cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Targeting the Insulin-Like Growth Factor-I Receptor in Cancer Therapy

The insulin-like growth factor-I receptor (IGF-IR) is present in many types of tumor cells. Additionally, some tumors show upregulation of IGF-IR number or constitutive activation. There is a great deal of interest in determining whether drugs that target the IGF receptors, such as anti-IGF-IR antibodies, can inhibit tumor cell proliferation or induce tumor cell apoptosis. The studies in cells in culture and those conducted using xenografts of tumors in animals have shown that anti-IGF-IR antibodies are very effective in inhibiting tumor cell growth. The initial human trials have not shown definitive evidence of tumor shrinkage in a large number of patients; however, subsets of patients particularly those with sarcomas have shown some responsiveness. Current studies are seeking to determine whether administration of this antibody in combination with traditional chemotherapy and/or other antibodies targeting other types of growth factor receptors can lead to improved responses. Additionally, targeting downstream signaling elements in conjunction with the IGF-IR is also being utilized as an alternative approach. The larger trials that are ongoing are likely to resolve these issues and determine the ultimate efficacy of this agent in cancer chemotherapy. This chapter focuses on antibodies directed toward the IGF-1R. The use of tyrosine kinase inhibitors as an alternative approach is discussed elsewhere in this book.
The impacts of a brief middle-school self-affirmation intervention help propel African American and Latino students through high school.

Stereotype threat has been shown to have deleterious impacts on the short- and long-term academic performance and psychological well-being of racial and ethnic minority students. Psychological variables related to this identity threat represent significant sources of achievement and attainment gaps relative to nonstereotyped Asian and white students who do not tend to be subject to performance declines related to such threats. In the current study, we investigate long-term effects of a brief self-affirmation intervention implemented at-scale to mitigate stereotype threat for seventh-grade African American and Latino students. Relative to their control-group counterparts, our findings indicate that a self-affirming intervention to buffer racial and ethnic minority students from identity threats reduced the growing achievement gap by 50% per year between seventh and 12th grade (N = 802). As a result, the achievement gap between white/Asian and African American/Latino students decreased by 42% at the end of 12th grade. Finally, the intervention increased on-time graduation rates for treated minority students by 10 percentage points (N = 952). Implications for theory, policy, and future research are discussed. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved)
Live-Cell Imaging of Mitochondrial Redox State in Yeast Cells.

Summary The redox state of mitochondria is one indicator of the functional state of the organelles. Mitochondria are also the primary endogenous source of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Therefore, the redox state of the organelles also reflects their function in ROS production. Here, we provide step-by-step protocols for live-cell imaging and quantification of mitochondrial redox state using the genetically encoded fluorescent biosensor, mitochondria-targeted redox sensing GFP (mito-roGFP), and mitochondrial ROS using the membrane-permeant small molecule dihydroethidium (DHE) in budding yeast cells. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Liao et al. (2020c) .
THE REDISTRIBUTIVE POLITICAL ECONOMY OF EDUCATION

TWO PUZZLES, TWO INSIGHTS In 1951, the Indian government, buoyed by the fresh hopes of newly won independence, declared its intent that India should universally educate its population. It announced a program of massive government spending that would culminate in a sustained 6 percent of national income being devoted to public education spending. This ambition, codified in India's first Five Year Plan, was reiterated several times over the ensuing decades: by the Kothari Commission in 1966, and in the National Policy on Education in 1986 (Ghosh, 2000). Yet, even by 1995 India was spending barely half of this amount and remained home to one-third of the world's illiterates. The heady goals of the early independence movement were patently unmet in the field of human development. By the early 1990s, the debate around education in India was imbued with depression and recriminations. Why was India, a country famed for its unique level of democratic success in the developing world, unable to provide for the human development of its population? This puzzle looks all the more confusing when we consider India's near-neighbor across the Andaman Sea: Malaysia. Governed under a semi-autocratic regime by leaders from the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) party since 1969, Malaysia's executive is little constrained by the legislature, civil liberties are restricted, and opposition parties have been unable to secure government. While Malaysia is hardly a tyranny, it is significantly less open to political opposition and popular debate than is India.
Finding orthologous gene blocks in bacteria: the computational hardness of the problem and novel methods to address it.

