cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Empirical models for estimating mercury flux from soils.

Multiple parameters have been suggested to influence the exchange of mercury (Hg) between the atmosphere and soils. However, models applied for estimating soil Hg flux are simple and do not consider the potential synergistic and antagonist relationships between factors controlling the exchange. This study applied a two-level factorial experimental design in a gas exchange chamber (GEC) to investigate the individual and combined effects of three environmental factors (temperature, light, and soil moisture) on soil Hg flux. It was shown that individually irradiation, soil moisture, and air temperature all significantly enhance Hg evasive flux (by 90−140%). Synergistic effects (20−30% of additional flux enhancement) were observed for all two-factor interactions, with air temperature/soil moisture and air temperature/irradiation being the most significant. Results from the factorial experiments suggest that a model incorporating the second-order interactions can appropriately explain the flux response to the ...
ISOLATION OF PHOTOCHEMICAL REACTION CENTERS FROM A CAROTENOIDLESS MUTANT OF RHODOSPIRILLUM RUBRUM

Summary Lauryl dimethyl amine oxide was used to isolate reaction centers from a carotenoid-less mutant, strain G-9, of Rhodospirillum rubrum. These reaction centers have absorption spectra and light or chemically induced difference spectra very similar to those obtained from Rhodopseudomonas spheroides, strain R-26. But, unlike those from Rps. spheroides, they are more labile to higher detergent concentrations and to ammonium sulfate. The cytochrome content was estimated to be less than one per 10 P870.
The effects of diffusion, surface growth resistance and particle solubility on the early growth of MgSO4. 7H2O crystals from solution

Abstract A crystal growth model incorporating the effect of particle size on solubility has been derived and solved numerically for a single spherical crystal growing in a stagnant solution. The solution of the model indicates that the effect of particle size on solubility vanishes after approximately five seconds of growth time. The surface reaction for crystal growth was found to be rate-controlling during early growth when the particle is less than five μ in dia.; diffusion was found to control the crystal growth rate as the particle grows larger. Graphical illustrations of each of these effects are presented. The physical parameters used in this solution are those of the MgSO 4 system.
Effects of intracellular sodium and potassium iontophoresis on membrane potentials and resistances in toad urinary bladder.

Glass microelectrodes were used to measure membrane potentials and the ratio of apical to basolateral membrane resistances before and after the passage of current from the potential-recording microelectrode to ground, in toad urinary bladder epithelium, in order to iontophorese cations into the cell. After application of the current, there was a transient change in the tip potential of the microelectrode. This artifact was measured with the microelectrode in the mucosal medium and was subtracted from the potential recorded in the cell. The serosal medium was bathed by Ringer's solution containing 51.5mm K+ to minimize any current-induced increase of K+ in the unstirred layer. Under those conditions, both Na+ and K+ iontophoresis caused a significant hyperpolarization of basolateral membrane potential (Vcs) and a significant increase in the ratio of apical to basolateral membrane resistances (Ra/Rb). When bladders were exposed to amiloride in the mucosal solution. Na+ iontophoresis caused the basolateral membrane to hyperpolarize, but no significant changes were observed inRa/Rb. When Na+ was injected in the presence of serosal ouabain,Vcs depolarized andRa/Rb increased. K+ iontophoresis caused the basolateral membrane potential to hyperpolarize in the presence of ouabain butRa/Rb did not change significantly. These results indicate that the Na+ pump in toad bladder is rheogenic, that apical Na+ conductance is sensitive to the cell levels of Na+ and K+ and that the basolateral membrane is K+ permeable.
Photoluminescent gold-copper nanoparticle alloys with composition-tunable near-infrared emission.

Discrete gold nanoparticles with diameters between 2 and 3 nm show remarkable properties including enhanced catalytic behavior and photoluminescence. However, tunability of these properties is limited by the tight size range within which they are observed. Here, we report the synthesis of discrete, bimetallic gold–copper nanoparticle alloys (diameter ≅ 2–3 nm) which display photoluminescent properties that can be tuned by changing the alloy composition. Electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, and pulsed-field gradient stimulated echo 1H NMR measurements show that the nanoparticles are homogeneous, discrete, and crystalline. Upon varying the composition of the nanoparticles from 0% to 100% molar ratio copper, the photoluminescence maxima shift from 947 to 1067 nm, with excitation at 360 nm. The resulting particles exhibit brightness values (molar extinction coefficient (e) × quantum yield (Φ)) that are more than an order of magnitude larger than ...
Toward improved understanding and control in analytical atomic spectrometry

