero-epitaxial or metamorphic III–V devices dislocation densities have to be below 106 cm−2 to obtain highest BOL efficiencies, yet EOL efficiency optimization, which favors thinner cell designs, synergistically yield to more defect tolerant devices. In this work and within the framework of the GaAs-archetype solar cell material system we have computed the efficiencies as function of the combined effect of dislocation densities, radiation doses (1 MeV equivalent electrons) and device emitter and base design (doping-thickness) and show that by implementing an appropriate design EOL efficiencies for highly dislocated devices can be significantly improved over that of a conventionally designed state of the art defect free device.
Semi-fluorinated phosphonic acids form stable nanoscale clusters in Langmuir–Blodgett and self-assembled monolayers

We compared molecular monolayers of semifluorinated phosphonic acids (F8H11PO3, F10H6PO3, F8H8PO3, and F6H10PO3) on mica substrates prepared by two different methods: Langmuir–Blodgett (LB) transfer of pre-formed monolayers from the air–water interface, and self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) formed spontaneously at the interface between mica and solution (with tetrahydrofuran as the solvent). The films were investigated with atomic force microscopy (AFM) and contact angle measurements. Nanometer-scale two-dimensional (2D) clusters (20–30 nm in size) were observed in both the LB films and the SAMs. Time-dependent AFM images suggested that for SAMs derived from F8H11PO3, F8H8PO3, and F6H10PO3, small clusters nucleated, but stopped growing once a stable size was reached. In situAFM images suggested that the clusters were dome-shaped. The LB monolayer structures were consistent with those of the SAMs, but with greater long-range order of the clusters in some cases. For SAMs derived from F10H6PO3, however, long immersion times led to continued growth and coalescence of the 2D clusters and formation of a flat, untextured monolayer. Similarly, LB films generated from F10H6PO3 exhibited cluster coalescence. The similarity of the observed structures in LB films and SAMs suggests that these nanostructured films represent an equilibrium state based on intrinsic self-organization of the semifluorinated molecules, even in SAMs, where mobility is significantly restricted at the solid–liquid interface. Based on these observations, we hypothesize that the packing incommensurability between the hydrocarbon and fluorocarbon blocks leads to splay of neighboring chains and spontaneous curvature. However, when intermolecular interactions are dominated by a long fluorocarbon block, there is a transition to a flat structure, where the packing mismatch is compensated for by increased disorder within the hydrocarbon block.
New techniques for geographic routing

As wireless sensor networks continue to grow in size, we are faced with the prospect of emerging wireless networks with hundreds or thousands of nodes. Geographic routing algorithms are a promising alternative to tradition ad hoc routing algorithms in this new domain for point-to-point routing, but deployments of such algorithms are currently uncommon because of some practical difficulties. This dissertation explores techniques that address two major issues in the deployment of geographic routing algorithms: (i) the costs associated with distributed planarization and (ii) the unavailability of location information. We present and evaluate two new algorithms for geographic routing: Greedy Distributed Spanning Tree Routing (GDSTR) and Greedy Embedding Spring Coordinates (GSpring). Unlike previous geographic routing algorithms which require the planarization of the network connectivity graph, GDSTR switches to routing on a spanning tree instead of a planar graph when packets end up at dead ends during greedy forwarding. To choose a direction on the tree that is most likely to make progress towards the destination, each GDSTR node maintains a summary of the area covered by the subtree below each of its tree neighbors using convex hulls. This distributed data structure is called a hull tree. GDSTR not only requires an order of magnitude less bandwidth to maintain these hull trees than CLDP, the only distributed planarization algorithm that is known to work with practical radio networks, it often achieves better routing performance than previous planarization-based geographic routing algorithms. GSpring is a new virtual coordinate assignment algorithm that derives good coordinates for geographic routing when location information is not available. Starting from a set of initial coordinates for a set of elected perimeter nodes, GSpring uses a modified spring relaxation algorithm to incrementally adjust virtual coordinates to increase the convexity of voids in the virtual routing topology. This reduces the probability that packets will end up in dead ends during greedy forwarding, and improves the routing performance of existing geographic routing algorithms. The coordinates derived by GSpring yield comparable routing performance to that for actual physical coordinates and significantly better performance than that for NoGeo, the best existing algorithm for deriving virtual coordinates for geographic routing. Furthermore, GSpring is the first known algorithm that is able to derive coordinates that achieve better geographic routing performance than actual physical coordinates for networks with obstacles. (Copies available exclusively from MIT Libraries, Rm. 14-0551, Cambridge, MA 02139-4307. Ph. 617-253-5668; Fax 617-253-1690.)
Gantry angulation in CT-guided percutaneous adrenal biopsy.

