cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Production of Fullerenes by Microwave Synthesis

In this paper, it is reported that microwave synthesis techniques can be used to convert graphite powder and fluorinated graphite in different matrices to fullerenes (i.e., C60 and C70). The microwave approach allows for the quick, economical production of the carbon allotropes. Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization Time of Flight Mass (MALDI-TOF) spectrometry is used as the detection technique. Pyrrole was also used as a reactant and the formation of aza-fullerenes was suggested by the mass spectral data.
A Statistical Assessment of Subject Factors in the PCA Recognition of Human Faces

Some people's faces are easier to recognize than others, but it is not obvious what subject-specific factors make individual faces easy or difficult to recognize. This study considers 11 factors that might make recognition easy or difficult for 1,072 human subjects in the FERET dataset. The specific factors are: race (white, Asian, African-American, or other), gender, age (young or old), glasses (present or absent), facial hair (present or absent), bangs (present or absent), mouth (closed or other), eyes (open or other), complexion (clear or other), makeup (present or absent), and expression (neutral or other). An ANOVA is used to determine the relationship between these subject covariates and the distance between pairs of images of the same subject in a standard Eigenfaces subspace. Some results are not terribly surprising. For example, the distance between pairs of images of the same subject increases for people who change their appearance, e.g., open and close their eyes, open and close their mouth or change expression. Thus changing appearance makes recognition harder. Other findings are surprising. Distance between pairs of images for subjects decreases for people who consistently wear glasses, so wearing glasses makes subjects more recognizable. Pairwise distance also decreases for people who are either Asian or African-American rather than white. A possible shortcoming of our analysis is that minority classifications such as African-Americans and wearers-of-glasses are underrepresented in training. Followup experiments with balanced training addresses this concern and corroborates the original findings. Another possible shortcoming of this analysis is the novel use of pairwise distance between images of a single person as the predictor of recognition difficulty. A separate experiment confirms that larger distances between pairs of subject images implies a larger recognition rank for that same pair of images, thus confirming that the subject is harder to recognize.
THE PLIOCENE AND PLEISTOCENE HISTORY OF COTTON RATS IN THE MEADE BASIN OF SOUTHWESTERN KANSAS

The taxonomy and dental evolution of cotton rats, genus Sigmodon, from Pliocene and Pleistocene deposits in the Meade Basin of southwestern Kansas are examined. Prosigmodon is here subsumed under Sigmodon. Morphological and multivariate statistical analyses identify 3 Sigmodon lineages and 5 immigration events in the Meade Basin. The 1st immigration event occurred during the early Blancan and the latest during the Holocene. The analyses of dental characters indicate directional trends in almost all features, representing both size and shape. A comparison of information from the cotton rat fossil record with a recent molecular phylogeny suggests the molecular phylogeny has set the origin of modern cotton rat groups too early. North American species groups probably do not predate the late Pliocene.
Economic Analysis of Alvimopan for Prevention and Management of Postoperative Ileus

Study Objective To determine whether alvimopan for prevention of postoperative ileus in patients undergoing small- or large-bowel resection by laparotomy is associated with lower total costs compared with standard care. Design Pharmacoeconomic analysis using a formal decision model. Data Source Four phase III clinical trials, two pooled analyses, and one meta-analysis. Patient Population A cohort of patients who underwent bowel resection with primary anastomosis by laparotomy and received either standardized, accelerated postoperative care (usual care) or usual care plus alvimopan. Measurements and Main Results Clinical outcomes, obtained from pooled analyses of published studies, were time to discharge order written, postoperative nasogastric tube insertion, postoperative ileus-related readmission within 7 days, and occurrence of nausea and vomiting. Cost inputs included drugs, nursing labor, readmissions, and hospitalizations. Costs were assessed by determining the net cost of alvimopan use and subsequent reduction in length of stay. Sensitivity and scenario analyses were conducted. Costs for alvimopan were $570 based on an average of 9.5 doses. Given the 18.4-hour mean reduction in time to discharge order written, use of alvimopan reduced hospitalization costs by $2021. Mean difference in overall cost of care, as determined by Monte Carlo simulation, was $1168 (95% certainty interval −$437 to $5879), favoring the use of alvimopan. In the sensitivity analysis, association of alvimopan with lower costs was robust to several changes in key parameters including cost and number of doses of alvimopan, time to discharge order written, readmission rates, and hospitalization cost. In the scenario analyses, alvimopan use yielded a net cost of $226 when no difference in time to discharge order written was assumed. In the scenario analysis using data from a study that did not enforce opioid use, alvimopan resulted in a cost saving of $65/patient. Conclusion Alvimopan was cost saving for prevention of postoperative ileus in patients undergoing bowel resection by laparotomy, although these potential cost savings were highly dependent on a difference in time to discharge order written. This finding is not applicable to the less-invasive laparoscopic surgical approach for which quality data on alvimopan use are lacking. Limitations of this analysis included use of time to discharge order written as a proxy for length of stay and difficulty interpreting study results due to inconsistent reporting and conduct of the clinical trials evaluating alvimopan. More research is needed to determine the cost-effectiveness of alvimopan.
Unnecessary Tests and Procedures in Patients Presenting with Solid Tumors of the Pancreas

