cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Modeling and Understanding of Rear Junction Double-Side Passivated Contact Solar Cells with Selective Area TOPCon on Front

Device modeling is performed to propose > 25% efficient industry-compatible rear junction double-side passivated contacts solar cell structure with full area p-TOPCon on the rear and selective area n-TOPCon under the front grid pattern (selective TOPCon). This design enables the use of thicker TOPCon (>100nm) on the front for traditional screen-printed contacts without incurring metal-induced damage, high parasitic absorption loss, and compromise in lateral transport or carrier collection on the front. Rear junction design with appropriate bulk lifetime and resistivity combination eliminate the need for heavy doping in the front field region because carriers can flow through the bulk Si without appreciable FF loss. High V OC is maintained because high-quality Si surface passivation in the field region by Al 2 O 3 /SiN gives J 0 comparable to the TOPCon. Our device modeling specifies the practically achievable properties and parameters for each region, including full area rear p-TOPCon, selective area front n-TOPCon, bulk and contacts, to achieve 25.4% efficiency screen-printed bifacial rear junction selective TOPCon cells.
Predictors of mortality in nonagenarians undergoing abdominal aortic aneurysm repair: analysis of the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program dataset.

BACKGROUND The present study used the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program dataset to identify the predictors of 30-day mortality for nonagenarians undergoing endovascular aortic aneurysm repair (EVAR) or open surgical repair (OSR). METHODS Patients aged >90 years who had undergone abdominal aortic aneurysm repair from 2005 to 2017 were identified using procedure codes. Those with operative times 48 hours (22.7% vs 2.6%; P < .001), and acute renal failure (12.1% vs 0.5%; P < .001). The EVAR group had a 30-day mortality rate of 2.6% in 1008 elective cases and 28.6% in 221 emergent cases. The OSR group had a 30-day mortality rate of 19.1% in 47 elective cases and 53.7% in 80 emergent cases. In the EVAR cohort, the 30-day mortality group had had a significantly greater incidence of dependent functional status (17% for those who had died vs 8% for those alive at 30 days; P = .004), ASA classification of ≥4 (76.4% vs 40.3%; P < .001), perioperative blood transfusion (57% vs 19%; P < .001), emergency surgery (71% vs 14%; P < .001), and longer operative times (150 vs 128 minutes; P = .001). CONCLUSIONS Nonagenarians had an incrementally increased, but acceptable, risk of 30-day mortality with EVAR in elective and emergent cases compared with that reported for octogenarians and cohorts of patients not selected for age. We found greater mortality for patients with dependent status, a higher ASA classification, emergent repair, and OSR. These preoperative risk factors could help identify the best surgical candidates. Given these results, consideration for EVAR or OSR might be reasonable for highly selected patients, especially for elective patients with a larger abdominal aortic aneurysm diameter for whom the risk of rupture is higher.
Quantification of circulating steroids in individual zebrafish using stacking to achieve nanomolar detection limits with capillary electrophoresis and UV-visible absorbance detection

Capillary electrophoresis and UV-visible absorbance detection are used with sample stacking to achieve detection limits ranging from 0.2 to 2 ng/mL (0.8 to 6 nM) for steroids. Stacking is accomplished using negatively charged cyclodextrin steroid-carrier molecules at a discrete pH interface between the reconstituted sample and the separation electrolyte. Steroids are then separated in under 5 min using capillary electrophoresis that incorporates secondary equilibria via sodium dodecyl sulfate and cyclodextrin. The effectiveness of the method for measurements of multiple steroids in limited sample volumes is demonstrated in individual female fish with total circulating blood volumes of 5 μL or less. Steroid recoveries from plasma following a sample processing method developed with commercial extraction cartridges range from 81 to 109 % for 17α,20β-dihydroxy-pregn-4-en-3-one, testosterone, 11-ketotestosterone, estrone, 17β-estradiol, and 17α-ethinyl estradiol. When applied to reproductively active female zebrafish, changes were detected in the levels of circulating steroids as a result of exposure to different solvents and 17β-estradiol.
Palmer Amaranth Control and Sorghum Response to Tank Mixtures of Huskie

Although Huskie treatments caused significant chlorosis, the sorghum recovered fully and chlorosis did not affect yield. All tank mixes of Huskie provided good Palmer amaranth control at all rating dates. Starane NXT provided poor Palmer amaranth control at all rating dates. All tank mixes of Huskie significantly elevated yield compared to the untreated controls or Starane NXT treatments.
Isolating Integrals in Galactic Dynamics and the Character of Stellar Orbits

The necessary and sufficient conditions for the existence of separable solutions to the Hamilton-Jacobi equation are well known. We show how the Hamilton-Lagrange equations of motion can be employed to obtain the same integrability conditions and isolating integrals of motion. In particular, for potentials that are used in galactic dynamics that do not possess three isolating integrals, this approach facilitates the use of perturbation methods and the understanding of the so-called box, tube and shell orbits that have been observed in numerical studies.
Changes in Bacterial Species Composition in Enrichment Cultures with Various Dilutions of Inoculum as Monitored by Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis

Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis revealed changes in the bacterial species obtained from enrichment cultures with different inoculum dilutions. This inoculum dilution enrichment approach may facilitate the detection and isolation of a greater number of bacterial species than traditional enrichment techniques.
How Neural Computing Can Still Be Unconventional After All These Years

Attempts to infer a technology from the computing style of the brain have often focused on general learning styles, such as Hebbian learning, supervised learning, and reinforcement learning. The present talk will place such studies in a broader context based on the diversity of structures in the mammalian brain - not only does the cerebral cortex have many regions with their own distinctive characteristics, but their architecture differs drastically from that of basal ganglia, cerebellum, hippocampus, etc. We will discuss all this within a comparative, evolutionary context. The talk will make the case for a brain-inspired computing architecture which complements the bottom-up design of diverse styles of adaptive subsystem with a top-level design which melds a variety of such subsystems to best match the capability of the integrated system to the demands of a specific range of physical or informational environments. This talk will be a sequel to Arbib, M.A., 2003, Towards a neurallyinspired computer architecture, Natural computing, 2:1-46, but the exposition will be self-contained.
Sleep duration and body mass index and waist circumference among Us adults

Objective To examine the form of the relationship between sleep duration and anthropometric measures and possible differences in these relationships by gender and race or ethnicity. Design and Methods Data for 13,742 participants aged ≥20 years from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2005-2010 were used. Sleep duration was categorized as ≤6 (short sleepers), 7-9, and ≥10 hours (long sleepers). Results Short sleepers were as much as 1.7 kg/m2 (SE 0.4) heavier and had 3.4 cm (SE 1.0) more girth than long sleepers. Among participants without depression or a diagnosed sleep disorder, sleep duration was significantly associated with body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference in an inverse linear association in the entire sample, men, women, whites, African Americans, and participants aged 20-39 years. No evidence for statistical interaction by gender and race or ethnicity was observed. Regression coefficients were notably stronger among adults aged 20-39 years. Compared to participants who reported sleeping 7-9 hours per night, short sleepers were more likely to be obese and have abdominal obesity. Conclusions In this nationally representative sample of US adults, an inverse linear association most consistently characterized the association between sleep duration and BMI and waist circumference.
Social development: the intellectual heritage

Because social development is primarily concerned with practical matters, little attention has been paid to the ideas, concepts and theories that inform social development interventions. Most publications on social development make little reference to theoretical issues, and most practitioners are unaware of the conceptual derivation of their activities. However, although seldom recognized or acknowledged, social development practice has, in a subtle and indirect way, been informed and shaped by a variety of intellectual ideas that, in turn, reveal a commitment to different normative perspectives. This paper traces the contribution these perspectives have made to social development over the years. By documenting this intellectual heritage, it hopes to promote a greater awareness of theoretical issues and, at the same time, to foster social development's conceptualization. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Characterizing the structure/function parameter space of hydrocarbon-conjugated branched polyethylenimine for DNA delivery in vitro

Abstract Polyethylenimine is a popular DNA transfection reagent, and many approaches have been explored to further enhance its transfection efficiency. Substitution of branched polyethylenimine's primary amine groups is an attractive approach because it is amenable to a variety of chemistries and is also implicated as a primary factor in its cytotoxicity. The purpose of this work was to serially substitute saturated hydrocarbons to branched polyethylenimine and determine what structure/function relationships exist between the hydrocarbon length and its degree of substitution, relative to transfection efficiency in multiple cell lines. Specifically, acetate, butanoate and hexanoate were conjugated to branched polyethylenimine ( M w = 25,000) using an aqueous condensation protocol. Transfections were performed in culture using HeLa, NIH/3T3 and Clone 9 cell lines. Biophysical characteristics of the polyelectrolyte complexes were also measured (hydrodynamic diameter, relative binding affinity) and correlated to transfection efficiency. The results show that substitution of the primary amines generally increases transfection efficiency relative to unconjugated polyethylenimine, but increasing the degree of substitution beyond ∼ 25 mol% generally decreases transfection efficiency from the optimum. Additionally, increasing hydrocarbon length generally decreased transfection efficiency. There was little correlation between particle size and binding efficiency to transfection efficiency.
Cellular lifespan and regenerative medicine

Tissue engineering is a promising approach to aid in the treatment of a wide range of clinical disorders by developing replacement tissues for damaged or diseased organs. Such approaches, however, will require large and functional cell populations in order to produce a tissue that can replicate in vivo function. Most adult cells have limited replicative potential that limits their use in tissue engineering applications. Thus, cell populations with expanded lifespan or increased replicative potential are of interest. Stem cell-derived populations may allow the creation of large cell populations that have increased replicative potential over adult differentiated cells. In addition, ectopic human telomerase reverse transcriptase expression and induced B-cell lymphoma 2 (bcl-2) expression can allow adult cells to proliferate more extensively than unaltered cells. However, concerns for malignant transformation exist with telomerase and bcl-2 approaches. The current states of research in these areas are reviewed as they relate to tissue engineering and the cellular lifespan.
Characterization of the mouse and human PRSS17 genes, their relationship to other serine proteases, and the expression of PRSS17 in developing mouse incisors.

