cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Robust Prediction Of Treatment Times In Concurrent Patient Care

Outpatient centers comprised of many concurrent clinics increasingly see higher patient volumes. In these centers, decisions to improve clinic flow must account for the high degree of interdependence when critical personnel or equipment is shared between clinics. Discrete event simulation models have provided clinical decision support, but rarely address high-volume clinics with shared resources. While highly complex models are now capable of representing clinics in detail, validation techniques often do not evaluate model predictive performance when presented with new data. Cross-validation provides a means to evaluate the robustness of model treatment time predictions when ongoing data collection in clinics is impractical. Ensuring robust predictions assures validity in the use of models to optimize clinic performance. We apply cross-validation in evaluating a model of glaucoma clinic service at Duke Eye Center. In-person observation is used to verify the accuracy of operations data collected through electronic health records (EHR). From the EHR data, we formulate a stochastic reward net model, employing phase-type distributions to represent treatment durations, and solved through discrete event simulation. The model is formulated in two configurations to represent (1) concurrent demand on clinic staff, or (2) independently functioning clinics. Evaluating these two alternatives in cross-validation studies, we find model prediction accuracy improves when interdependence is explicitly modeled in the examined setting.
Promoting Ethics in Organizations: A Longitudinal Study of Formal Ethics Training and Outcomes

In this paper, we adopt a multi-year study design to examine the effects of a fundamental component of formal ethics programs—formal ethics training— on important behavioral, perceptual, and cultural outcomes. Using three periods of data from the same employees in a large, multinational bank, we examine the short- and long-term effects of ethics training on unethical behavior, willingness to report unethical behavior, perceptions of organizational follow-through, perceptions of organizational values and strength of the normative structure. In both the short- and long-term periods after training, we find (1) lower levels of observed unethical behavior, (2) more willingness to report unethical behavior, (3) improved perceptions of organizational follow-through, and (4) a stronger normative structure (an indicator of organizational culture). Although perceptions of organizational values initially increased after training, the effects dissipated in the long-term. The robustness of the findings is tested using...
Eosinophilia in acute myeloid leukemia: Overlooked and underexamined

The presence of eosinophilia in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) suggests an underlying core binding factor (CBF) lesion, a platelet derived growth factor (PDGFR) translocation, or another rare translocation (such as ETV6-ABL1). Each of these cytogenetic entities carries unique diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic implications. CBF AML is most common and as such, its treatment is more clearly established, consisting of intensive induction chemotherapy followed by cytarabine based consolidation. Due in large part to its intrinsic chemo-sensitivity, CBF AML is associated with relatively high rates of remission and survival. PDGFR mediated AML is comparatively rare, and as such, diagnostic and treatment paradigms are not as well defined. Early identification of PDGFR translocations is essential, as they confer profound imatinib sensitivity which may, in many instances, spare the need for chemotherapy. Prompt recognition of such lesions requires a strong index of suspicion, and as such these diagnoses are often initially overlooked. Unfortunately, many cases of PDGFR associated AML, particularly those with other concurrent cytogenetic abnormalities, demonstrate treatment emergent imatinib resistance. Such patients continue to present a challenge, even with the advent of novel tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). Patients with rare translocations such as ETV6-ABL1 are not well described however seem to follow an aggressive clinical course, with limited response to imatinib, and poor outcomes. This review examines the significance of eosinophilia in the context of AML, with respect to its presentation, pathology, and cytogenetics, and with special attention to appropriate evaluation and treatment.
Against Fragmentation: International Common Law and the Development of Jus Cogens

Approaching jus cogens as a form of international common law provides a process-based backstop against fragmentation within jus cogens by reinforcing the common legal space within which courts and tribunals operate. To that end, this paper focuses on the role of international courts and tribunals in developing jus cogens as a kind of international common law. In the first section, I introduce the concept of common law and discuss its applicability to international law and jus cogens in particular. Next, I consider the practicability of this application by demonstrating capacities in which international courts and tribunals operate like common law courts vis-a-vis jus cogens. Finally, I assess the role of precedent in international law and how precedent might support a common law approach to jus cogens.
Oxytocin and pair compatibility in adult male rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta).