Abstract As with most papers which attempt to predict the future, this treatment will begin with a coverage of past events. It will be shown that progress in the field of analytical atomic spectrometry has occurred through a series of steps which involve the addition of new techniques and the occasional displacement of established ones. Because it is difficult or impossible to presage true breakthroughs, this manuscript will focus on how such existing methods can be modified or improved to greatest advantage. The thesis will be that rational improvement can be accomplished most effectively by understanding fundamentally the nature of an instrumental system, a measurement process, and a spectrometric technique. In turn, this enhanced understanding can lead to closer control, from which can spring improved performance. Areas where understanding is now lacking and where control is most greatly needed will be identified and a possible scheme for implementing control procedures will be outlined. As we draw toward the new millennium, these novel procedures seem particularly appealing; new high-speed computers, the availability of expert systems, and our enhanced understanding of atomic spectrometric events combine to make future prospects extremely bright.
Measured peripheral dose in pediatric radiation therapy: A comparison of intensity-modulated and conformal techniques

Abstract Background and purpose The interest in IMRT for the treatment of pediatric malignancies has raised concern about possible increased total body dose. This study examines the pediatric peripheral dose resulting from IMRT compared to 3D conformal therapy. Methods and materials Five brain or base of skull pediatric cases were planned with both IMRT and 3D conformal techniques. A pediatric-sized anthropomorphic phantom was created and ion chambers were placed at interest points approximating the position of the thyroid, breast, ovary and testes. Measured peripheral doses at the interest points were compared for both IMRT and 3D conformal techniques for the 5 cases. Results While tumor coverage was similar for both techniques, the IMRT delivery resulted in lower peripheral doses at points near the target (thyroid) presumably due to reduced internal scatter from a smaller effective field size for sliding window dynamic multi-leaf collimation. The IMRT delivery resulted in higher doses to the more distant points, presumably due to the higher monitor units and resulting increased head leakage. Since the magnitude of dose at the distant points was much smaller than that of the thyroid point, the overall absolute peripheral dose was similar for both techniques. Conclusions Peripheral dose is difficult to predict by monitor units alone. In this study, interest points closer to the beam received less dose with IMRT. This difference may result from the competing factors of reduced internal scatter from dynamic multileaf collimation IMRT and reduced head leakage for 3D conformal therapy.
Association of common KIBRA variants with episodic memory and AD risk

KIBRA single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs17070145 was identified in a genome-wide association study (GWAS) of memory performance, with some but not all follow-up studies confirming association of its T allele with enhanced memory. This allele was associated with reduced Alzheimer's disease (AD) risk in 1 study, which also found overexpression of KIBRA in memory-related brain regions of AD. We genotyped rs17070145 and 14 additional SNPs in 2571 late onset Alzheimer's disease (LOAD) patients vs. 2842 controls, including African-Americans. We found significantly reduced risk for rs17070145 T allele in the older African-American subjects (p = 0.007) and a suggestive effect in the older Caucasian series. Meta-analysis of this allele in > 8000 subjects from our and published series showed a suggestive protective effect (p = 0.07). Analysis of episodic memory in control subjects did not identify associations with rs17070145, though other SNPs showed significant associations in 1 series. KIBRA showed evidence of overexpression in the AD temporal cortex (p = 0.06) but not cerebellum. These results suggest a modest role for KIBRA as a cognition and AD risk gene, and also highlight the multifactorial complexity of its genetic associations.
SHORT‐MATURITY OPTIONS AND JUMP MEMORY

We investigate jump memory using an extensive database of short-term S&P 500 index options. Jump memory refers to the attenuation of the implied jump intensity and magnitude parameters following a crash event. We use a genetic algorithm to obtain a time series of implied parameter estimates and posit behavioral and rational explanations for parameter attenuation following a crash event. We find that a nested form of the jump-diffusion model sharpens the remaining parameter estimates and has a negligible effect on pricing accuracy.
Rising Primary Malignant Brain Tumor Mortality in the Elderly: A Manifestation of Differential Survival

Background: Increasing primary malignant brain tumor mortality among the elderly in developed countries over the past three decades has been attributed to improved diagnostic techniques and increased environmental carcinogens. Objective: To demonstrate that rising primary malignant brain tumor mortality among the elderly can be accounted for by differential survival. Data Source: Published United States mortality data from the National Center for Health Statistics, 1962 to 1989. Measures: Age-specific primary malignant brain tumor mortality rates were determined for the age groups of more than 60 years old and compared with the population size of these age groups. Results: Increasing primary malignant brain tumor mortality rates among the oldest age groups in the United States from 1962 to 1989 were directly proportional to the increasing population size of these age groups. Conclusions: Comparisons between age-specific mortality rates are generally considered valid since they are inherently age- and sex-matched. Moreover, age-specific mortality rates should not be related to population size. Rather than implying improved diagnosis or enhanced carcinogenesis, these results suggest that differential survival and its effect on the surviving gene pool in an aging population is an alternative explanation for the observed increase in primary malignant brain tumor mortality among the elderly.
Investigations of a Rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) Model of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE), BAFF and Its Receptors