A computed tomography (CT) scan is often the only study needed prior to surgery for resectable solid pancreas masses. However, many patients are evaluated with multiple studies and interventions that may be unnecessary. We conducted a retrospective review of patients who presented to the Johns Hopkins Multidisciplinary Pancreas Cancer Clinic with a clearly resectable solid pancreas mass, >1 cm in size over a 2-year period (6/2007–6/2009) and underwent resection. Pancreas specialists reviewed patient records and identified an index CT with a solid pancreas mass deemed to be resectable for curative intent. Data were collected on all studies and interventions between the index CT and the surgery. A total of 101 patients had an index CT. Following the index CT and before surgery, 78 patients had at least one CT, 19 had magnetic resonance imaging, 9 had a positron emission tomography scan, and 66 underwent pancreatic biopsy. Patients underwent a mean of three studies with a mean added cost of $3,371 per patient. Preoperative tests and interventions were associated with a longer time to definitive surgical intervention. Wide variation exists for evaluation of newly discovered resectable solid pancreas masses, which is associated with delays to surgical intervention and added costs.
Identification of actuation efforts using limited sensory information for space robots

Autonomous space robots are needed for future missions such as satellite capture and large space structure construction. Precise control of these space robots is important for space missions but real world factors such as unpredictable actuator behavior can degrade performance. Sensing capabilities in space robots to measure and compensate for this uncertainty are limited by the practical issues of issues of weight, complexity and reliability. This paper presents a method that does multi-actuator sensing with a reduced number of actuators. A force/torque sensor is mounted between a space robot's spacecraft and its manipulators and is used to identify manipulator joint actuator outputs while simultaneously estimating spacecraft thruster forces and moments. Theoretical development and simulation results are presented
The Fifth Column: Homage to Doc Savage 3, or on the Optimum Siting of an Airstrip in the Jungle, or I Did It with My Tinkertoy Set

Statement of Exemplary Problem 3 Once upon a time there was an INFORMS meeting (then called a TIMS/ORSA meeting). It so happened that an oil-exploration convention was being held in the same venue as the TIMS/ORSA meeting. As usual, the bar was well stocked and well attended by the people who traditionally come to such meetings, mainly to see old friends. One gentleman was holding forth on a rather interesting problem faced by his employer, an oil company. It seems that it was going to construct about 20 small geophysical field camps. These camps were to be scattered over a few thousand square miles in the southern jungle of some nameless South American country. The company had already chosen the sites for the camps and would have teams working out of them for a number of months. The distances between them were so great that supplying them by helicopter was not fiscally feasible because of weight and fuel considerations. The situation was further complicated by the fact that the field camps had different numbers of personnel and therefore demanded different amounts of supplies over the time of operation. The solution to this part of the problem was to load a DC-3 Gooney Bird with the supplies needed for some weeks, fly to a site, simply shove the crates out of the enlarged cargo door with parachutes, and fly back to the airstrip. The magic question now became, Where do we put the airstrip to minimize ton-miles flown? The oil company employee, in frustration, hired an operations research (OR) company to solve the siting problem. The OR firm promised to use its in-house network software to site the air strip within a few percentage points of optimality and to charge the oil company something in excess of a hundred grand for the answer.
Comparison of hyposmolar and hyperosmolar effects on in vitro luteinizing hormone secretion by anterior pituitary cells.

AbstractIt has previously been described that perifusion of acutely dispersed adenohypophyseal cells with hypotonic medium causes an immediate high-amplitude “on” burst of luteinizing hormone (LH) secretion. In the present report the converse study with hyperosmolar solutions has been made. Perifusion with hypertonic medium depressed LH secretion; return to isotonicity caused an immediate high-amplitude “off” burst of LH secretion closely resembling that induced by hypotonic perifusion. The data give further support to the theory that exocytotic secretion may involve expansion of the outer cell membrane, thus drawing secretory granules to the cell surface where their contents are extruded.
Highly Efficient Tandem Affinity Purification of Trypanosome Protein Complexes Based on a Novel Epitope Combination

