cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Perovskite oxides for visible-light-absorbing ferroelectric and photovoltaic materials

Most known ferroelectric photovoltaic materials have very wide electronic bandgaps (that is, they absorb only high-energy photons) but here a family of perovskite oxides is described that have tunable bandgaps, allowing their use across the whole visible-light spectrum. The spontaneous electrical polarization that characterizes a ferroelectric material is attractive for solar-cell applications as the positive and negative charges generated by light absorption have a natural tendency to separate, making them easier to harvest efficiently. Unfortunately most known ferroelectrics have wide electronic bandgaps — that is they absorb only higher energy photons that make up a small fraction of the solar spectrum. Ilya Grinberg and colleagues now show that a classic ferroelectric can be chemically engineered to tune the bandgap over a broad range, achieving strong absorption and photocurrent generation across the solar spectrum. Ferroelectrics have recently attracted attention as a candidate class of materials for use in photovoltaic devices, and for the coupling of light absorption with other functional properties1,2,3,4,5,6,7. In these materials, the strong inversion symmetry breaking that is due to spontaneous electric polarization promotes the desirable separation of photo-excited carriers and allows voltages higher than the bandgap, which may enable efficiencies beyond the maximum possible in a conventional p–n junction solar cell2,6,8,9,10. Ferroelectric oxides are also stable in a wide range of mechanical, chemical and thermal conditions and can be fabricated using low-cost methods such as sol–gel thin-film deposition and sputtering3,5. Recent work3,5,11 has shown how a decrease in ferroelectric layer thickness and judicious engineering of domain structures and ferroelectric–electrode interfaces can greatly increase the current harvested from ferroelectric absorber materials, increasing the power conversion efficiency from about 10−4 to about 0.5 per cent. Further improvements in photovoltaic efficiency have been inhibited by the wide bandgaps (2.7–4 electronvolts) of ferroelectric oxides, which allow the use of only 8–20 per cent of the solar spectrum. Here we describe a family of single-phase solid oxide solutions made from low-cost and non-toxic elements using conventional solid-state methods: [KNbO3]1 − x[BaNi1/2Nb1/2O3 − δ]x (KBNNO). These oxides exhibit both ferroelectricity and a wide variation of direct bandgaps in the range 1.1–3.8 electronvolts. In particular, the x = 0.1 composition is polar at room temperature, has a direct bandgap of 1.39 electronvolts and has a photocurrent density approximately 50 times larger than that of the classic ferroelectric (Pb,La)(Zr,Ti)O3 material. The ability of KBNNO to absorb three to six times more solar energy than the current ferroelectric materials suggests a route to viable ferroelectric semiconductor-based cells for solar energy conversion and other applications.
Calibration of LiBaF3:Ce scintillator for fission spectrum neutrons☆

Abstract The scintillator LiBaF 3 doped with small amounts of Ce +3 has the ability to distinguish heavy charged particles (p, d, t, or α) from beta and/or gamma radiation based on the presence or absence of nanosecond components in the scintillation light output. Since the neutron capture reaction on 6 Li produces recoil alphas and tritons, this scintillator also discriminates between neutron induced events and beta or gamma interactions. An experimental technique using a time-tagged 252 Cf source has been used to measure the efficiency of this scintillator for neutron capture, the calibration of neutron capture pulse height, and the pulse height resolution—all as a function of incident neutron energy.
Activation of C‐jun N‐terminal kinase/stress‐activated protein kinase in primary glial cultures

Glial cells in the mammalian CNS are subject to environmental stress resulting from a variety of neuro-pathological conditions. In this study, we have examined the activation of a stress signal responsive kinase, i.e., stress-activated protein kinase (SAPK) or c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), in primary cultures of rat brain glial cells (i.e., astrocytes and oligodendrocytes) and an oligodendrocyte progenitor cell line, CG4, in response to cytokines and other stress inducers. JNK/SAPK activity was measured by an immune complex kinase assay using polyclonal anti-JNK antibodies along with GST c-Jun (1-79) as the substrate. Among the cytokines tested, TNF-alpha had the strongest effect on JNK activation followed by TNF-beta in both the glial cell types while a substantial level of kinase activation was observed in response to IL-1 in astrocytes. JNK activation by TNF-alpha in astrocytes, but not in oligodendrocytes, showed a biphasic response. An in-gel kinase assay of cell extracts and immunoprecipitated JNK confirmed the activation of JNK1 in cells treated with TNF-alpha. JNK was also activated by several other stress-inducing factors including. UV light, heat shock, inhibitors of protein synthesis, and mechanical injury. Incubation of cells with bacterial sphingomyelinase and a cell-permeable ceramide stimulated JNK activity, suggesting that the ceramide pathway may play a role in JNK activation, although the time course of activation did not correspond to that of TNF-alpha. The results are discussed in terms of possible roles of JNK activation in signaling for gliosis in astrocytes and as a protective/toxic response in oligodendrocytes.
Extrinsic silicon detectors for 3–5 and 8–14 μm