B-cell activation factor belonging to the tumor necrosis factor family (BAFF) is a major contributor to survival of B lymphocytes during development and maturation. A relationship between circulating BAFF levels and disease activity has been reported in patients with the autoimmune disease Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE). Clinical trials targeting BAFF or its receptors are currently in progress. In order to further characterize a rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) model of SLE, we investigated the expression of BAFF and its receptors in non-inbred, pedigreed rabbits derived from breeding and selection based on autoantibody responses. We immunized rabbits related to previous groups that developed autoantibodies and inflammatory responses after immunizations with peptides synthesized on multiple antigen-branched polylysine backbones. Blood and sera collected before immunization and after boosts were used for health monitoring, analyses of serum autoantibody responses by ELISA and immunofluorescence. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were studied by flow cytometry and were the source of mRNA for quantitative PCR analyses. We hypothesized that BAFF mRNA expression and serum BAFF levels measured indirectly through BAFF receptor binding might increase in autoantibody-producing rabbits. Immunized rabbits developed elevated levels of leucocyte populations, anti-nuclear, anti-dsDNA and other autoantibodies. BR3 mRNA levels in total PBMC decreased and BAFF levels remained low and unchanged in most immunized rabbits. By flow cytometry, percentages of BAFF positive cells decreased. Percentages of transmembrane activator and CAML interactor (TACI) decreased in most rabbits from all the immunized groups. The rabbit is an important model for human autoimmune and infectious diseases, and a high quality draft rabbit genome assembly was recently completed. Human disease models developed in non-inbred pedigreed animals are better able to reflect the complexities of diseases such as SLE with familial patterns of inheritance. Although no consistent pattern of elevated expression of BAFF mRNA or protein was found in the rabbits studied, the data collected and reported here build upon previous data to refine understanding of a rabbit model of SLE.
An on-body wrap-around sensor for monitoring changes in lung permittivity

Non-invasive diagnosis methods are of great practical importance. We propose an on-body, non-invasive and wearable health monitoring sensor that forms a convenient wrap-around belt to be part of the clothing or worn under the clothing. This sensor serves to identify tissue abnormalities by measuring their permittivity. A schematic of the proposed sensor is shown in the figure below. The sensor is composed of a plurality of electrodes populated around the band, and is wrapped around the human torso. Ports (in between the electrodes) are excited sequentially with an RF signal at 40 MHz, and scattering parameters are collected from the neighboring passive ports (unused ports are terminated with 50 Ω). We note that receiving ports far away from the active (transmitting) one allow for deeper penetration. Thus, we in principle associate each probe with a certain penetration depth. Post processing is applied to extract the permittivity of deep tissues as a weighted sum of the measured scattering parameters. The uniqueness of this approach is that it suppresses interference from the outer body layers (skin, fat, muscle, and bone).
Funding Science in America: Congress, Universities, and the Politics of the Academic Pork Barrel

Preface 1. The politics of academic earmarking 2. The incentives to earmark 3. AAU and the fight against earmarking 4. The struggle to fund academic research facilities 5. Lobbyists, lobbying, and the pursuit of academic earmarks 6. Congress and the distribution of academic earmarks 7. Congress, and the president, and the fight against earmarking 8. The future of academic earmarking Notes Selected bibliography.
On the origin of mode- and bond-selectivity in vibrationally mediated reactions on surfaces

The experimental observations of vibrational mode- and bond-selective chemistry at the gas–surface interface indicate that energy redistribution within the reaction complex is not statistical on the timescale of reaction. Such behavior is a key prerequisite for efforts to use selective vibrational excitation to control chemistry at the technologically important gas–surface interface. This paper outlines a framework for understanding the origin of non-statistical reactivity on surfaces. The model focuses on the kinetic competition between intramolecular vibrational energy redistribution (IVR) within the reaction complex, which in the long-time limit leads to statistical behavior, and quenching, scattering, or desorption processes that restrict the extent of IVR prior to reaction. Characteristic timescales for these processes drawn from studies of vibrational energy flow dynamics on surfaces and in the gas and condensed phases suggest that IVR is severely limited for important classes of surface reactions. Under these conditions, selective vibrational excitation can lead to preferential transition state access and result in mode- or bond-selective chemistry, even at high collision energies above the barrier to reaction. In addition to providing a basis for understanding experimental observations, the model provides guidance for identifying other gas–surface reactions that may exhibit mode-selective behavior.
Managing native and non-native plants in agroforestry systems

Indigenous knowledge has influenced native species selection in agroforestry systems worldwide. However, scientific advancements in plant sciences, agroforestry technologies and trade have accelerated species movements and establishment beyond their native range. Managing native and non-native species is an important area of research in agroforestry and this thematic issue includes 13 papers that cover a range of topics from the role of non-native species in agroforestry to management interventions to improve yield. As evident from these papers, non-native plants are still an important component of agroforestry in many parts of the world. Whether native or non-native, management interventions can increase the economic, environmental and social values of these species and that of agroforestry. Collectively, these papers attest to the increasing body of foundational knowledge in agroforestry.
Long-term applications of untreated and alum-treated poultry litter drive soil nitrogen concentrations and associated microbial community dynamics