MOTIVATION The evolution of complexity is one of the most fascinating and challenging problems in modern biology, and tracing the evolution of complex traits is an open problem. In bacteria, operons and gene blocks provide a model of tractable evolutionary complexity at the genomic level. Gene blocks are structures of co-located genes with related functions, and operons are gene blocks whose genes are co-transcribed on a single mRNA molecule. The genes in operons and gene blocks typically work together in the same system or molecular complex. Previously, we proposed a method that explains the evolution of orthologous gene blocks (orthoblocks) as a combination of a small set of events that take place in vertical evolution from common ancestors. A heuristic method was proposed to solve this problem. However, no study was done to identify the complexity of the problem. RESULTS Here, we establish that finding the homologous gene block problem is NP-hard and APX-hard. We have developed a greedy algorithm that runs in polynomial time and guarantees an O(ln⁡n) approximation. In addition, we formalize our problem as an integer linear program problem and solve it using the PuLP package and the standard CPLEX algorithm. Our exploration of several candidate operons reveals that our new method provides more optimal results than the results from the heuristic approach, and is significantly faster. AVAILABILITY AND IMPLEMENTATION The software and data accompanying this paper are available under the GPLv3 and CC0 license respectively on: https://github.com/nguyenngochuy91/Relevant-Operon.
Dependent Wind Speed Models: Copula Approach

Despite widespread availability, the nature of renewable energy resources is yet to understand fully to harness their optimum benefits. The aggregated portfolio and inter-play of geographically spread wind farms/resources is critical for intelligent extrapolation, yet less explored. In this paper, we focus on understanding the dependency structure of wind speeds. A multivariate cumulative distribution function- ”Copula” is used to find the joint distribution of wind speed pairs. We have investigated copula family selection for varying wind speed pair distances ranging from 3 to 2700km. A case study for Joe-Frank (BB8) copula shows efficient joint distribution fit for a selected wind speed pair with a standard error of 0.0094.
Porosity detection and localization during composite cure inside an autoclave using ultrasonic inspection

Abstract Composite materials offer unique benefits in aerospace applications such as increased strength-to-weight ratio and improved fatigue properties. They are increasingly being used in major commercial aircraft programs. However, current processing methods can lead to defects in composite parts, which must be detected using post-manufacturing inspection methods. Porosity (i.e., pores, voids) is a critical defect from the cure process that is detrimental to performance of the composite part. It is therefore necessary to understand and eliminate the formation of porosity defects. At NASA Langley Research Center, an in-situ cure monitoring system was developed to detect porosity defects as they form in real-time inside an autoclave. A capability to directly detect and localize porosity within a composite during cure did not exist before. This study is focused on an elevated-temperature ultrasonic inspection system to detect porosity defects in composites during autoclave cure. The ultrasonic inspection system operated inside an autoclave within an enclosure cooled by intermittent liquid nitrogen (LN2) injections. A high-temperature, 2.25 MHz, transducer transmitted ultrasonic waves through the tool plate and into the composite part and measured the amplitude and time of flight of the reflected waves with a 1 mm × 1 mm step size/areal resolution. Porosity was observed via the ultrasonic reflections, which experienced increased attenuation in regions of high porosity. Distinct regions of increased porosity were present due to uneven pressure across the panel, which was driven by an intentional misfit between the flat caul plate and the tapered composite panel with ply drops. The results were validated by post-cure ultrasonic inspection and micrographs. The in-situ inspection system was able to successfully provide porosity detection and localization in the tapered ply-drop panel. The successful results indicate the promise of this system for future implementation in the manufacturing of composite structures for aerospace applications.
Abstract 722: The hallmark of COVID-19 cancer disparities: Cellular sequelae

Coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19). Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a novel coronavirus resulting in a severe threat to safety and public health. Genetic analyses suggest that SARS-COV-2 belongs to the Betacoronavirus group and Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV). Like most viruses, some are oncogenic, and genetic instability is involved in the initiating factor for tumor progression that is known to lead to malignancy, resulting in disease sequelae. Genomic instability is characterized by the increased rate of acquisition of alterations in the mammalian genome. These changes encompass a diverse set of biological end points including gene mutation and amplification, cellular transformation, clonal heterogeneity and delayed reproductive cell death. The loss of stability of the genome is becoming accepted as one of the most important aspects of viral induced carcinogenesis, and the numerous genetic changes associated with cancer cell implicate genomic stability as contributing to the neoplastic phenotype. The aim of this study is to analyze the influence of COVID-19 cancer related diseases and determine the epigenetic-genomic profiles in these diseases. In our experimental procedures, we will use oral epithelium cells as a model for this cancer study. We proposed a novel approach to study COVID-19-induced genetic changes with oral epithelium cells. We used these cells with COVID-19 co treatment to determine mechanisms that lead cells into crisis. Preliminary data using oral viral infected cells show that the viral infection can trigger certain gatekeeper proteins like p53 and pRB to be degraded and forcing cells to go into crises, and telomerase is turned on. In this study we will determine if COVID-19 transfected cells can follow the process using the Hayflick model, which show cells that are in crises, and some may progress to cancer. In summary, preliminary data show that viral infected cells that are none cancerous and are telomerase positive, may use a similar mechanism to send cells into crisis that turn telomerase on resulting in cellular malignancy. Citation Format: Eva McGhee, Mengtao LI, Yi-Ling Lin, Nefertari Carr, Chinelo Njubigbo, Rohun Sadeghi, Brooke Su-Velez, Julian Handler, Adin Handler, Judith Okoro, Sebhat Afework, Jay Vadgama. The hallmark of COVID-19 cancer disparities: Cellular sequelae [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2021; 2021 Apr 10-15 and May 17-21. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2021;81(13_Suppl):Abstract nr 722.
Déjà Vu: Recurrent Sudden Cardiac Arrests in a Child With an Anomalous Left Coronary Artery