Abstract In support of system applications which operate in the 3–5 and 8–14 μm spectral ranges, high performance doped silicon detectors are desired to allow for the integration of detectors and silicon electronics on the same substrate. For the 8–14 μm range, detectors were prepared using aluminum, gallium, bismuth and magnesium as dopants which operate in the liquid neon temperature (27°K) range. For the 3–5μm range, detectors were prepared using indium, sulphur and thallium as dopants which operate in the liquid nitrogen temperature (78° K) range. The spectral and temperature characteristics of these detectors are presented. Background limited performance (∼30° FOV) is demonstrated for Si:Al. Si:Ga. and Si:Bi up to temperatures of about 30°K. Background limited performance (∼30° FOV) is demonstrated for Si:In and Si:S up to temperatures of approximately 60 and 75°K respectively. The data gives a good fit with theory based on background and temperature limitations. The performance of the Si:Mg detector is limited by a shallow unidentified energy level while that of the Si:TI detector is limited, at present, by low responsivity.
A Hopf bifurcation in a parabolic free boundary problem

Abstract The occurrence of a Hopf bifurcation in a free boundary problem for a parabolic partial differential equation is investigated. The bifurcation parameter τ is contained in the equation which describes the evolution of the free boundary. The problem investigated in this paper arises as the singular limit of a system of reaction-diffusion equations with McKean reaction dynamics. Numerical evidence is examined, which shows the emergence of periodic steady states for small positive values of τ. A regularization of the problem is introduced, making it possible to deal with the Heaviside discontinuity in the reaction term, and well-posedness of the free boundary problem is obtained by application of results from the theory of nonlinear evolution equations to the regularized problem. It is then shown that a pair of complex eigenvalues of the linearized problem crosses the imaginary axis as τ → 0, and the existence of a Hopf bifurcation is proved, using an implicit function theorem argument.
Sediment and eggshell interactions: using abrasion to assess transport in fossil eggshell accumulations

Recent excavation at the Late Cretaceous Egg Mountain locality in Montana revealed abundant Spheroolithus eggshell fragments. The depositional history of the fragments is problematic due to the vertical dispersal of eggshell in homogeneous mudstone. The results of previous studies assessing eggshell transport are based on thin, modern eggshell occurring on well-defined horizons. Therefore, the assessment of depositional history required a different method. Chicken (Gallus gallus domesticus) and ostrich (Struthio camelus) eggshells were placed in a tumbler with water and quartz sand for 168–504 h to simulate transport. The resulting wear on these fragments, revealed under scanning electron microscope, was compared to unabraded eggshell. In addition, the modern eggshell was compared to fossil eggshells from a nesting site, crevasse splay and channel deposits, and Egg Mountain. Fossil eggshells from high-energy paleoenvironments display similar edge rounding to modern eggshell placed in the tumbler. In contr...
A regression method for the Monte Carlo evaluation of multidimensional integrals

An investigation is made of some Monte Carlo estimators particularly suited to the application of regression analysis. Sets of estimators are presented which integrate exactly multivariate polynomials of prescribed degree. Application to a number of test integrals shows that economical and accurate results can be obtained as well as reliable error estimates. A comparison is made with some other methods.
Coffee in Safavid Iran: Commerce and Consumption

Cet historique du cafe dans l'Iran de la dynastie Sefevide porte sur 2 points essentiels: -l'etude des routes maritimes du cafe vers les ports du Golfe Persique, et d'un point de vue general son commerce -l'examen des aspects socio-economiques et politiques du developpement de sa consommation.
Effect of oil in multiphase flow on corrosion product film in large horizontal pipeline

The properties of corrosion product film formed on carbon steel pipelines under saltwater-oil-CO2 multiphase flow are examined by AC impedance methods. Experiments are performed in a 101.6 cm I.D., 10 m long pipeline. Experimental results show that there are two reactions on the steel surface in saltwater-oil mixture. One is charge transfer, and the other is diffusion. By calculation of charge transfer resistance, Rt, and Warburg impedance coefficient, σ, it is found that, Rt in saltwater-oil mixture is much higher than that in saltwater. In saltwater-oil mixture, Rt and σ increase with immersion time. It is suggested that the porous corrosion film occurs on the surface of the steel, and that the film becomes compact when the immersion time increases. The longer the exposure time, the more compact the film, resulting in that the corrosion rate becomes lower. Der Einflus von Ol in Mehrphasenstromungen auf den Korrosionsproduktfilm in grosen horizontalen Rohrleitungen Die Eigenschaften des Korrosionsproduktfilmes, der sich an Rohrleitungen aus unlegiertem Stahl in Salzwasser-Ol-CO2- Mehrphasenstromungen bildet, wurde mit Hilfe von AC Impedanz-Methoden untersucht. Die Versuche erfolgten in einer 10 m langen Rohrleitung mit einem Innendurchmesser von 101,6 mm. Die experimentellen Ergebnisse zeigen, das es auf der Stahloberflache in der Salzwasser-Ol-Mischung zwei Reaktionen gibt: den Ladungstransport und die Diffusion. Durch Berechnung des Ladungstransportwiderstandes, Rt, und des Warburg-Impedanzkoeffizienten, σ, wurde festgestellt, das Rt in der Salzwasser-Ol-Mischung wesentlich hoher ist als im Salzwasser. In der Salzwasser-Ol-Mischung steigen Rt und σ mit der Tauchdauer an. Es wird angenommen, das sich der auf der Stahloberflache bildende porose Korrosionsfilm mit zunehmender Tauchdauer verdichtet. Je langer die Auslagerungszeit umso kompakter wird der Film, was zu einer verminderten Korrosionsgeschwindigkeit fuhrt.
A flexible dispatching rule for minimizing tardiness in job shop scheduling

