cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Reduced-Dose Radiation Therapy to the Primary Site is Effective for High-Risk Neuroblastoma: Results From a Prospective Trial.

Purpose For patients with high-risk neuroblastoma (HR-NB), a dose of 21 Gy to the primary tumor site after gross total resection (GTR) provides excellent local control. However, no clinical trial has specifically evaluated the optimal dose of radiation therapy (RT), and RT-related long-term toxicities are of increasing concern. We sought to assess local control, survival outcomes, and toxicity after a reduction in dose to the primary site from 21 Gy to 18 Gy. Methods and Materials After induction chemotherapy and GTR, patients with HR-NB were enrolled and treated on an RT dose-reduction prospective trial with 18 Gy hyperfractionated RT given in twice-daily fractions of 1.5 Gy each. Results The 25 study subjects were 1.6 to 9.5 (median, 4.3) years old at enrollment and included 23 (92%) with stage IV and II (8%) with MYCN-amplified stage III disease. Eleven (44%) were in complete remission (CR), and 14 (56%) had persistence of osteomedullary disease postinduction. Three patients (12%) received proton therapy, and the rest received intensity modulated photon therapy. After a follow-up of 1.8 to 4.2 (median, 3.5) years from initiation of RT, no failures occurred within the RT field; 3 patients had marginal recurrences. The respective 3-year progression-free and overall survival rates were 54.5% and 90.9% for patients in first CR and 42.9% and 76.2% for patients not in metastatic CR. Acute toxicity was negligible. Conclusions Reduced-dose RT with 18 Gy did not compromise local control or survival outcomes in our cohort of patients with HR-NB after GTR. These findings support assessing further RT dose reduction and validation on a larger, multi-institutional trial.
Presynaptic diversity revealed by Ca2+-permeable AMPA receptors at the Calyx of Held synapse

GluA2-lacking Ca2+-permeable AMPARs (CP-AMPARs) play integral roles in synaptic plasticity and can mediate excitotoxic cellular signaling at glutamatergic synapses. However, the developmental profile of functional CP-AMPARs at the auditory brainstem remains poorly understood. Through a combination of electrophysiological and live-cell Ca2+ imaging from mice of either sex, we show that the synaptic release of glutamate from the calyx of Held nerve terminal activates CP-AMPARs in the principal cells of the medial nucleus of the trapezoid body in the brainstem. This leads to significant Ca2+ influx through these receptors before the onset of hearing at postnatal day 12 (P12). Using a selective open channel blocker of CP-AMPARs, IEM-1460, we estimate that ∼80% of the AMPAR population are permeable to Ca2+ at immature P4-P5 synapses. However, after the onset of hearing, Ca2+ influx through these receptors was greatly reduced. We estimate that CP-AMPARs comprise approximately 40% and 33% of the AMPAR population at P18-P22 and P30-P34, respectively. By quantifying the rate of EPSC block by IEM-1460, we found an increased heterogeneity in glutamate release probability for adult-like calyces (P30-P34). Using tetraethylammonium (TEA), a presynaptic potassium channel blocker, we show that the apparent reduction of CP-AMPARs in more mature synapses is not a consequence of presynaptic action potential (AP) speeding. Finally, through postsynaptic AP recordings, we show that inhibition of CP-AMPARs reduces spike fidelity in juvenile synapses, but not in more mature synapses. We conclude that the expression of functional CP-AMPARs declines over early postnatal development in the calyx of Held synapse.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT The calyx of Held synapse is pivotal to the circuitry that computes sound localization. Postsynaptic Ca2+ influx via AMPARs may be critical for signaling the maturation of this brainstem synapse. The GluA4 subunit may dominate the AMPAR complex at mature synapses because of its fast gating kinetics and large unitary conductance. The expectation is that AMPARs dominated by GluA4 subunits should be highly Ca2+ permeable. However, we find that Ca2+-permeable AMPAR expression declines during postnatal development. Using the rate of EPSC block by IEM-1460, an open channel blocker of Ca2+-permeable AMPARs, we propose a novel method to determine glutamate release probability and uncover an increased heterogeneity in release probability for more mature calyces of Held nerve terminals.
Stabilization Music Therapy Model and Process: 512 China Sichuan Earthquake Crisis Interventions, Part 2 of 2

Abstract Music and Medicine 3(2) 89-94 a The Author(s) 2011 Reprints and permission: sagepub.com/journalsPermissions.nav DOI: 10.1177/1943862110378109 http://mmd.sagepub.com As a music therapist participating for the Sichuan 512 (May 12) earthquake crisis intervention program in China, the author worked during June 2009 at a transitional resettlement site at the earthquake zone in Sichuan, China; living at the site with the survivors and working for almost a month. The models and processes which were applied are considered pilot research descriptions and findings, and include (1) ‘‘Community Orientation’’: mobilizing social resource for music-oriented locals, (2) ‘‘Hybrid Sub-community Orientation’’: the recovery of confidence for those showing withdrawal behavior, and (3) ‘‘Purely Small Groups’’: involving the therapist organizing survivors into 5 groups: children, teenagers, adults, seniors, and working staff. The report has been provisioned into 2 parts. Part 2 covers the therapy process and treatment results. Relevant background information on earthquakes, the literature review, therapy models, and the rationale are included in Part 1, also published in this issue of the journal.
How environmental futures can inform decision making: A review

