cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Sensing capabilities of piezoelectric wafer active sensors in extreme nuclear environment

There is considerable demand for structural health monitoring (SHM) at locations where there are substantial radiation fields such as nuclear reactor components, dry cask storage canister, irradiated fuel assemblies, etc. Piezoelectric wafer active sensors (PWAS) have been emerged as one of the major SHM sensing technologies. In order to use PWAS to perform SHM in nuclear environment, radiation influence on sensor and sensing capability needs to be investigated to assure the reliability of the PWAS based method. Radiation may cause degradation or even complete failure of sensors. Gamma radiation is one of the major radiation sources near the nuclear source. Therefore, experimental investigation was completed on the gamma radiation endurance of piezoelectric sensors. The irradiation test was done in a Co-60 Gamma Irradiator. Lead Zirconate Titanate (PZT) and Gallium Orthophosphate (GaPO4) PWAS were exposed under gamma radiation at 100 Gy/hr rate for 20 hours. Electro-mechanical (E/M) admittance signatures and electrical capacitance were measured to evaluate the PWAS performance before and after every 4 hours exposure to gamma radiation. PWAS were kept at room temperature for 6 days after each 4 hours radiation exposure to investigate the effect of time on PWAS by gamma radiation. It was found that, PZT-PWAS show variation in resonance frequency for both in plane and thickness mode E/M admittance. Where, the changes in resonance amplitudes are larger for PZT-PWAS. GaPO4-PWAS E/M impedance/admittance spectra don’t show any reasonable change after gamma irradiation. A degradation behavior of electrical properties in the PZT-PWAS was observed. Capacitance value of PZT-PWAS decreases from 3.2 nF to 3.07 nF after exposing to gamma radiation for 20 hours at 100Gy/hour. This degradation behavior of electrical properties may be explained by the pinning of domain walls by some radiation induced effect. GaPO4-PWAS doesn’t show reasonable degradation in electrical properties. GaPO4 has good radiation endurance, although amplitude sensitivity is relatively low.
Assessing equity and urban/rural road safety disparities in the US

AbstractRoad fatalities erase more healthy years of life than cancer and heart disease combined. Considering safety as a health impact begs the question: Who is most impacted? Are there urban/rural differences? How equitable are impacts along racial/ethnic lines or with income differences? Via spatial analysis of over 970,000 geocoded US road fatalities over a 24-year period, our results show that Americans are not bearing these impacts equitably. We find road fatality disparities across racial/ethnic lines, particularly for pedestrians/bicyclists in predominantly black or Hispanic neighborhoods. Lower income neighborhoods suffer from vehicle occupant fatality rates 3.5X higher than wealthier neighborhoods. Also, residents of our most rural areas endure fatality rates approximately 6X higher than our most urban areas. This suggests that transportation and land use planning intended to facilitate more access with less mobility can reduce unnecessary exposure and lead to outcomes on par with the safest deve...
Surgical Technique and Difficult Situations for Ulcerative Colitis from Adrian Greenstein

Surgery for ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease has benefitted immeasurably from the transition from open to laparoscopic surgery. While traditional open surgery often provides easy visualization of the mesentery in relation to the intestine with short operative times, its well-known disadvantages include wound complications such as infection, disruption, and hernias, as well as a larger incision, worse cosmesis, more postoperative pain, more blood loss, later return of bowel function, later oral intake, and longer hospital stay [1].
Sampling-Based Methods for Motion Planning with Constraints

Robots with many degrees of freedom (e.g., humanoid robots and mobile manipulators) have increasingly been employed to accomplish realistic tasks in domains such as disaster relief, spacecraft logi...
Modal analysis using fiber Bragg gratings

Abstract A new, low-cost modal analysis method, capable of extracting the structural modes, verifying numeric simulations, and fine-tuning musical instruments is presented. This method uses fiber Bragg gratings and is demonstrated by reconstructing the mode shapes of a marimba bar. To verify the practicality and accuracy of this method, the results are compared to a numerical FEA simulation and experimental results using a scanning laser Doppler vibrometer.
Efficient two-stage dual-beam noncollinear optical parametric amplifier

We have constructed a noncollinear optical parametric amplifier with two signal beams amplified in the same nonlinear crystal. This dual-beam design is more energy-efficient than operating two amplifiers in parallel. The cross-talk between two beams has been characterized and discussed. We have also added a second amplification stage to enhance the output of one of the arms, which is then frequency-doubled for ultraviolet generation. This single device provides two tunable sources for ultrafast spectroscopy in the ultraviolet and visible region.
Extending the use of cardiac resynchronization therapy: do we need a new algorithm?

