cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The role of communication channel in delivering service recovery in online shopping environment

This study aims to investigate the effects the communication channels, which deliver service recovery on consumer satisfaction, word-of-mouth and loyalty intention, mediated through perceived quality of service recovery. In addition, this study examines the effect of service failure severity on perceived quality of service recovery. The results reveal that the type of communication channel has no significant effect on perceived quality of service recovery, whereas service recovery quality significantly affects consumer satisfaction and behavioural intentions. In addition, customers' perceived severity of service failure significantly influences the quality of service recovery. The findings provide a considerable clue for managers to reduce expenditure and improve the effectiveness of service recovery activities, enabling companies to focus on the apology message rather than the communication channels. Furthermore, service providers should find a way to assess the degree of customers' perception of service failure severity to enhance the quality of service recovery activities.
Hippocampal-prefrontal theta-gamma coupling during performance of a spatial working memory task

Cross-frequency coupling supports the organization of brain rhythms and is present during a range of cognitive functions. However, little is known about whether and how long-range cross-frequency coupling across distant brain regions subserves working memory. Here we report that theta-slow gamma coupling between the hippocampus and medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) is augmented in a genetic mouse model of cognitive dysfunction. This increased cross-frequency coupling is observed specifically when the mice successfully perform a spatial working memory task. In wild-type mice, increasing task difficulty by introducing a long delay or by optogenetically interfering with encoding, also increases theta-gamma coupling during correct trials. Finally, epochs of high hippocampal theta-prefrontal slow gamma coupling are associated with increased synchronization of neurons within the mPFC. These findings suggest that enhancement of theta-slow gamma coupling reflects a compensatory mechanism to maintain spatial working memory performance in the setting of increased difficulty.
Impact of Ultrathin C60 on Perovskite Photovoltaic Devices.

Halide perovskite solar cells have seen dramatic progress in performance over the past several years. Certified efficiencies of inverted structure (p-i-n) devices have now exceeded 20%. In these p-i-n devices, fullerene compounds are the most popular electron-transfer materials. However, the full function of fullerenes in perovskite solar cells is still under investigation, and the mechanism of photocurrent hysteresis suppression by fullerene remains unclear. In previous reports, thick fullerene layers (>20 nm) were necessary to fully cover the perovskite film surface to make good contact with perovskite film and avoid large leakage currents. In addition, the solution-processed fullerene layer has been broadly thought to infiltrate into the perovskite film to passivate traps on grain boundary surfaces, causing suppressed photocurrent hysteresis. In this work, we demonstrate an efficient perovskite photovoltaic device with only 1 nm C60 deposited by vapor deposition as the electron-selective material. Util...
Seven Billion Microcosms: Evolution within Human Microbiomes

Rational microbiome-based therapies may one day treat a wide range of diseases and promote wellness. Yet, we are still limited in our abilities to employ such therapies and to predict which bacterial strains have the potential to stably colonize a person. The Lieberman laboratory is working to close this knowledge gap and to develop an understanding of how individual species and strains behave in the human microbiome, including with regard to their niche ranges, survival strategies, and the degree to which they adapt to individual people. We employ system-level approaches, with a particular emphasis on using de novo mutations and evolutionary inference to reconstruct the history of bacterial lineages within individuals.
Wavelength Multiplexed Laser Interferometry for Ranging

A new ranging technique is proposed using multi-wavelength laser interferometry with wavelength de-multiplexed detectors to alleviate the range-resolution trade-off inherent in many contemporary ranging techniques. We demonstrate 3-mm range and 10-nm resolution with two-wavelengths.
A high pressure shock tube study of pyrolysis of real jet fuel Jet A

Abstract A typical Jet A fuel was pyrolyzed in a high-pressure shock tube at 25 and 90 atm under highly diluted conditions from 900 to 2200 K. The key species produced from the pyrolysis process were measured by gas chromatography as a function of the shock temperature. It was found that despite the compositional complexity of the fuel, the major pyrolysis products include a handful of species. They are ethylene, methane, hydrogen, propene, 1-butene, iso-butene, benzene, toluene, acetylene, 1,3-butadiene, allene and propyne, etc. Among them, ethylene is the most dominant species. The HyChem model recently proposed for the same fuel was used for prediction and comparison with the experimental data. Considering that the HyChem model was developed using shock tube and flow reactor data collected over a range of conditions significantly different from those of the current study, the agreement between the current experiment and model prediction is satisfactory. A Monte Carlo analysis was carried out that examined the sensitivities of the model predictions to the rate parameters. The results indicate that the effects of the uncertainties of A factors and those of activation energy are of significance in different temperature regions. Moreover, the low temperature region is dominated by the fuel pyrolysis reactions, while the high temperature region is dominated by the foundational chemistry which describes the pyrolysis and oxidation of fuel pyrolysis products.
Detection of the Vanishing Line of the Ocean Surface from Pairs of Scale-Invariant Keypoints