Tandem affinity purification (TAP) allows for rapid and efficient purification of epitope-tagged protein complexes from crude extracts under native conditions. The method was established in yeast and has been successfully applied to other organisms, including mammals and trypanosomes. However, we found that the original method, which is based on the TAP tag, consisting of a duplicate protein A epitope, a tobacco etch virus protease cleavage site, and the calmodulin-binding peptide (CBP), did not yield enough recovery of transcription factor SNAPc (for small nuclear RNA-activating protein complex) from crude trypanosome extracts for protein identification. Specifically, the calmodulin affinity chromatography step proved to be inefficient. To overcome this problem, we replaced CBP by the protein C epitope (ProtC) and termed this new epitope combination PTP tag. ProtC binds with high affinity to the monoclonal antibody HPC4, which has the unique property of requiring calcium for antigen recognition. Thus, analogous to the calcium-dependent CBP-calmodulin interaction, ProtC-tagged proteins can be released from immobilized HPC4 by a chelator of divalent cations. While this property was retained, epitope substitution improved purification in our experiments by eliminating the inefficiency of calmodulin affinity chromatography and by providing an alternative way of elution using the ProtC peptide in cases where EGTA inactivated protein function. Furthermore, HPC4 allowed highly sensitive and specific detection of ProtC-tagged proteins after protease cleavage. Thus far, we have successfully purified and characterized the U1 small nuclear ribonucleoprotein particle, the transcription factor complex TATA-binding protein related factor 4 (TRF4)/SNAPc/transcription factor IIA (TFIIA), and RNA polymerase I of Trypanosoma brucei.
“Pimping the System” How Economic, Social, and Cultural Capital Are Deployed in a Welfare Program

Based on my ethnographic research in Contra Costa County, California (CCC), I propose a new way of examining and comparing welfare-to-work programs. I argue that within the confines of welfare refo...
A short note on local region growing by pseudophysical simulation

A class of region growing algorithms based on an analogy to a mass suspended in a field of forces is presented. The mass represents the growing region, and the field represents the degree of concordance between local pixel values and the color characteristics of the region. The algorithms are particularly well suited to systems that are looking for specific simply-connected shapes in local areas of interest, for example, a rectangle of unknown size, elongation, or orientation. Comparing pseudophysical region growing with Hough transforms, it is shown that region growing has competitive space and time complexity, and that it does not require image preprocessing for boundaries. >
IFN-αβ Promote Priming of Antigen-Specific CD8+ and CD4+ T Lymphocytes by Immunostimulatory DNA-Based Vaccines

Immunostimulatory sequence (ISS) DNA containing unmethylated CpG dinucleotides stimulate NK and APC to secrete proinflammatory cytokines, including IFN-alphabeta and -gamma, TNF-alpha, and IL-6 and -12, and to express costimulatory surface molecules such as CD40, B7-1, and B7-2. Although ISS DNA has little direct effect on T cells by these criteria, immunization of wild-type mice with ISS DNA and OVA results in Ag-specific CTL and Th1-type T helper activity. This investigation examines the mechanisms by which ISS DNA primes CD8(+) and CD4(+) lymphocyte activities. In this report we demonstrate that ISS DNA regulates the expression of costimulatory molecules and TAP via a novel autocrine or paracrine IFN-alphabeta pathway. Coordinated regulation of B7 costimulation and TAP-dependent cross-presentation results in priming of Ag-specific CD8(+) CTL, whereas CD40, B7, and IL-12 costimulation is required for priming of CD4(+) Th cells by ISS-based vaccines.
An elliptical orbit backprojection filtering algorithm for SPECT

An orbit geometry where the central projection ray of the detector is not constrained to pass through the center-of-rotation for all projection angles can be useful to reduce uniformity artifacts and to avoid truncation when imaging noncentrally located organs. A backprojection filtering algorithm is presented for parallel geometry with an elliptical orbit acquisition. The algorithm is verified by computer simulations. It is shown that the point response function is shift invariant and has an analytical expression which is not the common 1/r but is a function of the orbit geometry. >
Endometrial Cancer and Age at Last Delivery: Evidence for an Association

Because the role hormonal and reproductive factors play in the etiology of endometrial cancer is incompletely understood, the authors evaluated the risk of this cancer in relation to age at last delivery. The data were obtained in a hospital-based case-control study of 483 women with endometrial cancer (cases) and 693 women with other conditions (controls) conducted in a number of hospitals in the United States and Canada from 1978 to 1985. There was an inverse association between age at last delivery and endometrial cancer risk: Compared with women who last gave birth before age 25 years, the rate ratio was 0.9 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.5-1.6) for last delivery at ages 25-29 years, 0.6 (95% CI 0.3-1.0) for last delivery at ages 30-34 years, 0.5 (95% CI 0.3-1.0) for last delivery at ages 35-39 years, and 0.4 (95% CI 0.1-0.9) for last delivery at age 40 years or older. The trend of decreasing rate ratio with increasing age at last delivery was statistically significant (p = 0.02). The association was apparent regardless of parity or menopausal status. There was no evidence for an association between age at first pregnancy and risk. These data suggest that women who bear children late in reproductive life may be at lower risk for endometrial cancer than those who complete their families early.
Present Value Applications

This material consists of three separate exercises designed to illustrate the issues and concepts associated with discounted cash flow analysis (DCF) and basic capital budgeting. It deals with both mechanics and applications.
Computational complexity and information asymmetry in election audits with low-entropy randomness