“I'll be more enthusiastic about encouraging thinking outside the box when there's evidence of any thinking going on inside it.” —Terry Pratchett, British author and commentator ([1][1]) The current guidelines for cardiac resynchronization therapy include patients with New York Heart
"You're Not Like Other" Hate Speech

Traditional semantic and pragmatic accounts of hate speech do not account for the simultaneity of certain phrases being both complimentary and incredibly offensive. My account seeks to operationalize perlocutionary-based theories of hate speech in terms of cognitive linguistics, through mental spaces theory and common ground. My thesis concerns some curious cases which show how using intention alone as a basis for interpreting the semantics and pragmatics of speech fails to account for certain speech acts which are simultaneously complimentary and offensive. My analysis shall focus on the cognitive linguistic aspects of the construction "you're not like other"; where X is a sociological category (Black people, Women, Muslims, etc.). This analysis will show that previous methods of semantically and pragmatically analyzing hate speech are inadequate in capturing the full contextual features and mental states of the interlocutors, and that my interpretation is more representative of reality.
Species-Dependent Differences in the Metabolic Activation of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Cells in Culture

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons are widespread environmental contaminants that require metabolic activation in order to induce biological effects1. One of the most widely studied carcinogenic hydrocarbons is benzo-(a)pyrene (BaP). Most pathways of BaP metabolism result in the production of metabolites that are detoxification products. However, a small proportion of the BaP metabolites are reactive derivatives that bind to DNA in cells and these DNA interactions are involved in the initiation of the cancer induction process1. Although these reactive metabolites cannot be isolated from cells so that their production can be quantitated, it is possible to measure their formation through detection of the DNA adducts they produce. The DNA serves as both a critical target for the “ultimate carcinogenic metabolites” and as a nucleophilic trapping agent for detection and measurement of these reactive electrophiles.
Phase I/II trial of a long peptide vaccine (LPV7) plus toll-like receptor (TLR) agonists for resected stage IIB-IV melanoma.

e15171Background: We designed a first-in-human clinical trial to evaluate safety and immunogenicity of LPV7, administered in vaccine adjuvant combinations of incomplete Freund’s adjuvant (IFA) and ...
Ten Guidelines for Intelligent Systems Futures

Intelligent systems – those that leverage the power of Artificial Intelligence (AI) – are set to transform how we live, travel, learn, relate to each other and experience the world. This paper details outcomes of a global study, where a multi-pronged methodology was adopted to identify people’s perceptions, attitudes, thresholds and expectations of intelligent systems and to assess their perspectives toward concepts focused on bringing such systems in the home, car, and workspace. After background details grounding the study’s rationale, the paper first outlines the research approach and then summarizes key findings, including a discussion on how people’s knowledge of intelligent systems impacts their understandings of (and willingness to embrace) such systems; an overview of the domino effect of smart things; an outline of people’s concerns with, flexibility toward and need to maintain control over intelligent systems; and a discussion of people’s preference for helper usages, as well as insights on how people view Affective Computing. Ten design guidelines that were informed by the study findings are outlined in the fourth section, while the last part of the paper offers conclusive remarks, alongside open questions and a call for action that focuses on designers’ and developers’ moral and ethical responsibility for how intelligent systems futures are being and will be shaped.
Study on facile designing, swelling properties and structural relationship of gelatin nanoparticles

AbstractIn the present work glutaraldehyde crosslinked gelatin (Type-A and Type-B) nanoparticles were fabricated following a microemulsion crosslinking technique. The structural, morphological, and...
The Great War at Sea: a naval history of the First World War

In his new book, Lawrence Sondhaus offers a general naval history of the First World War. Based on a commendable command of the subject matter and its ever-expanding scholarship, the book charts th...
Functional Status and Credibility of Avian Olfaction

The anatomical and functional characteristics of the avian olfactory system are reviewed. All species examined have olfactory receptor cells, olfactory nerves, and olfactory bulbs at the frontal pole of the brain. The proportional sizes of olfactory structures vary widely among species but even the smallest give typical mammalian responses to odor stimuli. Only the pigeon’s central olfactory pathway has been described, using anatomical and physiological techniques, and it involves many forebrain sites. In addition to pigeon homing, olfaction has been strongly implicated in both foraging and returning to home islands and burrows by various procellariiforms, in homing of the European Swift (Apus apus L.), and in foraging by the Kiwi (Apteryx australis) and the Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura). The evidence, limited as it still is, clearly supports olfaction as a functioning sense in some birds and as a potential one in all others.
Effects of Climate Warming on Consumer-Resource Interactions: A Latitudinal Perspective

There is increasing evidence that climate warming is impacting biodiversity by disrupting species interactions. Trophic (consumer-resource) interactions, which comprise the fundamental units (modules) of food webs, are of particular importance because they have an intrinsic tendency to fluctuate in abundance, thus running to risk of stochastic extinction during periods of low abundances. Here I present a mathematical framework for predicting warming effects on consumer-resource interactions. This work differs from previous theory in two important ways. First, it uses delay differential equations to realistically depict the developmental delays inherent in ectotherm life cycles, and incorporates mechanistic descriptions of phenotypic trait responses, derived from first principles of thermodynamics, into the dynamical delay model. Second, it investigates the recent IPCC predictions on the increase in the number of hotter-than-average days. I report three key results. First, across latitudes (tropical vs.~temperate) and feeding strategies (juvenile vs.~adult attacked), a greater increase in the maximum temperature compared to the minimum (hotter-than-average summers) is more detrimental to consumer-resource interactions than a greater increase in the minimum temperature (warmer-than-average winters). Second, across latitude and warming scenarios, effects of warming are more detrimental when the consumer attacks the adult stage of the resource. Third, across warming scenarios and feeding strategies, consumer-resource interactions in the tropics are more at risk of species losses due to warming while those in the temperate zone are more at risk of extreme fluctuations in species' abundances. I discuss implications of these results for biodiversity and biological pest control.
Using QR Code Technology to Reduce Self-Administered Medication Errors.