Abstract In this paper, a dispatching rule called the Weight Biased Modified RRrule is developed that minimizes the mean tardiness of weighted jobs in an m-machine job shop, i.e. J m | r i , recrc | ∑ i T ik where Tik denotes the tardiness of those jobs with weight greater than a specified threshold level k. It is a significant extension of the RRrule in that it has linear complexity and considers weighted jobs. In addition, the WBMR rule allows for biasing of the schedule towards meeting the deadline of high priority jobs through the tuning of a single parameter, where such an effect is quantified by evaluating tardiness at different truncation thresholds. Numerical testing demonstrates the ability of the WBMR to outperform other traditional rules at various congestion and due-date tightness levels.
Rethinking of risk communication: lessons from the decision sciences

Risk communication involves three primary elements: process, content and intent. Much has been written about the first two. Much is known, for example, about the guiding principles that should be considered during the design of a risk communication. Likewise, many studies have been conducted about how best to establish the technical and informational content of a risk communication. Very little attention, by contrast, has been devoted to the intent of risk communication, which is to inform decision making for risk management. While appropriate information upon which to base risk management decisions is important, so to is an understanding of how people instinctively approach decision making under conditions of risk. Work in the decision sciences provides this often-missing perspective for many risk communication efforts and is, therefore, the focus of this paper.
A morphologic and histochemical study of three oxidative enzymes in the hamster submandibular gland

Abstract Several oxidative enzymes have been examined histochemically in the normal adult hamster submandibular gland. Patterns and levels of activity of succinic dehydrogenase, diphosphopyridine nucleotide diaphorase and triphosphopyridine nucleotide diaphorase were recorded. Strikingly different patterns of activity were found with each of the three enzymes. In general, ductal cells exhibited more intense enzyme activity than acinar cells. Characteristic staining of different intralobular segments was observed with each enzyme. These findings indicate a probable functional specificity of the various cell types.
Transnationalism and Development: Mexican and Chinese Immigrant Organizations in the United States

The literature on development in economics and sociology has tended to focus on capital flows, investments, and, more recently, institutions as key causal factors. International migration, when discussed, is relegated to the status of a symptom of underdevelopment and even a factor contributing to it. The more recent literature on migrant remittances has partially reversed this view by documenting large hard currency transfers made by expatriates to their home countries. This changed approach to migration and development does not go far enough because it does not take into account the organized efforts of immigrant communities themselves. Nor does it consider important developmental synergies produced by the rising interactions between immigrant organizations and sending-country governments. Using data from a recently completed comparative study, we document these processes for two major countries of out-migration—Mexico and China. The study compiled inventories of migrant organizations from both countries in the United States, interviewed leaders of the major ones, and complemented these data with interviews with officials and community leaders in each sending country. Profiles of these transnational ties were constructed, exemplifying their increasing density and developmental impact at the local and national levels. Theoretical and policy implications of the findings are discussed.
THE EFFECT OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN OLD AGE PENSION ON LABOUR SUPPLY OF THE ELDERLY

In this paper, we estimate the effect of the means tested South African Old Age Pension on labour supply amongst the elderly African subpopulation in South Africa. We find significant decreases in employment rates and labour supply. Those who remain employed beyond the pensionable age are more likely to work in jobs with flexible hours of work, and work even fewer hours than people in similar jobs who are not pension age-eligible. Our results suggest that governments do need to consider the labour supply related incentives provided via its various welfare programmes.
Early Dutch Travel Writing on Africa

The unexpected stance of humility is explored in accounts written by Dutch travellers to Africa in the early modern period, showing that the emphasis is on trade, on a rational exchange of goods between equal partners, rather than on exploitation or conquest. This focus is considered to be the sign of a new identity the Dutch were creating for themselves as an honest, virtuous, Calvinist people trying to repel Roman-Catholic corruption and tyranny. The travel accounts of Pieter de Marees and Pieter van den Broecke are given as examples of this mix of biased and egalitarian attitudes, and their distinctive contribution to European Africanist writing is explored in order to show how early Dutch attitudes toward the other combined a sense of superiority with a discourse of openness, fairness and innocence.
Treatment options to optimize display of anterior dental esthetics in the patient with the aged lip.