Abstract The human PRSS17 (serine protease 17) gene, which is located on chromosome 19q in a cluster of genes encoding serine proteases, has been variously designated enamel matrix serine proteinase 1 (EMSP1), prostase, KLK4, and KLK-L1. We have cloned and characterized the mouse and human PRSS17 genes. Both have six exons and five introns. The mouse PRSS17 gene sequence is 10 134 bp; the human sequence is 7115 bp. Computer analysis of the mouse PRSS17 gene sequence upstream of the translation initiation codon identified two potential transcription initiation sites, at nucleotides 2878 and 2336. The first nucleotide of the reported mouse PRSS17 cDNA sequence corresponds to position 2352 on the gene, only 16 bases downstream from one of the putative transcription initiation sites. Repetitive DNA sequences from the MSR1 family are found in both the mouse and human PRSS17 genes. Additionally, the human PRSS17 gene contains Tigger2, MER8, and Alu repetitive sequences. Phylogenetic analyses of human and rodent proteases suggest that the PRSS17 protein is not a member of the kallikrein family of serine proteases but that the PRSS17 gene may have originated prior to the divergence of the kallikrein and trypsin families of proteases. To better characterize the timing of PRSS17 expression in developing teeth, we performed in-situ hybridization on postnatal day 3 developing mouse mandibular incisors. PRSS17 mRNA was not detected in secretory stage ameloblasts but could be detected in odontoblasts, while transition-stage and maturation-stage ameloblasts were strongly positive. This pattern supports a role for the PRSS17 protein in the degradation of enamel proteins.
Sensory-based learning disability: Insights from brainstem processing of speech sounds

Speech-evoked auditory brainstem responses (speech-ABR) provide a reliable marker of learning disability in a substantial subgroup of individuals with language-based learning problems (LDs). Here we review work describing the properties of the speech-ABR in typically developing children and in children with LD. We also review studies on the relationships between speech-ABR and the commonly used click-ABR, and between speech-ABR and auditory processing at the level of the cortex. In a critical examination of previously published data, we conclude that as many as 40% of LDs have abnormal speech-ABRs and that these individuals are also likely to exhibit abnormal cortical processing. Yet, the profile of learning problems these individuals exhibit is unspecific. Leaving open the question of causality, these data suggest that speech-ABR can be used to identify a large sub-population of LDs, those with abnormal auditory physiological function. Further studies are required to determine the functional relationships among abnormal speech-ABR, speech perception, and the pattern of literacy-related and cognitive deficits in LD.
Conformation of control and acetylated HeLa stripped chromatin after reassociation with H1.

The effect of histone H1 on the conformation and stability of control and acetylated HeLa high-molecular-weight chromatin that had been stripped of H1 and nonhistone proteins was compared by circular dichroism (CD) and thermal denaturation measurements. Two different preparations of H1, originating from rat thymus and chicken erythrocyte, were used in the reconstitution studies. The control and acetylated stripped chromatin had identical CD and thermal denaturation properties, as did their reconstitutes with rat thymus H1. Reconstitutes of the two chromatins with chicken erythrocyte H1 had similar CD properties, but thermal denaturation studies showed that the acetylated reconstitute was destabilized compared to the control reconstitute. Reconstitutes of both chromatins with chicken erythrocyte H1 had a more condensed and stabilized structure than the reconstitutes with rat thymus H1. Thus, acetylation caused a decrease in the stability of chromatin in the presence of erythrocyte H1, but more marked differences were detected in the structure of stripped chromatin after reassociation with different H1 preparations.
Regional- and district-level drivers of timber harvesting in European Russia after the collapse of the Soviet Union

Abstract After the collapse of the Soviet Union, the forestry sector in Russia underwent substantial changes: the state forestry sector was decentralized, the timber industry was privatized, and timber use rights were allocated through short- and long-term leases. To date, there has been no quantitative assessment of the drivers of timber harvesting in European Russia following these changes. In this paper we estimate an econometric model of timber harvesting using remote sensing estimations of forest disturbance from 1990–2000 to 2000–2005 as our dependent variable. We aggregate forest disturbance to administrative districts – equivalent to counties in the United States – and test the impact of several biophysical and economic factors on timber harvesting. Additionally, we examine the impact that regions – equivalent to states in the United States and the main level of decentralized governance in Russia – have on timber harvesting by estimating the influence of regional-level effects on forest disturbance in our econometric model. Russian regions diverged considerably in political and economic conditions after the collapse of the Soviet Union, and the question is if these variations impacted timber harvesting after controlling for district-level biophysical and economic drivers. We find that the most important drivers of timber harvesting at the district level are road density, the percent of evergreen forest, and the total area of forest. The influence of these variables on timber harvesting changed over time and there was more harvesting closer to urban areas in 2000–2005. Even though district-level variables explain more than 70 percent of the variation in forest disturbance in our econometric model, we find that regional-level effects remain statistically significant. While we cannot identify the exact mechanism through which regional-level effects impact timber harvesting, our results suggest that sub-national differences can have a large and statistically significant impact on land-use outcomes and should be considered in policy design and evaluation.
The use of nurse culture in the development of haploid clones in tomato.

