cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Neuropathology of sanfilippo syndrome

This report describes neuropathological observations in an 11-year-old patient with Sanfilippo syndrome (SS). The cerebrum was selectively atrophic, with remarkable sparing of the cerebellum. The existing neurons throughout the cerebrum contained various types of membranous cytoplasmic bodies (MCBs), frequently with special predilection for dendrites. Neuronal population was normal in the cerebellum, with massive accumulation of MCBs in the Purkinje cell dendrites and little or no accumulation in the perkiarya. Synaptic contacts were frequently observed on the distended dendrites. Additional findings included storage of vacuoles and granular material in the pericytes and meningeal cells and finely lamellated inclusions in the ependyma and choroid plexus cells. Preferential involvement of the dendrites might provide a morphological explanation for the severe mental retardation in SS.
Site-Specific Modification of Adeno-Associated Viruses via a Genetically Engineered Aldehyde Tag

As a consequence of their well-defined nanostructure and intrinsic bioactive functionality, virus-based nanoparticles have shown promise for mediating gene delivery. Adeno-associated virus (AAV) nanoparticles, which possess an excellent safety profile and therapeutic potential, hold potential for use in human gene therapy. However, because of their native tropisms, the applicability of AAV nanoparticles is often limited to restricted ranges of cells or tissues. Thus, retargeting AAV particles to the desired cell populations has continued to be a major research focus in many gene therapy applications. In this study, a general strategy is reported for nanoparticle targeting. This involves the site-specific modification of AAV type 2 (AAV2) by genetically incorporating a short peptide, in this case an aldehyde tag, in the viral capsid. Such a tag can be exploited for site-specific attachment of targeting molecules and allows for further introduction of targeting antibodies or ligands. It is shown that this modification neither affects the level of infectious viral titer nor intracellular trafficking properties. Furthermore, the site-specific conjugation of targeting antibodies could significantly enhance viral transduction to those target cells that have otherwise exhibited very low permissiveness to AAV2 infection. This method also allows the functional incorporation of RGD peptides onto AAV2 for enhanced delivery with implications for cancer gene therapy.
Generalized vortex methods for free-surface flow problems

The motion of free surfaces in incompressible, irrotational, inviscid layered flows is studied by evolution equations for the position of the free surfaces and appropriate dipole (vortex) and source strengths. The resulting Fredholm integral equations of the second kind may be solved efficiently in both storage and work by iteration in both two and three dimensions. Applications to breaking water waves over finite-bottom topography and interacting triads of surface and interfacial waves are given.
Volume dependence of two-dimensional large-N QCD with a nonzero density of baryons

We take a first step towards the solution of QCD in 1+1 dimensions at nonzero density. We regularize the theory in the UV by using a lattice and in the IR by putting the theory in a box of spatial size L. After fixing to axial gauge we use the coherent states approach to obtain the large-N classical Hamiltonian H that describes color neutral quark-antiquark pairs interacting with spatial Polyakov loops in the background of baryons. Minimizing H we get a regularized form of the 't Hooft equation that depends on the expectation values of the Polyakov loops. Analyzing the L dependence of this equation we show how volume independence, a la Eguchi and Kawai, emerges in the large-N limit, and how it depends on the expectation values of the Polyakov loops. We describe how this independence relies on the realization of translation symmetry, in particular, when the ground state contains a baryon crystal. Finally, we remark on the implications of our results on studying baryon density in large-N QCD within single-site lattice theories and on some general lessons concerning the way four-dimensional large-N QCD behaves in the presence of baryons.
Sedormid-induced porphyria in the rat.

SummarySedormid administered to rats by stomach tube has caused marked increases in urinary uroporphyrin, coproporphyria and porphobilinogen, and concurrent clinical changes of paralysis, lethargy and gastrointestinal dysfunction. These findings constitute a syndrome closely resembling human adult porphyria. The disorder thus produced resembles that recently reported in rabbits.
Postnatal betamethasone vs dexamethasone in premature infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia: a pilot study

Postnatal betamethasone vs dexamethasone in premature infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia: a pilot study
Comparison of fatigue produced by various electrical stimulation trains

Previous work has shown that variable-frequency trains (VFTs) that use an initial doublet to take advantage of the catch-like property of muscle produce more force in fatigued muscle than constant-frequency trains (CFTs); however, it is unclear whether repetitive activation with VFTs is more or less fatiguing than repetitive activation with CFTs. The purpose of this research was to investigate the forces and fatigue produced by various stimulation trains during repetitive isometric muscle contractions. Two force measurements, peak force and force-time integral, were used to measure the performance of the human quadriceps muscle. Three fatiguing protocols, each consisting exclusively of either CFTs, trains with an initial doublet (VFTs), or trains with doublets separated by longer intervals [doublet-frequency trains (DFTs)], were tested. In addition, force responses to each of the three train types were tested before and immediately following each fatiguing protocol. Regardless of the fatiguing protocol, the doublet-frequency testing trains produced the greatest peak forces and force-time integrals before and immediately following the fatiguing protocols. Repetitive activation with exclusively DFTs produced greater attenuation of the testing trains than repetitive activation with CFTs or VFTs. These results suggest that clinical applications of electrical stimulation to activate skeletal muscle may need to contain a combination of train types to optimize performance.
Following the heart: temperature and salinity effects on heart rate in native and invasive species of blue mussels (genus Mytilus).