Sudden cardiac arrest from anomalous coronary artery from the opposite sinus of Valsalva is rarely observed in children under 10 years of age. We report a 7-week-old infant with a brief resolved unexplained event from left anomalous aortic origin of a coronary artery who underwent unroofing and again developed syncope at 8 years of age. Ischemia was detected by stress echocardiography both times. (Level of Difficulty: Advanced.).
Time reversal of surface plasmons

We study in this work the so-called "instantaneous time mirrors" in the context of surface plasmons. The latter are associated with high frequency waves at the surface of a conducting sheet. Instantaneous time mirrors were introduced by M. Fink et al, with the idea that singular perturbations in the time variable in a wave-type equation create a time-reversed focusing wave. We consider the time-dependent three-dimensional Maxwell's equations, coupled to Drude's model for the description of the surface current. The time mirror is modeled by a sudden, strong, change in the Drude weight of the electrons on the sheet. Our goal is to characterize the time-reversed wave, in particular to quantify the quality of refocusing. We establish that the latter depends on the distance of the source to the sheet, and on some physical parameters such as the relaxation time of the electrons. We also show that, in addition to the plasmonic wave, the time mirror generates a free propagating wave that offers, contrary to the surface wave, some resolution in the direction orthogonal to the sheet. Blurring effects due to non-instantaneous mirrors are finally investigated.
SoK: Hardware Defenses Against Speculative Execution Attacks

Speculative execution attacks leverage the speculative and out-of-order execution features in modern computer processors to access secret data or execute code that should not be executed. Secret information can then be leaked through a covert channel. While software patches can be installed for mitigation on existing hardware, these solutions can incur big performance overhead. Hardware mitigation is being studied extensively by the computer architecture community. It has the benefit of preserving software compatibility and the potential for much smaller performance overhead than software solutions.This paper presents a systematization of the hardware defenses against speculative execution attacks that have been proposed. We show that speculative execution attacks consist of 6 critical attack steps. We propose defense strategies, each of which prevents a critical attack step from happening, thus preventing the attack from succeeding. We then summarize 20 hardware defenses and overhead-reducing features that have been proposed. We show that each defense proposed can be classified under one of our defense strategies, which also explains why it can thwart the attack from succeeding. We discuss the scope of the defenses, their performance overhead, and the security-performance trade-offs that can be made.
Understanding and improving large-scale content distribution

The Internet architecture was not designed for delivering large-scale content. Therefore, with the increase in popularity and demand for videos on the Internet, video content providers(CPs) have to come up with a number of solutions to achieve high degree of scalability, resilience and performance requirements of video content distribution. In this thesis we aim to answer the following research questions: (a) how do large scale content distribution systems currently work and what problems do they encounter, and (b) how can we solve those problems both in the short term as well as in the long term. Towards this end, this thesis makes the following contributions: First, we study original YouTube architecture to understand how a video delivery system with small number of large data centers handle scalability and performance challenges. Specifically, we uncover the use of location-agnostic proportional load-balancing strategy and how that affects its ISPs (Internet service providers). Second, we investigate how a more distributed approach employed by current YouTube improves the resilience of its delivery system. Using active measurement study, we uncover the use of multiple namespaces, tiered cache hierarchy, dynamic and location aware DNS (Domain Name System). Although this approach improves the resilience and performance compared to location-agnostic approach, since YouTube uses its own content delivery infrastructure, it is likely encounter scalability challenges as its content size and popularity increases. Third, to complement the two in-house content distribution architectures, we study Netflix and Hulu. These services make use of multiple third party content delivery networks (CDNs) to deliver their content. We find that their CDN selection and adaptation strategies lead to suboptimal user experience. We then propose inexpensive measurement-based CDN selection strategies that significantly improve the quality of the video streaming. Additionally, we find that although CDN networks themselves might be well designed the CDN selection mechanism and "intelligence" of the client software can be improved upon to provide users with better quality of service. Finally, building upon the results of these and other recent works on understanding large scale content distribution systems, we propose a first step in the direction of an open CDN architecture that allows for better scalability and performance. The two key ingredient of this proposal are to let any willing ISP to participate as CDNs and instrument client software to make decisions based upon measurements. This proposal is incrementally deployable. It is also economically more sustainable as it opens up new sources of revenue for the ISPs. We also provide a proof of concept implementation for this architecture using PlanetLab infrastructure.
Environment Conscious, Biomorphic Ceramics from Pine and Jelutong Wood Precursors