Abstract Environmental decision- and policy-making must contend with uncertainty about the future that can hinder proactive environmental decisions, forcing environmental managers into reactive postures. To help prevent this, a variety of methods exist for exploring potential environmental futures and associated uncertainties. Producing environmental futures benefits those involved by supporting a systems-level understanding and expanding thinking beyond “business as usual”. We review select environmental and non-environmental futures programs that seek to inform decision-making. Review objectives are to: 1) identify and discuss key environmental futures program attributes, and 2) propose program attributes that support successful connection with decision processes. Attributes discussed include purpose and audience, methods, addressing uncertainty and assumptions, relationship to indicator programs, how program values and biases are addressed, the role of goals, and how success is measured and defined. We conclude with recommendations for how to conduct environmental futures programs to be more useful for environmental decisions. These include: combining multiple environmental futures methods to provide complementary insights or highlight inconsistencies in assumptions, including a schematic of assumptions and drivers, and defining success criteria, whenever possible. These practices can help increase the acceptance of environmental futures products in decision-making and increase their short-term and long-term contributions.
Story Time in the Law Library

Statutes and cases can make for dry reading. Yet they often have very interesting stories behind them. This essay discusses a few examples and offers tips for finding such stories to enrich our understanding of the law.
Analogical Generalization of Activities from Single Demonstration

Learning new activities (i.e., sequences of actions possibly involving new objects) from single demonstrations is common for humans and would thus be very desirable for future robots as well. However, “one-shot activity learning” is currently still in its infancy and limited to just recording the observed objects and actions of the human demonstrator. In this paper, we introduce a process called “Mental Elaboration and Generalization by Analogy” to create a generalized representation of an activity that has been demonstrated only once. By abstracting over various dimensions of the learned activity, the obtained activity representation is applicable to a much wider range of objects and actions than would otherwise be possible.
The Education of Buddhist Monks in Sri Lanka: A Historical Review and Some Suggestions for Reform

The education of Buddhist monks had traditionally been a matter of studying under renowned scholar-monks. However, during colonial times there was a gradual replacement of monasteries as centers of training of monks by new piriven educational institutions. These institutions gradually became widespread in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries as the colonial state worked with Buddhist leaders to establish a centrally designed curriculum and formal examinations. At the same time, the growth of the nationalist movement among Sinhalese Buddhists gave new legitimacy to the understanding of Lanka’s history as a journey from Sinhala- Buddhist origins. This article traces the many efforts to reform the piriven and their curricula. Through an analysis of the history textbooks used at the first level of piriven education in the late 20th and early 21st centuries, this article concludes that the education given to novice Buddhist monks downplays the contribution of ethnic and religious minorities to Sri Lanka's history. It is argued that the development of a more inclusive history curriculum for the education of monks, together with other factors such as better teacher training, would enable Buddhist monks to play a more effective role in the diverse country that Sri Lanka has come to be today.
Evidence for "Alpha-Particle" Clusters in Several Nuclei from the (α, 2α) Reaction at 0.91 BeV

We have investigated the "alpha-particle" cluster density in the region, $\ensuremath{\rho}l(\frac{1}{20}){\ensuremath{\rho}}_{0}$, utilizing the ($\ensuremath{\alpha}, 2\ensuremath{\alpha}$) reaction at 0.915 BeV. The results are consistent with complete clustering of all nucleons in the density region $\ensuremath{\rho}l(\frac{1}{20}){\ensuremath{\rho}}_{0}$. In this region nucleons are less affected by the Pauli principle. When nucleons emerge from the inner region ($\ensuremath{\rho}={\ensuremath{\rho}}_{0}$) they give the nucleus extra stability by clustering to form "alpha-particle" satellites. These structures may have a short lifetime and be constantly forming and redissolving. The alpha-particle nonelastic mean free path in nuclear matter of density $(\frac{1}{20}){\ensuremath{\rho}}_{0}$ is very short (12F) and almost independent of energy as determined from elastic scattering and total-reaction cross-section measurements for alpha particles. As a consequence the reaction volume in heavy nuclei is known to be that part of the pole caps where $\ensuremath{\rho}l(\frac{1}{20}){\ensuremath{\rho}}_{0}$, and the ($\ensuremath{\alpha}, 2\ensuremath{\alpha}$) reaction is very specifically probing this layer. Coincident events were observed from a series of heavy target elements in which two emergent alpha particles were identified in which the sum of their energies was equal to 0.915 BeV. The energy of the individual alpha particle and the angular correlation between them were found to correspond to the free, two-body collision kinematics for equal mass particles. The numbers of such events were consistent with complete clustering of all nucleons in the density region $\ensuremath{\rho}l(\frac{1}{20}){\ensuremath{\rho}}_{0}$.
Implications of Social Distancing Policies on Drinking Water Infrastructure: An Overview of the Challenges to and Responses of U.S. Utilities during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Social distancing policies (SDPs) implemented throughout the United States in response to COVID-19 have led to spatial and temporal shifts in drinking water demand and, for water utilities, created sociotechnical challenges. During this unique period, many water utilities have been forced to operate outside of design conditions with reduced workforce and financial capacities. Few studies have examined how water utilities respond to a pandemic;such methods are even absent from many emergency response plans. Here, we documented how utilities have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. We conducted a qualitative analysis of 30 interviews with 53 practitioners spanning 28 U.S. water utilities. Our aim was to, first, understand the challenges experienced by utilities and changes to operations (e.g., demand and deficit accounts) and, second, to document utilities' responses. Results showed that to maintain service continuity and implement SDPs, utilities had to overcome various challenges. These include supply chain issues, spatiotemporal changes in demand, and financial losses, and these challenges were largely dependent on the type of customers served (e.g., commercial or residential). Examples of utilities' responses include proactively ordering extra supplies and postponing capital projects. Although utilities' adaptations ensured the immediate provision of water services, their responses might have negative repercussions in the future (e.g., delayed projects contributing to aging infrastructure).
Measurement, manipulation and modeling of brain-wide neural population dynamics.

