cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Mineral and Gem Deposits of Eastern Brazilian Pegmatites by Jacques Cassedanne in collaboration with Simon Philippo. Natural History Museum of Luxembourg, 25 rue Munster, L-2160 Luxembourg; musee-info@mnhn.lu. 671 pages in 2 vols; 2015; €50 plus postage (softbound).

This very ambitious undertaking, the publication of Mineral and Gem Deposits of Eastern Brazilian Pegmatites, is a somewhat challenging but valuable reference for those interested in learning the d...
Monte Carlo simulation of creep failure in a 0°/90° plain weave SiC/SiC composite lamina

A Monte Carlo model of the effects of fiber creep in a 0°/90° plain weave ceramic-grade Nicalon reinforced SiC composite has been developed. Creep degradation of fibers was predicted to result in stress dependent premature failure of woven ceramic matrix composites, and that premature failure was modeled using a power-law. A power-law exponent of 3.1 ± 0.1 was predicted. The power-law exponent was predicted to be independent of initial crack size for crack length to specimen width ratios of 0.02, 0.10, 0.25, and 0.50. The power-law exponent was also predicted to be independent of the matrix to fiber strength ratio for ratios from 0.25 to 1.0. Premature failure in the 90° (transverse) tows resulted in premature failure of the composite for low values of the matrix to fiber strength ratio (less than 0.75), and decreased creep life was predicted for decreased matrix to fiber strength ratio. For a matrix to fiber strength ratio of 1.0, the creep life of the woven composite was predicted to be equivalent to a unidirectional composite. At small initial crack lengths, a 10% improvement in the creep life was predicted for a reduction in the matrix to fiber strength ratio from 1.0 to 0.75. This improvement was related to the formation of microcracks in the 90° tows and shielding of the macrocrack tip from accelerated creep damage. This improvement in the predicted creep life at a matrix to fiber strength ratio of 0.75 was predicted to be independent of applied stress. However, improvement of the creep life was not predicted to occur for larger values of initial crack length.
Salivary Gland Tumors

Less than 5 % of primary neoplasms of the salivary glands are found in children [1–12], and 8 % or less of these occur in infants [4, 5, 8–10]. Inflammatory conditions and mucoceles are by far more prevalent than neoplasms [5, 12]. Vascular lesions, hemangioma and lymphangioma, are more common in the fetus and infant than epithelial salivary gland tumors [5, 8] (Fig. 16.1). Capillary hemangioma (“infantile hemangioma”) is the leading parotid tumor in infancy and can present as a facial mass in the neonate [1, 5, 12, 13] (Fig. 4.3). The parotid gland is the primary site of tumor involvement more often than the submandibular or sublingual glands [5, 12].
Deep ℓ0 Encoders: A Model Unfolding Example

Abstract Despite its nonconvex nature, l 0 sparse approximation is desirable in many theoretical and application cases. We study the l 0 sparse approximation problem with the tool of deep learning, by proposing deep l 0 encoders. Two typical forms, the l 0 -regularized problem and the M-sparse problem, are investigated. Based on solid iterative algorithms, we model them as feed-forward neural networks, by introducing novel neurons and pooling functions. Enforcing such structural priors acts as an effective network regularization. The deep encoders also enjoy faster inference, larger learning capacity, and better scalability compared to conventional sparse coding solutions. Furthermore, under task-driven losses, the models can be conveniently optimized from end to end. Numerical results demonstrate the impressive performances of the proposed encoders.
Mechanisms of tilt-induced vasovagal syncope in healthy volunteers and postural tachycardia syndrome patients without past history of syncope.

Upright tilt table testing has been used to test for vasovagal syncope (VVS) but can result in "false positives" in which tilt-induced fainting (tilt+) occurs in the absence of real-world fainting. Tilt+ occurs in healthy volunteers and in patients with postural tachycardia syndrome (POTS) and show enhanced susceptibility to orthostatic hypotension. We hypothesized that the mechanisms for hypotensive susceptibility differs between tilt+ healthy volunteers (Control-Faint (N = 12)), tilt+ POTS patients (POTS-Faint (N = 12)) and a non-fainter control group of (Control-noFaint) (N = 10). Subjects were studied supine and during 70° upright tilt while blood pressure (BP), cardiac output (CO), and systemic vascular resistance (SVR), were measured continuously. Impedance plethysmography estimated regional blood volumes, flows, and vascular resistance. Heart rate was increased while central blood volume was decreased in both Faint groups. CO increased in Control-Faint because of reduced splanchnic vascular resistance; splanchnic pooling was similar to Control-noFaint. Splanchnic blood flow in POTS-Faint decreased and resistance increased similar to Control-noFaint but splanchnic blood volume was markedly increased. Decreased SVR and splanchnic arterial vasoconstriction is the mechanism for faint in Control-Faint. Decreased CO caused by enhanced splanchnic pooling is the mechanism for faint in POTS-Faint. We propose that intrahepatic resistance is increased in POTS-Faint resulting in pooling and that both intrahepatic resistance and splanchnic arterial vasoconstriction are reduced in Control-Faint resulting in increased splanchnic blood flow and reduced splanchnic resistance.
A 12.8-Gbaud ADC-based NRZ/PAM4 Receiver with Embedded Tunable IIR Equalization Filter Achieving 2.43-pJ/b in 65nm CMOS