A nurse culture procedure and an appropriate medium are described for obtaining vigorous haploid clones originating from single tomato pollen grains. The grains are plated on filter-paper disks mounted over intact anthers placed on a modified Murashige and Skoog medium. The plating efficiencies of such pollen cells ranges between 0 and 60%. The variability in the plating efficiencies and the potential use of this technique over that of anther culture are discussed
Busting the ghost in the machine

This article describes an attempt to infect two new Dell WindowsXP-SP2 PCs (named Grease and Grime) with spyware and examines the results of the spyware infections. Each PC carried Symantec Antivirus 8.1.0.125, Spyware Doctor 3.1 (Doc), Spybot Search and Destroy 1.3 (SSD), and Sandra 2005 software, but no inoculation options were active during the infection and examination processes. Table 1 illustrates the initial benchmark metrics from Sandra 2005 obtained from SI Software at www.sisoftware.net/.
Minimizing CO2 Emissions and Dollar Costs for Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicles Using Multi Objective Dynamic Programming

This paper presents a computationally efficient Multi-Objective Dynamic Programming (MODP) algorithm. The algorithm is applied to obtain the optimal supervisory control for PHEVs to minimize two objectives — total CO2 emissions and operational dollar costs to an individual PHEV owner. The algorithm integrates the concept of crowding distance from the Multi-Objective Evolutionary Algorithms (MOEA) literature. This distance metric is used to refine the optimal Pareto front at every time step for each state discretization. The refinement of the Pareto front significantly reduces the computational time and memory required for MODP, making it feasible. At the same time, the results show that the refinement retains optimality and produces a Pareto front with a good spread ranging from one extremal point to the other. The results also reveal interesting insights for the tradeoffs that can be achieved in minimizing the CO2 emissions and cost objectives for the underlying grid mix and driving conditions assumed.Copyright © 2012 by ASME
Pulsating Ion Fluxes and Growth at the Pollen Tube Tip

Reproduction in higher plants requires the directed growth of pollen tubes in order to transmit sperm cells to the ovules at the base of the style. Many signaling processes have been implicated in polarized pollen tube growth. Here, changes in the concentration of calcium, potassium, hydrogen (pH), and chloride are discussed, as they may all contribute to the process of oscillatory growth and guidance observed in pollen tubes.
High school computer camps: an "early in the pipeline" step to meet the demand for diverse information technology workers

From 2001 to 2006, newly declared computer science majors have declined from a robust 16,000 to 8,000 by the fall of 2006, based on data reported by the Computing Research Association. Enrollments in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics have declines 16%. Information technology (IT) programs have responded with a variety of outreach efforts directed at high school students to attempt to interest them in studying IT subjects, declaring IT majors, and pursuing IT careers.Several colleges and universities have created computer camps, weekend or summer experiences for younger students designed to introduce them to computer technology in a fun and exciting way. We propose to create a panel discussion at the ACM SIGMIS/CPR Conference featuring two universities that have operated such camps
Learning about ovarian cancer at the time of diagnosis: Video versus usual care

Abstract Objective Effective patient –clinician communication at diagnosis is important, yet decreased provider time for face-to-face interactions makes traditional paradigms in cancer care difficult. We evaluated the effects of an educational video on patients' distress, cancer knowledge, coping skills and attitudes regarding learning about cancer at the time of ovarian cancer diagnosis. Methods An educational video was developed in which oncology professionals, women with ovarian cancer, and their relatives discussed cancer information and experiences. Women admitted for initial diagnostic surgical staging for ovarian cancer were randomized to the educational or placebo video. Before and after the video, patients completed measures of (1) ovarian cancer information, (2) emotional distress, (3) learning attitudes, and (4) coping self-efficacy. Outcomes were analyzed for differences in mean change between intervention and placebo groups using t -tests. Results Fifty-nine subjects were randomized (30 intervention/29 placebo). The majority were advanced staged, white, insured, high school educated, employed, and rated their disease seriousness as high. Anxiety, general distress and cancer-specific distress were high. Pre-post video: distress and self-efficacy between groups were unchanged, intervention subjects answered more knowledge items correctly ( p =0.0004) and developed more negative learning attitudes ( p =0.037). Following the educational video, patients who developed more negative attitudes also had increased intrusive thinking ( p =0.046), a sign of increased distress. Conclusions Video presentation of cancer-related information increases learning under conditions of high distress and disease threat however, it is not without risk for some. Differing information needs may affect women's emotional response under these conditions.
Isolation of recombinant bacteriophage containing male-specific mouse DNA