Background:Data indicate there are tens of thousands of self-administered medication errors each year in the United States alone.Objective:The aim of this study was to determine whether information...
A logical approach for zero-rupture Fully Ceramic Microencapsulated (FCM) fuels via pressure-assisted sintering route

Abstract A pathway to Fully Ceramic Microencapsulated (FCM™) fuel pellets showing absence of sintering-derived “rupture” has been demonstrated. In the typical FCM manufacturing process, TRistructral ISOtropic (TRISO) particles show statistically significant rupture, caused by contact of particles during the axial shrinkage of fuel pellet that accompanies pressure-assisted sintering. To solve this, template SiC powder discs were fabricated to host planes of TRISO particles, and the disks were stacked to form a cylindrical “green” pellet. After sintering, up to ∼34% packing fraction of particles (Vp) was physically feasible without contact between planes. Sintering was shown to reduce the axial displacement between planes of TRISO particles, and X-ray Computed Tomography (XCT) showed planes separated by a displacement of ∼100 μm. XCT, optical microscopy and SEM showed the very limited radial displacement of particles. However, the relative density of the FCM pellet was limited to ∼95%. The current results support the zero-rupture concept as viable, but perturbations to TRISO arrangements and limited matrix density require further investigation to improve FCM fuel uniformity and microstructure.
Photolabile Linkers: Exploiting Labile Bond Chemistry to Control Mode and Rate of Hydrogel Degradation and Protein Release

Photolabile moieties have been utilized in applications ranging from peptide synthesis and controlled protein activation to tunable and dynamic materials. The photochromic properties of nitrobenzyl...
Towards Leveraging the Music Industry with Hyperknowledge

In this paper, we discuss the use of semantic technologies in the music industry. Specifically, we describe our vision of how the Hyperknowledge model can leverage the development of AI-based applications in this domain. Hyperknowledge is a multimodal-aware knowledge representation framework tailored for hypermedia information. It allows the modeler to describe and link fragments of multimedia content (e.g., audio, video, text, image, etc.) with high-level semantic structures. Hyperknowledge can also complement existing approaches by providing a glue model that can be used to map among distinct, but related, musical and audio material. We discuss the use of Hyperknowledge as a representation framework for music information and some novel applications that this approach can support.
'Minimalist approach' for transcatheter mitral valve replacement using intracardiac echocardiography and conscious sedation: a case series

Background Transcatheter aortic valve implantation operators have adapted to a less invasive technique by foregoing the use of general anaesthesia and transoesophageal echocardiography. This is known as a 'minimalist approach'. This approach has yet to be explored in transcatheter mitral valve replacement (TMVR). Two patients with high perioperative risk underwent TMVR using only monitored conscious sedation (CS) and intracardiac echocardiography (ICE). Case summary The patients were symptomatic and required treatment of severe mitral regurgitation and severe mitral stenosis in a mitral valve ring and prosthetic mitral valve, respectively. With the use of an antegrade transseptal approach, the procedure was conducted under CS using ICE only. After placement of the prosthetic mitral valve, the valve was assessed by advancing the ICE catheter through the interatrial septal defect and no significant paravalvular leak occurred. In one case, ad hoc treatment of right to left shunting was successfully pursued. Valve function was excellent immediately and at 24 h after implantation and resulted in significant haemodynamic improvement. Conclusion With more TMVR cases being conducted, the 'minimalist approach' with CS and ICE may be considered in selected cases.
Conformal prediction intervals for neural networks using cross validation

Neural networks are among the most powerful nonlinear models used to address supervised learning problems. Similar to most machine learning algorithms, neural networks produce point predictions and do not provide any prediction interval which includes an unobserved response value with a specified probability. In this paper, we proposed the $k$-fold prediction interval method to construct prediction intervals for neural networks based on $k$-fold cross validation. Simulation studies and analysis of 10 real datasets are used to compare the finite-sample properties of the prediction intervals produced by the proposed method and the split conformal (SC) method. The results suggest that the proposed method tends to produce narrower prediction intervals compared to the SC method while maintaining the same coverage probability. Our experimental results also reveal that the proposed $k$-fold prediction interval method produces effective prediction intervals and is especially advantageous relative to competing approaches when the number of training observations is limited.
Evidence of microplastics from benthic jellyfish (Cassiopea xamachana) in Florida estuaries.

Abstract Plastic pollution is a concern in many nearshore ecosystems, and it is critical to understand how microplastics (plastics
Type II diabetes accentuates diaphragm blood flow increases during submaximal exercise in the rat.