Aluminum sulfate (alum) treatment retains ammonia in poultry litter, potentially altering nitrogen (N) cycling after application to soil. The objective of this research was to assess if 8 and 9 years of annual application of untreated or alum-treated poultry litters or ammonium nitrate have resulted in detectable differences in N concentrations and cycling in soil. Soil N concentrations, β-glucosaminidase activity, and ammonia oxidizer community richness were measured prior to, 10 days, and 1 and 6 months following application in years 8 and 9 in soil receiving either 2.24 (low rate) or 8.96 Mg litter ha−1 (high rate) or 65 or 260 kg N ha−1 (approximately equivalent N rates) of ammonium nitrate. There were few effects when fertilizers were applied at the low rate, but soil N did increase in all treatments relative to the control. Soil N, microbial biomass N, and β-glucosaminidase activity were significantly higher in the alum-treated and untreated poultry litter when applied at the high rate compared to other treatments. Soil inorganic N increased significantly 10 days following application with the high rate of alum-treated litter and ammonium nitrate but not with untreated poultry litter. Ammonia oxidizer community compositions in the high rate of alum-treated and untreated poultry litter treatments were similar to each other and more closely related to the community in the ammonium nitrate treatment than the control. All fertilizers applied at the high rate altered the nitrifier community richness; however, the inputs of both poultry litters increased microbial biomass and enzyme activity, indicators of soil quality.
Post-yield behavior of a beam with partial end fixity

Abstract A simply supported beam can undergo a relative axial displacement proportional to the induced axial force. Complete formulas and curves are obtained for transverse displacements of the order of the beam thickness.
Quadruple Helix Formation of a Photoresponsive Peptide Amphiphile and Its Light-Triggered Dissociation into Single Fibers

Using a peptide amphiphile having a bulky photolabile 2-nitrobenzyl group between the alkyl chain and the peptide segment, we demonstrated quadruple helical fiber formation and its dissociation into single fibrils in response to light. Putting the bulky group close to the core of a fibril is thought to induce a distortion of the alignment of molecules, which can in turn lead to quadruple helices. Photoirradiation to cleave the bulky group transforms the helices into single fibrils.
Growth of /spl alpha/' nitrogen martensite and Fe/sub 16/N/sub 2/ films using [001] silicon substrates

In this work, epitaxial, single-phase [001] textured /spl alpha/' nitrogen-martensite films have been grown successfully on (001) Si substrates with a Ag reaction-barrier layer using conventional reactive sputtering. The growth orientation was obtained by X-ray /spl phi/-scans: Si[001]/spl par/Ag[001]/spl par//spl alpha/'[001]//Si[100]/spl par/Ag[100]/spl par//spl alpha/'[110]. In addition, [001] textured Fe/sub 16/N/sub 2/ or /spl alpha/'' nitrogen-martensite which forms from an ordering of the N atoms in the /spl alpha/', was detected in the films after ex-situ annealing. High resolution electron microscopy studies reveal that /spl alpha/' martensite has good epitaxy with the Ag underlayer. Single-crystal formation of the martensites, however, is impeded by the intersection of Ag twins with the Ag/Fe-N interface. Single phase /spl alpha/' was not detected in any of the as-deposited films grown under various substrate temperatures (10-150/spl deg/C) and pressures (2-5 mTorr).
Acute arterial complications associated with total hip and knee arthroplasty.

Abstract Objective To our knowledge, ours is the largest single-center experience with diagnosis and management of acute arterial hemorrhagic and limb-threatening ischemic complications associated with total hip arthroplasty (THA) and total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Methods Between 1989 and 2002, 23,199 TKA procedures (13,618 total, 11,953 primary, 1665 revision) and THR procedures (9581 total, 7812 primary, 1769 revision) were performed at the orthopedic service of Pennsylvania Hospital, Philadelphia. Arterial injuries were grouped according to type (ischemia, bleeding, pseudoaneurysm, ischemia plus bleeding) and time of recognition of injury (0-5 days after orthoplasty). Results Acute arterial complications developed in 32 patients (0.13%), associated with 24 TKA procedures (0.17%) and 8 THA procedures (0.08%; P = .0609). There were no deaths, and limb salvage was achieved in all patients. Arterial injury was detected by the orthopedic service on the same day (SD group) as performance of joint replacement in 18 patients (56%), but was not recognized until the first to fifth postoperative day (PO group) in 14 patients (44%). Arterial complications included acute lower-limb ischemia only in 18 patients SD group, 9; PO group, 9), bleeding only in 4 patients (SD group), arterial transection resulting in both ischemia and bleeding in 5 patients (SD group), and arterial pseudoaneurysm in 5 patients (PO group). Of the 18 patients with acute ischemia only, preoperative arteriography was performed in 12 patients (67%), and 6 patients (33%) were brought directly to the operating room because of advanced ischemia. Revascularization procedures in these 18 patients included bypass to the infrapopliteal artery (n = 7), popliteal artery (n = 5), or common femoral artery (n = 1); in only 5 patients (28%) was thrombectomy alone successful. These 18 patients tended to require fasciotomy (4 of 9 vs 2 of 9; P = .6199) and have foot drop (3 of 9 vs 1 of 9; P = .5765) more frequently when ischemia was recognized after the day of surgery. Bleeding was managed with arteriorrhaphy. Arterial transection was treated with end-to-end anastomosis (n = 3), interposition grafting (n = 1), and below-knee popliteal bypass (n = 1). Popliteal artery pseudoaneurysm was treated with percutaneous methods (n = 3) or surgery (n = 2). Conclusion In this series, risk for arterial injury associated with THA and TKA was remarkably low. Nonetheless, even at a high-volume orthopedic hospital, acute arterial injury was not recognized on the day of surgery in about half of patients. Judicious use of preoperative arteriography and aggressive revascularization are critical to achieving limb salvage. Simple arterial thrombectomy to treat ischemic complications of THA and TKA is rarely sufficient.
Recreation and Leisure Research from an Active Living Perspective: Taking a Second Look at Urban Trail Use Data