The mammalian Y chromosome is an isolated piece of genetic material that directs sexual determination and gametogenesis. Very little is understood about the mechanism whereby the Y chromosome carries out these functions. Also, there is a severe lack of genetic markers on this chromosome. In order to understand the structure and function of the Y chromosome at the level of its DNA sequences and to provide genetic markers, we are isolating clones of DNA whose sequences are found primarily in DNA from male mice. To this end, we have developed a procedure for the identification of such clones. Application of this screening procedure to a lambda library derived from mouse sperm DNA has yielded 12 distinct clones, part of whose sequences are present predominantly in male DNA. Besides this DNA, they also contain other sequences that are shared with female DNA. These clones are either derived from the Y chromosome or they represent autosomal sequences specifically amplified during male development.
Evidence of multiple late-Wisconsin floods from glacial Lake Missoula in Badger Coulee, Washington

Abstract Catastrophic floods from glacial Lake Missoula entered the Pasco Basin in south-central Washington and backflooded its marginal valleys. Badger Coulee, one such valley, contains beds of fine-grained slackwater sediment deposited by these floods. The slackwater sediment contains two ash layers of the Mount St. Helens set S tephra, about 13,000 yr old. The ash was deposited on a ground surface developed atop slackwater sediment deposited during preash flooding. Evidence of the former ground surface includes the reworked ash, inferred trace fossils, stream and debris-flow deposits, slopewash and/or eolian sediment, and colluvium at the ash horizon. These features and the ash were buried by slackwater sediment deposited during postash flooding. Nonflood, subaerial deposits are not present atop other beds. Instead, beds commonly are reversely graded across “contacts,” suggesting that multiple beds were continuously deposited. The exposed beds thus record at least two late-Wisconsin floods, one preash, the other postash. The pre- and postash floods may be correlative with earlier-reported floods thought to have occurred 17,500-14,000 and 14,000–13,000 yr B.P., respectively.
Cross-digitizer robustness of a knowledge-based CAD system for mass detection in mammograms

Multiplatform application of CAD systems in mammography is often limited due to image preprocessing steps that are tailored to the acquisition protocol such as the digitizer. The purpose of this study was to validate our knowledge-based CAD system across two different digitizers. Our system relies on the similarity of a query image with known cases stored in a knowledge database. Image similarity is assessed using information theory, without any image preprocessing. Therefore, we hypothesize that our CAD system can operate robustly across digitizers. We tested the hypothesis using two different datasets of mammographic regions of interest (ROIs) for mass detection. The two databases consisted of 1,820 and 1,809 ROIs extracted from DDSM mammograms digitized using a Lumisys and a Howtek scanner respectively. Three experiments were performed. First, we evaluated the CAD system on each dataset independently. Then, we evaluated the system on each dataset when the other dataset was used as the knowledge database. Finally, we assessed the CAD detection performance when the knowledge database contained mixed cases. Our CAD system had similar performance across digitizers (A z =0.87±0.01 for Lumisys vs. A z =0.8±0.01 for Howtek) when assessed independently. When the system was tested on one dataset while the other was used as the knowledge database, ROC performance declined marginally, mainly based on the partial ROC area index. This result suggests that blind translation of the system without some experience with cases digitized with the same digitizer is not recommended when the system is expected to operate at high sensitivity decision thresholds. When the system operated with a knowledge database of mixed cases, its performance across digitizers was robust yet slightly inferior to what observed independently.
Photoradiation therapy in the treatment of malignant brain tumors: a phase I (feasibility) study.

Hematoporphyrin derivative accumulates in malignant brain tumors and. when activated by light. can produce a cytotoxic reaction. A system for utilizing this concept in the treatment of human malignant brain tumors has been developed and tested in a small series of patients. No significant adverse re
Improving waveform lidar processing toward robust deconvolution of signals for improved structural assessments

In a typical waveform light detection and ranging (lidar) system, the received pulse can be represented by the convolution of the system impulse response, the outgoing pulse, and the underlying signal representing actual target interactions. Deconvolution is the process of removing the contribution of the system impulse response and outgoing pulse from the received signal, so that the true interactions may be seen. In many examples, deconvolution has been shown to expose fine structure within the waveform, which may be used to improve accuracy when estimating the vertical location of certain features. For instance, the exact location of the ground may be more accurately determined by separating the response of the ground from that of understory vegetation or vegetative ground cover. However, in order for the deconvolution to be successful, the impulse response and outgoing pulse must be known, and many deconvolution methods are sensitive to small errors in the estimation of these inputs. In this study, we propose a deconvolution method that uses a flat target response in place of the impulse response and outgoing pulse.
Activation of Unimolecular Reactions by Ambient Blackbody Radiation