Purpose With aging a number of predictable changes occur in the upper and lower lips that act to mask otherwise esthetic dental procedures including dental implants, gingival esthetic surgery, and optimal dental restorations. The purpose of this article is to show how lip modification can be used to enhance the esthetic appearance of the patient, with specific attention to esthetic dental smile line characteristics. Method Proper evaluation and diagnosis of senile lip changes, such as lip atrophy, loss of lip architecture, and lip lengthening lead to a reliable treatment plan that provides a more esthetic frame to view the oral aperture. Treatment options will be discussed that act to reverse these problems. Directed lip augmentation procedures are used to correct loss of lip volume and architecture. The subnasal lip lift technique is presented as a method to correct lip lengthening. Risks and limitations of these procedures are addressed. Conclusion Safe and reliable methods are presented that can improve and rejuvenate the lip complex, thus allowing for optimal display of dental esthetics.
The Classification of Orofacial Pains

This article highlights the process of making the proper orofacial pain diagnosis. A classification is presented based on the clinical characteristics of the pain complaint and the structure by which it emanates. It is meant to serve as a road map for the clinician, which will help him or her establish the correct diagnosis, thereby allowing the selection of the proper treatment.
Cognitive Ability and Delinquent Behavior among Inner-City Youth: A Life-Course Analysis of Main, Mediating, and Interaction Effects

Drawing on the emerging life-course paradigm in criminological theory, this study examines the relationship between cognitive ability and delinquent behavior within a sample of inner-city youth. The results indicate that net of statistical controls, cognitive ability maintains a robust inverse relationship with the likelihood of the onset of delinquency, the early onset of delinquency, and the persistence of delinquency during the 18-year period covered by the dataset. Furthermore, cognitive ability mediates the effect of concentrated disadvantage on both the onset and early onset of delinquency. Overall, the results of this study suggest that cognitive ability is an important criminogenic risk factor that has important implications for both correctional interventions and the continued development of structural and multilevel theories of crime.
Estimating the Global Prevalence of Inadequate Zinc Intake from National Food Balance Sheets: Effects of Methodological Assumptions

Background The prevalence of inadequate zinc intake in a population can be estimated by comparing the zinc content of the food supply with the population’s theoretical requirement for zinc. However, assumptions regarding the nutrient composition of foods, zinc requirements, and zinc absorption may affect prevalence estimates. These analyses were conducted to: (1) evaluate the effect of varying methodological assumptions on country-specific estimates of the prevalence of dietary zinc inadequacy and (2) generate a model considered to provide the best estimates. Methodology and Principal Findings National food balance data were obtained from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Zinc and phytate contents of these foods were estimated from three nutrient composition databases. Zinc absorption was predicted using a mathematical model (Miller equation). Theoretical mean daily per capita physiological and dietary requirements for zinc were calculated using recommendations from the Food and Nutrition Board of the Institute of Medicine and the International Zinc Nutrition Consultative Group. The estimated global prevalence of inadequate zinc intake varied between 12–66%, depending on which methodological assumptions were applied. However, country-specific rank order of the estimated prevalence of inadequate intake was conserved across all models (r = 0.57–0.99, P<0.01). A “best-estimate” model, comprised of zinc and phytate data from a composite nutrient database and IZiNCG physiological requirements for absorbed zinc, estimated the global prevalence of inadequate zinc intake to be 17.3%. Conclusions and Significance Given the multiple sources of uncertainty in this method, caution must be taken in the interpretation of the estimated prevalence figures. However, the results of all models indicate that inadequate zinc intake may be fairly common globally. Inferences regarding the relative likelihood of zinc deficiency as a public health problem in different countries can be drawn based on the country-specific rank order of estimated prevalence of inadequate zinc intake.
Clinical Significance of Metabolic Syndrome in the Setting of Chronic Hepatitis C Virus Infection

Background & Aims: The metabolic syndrome (MS) is a unique condition in which the underlying mechanism is related to insulin resistance. In hepatitis C virus (HCV) patients, insulin resistance has been linked to treatment failure. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of MS in HCV patients undergoing antiviral therapy and to assess its predictive value in treatment outcome. Methods: All HCV treatment-naive patients who met the inclusion/exclusion criteria were studied (n = 228). MS was defined using the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III criteria. A logistic regression analysis was performed to study multivariable associations. The final model contained sex, ethnicity, body mass index, viral load, genotype, steatosis, fibrosis stage, and MS. Results: MS was present in 59 of 228 (26%) patients. Genotype 1 ( P = .002) and presence of steatosis ( P P Conclusions: MS is seen frequently in patients with chronic HCV and is associated independently to lack of SVR. These findings support the concept that an aggressive intervention approach comprising lifestyle modification alone or in combination with drug treatment of the MS components may play an important role in improving antiviral responses in these patients.
Shifting in Balance Between Osteogenesis and Adipogenesis Substantially Influences Hematopoiesis

Adipocytes have been viewed as a space-filler in bone marrow for a long time. However, a recent study (Naveiras et al., 2009. Nature 460, 259-263) shows that adipocytes are microenvironmental components that suppress hematopoiesis under homeostatic and especially stressed conditions.
Design of a four‐coil surface array for in vivo magnetic resonance microscopy at 600 MHz