This paper examines recreation and leisure research within the context of active living, and highlights an apparent gap between the current involvement of recreation and leisure researchers and the potential they could offer to this important and expanding area of inquiry. To illustrate this potential, I looked at two previous studies that focused on the recreational use of urban trails and reanalyzed the data from an active living perspective. In Study 1, individual, social and environmental factors helped distinguish between low, moderate, and high activity level trail uses. In Study 2, use patterns helped distinguish between health-motivated trail users and individuals using trails for recreation and other purposes, but perceptual and demographic data were similar among groups. Findings from similar studies can help inform active living research, and recreation and leisure studies can provide leadership and contributions to a transdisciplinary understanding of active living.
The dawn of the ISHLT Mechanical Assisted Circulatory Support (IMACS) Registry: Fulfilling our mission

The promulgation of our revised mission statement in 2007 reflected the pivotal position of mechanical circulatory support (MCS) on the platform of therapeutic strategies for advanced heart and lung failure. In the realm of transplantation, the International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation (ISHLT) Heart and Lung Transplant Registries are precious assets for our Society, as evidenced by the numerous scientific publications based on registry data. The world of MCS is rapidly evolving, with a panoply of devices populating the MCS landscape. Through our focused interest in therapeutic strategies for the treatment of advanced heart and lung failure, ISHLT is the natural home for scientific advances in MCS. The original ISHLT MCS Registry was conceived in 2000 as an effort led by Robert Kormos (ISHLT President, 1999–2000), with an initial tenure of 4 years. With the rapid evolution of MCS therapy in the United States, the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) subsequently requested proposals to develop, manage, and guide scientific investigations from a registry dedicated to durable MCS devices. The contract was awarded to a group of investigators deeply embedded in the ISHLT, resulting in the genesis of Interagency Registry for Mechanically Assisted Circulatory Support (INTERMACS). INTERMACS initiated data collection in 2006; with the rapid expansion of continuous-flow technology, the database now contains more than 4,000 device implants. With the ISHLT commitment to foster an environment of scientific exchange about MCS therapy, a portal into critical developments in the field is facilitated by the Society’s natural nexus of advanced heart failure medical science and
Aminorex, Fenfluramine, and Chlorphentermine Are Serotonin Transporter Substrates Implications for Primary Pulmonary Hypertension

Background—Coadministration of phentermine and fenfluramine (phen/fen) effectively treats obesity and possibly addictive disorders. The association of fenfluramine and certain other anorexic agents with serious side effects, such as cardiac valvulopathy and primary pulmonary hypertension (PPH), limits the clinical utility of these drugs. Development of new medications that produce neurochemical effects like phen/fen without causing unwanted side effects would be a significant therapeutic breakthrough. Methods and Results—We tested the hypothesis that fenfluramine (and other anorexic agents) might increase the risk of PPH through interactions with serotonin (5-HT) transporters. Because 5-HT transporter proteins in the lung and brain are identical, we examined, in rat brain, the effects of selected drugs on 5-HT efflux in vivo and monoamine transporters in vitro as a generalized index of transporter function. Our data show that drugs known or suspected to increase the risk of PPH (eg, aminorex, fenfluramine...
Fundamental performance bounds for a compressive sampling system

In this paper we explore several fundamental bounds for a compressive sampling system which uses the Fourier sampling algorithm of Gilbert et al. Beginning with the theoretical bounds on the number of samples necessary to reconstruct high fidelity approximations of input signals, we refine those theoretical bounds with empirical values in several practical input models. We show that the performance is consistent with traditional sampling systems, and, in certain cases, much better.
Three-dimensionally interconnected multi-bus-line bidirectional optical backplane

The concept of a three-dimensionally interconnected optical backplane for a high-performance system containing multichip module boards, operating at 850 nm, is introduced. The backplane reported here employs 2-D vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs) and pho- todetector arrays as transceivers. By integrating 250-mm-pitch 2-D VC- SELs, microlenses, and photodetector arrays into our backplane design, we have demonstrated a multi-bus-line optical backplane and experi- mentally realized this architecture with 2-D VCSEL and detector arrays while using the third dimension as the signal-propagating direction. Such an approach greatly increases the aggregate bandwidth of the back- plane. Packaging issues such as misalignment, cross talk, and signal-to- noise ratio are studied. Eye diagrams up to 1.5 GHz were obtained with clear eyes, and the frequency response of a single bus line shows a bandwidth of 2.5 THz. © 1999 Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers. (S0091-3286(99)00409-2)
Mixed filler combinations for enhanced thermal conductivity of liquid encapsulants for electronic packaging