Pair housing is considered one of the best ways of promoting psychological wellbeing for caged macaques. However, incompatible partnerships can result in stress or aggression. Though previous studies have analyzed the role of variables such as age, weight, gender, and temperament on pair compatibility, few have examined the relationship between physiological parameters and pair compatibility. Oxytocin is known to promote prosocial nonsexual behavior in various primate species and may serve as an indicator of pair compatibility. In this study, we examined the association between peripheral oxytocin levels and prosocial behaviors in isosexual pairs of male rhesus macaques. We hypothesized that animals that demonstrated high levels of prosocial behaviors would have higher oxytocin levels than those showing low levels of the behavior. In addition, to elucidate the relationship between oxytocin and compatibility, we compared peripheral oxytocin between the highly affiliative animals and single-housed males identified as having multiple unsuccessful pair attempts with multiple partners. We collected plasma oxytocin on 40 pairs of monkeys that had lived together for at least 1 month and 20 single-housed animals. Further, we simultaneously collected behavioral data on the pairs, recording prosocial interactions (e.g., groom, play). Oxytocin varied among individuals, but was highly correlated between members of a pair (r = 0.58, p < .001). Additionally, prosocial behavior was positively correlated with plasma oxytocin (r = 0.38, p < .02). However, contrary to our expectations, oxytocin did not differ between single and highly affiliative pair-housed animals (F(1,38) = 0.71, p = .40). Our results suggest that oxytocin may be associated with the quality of isosexual pairs of male macaques. More work is needed to determine the nature of this relationship.
Ischemic Heart Disease Mortality and Coronary Atherosclerosis in Hemophilia.

Mortality in individuals with hemophilia is 2.7-fold higher than the general population. By contrast, ischemic heart disease mortality in this group is 60% lower than in the general population. The reason for these differences is not known. While high VIII:C is associated with thrombotic risk, and low VIII:C is associated with bleeding risk, it remains unproven whether low VIII:C is protective against atherosclerosis or cardiovascular morbidity or mortality. We, therefore, conducted a case-control study to compare coronary atherosclerosis at autopsy in 14 hemophilic men who died between 1983 and 1992, on whom autopsies were available, and 42 HIV-negative age-, gender-, and race-matched non-hemophilic controls. The mean age at death in hemophilic cases was 40 ± 4 yr (19–74), as compared with 41 ± 2 yr (18 to 75) in the controls, p > 0.25. The cause of death in cases was AIDS in 7 (50.0%), hepatitis C liver disease in 4 (28.6%), CNS bleeding in 2 (14.3%), and cancer in 1 (7.1%). The cause of death in controls was cardiopulmonary disease in 14 (33.3%), infection in 13 (30.9%), cancer in 4 (9.5%), organ failure in 4 (9.5%), and other in 7 (16.7%). None (0%) of the hemophilia cases had coronary disease symptoms vs. 2 (4.8%) of the controls, p = 0.559. Ten (71.4%) of the cases were HIV-infected, but none had received HAART therapy. Twelve cases had severe hemophilia (VIII 220 mg/dl); five (35.7%) were smokers, five (35.7%) were hypertensive (systolic > 140 and/or diastolic > 80 mm Hg), and three (21.4%) were obese (body mass index > 25 kg/m2). Body mass index, mean 23.84 ± 0.84 kg/m2, and blood pressure, mean systolic, 129 ± 6 mm Hg, and mean diastolic, 82 ± 3 mm Hg, increased with age, r = 0.439, r = 0.488, r = 0.209, respectively, but not significantly so, p > 0.05. Intraluminal coronary stenosis was assessed by a semi-quantitative scoring system, with 0 = minimal ( 75% narrowing, 2 of 14 (14.3%) cases vs. 9 of 42 (21.4%) controls, respectively, p = 0.272. The overall mean stenosis score in hemophilic cases was 1.1 ± 0.2, not different from that in non-hemophilic controls, 1.2 ± 0.2, p > 0.25. The degree of intraluminal narrowing increased with age in cases, r = 0.773, p
THE BRAIN THAT WOULDN'T DIE AND BOXING HELENA: DESIRE AND THE DISMEMBERMENT OF THE FEMALE BODY

The author compares The Brain That Wouldn't Die, a 1960 B-movie with Jennifer Chambers Lynch's Boxing Helena (1993) in order to show how spectators not only take on the sadistic position which has long been thought to be the one position informing Hollywood cinema but tend to shift between different positions, including masochistic positions. Both movies relate the fetish fantasies of a doctor: in both narratives, the protagonists artificially maintain alive dismembered female bodies. In neither movie is the desire that produces these fetish fantasies clearly critiqued. To some extent, the Oedipal conflict might explain the sexual neuroses of the protagonists. However, both movies have the spectator shift the identification process from one character to the other. In Boxing Helena, such shifts in spectator identification are mirrored on the screen, creating a critique of film, film theory, and voyeurism.
Signalized Intersections—Planning Methodology

The first appearance of a formal planning methodology for signalized intersections appears in the 1985 Highway Capacity Manual (Highway Capacity Manual in Special report 209. Transportation Research Board, Washington D.C. 1985, [1]). It was introduced because in 1985, doing a quick hand-computed assessment of a signalized intersection became extremely difficult and time-consuming. By 2000 and beyond, it became virtually impossible. The model for the initial planning approach became the signalized intersection methodology introduced in TRB Circular 212 in 1980 (Interim Materials on Highway Capacity in Circular 212. Transportation Research Board, Washington D.C., 1980, [2]). To this day, there are some agencies that continue to use the Circular 212 methodology because of its simplicity and ease of use.
Flexible Unsupervised Binary Change Detection Algorithm Identifies Phase Transitions in Continuous Image Streams