The design and construction of a four-coil surface array for operation at 600 MHz is described. A capacitor-segmented single loop is used as the transmit coil. Novel features of the coil design include the use of varactor diodes in the transmit and receive coils for coil isolation and impedance matching. Isolation of greater than 20 dB between individual coils in the array was achieved without the use of low/high input impedance preamplifiers, and greater than 25 dB isolation was realized between the transmit coil and each element of the array. High-resolution in vivo images of mouse spinal cord using this array are shown. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Concepts Magn Reson Part B (Magn Reson Engineering) 24B: 6–14, 2005
Four-Quadrant Approach to Capsulolabral Repair: An Arthroscopic Road Map to the Glenoid

Advancing technology, improved instrumentation, and a desire to address intra-articular pathology with a minimally invasive approach have driven the expansion of arthroscopic shoulder surgery in the past 2 decades. Proponents cite greatly improved visualization, lack of the need to perform a capsulotomy, fewer subscapularis issues postoperatively, and improved access to the entire glenohumeral joint. Our understanding and recognition of glenohumeral joint pathology have improved, and our ability to appropriately treat it has also improved. Aside from the anteroinferior and superior capsulolabral injury, orthopaedic surgeons have encountered and are able to address combined lesions, posterior labral tears, 270 degrees to 360 degrees labral tears, capsular laxity, humeral avulsion of the glenohumeral ligaments, associated glenoid or humeral bone loss, and partial-thickness rotator cuff tears. To adequately address the extent of pathology encountered in a shoulder instability case, access to the inferior, posteroinferior, and posterior aspects is necessary. In this technical article we present a simplified approach using safe access points by dividing the glenohumeral joint into 4 quadrants that allows for ease of instrumentation and implant placement. This will provide a blueprint for the treatment of capsulolabral injuries. In addition to portal selection and location, we will discuss several instruments we believe are advantageous in tissue manipulation and suture management.
A comparison of treatment outcomes with Gamma Knife radiosurgery versus Glycerol Rhizotomy in the management of trigeminal neuralgia

Materials/Methods: At the Jefferson Hospital for Neuroscience, patients with medical refractory trigeminal neuralgia are treated with Glycerol Rhizotomy (GR) or Gamma Knife radiosurgery (GK). Since 1994, 79 patients have undergone GR, and from 1996 through December 2002, 109 patients have been treated with GK radiosurgery. Each GK patient received a dose between 70 and 90 Gy with a 4 mm collimator prescribed to the 100% isodose line. Surgical patients underwent glycerol needle injection into Meckel’s cave under fluoroscopic guidance and intravenous sedation. A retrospective review utilizing chart reviews and self-administered or telephone-administered questionnaires was used to evaluate level of pain control, time to pain recurrence, treatment related side effects, and overall patient satisfaction with GK and GR. A modified Barrow Neurologic Index (BNI) score was utilized to score pain (I: no pain, and no meds; II: occasional pain not requiring meds; IIIa: No pain and pain medication used; IIIb: some pain, adequately controlled with medication; IV: Some pain, not adequately controlled with medication; V: severe pain without relief). The complication of facial numbness was also measured with a BNI score (I: no facial numbness; II: some facial numbness/not bothersome, III: some facial numbness/somewhat bothersome, and IV: facial numbness/very bothersome).
Effect of spatial resolution on the estimates of the coherence length of excitons in quantum wells

We evaluate the effect of diffraction-limited resolution of the optical system on the estimates of the coherence length of two-dimensional excitons deduced from the interferometric study of the exciton emission. The results are applied for refining our earlier estimates of the coherence length of a cold gas of indirect excitons in coupled quantum wells [S. Yang et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 97, 187402 (2006)]. We show that the apparent coherence length is well approximated by the quadratic sum of the actual exciton coherence length and the diffraction correction given by the conventional Abbe limit divided by $\ensuremath{\pi}$. In practice, accounting for diffraction is necessary only when the coherence length is smaller than about one wavelength. The earlier conclusions regarding the strong enhancement of the exciton coherence length at low temperatures remain intact.
An integrated four-phase buck converter delivering 1A/mm 2 with 700ps controller delay and network-on-chip load in 45-nm SOI

We present a four-phase integrated buck converter in 45nm SOI technology. The controller uses unlatched pulse-width modulation (PWM) with nonlinear gain to provide both stable small-signal dynamics and fast response (∼700ps) to large input and output transients. This fast control approach reduces the required output capacitance by 5X in comparison to a controller with latched PWM at similar operating point. The converter switches at 80MHz and delivers 1A/mm2 at 83% efficiency and 0.66 conversion ratio.
Genotoxicity of Samples of Nickel Refinery Dust