Thermal management plays a very vital role in the packaging of high performance electronic devices. Effective heat dissipation is crucial to enhance the performance and reliability of the packaged devices. Liquid encapsulants used for glob-top, potting, and underfilling applications can strongly influence the package heat dissipation. Traditionally, these encapsulants are filled with silica and show a very poor thermal performance. The technical challenge is to develop encapsulants with improved thermal conductivity without compromising on other critical properties like viscosity, modulus of elasticity, coefficient of thermal expansion, moisture absorption, etc. In a previous study, the performance of encapsulants filled with ceramic fillers like alumina, silica coated aluminum nitride (SCAN), and boron nitride (BN) was compared with that of silica filled samples. It was found that SCAN filled samples have the desirable properties required of liquid encapsulants and also have a higher thermal conductivity than those filled with silica. This paper deals with the study of mixed combinations of fillers to further improve the thermal conductivity of SCAN filled samples. A thermal conductivity of 2.2 W/mK was attained with a combination of SCAN and BN.
Application of the Logistic Function to Bio-Assay

(1944). Application of the Logistic Function to Bio-Assay. Journal of the American Statistical Association: Vol. 39, No. 227, pp. 357-365.
Protein carbonylation and metabolic control systems

Oxidative stress is linked to the production of reactive lipid aldehydes that non-enzymatically alkylate cysteine, histidine, or lysine residues in a reaction termed protein carbonylation. Reactive lipid aldehydes and their derivatives are detoxified via a variety of phase I and phase II systems, and when antioxidant defenses are compromised or oxidative conditions are increased, protein carbonylation is increased. The resulting modification has been implicated as causative in a variety of metabolic states including neurodegeneration, muscle wasting, insulin resistance, and aging. Although such modifications usually result in loss of protein function, protein carbonylation may be regulatory and activate signaling pathways involved in antioxidant biology and cellular homeostasis.
Targeted expression of ornithine decarboxylase antizyme prevents upper aerodigestive tract carcinogenesis in p53-deficient mice

Upper aerodigestive tract (UADT) cancers of the oral cavity and esophagus are a significant global health burden, and there is an urgent need to develop relevant animal models to identify chemopreventive and therapeutic strategies to combat these diseases. Antizyme (AZ) is a multifunctional negative regulator of cellular polyamine levels, and here, we evaluate the susceptibility of keratin 5 (K5)-AZ transgenic mice to tumor models that combine chemical carcinogenesis with dietary and genetic risk factors known to influence human susceptibility to UADT cancer and promote UADT carcinogenesis in mice. First, p53(+/-) and K5-AZ/p53(+/-) (AZ/p53(+/-)) mice were placed on a zinc-deficient (ZD) or zinc-sufficient (ZS) diet and chronically exposed to 4-nitroquinoline 1-oxide. Tongue tumor incidence, multiplicity and size were substantially reduced in both ZD and ZS AZ/p53(+/-) mice compared with p53(+/-). AZ expression also reduced progression to carcinoma in situ or invasive carcinoma and decreased expression of the squamous cell carcinoma biomarkers K14, cyclooxygenase-2 and metallothionein. Next, AZ-expressing p53(+/-) and p53 null mice were placed on the ZD diet and treated with a single dose of N-nitrosomethylbenzylamine. Regardless of p53 status, forestomach (FST) tumor incidence, multiplicity and size were greatly reduced with AZ expression, which was also associated with a significant decrease in FST epithelial thickness along with reduced proliferation marker K6 and increased differentiation marker loricrin. These studies demonstrate the powerful tumor suppressive effects of targeted AZ expression in two distinct and unique mouse models and validate the polyamine metabolic pathway as a target for chemoprevention of UADT cancers.
Multitasking: Association Between Poorer Performance and a History of Recurrent Falls

OBJECTIVES: To examine the association between poorer performance on concurrent walking and reaction time and recurrent falls. DESIGN: Cross-sectional analysis. SETTING: Community. PARTICIPANTS: Three hundred seventy-seven older community-dwelling adults (mean age+/-standard deviation 78+/-3). MEASUREMENTS: Reaction times on push-button and visual-spatial decision tasks were assessed while seated and while walking a 20-m course (straight walk) and a 20-m course with a turn at 10 m (turn walk). Walking times were recorded while walking only and while performing a reaction-time response. Dual-task performance was calculated as the percentage change in task times when done in dual-task versus single-task conditions. A history of recurrent falls (>/=2 vs </=1 falls) in the prior 12 months was self-reported. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to predict the standardized odds ratios (ORs) of recurrent falls history. The standardized unit for dual-task performance ORs was interquartile range/2. RESULTS: On the push-button task during the turn walk, poorer reaction time response (slower) was associated with 28% lower (P=.04) odds of recurrent fall history. On the visual-spatial task, poorer walking-time response (slower) was associated with 34% (P=.02) and 42% (P=.01) higher odds of recurrent falls history on the straight and turn walks, respectively. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that walking more slowly in response to a visual-spatial decision task may identify individuals at risk for multiple falls. Prospective studies are needed to confirm the prognostic value of poor walking responses in a dual-task setting for multiple falls.</=1 falls. Language: en
The nonlinear index of refraction and self-action effects in optical propagation