An ADC-based receiver is demonstrated for NRZ/PAM4 modulation, featuring a TDC-assisted multi-bit/cycle asynchronous SAR ADC with embedded IIR equalization filter. It re-uses the existing sampling network of time-interleaved ADCs and incorporates active Gm-C integrators to form a tunable IIR equalizer response. The prototype is fabricated in 65 nm CMOS and achieves an efficiency of 2.43 pJ/b using 12.8-Gbuad PAM4. The 8-way time-interleaved ADC measures 4.84 peak effective-number-of-bit with power consumption of 36.3 mW.
The Effect of Estradiol Administration on Muscle Mass Loss and Cachexia Progression in Female Apc Min/+ Mice.

Abstract: Cancer cachexia is a multifactorial muscle wasting condition characterized by severe body weight and muscle mass loss which is secondary to chronic disease. The mechanistic examination of cachexia has predominately focused on the male phenotype and created significant gaps in understanding cachexia progression in the female. Female hypogonadism can accompany cancer cachexia and is characterized by reduced circulating 17s-estradiol and uterine atrophy. Estrogen has known functions in skeletal muscle homeostasis involving the regulation of muscle protein turnover, cellular stressors, and oxidative metabolism. However, 17s-estradiol’s ability to regulate cachexia progression in the female is not known. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of gonadal function and estradiol administration on muscle mass loss and cachexia progression in female ApcMin/+ mice. Methods: Female C57BL/6 (B6; N=82) and ApcMin/+ (MIN; N=88) mice were used in 2 separate experiments. In experiment 1, mice were sacrificed at either 12 (N=20) or 20 (N=41) weeks of age. Body weight and estrous cycle presence was determined weekly. In experiment 2, B6 and MIN mice were randomly allocated to: Control (N=17), received E2 pellet (E2, N=18), ovariectomy surgery (OVX; N=19) or ovariectomy surgery with E2 pellet (OVX + E2; N=21). 17s-estradiol was administered through an implanted slow-releasing pellet (0.1mg). In estrogen and ovariectomy experiments, food intake and functional outcomes were recorded one week prior to sacrifice. Results: We report that E2 administration prevented body weight loss, muscle mass loss, cage inactivity, and grip strength loss associated with cachexia. In skeletal muscle, E2 reduced skeletal muscle AMPK phosphorylation, improved mTORC1 signaling, and prevented mitochondrial dysfunction. Conclusion: Our results demonstrate a role for 17s-estradiol for the prevention of skeletal muscle mass loss in female tumor bearing mice. Furthermore, 17s-estradiol prevented cachexia’s disruption in skeletal muscle signaling involving AMPK and mTORC1, in addition to improving mitochondrial function in female tumor bearing mice.
Territorial landscapes: incorporating density-dependence into wolf habitat selection studies

Habitat selection is a process that spans space, time and individual life histories. Ecological analyses of animal distributions and preferences are most accurate when they account for inherent dyn...
Histogenesis and morphogenesis of epidermoid metaplasia in hamster tracheal organ explant culture.

The formation of epidermoid metaplasia was studied in hamster tracheal epithelium in long-term serum-free organ expiant culture. Explants were cultured up to 5 weeks in CMRL 1066 with antibiotics and amphotericin B. At 3 weeks there were rare small foci of epidermoid metaplasia and they became larger and more numerous at 4 and 5 weeks. Three dimensional reconstructions from serial sections demonstrated that the small deep-seated foci were discrete and did not reach the epithelial surface, whereas the larger foci were expansive and involved the full thickness of the expiant epithelium. Each small focus consisted of a few swollen electron-lucent basal cells attached to the basal lamina, covered by a layer of flattened electron-dense secretory cells which formed a tightfitting cap over the basal cells. The altered secretory cells displayed moderately well-developed rough endoplasmic reticulum and tonofilament bundles. During the early stages of formation the deepseated metaplastic foci were completely covered by a layer of normal appearing cuboidal to low-columnar secretory and ciliated cells. Expansion of the metaplastic foci occurred by addition of flattened , electron-dense secretory cells to the cap so that multiple layers of altered secretory cells covered a core of basal cells, analagous to the structure of an onion. The secretory cells became cornified and with time the foci broke through the columnar mucociliary surface layer. In well-advanced foci, the uppermost cornified squames (metaplastic secretory cells) exfoliated into the tracheal lumen. The study emphasizes similarities and differences between the morphogenesis and histogenesis of epidermoid metaplasia in vivo and in vitro. In vivo, epidermoid metaplasia presents as a full-thickness lesion from its onset, whereas in vitro, the lesions first arise deep in the epithelium and only become full-thickness after an extended period of time. This difference may be explained by the fact that in vitro, the concentration gradients of nutrients and other substances across the thickness of the epithelium are the reverse of such gradients in vivo. However the histogenesis of the lesions is similar in vivo and in vitro and in both cases secretory cells make up a large part of the epidermoid metaplastic foci. The altered secretory cells express an epidermoid phenotype while retaining some characteristics of secretory specialization.
Nine Novel Cluster E Mycobacteriophages Isolated from Soil