Environment conscious, biomorphic ceramics have been fabricated from pine and jelutong wood precursors. A carbonaceous preform is produced through wood pyrolysis and subsequent infiltration with oxides (ZrO2 sols) and liquid silicon to form ceramics. These biomorphic ceramics show a wide variety of microstructures, densities, and hardness behavior that are determined by the type of wood and infiltrants selected.
Effect of Growth Temperature on the Lipid Composition of Thermus aquaticus

The complex lipids of Thermus aquaticus include phospholipids, glucolipids, carotenoids, and vitamin K(2) isoprenologues. The phospholipids account for 30% of the total lipids and have been identified as phosphatidylethanolamine (4%), phosphatidylglycerol (3%), phosphatidylinositol (10%), cardiolipin (3%), and phosphatidic acid (1%). The major phospholipid contained three fatty acids, a long-chain unsaturated amine, and one glycerol per phosphate and accounted for 80% of the lipid phosphate. The carotenoids accounted for 60% of the membrane lipid. The majority of the carotenoids were very polar. Mono- and diglucosyldiglyceride and the 35-, 40-, and 45-carbon vitamin K(2) isoprenologues were also identified. All these lipids were localized in the membrane of T. aquaticus. When the growth temperature was increased from 50 to 75 C and measured at 5 C intervals, there was a progressive increase in the total lipid content. The phospholipids increased 2-fold, the carotenoids increased 1.8-fold, and the glucolipids increased 4-fold between cells grown at 50 C and 75 C. The vitamin K(2) level did not change. The proportions of the individual lipids within each lipid class remained constant as the temperature of growth was raised. Metabolic studies indicated turnover of the diacyl phospholipids during pulse-chase experiments at rates comparable with mesophilic bacteria. The major phospholipid and the carotenoids did not turn over.
Left ventricular reconditioning and anatomical correction for systemic right ventricular dysfunction.

Abstract The morphologically right ventricle (mRV) fails after managing systemic workload for a variable period of time in some patients with transposition of the great arteries (TGA) who have undergone an atrial switch operation and in patients with congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries (cc-TGA). Conventional therapy for progressive mRV failure, including tricuspid valve replacement and cardiac transplantation, has been disappointing. Anatomical correction, reincorporating the morphologically left ventricle (mLV) into systemic circulation, was performed in a total of 84 patients (39 TGA, 45 cc-TGA) in 2 institutions (Royal Children Hospital 1981-1993; Cleveland Clinic Foundation 1993-1999). The mVL was retrained to generate systemic pressure by means of pulmonary artery band in 43 patients. The overall mortality for patients entering this program is 15.4% (8 early and 5 late operative deaths). All of the operative deaths were patients with TGA and a prior atrial switch operation. Four patients (5%) have been transplanted or are on a transplantation waiting list. In patients with TGA and previous atrial switch operation, older age and abnormal coronary anatomy was associated with a higher operative mortality. None of the measured parameters of the mLV and mRV were predictors of failure of mLV reconditioning. Follow-up echocardiographic evaluations of the 46 survivors of anatomical correction showed normal mRV function in 41 (89%) and normal mLV function in 42 patients (91%). mLV retraining and anatomical correction produces good results in prepubescent patients. The response of older patients is less predictable and associated with a higher early and late mortality. Copyright © 2000 by W.B. Saunders Company
Bioreactor Engineering as an Enabling Technology to Tap Biodiversity

One barrier to exploiting the chemical and genetic diversity in nature is the difficulty of cultivating many organisms in a controlled manner. In some cases it is difficult to achieve growth. In many others, good growth is achieved, but the expression of the organism's genetic potential to make a desired product is not realized. The thesis of this paper is that a coupling of an understanding of reactor engineering principles with the basic knowledge of the biology is often necessary to circumvent these barriers. In many cases the construction of appropriate cultivation systems is a necessary step to better understanding of cellular physiology. In some cases the chemical of interest is of high social utility and comes from a natural source that is uncommon and difficult to secure. In these cases a method of controlled cultivation becomes a prerequisite for commercial exploitation. These points were illustrated using a taxol. Taxol is an important new anticancer drug whose development has been greatly impeded by supply problems. Taxol has been derived from the park of the pacific yew tree, a process that kills the tree. The pacific yew is a relatively uncommon tree and very slow growing. One alternative to the natural source is plant cell culture. Such cultures can produce significant levels of taxol with substantial release into the medium. Taxane products not observed in typical extracts from field-grown plants can be found in cell cultures, indicating the potential unmasking of pathways. These cultures are quite responsive to changes in their environments as illustrated by the summary of initial observations. With regard to natural compounds, biochemical engineers can play a major role in the capture and preservation of producing systems, in the discovery of useful compounds, and in providing the basis for commercial production of natural compounds.
Performance of Hot Gas Clean-Up Devices Tested at the NYU DOE-PFBC Facility