We investigate the security of an election audit using a table of random numbers prepared in advance. We show how this scenario can be modeled using tools from combinatorial graph theory and computational complexity theory, and obtain the following results: (1) A randomly generated table can be used to produce a statistically good election audit that requires less randomness to be generated in real time by the auditors. (2) It is likely to be computationally infeasible for an adversary to compute, given a pre-prepared table of random numbers, how to minimize their chances of detection in an audit. (3) It is computationally infeasible to distinguish a truly random table from a malicious table that has been modified to decrease the probability of detecting cheating in certain precincts.
Ionization suppression of Cl 2 molecules in intense laser fields

The strong field ionization of Cl{sub 2} molecules is investigated by using an ultrashort pulse Ti:sapphire laser. A spatial imaging technique is used in such measurements to reduce the effect of spatial integration. Cl{sub 2} shows strong ionization suppression as do other diatomic molecules having valence orbitals with antibonding symmetry (O{sub 2},S{sub 2}) when compared with the field ionization of atoms with nearly identical ionization potential. A more general molecular tunneling ionization model is proposed, and the calculations are in reasonable agreement with the measurements. Our results support that antibonding leads to ionization suppression, a trend that only F{sub 2} goes against and that needs to be further investigated.
Sociomicrobiology: a Personal Perspective on an Emerging Research Area: Understanding quorum sensing has led to a new sense of the importance of social activities for bacteria

I first learned about cell-density dependent expression of luminescence in Vibrio harveyi and Vibrio fischeri in 1973, when I took the summer microbiology course at the Marine Biology Laboratories (MBL) in Woods Hole, Mass. Ken Nealson and Anatol Eberhard were among the instructors and, together with Woody Hastings, they had uncovered a phenomenon that they termed autoinduction.
Obsidian in Southern Ecuador: The Carboncillo Source

The Carboncillo area in the southern highlands of Ecuador is identified as the only confirmed source of archaeological obsidian located in the country outside of the northern highlands and is the first identified in the large gap between the known Ecuadorian and Peruvian sources. With the identification of this source, it can no longer be assumed that all obsidian found in Ecuador came from sources in the northern highlands. Thus the Carboncillo source has significant implications for interpreting patterns of long-distance exchange in the Andes, especially in southern Ecuador and the far north of Peru. A geochemical analysis of the Carboncillo material shows that it can be easily distinguished from the obsidian from other Ecuadorian sources. A provenance study of archaeological obsidian samples from the southern highlands of Ecuador using x-ray fluorescence demonstrates that the Carboncillo obsidian was used at the Preceramic site of Chobshi Cave and at a number of late prehispanic sites in the Saraguro region. The results indicate a high level of sociopolitical and economic isolation in late prehistory, most likely tied to a preoccupation with warfare between neighboring groups, and provide additional evidence that the economic organization of the southern highlands differed markedly from that of the north during this time.
Counterflow Heat Exchanger Model for Thermal Management of a Compact Catalytic Fuel Processor System

Recent progress in the fuel cell technology has attracted research interests in providing hydrogen in a safe and efficient manner. One of viable approaches is to develop on-board catalytic fuel processors which converts higher hydrocarbon fuels into hydrogen. While this is a promising method and the level of catalytic material development is mature, the compact fuel processor system suffers from relatively low efficiency primarily due to the large surface-to-volume ratio causing excessive heat loss to the ambient. In this paper, a systematic modeling approach is presented as an effective tool to undertake extensive parametric study to identify crucial design parameters to accomplish optimal thermal management of the fuel processor system. By adopting a canonical counterflow heat exchanger system, effects of key system parameters, such as reactant and control flow rates, and inlet temperatures, on the system efficiency, conversion, and reactive length are investigated. The model is applied to a partial oxidation reactor and results are discussed.Copyright © 2005 by ASME
Vision of the Aged and Cataracts

The efficiency of almost all ocular functions diminishes with age, but the average person can look forward to adequate vision throughout life. The most common ocular disability of the aged, senile cataract, is readily amenable to treatment. Postoperative vision usually is far better than the level of performance of other physiologic activities.
Survey on Species of Bryophytes on Rock in Sidonggou Scenic Area of Chishui

Based on the identification of 154 specimens of bryophytes collected on rock in Sidonggou scenic area in Zunyi city of Guizhou province, 77 species belonging to 30 families and 53 genera were found for bryophytes, while 60 species belonging to 21 families and 41 genera were found for moss and 17 species belonging to 9 families and 12 genera were found for noble liverwort.Hypnaceae,Geocalycaceae,Fissidentaceae,Dicranaceae and Thuidiaceae are the 5 predominant families in this region. There are 4 dominant genera such as Fissidens,Heteroscyphus,Plagiothecium and Racopilum. Moss is more adapted to in this area.
Epitope mapping of inhibitory monoclonal antibodies to human von Willebrand factor by using recombinant cDNA libraries