Sequences of projection images collected during in situ tomography experiments can capture the formation of patterns in crystallization and yield their three-dimensional growth morphologies. These image streams generate enormous and high dimensional datasets that span the full extent of a phase transition. Detecting from the continuous image stream the characteristic times and temperatures at which the phase transition initiates is a challenge because the phase change is often swift and subtle. Here, we show a flexible unsupervised binary classification algorithm to identify a change point during data intensive experiments. The algorithm makes a prediction based on statistical metrics and has a quantifiable error bound. Applied to two in situ X-ray tomography experimental datasets collected at a synchrotron light source, the developed method can detect the moment at which the solid phase emerges from the parent liquid phase upon crystallization and without performing computationally expensive volume reconstructions. Our approach is verified using a simulated X-ray phantom and its performance evaluated with respect to solidification parameters. The method presented here can be broadly applied to other Big Data problems where time series can be classified without the need for additional training data.
Time to Build

Ut Eruas et Destruas,Ut Plantes et AedificesJeremiah 1:10The word “building” is both a noun and a verb. As architects, we know the noun. We, of course, draw buildings. As a verb, we also build trus...
Competitive Control via Online Optimization with Memory, Delayed Feedback, and Inexact Predictions

Recently a line of work has shown the applicability of tools from online optimization for control, leading to online control algorithms with learning-theoretic guarantees, such as sublinear regret. However, the predominant benchmark, static regret, only compares to the best static linear controller in hindsight, which could be arbitrarily sub-optimal compared to the true offline optimal policy in non-stationary environments. Moreover, the common robustness considerations in control theory literature, such as feedback delays and inexact predictions, only have little progress in the context of online learning/optimization guarantees. In this talk, based on our three recent papers, I will present key principles and practical algorithms towards online control with competitive ratio guarantees, which directly bound the suboptimality compared to the true offline optimal policy. First, I will show the deep connections between a novel class of online optimization with memory and online control, which directly translates online optimization guarantees to online control guarantees and gives the first constant-competitive policy with adversarial disturbances [1]. Second, I will analyze the performance of the most popular online policy in the control community, Model Predictive Control (MPC), from the online learning's perspective, and show a few important fundamental limits. Our results give the first finite-time performance guarantees for MPC [3]. Finally, I will discuss the influence of delayed feedback and inexact predictions on competitive ratio analysis [2].
Association between nursing home staff turnover and infection control citation

OBJECTIVE To describe the association between nursing home staff turnover and the presence and scope of infection control citations. DATA SOURCES Secondary data for all US nursing homes between March 31, 2017, through December 31, 2019 were obtained from Payroll-Based Journal (PBJ), Nursing Home Compare, and Long-Term Care: Facts on Care in the US (LTC Focus). STUDY DESIGN We estimated the association between nurse turnover and the probability of an infection control citation and the scope of the citation while controlling for nursing home fixed effects. Our turnover measure is the percent of the facility's nursing staff hours that were provided by new staff (less than 60 days of experience in the last 180 days) during the 2 weeks prior to the health inspection. We calculated turnover for all staff together and separately for registered nurses, licensed practical nurses (LPNs), and certified nursing assistants. DATA COLLECTION/EXTRACTION METHODS We linked nursing homes standard inspection surveys to 650 million shifts from the PBJ data. We excluded any nursing home with incomplete or missing staffing data. Our final analytic sample included 12,550 nursing homes with 30,536 surveys. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS Staff turnover was associated with an increased likelihood of an infection control citation (average marginal effect [AME] = 0.12 percentage points [pp]; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.05, 0.18). LPN (AME = 0.06 pp; 95% CI: 0.01, 0.11) turnover was conditionally associated with an infection control citation. Conditional on having at least an isolated citation for infection control, staff turnover was positively associated with receiving a citation coded as a "pattern" (AME = 0.21 pp; 95% CI: 0.10, 0.32). Conditional of having at least a pattern citation, staff turnover was positively associated with receiving a widespread citation (AME = 0.21 pp; 95% CI: 0.10, 0.32). CONCLUSIONS Turnover was positively associated with the probability of an infection control citation. Staff turnover should be considered an important factor related to the spread of infections within nursing homes.
[1,3-Bis(diphenylphosphino)propane-κ2P,P′]diiodido(perfluoropropyl)rhodium(III) dichloromethane solvate

The structure of the title compound, [RhI2(C3F7)(C27H26P2)]·CH2Cl2, at 110 (2) K is an unusual example of a structurally characterized square-based pyramidal alkyl complex of rhodium(III). The Rh—C bond is relatively short at 1.996 (6) A. This short metal–carbon bond length is typical of perfluoro complexes of transition metals and illustrates the enhanced bond strength in these compounds.
On the Design of Regulators for Unknown Linear Multivariable Systems