Neural recording technologies increasingly enable simultaneous measurement of neural activity from multiple brain areas. To gain insight into distributed neural computations, a commensurate advance in experimental and analytical methods is necessary. We discuss two opportunities towards this end: the manipulation and modeling of neural population dynamics.
'Menthol-Plus': a major category of cigarette found among 'concept' descriptor cigarettes from Mexico.

Background Tobacco companies are offering cigarettes with ‘concept’ descriptor names that suggest sensation and/or flavour properties (eg, Marlboro ‘Velvet Fusion’). Little has been known about the identities and levels of flavour chemicals in such cigarettes. Methods Thirty-three filter cigarette variants from 27 packs (including two sampler packs with four variations each) from Canada and Mexico were analysed (rod + filter) for 177 flavour chemicals plus triacetin, a filter plasticiser and possible flavourant. Five brands of US mentholated filter cigarettes were also analysed. Results Twenty-seven of the 33 cigarettes (all were Mexican variants) were categorised as ‘menthol-plus’: significant menthol (3.0–11.9 mg/cigarette), plus varying amounts (0.32–3.4 mg/cigarette) of total other flavour chemicals (TOFCs) (excludes triacetin). For 10 of the 27, TOFCs >1.0 mg/cigarette. For 7 of the 27, the TOFCs profile was categorised as containing total fruit flavour compounds (TFFCs) >1.0 mg/cigarette. One Mexican variant was categorised as ‘menthol-only’ (TOFCs ≤0.15 mg/cigarette). All menthol-plus and menthol-only cigarettes contained one or two optional-crush capsules in their filters (crushed prior to analysis). All five Canadian brand variants were ‘non-flavoured’. All five US brand variants were ‘menthol-only’. Conclusions All but one of the ‘concept’ descriptor cigarettes from Mexico were ‘menthol-plus’. While the Canadian cigarettes complied with Canada’s flavour chemical ban, concept descriptors on the packs may increase appeal. Given the scale of the problem posed by menthol alone, health officials seeking to decrease the appeal of smoked tobacco should examine the extent to which ‘concept descriptor’ cigarettes using ‘menthol-plus’ flavour profiling together with artful descriptors are furthering the problem of smoked tobacco.
Objective and algorithm considerations when optimizing the number and placement of turbines in a wind power plant

Abstract. Optimizing turbine layout is a challenging problem that has been extensively researched in the literature. However, optimizing the number of turbines within a given boundary has not been studied as extensively and is a difficult problem because it introduces discrete design variables and a discontinuous design space. An essential step in performing wind power plant layout optimization is to define the objective function, or value, that is used to express what is valuable to a wind power plant developer, such as annual energy production, cost of energy, or profit. In this paper, we demonstrate the importance of selecting the appropriate objective function when optimizing a wind power plant in a land-constrained site. We optimized several different wind power plants with different wind resources and boundary sizes. Results show that the optimal number of turbines varies drastically depending on the objective function. For a simple, one-dimensional, land-based scenario, we found that a wind power plant optimized for minimal cost of energy produced just 72 % of the profit compared to the wind power plant optimized for maximum profit, which corresponded to a loss of about USD 2 million each year. This paper also compares the performance of several different optimization algorithms, including a novel repeated-sweep algorithm that we developed. We found that the performance of each algorithm depended on the number of design variables in the problem as well as the objective function.
Factors Affecting Recruitment and Participation of Bereaved Parents in Research: A Brief Report.