In this paper, we propose an algorithm for estimating the vanishing line of a stochastically-textured plane in a single image taken by an uncalibrated perspective camera. As an example of such type of texture we take images of ocean surface for which existing methods of vanishing line detection from texture perform poorly. The proposed algorithm relies on finding pairs of similarly looking scale-invariant keypoints that are different in scale. The location of the vanishing line is estimated directly from those pairs of points by finding the vanishing line that represents the consensus of individually found vanishing points. We demonstrate the potential of the proposed method on a number of real images of ocean surface by estimating the horizon line using SIFT keypoints.
The Embedded and Multiplex Nature of Al Capone

One of the distinguishing characteristics of organized crime is the extent to which it intermingles with non-criminal domains of society. In some instances, such as the case of labor racketeering in the 1950s and 1960s (Jacobs, 2006), this infusion of organized crime into legitimate institutions is in toto. But, more typically, the daily grind and schemes of organized crime require some basic level of integration into the non-criminal world, if only to pay a cop to look the other way, to find legitimate businesses to flip stolen goods, or to partner with wire services for bookmaking operations. In short, organized crime’s existence is contingent on its embeddedness within larger political, cultural, and economic networks.
Iodide Photoredox and Bond Formation Chemistry.

ConspectusIodide redox chemistry is intimately coupled with the formation and breaking of chemical bonds that are relevant to emerging solar energy technologies. In this Account, recent advances in...
Supply chain cost analysis for additively manufactured biomedical implants

Biomedical implants fabricated through Additive Manufacturing (AM) yield opportunities to speedily respond to customer demand in producing patient-specific customised parts while simultaneously red...
Inequities of Enrollment in Gifted Education: A Statewide Application of the 20% Equity Allowance Formula

Underrepresentation in gifted education for ethnically diverse student groups has been widely recognized. Two recent federal district court decisions defined the lower limits of equitable participa...
Asymptotic expansions and saddlepoint approximations using the analytic continuation of moment generating functions

Transform inversions, in which density and survival functions are computed from their associated moment generating function in its analytic continuation. For finite-order expansions, the expansion error is a contour integral in the analytic continuation, which we approximate using the saddlepoint method based on following the path of steepest descent. Such saddlepoint error approximations accurately determine expansion errors and, thus, provide the means for determining the order of the expansion needed to achieve some preset accuracy. They also provide an additive correction term which increases accuracy of the expansion. Further accuracy is achieved by computing the expansion errors numerically using a contour path which ultimately tracks the steepest descent direction. Important applications include Wilks’ likelihood ratio test in MANOVA, compound distributions, and the Sparre Andersen and Cramer–Lundberg ruin models.
CT Statistical and Iterative Reconstructions and Post Processing

For decades, CT images were reconstructed from the measured raw data using analytical reconstruction methods, such as filtered backprojection (FBP). While FBP is fast and accurate, the measured data are rarely ideal, and iterative and statistical methods can provide significant benefit particularly when the data quality is poor. They can produce images with lower noise and can also reduce artifacts from system imperfections. However, the resulting images are nonlinear and non-stationary and have other properties that are different from those produced by FBP that should be kept in mind when the images are interpreted.
S21.2 Addressing anti-LGBT stigma and medical mistrust through a data-informed approach to community engagement

HIV disparities are an ongoing problem affecting LGBT populations, particularly Black gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM) and transgender women (TGW). The etiology of these disparities is multi-factorial, but medical mistrust and anti-LGBT stigma are key barriers to HIV prevention and care access that likely contribute to disparities. A public health department and university-academic collaboration in partnership with clinical and community partners was funded to improve HIV prevention and care access among Black GBMSM and TGW. Recognizing medical mistrust and anti-LGBT stigma as significant prevention and care access barriers for these communities, the project included the development of Baltimore in Conversation (BIC), a program designed to understand and address these barriers. BIC engaged community voices through small-group conversations about lived experiences as LGBT persons, storytelling nights with presentations of personal narratives of resilience, and photo-story exhibitions of local LGBT persons. Innovative evaluation tools were designed and embedded within BIC. The evaluation sought, through qualitative and quantitative approaches, to inform programming with community perspectives and, ultimately, to determine whether BIC programming reduced medical mistrust and anti-LGBT stigma. The evaluation findings showed evidence of progress towards reducing medical mistrust and anti-LGBT stigma and provided community feedback used to make programming more relevant to experiences and needs of local LGBT communities. For example, analysis of small-group conversation transcripts provided community-informed and locally relevant language and images for an HIV prevention media campaign for Black GBMSM and TGW. Analysis of in-depth interviews of photo-story participants suggested participation led to reductions in internalized stigma and external stigma from important members of their social networks. This public health-academic collaboration created the opportunity to develop, evaluate and improve a public health program through a community-informed approach. The overall findings, suggest reductions in medical mistrust and anti-LGBT stigma. Disclosure No significant relationships.
PD-1 inhibition: a novel approach to the treatment of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy.

Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML), a demyelinating disease of the brain due to an ubiquitous polyoma virus, JC virus, was first recognized in 1958 (1). PML was initially described in individuals with B cell malignancies, chronic lymphocytic leukemia and Hodgkins lymphoma, though it occurred with other predisposing illnesses as well.
The Neurosurgical Atlas: advancing neurosurgical education in the digital age.

Objective The advent of the internet and the popularity of e-learning resources has promoted a shift in medical and surgical education today. The Neurosurgical Atlas has sought to capitalize on this shift by providing easily accessible video and online education to its users on an international scale. The rising popularity of social media has provided new avenues for expanding that global reach, and the Atlas has sought to do just that. In this study, the authors analyzed user demographics and web traffic patterns to quantify the international reach of the Atlas and examined the potential impact of social media platforms on the expansion of that reach. Methods Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram metrics were extracted using each respective service's analytics tool from the date of their creation through October 2019. Google Analytics was used to extract website traffic data from September 2018 to September 2019 and app data from January 2019 to October 2019. The metrics extracted included the number of platform users/followers, user demographic information, percentage of new versus returning visitors, and a number of platform-specific values. Results Since the authors' previous publication in 2017, annual website viewership has more than doubled to greater than 500,000 viewing sessions in the past year alone; international users accounted for more than 60% of the visits. The Atlas Twitter account, established in August 2012, has more than 12,000 followers, primarily hailing from the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Saudi Arabia. The Atlas Facebook account, established in 2013, has just over 13,000 followers, primarily from India, Egypt, and Mexico. The Atlas Instagram account (established most recently, in December 2018) has more than 16,000 followers and the highest percentage (31%) of younger users (aged 18-24 years). The Atlas app was officially launched in May 2019, largely via promotion on the Atlas social media platforms, and has since recorded more than 60,000 viewing sessions, 80% of which were from users outside the United States. Conclusions The Neurosurgical Atlas has attempted to leverage the many e-learning resources at its disposal to assist in spreading neurosurgical best practice on an international scale in a novel and comprehensive way. By incorporating multiple social media platforms into its repertoire, the Atlas is able to ensure awareness of and access to these resources regardless of the user's location or platform of preference. In so doing, the Atlas represents a novel way of advancing access to neurosurgical educational resources in the digital age.
A Primer on Child Custody in Louisiana

This Article is the fifth in a series of primers on Louisiana Family Law. The Louisiana Civil Code of 1870, as amended to date, operates as the primary source of law, with other ancillary statutes and codes on particular subject matters. The law of child custody appears in Section 3 of Chapter 2 in Title V on Divorce. Chapter 2 covers Provisional and Incidental Proceedings and the section on child custody is preceded by spousal support and education claims. While the section on child custody only comprises eight articles, the jurisprudence interpreting issues of custody and visitation, and the revised statutes addressing restrictions on custody and visitation, provide a wealth of law in this area. The best interest of the child remains the hallmark of every decision, and courts are given wide discretion due to its fact-intensive nature.
Response Quality in Human-Chatbot Collaborative Systems

We report the results of a crowdsourcing user study for evaluating the effectiveness of human-chatbot collaborative conversation systems, which aim to extend the ability of a human user to answer another person's requests in a conversation using a chatbot. We examine the quality of responses from two collaborative systems and compare them with human-only and chatbot-only settings. Our two systems both allow users to formulate responses based on a chatbot's top-ranked results as suggestions. But they encourage the synthesis of human and AI outputs to a different extent. Experimental results show that both systems significantly improved the informativeness of messages and reduced user effort compared with a human-only baseline while sacrificing the fluency and humanlikeness of the responses. Compared with a chatbot-only baseline, the collaborative systems provided comparably informative but more fluent and human-like messages.
Si Microwire-Array Photocathodes Decorated with CuAllow CO 2 Reduction with Minimal Parasitic Absorption ofSunlight

High loadings of Cu were integrated on the light-facing side of Si microwire arrays used under simulated sunlight for the photoelectrochemical reduction of CO2(aq) to hydrocarbons in 0.10 M KHCO3(a...
Multiple constraints rate distortion optimization for a video encoder control

Current video coding standards like HEVC, VP9, VVC, AV1, etc., involve partitioning a picture into coding tree units (CTU), typically corresponding to 64x64 or 128x128 picture areas. Each CTU is partitioned into coding blocks following a recursive coding tree. In recently published perceptual video encoding methods, the CTU is used as the spatial unit to assign a QP value in a given picture area. Such an approach fits well with the usual rate distortion optimization used to decide the coding tree representation of a CTU since a constant QP is used inside the CTU. Thus Lagrangian rate distortion optimization works in such a situation. However, for some applications, finer spatial granularity may be desired with an adaptive QP. A perceptual video coding scheme may use a codec agnostic QP allocation process that proceeds on a 16x16 block basis. The issue raised in such a case is that the rate distortion trade-off among split modes no more works with the Lagrangian method. This paper proposes several methods to perform the rate distortion optimization of a coding tree in the situation where multiple QPs may be assigned inside the same CTU. First a theoretical method to solve the problem is described. It consists in a coding tree RD optimization using multiple Lagrange parameters. Then some simpler empirical methods which emulate the theoretical approach are proposed. Experimental results show the benefit of the proposed methods on top of VP9 and HEVC video encoders.
Delay in surgery is associated with axillary upstaging of clinically node negative breast cancer patients