Based on a very simple model, a descrete-time integrating regulator can be designed for a linear time-invariant system. The linear system is not restricted to be scalar with a monotone step respose, as required in previously published literature. The number of tuning parameters in the controller depends on the number of steps in the staircase model which can be properly chosen so that the closed-loop system is an asymptotically stable system with a specified tracking speed.
Should All Social Work Students be Educated for Social Change? Pro

(1993). Should All Social Work Students be Educated for Social Change? Pro. Journal of Social Work Education: Vol. 29, No. 1, pp. 6-11.
Extranodal hematopoietic neoplasms and mimics in the head and neck: an update

The head and neck region is a common site for extranodal lymphomas, second only to the gastrointestinal tract; and 12% to 15% of all head and neck tumors are lymphomas. Non-Hodgkin lymphomas are most common, and Hodgkin lymphoma occurs rarely at extranodal sites in the head and neck. Most non-Hodgkin lymphomas of the head and neck region are of B-cell lineage, and the Waldeyer ring is the most common site. Head and neck lymphomas have distinctive epidemiological and clinicopathologic features, including an association with immunosuppression, infectious organisms, or autoimmune disorders; site-specific differences (eg, thyroid gland versus ocular adnexa) for common lymphomas, such as extranodal marginal zone B-cell lymphoma of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue; and genetic differences that provide insights into etiology. Furthermore, the diagnosis of non-Hodgkin lymphomas at extranodal sites implies differences in prognosis and therapeutic implications with lymphomas at nodal sites. In this review, we discuss various types of non-Hodgkin lymphomas and Hodgkin lymphoma, focusing on unique aspects related to the head and neck region. We also discuss a number of newer entities that are clinically indolent as well as mimics of lymphoma that can occur in the head and neck region, including infectious mononucleosis, Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease, Kimura disease, Castleman disease, and immunoglobulin G4-related disease.
Ephrin B2/EphB4 Mediates the Actions of IGF-I Signaling in Regulating Endochondral Bone Formation

Ephrin B2/EphB4 mediates interactions among osteoblasts (OBs), osteoclasts (OCLs), and chondrocytes to regulate their differentiation. We investigated the role of ephrin B2/EphB4 signaling in mediating the anabolic effects of insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) and parathyroid hormone (PTH) on those cells and overall endochondral bone formation. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated that the expression of ephrin B2 in OBs, OCLs, and osteocytes, and the expression of EphB4 in OBs and osteocytes was dramatically decreased in global IGF-I knockout mice. Inactivation of EphB4 by EphB4 small, interfering RNA (siRNA) in cultured bone marrow stromal cells significantly decreased the mRNA levels of OB differentiation markers and abolished the stimulatory effects of IGF-I on these markers. Blocking the interaction of EphB4 and ephrin B2 in the OB-OCL cocultures with the EphB4 specific peptide TNYL-RAW or deletion of ephrin B2 in OCL prior to coculture led to fewer and smaller tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP)-positive cells, decreased expression of OB differentiation markers, and blunted response to IGF-I for both OCL and OB differentiation. In the growth plate, both ephrin B2 and EphB4 are expressed in late stage proliferating and prehypertrophic chondrocytes, and their expression was decreased in mice lacking the IGF-I receptor specifically in chondrocytes. In vitro, blocking the interaction of EphB4 and ephrin B2 in chondrogenic ATDC5 cells with TNYL-RAW significantly decreased both basal and IGF1-induced expression of type II and type X collagen. In the cocultures of ATDC5 cells and spleen cells (osteoclast precursors), TNYL-RAW decreased the numbers of TRAP-positive cells and the expression of nuclear factor of activated T cells, cytoplasmic 1 (NFATc1) and receptor activator of NF-κB (RANK), and blocked their stimulation by IGF-I. Our data indicate that IGF-I/IGF-IR signaling promotes OB, OCL, and chondrocyte differentiation via ephrin B2/EphB4 mediated cell-cell communication.
Looking into the effects of minutia quality on matching sub-templates

Modern automated fingerprint identification systems use minutia templates for matching, during which the coordinates and orientations of minutiae obtained through feature extraction are utilized to generate a score. The feature extraction stage also assigns each minutia a quality score to indicate the image quality at the position of the minutia. Even though the quality score of a minutia is not used in matching, it can affect the matching score significantly. In this paper, we investigate the effects of minutia quality on matching a template against its sub-templates. Specifically, we study the effects of minutia quality on constructing sub-templates and the effects of randomized quality modifications on matching. Experimental results are reported.
Dynamics of an Acoustically Excited Swirl Flame

We present an experimental investigation of the dynamics of an acoustically excited swirl combustor. Simultaneous measurements were taken of the acoustic pressure, mean velocity, CH* and OH* radical chemiluminescence, and OH concentrations through planar laser induced fluorescence (PLIF) over a range of forcing frequencies, amplitudes and nozzle exit velocities. As the flame response grows linearly and monotonically with increasing forcing amplitude, the flame’s behavior becomes more complex at higher levels. The observed dynamics of the flame to some extent occur simultaneously, resulting from a combination of at least five flame/flow processes: (1) the oscillating velocity of the annular jet, oscillations in (2) position and (3) strength of the vortex breakdown bubble and separation bubble, (4) unsteady liftoff of the flame, and (5) an oscillating turbulent flame speed.
Formation of singlet oxygen by urocanic acid by UVA irradiation and some consequences thereof.