Two recombinant expression libraries containing small (300-600 base pairs) cDNA fragments of von Willebrand Factor (vWF) were screened in order to map the epitope of monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) to vWF. Among eleven MAbs tested, seven were effectively mapped. The epitopes of MAbs 418 and 522, which inhibit the binding of vWF to Factor VIII (FVIII), were localized between Leu 2 and Arg 53 and between Glu 35 and Ile 81 of the vWF subunit respectively, within the N-terminal trypsin fragment called SpIII-T4 [amino acids (aa) 1-272] which contains a binding domain for FVIII. The epitope of MAb 710, which inhibits the binding of vWF to glycoprotein Ib (GPIb), was identified between Ser 593 and Ser 678 on the tryptic 52/48 kDa fragment (aa 449-728) which contains binding domains for GPIb, collagen, heparin, sulfatides and subendothelium extracellular matrices. The epitope of MAb 723, which does not interfere with any known function of vWF, was localized between Ser 523 and Gly 588. The epitopes of MAb 505 and MAb 400, which inhibit the binding of vWF to collagen, were identified between Leu 927 and Arg 1114 within the SPI fragment (aa 911-1365) corresponding to the central part of the vWF subunit. The epitope of MAb 9, which inhibits the binding of vWF to GPIIb/IIIa, was identified in the C-terminal part of the vWF subunit between Gln 1704 and Asp 1746, the latter being the third aa of the RGD sequence common to adhesive proteins and serving as a recognition site for integrin receptors.
An Electron Microscope Study of Sectioned Cells of Peripheral Blood and Bone Marrow

White blood cells from peripheral blood and bone marrow have been sectioned for study in the electron microscope. Methods of fixation and handling are described. Most of the usual blood cell types have been tentatively identified, and their fine structure is described. The high resolving power of the electron microscope promises to reveal details previously unsuspected, as well as to extend and clarify existing knowledge concerning the cytology of blood cells, both normal and pathologic. Ultra-thin sectioning, while still a very difficult art, appears to be the best method currently available for visualizing the fine structure of white blood cells, which would otherwise be too thick for penetration by the electron beam. Conditions of satisfactory fixation and dehydration are extremely critical, and care must be exercised in the interpretation of all results in order to separate gross fixation artifacts from the finer precipitation of protoplasmic material which may approximate a true picture of the living cell.
Variations in the Relative Cortical Mass of Tail Bones of Cows During Pregnancy and Lactation

SUMMARY An estimate of the ratio of cortical mass to whole bone mass in the tail bones of 100 cows has been obtained radiographically. This ratio was significantly higher in dry non-pregnant cows than in milking or dry pregnant cows, or milking non-pregnant cows. It is suggested that this difference is evidence for the withdrawal of mineral from the maternal skeleton during pregnancy and lactation.
Factors influencing the number of applications submitted per applicant to orthopedic residency programs.

Background : From 2002 to 2014, the orthopedic surgery residency applicant pool increased by 25% while the number of applications submitted per applicant rose by 69%, resulting in an increase of 109% in the number of applications received per program. Objective : This study aimed to identify applicant factors associated with an increased number of applications to orthopedic surgery residency programs. Design : An anonymous survey was sent to all applicants applying to the orthopedic surgery residency program at Loyola University. Questions were designed to define the number of applications submitted per respondent as well as the strength of their application. Of 733 surveys sent, 140 (19.1%) responses were received. Setting : An academic institution in Maywood, IL. Participants : Fourth-year medical students applying to the orthopedic surgery residency program at Loyola University. Results : An applicant’s perception of how competitive he or she was (applicants who rated themselves as ‘average’ submitted more applications than those who rated themselves as either ‘good’ or ‘outstanding’, p =0.001) and the number of away rotations (those who completed >2 away rotations submitted more applications, p =0.03) were significantly associated with an increased number of applications submitted. No other responses were found to be associated with an increased number of applications submitted. Conclusion : Less qualified candidates are not applying to significantly more programs than their more qualified counterparts. The increasing number of applications represents a financial strain on the applicant, given the costs required to apply to more programs, and a time burden on individual programs to screen increasing numbers of applicants. In order to stabilize or reverse this alarming trend, orthopedic surgery residency programs should openly disclose admission criteria to prospective candidates, and medical schools should provide additional guidance for candidates in this process. Keywords: orthopedic surgery; residency application; National Residency Matching Program; United States Medical Licensing Exam (Published: 21 July 2016) Citation: Med Educ Online 2016, 21 : 31865 - http://dx.doi.org/10.3402/meo.v21.31865
Fluid–Structure Interactions and Flagellar Actuation

In this chapter, we address the interaction between hydrodynamic forces and flagellar shapes for swimming bacteria and sperm. Although the filamentous propulsive structures used by prokaryotic bacteria and eukaryotic sperm are distinct, they are both called “flagella.” A bacterial flagellum is a passive filament with diameter of 10–20 nm and about 10-μm long, actuated by a rotary motor at its base. The sperm flagellum has larger dimensions, with diameter of about 200 nm and length of 30–300 μm, and has a complicated internal structure that allows actuation along the length of the flagellum.
IONIC EXCIMERS EXCITED BY LASER-PRODUCED PLASMAS