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Most breast cancer (BC) patients present with early disease and clinically negative lymph nodes (cN0). Timing of surgery has not been standardized. We hypothesized that surgical delay results in an increased likelihood of nodal metastasis. METHODS Patients diagnosed with cN0 BC undergoing surgery with sentinel lymph node biopsy as initial therapy between 2006 and 2014 were identified in the NCDB and divided into four groups based on time intervals between diagnosis and surgery ( 12 weeks). Regression analysis evaluated the independent impact of surgical timing on axillary upstaging and survival. RESULTS Of 355,443 patients with cN0 BC, 39.6% had surgery within 4 weeks and 5.4% more than 12 weeks from diagnosis. After controlling for relevant factors, a month delay in surgery was associated with an increased likelihood of nodal positivity (odds ratio: 1.04; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.04-1.05; p < .001) and decreased overall survival (hazard ratio: 1.03; 95% CI: 1.02-1.04; p < .001). When compared to patients who underwent surgery less than 4 weeks from diagnosis, the absolute increase in nodal positivity and relative risks were 5.3% (95% CI: 0.047-0.059) and 1.34 (95% CI: 1.30-1.38), respectively, in the more than 12 weeks group. CONCLUSIONS Delay in BC surgery in cN0 patients was associated with an increased likelihood of axillary upstaging and decreased survival.
Mechanism for Tumor Progression in Lymphomatoid Papulosis: Hypothesis Based on Studies of Tumor Cell Lines Clonally Derived from Lymphomatoid Papulosis

Lymphomatoid papulosis (LyP) is a recurrent, multifocal cutaneous eruption characterized pathologically as an infiltration of large atypical cells surrounded by inflammatory cells (Macaulay, 1968). The large atypical cells resemble Reed Sternberg (RS) cells of Hodgkin disease (HD) (type A LyP cells), or Sezary cells of cutaneous T cell lymphoma (CTCL) (type B LyP cells) (Willemze et al., 1982). In most cases the large atypical cells have an activated helper T cell phenotype (CD30+, CD4+) (Kadin et al., 1985). Approximately 10–20% of LyP cases are associated with a malignant lymphoma, usually CTCL, HD, or a CD30+ large cell anaplastic lymphoma (ALCL), (Weinman and Ackerman, 1981; Willemze et al., 1982; Sanchez et al., 1983; Wantzin et al., 1985; Harrington et al., 1989; Kaudewitz et al., 1990). The skin lesions of LyP can precede, coexist with, or follow the associated lymphoma (Ibid).
A Universal Modular Hybrid LDO With Fast Load Transient Response and Programmable PSRR in 14-nm CMOS Featuring Dynamic Clamp Strength Tuning

This article presents a universal modular hybrid low-dropout regulator (MHLDO) to provide any desired combination of the power supply rejection ratio (PSRR) and power conversion efficiency (PCE) with in-compliance output ripple, load transient response, and operating range while minimizing losses and decoupling capacitor. The hybrid architecture eliminates the need for the fine quantization of the digital LDO power gates and prevents any associated limit cycle oscillation while keeping the overheads low. It is configurable at design-time and robustly self-adjusts across different operating points via a scalable architecture. The modular topology overcomes significant challenges of developing a large variety of analog and digital LDOs in order to meet the varying PSRR and power budget requirements for systems on a chip (SoCs) in scaled CMOS. A nonlinear control (NLC) feature provides an energy-efficient way to respond to fast load transients, while the dynamic clamp strength tuning (DCST) technique prevents unnecessary oscillations stemming from the input parasitic inductances and improves stability while lowering switching losses. The designed MHLDO provides a programmable PSRR capability of up to −42 dB with a quiescent current of less than 27.3 $\mu \text{A}$ as ALDO and a 133-mV worst droop against a >1-A/ns fast di/dt load change as DLDO. A new figure of merit (FoM) with improved accuracy demonstrates performance of 83 fs.
Discover probability: how to use it, how to avoid misusing it, and how it affects every aspect of your life: by Arieh Ben-Naim, 5 Toh Tuck Link, Singapore 596224, World Scientific Publishing CO. Pte. Ltd. Press, 2015, 318 + xix pp., $38.66 (paperback), ISBN: 978-9814616324

This well written book explains the beautiful applied nature of probability. To comprehend the contents of this easy-to-read book on ‘laws’ of daily lives, background in advanced mathematics is nec...
Philanthropy and the Nonprofit Sector in Asia: A Bibliographic Survey of the English Language Literature