Abstract Context Inclusion of bereaved parents in survey-based research is essential to improving end-of-life care for children and their families. However, racial and ethnic minorities are vastly underrepresented in these studies. Objectives Examine which child demographic characteristics are associated with parental participation in survey-based research. Methods Post-hoc secondary analysis of the Survey of Caring for Children with Complex Chronic Conditions. Demographic data were extracted from children's medical records for all eligible parents. Using logistic regression, associations were calculated between child demographics and level of parental study participation (enrolled and completed survey (full participation), enrolled but did not complete survey (incomplete participation), and declined participation). Results Two hundred nine children's parents were eligible for analysis, 114 (55%) fully participated, 36 (17%) incompletely participated, and 59 (28%) declined participation. Compared to those who fully participated, parents of non-white children were more likely to incompletely participate (OR 3.01, 95% CI 1.2–7.4), while those with public insurance only were more likely to decline participation (OR 2.1, 95% CI 1.08–4.03). Parents of children who had a documented limitation to resuscitation order were more likely to fully participate in the study (reference group) than incompletely participate (OR 0.42, 95% CI 0.2–0.91), while parents of children who had subspecialty palliative care involvement were less likely to decline participation in the study (OR 0.5, 95% CI 0.26–0.97). Conclusions To ensure optimal end-of-life care for children, all parental voices should be heard. Recruitment of racial/ethnic minorities in bereaved parent survey-based studies can be improved by focusing on specific factors that are associated with parental survey completion.
Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on injury prevalence and pattern in the Washington, DC Metropolitan Region: A multicenter study by the American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma, Washington, DC

Background The COVID-19 pandemic has had far-reaching effects on healthcare systems and society with resultant impact on trauma systems worldwide. This study evaluates the impact the pandemic has had in the Washington, DC Metropolitan Region as compared with similar months in 2019. Design A retrospective multicenter study of all adult trauma centers in the Washington, DC region was conducted using trauma registry data between January 1, 2019 and May 31, 2020. March 1, 2020 through May 31, 2020 was defined as COVID-19, and January 1, 2019 through February 28, 2020 was defined as pre-COVID-19. Variables examined include number of trauma contacts, trauma admissions, mechanism of injury, Injury Severity Score, trauma center location (urban vs. suburban), and patient demographics. Results There was a 22.4% decrease in the overall incidence of trauma during COVID-19 compared with a 3.4% increase in trauma during pre-COVID-19. Blunt mechanism of injury decreased significantly during COVID-19 (77.4% vs. 84.9%, p<0.001). There was no change in the specific mechanisms of fall from standing, blunt assault, and motor vehicle crash. The proportion of trauma evaluations for penetrating trauma increased significantly during COVID-19 (22.6% vs. 15.1%, p<0.001). Firearm-related and stabbing injury mechanisms both increased significantly during COVID-19 (11.8% vs. 6.8%, p<0.001; 9.2%, 6.9%, p=0.002, respectively). Conclusions and relevance The overall incidence of trauma has decreased since the arrival of COVID-19. However, there has been a significant rise in penetrating trauma. Preparation for future pandemic response should include planning for an increase in trauma center resource utilization from penetrating trauma. Level of evidence Epidemiological, level III.
A Web-Based, Population-Based Cirrhosis Identification and Management System for Improving Cirrhosis Care: Qualitative Formative Evaluation.

Background: Cirrhosis, or scarring of the liver, is a debilitating condition that affects millions of US adults. Early identification, linkage to care, and retention of care are critical for preventing severe complications and death from cirrhosis. Objective: The purpose of this study is to conduct a preimplementation formative evaluation to identify factors that could impact implementation of the Population-Based Cirrhosis Identification and Management System (P-CIMS) in clinics serving patients with cirrhosis. P-CIMS is a web-based informatics tool designed to facilitate patient outreach and cirrhosis care management. Methods: Semistructured interviews were conducted between January and May 2016 with frontline providers in liver disease and primary care clinics at 3 Veterans Health Administration medical centers. A total of 10 providers were interviewed, including 8 physicians and midlevel providers from liver-related specialty clinics and 2 primary care providers who managed patients with cirrhosis. The Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research guided the development of the interview guides. Inductive consensus coding and content analysis were used to analyze transcribed interviews and abstracted coded passages, elucidated themes, and insights. Results: The following themes and subthemes emerged from the analyses: outer setting: needs and resources for patients with cirrhosis; inner setting: readiness for implementation (subthemes: lack of resources, lack of leadership support), and implementation climate (subtheme: competing priorities); characteristics of individuals: role within clinic; knowledge and beliefs about P-CIMS (subtheme: perceived and realized benefits; useful features; suggestions for improvement); and perceptions of current practices in managing cirrhosis cases (subthemes: preimplementation process for identifying and linking patients to cirrhosis care; structural and social barriers to follow-up). Overall, P-CIMS was viewed as a powerful tool for improving linkage and retention, but its integration in the clinical workflow required leadership support, time, and staffing. Providers also cited the need for more intuitive interface elements to enhance usability. Conclusions: P-CIMS shows promise as a powerful tool for identifying, linking, and retaining care in patients living with cirrhosis. The current evaluation identified several improvements and advantages of P-CIMS over current care processes and provides lessons for others implementing similar population-based identification and management tools in populations with chronic disease. Trial Registration:
Impact of atmospheric p CO 2 , seawater temperature, and calcification rate on the δ 18 O and δ 13 C composition of echinoid calcite ( Echinometra viridis )