The historical “radiation hypothesis” as a mechanism for activating unimolecular thermal dissociation of gas-phase molecules, long discredited on the authority of Langmuir, has been revitalized by the discovery and characterization of the process of thermal dissociation of trapped gas-phase ions by the ambient blackbody radiation field surrounding the ions. This development was made possible by improvements in Fourier transform ion cyclotron instrumentation that allowed long-time trapping of weakly bound cluster ions at extremely low pressures. Binding energies can be derived from measurements of these dissociation rate constants both by detailed kinetic modeling and by simpler Arrhenius temperature-dependence approaches, although the latter require special considerations for small molecules. These approaches have been applied to thermal dissociations of molecules, including cluster ions and large biomolecule ions.
Synchrotron instability for long pulses in free electron laser oscillators

Abstract We consider the mode evolution of the optical field in free electron laser oscillators. Periodic boundary conditions are employed to solve the coupled equations for the electrons and optical field. At high optical powers we find a universal sideband instability related to electron synchrotron motion. We discuss the suppression of this instability by use of a dispersive optical cavity.
Occupational segregation and the gender gap in workplace authority: National versus local labor markets

Previous research linking occupational gender segregation to the workplace authority gap assumes that the effect of gender composition is invariant across occupations, ignoring the important distinction of whether an occupation's relevant labor market is local or national. We offer a new method for defining occupational labor markets and hypothesize that the effect of occupation gender composition on the authority gap will be strongest in national labor market occupations. Both sexes' odds of possessing work authority decline with the representation of women; this effect is strongest in the more desirable, national labor market occupations. Assuming occupations are part of one labor market results in understating the gender composition penalty for national labor market occupations.
Matching as a group phenomenon

Prior to training on a.70-.30 positional learning problem, 16 rats showed their initial positional preferences on trials on which both left and right responses were reinforced. At asymptote, individual Ss differed with respect to tendencies both to over- or undermatch and to follow the reward, and both these tendencies were related to the Ss’ initial positional preferences. No S maximized.
Structure and mechanism of glutamate receptor ion channel assembly, activation and modulation

Ionotropic glutamate receptors (iGluRs) are ligand gated ion channels that mediate excitatory synaptic transmission in the brain of vertebrates. A rapidly growing body of crystal structures for isolated iGluR extracellular domains, and more recently a full length AMPA receptor, combined with data from electrophysiological experiments and MD simulations, provides a framework that makes it possible to investigate the molecular basis for assembly, gating and modulation. These unprecedented advances in structural biology are constantly challenged by novel functional properties that emerge despite decades of functional analysis, and by a growing family of auxiliary proteins that modulate iGluR activity and assembly.
Simulation Of Diffuse Light Exposure Of Low Temperature Co-Fired Ceramic Tapes And The Problem Of Sidewall Morphology

We have simulated the scattering of UV light in a photo-formable ceramic tape and experimentally measured the transport mean free path (random walk step) between scattering events. After processing the tape we have achieved features size of 70 μm in a 150 μm-thick tape. We were able to predict and control the undercut due to scattering of the light by alumina grains. The experimental verification of the model utilizes a modified version of diffuse-Transmission Spectroscopy (DTS) using the material development characteristics as a sensor. The technique involves the measurement of absorption coefficient by measuring the sample thickness as a function of energy. We also simulated the effect of changing the number density of scatter centers in side-wall morphology.
Relaxin and estrogen synergistically accelerate growth and development in the uterine cervix of prepubertal pigs

This study was designed to determine the developmental and growth-promoting effects of relaxin with or without estrogen on the uterine cervix of prepubertal gilts. Twenty littermate gilts of similar body weight (33 ± 3 kg; mean ± SE) at 80 days of age were randomly assigned to four treatments: Vehicle (Control, 1 ml PBS and 1 ml vegetable oil, n = 5); Relaxin (Relaxin, in PBS, 1 ml, 167 μg ml−1, n = 5); Estradiol Benzoate (EB, in vegetable oil, 1 ml, 2 mg ml−1, n = 5); and Relaxin plus EB (Relaxin + EB, at the same doses, n = 5), total six intramuscular injections for all treatments. Twenty four hours after the last injection, hysterectomy was performed, and the uterine tissues were immediately frozen at −80°C. Samples were taken from the middle portions of the cervix and the uterine horns and dried to a constant weight to determine the dry weight and water concentration. Homogenates of uterine horns and cervices were analyzed for concentrations and contents of protein, hydroxyproline (collagen index) and DNA. Relaxin alone had no significant effect on any parameters (i.e., wet weight, Relaxin vs. Control: 36 ± 5 vs. 28 ± 3 g uterus−1, dry weight 5.6 ± 0.6 vs. 4.4 ± 0.4 g uterus−1). EB alone increased significantly (P < 0.05) wet weight of the uterus (EB vs. Control: 85 ± 23 vs. 28 ± 3 g uterus−1), dry weight (EB vs. Control: 14.5 ± 3 vs. 4.4 ± 0.4 g uterus−1), and hydroxyproline content (EB vs. Control: 47.2 ± 13 vs. 12.6 ± 4 mg cervix−1). In the presence of EB, relaxin treatment increased all measurements compared with Control (i.e., wet weight, Relaxin + EB vs. EB: 136 ± 34 vs. 28 ± 3 g uterus−1). Compared with EB, Relaxin + EB significantly (P < 0.05) increased the uterine wet weight (Relaxin + EB vs. EB: 136 ± 34 vs. 85 ± 23 g uterus−1), the hydroxyproline content (Relaxin + EB vs. EB: 91 ± 29 vs. 47 ± 13 mg cervix−1), and DNA content (Relaxin + EB vs. EB: 8.1 ± 2 vs. 5.4 ± 1 mg cervix−1). These results indicate that the growth-promoting effects of relaxin on the uterus and cervix may be, at least partly, estrogen-dependent and that the growth and development of the uterus and cervix can be accelerated by a combination of relaxin and estrogen treatment.
The oxidative coupling of methane over bismuth oxide