This paper seeks to identify major English-language conference papers, articles, monographs and books about the contemporary nonprofit sector in Asia (as well as relevant materials about other areas of the world) that address important issues about the nonprofit sector. Those issues include (1) nonprofit government relations in Asia, (2) nonprofit-business relations in Asia, (3) the economic role and impact of the sector, ( 4) public awareness and attitudes toward the nonprofit sector in Asia, (5) sources for financing for the nonprofit sector, (6) legal and regulatory issues; and (7) NGO governance, capacities, and performance.
On Expected Value Strong Controllability

The Probabilistic Simple Temporal Network (PSTN) generalizes Simple Temporal Networks with Uncertainty (STNUs) by introducing probability distributions over the timing of uncontrollable timepoints. PSTNs are controllable if there is a strategy to execute the controllable timepoints while bounding the risk of violating any constraint to a small value. If this risk bound can't be satisfied, PSTNs are not considered controllable. We introduce the Expected Value Probabilistic SimpleTemporal Network (EPSTN), which extends PSTNs by including a benefit to the satisfaction of temporal constraints. We study the problem of Expected Value Strong Controllability (EvSC) of EPSTNs, which seeks a schedule maximizing the expected value of satisfied constraints. We solve the EvSC problem by extending a previously developed linear program, combined with search over constraints to violate at execution time. We describe conditions under which the solution to this linear program is the maximum expected value schedule. We then show how to search for constraints to discard, using the linear program at the core of the search. While the general problem is shown to be exponential, we conclude by providing several methods to bound the complexity of search.
Words as a conveyor of internal strife: Tales from working mothers during COVID-19

This study acknowledges the tremendous demands that the COVID-19 pandemic has placed on working mothers and its impact on their careers. In Study 1, we examine the phenomenon of cross-domain identi...
Comparison of Mini-Mental State Examination and Montreal Cognitive Assessment Ratings Across Levels of Parkinson's Disease Severity.

Background Cognitive impairment (CI) is common in Parkinson's disease (PD) and an important cause of disability. Screening facilitates early detection of CI and has implications for management. Preclinical disability is when patients have functional limitations but maintain independence through compensatory measures. Objective The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between scores on the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) with levels of PD severity and disability. Methods PD patients (n = 2,234) in a large observational study were stratified by disease severity, based on Total Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (Total UPDRS) and Hoehn and Yahr (HY) stage. Using MMSE (n = 1,184) or MoCA (n = 1,050) and basic (ADL) and instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) scales for disability, linear regression analysis examined associations between cognitive status and disability. Results Cognition and disability were highly correlated, with the strongest correlation between IADL and MoCA. Only 16.0% of mean MMSE scores were below threshold for CI (28) and only in advanced PD (Total UPDRS 60+, HY≥3). MoCA scores fell below CI threshold (26) in 66.2% of the sample and earlier in disease (Total UPDRS 30+, HY≥2), corresponding with impairments in ADLs. Conclusion In a large clinical dataset, a small fraction of MMSE scores fell below cutoff for CI, reinforcing that MMSE is an insensitive screening tool in PD. MoCA scores indicated CI earlier in disease and coincided with disability. This study shows that MoCA, but not MMSE is sensitive to the emergence of early cognitive impairment in PD and correlates with the concomitant onset of disability.
Outcomes of balloon-expandable versus self-expandable stent-graft for endovascular repair of iliac aneurysms using iliac branch endoprosthesis

PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to compare outcomes of internal iliac artery (IIA) stenting using balloon-expandable (BESG) or self-expandable stent grafts (SESG) during endovascular repair of aortoiliac aneurysms with iliac branch endoprosthesis (IBE; W. L. Gore, Flagstaff, Ariz). METHODS We retrospectively reviewed all consecutive patients treated for aortoiliac aneurysms using IBE between 2014 and 2020. IIA stenting was performed using either the IIA side branch SESG or a Gore VBX BESG (W. L. Gore). Indications for use of BESGs were "up-and-over" IBE technique for type IB endoleak after prior endovascular aortic aneurysm repair (EVAR), short IIA length, and need for IIA extension into divisional branches (outside instructions for use). End points included technical success, freedom from buttock claudication, primary IIA patency, and freedom from IIA branch instability (eg, branch-related death or rupture, occlusion, disconnection, or reintervention for stenosis, kink, or endoleak), freedom from type IC/IIIC endoleak, and freedom from secondary interventions. RESULTS There were 90 patients (86 males and 4 females) with a mean age of 74 ± 7 years treated by EVAR with 108 IBEs. Choice of stent was BESG in 43 and SESG in 65 targeted IIAs. BESGs were used more frequently in patients with prior EVAR (22% vs 2%; P = .003,), isolated IBEs (31% vs 2%; P < .001), and in patients with IIA aneurysms requiring stenting into divisional branches (36% vs 5%; P < .001). Technical success was similar for BESGs and SESGs (97% vs 100%; P = .40), respectively. The mean follow-up was 25 ± 16 months (range, 11-34 months). At 2 years, freedom from buttock claudication was 100% for BESG and 95 ± 3% for SESG (Log-rank 0.26), with no difference in primary patency (BESG, 100% vs SESG, 94 ± 4%; Log-rank 0.94). There were four (9%) IIA-related endoleaks in the BESG group and one (2%) in the SESG group (P = .08). Freedom from IIA branch instability was 87 ± 6% for BESG and 96 ± 3% for SESG at 2 years (Log-rank 0.043). Freedom from type IC/IIIC endoleak was 87 ± 7% for BESG and 98 ± 2% for SESG at the same interval (Log-rank 0.06). There was no difference in freedom from reinterventions for BESG and SESG (92 ± 6% vs 98 ± 2%; Log-rank 0.34), respectively. CONCLUSIONS BESGs were used more frequently during IBE procedures indicated for failed EVAR, isolated common iliac aneurysms, and IIA aneurysms requiring extension into divisional branches. Despite these differences and BESG being used outside instructions for use, both stent types had similar primary patency, freedom from buttock claudication, and freedom from reinterventions. However, BESGs were associated with higher rates of IIA-related branch instability.
Kinetic Probes of the Origin of Activity in MOF-Based C–H Oxidation Catalysts