Abstract The tropical echinoid Echinometra viridis was reared in controlled laboratory experiments at temperatures of approximately 20 °C and 30 °C to mimic winter and summer temperatures and at carbon dioxide (CO2) partial pressures of approximately 487 ppm-v and 805 ppm-v to simulate current and predicted-end-of-century levels. Spine material produced during the experimental period and dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) of the corresponding culture solutions were then analyzed for stable oxygen (δ18Oe, δ18ODIC) and carbon (δ13Ce, δ13CDIC) isotopic composition. Fractionation of oxygen stable isotopes between the echinoid spines and DIC of their corresponding culture solutions (Δ18O = δ18Oe − δ18ODIC) was significantly inversely correlated with seawater temperature but not significantly correlated with atmospheric pCO2. Fractionation of carbon stable isotopes between the echinoid spines and DIC of their corresponding culture solutions (Δ13C = δ13Ce − δ13CDIC) was significantly positively correlated with pCO2 and significantly inversely correlated with temperature, with pCO2 functioning as the primary factor and temperature moderating the pCO2–Δ13C relationship. Echinoid calcification rate was significantly inversely correlated with both Δ18O and Δ13C across treatments, with effects of pCO2 and temperature controlled for through ANOVA. Therefore, calcification rate and potentially the rate of co-occurring dissolution appear to be important drivers of the kinetic isotope effects observed in the echinoid spines. Study results suggest that echinoid Δ18O monitors seawater temperature, but not atmospheric pCO2, and that echinoid Δ13C monitors atmospheric pCO2, with temperature moderating this relationship. These findings, coupled with echinoids' long and generally high-quality fossil record, support prior assertions that fossil echinoid Δ18O is a viable archive of paleo-seawater temperature throughout Phanerozoic time, and that Δ13C merits further investigation as a potential proxy of paleo-atmospheric pCO2. However, the apparent impact of calcification rate on echinoid Δ18O and Δ13C suggests that paleoceanographic reconstructions derived from these proxies in fossil echinoids could be improved by incorporating the effects of growth rate.
Differential Roles for Dopamine D1-Like and D2-Like Receptors in Mediating the Reinforcing Effects of Cocaine: Convergent Evidence from Pharmacological and Genetic Studies.

Objective: To screen for misuse of approved antidementives (ADD) in an elderly non-demented population because of lack of information on this subject. Methods and Results: In a German general hospital, 671 in-patients of ≥ 65 years of age were randomly visited to be examined as to current and past abuse of and dependence on ADD using a personal interview (SKID-I) based on DSM-IV-TR. Among them, 400 (75 ± 6.4 years; 63% females) agreed with participation in this cross-sectional study. The addiction section of SKID-I had been expanded to the ADD rivastigmine, donezepil, galantamine and memantine. Accordingly, there was no person abusing or being dependent on any ADD in question, neither in the past nor currently. Discussion: One third of the cohort did not agree with participation in the study, which bears the risk of an underestimation of ADD being misused. Conclusion: A misuse of ADD in the elderly non-demented hospital population could not be identified what did not support a potential addiction potential of these drugs.
Universidad del Bío‐Bío and California State University, San Marcos

Purpose – A comparative case study of two academic libraries in two continents aims to investigate reasons behind similarities and differences between Universidad del Bio‐Bio (UBB) in Concepcion, Chile, and California State University San Marcos (CSUSM).Design/methodology/approach – Empirical data and interview transcripts are analyzed in the paper to provide insight into characteristics of academic libraries in an international context.Findings – The paper finds that, while institutional age, student population size, and number of librarians are comparable, the services, usage, and collections at each library are distinct.Originality/value – There are few international comparative case studies of academic libraries.
A noncoherent system approach to through-the-wall radar imaging

A noncoherent, stepped-frequency, through-the-wall radar system approach, based on a trilateration technique, is presented. This approach involves multiple independent radar units and, as such, provides flexibility in positioning the units with various stand-off distances and inter-element spacing. We demonstrate the proposed noncoherent system approach in an indoor environment using real data. The experimental results show that the radar is able to detect and locate multiple targets behind walls.
Gordon-type arguments in the spectral theory of one-dimensional quasicrystals

We review the recent developments in the spectral theory of discrete one-dimensional Schrodinger operators with potentials generated by substitutions and circle maps. We discuss how occurrences of local repetitive structures allow for estimates of generalized eigenfunctions. Among the recent applications of this general approach are almost sure and uniform results on the absence of eigenvalues as well as continuity of the spectral measures with respect to Hausdorff measures.
Artificial neural network for the inverse electromagnetic problem of system identification