Abstract Singlet oxygen–initiated decomposition of urocanic acid (UCA) (3-(1H-imidazol-4(5)-yl)-2-propenoic acid) was used to successfully confirm the report that UCA generates singlet oxygen when irradiated with ultraviolet A light (UVA). The UCA-generated singlet oxygen converts UCA to one or more products that then catalyze the further destruction of the UCA with UVA light by singlet oxygen formation. Some nicking of the ϕX-174 supercoiled plasmid DNA was observed when UCA was irradiated with UVA to complete destruction of the starting material, and the product mixture was then mixed with the plasmid in the dark. More extensive nicking was seen when the photoproduct mixture and the plasmid were irradiated with UVA light. An “aged” (4 days) solution of UCA photoproduct no longer caused nicking in the dark but retained the capability to nick the plasmid when irradiated. There is evidence for the presence of hydroperoxides in the UCA photolysis product mixture, and the quenching studies with 2-propanol in...
Chloride efflux during the progesterone-initiated human sperm acrosome reaction is inhibited by lavendustin A, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor.

Previous studies showed that progesterone (P) can initiate the mammalian sperm acrosome reaction (AR) in vitro and that a sperm GABA A -like receptor/Cl - channel is involved in an essential Cl - efflux mediated by P during the AR. Here, we show that lavendustin A, a potent, specific inhibitor of tyrosine kinase activity, strongly inhibits the P-initiated human AR and the essential P-mediated Cl - efflux. Lavendustin B, a weak tyrosine kinase inhibitor, had no significant effect. These results suggest that, as part of AR initiation, P mediates tyrosine phosphorylation of the sperm GABA A -like receptor/Cl - channel.
A DSP laboratory designed for teaching fundamental concepts

The senior level digital signal processing (DSP) course at North Carolina State University is designed to teach basic methods of describing and analyzing digital signals and systems. In order to reinforce this approach, the laboratory is designed to demonstrate DSP concepts with actual signals and systems. The lab requires no programming but gives the student the opportunity to see the application of theory by manipulating and analyzing real signals. The basis for the lab is a dual channel, multiple scope software package that allows the student simultaneous viewing of time domain and frequency domain signals.
Reconstructing the world* in six days

We propose a novel, large-scale, structure-from-motion framework that advances the state of the art in data scalability from city-scale modeling (millions of images) to world-scale modeling (several tens of millions of images) using just a single computer. The main enabling technology is the use of a streaming-based framework for connected component discovery. Moreover, our system employs an adaptive, online, iconic image clustering approach based on an augmented bag-of-words representation, in order to balance the goals of registration, comprehensiveness, and data compactness. We demonstrate our proposal by operating on a recent publicly available 100 million image crowd-sourced photo collection containing images geographically distributed throughout the entire world. Results illustrate that our streaming-based approach does not compromise model completeness, but achieves unprecedented levels of efficiency and scalability.
Dose standardization of oral liquid medications in a pediatric hospital

Standardizing oral liquid medications in a pediatric hospital reduces errors and costs by reducing the number of different doses and preparation time required to compound medications. The Institute of Medicine recommends that hospitals implement standard processes for medication doses, timing, and scales in a given patient care unit. 1 - 2 Using a standardized dose, based on therapeutic ranges within the weight-based dosing, allows for a reduction in the number of doses compounded. In this study, data from the daily usage of oral medications were evaluated. The top 20% of the oral liquid medications were evaluated to determine the medications with the most doses (assuming that 80% of the doses are controlled by 20% of the medications). The dosage range for each medication was determined and a spreadsheet was used to calculate and predict a standard dose. The standard doses reduced the number of similar doses ordered from 329 to 59. Standardizing doses reduced wastage by 90% and resulted in departmental saving of $15,000.
Isolation and Molecular Characterization of a Novel Infectious Pancreatic Necrosis Virus Strain in Returning Atlantic Salmon Salmo salar from the Connecticut River, USA

Abstract After 22 years of negative viral screening results, the viral pathogen infectious pancreatic necrosis virus (IPNV) was isolated from the ovarian fluid of two pooled samples of returning Connecticut River Atlantic salmon Salmo salar during the 2007 spawning season at Richard Cronin National Salmon Station (RCNSS), Hadley, Massachusetts. Cytopathic effect was observed in Chinook salmon embryo (CHSE-214) cells, and IPNV was confirmed by reverse transcriptase–polymerase chain reaction (RT–PCR). Sequence analysis conducted by the U.S. Geological Survey's Western Fisheries Research Center determined that the isolate closely resembled the Canada_3 strain, falling into Genogroup 4 rather than Genogroup 1, which is more common in the United States. This allowed us to speculate that the Atlantic salmon were not infected during their freshwater life stage in the Connecticut River watershed but somewhere on their migratory route or feeding grounds in the Northwest Atlantic. On November 20, 2007, the Connecti...
Effect of Suspended Solid Particles on the Properties in Cascade Flow

An approximate method for calculating the flow properties of gas-particle mixture flowing over blades in a cascade is developed. The momentum and heat transfer between the gas and particles as well as compressibility effects are taken into consideration. The effect of particle concentration, mean diameter, particle material density, particle inlet velocity and temperature on the gas particle flow properties are investigated.
Physical properties of starch-based foams as affected by extrusion temperature and moisture content.