The development of homogeneous catalysis is enabled by the availability of a rich toolkit of kinetics experiments, such as the Hg-drop test, that differentiate catalytic activity at ligand-supported metal complexes from potential heterogeneous catalysts derived from decomposition of molecular species. Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have garnered significant attention as platforms for catalysis at site-isolated, interstitial catalyst sights. Unlike homogeneous catalysis, relatively few strategies have been advanced to evaluate the origin of catalytic activity in MOF-promoted reactions. Many of the MOFs that have been examined as potential catalysts are comprised of molecular constituents that represent viable catalysts in the absence of the extended MOF lattice, and thus interfacial sites and leached homogeneous species represent potential sources of catalyst activity. Here, we demonstrate that analysis of deuterium kinetic isotope effects (KIEs) and olefin epoxidation diastereoselectivity provides direct probes of the origin of catalytic activity in MOF-promoted oxidation reactions. These analyses support direct involvement of lattice-based Fe sites in the turnover-limiting step of C–H activation with Fe-MOF-74-based materials (i.e., the MOF functions as a bona fide catalyst) and evidence that Cu2-based MOF MIL-125-Cu2O2 functions as a solid-state initiator for solution-phase oxidation chemistry and is not involved in the turnover limiting step (i.e., the MOF does not function as a catalyst). We anticipate that the simple experiments described here will provide a valuable tool for clarifying the role of MOFs in C–H oxidation reactions.
The spectrum of inflammatory responses

Inflammation is an integral part of animal biology. It provides critical protection from adverse environmental factors by enforcing the defense of homeostasis and the functional and structural inte...
NF-kappaB activation in light-induced retinal degeneration in a mouse model.

Purpose To investigate the modulation of nuclear factor (NF)-kappaB in light-induced photoreceptor degeneration in a mouse model. Methods Mice were exposed to intense green light. Light-induced activation of NF-kappaB and its nuclear localization were studied by immunohistochemistry. The NF-kappaB DNA-binding activity in the retinas after exposure to light was measured by electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA). Nuclear transactivation of NF-kappaB in the photoreceptor cells was determined by quantitative real-time (qRT)-PCR. The amount of NF-kappaB p65 in the photoreceptor cells after exposure to light was assessed by Western blot analysis. To obtain more photoreceptor-specific information, microdissected photoreceptor cells were used in some studies. Results By an immunohistochemical method, the perinuclear region of the photoreceptor cells was heavily labeled with an antibody to activated NF-kappaB after a 1-hour exposure to light. Nuclear localization of NF-kappaB in the photoreceptor nucleus was seen at 12 hours. In the experiments involving 3 hours of exposure to light followed by recovery in the dark, nuclear localization of NF-kappaB was also noted after 12 hours' recovery in the dark. During continuous exposure to light, the NF-kappaB DNA-binding activity gradually increased and reached its maximum at 12 hours. There was an increase of NF-kappaB p65 protein at 3 hours. The mRNA levels of IkappaBalpha were upregulated after 6 hours' exposure to light. Conclusions Intense light activated NF-kappaB in the photoreceptor cells in vivo, increased the NF-kappaB DNA-binding activity, and increased the expression of mRNA of IkappaBalpha, a target gene of NF-kappaB.
Umiat bentonite: an unusual montmorillonite from umiat, alaska

Abstract : Numerous bentonite clays interbedded with shale and coal are exposed in the interfingering, Cretaceous sediments along the Colville River and its tributaries in northern Alaska. Two bentonite beds of high purity, ten to twelve inches thick, are conveniently accessible at Umiat Mountain, four miles northeast of Umiat, Alaska. X-ray diffraction, X-ray fluorescence and other diagnostic techniques revealed the bentonite to be nearly pure montmorillonite with certain beidellitic characteristics. It is proposed that this clay be known as Umiat bentonite. (Author)
Solar Flares and Concurrent Phenomena in the Solar Atmosphere