ABSTRACT Novel mycobacteriophages FireRed, MISSy, MPhalcon, Murica, Sassay, Terminus, Willez, YassJohnny, and Youngblood were isolated from soil samples on the host Mycobacterium smegmatis. Transmission electron microscopy revealed phage structures suggestive of the Siphoviridae family of phages. Phage genomes were sequenced and annotated, revealing that they belong to actinobacteriophage Cluster E. Here, we describe the features of these phage genomes and discuss their similarity to previously discovered cluster E phages.
Machine learning techniques for fractured media

Abstract This is primarily an account of the role of machine learning, including the role played by graph theory, in the development of reduced-order models (ROM) of flow and transport through fractured media that are modeled with the DFN approach. We describe the construction of a DFN, the necessary governing equations for flow and transport through DFN and various graph representations of it. The development of ROMs in DFN is then traced and divided into different unifying themes. We set out, in general terms, the role of machine learning in constructing reduced-order models of DFN, place three different machine learning approaches that have been developed in this context into an abstract perspective, and explain the fundamental ideas of each approach. We show that the approaches differ in the identity of the elements being classified, and the rule for assigning labels to elements. By choosing the elements as paths, rather than fractures, a truly physics-informed machine learning method results that preserves network connectivity in the reduced networks.
Simulations of blood pressure and identification of atrial fibrillation and arterial stiffness using an extended Kalman filter with oscillometric pulsation measurements.

Abstract Background and Objective The accuracy of systolic and diastolic blood pressure levels from oscillometric devices is difficult to assess for patients with atrial fibrillation and arterial stiffness; in such cases, changes in these levels from heartbeat to heartbeat can only be known if the actual total waveform during a test can be observed. Variation in these levels affects the accuracy of the algorithms in oscillometric devices where precision is of paramount importance according to the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association. Recently issued guidelines lowered the definition of high blood pressure; approximately three-quarters of men over 65 years of age meet the criterion and are diagnosed as hypertensive. A review in 2019 reported that atrial fibrillation affects approximately 3% of the general population in the U.S. and is twice as common in hypertensive patients. The actual shape and details of the arterial blood pressure waveform not only reveal variations in rhythm and in systolic and diastolic levels but has also proven to be valuable in the diagnosis of arterial stiffness and atrial fibrillation which are vital to determining the physiological status of a patient's cardiovascular system. This research pertains to the identification of a patient's total arterial blood pressure waveform using only the measured pulsations in the cuff of an oscillometric device. Method Empirically formulated hypothetical arterial blood pressure waveforms were simulated and assumed to be unknown. Oscillometric pulsations corresponding to these simulated unknown waveforms were used as input to a new model-based extended Kalman filter algorithm for identifying the levels, shape and features of the unknown waveforms. Results Simulations with hypothetical waveforms with varying systolic and diastolic levels and with variations in heartbeat rhythm associated arterial fibrillation and stiff arteries, demonstrate potential arterial pressure estimate accuracies of 1.5 mmHg with standard deviations on the order of 0.1 mmHg; in addition, variations in heartbeat rhythm were observed and degrees of arterial stiffness identified and quantified. Conclusions Computational analysis of the oscillometric cuff pulsations with the extended Kalman filter can be used to detect variations in heartbeat rhythm and blood pressure levels associated atrial fibrillation, quantify arterial stiffness, and provide noninvasive continuous blood pressure monitoring without the need for electrocardiogram or photoplethysmography sensors.
Evaluation of DeChoker, an Airway Clearance Device (ACD) Used in Adult Choking Emergencies Within the Adult Care Home Sector: A Mixed Methods Case Study

Foreign Body Airway Obstruction (FBAO) is a medical emergency that can result in death, particularly if swift, appropriate action is not taken. It can be a frightening experience for all involved. DeChoker, an Airway Clearance Device (ACD), might provide an additional alternative in the management of choking; however, limited evidence around its safety and effectiveness makes adoption controversial. Objectives: An independent evaluation to explore the experiences of health and care professionals who used DeChoker in real-life adult choking emergencies, focusing on the product's safety, efficacy and ease of application. Design: Retrospective mixed methods case study, with multiple embedded units of analysis. Setting: UK adult care homes. Participants: Twenty seven incidents of adult choking emergencies self-reported by care home staff where DeChoker was used. This data was augmented by an in-depth exploration of four individual choking incidences. Results: The choking victim's ages range: 45 to 101 years (mean 79.8 years). The device was reported to have successfully removed the obstruction in 26 of 27 cases, with very few complications or adverse events reported. In 21 of 27 incidents (78%) the victim was not required to visit Accident and Emergency. Qualitative data indicated nursing home staff found the DeChoker easy to use and valued its presence as an adjunct to current guideline procedures. Conclusion: There is a dearth of evidence surrounding the management of choking and little innovation in this area for five decades. This retrospective evaluation contributes to discussion regarding the role ACDs might play in the management of choking, particularly in cases where current choking management guidance are ineffective, insufficient, inappropriate or impractical (e.g., frail or movement restricted people). The interview data presents a view from care home staff that the DeChoker, as an ACD, contributed to saving the life of choking victims.
Renal cell carcinoma: Can F-18 FDG PET be a useful tool?