At the International Nickel Company (INCO) nickel refinery in Clydach, Wales, U.K., which has operated since 1901, 365 respiratory cancers, including 85 nasal cancers and 280 lung cancers, have occurred in workers since the 1920s. From 1901 to 1923, incidences of these cancers were high. In 1923, the refining process was changed, eliminating a nickel arsenide, Ni5As2, called orcelite, from the refinery. Incidences of respiratory cancers decreased substantially from 1925 to 1930. Refinery dust samples were obtained in 1920 and in 1929; both of these samples contain primarily nickel oxide (NiO), but the 1920 sample also contains orcelite. The orcelite content of the 1920 sample is approximately 10%, while that of the 1929 sample is approximately 1%. We hypothesized that orcelite in the 1920 sample was partially responsible for inducing nasal and lung cancers in the refinery workers, and we tested this hypothesis. The 1920 and 1929 samples and orcelite were phagocytosed by cultured C3H/10T1/2 Cl 8 (10T1/2) mouse embryo cells to similar extents and were similarly cytotoxic to 10T1/2 cells. The 1920 sample and orcelite induced dose-dependent morphological transformation of 10T1/2 cells; the 1929 sample did not. The cell transforming ability of the 1920 sample, and therefore its probable carcinogenicity, correlates with induction of respiratory cancers in refinery workers exposed to orcelite-containing nickel refinery dust before 1923. Inability of the 1929 sample to induce morphological transformation correlates with decreased human respiratory tumor incidence at this plant after 1923. This data supports our hypothesis that orcelite in the 1920 refinery sample contributed to its carcinogenicity to nickel refinery workers.
ABSTRACT COMMUNICATION MODELING

Communication modeling is a critical issue in specifying SoCs. It is needed for accurately predicting the timing behavior of the system. Fast simulation capabilities are a key in this environment, for coping with the complex design choices during the specification process. Recently, Transaction Level Models (TLM) have been proposed to speedup communication simulation at the cost of accuracy.
Endothelial cell dilatory pathways link flow and wall shear stress in an intact arteriolar network

Frame, Mary D. S., and Ingrid H. Sarelius. Endothelial cell dilatory pathways link flow and wall shear stress in an intact arteriolar network. J. Appl. Physiol.81(5): 2105–2114, 1996.—Our purpose w...
Reducing the Risk of Pet-Related Infections to Children.

Owning a pet can have many health, emotional and social benefits for children, but pets can also serve as source of zoonotic diseases. OWNING A PET can have many health, emotional and social benefits for children, but pets can also serve as source of zoonotic diseases. A zoonotic disease is a disease that can be passed between humans and animals. Most healthy people will not pick up bacteria or pathogens from contact with a pet. However, young children, pregnant women, seniors and people with weakened immune system, including those undergoing treatment for cancer, are more vulnerable. A recent review aims to raise awareness among healthcare providers about the health risks associated with owning popular pets, including dogs, cats, rodents like hamsters, and reptiles or amphibians such as lizards, turtles or frogs (Stull, Brophy, & Weese, 2015). According to the authors of the study, companion animals are a potential source for more than 70 human diseases including salmonella, antibiotic-resistant bacteria such as clostridium difficile, campylobacter jejuni and other diseases. In addition, pets can expose humans to parasites such as hookworms, roundworms and toxoplasma, a parasite sometimes spread through contact with a cat's litter box that can be especially hazardous to pregnant women and their fetuses. Although patient surveys and epidemiologic studies suggest that the occurrence of pet-associated disease is low overall, the number is likely underestimated, owing to the relative absence of reportable pathogens and complicating factors (e.g., non-pet exposure pathways, frequent subclinical shedding by pets). The proportion of human disease in high-risk populations attributable to pets is unknown,
Antiretroviral Treatment Efficacy and Safety in Older HIV‐Infected Adults

Highly active antiretroviral therapy (ART) and its widespread availability have revolutionized the landscape of HIV care and patient outcomes, transforming infection with HIV into a manageable chronic condition rather than a life-limiting disease. This transformation has created an older patient demographic. The effect that older age has on the outcomes of ART is not completely understood. Limited data are available in older individuals due to underrepresentation in clinical trials. To better understand this relationship, we conducted a literature search to assess the impact of older age on the outcomes of ART in the older HIV-infected population, including immunologic and virologic outcomes, mortality, disease progression, toxicity of ART, and pharmacokinetic considerations. In addition, package inserts of antiretroviral (ARV) medications were reviewed for efficacy, safety, and pharmacokinetic information pertaining to the older population. Most studies in older adults (50 yrs or older) demonstrated slower and blunted CD4 immune recovery but better virologic suppression in response to ART. Higher rates of mortality and faster disease progression have been observed in adults 50 years and older, particularly during the first year after ART initiation. HIV-infected patients aged 50 years and older appear to be at greater risk for certain ART-associated toxicities including nephrotoxicity, decline in bone mineral density and bone fracture, symptomatic peripheral neuropathy, and cardiovascular disease including myocardial infarction. The available literature suggests that clinicians should consider avoiding agents such as tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) in older patients with risk factors for renal impairment and/or osteoporosis. If TDF is used in patients aged 50 years or older, more frequent monitoring should be considered. Older age was a significant predictor for higher atazanavir exposure and higher lopinavir trough concentration at 24 weeks. The clinical implications of these findings are unknown. It is imperative that future development of novel ARV drug therapies includes a greater proportion of older subjects in clinical trials.
Comparison of corneal surface higher-order aberrations after endothelial keratoplasty, femtosecond laser-assisted keratoplasty, and conventional penetrating keratoplasty.