Abstract Although considerable effort has been made to improve the physical and mechanical properties of starch-based foams, they still do not compare favorably with traditional plastic foams. The properties of the foams depend largely on the starch moisture content and extrusion conditions. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of extrusion temperature and moisture content of starch-based foams on selected physical properties. Blends composed of 49% wheat and corn starch (dry solid basis), 33% synthetic polymers, 10.5% total water, 7% blowing agents, and 0.5% nucleating agent were extruded at 100–160°C extruder barrel temperatures and 100 rpm screw speed using a single-screw C. W. Brabender laboratory-scale extruder. Starch-based foams were equilibrated at different relative humidities (10–90%). Moisture adsorption isotherms, bulk densities, and expansion ratios of the starch-based foams were studied. The moisture adsorption isotherms of starch-based foams were rising sigmoidal curves similar to those of grains and grain products. The bulk density of the starch-based foams decreased as the extrusion temperature increased. The highest expansion occurred when the blends containing normal wheat starch were extruded at 140°C. The starch-based foams were four to eight times more dense than polystyrene foam.
New insights into the applicability of T‐cell receptor γ gene rearrangement analysis in cutaneous T‐cell lymphoma

Background: Detection of clonal T-cell receptor (TCR) γ gene rearrangement by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) based method is a marker for cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) although it can be seen in some benign dermatoses. To determine the accuracy of histologic criteria alone as well as the adjuvant diagnostic role of TCR gene rearrangement for the diagnosis of CTCL, we studied 100 patients with cutaneous T-cell infiltrates by both histology and TCR gene rearrangement. Methods: The histologic features of the 100 patients were first reviewed by two independent dermatopathologists and their confidence in the diagnosis of CTCL was assigned one of four levels. Then the specimens were analyzed for TCR gene rearrangement either on paraffin-embedded or fresh-frozen tissue by PCR/denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE). Results: The clonality was detected in 100% (15/15) diagnostic of, 84.6% (11/13) consistent with, 57.6% (19/33) suggestive of CTCL. In 9 cases TCR gene rearrangement was compared between formalin-fixed and fresh specimens of the same individual, but with different degrees of histologic confidence (no lower than suggestive). In all cases fresh specimens were positive. In 5 of the cases (2-diagnostic, 2-consistent, 1-suggestive) formalin-fixed specimens were positive as well, and in 4 cases (1-consistent, 3-suggestive) formalin-fixed specimens were negative. When TCR gene rearrangement was studied in eight cases on sequential biopsies from the same patient, the clonality was detected in only one or two biopsies in four cases in which the histologic confidence was low (suggestive or nondiagnostic). The TCR gene rearrangement study showed identical banding patterns in lesions from different clinical stages in most patients. However, we observed that in one case, oligoclonal-banding pattern was seen in initial biopsy with histopathologic consistent with CTCL, while monoclonal banding pattern in more advanced lesion. Conclusions: Our data have demonstrated that TCR gene rearrangement studies by PCR/DGGE are consistently positive regardless of tissue fixation (formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded vs. fresh-frozen tissue) and biopsy site when the histologic degree of confidence is very high (diagnostic). So, it may be of less importance as an adjuvant to histopathologic diagnosis for the cases with diagnostic CTCL histology. However, TCR gene rearrangement studies are particularly important in earlier cases with less conclusive histology, which provides strong confirmatory evidence of an evolving CTCL. In these cases, multiple biopsies may be required to establish the diagnosis and analysis of fresh tissue is suggested to increases the sensitivity. Moreover, our observation also suggested that some CTCL might not be monoclonal de novo, but oligoclonal instead.
Uranium-series dating of lacustrine limestones from pan deposits with final Acheulian assemblage at Rooidam, Kimberley district, South Africa

Abstract Lacustrine limestone samples from sedimentary pan deposits at Rooidam, near Kimberley, South Africa, that contain late Acheulian (Fauresmith) artifacts have been dated by 230 Th 234 U and 231 Pa 235 U methods. Results indicate a minimum age of about 200,000 yr B.P. for the terminal Acheulian in the interior of South Africa.
Top Predators in the Southern Ocean: A Major Leak in the Biological Carbon Pump