1705 Objectives: The purpose of the study is to evaluate the role of FDG-PET in assessing biological behavior of renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Methods: This is a retrospective study of 29 men with RCC, 46-85 years old, who had whole-body F-18 FDG PET scans at our institution from November 1998 to November 2004. 15 of the 29 cases of RCC were incidentally found. FDG uptake was measured on a 4-point scale: no uptake (9 patients), low (11 pts), moderate (3 pts), and intense(6 pts). Other factors measured were tumor size on staging CT (2-19 cm), histological grade (2 patients with grade 1, 11 with grade 2, 7 with grade 3, and 1 with grade 4), histological presence of necrosis (11 of the 21 patients surgically treated), stage, treatment, and disease extent at the time of diagnosis (limited to renal parenchyma in 22, locally invading in 3, and distant metastases in 3). Follow up interval was 11-84 months. Endpoints were death from renal carcinoma or development of metastases. At last followup, 5 deaths were attributable to RCC and 3 cases had progression of disease. Results: Among the covariates, only disease extent at diagnosis was associated with FDG uptake (rank correlation = .50, p Conclusions: FDG-PET provides independent information about renal cell tumor aggressiveness and patient prognosis.
Combination Therapy for the Treatment of Complex Vascular Lesions

Background and objectives Combination treatment with debulking surgical procedures, vascular and ablative lasers, and topical and intralesional vascular therapies may improve outcomes in nodular hypertrophic and mixed complex vascular malformations; however, there is a paucity of data reporting specific combinations of these treatments. We report 15 cases of complex vascular malformations, which were successfully treated with novel combinations of these modalities. Study design/materials and methods We performed a review of 15 patients treated with combination vascular laser therapy, electrosurgery, ablative laser technologies, and topical and intralesional vascular therapies from May 2000 to October 2020. Photographs were taken at intervals with attempts made for consistent lighting and positioning. Results All 15 patients achieved an excellent clinical response to combination therapy with visible improvement of the hypertrophic, textural, and vascular components of their lesions. No major complications or adverse events were encountered during any of the treatments. Conclusion Combination multimodality therapy with surgical debulking, laser technologies, and topical and injection therapies can be highly effective and efficient in treating complex vascular malformations. © 2021 Wiley Periodicals LLC.
P74 Diet Behavior During COVID: A Qualitative Study of Former Participants of a Food Security Intervention

Background The Georgia Food for Health program (GF4H) is a clinic-based nutrition education and food security intervention program that has demonstrated the ability to improve dietary behaviors. However, little is known about changes in behaviors during COVID-related lockdowns. Objective To characterize diet behavior changes experienced by former participants of a food security intervention during COVID-related lockdowns. Study Design & Setting We conducted semi-structured interviews by phone with 17 patient participants in May - June 2020 with program participants who had completed the program within the past 6 months. Participants were asked questions about the program, diet and stress-related behaviors, and changes in these behaviors within the COVID lockdown period. Participants Participants were mainly middle-aged (mean age 59 years), African American (100%), women (59%). Approximately half screened positive for food insecurity (47.1%). All participants were healthy at the time of the interview. Analysis Transcripts of interviews were analyzed for both apriori and emergent themes using thematic analysis. Results We identified 3 central themes. First, participants discussed changes in shopping behaviors to minimize time spent in stores using approaches like shopping lists to plan routes within the store or sending younger relatives to shop for them. Due to supply issues at stores, participants discussed adapting recipes to include available options. Second, participants discussed disinterest in cooking, a lack of motivation to engage in healthy eating strategies they had previously adopted, and anticipation of regretting these behaviors post-COVID. Third, participants were largely uncomfortable at the prospect of resuming in-person programming and preferred virtual options due to safety concerns. Conclusion Among former participants of the GF4H program, shopping and cooking behaviors shifted during the COVID-19 lockdown period to adapt to safety guidelines and to overcome supply issues. Motivation to engage in healthy cooking and eating behaviors was diminished. Ongoing program efforts should focus on virtual options to engage and re-engage participants.
Physiological and molecular mechanisms in improving salinity stress tolerance by beneficial microorganisms in plants

Abstract Through symbiotic and asymbiotic interactions, beneficial microorganisms promote plant growth and development directly or indirectly according to their unique abilities. These microorganisms produce plant growth regulators, including ACC-deaminase and siderophore, those that release organic acids, N2-fixing bacteria and phosphate solubilizing bacteria, and those that increase acquisition of nitrogen and phosphorus under stressed and nonstressed conditions. Beneficial microorganisms can also affect the physiological and molecular events of plants. In this study, we discuss how beneficial microorganisms contribute to salt stress tolerance through physiological and molecular events in plants and how those mechanisms work.
Determinant of Student Decisions in Choosing Diploma Study Program at Vocational College