Three hot gas clean up units namely, the Screenless Granular Bed Filter (GBF), Ceramic Cross-flow Filter (CXF) and High Temperature, High Pressure Electrostatic Precipitator (ESP) designed for PFBC combined cycle power applications were tested at the New York University (NYU) DOE-PFBC facility located at Westbury, New York using a 780 mm ID pressurized fluidized bed combustor. The combustor was operated up to 10 atma and 870 °C.With the exception of the ESP whose performance was hampered by persistent electrode bushing failure, the particulate capturing efficiencies of the GBF and the CXF were predominantly in the upper 90 % range. The dust loading leaving the filters was consistently lower than the NSPS particulate emission limit. The results also indicate that the filter exit gas stream may meet the gas turbine particulate tolerance limit.None of the three high temperature, high pressure (HTHP) gas clean up units tested emerges as a favorite for use in cleaning PFBC exhaust stream because, each has mechanical design as well as operational flaws which could be corrected. The Cross-flow filter suffered from filter element cracking or delamination or gasket failure during its short test program. The backpulse cleaning system also needs to be optimized. The GBF is susceptible to media bubbling and granule flow problems through its lower seal leg. The Electrostatic Precipitator tested at NYU failed because its electrode bushings cracked due to overheating and could not hold their designed voltage.Further HTHP filter testing at the sub-pilot plant scale is necessary to optimize filter design and develop effective operational procedures for the hot gas clean up systems that will make them viable for commercial PFBC application.Copyright © 1989 by ASME
Simultaneous adaptive control and identification via the weighted least-square algorithm

In this note, we prove the almost sure convergence of the proposed adaptive control and identification algorithms involving a weighted least-square parameter estimator. The analysis presented here strengthens the previous results achieved in this context. The proposed algorithm and the analysis achieve the convergence of the tracking error in a strong sense at an asymptotically arithmetic rate. The stronger result is obtained under a regularity and persistency condition introduced in this note, which also ensures that with probability one, the algorithm affords equal weighting to all the measurements after a finite number of iterations. Under these conditions it is also shown that the parameter estimation error also converges to zero. In the context of SISO ARMAX models it is proved that the regularity and persistency conditions are satisfied, under mild mixing conditions on the noise and no pole zero cancellation in the plant input-output transfer function, by a random perturbation of the reference trajectory.
A piecewise-linear approximation to diffusion with nonlinear interactions: nonlinear sorption

Abstract A solution for one-dimensional diffusion of a contaminant in a semi-infinite, porous slab is presented. The diffusion coefficient is constant, but sorption between the fluid and solid phase is nonlinear. Freundlich- and Langmuir-type isotherms are considered. The solution is based on a piecewise-linear approximation to the sorption isotherm. During transport, regions develop where analytical solutions corresponding to the linear segments of the isotherm can be used. The movement of the interfaces between these regions with time is tracked. 2-, 3-, 5-, and 10-region models were tested. The accuracy of the results was tested by comparing to a collocation solution using an L 2 error analysis. L 2 error in all the cases were less than 3.1%. Accuracy generally improves as the number of regions used in the model is increased. In general, a 5-region model produces results with L 2 error values less than 1%. The most important feature of the method, however, is that results are produced at a fraction of the computing cost. Central processing unit (CPU) times on a VAX 8650 computer for a 5-region, piecewise-linear model are, in general, five times smaller than the corresponding CPU time for the collocation technique. More importantly, the CPU time for the piecewise-linear solution is independent of the simulation time. The CPU time for the collocation solution increases with the total problem time because solutions are required at intermediate time steps. The piecewise-linear solution is strictly a function of the time and distance of interest.
The use of ovarian vessels for microvascular tissue transfer in lower extremity limb salvage

Limb salvage procedures in previously operated, radiated, and vessel-depleted fields rely heavily on the use of microvascular tissue transfer. This report illustrates the feasibility of the use of ovarian vessels for the revascularization of a free flap. We have achieved success with the use of rectus abdominis muscle free flap for coverage of exposed vascular reconstruction in the 75-year-old soft tissue sarcoma patient with twice chemoradiated femoral and hypogastric defect, preventing external hemipelvectomy. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microsurgery, 2013.
The potential use of axial spinal unloading in the treatment of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: a case series.

Abstract Chromy CA, Carey MT, Balgaard KG, Iaizzo PA. The potential use of axial spinal unloading in the treatment of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: a case series. Objective To assess potential benefits of axial spinal unloading (LTX 3000 Lumbar Rehabilitation System) over a brief 3-month period. Design Before-after pilot study. Setting University research laboratory. Participants Five adolescent girls with scoliosis. Interventions Three laboratory sessions: (1) initial baseline, (2) immediately after 3-month treatment period (axial unloading by using LTX 3000 for two 10-minute treatments daily), and (3) 1 month posttreatment. Main Outcome Measures Initial baseline postural data were obtained from 2 sets of radiographs (standing anteroposterior [AP] and lateral, sitting AP and lateral), back range of motion measurements, and numeric pain scales. The following were assessed: static postural changes; potential functional benefits; and therapeutic compliance. Results All subjects elicited reductions in lumbar Cobb angles immediately after 3 months of treatment; initial average scoliotic curves of 13.7° were reduced 42% to 8° (α=.05, P =.004). Additionally, such reductions were evident 1 month posttreatment; average original curves were reduced by 27%. Subjects' range of motion and lumbar lengthening were not significantly altered by this therapeutic protocol. Reported subject compliance was high (95%). Conclusions The LTX 3000 is a potential adjunct therapy for the treatment of adolescent scoliosis. This therapy resulted in curvature reductions and was widely accepted by subjects that were compliant with self-administration.
Levels of Administrative Behavior: Practice, Policy, Philosophy.