Primary productivity in the Southern Ocean is approximately 3.5 gigatons of carbon per year, which accounts for nearly 15 percent of the global total. The presence of high concentrations of nitrate in Antarctic waters suggests that it might be possible to increase primary production significantly and thereby alleviate the net accumulation of atmospheric carbon dioxide. An analysis of the food web for these waters implies that the Southern Ocean may be remarkably inefficient as a carbon sink. This inefficiency is caused by the large flux of carbon respired to the atmosphere by air-breathing birds and mammals, dominant predators in the unusually simple food web of Antarctic waters. These top predators may transfer into the atmosphere as much as 20 to 25 percent of photosynthetically fixed carbon.
Water-storing and Cavitation-preventing Adaptations in Wood of Cacti

Abstract Ancestral cacti presumably had abundant, fibrous, heavily lignified wood, similar to that present in the relictual, leaf-bearing genus Pereskia. During the evolutionary radiation of the subfamily Cactoideae, diverse types of bodies and woods arose. Several evolutionary lines have retained an abundant, fibrous wood: all wood cells, even ray cells, have thick lignified walls, and axial parenchyma is only scanty paratracheal. Aside from a diversity of vessel diameters, there seems to be little protection against cavitation during water-stress, and little water-storage capacity. This strong wood permits the plants to be tall and to compete for light in their tree-shaded semi-arid habitats. In other evolutionary lines, the wood lacks fibres, and almost all cells have thin, unlignified walls. Vessels occur in an extensive matrix of water-storing parenchyma, and tracheids are also abundant, constituting over half the axial tissue in some species. There is excellent protection against cavitation, but little mechanical support for the plant body; however, these plants are short and occur in extremely arid, unshaded sites. Scandent, vinelike plants of two genera produce a dimorphic wood—while their shoots are extending without external support, they produce fibrous, lignified wood, but after leaning against a host branch, they produce a parenchymatous, unlignified wood.
Time-dependent changes of calcium influx and efflux rates in rabbit skeletal muscle sarcoplasmic reticulum

Unfractionated and low buoyant density sarcoplasmic reticulum vesicles released calcium spontaneously after ATP- or acetyl phosphate-supported calcium uptake when internal Ca2+ was stabilized by the use of 50 mM phosphate as calcium-precipitating anion. This spontaneous calcium release could not be attributed to falling Ca2+ concentration outside the vesicles (Ca02+), substrate depletion, ADP accumulation, nonspecific membrane deterioration of the attainment of a high vesicular calcium content. Instead, spontaneous calcium release was directly proportional to Ca02+ at the time that calcium content was maximal. A causal relationship between high Ca02+ and spontaneous calcium release was suggested by the finding that elevation of Ca02+ from less than 1 microM to 3--5 microM increased the rate and extent of calcium release. The spontaneous calcium release was due both to acceleration of calcium efflux and slowing of calcium influx that was not accompanied by a significant change in the rate of ATP hydrolysis. Neither reversal of the transmembrane KCl gradient nor incubation with cation and proton ionophores abolished the spontaneous calcium release. The persistence of calcium release under conditions where the membrane was permeable to both anions and cations makes it unlikely that this phenomenon is due to a changing transmembrane potential. The similarity between the Ca2+ dependence of spontaneous calcium release and of calcium uptake, along with other similarities between these processes, suggest that calcium release is mediated by the calcium pump in these membranes.
Molecular dynamics simulations of CO2 at an ionic liquid interface: adsorption, ordering, and interfacial crossing.

The ionic liquid−CO2 system is of interest because ionic liquids have potential to be used for CO2 capture. Using classical molecular dynamics simulations, the vacuum−liquid and CO2 gas−liquid interfaces of the ionic liquid 1-n-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide ([bmim][Tf2N]) have been studied at a range of temperatures and pressures. Interfacial ordering and orientational tendencies of the ionic liquid at the vacuum interface generally agree with previous experimental and simulation studies. The interfacial structure of the IL remains relatively unperturbed when the liquid is in contact with CO2. CO2 adsorbs rapidly onto the liquid interface, forming a dense layer. Diffusion into the bulk occurs on a much slower time scale. Interfacial fluxes and diffusivities were determined. The potential of mean force for interfacial crossing and corresponding residence time distributions of interfacial crossing events of CO2 were also calculated. CO2 desorption from the liquid was also simul...
Synthesis and Evaluation of the α-d-/α-l-Rhamnosyl and Amicetosyl Digitoxigenin Oligomers as Antitumor Agents

A highly regio- and stereoselective asymmetric synthesis of rhamnosyl- and amicetosyl-digitoxigenin analogues has been established via palladium-catalyzed glycosylation followed by bis-/tris-dihydroxylation or bis-/tris-diimide reduction. The α-l-rhamnose and α-l-amicetose digitoxin monosaccharide analogues displayed stronger apoptosis inducing activity and cytotoxicity against nonsmall cell human lung cancer cells (NCI-H460) than its d-diastereomeric isomers in a sugar-chain length dependent manner.
Sublethal Exposure to Microwave Radar