The requirements in entering the world of work today demand professional skills and abilities according to the needs of the organization. Therefore, effective marketing strategies become important for vocational colleges to get prospective students. There are several studies that examine the factors that influence students' decisions in choosing a college, but research focusing on vocational college research is still very limited. This study aims to analyze the determinants that influence students' decisions in choosing a course of study at a Vocational College. This study was conducted by an online survey of 158 respondents who were studying at three Vocational Universities in Banten Province, namely ASM Lepisi, Politeknik LP3I Jakarta Tangerang Campus, and Politeknik PGRI Banten. Analyze the data using Partial Least Square Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM). Finally, the author expects the empirical results of this study to be useful as a reference for marketing practitioners of Vocational Universities in West Java and Banten, in particular and Indonesia in general.
Class Actions and the Poor

Attorneys funded by the national Legal Services Corporation (LSC) provide free legal representation to the poor in civil matters. In 1996, a federal law was enacted that prohibited LSC-funded attorneys from representing their clients in class actions.This article examines the policy justifications for barring LSC-funded attorneys from being involved in class actions. These justifications included: directing the resources of LSC to the legal problems of individuals rather than the poor as a group; and preventing the use of federal dollars from supporting political or social change. The article demonstrates that these are not valid policy justifications for the prohibitions on class actions.Further, the article demonstrates that the ban on class actions by LSC-funded attorneys frustrates other important policy objectives: economical expenditure of public funds; judicial efficiency; accountability and deterrence of wrongdoing; and hiring/retention of high quality attorneys for the poor. Most important, the prohibition relegates the poor to second class justice in a legal system that values equal justice under law.
Formation and Distribution of Cyanide in the Lining of Aluminum Reduction Cells

The cyanide content of spent potlining spans four orders of magnitude in a single smelting cell. Typically over 90% of the cyanide is found in the ends and sides of the cells; little is found in the cathode blocks and bottom insulation. Nearly 80% of the cyanide can be extracted by a water leach and most of that is amenable to chlorination. Cyanide is found in noncarbonaceous materials indicating it forms elsewhere and migrates to relatively cool regions of the cells.
Justification defenses and just convictions

1. Justification defenses: the issues 2. Justification defenses and the conventional public morality 3. Self-defense 4. Self-defense and battered women 5. Duress and systematically complete mitigation 6. The limits of justification: necessity and nullification 7. Conclusion.
Enterprise security infrastructure

Many enterprises are taking advantage of the information revolution through business process reengineering, electronic commerce, and electronic data interchange. Many of these same enterprises also use many of the commercial products and services available for protecting an enterprise's information resources. However, what is not as well known is the required foundation for supporting these new protective services and products. This foundation is an enterprise's security infrastructure. In particular, the infrastructure required to support public key technology. The paper offers insight to enterprise planners on the factors necessary to fully and successfully introduce public key technology and its capabilities into the enterprise. A definition for the term security infrastructure is provided along with identifying its objectives and functions. Motivation for such a security infrastructure is introduced by discussing public key (certificate) distribution, trust models, and cross certification. Business units and corporate management participation in the planning and operation of the security infrastructure is also discussed.
Ethylenebis(triphenylphosphine)nickel(0)

[23777-40-4] C38H34NiP2 (MW 611.34) InChI = 1S/2C18H15P.C2H4.Ni/c2*1-4-10-16(11-5-1)19(17-12-6-2-7-13-17)18-14-8-3-9-15-18;1-2;/h2*1-15H;1-2H2; InChIKey = FTNAYPLICVXRBN-UHFFFAOYSA-N (catalyzes vinylcyclobutene–cyclohexadiene rearrangement;2 mild synthesis of [2n]-cyclophanes;3 stereospecific alkene dimerization catalyst;4, 5 cyclopropanation;6 alkene oligomerization catalyst7) Physical Data: mp. 108–110 °C (dec); 1H NMR δ (C6D6) 2.55 ppm (C2H4). Solubility: very sol benzene, toluene; sparingly sol ether, pentane. Form Supplied in: yellow crystalline solid; not commercially available. Preparative Method: most readily prepared in 75% yield from Nickel(II) Acetylacetonate, Diethylaluminum Ethoxide, and Triphenylphosphine. In the presence of Ethylene the yields can be raised to >95% (eq 1).8 Alternatively, Triethylaluminum may be employed in an ethylene saturated solution, yielding 85% of the complex.9 The reagent has also been prepared from Dichlorobis(triphenylphosphine)nickel(II), Zinc, and ethylene (eq 2) or Nickel(II) Chloride, zinc, PPh3, and ethylene in yields of 80% and 71%, respectively.10 (1) (2) Purification: can be recrystallized from methanol at reduced temperatures. Handling, Storage, and Precautions: is very air sensitive and should be stored under inert atmosphere, preferably in a dry box.
Factors that Influence the Formation and Stability of Thin, Cryo-EM Specimens