An approach which is based on the use of artificial neural networks and finite element analysis is used to solve the inverse problem of system identification. The approach is used on a test problem to identify location, material and values of unknown sources within an inaccessible region. A comparison of actual and predicted values of the unknown parameters demonstrates the validity of this approach. >
Micron and sub-micron scale characterization of interfaces in Thermal Interface Material systems

One of the key challenges in the thermal management of electronic packages are interfaces such as those between the chip and heat spreader and the interface between a heat spreader and heat sink or cold plate. Typically, thermal interfaces are filled with materials such as thermal adhesives and greases. Interface materials reduce the contact resistance between the mating heat generating and heat sinking units by filling voids and grooves created by the non-smooth surface topography of the mating surfaces, thus improving surface contact and the conduction of heat across the interface. However, micron and sub-micron voids and delaminations still exist at the interface between the interface material and the surfaces of the heat spreader and semiconductor device. In addition, a TIM may form a filler-depleted and resin-rich region at the interfaces. These defects, though at a small length scale, can significantly deteriorate the heat dissipation ability of a system consisting of a Thermal Interface Material (TIM) between a heat generating surface and a heat dissipating surface. The characterization of a freestanding sample of TIM does not provide a complete understanding of its interfacial behavior. However, system-level characterization of a TIM system, which includes its freestanding behavior and its interfacial behavior, provides a more accurate understanding. While, measurement of system-level thermal resistance provides an accurate representation of the system performance of a TIM, it does not provide information regarding the physical behavior of the TIM at the interfaces. This knowledge is valuable in engineering interface materials and developing assembly process parameters for enhanced system-level thermal performance. Characterization of an interface material between a silicon device and a metal heat spreader can be accomplished via several techniques. In this research, high-magnification radiography with Computed Tomography (CT), acoustic microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy were used to characterize various TIM systems. The results of these characterization studies are presented in this paper. System-level thermal performance results are compared to physical characterization results.
Studies in the Total Synthesis of Mono- and Sesquiterpenes. Antirride

Abstract Pursuant to our investigations into the use of bicyclo[3.3.0]-octane derivatives in synthesizing cyclopentanoid monoterpenes,1 we were prompted to develop an efficient route to a synthetic equivalent of 1, an attractive entry to such natural products as morroniside,2 loganin,3 plumericin,4 and sarracenin.5 The target chosen was compound 2, an established derivative of the natural product antirride,6 characterized in 1969, but unknown synthetically. We now wish to report the synthesis of 2, as a prelude to the synthetic studies of plumericin4 and sarracenin5.
Soluble Mediators Regulating Immunity in Early Life

Soluble factors in blood plasma have a substantial impact on both the innate and adaptive immune responses. The complement system, antibodies, and anti-microbial proteins and peptides can directly interact with potential pathogens, protecting against systemic infection. Levels of these innate effector proteins are generally lower in neonatal circulation at term delivery than in adults, and lower still at preterm delivery. The extracellular environment also has a critical influence on immune cell maturation, activation, and effector functions, and many of the factors in plasma, including hormones, vitamins, and purines, have been shown to influence these processes for leukocytes of both the innate and adaptive immune systems. The ontogeny of plasma factors can be viewed in the context of a lower effectiveness of immune responses to infection and immunization in early life, which may be influenced by the striking neonatal deficiency of complement system proteins or enhanced neonatal production of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10, among other ontogenic differences. Accordingly, we survey here a number of soluble mediators in plasma for which age-dependent differences in abundance may influence the ontogeny of immune function, particularly direct innate interaction and skewing of adaptive lymphocyte activity in response to infectious microorganisms and adjuvanted vaccines.
Pulmonary expression of the hepatocyte growth factor receptor c-Met shifts from medial to intimal layer after cavopulmonary anastomosis