The observation of solar flares in visual light is mostly made in the light of hydrogen-α, which shows only a small part of the interesting phenomena which accompany the flare. We discuss observations of coronal and prominence phenomena accompanying the flares, and their connection with non-optical phenomena.
Primary Productivity in the Marine Environment

Historical Approaches to the Assessment of Primary Productivity Modern Approaches to the Assessment of Primary Productivity Nutrient Limitation of Primary Productivity Keywords: algae; benthic-associated primary productivity; marine environment; phytoplankton; primary productivity
Carboxyl-terminal Sequence of Human Gastricsin and Pepsin

The tryptic peptides from human pepsin and gastricsin were purified and their sequences were determined. The sequence of 27 residues at the COOH-terminal end of human pepsin was found to be: -Ile-Leu-Gly-Asp-Val-Phe-Ile-Arg-Gln-Phe-Tyr-Thr-Val-Phe-Asp-Arg-Ala-Asn-Asn-Gln-Val-Gly-Leu-Ala-Pro-Val-Ala. The sequence of 19 residues at the COOH-terminal end of human gastricsin was found to be: -Gln-Phe-Tyr-Thr-Val-Phe-Asp-Arg-Ala-Asn-Asn-Lys-Glu-Gly-Leu-Ala-Pro-Val-Ala. These sequences are extensively homologous to each other and to the known COOH-terminal sequence of bovine rennin.
Figuras del sujeto

Este articulo discute acerca de la nocion del sujeto en las ciencias sociales, analizando las diferentes interpretaciones que se le ha dado desde la sociologia, el psicoanalisis y la linguistica.
Microbodies in Germinating Fern Spores: Evidence for Glyoxysomal Activity

Enzymes of the glyoxylate cycle, isocitrate lyase and malate synthase, are active during the germination of spores of the fern Dryopteris filix-mas. Increases in activity of both enzymes are correlated with the breakdown of lipid reserves. The occurrence of these enzymes suggests that the microbodies previously described in these spores are glyoxysomes.
Insights from gene arrays on the development and growth regulation of uterine leiomyomata.

Abstract Objective: To use microarray analysis as an unbiased approach to identify genes involved in the induction and growth of uterine leiomyomata. Design: Screen by arrays for up to 12,000 genes in leiomyoma (L) and control myometrium (M) from nine patients. Setting: University research laboratories. Patient(s): Nine patients in the follicular and luteal phases of the menstrual cycle. Intervention(s): mRNA from L and M was converted to biotin-labeled cRNA and hybridized to cDNA oligonucleotide sequences on the arrays. Main Outcome Measure(s): Greater than two-fold change in gene expression between leiomyoma and matched myometrium. Result(s): Prominent among the 67 genes overexpressed in L relative to M were dlk or Pref-1, doublecortin, JM27, ionotropic glutamate receptor subunit 2, apolipoprotein E3, IGF2, semaphorin F, myelin proteolipid protein, MEST, frizzled, CRABP II, stromelysin-3, and TGFβ3. The genes dlk, IGF2, and MEST are paternally expressed imprinted genes, and the others are involved in tissue differentiation and growth. Prominent among the 78 genes down-regulated in L relative to M were alcohol dehydrogenases 1α-γ, tryptase, dermatopontin, thrombospondin, coxsackievirus receptor, nur77, and c-kit. Conclusion(s): Arrays offer large-scale screening of mRNA expression, which will help us differentiate between the genes and metabolic pathways necessary for leiomyoma growth and those regulating myometrial contractions.
INDUCTION OF KIDNEY HEME OXYGENASE BY INDIUM, GALLIUM, AND ARSENIC.431

Indium (In), gallium (Ga) and arsenic (As) are major components of III-V semiconductors. The binary compounds InAs and GaAs possess distinct advantages in electronic properties over silicon-based semiconductors, hence increased human exposure is expected. In, Ga, and As alone or in combination are known to exert toxic effects on various tissues. Previous studies in our laboratory have shown that marked alterations in protein synthesis patterns occur in hamster kidneys following in vivo exposure to As. Included in these changes is the induction of a 32-kDa stress protein thought to be heme oxygenase (HO-1). The objectives of this study were to establish the identity of this protein as HO-1 and test the hypotheses that 1) In and Ga may alter the effects of As in the kidney and 2) HO-1 is induced by damage from oxidative intermediates generated by the metal ions. Supernatants obtained from hamster kidney proximal cortical tubule cells exposed in vitro and from hamster kidneys exposed in vivo to In, Ga, and As alone and in combination were assayed for HO-1 by Western blot analysis. HO-1 was increased in both the in vitro and in vivo As, In and Ga exposed cells. In and Ga when administered with As did not alter the HO-1 response. The capacity of the metals individually and in combination to generate oxidative radicals was determined by carbon monoxide (CO) and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) measurements in an in vitro system. The three metals had little capacity to directly generate oxidative products. Furthermore, studies showed that In and Ga inhibited the production of CO and TBARS when added to an Fe+3/ascorbic acid free radical generating system. These studies indicate that 1) In and Ga do not alter the stress protein response of kidney cells exposed to As and 2) In, Ga and As induce HO-1 by other than the direct production of oxidative free radicals.
Diaphragmatic hernias after sequential left ventricular assist device explantation and orthotopic heart transplant: Early results of laparoscopic repair with polytetrafluoroethylene