Poor consistency of the ice thickness from one area of a cryo-electron microscope (cryo-EM) specimen grid to another, from one grid to the next, and from one type of specimen to another, motivates a reconsideration of how to best prepare suitably thin specimens. Here we first review the three related topics of wetting, thinning, and stability against dewetting of aqueous films spread over a hydrophilic substrate. We then suggest that the importance of there being a surfactant monolayer at the air-water interface of thin, cryo-EM specimens has been largely underappreciated. In fact, a surfactant layer (of uncontrolled composition and surface pressure) can hardly be avoided during standard cryo-EM specimen preparation. We thus suggest that better control over the composition and properties of the surfactant layer may result in more reliable production of cryo-EM specimens with the desired thickness.
Total Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of Tubulysin U, Tubulysin V, and Their Analogues

A stereoselective total synthesis of the cytotoxic natural products tubulysin U, tubulysin V, and its unnatural epimer epi-tubulysin V, is reported. Simplified analogues containing N,N-dimethyl-d-alanine as a replacement for the N-terminal N-Me-pipecolinic acid residue of the tubulysins are also disclosed. Biological evaluation of these natural products and analogues provided key information with regard to structural and stereochemical requirements for antiproliferative activity and tubulin polymerization inhibition.
Sensitivity of noncontrast cranial computed tomography for the emergency department diagnosis of subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Study objective Emergency physicians use noncontrast cranial computed tomographic (CT) imaging of headache patients to identify subarachnoid hemorrhage caused by aneurysms or arteriovenous malformations. Given sufficiently high sensitivity, CT imaging could be used as a definitive diagnostic study in these patients. The purpose of this study is to determine the sensitivity of noncontrast cranial CT in detecting all spontaneous subarachnoid hemorrhages and those caused by aneurysm or arteriovenous malformation. Methods This was a retrospective review performed at an urban tertiary academic emergency department (ED). Using a combination of noncontrast cranial CT radiology coding, lumbar puncture results, International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision discharge diagnosis, and medical record review, we identified all patients who presented to a tertiary care academic ED from August 1, 2001, to December 31, 2004, with spontaneous subarachnoid hemorrhage. We determined whether patients were diagnosed by cranial CT or lumbar puncture, the presence of headache and level of consciousness at ED presentation, and whether or not they had an aneurysm or arteriovenous malformation. Results We identified 149 patients who were diagnosed with spontaneous subarachnoid hemorrhage during the study period. Noncontrast cranial CT scan diagnosed 139 patients, and 10 were diagnosed with lumbar puncture. This yielded an overall CT scan sensitivity of 93% (95% confidence interval [CI] 88% to 97%). Of the 149 with subarachnoid hemorrhage, 117 (79%) had aneurysm or arteriovenous malformation; cranial CT scan demonstrated subarachnoid hemorrhage in 110 of the 117, for a sensitivity of 94% (95% CI 88% to 98%). For the 67 patients presenting with headache and normal mental status who had a subarachnoid hemorrhage and vascular lesions (either aneurysm or arteriovenous malformation), the sensitivity of cranial CT scan was 91% (95% CI 82% to 97%). Conclusion Noncontrast CT imaging exhibits inadequate sensitivity to serve as a sole diagnostic modality in detecting spontaneous subarachnoid hemorrhage caused by aneurysm or arteriovenous malformation.
Value/impact assessment for the evaluation of risk reduction: Development of a framework

Abstract A framework is developed for the evaluation of risk reduction measures using value/impact assessment. The framework includes methods to deal with such issues as uncertainty, economic discounting, and socio-political decisions which might affect the analysis. The framework is applied to the case of a nuclear reactor mitigation system.
Cell and molecular neurobiology of presenilins: A role for the endoplasmic reticulum in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease?

Mutations in genes encoding presenilin-1 (PS-1) and presenilin-2 (PS-2) cause many cases of autosomal dominant inherited forms of early-onset Alzheimer's disease (AD). PSs are expressed in neurons throughout the nervous system, with differences in abundance among cell populations. PS-1 and PS-2 each have six to eight transmembrane domains and are localized mainly in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). PSs may interact with cytoskeletal proteins and beta-amyloid precursor protein (APP) in ways consistent with roles in membrane trafficking and APP processing. Expression of mutant PSs in cultured cells and transgenic mice results in increased production of an amyloidogenic-cytotoxic form of amyloid beta-peptide (Abeta). Neural cells expressing mutant PSs exhibit increased sensitivity to apoptosis induced by trophic factor withdrawal and Abeta. The proapoptotic action of mutant PSs involves perturbed calcium release from ER stores and increased levels of oxidative stress. PS mutations may also suppress neurotransmitter synthesis in cholinergic neurons, suggesting a role in regulation of neuronal phenotype. Homology of PSs with the C. elegans gene sel-12 and phenotypic similarities of PS-1 and Notch knockout mice suggest a developmental role for PSs in somitogenesis. Collectively, the emerging data suggest intriguing roles of PSs in neuronal plasticity and cell death and highlight the importance of the ER as a regulatory site involved in the pathogenesis of neuronal degeneration in AD.
Process monitoring and quality variable prediction utilizing PLS in industrial fed-batch cell culture