Abstract Objective Pulmonary arteriovenous malformations occur in up to 60% of patients after cavopulmonary anastomosis. We compared the effects of cavopulmonary anastomosis and pulmonary artery banding on lung gene expression in an ovine model to study the abnormal pulmonary vascular remodeling after the exclusion of inferior vena caval blood independent of reduced pulmonary blood flow. We previously demonstrated by contrast echocardiography that pulmonary arteriovenous malformations develop by 8 weeks after cavopulmonary anastomosis but not after pulmonary artery banding. Hepatocyte growth factor, a pleiotropic factor with morphogenic, mitogenic, and angiogenic activities, signals via its specific receptor c-Met to induce the antiapoptotic factor Bcl-2. In this study, we examined pulmonary artery expression of these factors and their potential role in pulmonary artery remodeling after cavopulmonary anastomosis and pulmonary artery banding. Methods Eighteen lambs aged 35 to 45 days were placed into 3 groups: cavopulmonary anastomosis, pulmonary artery banding, and control (n = 6/group). In the cavopulmonary anastomosis group, the superior vena cava was anastomosed to the right pulmonary artery in an end-to-end fashion. In the pulmonary artery banding group, the left pulmonary artery was banded to reduce blood flow to 20% of control. The control group had a simple right pulmonary artery clamp for 30 minutes. Lung was harvested for Western blot, reverse transcriptase–polymerase chain reaction, and immunostaining at 2 weeks (n = 3/group) and 5 weeks (n = 3/group) after surgery. Results The expression of c-Met mRNA after cavopulmonary anastomosis was increased by twofold compared with the control or pulmonary artery banding group. The total lung expression of c-Met by Western blot was also up regulated at 2 weeks ( P Conclusions After cavopulmonary anastomosis, pulmonary artery expression of the hepatocyte growth factor receptor c-Met and one of its downstream effectors, Bcl-2, had increased in the intimal layer and decreased in the medial layer. Because the hepatocyte growth factor signaling promotes increased endothelial cell survival, it may have a role in pulmonary artery remodeling following cavopulmonary anastomosis. In addition, the change of c-Met expression in the medial layer after cavopulmonary anastomosis suggests a possible mechanism for the smooth muscle cell alteration related to abnormal angiogenesis.
A bootstrap control chart for Birnbaum–Saunders percentiles

The problem of detecting a shift in the percentile of a Birnbaum–Saunders population in a process monitoring situation is considered. For example, such problems may arise when the quality characteristic of interest is tensile strength or breaking stress. The parametric bootstrap method is used to develop a quality control chart for monitoring percentiles when process measurements have a Birnbaum–Saunders distribution. Through extensive Monte Carlo simulations, we investigate the behavior and performance of the proposed bootstrap percentile charts. Average run lengths of the proposed percentile chart are also investigated. Illustrative examples with the data concerning the tensile strength of the aluminum sheeting are presented. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Effect of a High Fat Diet Fed Prior to or at Sexual Maturity on Egg Weight

This study compared the effects of a low fat, high carbohydrate diet with a high fat diet fed prior to or at the onset of egg production on initial egg weight. Commercial egg-type pullets were assigned to one of three dietary regimens: 1) the control (CON), a low fat, high carbohydrate diet, 2) a high fat (HF) diet containing eight parts of fat, and 3) the high carbohydrate diet provided prelay and the high fat diet during the production period (CHO-HF). The carbohydrate prelay and laying diets contained .990 and .943% fat and had a calculated metabolizable energy (ME) value of 2,831 and 2,697 kcal/kg, respectively. The high fat prelay and laying diets contained 8.959 and 8.484% fat with a calculated ME value of 3,202 and 3,032 kcal/kg, respectively. The first 60 eggs produced by each pullet were collected and weighed. At Egg 60, no significant differences were seen in body weight and abdominal adipose tissue. The CON treatment had a significantly greater liver weight, liver lipid content, and ovary weight than the HF or CHO-HF treatments. The CON and HF treatments had a similar hen-day egg production (HDP). The CHO-HF treatment was slow to adjust to the high fat diet and that may have caused the lower HDP that was seen for this treatment. No indication of a failure to adjust to the high fat diet was noted for the HF treatment. Additionally, a high fat diet resulted in higher egg weights.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Chemical reactions and membranes: a macroscopic basis for facilitated transport, chemiosmosis and active transport. Part I: Linear analysis.

Abstract Using the principle of material balance, a macroscopic concept free of molecular speculations, we can construct very simple models which perform functions equivalent to the biologically important phenomena of facilitated transport, chemiosmosis, and active transport. Rather than being esoteric consequences of special molecular assumptions, each of these phenomena is shown to be necessary consequences of reaction and transport processes coupled by conservation of material. Global properties of the system, such as its symmetry and whether the flow of a species across the system results in net chemical conversion of the reacting species determine which of the phenomena will be observed. Facilitated transport is the expected consequence of the globally conserved flow of a reacting species across a symmetrical membrane, independent of the way in which transport occurs and the position or number of reactions in which it participates during transport. Chemiosmosis is anticipated as a consequence of chemical reaction in an asymmetrical membrane separating reservoirs at different concentrations. Active transport is the expected consequence of simultaneous chemical reaction and transport of a globally conserved reacting species in an asymmetrical membrane when there is net reaction involving some other species. Model systems exemplifying these conclusions are presented here using constitutive equations for reaction and transport which are linear. The conclusions are sufficiently robust, however, that they are independent of structural details by which the symmetry or asymmetry of the membrane is achieved, and appear to remain applicable in the non-linear regime. The formulation developed here, although patterned after non-equilibrium thermodynamics, is not subject to the many inadequacies of that discipline. We state the theorem analogous to the Curie principle in which symmetry occupies role played by isotropy in the thermodynamic version. The existence of coupling between flows and non-conjugate forces follows from the principle of material balance, requiring no ad hoc assumptions. This coupling does not obey Onsager reciprocity except asymptotically near thermodynamic equilibrium.
Rheological Behavior of Highly Filled EPDM Compounds with Calcium Carbonate, Carbon Black, Silica and Zinc Oxide