This study was performed to test a new method for CT-guided adrenal biopsy using angulation of the CT gantry.In 23 patients, 26 biopsies were performed on patients in the prone position using CT gantry angulation and the introduction of the biopsy needles along the same angle, guided by the gantry locating light. The use of angulation ensured a safe needle path that avoided vital structures, such as the pleura, while monitoring of the needle course and its tip on one or two CT slices.Twenty-two of 23 adrenal masses (96%) were successfully biopsied without complications. Fifteen (65%) of the target masses were 1.5 cm or smaller.Using an angled gantry during percutaneous biopsy is a safe and preferred method over other techniques for biopsy of adrenal masses and can be used easily for small adrenal masses.
KILLING OF SCHISTOSOMA MANSONI SPOROCYSTS BY HEMOCYTES FROM RESISTANT BIOMPHALARIA GLABRATA: ROLE OF REACTIVE OXYGEN SPECIES

The fate of Schistosoma mansoni (Trematoda) sporocysts in its molluscan host Biomphalaria glabrata (Gastropoda) is determined by circulating phagocytes (hemocytes). When the parasite invades a resistant snail, it is attacked and destroyed by hemocytes, whereas in a susceptible host it remains unaffected. We used 3 inbred strains of B. glabrata: 13-16-R1 and 10-R2, which are resistant to the PR-1 strain of S. mansoni, and M-line Oregon (MO), which is susceptible to PR-1. In an in vitro killing assay using plasma-free hemocytes from these strains, the rate of parasite killing corresponded closely to the rate by which S. mansoni sporocysts are killed in vivo. Hemocytes from resistant snails killed more than 80% of S. mansoni sporocysts within 48 hr, whereas sporocyst mortality in the presence of hemocytes from susceptible snails was <10%. Using this in vitro assay, we assessed the involvement of reactive oxygen species (ROS) produced by resistant hemocytes, during killing of S. mansoni sporocysts. Inhibition...
Energy and economic losses due to soiling on utility scale PV system to guide timing of cost effective cleaning

The cost benefit analysis of when to wash a solar system and how often is an important consideration for solar PV system operators. This paper discusses two site specific methods for owners to cost effectively determine suitable timings of module washings. One method uses IV curve tracing on test panels while the other uses direct measurement of energy production on control and system panels. Through a specific California based case study it is shown that both methods can provide details that will give the operator greater confidence that the choice to clean is a cost effective decision.
A simple computational electromagnetic analysis example of electromagnetic coupling to pyro circuits

Analysis of electromagnetic coupling to pyro circuits with the objective of preventing adverse effects such as unintentional firing, have been studied in the past using a variety of analytical approaches. It is proposed that a much simpler and faster approach, based on computational electromagnetics, can provide similar results. A portion of a pyro MOSFET circuit is first examined addressing failure modes within the design that can unintentionally fire a pyro device if adverse electromagnetic fields of sufficient strength are present. The electrical conditions that also contribute for the pyro circuits to fire unintentionally are also discussed. Finally, the method of moments is used to address the field-to wire coupling scenario and to find if the necessary induced voltages within the pyro circuits are sufficient for a firing condition.
Overcoming Organizational Challenges of Integrating Patient-Reported Outcomes in Oncology Clinical Trials:

Patients with cancer frequently experience multiple symptoms that may cause significant distress and may impair physical, emotional, and social functioning and health-related quality of life. Drug development in oncology is characterized by a high attrition rate of new compounds, faster development times encouraged by the regulatory process, studies that are often open and single-arm, and emphasis on survival-related endpoints, creating unique challenges for the inclusion of patient reported outcomes (PROs). These challenges to include PRO-related endpoints in oncology research are further exacerbated by downward pressure on budget and resources and also an overly rigorous application of the US Food and Drug Administration’s PRO guidance, which can in turn prevent study teams from optimally including PROs in oncology clinical trials. With increasing calls for demonstration of value of new cancer drugs from payers, patients, and their caregivers, study teams should consider the utility of PROs beyond regulatory needs. Optimal implementation of a PRO strategy in oncology research can be achieved by applying the PRO guidance to the greatest extent possible, making use of off-the-shelf PRO measures to capture concepts of interest, discussing plans with the regulatory bodies early in the process, and treating PRO-related endpoints with the same level of rigor as other endpoints.
Dynamical preparation of Floquet Chern insulators

Realizing topological insulators is of great current interest because of their remarkable properties and possible future applications. There are recent proposals based on Floquet analyses that one can generate topologically non-trivial insulators by periodically driving topologically trivial ones. Here we address what happens if one follows the dynamics in such systems. Specifically, we present an exact study of the time evolution of a graphene-like system subjected to a circularly polarized electric field. We prove that for infinite (translationally invariant) systems the Chern number is conserved under unitary evolution. For systems with boundaries, on the other hand, we show that a properly defined topological invariant, the Bott index, can change. Hence, it should be possible to experimentally prepare topological states starting from non-topological ones. We show that the chirality of the edge current in such systems can be controlled by adjusting the filling.
Truth In Accounting: Dont Let It Die