Purpose To evaluate and compare corneal higher-order aberrations (HOAs) after Descemet stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty (DSAEK), femtosecond laser-assisted penetrating keratoplasty (FLAK), and conventional penetrating keratoplasty (PKP). Methods A retrospective comparison of consecutive surgical series of 67 eyes of 59 patients between 1.5 and 19 months after corneal transplant surgery (22, 34, and 11 corneas underwent DSAEK, FLAK, and PKP, respectively, by a single surgeon). The main outcome measures were anterior and posterior corneal surface HOAs (Zernike polynomials, third to eighth order) determined with Scheimpflug photography at 4.0- and 6.0-mm optical zones and best spectacle-corrected visual acuity (BSCVA) (logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution equivalents). Results DSAEK had fewer total anterior HOAs compared with FLAK [P = 5.27 × 10(-5) (4.0 mm) and P = 1.02 × 10(-5) (6.0 mm)] and PKP [P = 1.82 × 10(-4) (4.0 mm) and P = 1.56 × 10(-4) (6.0 mm)] but greater total posterior HOAs than FLAK [P = 0.001 (4.0 mm) and P = 0.007 (6.0 mm)] and PKP [at 4.0-mm optical zone (P = 0.047)]. FLAK had fewer total anterior and posterior HOAs than PKP, but differences were not statistically significant. DSAEK grafts exhibited statistically significantly greater posterior HOAs than either type of PKP. The magnitude of anterior and posterior HOAs weakly correlated with BSCVA. Conclusions DSAEK induces fewer anterior surface HOAs but greater posterior surface HOAs than FLAK or PKP. Differences between FLAK and PKP are not statistically significant. Anterior and posterior HOAs correlate weakly with poorer visual outcome and likely contribute to decreased BSCVA after keratoplasty.
Gold nanoparticle-based simple colorimetric and ultrasensitive dynamic light scattering assay for the selective detection of Pb(II) from paints, plastics, and water samples.

Pb (II) is a common water pollutant with high toxicity. According to the CDC, about 310 000 U.S. children of ages 1−5 have high levels of lead in their blood that it is due to the exposure to lead from plastic toys and other products. As a result, the development of ultrasensitive assays for the real-time detection of Pb(II) from plastic toys and paints is very important for water controlling, clinical toxicology and industrial processes. Driven by the need to detect trace amounts of Pb(II) from water samples, we report a label-free, highly selective and ultra sensitive glutathione modified gold nanoparticle based dynamic light scattering (DLS) probe for Pb(II) recognition in 100 ppt level from aqueous solution with excellent discrimination against other heavy metals. The sensitivity of our assay to detect Pb(II) level in water is almost 2 orders of magnitude higher than the EPA standard limit. We have also demonstrated that our DLS assay is capable of measuring the amount of Pb(II) in paint, plastic toys...
Unique Presentation of Hematuria in a Patient with Arterioureteral Fistula

Active extravasation via an arterioureteral fistula (AUF) is a rare and life-threatening emergency that requires efficient algorithms to save a patient's life. Unfortunately, physicians may not be aware of its presence until the patient is in extremis. An AUF typically develops in a patient with multiple pelvic and aortoiliac vascular surgeries, prior radiation therapy for pelvic tumors, and chronic indwelling ureteral stents. We present a patient with a left internal iliac arterial-ureteral fistula and describe the evolution of management and treatment algorithms based on review of the literature.
Summary of Commissioning Test for HVDC Power Transmission Project from Three Gorges Hydropower Plant to Shanghai

The overall process of commissioning test for HVDC transmission project from Three Gorges Power Plant to Shanghai (abbr. 3GS) is summarized and the commissioning circumstances of the HVDC system are presented. During the commissioning test, the primary and secondary equipments operate well and the functions of control and protection devices are validated. During the start and stop of HVDC system, the operation under normal voltage and reduced voltage and the operation of 3GS HVDC project under rated load and overload, the functions of control and protection devices and that of cooling system are normal. The single item testing results during the system commissioning are analyzed, thus based on design specification and relevant standards the test conclusions are given. Finally, the principal technological problems that are found and solved in the commissioning of 3GS HVDC project, the innovation for system commissioning and the experiences from the commissioning test, which are available for reference to the commissioning of HVDC transmission projects in future, are summarized.
Discussion on the Role of Team Competition in Creating High Quality of Nursing Service

Objective:Team competition can promote the activities of creating high quality of nursing service and Harvest good results.Methods:Nurses in our ward were divided into two groups,and competed to each other in the aspects of team building,knowledge examination,operation technique,quality appraisal,patient′s satisfaction degree and the reports.Results:Patient′s satisfaction degree increased from 80.1% to 98.1%,while the physician′s satisfaction degree from 93.4% to 100%,and the nurses themselves from 65.9% to 98.8%.Conclusions:Implementation of the team competition can provide remarkable results to the activities of creating high quality of nursing service,through healthy competitions.
The Problem with the Phrase “Intersecting Identities”: LGBT Affirmative Therapy, Intersectionality, and Neoliberalism