(1981). Levels of Administrative Behavior: Practice, Policy, Philosophy. Kappa Delta Pi Record: Vol. 18, No. 1, pp. 14-17.
Mechanisms of Nerve Impulse Initiation in a Pressure Receptor (Lorenzinian Ampulla)

ELASMOBRANCHS have a well-developed system of large tubular sense organs, the Lorenzinian ampullae1–4. In the dogfish, each ampulla consists of a bulb-like swelling, about 0.7 mm. in diameter, located deeply in the head of the fish, and a jelly-filled tube, several mm. long, that opens in a skin pore (see inset of Fig. 1). The ampulla is innervated by a bundle of 4–8 nerve fibres that end inside the swelling. Since the findings of Sand5 and Hensel6 that the stationary frequency of impulses discharged by the Lorenzinian ampulla has a high temperature coefficient (Q 10 = 2–3), the organ has been generally regarded as a thermo-receptor. But at that time, it was not yet known that not only thermo-receptors but also mechano-receptors may have such a high temperature coefficient without losing their mechano-receptor specificness7,8. The general morphology of the Lorenzinian ampulla suggests a mechano- rather than, a thermo-receptor function. In any event, its deep location in the head, and the relatively low thermal conductivity of the jelly of its tube, argue strongly against its being a thermo-receptor. In fact, Murray9 has recently shown in in situ experiments that probing of the ampulla pore with a bristle causes a brief change in the frequency of the nerve impulses discharged. In this communication evidence will be given that the ampulla is sensitive to pressure; it produces generator potentials which increase with the internal pressure of the ampulla.
Geometrically nonlinear impact response of thin laminated imperfect cylindrical panels

Although a large number of studies dealing with the impact response of flat laminated panels has been conducted in the past, relatively little work seems to be available on impact of laminated cyclindrical panels. In this paper an analytical study is conducted to predict the nonlinear transient response of thin imperfect laminated cylindrical panels subjected to impact loads. A review is also given regarding the state of the art on the impact response of laminated plates and shells. The imperfect panels are modeled using a 48 degree-of-freedom (DOF) finite element based on the classical laminated plate theory. Linear and nonlinear transient responses are obtained using the modal superposition method (MSM) and a reduction method based on Ritz vectors (R-R), both in conjunction with direct integration schemes (Wilson-θ or Newmark methods). The effect of the number of modes used is also discussed. A modified contact law is incorporated to evaluate the impact loads due to a projectile. Different nondimensional shell radii [r/h] are used in order to study the effect of nondimensional shell radii [r/h] on the impact response of laminated cylindrical panels. The effect of geometric imperfections on linear and nonlinear transient response under sudden impact loads is also analyzed. Both the MSM and R-R methods used in the analysis are found to have acceptable accuracy and the accuracy increased with the number of modes used. It is observed that the reduction of the nondimensional shell radius [r/h] causes significant changes in the impact response of the cylindrical panel: a significant decrease in the central deflection and contact force histories. The introduction of geometric imperfections led to similar conclusions.
Expanding the Mandate of the ITU

The disagreements among states that occurred in December 2012 at the World Conference on International Telecommunications in Dubai (WCIT-12) about appropriate revisions to the International Telecommunications Regulations (ITRs) highlighted the controversy over what the appropriate role of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) ought to be in the age of the Internet. Some have argued that the ITU should remain focused exclusively on technical and economic issues. Recently, others have advocated for an expanded role for the ITU, recommending that the ITU take on security issues in an effort to constrain espionage and cyber conflict. This article argues that the ITU is not the appropriate organization to regulate such matters of "high politics," demonstrating under international law that there are existing competent institutions to manage the challenges related to issues of intervention, use of force and aggression in the cyber domain.
Journal Scan: Spine

The efficacy of rhBMP-2 for posterolateral lumbar fusion in smokers. Glassman SD, Dimar JR 3rd, Burkus K, Hardacker JW, Pryor PW, Boden SD, Carreon LY. Spine (Phila PA 1976). 2007;32:1693–1698.
Solar reflectance of unprotected and protected aluminum front-surface mirrors