Abstract Partial least squares is a data-driven modeling technique that has been utilized for process monitoring in a variety of industrial processes. This paper develops a novel online partial least squares approach (evolving PLS) and compares it with an existing online PLS technique (global PLS). Both methods are applied to an industrial fed-batch mammalian cell culture process, where process variables are used to predict a key quality variable, product titer. Fault detection and diagnosis are performed using PLS models and statistical metrics. This new detection approach was able to recognize a variety of faults during online monitoring.
Hyperactive-Impulsive Symptoms Associated With Self-Reported Sleep Quality in Nonmedicated Adults With ADHD:

Objective: Individuals with ADHD often report sleep problems. Though most studies on ADHD and sleep examined children or nonclinically diagnosed adults, the present study specifically examines nonm...
Condition Based Structural Health Monitoring and Prognosis of Composite Structures under Uniaxial and Biaxial Loading

This paper presents a condition based structural health monitoring (SHM) and prognosis approach to estimate the residual useful life (RUL) of composite specimens in real time. On-line damage states, which are estimated using real time sensing information, are fed to an off-line predictive model to update future damage states and RUL. The on-line damage index or damage state at any given fatigue cycle is estimated using correlation analysis. Based on the on-line information of the previous and current damage states, an off-line model is developed to predict the future damage state and estimate the RUL. The off-line model is a stochastic model which is developed based on the Gaussian process approach. In this paper, the condition based prognosis model is used to estimate the cumulative fatigue damage in composite test structures under constant amplitude fatigue loading. The proposed procedure is validated under uniaxial fatigue loading as well as biaxial fatigue loading. Experimental validations demonstrate that the prediction capability of the prognosis algorithm is effective in predicting the RUL under complex stress states.
Subjective and Objective Justification in Ethics and Epistemology

It is widely believed that 'morally obligatory' is sometimes used to mean the act which a being omniscient about the facts of the case and about moral principles would be morally blameworthy for not doing if he were in the place of the agent; this is said to be a sense of 'morally obligatory' different from that employed when a person with possibly faulty information about the facts and imperfect clarity about moral principles is said to be morally obligated to do something. Correspondingly, it is sometimes suggested that there is a sense of "reasonable to believe" in which we may say that it is reasonable for a person to believe that any statement is true (sic?); this sense is contrasted with the sense in which we say it is reasonable for a man to believe what is supported by the evidence he has.1
Spontaneous liposome formation induced by grafted poly(ethylene oxide) layers: Theoretical prediction and experimental verification

Spontaneous liposome formation is predicted in binary mixtures of fluid phase phospholipids and poly(n)ethylene oxide (PEO)-bearing lipids by using single chain mean field theory. The range of stability of the spontaneous liposomes is determined as a function of percentage of PEO-conjugated lipids and polymer molecular weight. These predictions were tested by using cast films of 1,2-diacyl-sn-glycerophosphocholines (e.g., egg l-α-lecithin, 1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine, 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine, and 1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine) and 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycerophosphatidylethanolamine-PEO conjugates (i.e., 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine-N-[methoxypoly(ethylene glycol)2000]carboxamide and 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine-N-[methoxypoly(ethylene oxide)5000]carboxamide) that were hydrated above their gel-liquid crystal phase transition temperatures. Particle sizes of the resulting dispersions, analyzed by quasielastic light scattering, solute retention, 31P NMR, and freeze-fracture electron microscopy measurements, confirmed the single chain mean field predictions. These data indicate that thermodynamically stable, unilamellar liposomes are formed spontaneously by simple hydration of fluid phase phospholipid bilayer films containing low molar ratios of PEO-based amphiphiles. They further suggest that the equilibrium size and colloidal properties of fluid phase, PEO-modified liposomes can be predicted by using this theoretical approach. The implication of these results on the design and processing of sterically stabilized liposomes used in drug delivery applications also is described.
The magnitude of the hydrological frequency factor in maximum rainfall estimation / Valeur du facteur de fréquence hydrologique dans l'estimation de la hauteur maximale de précipitations

ABSTRACT Chow's hydrological frequency factor, K, is used to compare and relate results and attach probabilities to several sets of maximum rainfall data. K is primarily a function of the recurrence interval for a particular probability distribution. K is displayed as a function of the mean of the annual maxima for both official and unofficial rainfall observations and the probable maximum precipitation (PMP) and PMP/2 for the 6 and 24 h durations. The magnitude of the unofficial observations appears to have a strong influence on the level of PMP. The geographical distribution of K for the latter is displayed on maps for the eastern US and ranges from about 20 in the south to more than 35 in the north for PMP and from about 7.5 to more than 17.5 for PMP/2. Probability seems to have very little meaning for PMP or for the largest unofficial observations because these values are so rare that their return periods are several orders of magnitude greater than the length of record upon which they are based.
A measure of heterogeneity in multi-agent systems

Heterogeneous multi-agent systems have previously been studied and deployed to solve a number of different tasks. Despite this, we still lack a basic understanding of just what “heterogeneity” really is. For example, what makes one team of agents more heterogeneous than another? In this paper, we address this issue by proposing a measure of heterogeneity. This measure takes both the complexity and disparity of a system into account by combining different notions of entropy. The result is a formulation that is both easily computable and makes intuitive sense. An overview is given of existing metrics for diversity found in various fields such as biology, economics, as well as robotics, followed by a discussion of their relative merits and demerits. We show how our proposed measure of heterogeneity overcomes problematic issues identified across the previous metrics. Finally, we discuss how to apply the new measure of heterogeneity specifically to multi-agent systems by using the notion of a common task-space to compare agents with different capabilities.
Comparative effects of indole and aminoacetonitrile derivatives on dimethylnitrosamine-demethylase and aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase activities.