Recently, the existence of ionic alkali halide excimers (A2+X−) and ionic rare gas halide excimers (Rg2+X−) have been predicted [1]. These new ionic excimers are expected to emit in the vacuum ultraviolet in close analogy to the isoelectronic neutral rare gas halides, halogens and inter-halogens, and are interesting candidates for new VUV/XUV lasers.
Ultrasonic Characterization of Fatigue Behavior in Metal-Matrix Composites

In the past decades, the incorporation of ceramic reinforcement in metal-matrix composites (MMC’s) brought about considerable improvements in elastic modulus, strength, wear resistance, structural efficiency, reliability and control of physical properties (e.g. density and coefficient of thermal expansion) thereby providing for improved mechanical performance in comparison to the unreinforced matrix [1–4]. S-N curves for materials such as steels are available elsewhere [5–6] whereas are limited for MMC’s. Studies on the elastic constants behavior for MMC’s as a function of temperature, volume fractions of reinforcement and applied stresses had already been conducted [7–8]. However, the fatigue behavior of elastic constants in MMC’s is not well understood. Further, the trend now is aimed at nondestructive evaluation (NDE) of materials which in the past years gained significant attention over the conventional destructive tests since the former is capable of determining the usefulness, serviceability or quality of a part or material without limiting its usefulness, which is not possible in the latter’s case [9–10]. In view of the above discussion, a result of the study on the fatigue behavior and ultrasonic characterization of monolithic aluminum and aluminum MMC’s will be discussed here.
Microscopic View of the Active Sites for Selective Dehydrogenation of Formic Acid on Cu(111)

Formic acid is an important molecule, due to its potential for hydrogen storage and the role of formate in methanol synthesis. Formic acid can decompose on metals and oxides via dehydrogenation or dehydration, although dehydrogenation is preferred for most applications. These two pathways are linked via the water–gas shift reaction (WGSR), making them hard to separate, and debate over the mechanisms still exists. Cu catalysts are known to selectively decompose formic acid via dehydrogenation to produce CO2 and H2. Formic acid’s interaction with Cu(110) has been extensively studied, but despite the (111) facet being predominant in many nanoparticles, Cu(111) has received little attention. Using temperature-programmed desorption/reaction (TPD/R) and scanning tunneling microscopy (STM), we have probed key steps in the decomposition of formic acid on Cu(111) at the atomic scale, observing intact adsorption and surface intermediates, as well as the surface after product desorption. Our model system allows us t...
Genetic control of the susceptibility to infection with pathogenic bacteria.

The elegant early work of Benacerraf and Germain (1978), McDevitt (1976), and others (Klein 1975; Snell et al. 1976) has clearly demonstrated the influence of the mouse histocompatibility complex (H-2) on the susceptibility or resistance of different strains of mice to a variety of diseases including bacterial infections. As a result, numerous investigations have resulted in a veritable explosion of knowledge concerning these interrelationships. Many aspects of these murine H-2 genetic influences on these disease associations will be described in other chapters in this book. Our task is to point out those examples in man in which there is a definite or presumed relationship of the human histocompatibility system (HLA) to disease susceptibility and pathogenesis of bacterial disease.
Automation of the Radiosynthesis of Six Different 18F-labeled radiotracers on the AllinOne

Fast implementation of positron emission tomography (PET) into clinical and preclinical studies highly demands automated synthesis for the preparation of PET radiopharmaceuticals in a safe and reproducible manner. The aim of this study was to develop automated synthesis methods for these six 18F-labeled radiopharmaceuticals produced on a routine basis at the University of Pennsylvania using the AllinOne synthesis module. The development of automated syntheses with varying complexity was accomplished including HPLC purification, SPE procedures and final formulation with sterile filtration. The six radiopharmaceuticals were obtained in high yield and high specific activity with full automation on the AllinOne synthesis module under current good manufacturing practice (cGMP) guidelines. The study demonstrates the versatility of this synthesis module for the preparation of a wide variety of 18F-labeled radiopharmaceuticals for PET imaging studies.
Exploring the Community Impact of Service-Learning Project Teams

The purpose of this project was to study community partners' perceptions of the impact of service-learning projects, by studying the ways in which ‘service-learning project teams’ (SLPT) impacted the communities and organizations where they worked. Researchers purposefully selected 16 community partners (CP) who had direct experience working with and supervising service-learning project teams to take part in semi-structured interviews regarding their experiences. Analysis of the transcribed interviews resulted in fifteen themes that were divided into two categories. These findings are intended to be a starting point for further research regarding the community impact of service-learning. Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:8.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:107%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
Modeling the value of integrated U.S. and Canadian power sector expansion