Objective Patients who undergo an orthotopic heart transplant after explantation of an intraperitoneal left ventricular assist device are at an increased risk of developing diaphragmatic hernias. The aim of this study was to determine the incidence of these hernias and to evaluate the morbidity and short-term efficacy of laparoscopic repair. Methods Using our prospectively maintained database, we performed a single-institution, retrospective review of all patients who underwent laparoscopic repair of a diaphragmatic hernia resulting from defects created by left ventricular assist device explantation. Results From January 1, 1995 to March 1, 2007, 5 men at our institution (median age, 56 years) out of 97 patients at risk developed a diaphragmatic hernia after left ventricular assist device explantation (5.2% incidence). The median time to presentation was 25.4 months (range, 9–62 months). The median size of the hernia defect was 8 cm (range, 6–15 cm). We performed all repairs completely laparoscopically. None of the defects were repaired primarily because doing so would have resulted in significant tension. Instead, we secured a polytetrafluoroethylene patch over the defect with pledget-reinforced, braided, nonabsorbable, handsewn mattress sutures, followed by reinforcement with laparoscopic tacking screws. We noted no perioperative complications. The median length of stay was 2 days (range, 1–4 days). At a median follow-up period of 12.2 months (range, 1–31 months), no recurrences had occurred. Conclusion Laparoscopic repair of diaphragmatic hernias with polytetrafluoroethylene can be performed with minimal morbidity and excellent short-term results.
An α-glucan isolated as a co-product of biofuel by hydrothermal liquefaction of Chlorella sorokiniana biomass

Abstract Complete use of all major components of biomass is critical to make algal biofuel feasible. Therefore, a sequential hydrothermal liquefaction process was developed as an extraction technology to fractionate the polysaccharides and the lipids from algal cells. This technology was used to process Chlorella sorokiniana biomass by extracting polysaccharides from the biomass at lower temperature followed by liquefaction of the extracted residue to bio-oil at higher temperatures. The extracted polysaccharides were characterized to evaluate its potential industrial applications. Structural and chemical characteristics of crude polysaccharides were determined by different spectroscopic analysis. Monosaccharide composition and linkage analysis revealed that > 90% of the polysaccharide is composed of 1 → 4 linked glucan. As quantified based on molecular weight cut off of the dialysis bag, 68–70% of the ethanol insoluble polysaccharide showed to have a molecular weight > 10,000 g/mol. The polysaccharide exhibited pseudoplastic behavior at 0.05 g/ml which could be maintained over a NaCl concentration of 0.1 to 3 M. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetric analysis (DSC) were also conducted to evaluate the thermal property of the polysaccharide. Various industrial applications were suggested based on the measured characteristics of the polysaccharides.
A Systematic Air-fuel Ratio Control Strategy for Lean-burn SI Engines*

Abstract In this paper, we present a new synthesis method to control air-fuel ratio (AFR) in lean-burn spark ignition engines to maximize the fuel economy. The major challenge in the control of AFR for lean-burn engines is the large time-varying delay in the control loop which restricts the application of conventional control techniques. Time-varying delay in the system dynamics is first approximated by the Pade approximation which renders the system dynamics into non-minimum phase characteristics. Application of dynamic compensators is invoked to retrieve unstable internal dynamics. The associated error dynamics is utilized to construct a PID controller combined with a dynamic compensator to track the desired AFR command using the feedback from the universal exhaust gas oxygen (UEGO) sensor. The proposed method is shown to achieve desired dynamic properties independent of the matched and unmatched disturbances. Results of applying the proposed method to experimental data demonstrate the closed-loop system stability and performance against time-varying delay, canister purge disturbances and measurement noise.
Metastable structures in liquid quenched and vapor quenched Ag-Cu alloys

Abstract The phases and structures of liquid quenched (substrate temperatures of −150°, 20° and 50°C) and vapor quenched (substrate temperature 20°C) Ag-Cu alloys were investigated by X-ray and electron diffraction and by electron transmission microscopy. A single phase FCC solid solution with a maximum deviation of about +1% from Vegard's law was obtained for the thinnest regions (1000–3000 A) of the liquid quenched alloys with a substrate temperature of −150°C. For the thicker regions and for higher substrate temperatures, segregated silver-rich FCC metastable structures were obtained, the degree of segregation increasing with increase in substrate temperature. A metastable copper-rich FCC phase was only observed for the highest substrate temperature of 50°C. A new hexagonal phase was suggested in the liquid quenched alloys. The crystal structure and lattice parameter of the vapor quenched alloys on a substrate at 20°C were the same as those for liquid quenching. Annealing of liquid quenched Ag 50-Cu 50 alloys in the range of 25°C to 250°C produced a gradual increase in segregation with increase in temperature, finally yielding the α + β equilibrium phases at 200°C.