Since the declassification of homosexuality as a mental illness in 1973, psychology has transformed the way it approaches sexual orientation and gender identity issues in scientific research and clinical practice. The paradigmatic shift from psychopathology to identity has corresponded with the introduction of “LGBT affirmative therapy,” which suggests that therapists should affirm clients’ sexual orientations rather than reinforce sexual minorities’ experiences of stigma and marginalization. This qualitative study used a subset of psychotherapy training videos about LGBT issues to explore the form of content of LGBT affirmative therapy in the context of increased attention to identity and multiculturalism in applied psychology. The videos suggest that multiculturally competent therapists should understand sexuality and gender issues in terms of what psychologists call “multiple” or “intersecting” identities, namely race and ethnicity. While the multicultural turn in psychotherapy may signal a transformation in mental health service provision, our analysis questions whether these videos may unintentionally reflect a neoliberal logic of inclusion that obscures the structural dimensions of social inequality. We suggest that the uptake of intersectionality-like identitarian discourse in psychotherapy in particular offers opportunities for challenging and reinforcing neoliberalism.
Perceived Factors Associated with Sustained Improvement Following Participation in a Multicenter Quality Improvement Collaborative.

Article-at-a-Glance Background The California Perinatal Quality Care Collaborative led the Breastmilk Nutrition Quality Improvement Collaborative from October 2009 to September 2010 to increase the percentage of very low birth weight infants receiving breast milk at discharge in 11 collaborative neonatal ICUs (NICUs). Observed increases in breast milk feeding and decreases in necrotizing enterocolitis persisted for 6 months after the collaborative ended. Eighteen to 24 months after the end of the collaborative, some sites maintained or further increased their gains, while others trended back toward baseline. A study was conducted to assess the qualitative factors that affect sustained improvement following participation. Methods Collaborative leaders at each of the 11 NICUs that participated in the Breastmilk Nutrition Quality Improvement Collaborative were invited to participate in a site-specific one-hour phone interview. Interviews were recorded and transcribed and then analyzed using qualitative research analysis software to identify themes associated with sustained improvement. Results Eight of 11 invited centers agreed to participate in the interviews. Thematic saturation was achieved by the sixth interview, so further interviews were not pursued. Factors contributing to sustainability included physician involvement within the multidisciplinary teams, continuous education, incorporation of interventions into the daily work flow, and integration of a data-driven feedback system. Conclusion Early consideration by site leaders of how to integrate best-practice interventions into the daily work flow, and ensuring physician commitment and ongoing education based in continuous data review, should enhance the likelihood of sustaining improvements. To maximize sustained success, future collaborative design should consider proactively identifying and supporting these factors at participating sites.
Correlation and causation

“So the litigation is used to shock the market?” “Yes, and, of course, to compensate the victims. I don’t want tumors in my bladder, benign or malignant. Most jurors would feel the same way. Here’s the scenario: You put together a group of fifty or so plaintiffs, and file a big lawsuit on behalf of all Dyloft patients. At precisely the same time you launch a series of television ads soliciting more cases. You hit fast and hard, and you’ll get thousands of cases. The ads run coast to coast–quickie ads that’ll scare folks and make them dial your toll-free number right here in D.C., where you have a warehouse full of paralegals answering the phones and doing the grunt work. It’s gonna cost you some money, but if you get, say, five thousand cases, and you settle them for twenty thousand bucks each, that’s one hundred million dollars. Your cut is one third.” “That’s outrageous!” “No, … that’s mass tort litigation at its finest….” –John Grisham THE BETTER PART OF VALOR Of course, this cynical conversation (from John Grisham’s novel The King of Torts ) is fiction, not fact; still, it comes close enough to reality to bring an old proverb to mind. “Discretion is the better part of valor,” I reminded myself when, shortly after cheerfully accepting an invitation to speak at a workshop on “proof of causation in mass torts,” I realized I’d bitten off more than I could chew. For the fact is that mass torts–where large numbers of plaintiffs allege the same or closely similar injuries caused by the same defendant or group of defendants–raise far too many issues, legal, historical, and philosophical, for me to handle in one short paper (or even, I suspect, in one short lifetime!).
The presence of macrophages and inflammatory responses in an in vitro testicular co-culture model of male reproductive development enhance relevance to in vivo conditions

Our 3-dimensional testis co-culture system (3D-TCS) represents a promising model of male reproductive toxicity which captures sensitive processes of male reproductive development and contains the main testes cell types (germ, Leydig and Sertoli cells). Macrophages are another cell type important for testicular function and help to modulate immuno-endocrine processes during testes development. Chemicals such as phthalate esters (PE's) affect macrophage function and testosterone production in the testes in vivo. The aim of this study was to determine whether macrophages were present in the 3D-TCS and investigate responses in our model that may be related to immuno-endocrine functions. We observed consistent expression of the resident macrophage marker ED2 as well as increases in inflammatory cytokines produced by macrophages and testes cells (IL-6, TNF-α and KC/GRO) after exposure to toxic PE's. Pathway analysis of gene expression changes after exposure to PE's showed that IL-6 and TNF-α signaling pathways were enriched after treatment with reproductively toxic, but not non-reproductively toxic phthalates. These results indicate that macrophages and inflammatory processes are captured in the 3D-TCS and that these processes are impacted by exposure to reproductive toxicants. These processes represent a major mode of action for in vivo testis toxicity for a variety of compounds and our novel in vitro model is able to capture toxicant perturbation of immune function.