Bismuth oxide, which is moderately active and selective for the oxidative coupling of methane, may represent a class of catalysts in which low-lying empty orbitals in the form of surface states are responsible for the activation of methane.
Determination of functional and antigenic protein C inhibitor and its complexes with activated protein C in plasma by ELISA's.

Abstract Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA's) were developed for the measurement of protein C inhibitor (PCI) antigen and activity and for its complexes with activated protein C (APC) in plasma. For PCI activity and antigen, APC or anti-PCI, respectively, was immobilized to microtiter plates and PCI bound was detected with labelled anti-PCI antibodies. For APC:PCI complexes, two different antibodies directed against protein C and PCI were used. The assays for PCI were calibrated with pooled normal human plasma (NHP) and with purified PCI, and for APC:PCI complexes with known concentrations of purified pre-formed complexes added to buffer or to plasma. The lower limit of sensitivity of the PCI activity and antigen assays was 10 ng/ml and 0.5 ng/ml, respectively and for plasma APC:PCI complexes 12 ng/ml. Mean coefficients of variation of 1.5 % to 5.8 % (intro-assay) and 2.1 % to 9.8 % (inter-assay) were found for the assays. For PCI antigen, a range of 56 % to 162 % of the NHP value was obtained in samples from 70 healthy donors (mean ±SD = 98.6 % ±23.1%). For PCI activity, the range was 59 % to 148 % (94.3 % ± 20.2). A good correlation (0.92) was obtained when both assays were compared. Plasma levels of APC:PCI complexes in 30 normals were under the detection limit (
Emerging ventricular assist devices for long-term cardiac support

Despite major advances in the treatment of heart failure over the past 2 decades improving the natural history of this condition, heart failure continues to be a major source of morbidity and mortality. Although availability of donor hearts for transplantation has declined over the past several years, innovations in ventricular assist device (VAD) technology has provided an alternative therapeutic option for patients with advanced heart failure. Initiated as a mechanical option to 'bridge' critically ill patients awaiting transplantation, VADs are being increasingly deployed as 'destination' devices to provide long-term support. With technical advances resulting in improved mechanical reliability, reduced postoperative morbidity and greater likelihood of patient acceptance, there is interest in expanding the applicability for destination VAD treatment beyond the current indication of severely ill patients who are not candidates for transplant. This Review examines the newer, third-generation VADs for mechanical cardiac support. These devices are at various stages of development and clinical investigation. One or more of these newer devices is likely to emerge as an important development in the treatment of patients with advanced heart failure.
Depolarization shifts the voltage dependence of cardiac sodium channel and calcium channel gating charge movements

In cardiac ventricular myocytes, membrane depolarization leads to the inactivation of the Na channel and Ca channel ionic currents. The inactivation of the ionic currents has been associated with a reduction of the gating charge movement ("immobilization") which governs the activation of Na channels and Ca channels. The nature of the apparent "immobilization" of the charge movement following depolarization was explored in embryonic chick ventricular myocytes using voltage protocols applied from depolarized holding potentials. It was found that although all of the charge was mobile following inactivation, the voltage dependence of its movement was shifted to more negative potentials. In addition, the shift in the distribution of the Na channel charge could be differentiated from that of the Ca channel charge on the basis of kinetic as well as steady-state criteria. These results suggest that the voltage-dependent activation of Na channel and Ca channel charge movements leads to conformational changes and charge rearrangements that differentially bias the movements of these voltage sensors, and concomitantly produce channel inactivation.
Domain motions and the open-to-closed conformational transition of an enzyme: a normal mode analysis of S-adenosyl-L-homocysteine hydrolase.

The structure and fluctuations of the enzyme S-adenosyl-l-homocysteine hydrolase (SAHH) are analyzed in an effort to explain its biological function. Besides the previously identified open structur...
The measurement of HIV risk level in African American women who dwell in the Southeastern United States.