Abstract The U.S.-Canadian power system has evolved into a highly integrated grid. Cross-border transmission and coordination of system operations create an interconnected power system with combined imports and exports of electricity of greater than 77 TWh per year. Currently, more than 5 GW of new international transmission lines are in various stages of permitting and development. These transmission lines may enable even greater integration and coordination of the U.S. and Canadian systems, which can in turn increase the reliability and flexibility of North America’s electricity grid and help address challenges associated with integrating high levels of variable renewables. Using a version of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s Regional Energy Deployment System (ReEDS) model that incorporates Canada, this analysis quantifies the differences in the evolution of the power system under scenarios in which cross-border transmission capacity is restricted to today’s levels, and scenarios in which new transmission is less restricted. These impacts are analyzed under a “business-as-usual” reference scenario and a scenario in which deep cuts in power sector carbon dioxide emissions levels are achieved. A set of key impact metrics is analyzed, including 1) the composition of generating capacity by technology, 2) system costs, 3) wholesale electricity prices, 4) international electricity exports and imports, 5) transmission capacity, and 6) carbon dioxide emission levels. When new cross-border transmission is not allowed, the United States needs additional capacity (primarily natural gas and renewable energy) to meet domestic needs, while total Canadian capacity is lower because less capacity is needed to export to the United States. This effect is amplified under the carbon cap scenario. Impacts vary on a regional basis, largely due to the different relative sizes of the generation portfolio between countries and regions and the relative impact from cross-border electricity trade. The total impact from restricting cross-border trade on carbon emissions and average wholesale electricity prices is limited, due to the relative size of the domestic power systems and the cross-border trade volume. Cross-border transmission capacity is projected to more than double under the unrestricted transmission capacity scenarios, which exceeds the rate of projected domestic transmission capacity additions in each country.
On the Value Dependent Role of the Identification Processing and Evaluation of Information in Risk/Benefit Analysis

The decision-making process may be described as the identification and evaluation of a number of alternatives potentially capable of resolving an issue, and the ultimate selection and implementation of one (or more) of the several available alternative actions so as to satisfy, to the maximum extent possible, the goals or objectives of the decision maker [Efstathiou and Rajkovic, 1979]. The decision is one of “certainty” if the decision maker has complete and accurate knowledge of the consequences that will follow from each alternative. The decision is one under “risk” if there is accurate knowledge of the probability distribution of consequences of the alternatives. Finally, decisions occur under “uncertainty” if the decision maker cannot assign any definite probabilities to outcomes which follow from decision alternatives. When the alternatives are many, when there are risks or uncertainties about the consequences of the different actions, and when there are multiple noncommensurable conflicting objectives which result, the decision process is very complicated. This is typically the case in contemporary issues regarding risk and hazards.
The weight of cosmic lenses

A technique for weighing galaxy clusters using distortions of the cosmic microwave background is entering an era of precision measurements.
Phase separation during mixing of partially miscible fluids under near-critical and supercritical conditions, and the phenomenon of “uphill diffusion”

Abstract Partially miscible fluids often exhibit complex behavior. While previous studies have focused on the phase characteristics, the coupled phase equilibrium and transport processes under near-critical/supercritical conditions are not well studied. Here, the binary/ternary phase equilibria of light oil (maltenes)—heavy oil (asphaltenes)—water mixtures, are examined at 25 MPa and 640–660 K. Within this temperature range, three regimes exist in the ternary phase diagram. Next, the mixing of a two-component oil droplet under near-critical/supercritical water is studied numerically. In the simulations, the evolution and final distribution of the oils in the different phases depend on the temperature. The number of distinct zones in space and oil concentration in each zone are consistent with the phase diagram, while the separation process is driven by the heat and mass transfer from the bulk water phase to the oil droplet. The transport of the heavier oil exhibits the so-called “uphill diffusion”.
System-Level Health-Care Integration and the Costs of Cancer Care Across the Disease Continuum.

Purpose:Policy reforms in the Affordable Care Act encourage health care integration to improve quality and lower costs. We examined the association between system-level integration and longitudinal costs of cancer care.Methods:We used linked SEER-Medicare data to identify patients age 66 to 99 years diagnosed with prostate, bladder, esophageal, pancreatic, lung, liver, kidney, colorectal, breast, or ovarian cancer from 2007 to 2012. We attributed each patient to one or more phases of care (ie, initial, continuing, and end of life) according to time from diagnosis until death or end of study interval. For each phase, we aggregated all claims with the primary cancer diagnosis and identified patients treated in an integrated delivery network (IDN), as defined by the Becker Hospital Review list of the top 100 most integrated health delivery systems. We then determined if care provided in an IDN was associated with decreased payments across cancers and for each individual cancer by phase and across phases.Resu...
Accurate surface exposure dating with lichens