The effect of in vivo administration of indole and five 3-indolyl derivatives including L-tryptophan, as well as of aminoacetonitrile and 3 of its derivatives, were studied on the carcinogen-metabolizing hepatic mixed-function oxidases dimethylnitrosamine (DMN)-demethylase I and II and aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase (AHH). Indole, 3-indolylmethanol, 3-indolylacetonitrile, 3-indolylacetone and L-tryptophan induce AHH activity from 3- to 6-fold of the control level, whereas β-3-indolylethanol has no effect; the latter compound produces a 21% decrease of the endoplasmic reticulum content in the tissue. Only L-tryptophan induces DMN-demethylase I and only L-tryptophan and 3-indolylmethanol induce DMN-demethylase II, representing a doubling of enzyme activity in all 3 instances. Aminoacetonitrile is a potent repressor of DMN-demethylase I. Substitutions on the amino group bring about strong decrease or abolishment of mixed-function oxidase repressor activity; thus, iminodiacetonitrile has only about 15th the repressor activity of the parent compound, whereas nitrilotriacetonitrile and dimethylaminoacetonitrile appear to be inactive. Aminoacetonitrile and its derivatives studied have no effect on DMN-demethylase II and AHH activities. The mixed-function oxidase-modifying effects of the indole compounds and of aminoacetonitrile and its derivatives illustrate the potential complexity of effects of dietary constituents on the carcinogenic responses.
Application of a zirconium fluoride fiber optic diffuse reflectance probe for the remote identification of solids

A novel fiber optic-based probe for the identification of pure and contaminated solids has been developed. Ultimately, this probe is to be used to characterize the make-up and degree of contamination of hazardous waste sites as a preliminary step in the clean-up process. The transmission range of zirconium fluoride fibers allows for the measurement of fundamental stretching frequencies in the mid-infrared (MIR) region as well as overtone and combination bands in the near-infrared (NIR) region. This provides a substantial increase of the measurable concentration range of this MIR/NIR system with respect to systems which can measure only MIR or NIR information. The spectra of samples measured using this fiber optic system is compared to spectra measured in a standard in-compartment diffuse reflectance accessory. The spectra are evaluated in terms of signal-to-noise, measurement time, and detection limits.© (1995) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
A Case Study of “Empathetic Teaching Artistry”

ABSTRACTWhat leads a teaching artist to support and nurture the work of other teaching artists and specialist arts teachers?
A taxonomy of representations in information retrieval system design

In IR there is a growing body of empirical data and practical experience with various representations. Taxonomy may be defined as 'all the various activities involved in the construction of classificatory systems.'There are three stages in our research: identification, char acterization, and comparison/evaluation. Identification in volves an enumeration both of the categories of representations which could in principle be part of an IR system and of the different members in each category. Characterization involves identification of properties which could be used to characterize the members of each category. Comparison/evaluation in volves identification of measures which could be used in com paring the members within each category and/or in evaluating the impact of variations in representations on system perfor mance.
Data flow testing in STAD

The System for Testing And Debugging (STAD) is an experimental installation for the investigation of the use of data flow patterns in the program for testing and debugging. Its main parts are a static analyzer, a test monitor and a knowledge-based debugger. The testing component, described in this article, supports the strategies of chain, U- and L-context testing. The first one exercises exchange patterns between single variables in the program, while the others involve tuples of variables. The advantages and drawbacks of the method and its relation to black-box testing are discussed.
Accelerating recurrent neural network training via two stage classes and parallelization

Recurrent neural network (RNN) language models have proven to be successful to lower the perplexity and word error rate in automatic speech recognition (ASR). However, one challenge to adopt RNN language models is due to their heavy computational cost in training. In this paper, we propose two techniques to accelerate RNN training: 1) two stage class RNN and 2) parallel RNN training. In experiments on Microsoft internal short message dictation (SMD) data set, two stage class RNNs and parallel RNNs not only result in equal or lower WERs compared to original RNNs but also accelerate training by 2 and 10 times respectively. It is worth noting that two stage class RNN speedup can also be applied to test stage, which is essential to reduce the latency in real time ASR applications.
Re: home visits and the social context.

To the Editor: The article by Peterson and colleagues[1][1] and commentary by Hamrick[2][2] outline the “shape” of physician house calls at this point in time, and Hamrick raises compelling reasons to broaden the practice, particularly in the coming era of health care reform. House calls make