To the Editor. —Injuries resulting from exposure to microwave radiation are rare and usually occur in association with the use of microwave ovens. Both accidental and intentional (resulting from child abuse) injuries have been reported. 1,2 Microwaves are also used in industrial applications and in our national defense. For example, radar transmitters in the F-16 jet fighter operate with frequencies within the microwave spectrum. We briefly describe a rare case of accidental exposure to this type of radiation from an airplane radar system in which the patient survived. Report of a Case. —A 42-year-old male pilot inadvertently stood in front of a functioning microwave airfighter radar system for approximately five minutes. At that time, a moderate sensation of heat was perceived in the head and neck. The following morning while shaving, the patient noticed a small, tender lump in the lower right aspect of his neck. This mass continued to
Phonon Density of States and Elastic Properties of Fe-based Materials under Compression

The elastic properties of compressed Fe and FeO are examined using density of states measured by nuclear resonant inelastic X-ray scattering. We analyze the data both from non-hydrostatic and nearly hydrostatic experiments. The effects of preferred orientation in non-hydrostatic experiments could be substantial. We present also evidence in favor of strong softening of the Debye sound velocity due to the magnetoelastic coupling in iron oxide near the Neel transition. The geophysical implications resulting from the elastic and magnetoelastic properties of these and related materials under compression are discussed.
Cloning and Characterization of a Gene Expressed during Terminal Differentiation That Encodes a Novel Inhibitor of Growth

We report here the cloning and initial characterization of a novel growth-related gene (EEG-1) that is located on the short arm of chromosome 12. Two spliced transcripts were cloned from human bone marrow and human erythroid progenitor cells: EEG-1L containing a 4350-nucleotide open reading frame encoding a putative protein of 1077 amino acids including a C1q-like globular domain, and an alternatively spliced transcript lacking exon 5 (EEG-1S) encodes a significantly smaller coding region and no C1q-like domain. Quantitative PCR revealed expression of both EEG-1 transcripts in all analyzed tissues. Plasmids encoding green fluorescent protein-tagged genes (GFP-EEG-1) were transfected into Chinese hamster ovary cells for localization and functional assays. In contrast to the diffuse cellular localization of the GFP control, GFP-EEG-1L was detected throughout the cytoplasm and excluded from the nucleus, and GFP-EEG-1S co-localized with aggregated mitochondria. Transfection of both isoforms was associated with significantly increased levels of apoptosis. Stable transfection assays additionally demonstrated decreased growth in those cells expressing EEG-1 at higher levels. Quantitative PCR analyses of mRNA obtained from differentiating erythroid cells from blood donors were performed to determine the transcriptional pattern of EEG-1 during erythropoiesis. EEG-1 expression was highly regulated with increased expression at the stage of differentiation associated with the onset of global nuclear condensation and reduced cell proliferation. We propose that the regulated expression of EEG-1 is involved in the orchestrated regulation of growth that occurs as erythroblasts shift from a highly proliferative state toward their terminal phase of differentiation.
Electrical switching of molecular thin films filled in metal oxide cracks

In this work, we report an approach to fabricate molecular junctions based on metal oxide thin films with nanoscale cracks. The growth of the cracked oxide films is systematically investigated, which reveals that the crack width can be tuned by varying the dopants and/or the heating rate. Current-voltage measurements show that the as-fabricated molecular junction exhibits stable and reproducible electrical switching performance. The ON state junction obeys the Ohmic conduction, while the OFF state follows the space-charge-limited transport. The switching mechanism is shown to be governed by a charge trapping/detrapping process taken place in the organic active layer.
Prey Selection by Freshwater Predators with Different Foraging Strategies

We observed several freshwater predators, including the odonate larvae Pachydiplax longipennis and Anax junius, the hemipterans Notonecta unifasciata and Buenoa scimitra, the dytiscid larva Acilius...
Nest relocation in the ant Pheidole dentata

We studied nest relocation in the ant Pheidole dentata, a common species in the southern US, by following colonies for 6 weeks. We correlated probability of relocation with several abiotic and biotic environmental factors, such as air temperature, humidity, leaf litter depth (LLD), nest type and presence of phorid fly parasitoids. Colonies moved often, on average every 16.2 days. By the end of our study, fewer than 5 % of colonies marked at the start remained in their original nests. Only 3.1 % of colonies returned to a previously used nest. The mean distance of relocation was 0.76 ± 0.73 m. Colonies nested in a variety of locations, such as in the ground, by tree trunks, under rocks and inside wood. Several factors affected probability of relocation. Higher LLD and vapor pressure deficit (VPD) increased probability of relocation. Probability of relocation varied by nest type, by plot and week of study. We found no evidence that surface cover or rain affected relocation behavior. Colonies appear to avoid nests that become dry by nesting against tree trunks. Phorid fly abundance correlated negatively with VPD, yet it had no effect on colonies’ likelihood of relocation. We discuss other implications of frequent nest relocations.