African American women are the group most heavily afflicted with heterosexually transmitted HIV. The southeastern United States suffers a disproportionate degree of this burden. The purpose of this study was to present the psychometric testing of the HIV Risk Behavior Questionnaire, which was designed and tested for use in this population. The instrument, initially comprised of 32 items, was screened for face validity by experts in the field. This resulted in a revised 28-item instrument. Internal consistency was tested in 74 subjects and yielded Cronbach’s α of 0.74. High interitem correlations coupled with similarity between the items resulted in the elimination of three additional items. The final 25-item instrument was then administered to 304 subjects, with Cronbach’s α of 0.82. Factor analysis yielded a four-factor solution: barrier/fluid avoidance modalities, survival sex, sexual communications, and factors that increase sexual risk. This indicated the complex multidimensional variables that affect sexual risk. Construct validity was then established through correlation with existing instruments of assertiveness and personal control, using an additional sample of 131 subjects.
HP relate: a customer communication system for the SMB market

Enterprise businesses rely on variable data publishing solutions to produce customer communications, such as letters, statements, and financial reports, which are tailored to individual recipients. Until now, however, such customer communications systems were out of the reach of the small and medium business (SMB) market for several reasons. In order to produce enterprise-quality documents, businesses needed employees with advanced skills in document design and automated document composition. In addition, customized documents typically require scripted business logic and complicated data integration. To achieve this level of document composition and delivery would require the SMB user to have access to IT systems and staffing that would be prohibitively expensive. HP Relate is an innovative document design system that delivers enterprise-quality documents for a next-generation customer communication system for the SMB market. HP Relate features easy-to-use document design tools that require no more than self-assisted training. Document business logic and data integration is accessible to SMB users through common office tools, such as dragging and dropping and spreadsheets. Instead of requiring software installed on the user's system, HP Relate is provisioned on a cloud-based platform using a software as a service (SaaS) subscription-based model. In addition, the HP Relate platform enables SMBs to deliver documents in the format of a customer's choosing, including traditional print forms, web-based deployment, and mobile devices.
Hydroelectric power generation in Chile: an institutional critique of the neutrality of market mechanisms

This paper presents an institutional analysis of hydropower development in Chile, focusing on the main legal institutions involved and relevant jurisprudence. Hydropower expansion took place within a neoliberal institutional framework imposed by the military government (1973–1990) that included reforms in both the water and electricity sectors. One of the stated purposes of these reforms was to remove ideology from both water management and electricity generation and ensure the neutrality of the state. The paper argues that the security of property rights for hydropower activities is not value-neutral but sustained only through marginalizing other water rights and interests, such as in-stream uses.
Aharonov-Bohm effect in a 2-dimensional harmonic oscillator

We consider a charged, elastically bound particle moving in a plane. A whisker of flux passes through the plane at the equilibrium point of the motion. The system is shown to have two ground states. It is argued that the mathematical difficulties of the model are due to the treatment of the flux whisker as an external vector potential. The method of Berry is used in order to obtain single-valued functions from Dirac functions.
The effects of cultural differences on new technology championing behavior within firms

Abstract This paper explores why differences in cultural values should lead to different behaviors of new technology champions. It holds that the behaviors of champions who go about overcoming obstacles to technological innovation are culture-specific, and examines the relationship between the specific behaviors of technology champions and three cultural values: individualism/collectivism, power distance, and uncertainty avoidance/uncertainty acceptance.
13[C]-Urea Breath Test as a Novel Point-of-Care Biomarker for Tuberculosis Treatment and Diagnosis

Background: Pathogen-specific metabolic pathways may be detected by breath tests based on introduction of stable isotopically-labeled substrates and detection of labeled products in exhaled breath using portable infrared spectrometers. Methodology/Principal Findings: We tested whether mycobacterial urease activity could be utilized in such a breath test format as the basis of a novel biomarker and diagnostic for pulmonary TB. Sensitized New-Zealand White Rabbits underwent bronchoscopic infection with either Mycobacterium bovis or Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Rabbits were treated with 25 mg/kg of isoniazid (INH) approximately 2 months after infection when significant cavitary lung pathology was present. [ 13 C] urea was instilled directly into the lungs of intubated rabbits at selected time points, exhaled air samples analyzed, and the kinetics of d 13 CO2 formation were determined. Samples obtained prior to inoculation served as control samples for background 13 CO2 conversion in the rabbit model. 13 CO2, from metabolic conversion of [ 13 C]-urea by mycobacterial urease activity, was readily detectable in the exhaled breath of infected rabbits within 15 minutes of administration. Analyses showed a rapid increase in the rate of 13 CO2 formation both early in disease and prior to treatment with INH. Following INH treatment, all evaluable rabbits showed a decrease in the rate of 13 CO2 formation. Conclusions/Significance: Urea breath testing may provide a useful diagnostic and biomarker assay for tuberculosis and for treatment response. Future work will test specificity for M. tuberculosis using lung-targeted dry powder inhalation formulations, combined with co-administering oral urease inhibitors together with a saturating oral dose of unlabeled urea, which would prevent the d 13 CO2 signal from urease-positive gastrointestinal organisms.