Since 1964 self-action effects in optical propagation have been subject to intense study and application. These processes have profound influence on the spatial and temporal behavior of beams and pulses as they travel through nonlinear media. This article considers the similarities and differences between the spatial and temporal self-action effects and presents simple arguments for the magnitudes of important parameters.
Comments on “Communicating Sequential Processes”

In his recent paper, “Communicating Sequential Processes” (Comm. ACM 21, 8 (Aug. 1978), 666-677), C.A.R. Hoare outlines a programming language notation for interprocess communication in which processes are synchronized by the messages they exchange. The notation carries with it certain implications for the synchronization protocols required in a message transfer. These are not at all obvious and are made explicit here. An alternative convention is suggested in which communication and synchronization are partially uncoupled from one another.
Importance of tumor grade in esthesioneuroblastoma survival: a population-based analysis.

Importance There is a need for larger studies characterizing the effect of tumor grade on survival for patients with esthesioneuroblastoma. Objective To investigate prognostic factors for survival in patients diagnosed with esthesioneuroblastoma, including emphasis on tumor grade. Design, Setting, and Participants Retrospective, population-based cohort study of patients in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) tumor registry who were diagnosed with esthesioneuroblastoma from January 1, 1973, to January 1, 2010. The last date of survival follow-up was 2013. Main Outcomes and Measures Overall and disease-specific survival. Results The cohort included 281 patients with a mean age of 52 years. There were 154 males (54.8%) and 127 females (45.2%). Kaplan-Meier analysis demonstrated an overall and disease-specific survival rate of 61% and 70% at 5 years and 50% and 64% at 10 years, respectively. Multivariable Cox regression analysis showed that advanced tumor grade and modified Kadish stage (hazard ratio, 4.930; 95% CI, 2.635-9.223; P = .001) portended worse disease-specific survival, and radiation therapy (hazard ratio, 0.499; 95% CI, 0.272-0.916; P = .03) improved disease-specific survival. Patients with low-grade tumors (grades I and II) demonstrated an overall and disease-specific survival rate of 84% and 92% at 5 years and 67% and 87% at 10 years, respectively. Multivariable analysis of low-grade tumors only revealed receiving surgery ( P = .004) as an independent positive predictor of disease-specific survival. High-grade tumors (grades III and IV) demonstrated overall and disease-specific survival of 40% and 50% at 5 years and 34% and 43% at 10 years, respectively. Multivariable analysis of high-grade tumors showed modified Kadish stage (hazard ratio, 2.025; 95% CI, 1.430-2.866; P P = .02) independently predicted improved disease-specific survival. Conclusions and Relevance Here, to our knowledge, we report the largest study investigating prognostic factors for survival, with the inclusion of tumor grade, in patients diagnosed with esthesioneuroblastoma. Patients with high-grade tumors had substantially worse survival rates than patients with low-grade tumors. Multivariable analysis revealed only receiving surgery as an independent predictor of disease-specific survival for patients with low-grade tumors, while modified Kadish stage and postoperative radiation therapy were significant factors in predicting disease-specific survival in patients with high-grade tumors. This study highlights the growing evidence that tumor grade should be a key factor in predicting survival in patients with esthesioneuroblastoma, and that adjuvant radiation therapy improves survival rates among patients with high-grade, but not low-grade, tumors.
Endoscopic management of benign bile duct strictures

Abstract Endoscopic treatment for benign biliary strictures has largely replaced surgical and percutaneous approaches because of lower morbidity and mortality. However, endoscopic therapy often requires multiple procedures and serial stenting for 1 year or longer. Although the optimal algorithm for endoscopic therapy is unknown, most experts agree that maximal dilation and stenting for a period of at least 3 months will result in the best short- and long-term outcomes. Dominant strictures related to sclerosing cholangitis are more challenging to manage and typically respond best to dilation alone or with shorter-term stent therapy. When considering endoscopic treatment, the location and etiology of the stricture have important prognostic implications that may prompt earlier referral to a different subspecialist or alter the endoscopic strategy. Newer stent technologies, such as fully covered self-expandable metallic stents, may alter the treatment paradigm, although future studies are needed before this strategy can be endorsed. This article reviews the current evidence supporting endoscopic therapy for benign biliary strictures, reviews the clinical predictors of long-term success, underscores the technical aspects of dilation and stent placement, and considers future directions for endoscopic treatment.
From the symbolic stimulus to the pathophysiologic response: immune mechanisms.