Lichenometry accurately dates exposure times of glacial moraines and landslides when measuring the longest axis of the largest crustose lichen on many blocks, as demonstrated by numerous examples. In Sweden, the sizes of Rhizocarpon subgenus Rhizocarpon describe five pulses of glacial moraine creation in 120 yr. Six historic California earthquakes, between AD 1800 and 1906, caused many landslides that constrain lichen growth as linear with a dating accuracy of±0.5 yr. Crustose lichen sizes date earthquake-created additions to Sierra Nevada talus with an accuracy of±5 yr. The oldest lichen ages are 400 yr for Lecanora sierrae, 800 yr for Lecidea atrobrunnea, and 1100 yr for Acarospora chlorophana and Rhizocarpon subgenus Rhizocarpon. Lichen sizes also record differing spatial attenuation of ground shaking from the magnitude (M w ) ~7.9 San Andreas earthquake of AD 1857 and the more distant, smaller San Jacinto AD 1800 earthquake, which both caused Sierra Nevada rockfalls. AD 1800 seismic shaking was relatively stronger than that of AD 1857 farther north, perhaps expressing stronger Love and Rayleigh styles of surface waves from the north-trending AD 1800 surface rupture that were particularly efficient in causing rockfalls at greater distances.
AORTIC STENOSIS WITH NORMAL VALVE LEAFLETS: AN UNUSUAL MANIFESTATION OF ADULT CONGENITAL RUBELLA

Cardiovascular malformations are commonly reported with congenital rubella (CR). We report the first case of a miniature aortic ring in an adult CR patient. 52-year-old woman with history for CR with blindness, deafness, and obesity was referred for progressive dyspnea. Physical exam was notable
Disclosure and Audit Implications of Nonfinancial Measures: A Teaching Case

SUMMARY This case introduces students to nonfinancial measures (NFMs) and encourages thoughtful consideration and discourse surrounding their reporting and use by managers and auditors. NFMs are co...
Enrichment methods for inflow turbulence generation in the atmospheric boundary layer

We investigate the feasibility of introducing synthetic turbulence into finite-domain large-eddy simulations (LES) of the wind plant operating environment. This effort is motivated by the need for a robust mesoscale-to-microscale coupling strategy in which a microscale (wind plant) simulation is driven by mesoscale data without any resolved microscale turbulence. A neutrally stratified atmospheric boundary layer was simulated in an LES with 10-m grid spacing. We show how such a fully developed turbulence field may be reproduced with spectral enrichment starting from an under-resolved coarse LES field (with 20-m and 40-m grid spacing). The velocity spectra of the under-resolved fields are enriched by superimposing a fluctuating velocity field calculated by two turbulence simulators: TurbSim and Gabor Kinematic Simulation. Both forms of enrichment accurately simulated the autospectra of all three velocity components at high wavenumbers, with agreement between the enriched fields and the full-resolution LES observed at 400 m from the inflow boundary. In contrast, the spectra of the unenriched fields reached the same fully developed state at four times the downstream distance.
Duty-Bound: Rational Foundations of Clinical Strategies for Prevention of Cardiovascular Events

Cardiovascular screening involves numerous philosophic, epidemiologic, and economic assumptions that often go unstated. In this study, we discuss several of these assumptions and illustrate their impact on the accuracy and practicality of screening. We thereby conclude that these assumptions and their consequences should be made explicit by advocates of particular operative strategies.
Protein Phosphorylation and Phospholipid Metabolism in the Superior Cervical Ganglion

Our laboratory has been interested in the mechanisms by which neuronal activity regulates neuronal metabolism. Specifically, we have been studying the mechanisms by which neuronal activity regulates tyrosine hydroxylase (tyrosine 3-monooxygenase, EC 1.14.16.2) activity and catecholamine synthesis in the superior cervical ganglion (SCG). The SCG is a prototypical sympathetic ganglion. The noradrenergic principal neurons in this ganglion innervate the pineal gland, the salivary glands, the thyroid gland, smooth muscles of the iris, and blood vessels in the head and neck. These neurons are innervated by preganglionic sympathetic nerves whose cell bodies lie in the intermediolateral column of the spinal cord and which release acetylcholine (ACh) as their classical neurotransmitter. The principal ganglionic neurons contain both nicotinic and muscarinic cholinergic receptors. Stimulation of the nicotinic receptors produces a rapid depolarization that is due to a generalized increase in the permeability of the neurons to cations. Nicotinic stimulation typically leads to the generation of action potentials in the neurons. Stimulation of the muscarinic receptors produces a slower depolarization that is due at least in part to the inhibition of K+ efflux from the cells. These neurons also contain voltage-sensitive Ca2+ channels; depolarization activates these channels and thereby causes an additional influx of Ca2x into the cells. Finally, the pre-ganglionic neurons contain a variety of peptides in addition to ACh; the physiological effects of these peptides have not yet been determined.
Impact of Subsequent Biopsies on Comprehensive Health Related Quality of Life in Patients with and without Prostate Cancer.

Purpose:The aim of this study was to identify the effects of subsequent prostate needle biopsies after the baseline biopsy on health related quality of life with time. We compared men with and with...