Abstract The rapidly increasing interest in the conversion of solar energy and in solar furnaces has focussed attention on the solar reflection and absorption characteristics of mirror coatings. By far the most suitable method for producing highly reflecting coatings, and film combinations with any desired values of solar reflectivity and thermal emissivity, is the high-vacuum evaporation technique. With no other method can films of highest reflectance and film combinations of reproducible optical properties be prepared with so complete a measure of control. By the use of suitable shutters and rotating sector wheels, and by well-controlled movements of the mirror substrates during the vacuum deposition, films of uniform thickness over large areas can easily be obtained.
Multimorbidity in women with and without osteoporosis: results from a large US retrospective cohort study 2004–2009

To determine the incidence of comorbidities in women with and without osteoporosis, incidence rates per 1,000 person-years were calculated using electronic health records from an integrated healthcare system. The overall comorbidity burden and health service utilization were greater in women with osteoporosis than in the controls. This retrospective cohort study describes the incidence of an array of comorbidities in women with and without osteoporosis (OP). Using electronic health records from an integrated healthcare system, we identified 22,414 women aged 55–89 years with OP and 22,414 age-matched controls without OP. Incidence rates (IRs) per 1,000 person-years (P-Y) were calculated and 95 % confidence intervals (CI) were estimated. Women with OP had significantly more comorbidities, medications, hospitalizations, and outpatient visits than the controls. Most cardiac comorbidity rates were 20–25 % lower in the OP cohort than in the control cohort. Hypertension had the largest rate difference; the IR was 42.0 per 1,000 P-Y (95 % CI 40.2–44.0) in the OP cohort compared to 94.0 (95 % CI 90.7–97.4) in the control cohort. Rates for cerebrovascular disease were similar for both cohorts at 26 per 1,000 P-Y. Bronchitis, sinusitis, and cystitis were each 55 per 1,000 P-Y in the OP cohort, whereas they ranged from 28 to 34 per 1,000 P-Y in the controls. The OP cohort had decreased incidence of ovarian, uterine, colorectal, and liver cancers and increased incidence of lung cancer, breast cancer, and multiple myeloma, compared to the non-OP cohort. Falls, depression, vision, and musculoskeletal issues were higher for the OP cohort than the controls. This study demonstrates the high disease burden in women with OP. This knowledge may help guide the clinical management of this population and may aid in the interpretation of adverse events in randomized clinical trials of OP therapies.
Variational Derivation of the Steady State

For a system undergoing Markoffian irreversible change of state, a concept of persistency (shown to arise naturally from a physical microscopic description of the system) is introduced; it is defined as the probability that a certain state persists during a short time interval without drifting away from the state. This concept is used in deriving a theorem which says that "the steady state of a Markoffian irreversible process corresponds to the maximum of the persistency." This theorem holds even outside the range of validity of Prigogine's principle of minimum entropy production, namely, even when the steady state is not close to the equilibrium state or even when the process is nonlinear. The proposed function is derived from the path probability for irreversible statistical dynamics previously reported by the author. The theorem is first applied to a system of two level atoms interacting simultaneously with a heat bath and a radiation field. Next, Kohler's variational derivation of the Boltzmann transport equation is shown to follow from the theorem.
The significance of work friends in late life

Abstract This article suggests that human development is a process of cobiography and mutual endeavor and explores the psychological and social support provided by workplace friends in late life. Through analysis of the retrospective life history narratives of a convoy of work friends, consociates are shown to enable women in problematic life-cycle and historical transitions to improvise new models for the female life course and to collectively challenge gender inequity at the workplace to bring about social change. Long-standing friends, who share historical context and sociocultural understandings, enable each other to deal with the disparities between expectations and experience to maintain self esteem and also to adapt to the discontinuities of their lives by reconstructing experience to provide continuity between past and present and thereby to forge an integrated, continuous sense of self and to achieve a sense of meaning in old age.
MEMBRE: AN EFFICIENT TWO‐DIMENSIONAL PROCESS CODE FOR VLSI

The control of lateral redistribution of dopants, which is critical in VLSI geometries, can be greatly facilitated by fast and accurate simulation of the key steps in the fabrication process. To provide the basic tools for such simulation, a computer code has been developed that models nonlinear dopant redistribution within a silicon substrate whose surface may be simultaneously undergoing nonuniform oxidation. This code, MEMBRE (for Multidimensional Efficient Moving Boundary Redistribution) solves typical dopant drive‐in problems in seconds on the Cyber 176, IBM 3033, or CRAY‐1, by the use of efficient numerical techniques. Multistep fabrication schedules involving field oxide growth and high‐dose implantation and redistribution can be modeled in a few minutes execution time.
Religion, suicide and homicide.