Abstract The shear viscosity, creep and constant shear rate transients have been measured for 0.20 volume fraction compounds of an EPDM with calcium carbonate, carbon black, silica and zinc oxide of similar particle size at 100°C. Measurements have been made in a creep sandwich instrument, pressurized rotational rheometer and a capillary rheometer and cover nine decades of shear rate. All of the compounds exhibit enhanced viscosities and yield values; i.e. there are stresses below which there is no flow. The greatest yield values and increased viscosities are with the compounds with calcium carbonate and zinc oxide. More extensive studies were made with the EPDM-calcium carbonate system, where it was shown that, increasing particle size reduces shear viscosity and yield values. Further, surface treating calcium carbonate with stearic acid signifcantly reduces the shear viscosity and yield value of the corresponding EPDM compound.
Growth promotion in Tetrahymena by folic acid analogs.

SummaryTetrahymena geleiiW is not inhibited by either 4-amino-pteroylglutamic acid or N10-methylpteroylglutamic acid. Moreover, both of these analogs promote growth in the absence of folic acid. It is suggested that the organism possesses enzymes which deaminate the 4-position and enzymes which demethylate the 10-position. Pteroyl-aspartic acid and 4-amino-pteroylaspartic acid spare, but do not replace, folic acid. Citrovorum factor is never more active, and usually less active, than folic acid.
The role of pattern recognition in creative problem solving: A case study in search of new mathematics for biology

Rosen classified sciences into two categories: formalizable and unformalizable. Whereas formalizable sciences expressed in terms of mathematical theories were highly valued by Rutherford, Hutchins pointed out that unformalizable parts of soft sciences are of genuine interest and importance. Attempts to build mathematical theories for biology in the past century was met with modest and sporadic successes, and only in simple systems. In this article, a qualitative model of humans' high creativity is presented as a starting point to consider whether the gap between soft and hard sciences is bridgeable. Simonton's chance-configuration theory, which mimics the process of evolution, was modified and improved. By treating problem solving as a process of pattern recognition, the known dichotomy of visual thinking vs. verbal thinking can be recast in terms of analog pattern recognition (non-algorithmic process) and digital pattern recognition (algorithmic process), respectively. Additional concepts commonly encountered in computer science, operations research and artificial intelligence were also invoked: heuristic searching, parallel and sequential processing. The refurbished chance-configuration model is now capable of explaining several long-standing puzzles in human cognition: a) why novel discoveries often came without prior warning, b) why some creators had no ideas about the source of inspiration even after the fact, c) why some creators were consistently luckier than others, and, last but not least, d) why it was so difficult to explain what intuition, inspiration, insight, hunch, serendipity, etc. are all about. The predictive power of the present model was tested by means of resolving Zeno's paradox of Achilles and the Tortoise after one deliberately invoked visual thinking. Additional evidence of its predictive power must await future large-scale field studies. The analysis was further generalized to constructions of scientific theories in general. This approach is in line with Campbell's evolutionary epistemology. Instead of treating science as immutable Natural Laws, which already existed and which were just waiting to be discovered, scientific theories are regarded as humans' mental constructs, which must be invented to reconcile with observed natural phenomena. In this way, the pursuit of science is shifted from diligent and systematic (or random) searching for existing Natural Laws to firing up humans' imagination to comprehend Nature's behavioral pattern. The insights gained in understanding human creativity indicated that new mathematics that is capable of handling effectively parallel processing and human subjectivity is sorely needed. The past classification of formalizability vs. non-formalizability was made in reference to contemporary mathematics. Rosen's conclusion did not preclude future inventions of new biology-friendly mathematics.
Correlations between Ontogenetic Change in Color Pattern and Antipredator Behavior in the Racer, Coluber constrictor

Differences in snake color pattern have been demonstrated to affect behaviors involved in antipredator defense. Snakes with blotched or banded color patterns are concealed when not moving, and tend to rely on concealment and aggression for defense. In contrast, snakes with uniform or striped color patterns are easily seen when stationary, but their speed and direction are difficult to track when moving. They tend to rely on flight for protection. Some snake taxa exhibit ontogenetic change in color pattern, but the behavioral consequences of this change have not been investigated. I present results of a behavioral study in the racer, Coluber constrictor, which has a blotched juvenile color pattern but is uniformly colored as an adult. Hatchling racers were significantly more likely than adults to show aggressive behavior when confronted with a model predator, whereas adults were more likely to flee. This supports the hypothesis that changes in behavior and color pattern are correlated in this species to provide effective antipredator defense at different stages of life history. I also examined sprint speed, which may be an important factor in antipredator defense. Juvenile and adult racers showed a similar relationship between length and speed, a pattern also seen in other species that lack color change. This result suggests that sprint speed is not a causal factor in the evolution of ontogenetic color change.