The three species of blue mussels, Mytilus trossulus Gould 1850, M. edulis Linnaeus 1758 and M. galloprovincialis Lamarck 1819, have distinct global distribution patterns that are hypothesized to reflect differences in their tolerances of temperature and salinity. We examined effects on heart rate (beats min–1) of acute exposure and acclimation to different combinations of temperature and salinity to test this hypothesis and, in the context of the invasive success of M. galloprovincialis , to gain insights into the factors that may explain the replacement of the temperate Pacific native, M. trossulus , by this Mediterranean Sea invader along much of the California coast. Heart rate of M. trossulus was significantly higher than that of M. galloprovincialis , consistent with evolutionary adaptation to a lower habitat temperature (temperature compensation) in the former species. Heart rates of M. trossulus / M. galloprovincialis hybrids were intermediate between those of the parental species. Following acclimation to 14°C and 21°C, heart rates of all species exhibited partial compensation to temperature. Heart rate increased with rising temperature until a high temperature was reached at which point activity fell sharply, the high critical temperature ( H crit). H crit increased with increasing acclimation temperature and differed among species in a pattern that reflected their probable evolutionary adaptation temperatures: M. galloprovincialis is more heat tolerant than the other two congeners. Ability to sustain heart function in the cold also reflected evolutionary history: M. trossulus is more cold tolerant than M. galloprovincialis . Heart rates for all three congeners decreased gradually in response to acute reductions in salinity until a low salinity ( S crit) was reached at which heart rate dropped precipitously. S crit decreased with decreasing salinity of acclimation and was generally lowest for M. galloprovincialis . Mortality during acclimation under common garden conditions was greatest in M. trossulus and was highest at high acclimation temperatures and salinities. These intrinsic differences in basal heart rate, thermal and salinity responses, acclimatory capacity, and survivorship are discussed in the contexts of the species' biogeographic patterning and, for the invasive species M. galloprovincialis , the potential for further range expansion along the Pacific coast of North America.
Investigation of phycocyanin-membrane interaction: Promotion of membrane interactions

Abstract 1. 1. In a continuing investigation of phycocyanin-membrane surface interaction, fluorescence quenching experiments were performed with a mixture of two populations of fluorescence probe-encapsulated phospholipid bilayer vesicles in the presence and absence of phycocyanin. 2. 2. These membrane vesicles were prepared with 1,2-dimyristoyl phosphatidylcholine (DMPC), cholesterol and a probe molecule. 3. 3. A fluorophore was encapsulated in one population of membrane vesicles, while a quencher was encapsulated in another population of membrane vesicles. 4. 4. The result was compared with those of experiments in the presence of other biomolecules, including albumin, cytochrome c, hemoglobin, myoglobin or RNA. 5. 5. Interestingly, a one-third reduction of the fluorescence intensity was observed in the mixture of these two populations of membrane vesicles in phycocyanin's presence. 6. 6. In contrast, the other biomolecules caused no significant reduction in the fluorescence intensity. 7. 7. These findings were evidence of a phycocyanin-induced membrane perturbation. 8. 8. This was further demonstrated by a phycocyanin-induced change in the thermotropic behavior of DMPC vesicles, as measured by differential scanning microcalorimetry. 9. 9. Such a unique property of phycocyanin is believed to be associated with its known membrane surface-interacting character. 10. 10. A possible phycocyanin-modulated membrane-membrane interaction was discussed.
The Impact of Implementation Fidelity on Mortality Under a CD4-Stratified Timing Strategy for Antiretroviral Therapy in Patients With Tuberculosis

In 2012, an estimated 1.1 million (14%) of the 8.6 million patients diagnosed with active tuberculosis (TB) disease worldwide were also infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) (1). Although, under current World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines, all people diagnosed with TB and HIV are eligible for antiretroviral therapy (ART), only 57% initiated ART during TB treatment in 2012 (1). Findings from randomized controlled trials demonstrated that early ART, defined as within 2–4 weeks of start of TB treatment, reduces mortality in patients with a CD4 count of 50 cells/mm3 (2–4). On the basis of these findings, the WHO recommends ART initiation within 2 weeks of TB treatment for patients with a CD4 count of <50 cells/mm3 and within 8 weeks for all people diagnosed with HIV and TB (5). Findings from randomized controlled trials are not always replicable in less strictly controlled settings. Observational studies from sub-Saharan Africa have found that most patients initiate ART late, after 8 weeks of TB treatment (6–10). Lack of integration of TB and HIV treatment services has been identified as one of the key contributors to this delay (9, 10). Interventions to integrate TB and HIV services have been shown to reduce, but not eliminate, delay in ART initiation (11, 12). Implementation fidelity, defined as the degree to which an intervention is implemented as intended, is a potential modifier of the relationship between an intervention and its intended outcome and is important to translation of evidence-based recommendations into clinical practice (13, 14). Achieving high implementation fidelity can help to replicate the success an intervention has achieved in randomized controlled trials (13). The relatively low coverage of timely ART initiation in patients with TB suggests that implementation fidelity to the 2012 WHO guidelines for timing of ART initiation in TB patients may be a challenge in routine clinical settings, even with integrated HIV/TB treatment. Data on implementation fidelity in resource-limited settings and its impact on desired outcomes are limited. We aimed to quantify the impact of implementation fidelity to CD4-stratified timing of ART initiation for TB patients on mortality in a prospective cohort of patients receiving integrated TB/HIV treatment at the primary care level in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Impact of Nutrition on Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia

Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) remains a common morbidity of prematurity. