cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Controlled Li + conduction pathway to achieve enhanced ionic conductivity in polymer electrolytes

Abstract Low ionic conductivity is one of the issues for polymer electrolytes to be used in commercial batteries, though they have been viewed as the promising electrolytes in all-solid lithium-ion batteries for several decades. Here, we show an enhanced ionic conductivity in a classic polymer electrolyte by controlling the ionic conductive pathway via a core–shell structure. The enhancement in ionic conductivity is contributed from the formation of a controlled 3D network of the ion conductive amorphous phase. The result suggests that the core–shell structure design can realize the control of the conduction pathway, which is significant for understanding the ionic conductive behaviors as well as for the improvement of the ionic conductivity in polymer electrolytes.
35.4: NIST Calorimetric Calibration Facility for Displays

A facility has been developed at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to calibrate color-measuring instruments for displays. The instruments will be calibrated for measurements of cathode-ray tube (CRT) and flat panel displays (FPD) using a reference spectroradiometer developed at NIST. To evaluate the overall performance of the system, several commercial instruments - spectroradiometers and tristimulus calorimeters - were calibrated for both a CRT and an FPD and compared for their measurement accuracy. Details of the NIST calibration facility and results of the comparison measurements are presented.
Presence of methenamine/glutathione mixtures reduces the cytotoxic effect of sulphur mustard on cultured SVK-14 human keratinocytes in vitro

The basal epidermal keratinocytes of the skin are a main target for the vesicating agent, sulphur mustard (SM). A human keratinocyte cell line (SVK-14) has been used to model the effects of SM on the basal epidermal keratinocytes and subsequently to test the efficacy of potential prophylactic compounds in reducing the SM-induced cytotoxicity. The cultures were pretreated with mixtures of methenamine (HMT) and glutathione (GSH) for 1 h prior to exposure to 10 microM SM. The viability of the cultures was then assessed using neutral red (NR) dye uptake and crystal violet DNA staining assays at 24 h intervals post exposure. Pretreatment led to a 1.9 fold increase in culture viability (NR assay) compared to those exposed to SM only, and a 2.3 fold increase in cell number (crystal violet assay). Photomicrography showed that pretreatment preserved the morphology of the cultured cells and maintained their mitotic activity whereas those exposed to SM only show non-proliterative cultures with extensive cellular damage. The results of this study show that it is possible to protect mitotically active cultures from the effects of SM, however the measures must be in place prior to SM exposure.
Pathophysiology of OCD

During the past decade, tremendous progress has been made in our understanding of the neurobiology of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). This presentation will review the most widely accepted models of pathogenesis and their implications for treatment and prevention strategies. In addition, directions future research might take will be discussed.
Local defect real-time monitor system in lithography

In lithography process local defocus is a troublesome problem. That is because local defocus is too difficult to catch in time with current monitor method. Once the local defocus symptoms have been observed at ADI. A lot of wafers should suffer repeating local defect from wafer to wafer. in this paper. A real time monitor system will be presented. And the catching rate could reach to 80 percent. Even reach to more catching rate if set specific specification for varied layers. Because varied layers allow different focus tolerance.
Enumerating Homeless People: Alternative Strategies and Their Consequences

Decisions about how inclusive one should be in attempting to sample and/or enumerate homeless populattons are best guided by information regarding what is sacrificed when different sampling choices...
Differences in the suprachiasmatic nucleus and lower subparaventricular zone of diurnal and nocturnal rodents

Diurnal and nocturnal species are profoundly different in terms of the temporal organization of daily rhythms in physiology and behavior. The neural bases for these divergent patterns are at present unknown. Here we examine functional differences in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) and one of its primary targets in a diurnal rodent, the unstriped Nile grass rat (Arvicanthis niloticus) and in a nocturnal one, the laboratory rat (Rattus norvegicus). Grass rats and laboratory rats were housed in a 12:12 light:dark cycle, and killed at six time points. cFos-immunoreactive rhythms in the SCN of grass rats and laboratory rats were similar to those reported previously, with peaks early in the light phase and troughs in the dark phase. However, cFos-immunoreactivity in the lower subparaventricular zone (LSPV) of grass rats rose sharply 5 h into the dark phase, and remained high through the first hour after light onset, whereas in laboratory rats it peaked 1 h after light onset and was low at all other sampling times. Daily cFos rhythms in both the SCN and the LSPV persisted in grass rats, but not in laboratory rats, after extended periods in constant darkness. In grass rats, the endogenous cFos rhythm in the LSPV, but not the SCN, was present both in calbindin-positive and in calbindin-negative cells. Cells that expressed cFos at night in the region of the LSPV in grass rats were clearly outside of the boundaries of the SCN as delineated by Nissl stain and immunoreactivity for vasopressin and vasoactive intestinal peptide. The LSPV of the grass rat, a region that receives substantial input from the SCN, displays a daily rhythm in cFos expression that differs from that of laboratory rats with respect to its rising phase, the duration of the peak and its dependence on a light/dark cycle. These characteristics may reflect the existence of mechanisms in the LSPV that enable it to modulate efferent SCN signals differently in diurnal and nocturnal species.
Microsatellite DNA analyses support an east-west phylogeographic split of American alligator populations

We examined the population genetic structure of American alligators (Alligator mississippiensis) sampled from 12 localities across the southeastern United States. The primary goal of this study was to determine the extent of population differentiation among alligators from four Florida lakes using eight microsatellite loci and compare the results to additional sites located at varying distances from them. Analyses of population structure revealed little differentiation (FST=0.039; Rho=0.012) among the four Florida lakes, Apopka, Griffin, Orange and Woodruff, which are all located in the St. John's River watershed in north-central Florida. Further, there was little differentiation among these samples and samples collected from the Everglades National Park (FST=0.044; Rho=0.009) and south Georgia (FST=0.045; Rho=0.032). Therefore, these six samples were pooled together as a ''FL/sGA group.'' Similarly, samples collected in the western extent of the range, Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge in Texas and Salvador Wildlife Management Area, Marsh Island Wildlife Refuge and Rockefeller Wildlife Refuge in Louisiana, also lacked population structure (FST=0.024; RST=0.040). These four populations were pooled into the ''TX/LA group.'' Comparisons of these two groups with samples taken from the Santee Coastal Reserve in South Carolina and Mobile, Alabama yielded three to four times more differentiation among groups (FST=0.131; Rho=0.187). These and other analyses support the hypothesis of an east-west phylogeographic split in American alligator populations and are consistent with studies of many freshwater fish and aquatic and terrestrial turtles distributed throughout this same geographic region. J. Exp. Zool. (Mol. Dev. Evol.) 294:352-372, 2002. r 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Rocking response of tanks containing two liquids

Abstract A study of the dynamic response of upright circular cylindrical liquid storage tanks containing two different liquids under a rocking base motion with an arbitrary temporal variation is presented. Only rigid tanks were studied. The response quantities examined include the hydrodynamic pressure, the sloshing wave height and associated frequencies, and the base shear and moments. Each of these response quantities is expressed as the sum of the so-called impulsive component and convective component. Unlike the case of tanks containing one liquid, in which the response is controlled by one parameter, the height-to-radius ratio, the response of tanks containing two different liquids is controlled by three parameters: the height-to-radius ratio and the mass density ratio and height ratio of the two liquids. The interrelationship of the responses of the tank-liquid system to rocking and lateral base excitations is established by examining numerical results extensively. It is found that some of the response quantities for a tank-liquid system under a rocking base motion can be determined from the corresponding response quantities for an identical tank under a horizontal base motion.
Medical diagnostic radiation exposures and risk of gliomas.

Abstract High-dose ionizing radiation is an established risk factor for glioma, but it remains unknown whether moderate- and low-dose radiation increase glioma risk. In this analysis, we assessed the evidence that self-reported exposures to diagnostic ionizing radiation, including computerized tomography (CT) scans, is associated with increased risk of adult glioma. While no independent association was observed for CT scans alone (3+ scans compared to none P = 0.08 and 1–2 scans compared to none P = 0.68), our findings suggest an increased risk of adult gliomas with cumulative exposure to three or more CT scans to the head and neck region (OR = 1.97, 95% CI: 0.92–4.23) limited to those who reported a family history of cancer: the P value for the interaction between having three or more CT scans and family history of cancer was 0.08. The stratum-specific adjusted OR for those with family history of cancer was more than three times that for the sub-group without family history of cancer. While there i...
Generation and characterization of submicron aerosols of zinc oxide

An apparatus has been developed to produce submicron aerosols of zinc oxide by the condensation of supersaturated vapors in a tube furnace. The mass concentration and the size distribution of the aerosols were stable over a period of several hours. Various particle morphologies (chain aggregates, large blocky particles and fine spiked particles) were produced by varying the operating conditions. According to analyses of electron micrographs, the primary particle diameters obeyed a log-normal distribution with count median diameters between 0.008 and 0.040 µm with geometric standard deviations from 1.42 to 1.67.
Approximation of pure acoustic seismic wave propagation in TTI media

Pseudoacoustic anisotropic wave equations are simplified elastic wave equations obtained by setting the S-wave velocity to zero along the anisotropy axis of symmetry. These pseudoacoustic wave equations greatly reduce the computational cost of modeling and imaging compared to the full elastic wave equation while preserving P-wave kinematics very well. For this reason, they are widely used in reverse time migration (RTM) to account for anisotropic effects. One fundamental shortcoming of this pseudoacoustic approximation is that it only prevents S-wave propagation along the symmetry axis and not in other directions. This problem leads to the presence of unwanted S-waves in P-wave simulation results and brings artifacts into P-wave RTM images. More significantly, the pseudoacoustic wave equations become unstable for anisotropy parameters ϵ<δ and for heterogeneous models with highly varying dip and azimuth angles in tilted transversely isotropic (TTI) media. Pure acoustic anisotropic wave equations completely...
Decoupling the effects of logging and hunting on an Afrotropical animal community

In tropical forests, hunting nearly always accompanies logging. The entangled nature of these disturbances complicates our ability to resolve applied questions, such as whether secondary and degraded forest can sustain populations of tropical animals. With the expansion of logging in central Africa, conservation depends on knowledge of the individual and combined impacts of logging and hunting on animal populations. Our goals were (1) to decouple the effects of selective logging and hunting on densities of animal guilds, including apes, duikers, monkeys, elephant, pigs, squirrels, and large frugivorous and insectivorous birds and (2) to compare the relative importance of these disturbances to the effects of local-scale variation in forest structure and fruit abundance. In northern Republic of Congo, we surveyed animals along 30 transects positioned in forest disturbed by logging and hunting, logging alone, and neither logging nor hunting. While sampling transects twice per month for two years, we observed 47 179 animals of 19 species and eight guilds in 1154 passages (2861 km). Species densities varied by as much as 480% among forest areas perturbed by logging and/or hunting, demonstrating the strong effects of these disturbances on populations of some species. Densities of animal guilds varied more strongly with disturbance type than with variation in forest structure, canopy cover, and fruit abundance. Independently, logging and hunting decreased density of some guilds and increased density of others: densities varied from 44% lower (pigs) to 90% higher (insectivorous birds) between logged and unlogged forest and from 61% lower (apes) to 77% higher (frugivorous birds) between hunted and unhunted forest. Their combined impacts exacerbated decreases in populations of some guilds (ape, duiker, monkey, and pig), but counteracted one another for others (squirrels, insectivorous and frugivorous birds). Together, logging and hunting shifted the relative abundance of the animal community away from large mammals toward squirrels and birds. Logged forest, even in the absence of hunting, does not maintain similar densities as unlogged forest for most animal guilds. To balance conservation with the need for economic development and wild meat in tropical countries, landscapes should be spatially managed to include protected areas, community hunting zones, and production forest.
Delayed myocardial ischemia following the cessation of sympathetic stimulation

A phenomenon entitled "delayed myocardial ischemia" has been described, in which there is a significant degree of coronary malperfusion following the cessation of behavioral stress. The primary objective of the present study was to develop a model for the delayed ischemic response in anesthetized animals to gain insights into the underlying mechanisms. In 15 morphine and chloralose-anesthetized dogs, a moderate degree of stenosis was applied to the left circumflex coronary artery by means of a toroidal balloon occluder. The pulsed Doppler technique was used to monitor coronary flow. After baseline data were obtained, the left stellate ganglion was stimulated for 30 seconds. Heart rate increased (63%), as did systemic blood pressure (41%) and flow in the left circumflex artery (47%). These parameters rapidly returned to control levels when stimulation was terminated. Forty-five to 90 seconds later, coronary flow decreased by 65% and coronary vascular resistance increased by 45%. These hemodynamic changes were accompanied by ECG abnormalities indicative of regional myocardial ischemia. The delayed ischemic response could be prevented by pretreatment with either nifedipine (20 micrograms/kg) or prazosin (0.3 mg/kg). These data indicate that the primary mechanism for the delayed ischemic response is alpha-adrenergically mediated contraction of the smooth muscle in the coronary artery wall.
Design of a 5-SS Spatial Steering Linkage

This paper presents the kinematic synthesis of a steering linkage that changes track, wheelbase, camber, and wheel height in a turn, while maintaining Ackermann geometry. Each wheel is controlled by a 5-SS platform linkage, which consists of a moving platform connected by five SS chains to the vehicle chassis. Ackermann steering geometry ensures all four wheels will travel on circular arcs that share the same center point. S denotes a spherical or ball-in-socket joint.The kinematic synthesis problem is formulated using seven spatial task positions. The procedure computes the SS chains that guide the platform through the seven task positions, and examines all combinations of five that form a single degree-of-freedom linkage. A kinematic analysis identifies the performance of each design candidate, and eliminates functional defects.In the design process, the task positions are modified randomly within constraints in order to find a useful mechanism design. Mechanisms are deemed useful if they travel smoothly through all seven task positions. Upon analyzing 1000 sets of task positions, only 10 useful mechanisms were found. A second iteration produced 22 useful mechanisms from 1000 task sets. An example of the design of a steering linkage is presented. A video of this linkage can be seen at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hEvbDiyQMiw.Copyright © 2012 by ASME
Solid-stabilized emulsion formation using stearoyl lactylate coated iron oxide nanoparticles

Iron oxide nanoparticles can exhibit highly tunable physicochemical properties that are extremely important in applications such as catalysis, biomedicine and environmental remediation. The small size of iron oxide nanoparticles can be used to stabilize oil-in-water Pickering emulsions due to their high energy of adsorption at the interface of oil droplets in water. The objective of this work is to investigate the effect of the primary particle characteristics and stabilizing agent chemistry on the stability of oil-in-water Pickering emulsions. Iron oxide nanoparticles were synthesized by the co-precipitation method using stoichiometric amounts of Fe2+ and Fe3+ salts. Sodium stearoyl lactylate (SSL), a Food and Drug Administration approved food additive, was used to functionalize the iron oxide nanoparticles. SSL is useful in the generation of fat-in-water emulsions due to its high hydrophilic–lipophilic balance and its bilayer-forming capacity. Generation of a monolayer or a bilayer coating on the nanoparticles was controlled through systematic changes in reagent concentrations. The coated particles were then characterized using various analytical techniques to determine their size, their crystal structure and surface functionalization. The capacity of these bilayer coated nanoparticles to stabilize oil-in-water emulsions under various salt concentrations and pH values was also systematically determined using various characterization techniques. This study successfully demonstrated the ability to synthesize iron oxide nanoparticles (20–40 nm) coated with SSL in order to generate stable Pickering emulsions that were pH-responsive and resistant to significant destabilization in a saline environment, thereby lending themselves to applications in advanced oil spill recovery and remediation.
Differentially expressed genes between female and male adult Anopheles anthropophagus

The aim of the present study was to identify sex-specific genes in adult Anopheles anthropophagus. As the major malaria vector and Brugia malayi vector in the Asian continent, female Anopheles mosquitoes take blood meals and transmit pathogens through this pathway, while males are nectar feeders. This complex behavior is controlled at several levels, but is probably initiated by the genetic background difference between these two groups. In our study, a subtractive cDNA library for female A. anthropophagus was constructed using the suppression subtractive hybridization (SSH) technique and then 3,074 clones from the female SSH library were analyzed using a microarray-based survey. Genes that were expressed differentially according to sex in A. anthropophagus were screened using real-time polymerase chain reaction and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. In our results, we report a series of genes which may be involved in female-specific mosquito behavior, including an inorganic phosphate transporter, a serine protease, the salivary protein GP35-2, and the D7 cluster salivary protein. These findings will provide clues to the nature of insect vectors and open up unprecedented opportunities to develop novel strategies for the control of mosquito-borne diseases.
Commissural ring nerve: A female-specific neurosecretory tract supplied by bifurcating median neurons in the cockroach Periplaneta americana (L.) and the cricket Teleogryllus commodus (Walker)

In the American cockroach, Periplaneta americana, and the Australian field cricket, Teleogryllus commodus, the two nerves supplying the bases of the cerci are joined by a branch that crosses behind the last abdominal ganglion. This commissural ring nerve is restricted to females, and it contains many axons filled with granular and agranular vesicles. The axons stem from somata located within the ganglion. There are one (Periplaneta) or two (Teleogryllus) groups of median neurons with bilaterally symmetrical bifurcations, and a group of postero-ventral neurons on each side. In T. commodus, these neurons are distinct from others associated with the cerci. In the two species, the ring nerve neurons contribute to a neuropile near the root of each cereal nerve. The bifurcating median neurons arborize on both sides before entering the ring nerve, while the postero-ventral ones branch more extensively ipsilateral to their somata. The possibilities are discussed that the bifurcating neurons may be homologous to dorsal unpaired median neurons, and that the ring nerve may be a neurohemal area.
Breast cancer patient's cell-mediated immune response to Thomsen-Friedenreich (T) antigen.

Thomsen-Friedenreich (T) antigenic specificity as determined with human serum anti-T was found in reactive form in breast adenocarcinomata but not in healthy and generally not in benign breast tissues. T-antigenic specificity was demonstrable in all metastatic breast carcinoma lesions. T specificity was also present in adeno- and squamous cell carcinomata from other organs; it was not found in the four melanomata, one glioblastoma, and seven benign non-breast tumors. Breast carcinoma patients but not healthy people showed cellular immunity to T antigen in vivo and in vitro. Most striking was the delayed-type cutaneous hypersensitivity reaction that was positive in over 85% of the ductal breast carcinoma patients tested, negative in over 94% benign breast disease patients, and in all presumably healthy individuals investigated. T antigen is readily available from healthy human red blood cells in uncontaminated form, and free of HL-A and Australia antigens.
High-strength concrete applications to prestressed bridge girders

Abstract This paper focuses on recent research conducted at the University of Minnesota on applications of high-strength concrete to prestressed bridge girders. The research comprised production of high-strength concrete with a variety of cementitious materials (Portland cement, microsilica and fly ash) in different proportions, and made with six different types of coarse aggregate. Some specimens were moist-cured in saturated limewater at 73°F (23°C); others were heat-cured in an environmental chamber at 120° or 150°F (50° or 65°C) to simulate the accelerated curing technique used by precast/prestressed plants. The hardened concrete specimens were tested for compressive strength, modulus of elasticity, tensile strength, modulus of rupture, shrinkage, creep, absorption potential (as an indicator permeability) and freeze-thaw durability. In addition, a parametric study was conducted to determine the viability of using high-strength concrete in prestressed bridge girders. Two long span prestressed bridge girders have been constructed to investigate transfer lengths, prestress losses, fatigue performance, shear and ultimate strength of girders cast with high-strength concrete.
Generalized P0- and Z-matrices

Abstract The concept of vertical block matrix introduced in generalized linear complementarity theory is studied within the matrix classes P0 and Z. Classical results of Fiedler and Ptak are extended, and relationships with existing results derived. Potential applications abound in economics, operations research, engineering, and physical sciences.
Operational model updating of low-order horizontal axis wind turbine models for structural health monitoring applications

Rotational machinery such as horizontal axis wind turbines exhibits complex and nonlinear dynamics (e.g. precession and Coriolis effects, torsional coupling) and is subjected to nonlinear constrained conditions (i.e. aeroelastic interaction). For those reasons, aeroelastic and computer-aided models reproduced under controlled conditions may fail to predict the correct non-stationary loading and resistance patterns of wind turbines in actual operation. Operational techniques for extracting modal properties under actual non-stationary loadings are needed in order to improve computer-aided elasto-aerodynamic models to better characterize the actual behavior of horizontal axis wind turbines in operational scenarios, monitor and diagnose the system for integrity and damage through time, and optimize control systems. For structural health monitoring applications, model updating of stochastic aerodynamic problems has gained interest over the past decades. A probability theory framework is employed in this study ...
Curcumin as an amyloid-indicator dye in E. coli

We have demonstrated that curcumin is an amyloid-specific dye in E. coli. Curcumin binds to curliated whole cells and to isolated curli amyloid fibers. Similar to Congo red, curcumin exhibits a red-shift in absorbance and a significant increase in fluorescence upon binding to isolated curli.
Habitat influences Northern Bobwhite survival at fine spatiotemporal scales

ABSTRACT Habitat quality influences individual survival at widely varying spatial and temporal scales. Understanding interactions between habitat and survival among individuals in declining populations that occupy highly modified landscapes can inform conservation strategies aimed at improving survival and population growth. We used radiotelemetry to monitor space use and daily survival of wintering Northern Bobwhites (Colinus virginianus) at the northern end of their range to test for fine spatial- and temporal-scale relationships between individual survival and habitat composition around radio-locations in agricultural landscapes in Ohio, USA. Habitat composition within daily and seasonal movement ranges of individuals (n = 189) during periods without snow cover did not explain variation in daily survival rates. However, mortality increased substantially in the presence of snow cover, and availability of woody cover and row crops within 95 m of an individual radio-location were positively associated wit...
Energy and angular dependence of x-ray absorption and its effect on radiographic response in screen-film systems

The relationship between the film density and the x-ray energy absorbed in the screens, and the effect of the components of a screen--film system on x-ray absorption in the screen phosphor has been studied. It is concluded that, to a good approximation, the total absorbed x-ray energy can be calculated ignoring components other than the phosphor, and that the absorbed energy is related to the film density through the characteristic curve of the film. This simple relationship provides a basis for the theoretical prediction of the radiographic performance of an imaging system. Analytical expressions have been derived for the energy absorbed in model screens containing one or two high-atomic-number elements. For incident energies above the K-edge of the high-Z elements, the contribution of the K x-rays to energy absorption was included by use of a K-reabsorption factor. This factor was determined for eight screen pairs as a function of incident photon energy and incident angle.
From Bangalore to the Bay Area: Comparing transportation and activity accessibility as drivers of urban growth

Abstract What determines urban growth and how do these factors vary globally? An understanding of the factors that drive urban spatial form will be critical for urban—and ultimately environmental—sustainability. We hypothesize that easy access to economic or social activity is a primary driver of urban form. From this, a city's spatial form is largely determined by the time–cost of access to transportation and activities. We use a stochastic pixel-based model to test the hypothesis of accessibility-driven urban growth using two case studies: Silicon Valley, U.S., and Bangalore, India. This study is the first to develop a spatially explicit modeling approach to urban growth in a comparative framework spanning the developed and developing world. Our analysis shows that Silicon Valley's relatively inexpensive auto-based transport (in time and financial costs), dispersed employment locations, and high labor force participation rates have resulted in intermittent and expansive highway-oriented urban growth patterns. In contrast, Bangalore's expensive non-auto transport (in time and financial costs), low participation in the formal economy, and emphasis on informal economic activity has produced a tighter clustering of urban development near existing urban locations. Over time, generally decreasing transport costs in both locations have led to increased dispersion of urban development. Economic growth in India and the inflows of IT-related foreign investment in Bangalore may further create urban forms increasingly similar to those found in the Silicon Valley. The results have important implications for the development of policies that may lead to more sustainable forms of urban development.
The Cutting of Steel Tubes by Explosives Techniques. Cutting performance and effects on environment

In the light of special applications, trials were carried out on the separation of steel tubes using commercially obtainable explosive cutting charges in an annular configuration in order to find out their cutting performance and the effects on the environment incurred during separation. Tubes made of St37 steel having a diameter of 220 mm and a wall thickness of 10 mm as well as tubes consisting of hightensile 15 Mo 3 steel with a diameter of 273 mm and a wall thickness of 12.5 mm were used for this purpose. It was possible to cut the tubes accurately and neatly with the charges used. However, the projectiles formed during the detonation process are not compact, for which reason the cutting performance of the commercial charges used is not optimal. There is here a considerable potential for improvement. Measurements of the environmental effects conducted during the trials (fragmentation, blast wave, projectile impact on tube line) show that the incidental effects of explosive tube cutting are controllable.
Current status of clinical particle radiotherapy at Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory

Clinical experience with charged particle irradiation of human cancers has been underway at the University of California Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory. Over 150 patients have been irradiated with heavy charged particle beams including helium, carbon, neon, and argon ions. Pilot studies have included such tumor sites as glioma of the brain, carcinoma of the esophagus, carcinoma of the pancreas, carcinoma of the stomach, ocular melanoma, and carcinoma of the uterine cervix. Prospective studies are planned to investigate the improved dose localization potential (helium) and the enhanced biologic and physical dose potential (carbon, neon) in a controlled trial against the best available megavoltage irradiation techniques.
The immunology of Eta-1/osteopontin

The cytokine Eta-1/osteopontin is secreted by activated macrophages and may constitute the most abundant molecule secreted by activated T-lymphocytes. It causes macrophages to migrate and suppress production of reactive oxygen species. It enhances generation of immunoglobulins or proliferation of B-lymphocytes. Its biochemical characteristics suggest that Eta-1/osteopontin may be the T-lymphocyte suppressor factor. The apparently conflicting effects on individual immune functions may reflect homeostatic mechanisms.
Mixtures of marginal models

SUMMARY In this paper, we adapt a mixture model originally developed for regression models with independent data for the more general case of correlated outcome data, which includes longitudinal data as a special case. The estimation is performed by a generalisation of the EM algorithm which we call the Expectation-Solution (Es) algorithm. In this ES algorithm the M-step of the EM algorithm is replaced by a step requiring the solution of a series of generalised estimating equations. The ES algorithm, a general algorithm for solving generalised estimating equations with incomplete data, is then applied to the present problem of mixtures of marginal models. In addition to allowing for correlation inherent in correlated outcome data, the systematic component of this mixture of marginal models is more flexible than the conventional linear function. The methodology is applied in the contexts of normal and Poisson response data. Some theory regarding the ES algorithm is presented.
Abstract A29: Distinguishing features of ERG oncoprotein expression among matched cohorts of African-American and Caucasian-American prostate cancer patients

Introduction and Objective: The ETS-related gene (ERG) proto-oncogene is frequently overexpressed in prostate cancer (CaP) as a result of a genomic rearrangement that places ERG under the control of the androgendependent TMPRSS2 promoter. The initial report of quantitative ERG mRNA expression in micro-dissected prostate tumor cells showed significantly higher ERG expression in CaP of Caucasian-Americans (CA) patients vs. African-American (AA) patients (Petrovics et al, Oncogene, 2005). Recent studies (Magi-Galluzzi et al, Prostate, 2011; Elliott et al, USCAP Mtg., 2011) have also shown higher frequency of ERG rearrangement or ERG oncoprotein expression in CaP of CA patients. We evaluate the frequency and pattern of the ERG oncoprotein expression in prostate tumors of matched CA and AA CaP patients to better understand the biological basis for differences in prostate cancer between the two populations. Methods: Ninety one AA and 91 CA CaP patients were matched for age, Gleason score and pathologic stage. All underwent radical prostatectomy between 1993 and 2010. Whole mount prostate specimens were used for the immunohistochemical detection of the ERG oncoprotein by a highly specific ERG monoclonal antibody (clone 9FY). Individual foci of tumors were reported as either positive or negative. ERG staining data was linked to clinico-pathologic data. Biochemical recurrence was defined as two serum PSA measurements of 0.2 ng/mL or higher at least 8 weeks from surgery. Results: A higher percentage of CA (61.8%) than AA (28.2%) CaP patients had ERG positive index tumors and had at least one focus of tumor positive for ERG. A higher percentage of overall tumor foci were also positive for ERG in CA than AA CaP patients. There was high concordance of ERG positive prostatic intra-epitheilal neoplasia (PIN) and ERG positive CaP in both AA and CA patients. Conclusions: ERG expression is more prevalent among CA than AA CaP patients in matched cohorts. Differences in the pattern of ERG expression in CaP and differing trends in biochemical recurrence between CA and AA patients with ERG (+) index tumors suggest a dominant clonal selection of ERG-positive tumors in CA patients. These differences in ERG expression have the potential to delineate biological distinctions of CaP in the two patient populations. Citation Format: Gyorgy Petrovics, Philip Rosen, David Pfister, Denise Young, Yongmei Chen, Albert Dobi, David McLeod, Shiv Srivastava, Isabell Sesterhenn. Distinguishing features of ERG oncoprotein expression among matched cohorts of African-American and Caucasian-American prostate cancer patients [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Advances in Prostate Cancer Research; 2012 Feb 6-9; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(4 Suppl):Abstract nr A29.
Geometry optimization for fluid transport of a bio-inspired nano-fluidic system

A bio-inspired nano-fluidic system mimicking the nuclear pore complex (NPC) is investigated for fluidic transport by optimizing the geometry. In general, nuclear pore complex contains very distinct geometrical components to allow various macromolecules very effectively through the pore. In order to understand and design fluidic systems for drug delivery and other applications, this study explored the optimization of a central plug location of NPC for achieving the maximum velocity for fluidic transport. The approach involves conducting fluid simulations with ANSYS software and optimizing the results using EXCEL and Genetic Algorithm (GA) optimization including GANetXL and MATLAB software. Based on the results obtained, one configuration of the central plug location achieved maximum velocity through the modeled nano-fluidic system. Currently, the nano-fluidic system is further optimized for manufacturing and eventually, testing to validate the optimized design.
PCB Accumulation by Salmonine Smolts and Adults in Lake Michigan and its Tributaries and its Effect on Stocking Policies

In 1987, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources suspended stocking of salmonines in the Sheboygan River, a Lake Michigan tributary in southeastern Wisconsin and an Environment Protection Agency Superfund site, because of contamination with polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). Starting in 1990, uniquely finclipped, hatchery-raised fish were stocked in the Sheboygan River and two other Lake Michigan tributaries (Pigeon and Root rivers) to determine whether PCB accumulation in salmonine species warranted a continued ban on stocking fish into that system. Smolts were collected, homogenized, and analyzed (whole-body) monthly until they migrated from the river. Skin-on fillets and whole-body PCB analyses were performed on returning sub-adults and adults. To determine levels of PCB contamination in stocked salmonines, we (1) measured PCB levels in rainbow trout Oncorhyncus mykiss and coho salmon O. kisutch smolts stocked in the Sheboygan River and compared these data with comparable data from two reference locations; (2) measured PCB levels in returning adult rainbow trout and coho salmon after residence in Lake Michigan; and (3) made recommendations regarding future salmonine stocking policy for the Sheboygan River. Sheboygan River smolts stocked in the fall accumulated higher PCB concentrations than smolts stocked in other rivers and those stocked in the spring. Total PCB concentrations in skin-on fillets of sub-adult and adult coho salmon and sub-adult and adult rainbow trout from the Sheboygan River did not differ significantly from concentrations in sub-adults and adults returning to reference rivers. Returning sub-adult and adult fillet samples did not exceed the U.S. Food and Drug Administration tolerance level for PCBs of 2.0 /μg/g wet weight. Results indicated that PCB concentrations in smolts were not correlated with PCBs concentrations in adult skin-on fillet samples. Therefore, we recommended the Sheboygan River be stocked with chinook salmon O. tshawytscha, coho salmon, and rainbow trout.
Two apparatus assemblies for the study of real movement

Two forms of apparatus are described for the study of real movement. The first is characterized as a hydraulic system and is used where the S’s rate of movement threshold is to be deter-mined. The basis of the apparatus is a hydraulic cylinder with a piston rod carrying a crosspiece with a visual stimulus attached. The piston-crosspiece assembly is raised,by charging the apparatus with oil, which is then discharged back into a reservoir through a finely tapered adjustable needle valve. Velocity of motion may be regulated by varying the needle valve opening or a mass placed on the piston. The second apparatus is useful for determining the displacement threshold, the minimal distance through which a change of stimulus from one position to another can be perceived. The apparatus consists of a cathode ray display of a linear change of voltage from one value to another. Both total displacement and rate of displacement are adjustable. The S views the cathode ray trace through an optical system designed to minimize perception of extraneous motion.
Improving home energy efficiency with E 2 Home: A Web-based application for integrated electricity consumption and contextual information visualization

In recent years, energy efficiency has become a relevant problem due to rising energy costs and concerns about the environment. Major corporations such as Google and Microsoft started projects to present electric energy consumption data to residents via Web applications. Notwithstanding the two corporations' backing, these two efforts have not received the expected level of interest, and are thus being discontinued. We argue that electric energy consumption data become useful only if they are presented along related data (e.g., the residents' locations) which can provide the context in which consumption occurred. This is expected to help the residents change their consumption behavior, and thus have a positive impact on the electricity generation and distribution network as well. In this paper, we present Energy-Efficient Home (E2Home), a Web-based application for the interactive visualization of electricity consumption data and contextual information. Built on top of our FuseViz framework, the E2Home application fuses (i) residents' locations from Android smartphones and (ii) electric energy consumption from the electric utility Web page into a joint data stream using MapReduce. The joint data stream is then visualized on SVG-based interactive time charts and maps on a Web page, so that the user can explore them using well-established techniques such as brush-and-linking and panning and zooming to acquire actionable information to reduce electricity consumption. Based on our experiments in a real home, the improvement on energy efficiency brought about by E2Home is expected to exceed 10%.
Effects of Bearing Friction of a Free-to-Roll Rig on Transonic Lateral Dynamics

Tare test data of a free-to-roll test rig with wind off are analyzed for the bearing friction by a method of differential corrections. The resulting data set is extended to transonic wind-on test conditions in oscillation frequency, amplitude, and normal force by assuming the friction coefficient to be inversely proportional to the frequency. The extended set of data is employed to establish a numerical model through a fuzzy logic algorithm. Some results showing the effects of frequency, amplitude, and normal force on the friction torque are illustrated in the paper. The predicted friction torque is then removed from the balance readings of rolling moments in the free-to-roll testing. Results of data analysis for the F-18C and F-16C models indicate that bearing-friction torques have very significant effects on the measured or experimentally determined roll damping. Without friction correction, the measured roll damping would be too small and, in some cases, even incorrect in sign. The effect of friction torque on the dihedral effect tends to be minor. Exceptions to these results appear when the configuration exhibits unstable roll damping in transonic flow.
Rapid HIV versus enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay screening in a low-risk Mexican American population presenting in labor: a cost-effectiveness analysis.

Objective Mother-to-child transmission of human immunodeficiency virus is the most common cause of pediatric human immunodeficiency virus in the United States; the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendations endorse rapid human immunodeficiency virus testing for women with unknown viral status to quicken antiretroviral therapy. We compared the cost-effectiveness of Oraquick (Orasure Technologies, Bethlehem, Pa) rapid testing versus enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay testing for a low-risk population of Mexican American women who are in labor. Study design Using decision analysis techniques, we tested 2 strategies: (1) testing with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay that was confirmed by Western blot and (2) testing with Oraquick rapid testing that was confirmed by Western blot. All seropositive parturients received zidovudine treatment in labor. The baseline assumptions were the incidence of human immunodeficiency virus in Mexican American mothers (0.05%), mother-to-child transmission with no treatment (25%), with treatment in labor (10%), sensitivity of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (98%), positive predictive value of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (10%), sensitivity/specificity of Oraquick rapid testing (99%/100%), positive predictive value of Oraquick rapid testing (83%-100%), sensitivity/specificity of Western blot (97%/99%), costs (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay [$5], Oraquick rapid testing [$15], Western blot [$25], zidovudine treatment [$76] for 12 hours labor, neonatal treatment [$2.50], lifetime treatment of human immunodeficiency virus–affected child [$194,250]). Sensitivity analyses were done over a wide range of assumptions that included the costs of tests, the sensitivity of Oraquick rapid testing, the positive predictive value of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and Oraquick rapid testing, and the costs of treatments. Results Oraquick rapid testing was the preferred strategy at $98 spent per human immunodeficiency virus–negative child versus $491 for enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay testing. Much of the cost of the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay strategy was due to the treatment of women and infants with false-positive tests. Sensitivity analysis over test costs, test sensitivity, and other variables found the analysis results to be robust. Threshold analysis revealed that, if the cost remained Conclusion In a low prevalence population, the universal use of Oraquick rapid testing is cost-effective because of the low rate of false-positive results, thus preventing the emotional and economic costs of unnecessary treatment for human immunodeficiency virus to the new mother and her family.
Molecular substrates of potassium spatial buffering in glial cells.

It is generally accepted that the foremost mechanism for the buffering of K+ from the extracellular space ([K+]o) in the brain is “K+ spatial buffering.” This is the process by which glial cells dissipate local K+ gradients by transferring K+ ions from areas of high to low [K+]o. These glial K+ fluxes are mediated mainly by inwardly rectifying K+ (Kir) channels. The K+ spatial buffering hypothesis has been tested and confirmed in the retina, in which is has been termed as “K+ siphoning”. In Muller cells, the primary glial cells of the retina, Kir channels are distributed in a highly non-uniform manner, exhibiting high concentrations in membrane domains facing the vitreous humor (endfeet) and in proximity to the blood vessels (perivascular processes). Such non-uniform distribution of Kir channels facilitates directed K+ fluxes in the retina from the synaptic plexiform layers to the vitreous humor and blood vessels. Recent molecular and electrophysiological studies in Muller cells have revealed a high degree of complexity in terms of Kir channel subunit composition, mechanisms of subcellular localization, and regulation. How such complexity fits into their proposed role in buffering [K+]o in retina is the main topic of this article.