Abstract We investigated the effect of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) on respiratory muscle blood flow (BF) during exercise. Using the Goto-Kakizaki (GK) rat model of T2DM, we hypothesized that diaphragm, intercostal and transverse abdominis BFs (radiolabeled microspheres) would be higher in male GK rats (n = 10) compared to healthy male Wistar controls (CON; n = 8) during submaximal exercise (20 m/min, 10 % grade). Blood glucose was significantly higher in GK (246 ± 29 mg/dL) compared to CON (103 ± 4 mg/dL; P 0.50). From rest to submaximal exercise, respiratory muscle BFs increased in both groups to all muscles (P 0.15). These findings suggest that submaximal exercise requires a higher diaphragm BF and VC in T2DM compared to healthy counterparts.
CRISPR-Cas9 Screen Reveals PSMB3 Contributes to Gliomagenesis Through Proteasome-Dependent and Independent Mechanisms

Abstract Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common adult malignant brain tumor, with a median survival of 21 months and a 100% recurrence rate. Even though many of the critical oncogenic drivers for GBM have been identified, the basis of gliomagenesis is still under investigation. To identify novel genes that contribute to GBM progression, we performed a genome-wide CRISPR-Cas9 knockout screen. We identified four previously unstudied genes – PSMB3, CHCHD4, SPDYE5, HSPA1 – which had elevated expression in cancer and demonstrated a significant positive correlation with respect to GBM growth and patient survival in vivo and patient datasets. Furthermore, overexpression of PSMB3 and HSPA5 in neural stem cells resulted in transformation to a cancer phenotype. Further investigation of PSMB3, a subunit of the proteasome, allowed us to identify both ubiquitin-mediated and non-ubiquitin-mediated mechanisms of oncogenesis. Ultimately, the data from our CRISPR screens suggests that these genes drive tumor progression, making them promising therapeutic targets for GBM.
How Do Debt Contracts Allocate Control Over Unforeseen Investment Decisions

I examine how debt contracts allocate control over unforeseen investment decisions. Consistent with theoretical arguments, I find that debt contracts more likely to face unforeseen investment decisions (1) rely relatively more on performance or income statement-based covenants than on balance sheet-based covenants, and (2) provide more flexibility over time in capital expenditure restrictions (e.g., by making investments contingent on the borrower’s EBTIDA or by allowing the borrower to carryforward unused capital expenditure amounts). Furthermore, consistent with parties designing contracts efficiently, I find a roughly similar fit for regressions of investment on Tobin’s q across covenant packages.
Intervening on trust in science to reduce belief in COVID-19 misinformation and increase COVID-19 preventive behavioral intentions: randomized controlled trial.

Background: Trust in science meaningfully contributes to our understanding of people’s belief in misinformation and their intentions to take actions to prevent COVID-19. However, no experimental research has sought to intervene on this variable to develop a scalable response to the COVID-19 infodemic. Objective: Our study examined whether brief exposure to an infographic about the scientific process might increase trust in science and thereby affect belief in misinformation and intention to take preventive actions for COVID-19. Methods: This two-arm, parallel-group, randomized controlled trial aimed to recruit a US representative sample of 1000 adults by age, race/ethnicity, and gender using the Prolific platform. Participants were randomly assigned to view either an intervention infographic about the scientific process or a control infographic. The intervention infographic was designed through a separate pilot study. Primary outcomes were trust in science, COVID-19 narrative belief profile, and COVID-19 preventive behavioral intentions. We also collected 12 covariates and incorporated them into all analyses. All outcomes were collected using web-based assessment. Results: From January 22, 2021 to January 24, 2021, 1017 participants completed the study. The intervention slightly improved trust in science (difference-in-difference 0.03, SE 0.01, t1000=2.16, P=.031). No direct intervention effect was observed on belief profile membership, but there was some evidence of an indirect intervention effect mediated by trust in science (adjusted odds ratio 1.06, SE 0.03, 95% CI 1.00-1.12, z=2.01, P=.045) on membership in the “scientific” profile compared with the others. No direct nor indirect effects on preventive behaviors were observed. Conclusions: Briefly viewing an infographic about science appeared to cause a small aggregate increase in trust in science, which may have, in turn, reduced the believability of COVID-19 misinformation. The effect sizes were small but commensurate with our 60-second, highly scalable intervention approach. Researchers should study the potential for truthful messaging about how science works to serve as misinformation inoculation and test how best to do so. Trial Registration: NCT04557241; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04557241
The Fields of Obscurity

His wife was the first up that morning. She looked at him asleep and said, "Oh Rocco, my sweet man, if you don't go after what you want, you're never going to get past first base." On the field, waking or sleepless, picking his nose under cover of glove, he would hear or remember it, the same touchingly useless advice. "Okay," he said or he said nothing. "You don't mean it," she said. "If you wanted to be successful, you would be."
Measuring the Progressive Realization of Economic and Social Human Rights in Brazil: A Disaggregated Economic and Social Rights Fulﬁllment Index

This paper summarizes ﬁndings and conclusions from our application of the Economic and Social Rights Fulﬁllment Index developed by Fukuda-Parr, LawsonRemer and Randolph (2009) to the states of Brazil. The key features of this methodology in assessing economic and human rights fulﬁllment is the focus on state obligations rather than only on human outcomes, and reference to both level of state resources and the historic achievements of comparator state parties as criteria in assessment. Our results show that none of the states of Brazil are completely meeting their obligations to fulﬁll economic and social rights although some are far more successful than others, and that fulﬁllment does not depend on income. States struggle most to meet their obligations to realize the right to decent work and adequate housing, but are somewhat better and meeting their obligations to fulﬁll the rights to education, the highest attainable standard of health and adequate food. Furthermore, a ranking of the states based on our ﬁndings differs signiﬁcantly from rankings based on GDP per capita or the state-level Human Development Index values alone. This paper summarizes our methodology and ﬁndings and also proposes several avenues for further study.
Sliding mode observer for wide-speed sensorless control of PMSM drives

Many of the estimation techniques developed to achieve speed or position sensorless, motor drives suffer from the variation of motor parameters such as the stator resistance, stator inductance or torque constant. In particular, conventional linear estimators are not adaptive to variations of the operating point. The sliding mode technique has shown promising results when estimating or controlling nonlinear systems. This paper presents a sliding mode observer (SMO) for estimating the position and speed of a permanent magnet synchronous motor (PMSM) to achieve sensorless drive system. The technique can be generalized to other motor drives and motion control systems. The effects of the variation of motor parameters such as stator resistance and stator inductance on the position and/or speed estimations, over a wide speed range, have been studied. Compared to other methods, the observer is more robust to parameter detuning. Simulations results are presented.
Fusion of 9,11Li with 208Pb

The fusion excitation functions for the reaction of 9 Li with 70 Zn and 208 Pb were measured. In the reaction with 70 Zn, the evaporation residues (EVRs) were detected by a radiochemical separation of the As and Ge EVRs followed by -counting. In the reaction with 208 Pb, the At EVRs were detected by -counting. In both systems, one observes substantial sub-barrier fusion enhancement that cannot be explained by coupled channels calculations. The implication of these studies for the study of the 11 Li + 208 Pb reaction are discussed.
Mitochondria are involved in the neurogenic neuroprotection conferred by stimulation of cerebellar fastigial nucleus.

Activation of neural pathways originating in the cerebellar fastigial nucleus (FN) protects the brain from the deleterious effects of cerebral ischemia and excitotoxicity, a phenomenon termed central neurogenic neuroprotection. The neuroprotection is, in part, mediated by suppression of apoptosis. We sought to determine whether FN stimulation exerts its antiapoptotic effect through mitochondrial mechanisms. Mitochondria were isolated from the cerebral cortex of rats in which the FN was stimulated for 1 h (100 lA; 1 s on/1 s off), 72 h earlier. Stimulation of the dentate nucleus (DN), a brain region that does not confer neuroprotection, served as control. Mitochondria isolated from FN-stimulated rats exhibited a marked increase in their ability to sequester Ca 2+ and an increased resistance to Ca 2+ -induced membrane depolarization and depression in respiration. FN stimulation also leads to reduction in the release in cytochrome c, induced either by Ca 2+ or the mitochondrial toxin mastoparan. Furthermore, in brain slices, FN stimulation reduced the staurosporine-induced insertion of the pro-apoptotic protein Bax into the mitochondria, a critical step in the mitochondrial mechanisms of apoptosis. Collectively, these results provide evidence that FN stimulation protects the mitochondria from dysfunction induced by Ca 2+ loading, and inhibits mitochondrial pathways initiating apoptosis. These mitochondrial mechanisms are likely to play a role in the neuroprotection exerted by FN stimulation.
Stabilization of xLi2MnO3 ⋅ ( 1 − x ) LiMO2 Electrode Surfaces ( M = Mn , Ni , Co ) with Mildly Acidic, Fluorinated Solutions

It has been demonstrated previously that Li{sub 2}MnO{sub 3}-stabilized LiMO{sub 2} electrodes [xLi{sub 2}MnO{sub 3} {sm_bullet} (1?x)LiMO{sub 2}, M=Mn, Ni, Co] can provide anomalously high electrochemical capacities ({approx}250 mAh/g) if charged to high potentials (>4.6 V). High-voltage charging results in an irreversible capacity loss on the initial charge/discharge cycle; it also damages the electrode surface, leading to a high cell impedance. In this paper, we report that preconditioning 0.1Li{sub 2}MnO{sub 3} {sm_bullet} 0.9LiMn{sub 0.256}Ni{sub 0.372}Co{sub 0.372}O{sub 2} electrode powders [alternatively Li{sub 1.048}(Mn{sub 0.333}Ni{sub 0.333}Co{sub 0.333}){sub 0.952}O{sub 2} in Li{sub 1+x}M{sub 1?x}O{sub 2} notation] with extremely mild acidic solutions of NH{sub 4}PF{sub 6}, (NH{sub 4}){sub 3}AlF{sub 6}, and NH{sub 4}BF{sub 4} salts in water and methanol (pH 6-6.5) leads to remarkable cycling stability of both lithium half-cells and full lithium-ion cells when repeatedly charged to high voltages ({ge} 4.5 V). The enhanced electrochemical performance is attributed to stabilized electrode surfaces that are etched and passivated by fluorinated species. The low-temperature behavior of unconditioned and preconditioned electrodes is presented.
New response criteria for immunotherapy to capture response patterns in advanced melanoma patients treated with ipilimumab: Results from two phase II trials

Ipilimumab is a monoclonal antibody directed against cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen-4 (CTLA-4). Previous reports have noted that modified World Health Organization (mWHO) criteria may not fully capture ipilimumab clinical benefit. Here we present response and survival data, analyzed by mWHO or proposed novel efficacy endpoints, from 227 previously-treated patients with advanced melanoma enrolled in 2 Phase II trials. Patients received 10 mg/kg ipilimumab every 3 weeks (Q3W) X 4; eligible patients received 10 mg/kg ipilimumab maintenance therapy Q12W starting at Week 24. Response was assessed by Independent Review Committee (IRC) using mWHO criteria (complete response [CR], partial response [PR], stable disease [SD], and progressive disease [PD]) starting from Week 12. Follow-up was obtained in some patients after PD if they did not receive other therapies. Best overall response rate (BORR, CR+PR), disease control rate (DCR, CR+PR+SD), overall survival (OS) and 1-year survival were determined. Novel response endpoints, termed immune-related response criteria (irRC), were designed (using mWHO as a foundation) to systematically capture patterns of clinical activity and characterize changes in total measurable tumor burden over time (index + new lesions, when present) before and after mWHO PD. Survival was analyzed by DCR according to mWHO or novel efficacy endpoints. Overall, 4 response patterns were observed: 2 conventional (response in baseline lesions and 9stable disease9, often with slow, steady decline in total tumor burden) and 2 novel (response after initial increase in total tumor burden and response in index and new lesions after the appearance of new lesions). The mWHO BORR was 7.5% (17/227). The median OS was 10.7 months (95% CI 7.8, --) and 1-year survival rate was 48.6% (95% CI 40.6, 54.9) with 0.2-18.7 months of follow-up. The median OS for patients with mWHO CR/PR/SD and for those with responses captured by the novel efficacy endpoints (mWHO PD followed by tumor shrinkage) were comparable and have not yet been reached. These data suggest that mWHO-classified PD may not always be a surrogate for drug failure in ipilimumab-treated melanoma patients. Novel response criteria such as irRC, which track tumor burden (including new lesions, when present) before and after mWHO PD, may better characterize the clinical activity of ipilimumab and other immunotherapies. Survival follow-up is ongoing. This abstract was published in Cancer Immunity, a Cancer Research Institute journal that ceased publication in 2013 and is now provided online in association with Cancer Immunology Research.
A Geology of School Reform: The Successive Restructurings of a School District

A Geology of School Reform: The Successive Restructurings of a School District. Liane Brouillette. Albany: State University of New York Press, 1996. 251 pp.
Asymptotic solutions of characteristic equations

We give rigorous asymptotic results about solutions λ∈C of the equation aλneλb-c=0 with a, b>0, n∈N and c∈C,|c|=1. These results are extended to rather general perturbations of this characteristic equation as they arise in the study of eigenvalues of linear operators. Applications are given to eigenvalue problems of differential-difference equations, elongational flow and population dynamics.
Structural and Magnetic Properties of the Topologically Novel 2-D Material Cu9F2cpa)6: A Triangulated Kagome - Like Hexagonal Network of Cu(II) Trimers Interconnected by Cu(II) Monomers

Cu9F2(cpa)6 xH2O (cpa = carboxypentonic acid) has been synthesized, and characterized by x-ray diffraction. It is isomorphous with the CI and Br congeners. Two coordinatively different Cu(II) ions ...
Estimating marketing response models by MCMC

Supply and demand systems in economics often come with restrictions that are difficult to estimate with classical methods. The approach of sales response function (SRF) models of Baier and Polasek (2010) is adapted to time series observation of beer sales in a simultaneous equation system. We propose a new class of growth sales (gSRF) models having endogenous and exogenous variables as in Polasek (2011) together with marketing efforts that follow a sustained growth allocation principle. This approach allows us to model growth rates in markets that are exposed to fierce competition and where marketing efforts cannot be evaluated directly. The class of gSRF models has the property that it models supply (i.e., marketing efforts) and demand factors jointly in a log-linear regression model that are correlated over time. The estimated model can explain the relative success of marketing expenditures for the shrinking beer market in Germany for the period 1999–2010.
Receptivity, reactivity and the successful psychopath

I argue that psychopathy undermines three common assumptions typically invoked in favor of moderate reasons responsive theories of moral responsibility. First, I propose a theory of psychopathic agency and claim that psychopathic agency suggests that the systems underlying receptivity to reason bifurcate into at least two sub-systems of receptivity. Next, I claim that the bifurcation of systems for receptivity suggests that reactivity is not “all of a piece” but that it too decomposes into at least two sub-systems. Lastly, I argue that prior attempts by Fischer and Ravizza to address these concerns contain an appeal to internalism. Since Fischer and Ravizza want their theory to remain agnostic about the nature of reasons for action, this appeal to internalism is problematic for their view. I close by suggesting that if we are to make sense of when and why psychopaths are responsible then a mechanism-based theory of responsibility must be able to explain how different systems of receptivity and reactivity ...
Induction of Fos-like immunoreactivity in the rat brain following Pasteurella multocida endotoxin administration

The functional neuroanatomy of the immune system link to the CNS was investigated by assessing neuronal activity with Fos immunohistochemistry following systemic lipopolysaccharide (LPS) administration. Two hours after LPS robust Fos-like immunoreactivity (Fos-IR) was observed in several nuclear groups in the brain including the paraventricular and supraoptic nuclei of the hypothalamus, central nucleus of the amygdala, and nucleus of the solitary tract. A similar but diminished pattern of Fos-IR was present at 6 hours and was absent 24 hours after LPS administration. Investigation of the functional neuroanatomy of the acute phase reaction could prove to be critical in enhancing the ability of individuals to combat insults such as tissue damage and inflammation. The central nervous system (CNS), particularly the hypothalamus, is intimately involved in the coordination of the various aspects of the acute phase reaction (reviewed in 1). Understanding the functional neuroanatomy by which the brain responds to immune system challenges would greatly augment the ability to control the deleterious and enhance the beneficial aspects of the acute phase reaction. In this study we have used lipopolysaccharide (LPS or endotoxin) administration as an experimental model to study immune system activation. LPS is a complex glycolipid and a component of the outer membrane of most Gram-negative bacteria (2). Administration of LPS has been demonstrated to induce the secretion of several proteins including interleukin-1 (IL-1), tumor necrosis factor (TNF), and interleukin-6 (IL-6; reviewed in 3). Further, it has been hypothesized that LPS induction of IL-1 and TNF is the key event in the pathogenesis of Gram-negative bacterial septic shock syndrome (2). Many recent studies have utilized immunohistochemistry for Fos, the product of the immediate early gene c-fos, as a marker of neuronal activation. Fos is a nuclear-binding protein that is expressed at increased levels in activated neurons (4). Although the exact function of Fos in the CNS is still unknown, it is thought that Fos is transcribed after cellular stimulation as a means to convert a stimulus into long-term genetic action (for reviews see 5,6). This study investigated the activation of the CNS by peripherally administered LPS isolated from the bacterium Pasteurella multocida. As a marker of neuronal activation, immunohistochemistry for the Fos protein was performed and image analysis was utilized to quantify the Fos induction in the CNS.
Creativity: Cultural Capital in the Mathematics Classroom

Contemporary students face unique economic, environmental, and humanitarian challenges. The problem solving required to address these challenges requires solutions that have never been thought of before. In order to tackle these problems, teachers must challenge the traditional problem solving methodologies used in math classes and encourage new problem solving strategies through incorporation of the arts and facilitating of creative problem solving. This article will explore the research surrounding creativity, the arts, and creative problem solving and suggest future applications of creativity in the mathematics classroom.
The role of protein synthesis in the decay of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase messenger RNA.

The role of protein synthesis in the control of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK; 4.1.1.32) mRNA turnover was studied in FTO-2B rat hepatoma cells. A previous study demonstrated that incubation of these cells with cAMP prolongs the half-life of the otherwise short-lived PEPCK mRNA. The decay rate of PEPCK mRNA was also slowed in cells incubated with cycloheximide, but not in cells incubated with other translation inhibitors, such as puromycin or pactamycin, even though protein synthesis was inhibited 85-95% by these agents. No correlation was noted between the rate of L-[3H]valine incorporation into cellular proteins and PEPCK mRNA half-life, suggesting that protein synthesis per se is not required for breakdown of the mRNA. Exposure of cells to the translation initiation inhibitor pactamycin together with cycloheximide abolished the "slowing" effect of cycloheximide, and PEPCK mRNA decayed at the same rate as in cells incubated in the presence of pactamycin alone. In contrast, pactamycin did not ...
Quantal resp0nse assays by inverse regression

A general inverse regression procedure for estimating dose-response curves in quanta1 response assays is presented. Asymptotic distributional properties are developed. The special case is given, where after suitable transformation, the -dose response curve is linear. The inverse method has a decided advantage over the more classical methods in this case, both inflexibility and in ease of application. The procedure will be shown to be fully efficient, in the asymptotic context*
On the conditioning of numerical boundary measures in wavelet galerkin methods

The paper investigates the accuracy and numerical stability of a class of wavelet Galerkin formulations on irregular domains. The method of numerical boundary measures is based upon a domain embedding strategy in which the irregular domain of interest is embedded in a larger domain having regular geometry. One advantage of the domain embedding method is that the boundary conditions on the larger, regular domain can be enforced in a straightforward manner, and the solution procedure can exploit the highly structured form of the resulting governing equations. The defining characteristic of this method is that the calculation of integrals along the irregular boundary are carried out using recently derived numerical boundary measures. In addition, the coercive bilinear forms characterizing the boundary value problem of interest must be calculated when restricted to the actual domain. In the case of wavelet Galerkin formulations, this calculation is accomplished with the three term connection coefficients that characterize the numerical boundary measure. The numerical stability and accuracy of the domain embedding procedure is compared to a newly developed wavelet-based finite element formulation.
Electrical and esterase activity in axons

Abstract The interdependence of electrical activity and critical level of cholinesterase activity has been investigated on intact single giant axons of the squid. The Warburg manometric technique was used for measuring the enzyme activity with dimethylaminoethyl acetate as the substrate, and electrical activity was recorded with intracellular electrodes. An irreversible enzyme inhibitor (DFP) was used to block enzymic and electrical activity. The critical enzyme level at which conduction in these fibers was blocked was about 16%. The substrate-enzyme activity relatioship was tested with intact and homogenized preparations of three different types of axons (of lobster, squid and spider crab). Three different substrates were used which differed only by the removal or addition of one methyl group: acetylcholine, acetyl- DL -β-methylcholine, and dimethylaminoethyl acetate. With intact fibers, the differences between the three fibers towards the substrates were quite marked, apparently due to differences in structural permeability barriers. These results emphasize the importance of such barriers for the evaluation of pharmacological events.
The organization of serotonergic projections to cerebral cortex in primates: retrograde transport studies

Retrograde axonal transport and immunocytochemical methods were utilized to determine the origin of serotonergic afferents to selected primary projection and association areas of cerebral cortex in macaque monkeys. After injections of Fast Blue or Diamidino Yellow in primary motor, somatosensory, or visual cortex, retrogradely labeled neurons are found in both the dorsal and median raphe nuclei. The sets of dorsal raphe neurons which innervate these cortical areas differ in their spatial distributions along the rostrocaudal axis of the brainstem; a coarse rostrocaudal topographic relationship is found between these groups of dorsal raphe neurons and their cortical targets. In contrast, neurons in the median raphe which innervate these primary projection areas are not differentially distributed along the rostrocaudal axis. However, in both the median and dorsal raphe nuclei, most neurons projecting to primary visual cortex are situated lateral to the cells which project to motor and somatosensory areas; many of these visually projecting neurons lie among the fascicles of the medial longitudinal fasciculus. For comparison with the serotonergic innervation of primary projection areas, the locations of raphe cells projecting to three areas of association cortex were examined: dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, area 5 and area 7b. Neurons projecting to each of these association areas are found throughout the dorsal and median raphe nuclei. Their distributions are similar to one another; however, more cells projecting to dorsolateral prefrontal cortex are in the rostral part of the dorsal raphe. The dorsal and median raphe neurons projecting to these association areas are intermingled with neurons projecting to motor and somatosensory cortex, but are medial to most of those projecting to visual cortex. Thus, separate cortical areas are innervated by different sets of raphe neurons; these sets partially overlap, yet differ in their rostrocaudal and mediolateral distributions. Ascending serotonergic projections to cerebral cortex form a widely distributed system which exhibits a highly intricate anatomic organization. The present observations support the hypothesis that the dorsal raphe nucleus is comprised of distinct sets of neurons whose output is distributed to multiple, interconnected cortical areas; these serotonergic projections may play a role in the coordination of excitability in functionally related areas of cortex. In contrast, the serotonergic projections arising from the median raphe appear to be more divergent and are likely to have a global influence on cortical activity. Since these individual raphe nuclei have different projection patterns, they are likely to have distinct functional roles.
Chylothorax in cats: is there a role for surgery?

Chylothorax is a complex disease with many identified underlying causes including cardiac disease, mediastinal masses, heartworm disease and trauma. Management of this disease should be directed at identifying the cause, if possible, and treating the underlying disorder. In cats with idiopathic chylothorax, medical management is recommended initially because the condition may resolve spontaneously. Owners should be made aware of the potential development of fibrosing pleuritis in affected cats. When medical management is impractical or unsuccessful, surgical intervention should be considered. Surgical options include mesenteric lymphangiography and thoracic duct ligation, pericardiectomy, omentalisation, passive pleuroperitoneal shunting, active pleuroperitoneal or pleurovenous shunting, and pleurodesis. Of these, only thoracic duct ligation and pericardiectomy are preferred by the author because, if successful, the result is complete resolution of the chylothorax, thereby reducing the risk of developing fibrosing pleuritis. Omentalisation may be beneficial in some animals as adjuvant therapy, but this procedure may still allow fibrosing pleuritis to occur. Until the aetiology of the effusion in cats with idiopathic chylothorax is understood, the treatment success rate will be less than ideal. Future research needs to be directed at determining the pathophysiologic mechanisms underlying this disease in cats.
Luminescence of Nanocrystalline Erbium-Doped Yttria

In this paper, the luminescence, including photoluminescence, upconversion and cathodoluminescence, from single-crystalline erbium-doped yttria nanoparticles with an average diameter of 80 nm, synthesized by a molten salt method, is reported. Outstanding luminescent properties, including sharp and well-resolved photoluminescent lines in the infrared region, outstanding green and red upconversion emissions, and excellent cathodoluminescence, are observed from the nanocrystalline erbium-doped yttria. Moreover, annealing by the high power laser results in a relatively large increase in photoluminescent emission intensity without causing spectral line shift. These desirable properties make these nanocrystals promising for applications in display, bioanalysis and telecommunications.