Truth in Accounting, it seems to have a nice ring to it. Managed Earnings, this does not sound so good to us. This paper is about what is happening in the Accounting world and what needs to be done and by whom. This document highlights current and past events, such as Enron, Continental Vending and others, that have neglected to perpetuate truth in accounting.
Noninvasively Measured Hemoglobin Concentration Reflects Arterial Hemoglobin Concentration Before but Not After Cardiopulmonary Bypass in Patients Undergoing Coronary Artery or Valve Surgery.

Objective This study compared noninvasively measured hemoglobin and arterial hemoglobin before and after cardiopulmonary bypass in patients undergoing coronary artery or valve surgery. Design Observational study with retrospective data analysis. Setting Veterans Affairs hospital. Participants Thirty-five men. Interventions None. Measurements and Main Results Hemoglobin values were measured noninvasively by co-oximetry to corresponding arterial hemoglobin concentrations taken at clinically relevant time points chosen at the discretion of the cardiac anesthesiologist. Thirty-five and 27 pooled pairs of data were obtained before and after cardiopulmonary bypass, respectively. Arterial hemoglobin concentration was analyzed using i-STAT CG8+test cartridges routinely used in the authors’ operating rooms and those of other institutions. Linear regression and Bland-Altman analysis revealed a significant positive bias, wide limits of agreement, and low correlation coefficients between the noninvasive and arterial hemoglobin measurements. These findings were especially notable after compared with before cardiopulmonary bypass. Conclusions The results suggested that noninvasive measurement of hemoglobin overestimates arterial hemoglobin by almost 1 g/dL when compared to iSTAT. A lack of precision also was observed with noninvasive measurement of hemoglobin, especially after cardiopulmonary bypass. These findings supported the contention that sole reliance on noninvasive measurement of hemoglobin for transfusion decisions in cardiac surgery patients may be inappropriate.
LACTIC DEHYDROGENASE ISOZYMES DURING DEVELOPMENT OF AZO DYE TUMORS.

SummaryDuring the administration of the hepatocarcinogen 3‘-methyl-4-dimethyl-aminobenzene changes occurred in the distribution of lactic dehydrogenase isozymes in rat liver. This new pattern persisted in those animals which were maintained on the carcinogenic diet until tumors developed. If animals were removed from the carcinogenic diet early enough to prevent the ultimate formation of tumors the altered pattern soon reverted to “normal” in most cases. However, if animals were removed from the carcinogenic diet too late to prevent the ultimate formation of tumors the altered pattern was still in evidence after these animals developed tumors.
Quantitative Analysis of Bis(tri-n-butyltin) Oxide in Cultured Fresh Fish by High Performance Liquid Chromatography

A simple method was developed for quantitative analysis of bis(tri-n-butyltin) oxide (TBTO) in cultured fresh fish by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The sample was decomposed with alkaline alcohol and TBTO was converted into tri-n-butyltin chloride (TBTC), which was then purified by a cation exchange method. TBTC was determined by HPLC with a cation exchange column and an ultraviolet absorption detector.The recoveries of TBTO added to the muscle of yellowtail and sea bream at the level of 2ppm were 87±4 and 87±3%, respectively, and that of TBTO added to the muscle of spanish mackerel at the level of 0.2ppm was 90±5%. The detection limit of TBTO was 0.1ppm.The concentrations of TBTO in cultured fresh fishes could be easily quantified by this method.
Abstract LB-379: IL-4 induces cathepsin protease activity in tumor-associated macrophages to promote cancer growth and invasion

Proceedings: AACR 101st Annual Meeting 2010‐‐ Apr 17‐21, 2010; Washington, DC Innate immune cells can constitute a substantial proportion of the cells within the tumor microenvironment and have been associated with tumor malignancy in patients and animal models of cancer; however, the mechanisms by which they modulate cancer progression are incompletely understood. Here, we show that high levels of cathepsin protease activity are induced in the majority of macrophages in the microenvironment of pancreatic islet cancers, mammary tumors and lung metastases during malignant progression. We further show that tumor-associated macrophage (TAM)-supplied cathepsins B and S are critical for promoting pancreatic tumor growth, angiogenesis and invasion in vivo, and markedly enhance the invasiveness of cancer cells in culture. Finally, we demonstrate that interleukin (IL)-4 is responsible for inducing cathepsin activity in macrophages in vitro and in vivo. Together, these data establish IL-4 as an important regulator, and cathepsin proteases as critical mediators, of the cancer-promoting functions of TAMs. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr LB-379.