The present study extended a recent study by Stack, by showing that the proportion of Catholics in a region (the states of the USA) was negatively related to the suicideand homicide rates. Whereas the relationship with suicide rate was eliminated by controlling for the proportion of divorced persons in the regions, the relationship with homicide rates appeared to be more robust.
Plasma Passivation Etching for HgCdTe

Inductively coupled plasmas (ICP) are the high-density plasmas of choice for the processing of HgCdTe and related compounds. Most dry plasma process works have been performed on HgCdTe for pixel delineation and the p-to-n-type conversion of HgCdTe. We would like to use the advantages of “dry” plasma processing to perform passivation etching of HgCdTe. Plasma processing promises the ability to create small vias, 2 μm or less with excellent uniformity across a wafer, good run-to-run uniformity, and good etch rate control. In this study we developed processes to controllably etch CdTe, the most common passivation material used for photovoltaic-based HgCdTe devices. We created a process based on xenon gas that allows for the slow controllable CdTe etch at only 0.035 μm/min, with smooth morphology and rounded corners to promote further processing.
Fatal Shigella Infection Induced by Folic Acid Deficiency in Young Guinea Pigs

Attempts to define mechanisms of host susceptibility to Shigella infection would be facilitated by the development of a suitable small animal model. The natural resistance of common laboratory animals to experimental infection with shigellae has been overcome by a number of methods. Successful infection of mice and guinea pigs can be accomplished by pretreatment with antibiotics to alter intestinal flora sufficiently to minimize its protective effects [1]. However, such infections are almost invariably asymptomatic and thus are of limited value for the study of natural disease. Fatal Shigella infection can be produced in adult guinea pigs by starvation or subcutaneous injection with carbon tetrachloride, provided that calcium carbonate is given before and opium administered after oral challenge [2, 3]. Germfree guinea pigs are also susceptible to shigellosis [4]. Injection of substances adversely affecting the Krebs cycle prior to oral challenge has been reported to induce fatal infection in mice [5]. Studies in guinea pigs indicate that an essential step in the pathogenesis of shigellosis is penetration of the intestinal mucosa by infecting organisms [6]. Since cellular turnover in the intestinal mucosa operates at an exceedingly rapid rate,
An evaluation of factors affecting the microextraction of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and o‐xylene into pentane

Abstract Various effects on extraction efficiencies when using a micro‐extraction technique to extract benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and o‐xylene from water into pentane were studied. The effects of sample to solvent ratio (20:1 and 100:1), salting out with sodium sulfate, and the presence of other organic substances in the matrix were all evaluated. Observed microextraction efficiencies were in good agreement with values calculated from published partition coefficients. For benzene, which was the least well extracted, saturating the aqueous sample with sodium sulfate increased recoveries significantly. When a water‐soluble organic (acetonitrile) was also present at high levels, the recoveries were generally decreased; however, this effect was eliminated when the aqueous phase was saturated with sodium sulfate.
2-Deoxy sugars Part XIII. 1,3-dideoxy-d-erythro-hexulose

Abstract The known 3,4,5-tri- O -benzoyl-2-deoxy- d - erythro -pentose (prepared in three steps from 2-deoxy- d - erythro -pentose) was oxidized to 3,4,5-tri- O -benzoyl-2-deoxy- d - erythro -pentonic acid, which was converted into the corresponding acid chloride. Treatment of the acid chloride with ethereal diazomethane afforded the diazomethyl ketone, which underwent reduction to give crystalline 4,5,6-tri- O -benzoyl-1,3-dideoxy- d - erythro -hexulose, obtained alternatively, in 46% yield, by the action of diazomethane on 3,4,5-tri- O -benzoyl-2-deoxy- d - erythro -pentose. Mercaptalation of the benzoylated 1,3-dideoxy- d - erythro -hexulose with methanethiol yielded syrupy 4,5,6-tri- O -benzoyl-1,3-dideoxy- d - erythro -hexulose dimethyl dithioacetal which, on debenzoylation, gave 1,3-dideoxy- d - erythro -hexulose dimethyl dithioacetal (likewise a syrup), which was converted into crystalline 6- O -adamantoyl-1,3-dideoxy- d - erythro -hexulose dimethyl dithioacetal. Debenzoylation of 4,5,6-tri- O -benzoyl-1,3-dideoxy- d - erythro -hexulose afforded 1,3-dideoxy- d - erythro -hexulose as an impure syrup.
Development of an ISO 9000 Compatible Occupational Health Standard: Defining the Issues

Corporate ISO 9000 registration is gaining international acceptance as the hallmark of quality system achievement. The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) is currently drafting environmental standards that will complement ISO 9000. Should the international community also consider development of an ISO 9000-compatible occupational safety and health management standard (OSHMS)? To determine the advantages and disadvantages of this issue, the investigators conducted interviews with government and private sector experts, reviewed publicly accessible ISO documents, and evaluated published literature germane to the subject. Major advantages of an ISO OSHMS were the harmonization of national standards, maximizing Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) efficiency through third-party registration audits, and increased emphasis on employee-driven health and safety programs. Major disadvantages were the single vote of the American National Standards Institute at international proceedin...
Half-life bias correction and the G7 stock markets

Abstract We look at alternative methods to correct a downward bias in half-life estimates of relative stock prices among the G7 countries. We compare a grid-α median-unbiased method and a recursive mean adjustment method.