Indirect evidence from a variety of sources, particularly clinical studies of emotional and stress factors in the onset and course of diseases associated with dysfunction or hypofunction of the immune system (infectious, allergic, autoimmune and neoplastic), support the notion that experiential factors can influence the functions of the immune system, presumably via neuroendocrine mediation. We dissect the immunologic system into its components in order to find identifiable targets within disease processes that are stress-responsive. The immune system can be divided into three limbs: afferent, comprising presentation of antigen; central, in which different classes of cells give rise to immune responses; and efferent, concerned with the sequelae of immunization. We must also consider sites in which the immune reaction occurs. We try to defend the assumption that emotional factors lead to small alterations in “immune balance” that can convert latent or mild illness to manifest or severe illness. We consider...
Organizational Assimilation of Innovations: A Multi-Level Contextual Analysis

This study examined the assimilation of innovations into organizations, a process unfolding in a series of decisions to evaluate, adopt, and implement new technologies. Assimilation was conceptualized as a nine-step process and measured by tracking 300 potential adoptions through organizations during a six-year period. We advance a model suggesting that organizational assimilation of technological innovations is determined by three classes of antecedents: contextual attributes, innovation attributes, and attributes arising from the interaction of contexts and innovations.
Characterization of the inflammatory and apoptotic cells in the aortas of patients with ascending thoracic aortic aneurysms and dissections.

Objective The histopathologic abnormality underlying ascending aortic aneurysm and dissection is medial degeneration, a lesion that is described as the noninflammatory loss of smooth muscle cells and elastic fibers. This study sought to determine whether inflammatory cells are present in medial degeneration and assess any possible contribution of these cells to apoptosis of smooth muscle cells. Methods Aortic specimens were obtained from patients undergoing prophylactic surgical repair of an ascending aortic aneurysm (n = 9) and type A dissection (n = 7), along with control patients dying of causes unrelated to aortic disease (n = 5). Immunohistochemical staining was performed to evaluate the presence of lymphocytes and macrophages, and markers of apoptosis were assessed in the aortas of patients with ascending aortic aneurysm and dissection. Results Immunohistochemical study indicated significantly more CD3 + cells in the aortas of patients with aneurysms or dissections than in control aortas ( P = .020 and P = .0022, respectively). In addition, aortas of patients with aneurysms or dissections had more CD68 + cells ( P = .01 and P = .005, respectively). CD3 + cells were localized in the media and surrounding the vasa vasorum in the adventitia. Cells yielding a positive result on in situ terminal transferase–mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate nick end-labeling were found in increased numbers in the aortas of patients with aneurysms or dissections relative to control aortas ( P = .005 and P = .002, respectively). Furthermore, Fas and FasL were increased in the aortic samples from patients with aneurysms and dissections relative to control aortas. Conclusion The coexistence of inflammatory cells with markers of apoptotic vascular cell death in the media of ascending aortas with aneurysms and type A dissections raises the possibility that activated T cells and macrophages may contribute to the elimination of smooth muscle cells and degradation of the matrix associated with thoracic aortic aneurysms and dissections.
Parents' emotion related beliefs and behaviors and child grade: Associations with children's perceptions of peer competence

Mothers' and fathers' beliefs and reported behaviors regarding negative emotional expression and observed family negative emotion expressiveness were investigated as predictors of first-, third-, and fifth-grade children's self-reported peer competence. Parents' beliefs were related to their reported behaviors, and mothers accepted and encouraged greater expression of negative emotions in children than fathers did. Associations of children's peer competence with mothers' reported socialization behaviors and observed family negative expressiveness were curvilinear: moderately high levels of encouragement of children's negative emotional expression and moderate levels of family negative expressiveness were related to greater perceived peer competence in children. Further, an interaction between child grade and mothers' beliefs indicated that fifth graders with mothers who were more accepting of their expression of negative emotions reported higher peer competence than fifth graders whose mothers were less accepting. Findings have important implications for developing interventions and education for parents and children.
Conservation and management of ecological systems in a changing California

Climate change in California is altering habitat conditions for many species and exacerbating stress from other factors such as alien invasive species, pollution, and habitat fragmentation. However, the current legal and planning framework for species protection does not explicitly take climate change into account. The regulatory framework is primarily reactive, kicking in only after species' health is gravely threatened. Neither federal nor state regulations require forward-looking, climate-sensitive species or ecosystem protection plans. Habitat planning is poorly funded and often piecemeal. In this context, the wrong lands may be protected, with development allowed to occur in areas that would be most beneficial for species conservation in the future. A more forward-looking approach to habitat conservation is needed, one based on a statewide strategy to identify and protect critical habitat areas, including corridors to enable species migration. The approach would also require development of assessment indicators and assistance strategies not dependent on current habitat structure, and a governance structure to implement regular, periodic updates of management plans in relation to agreed-upon performance indicators. Such a strategy should integrate habitat conservation planning with other state and regional plans and objectives, such as for transportation infrastructure, urban development, and mitigation of climate change.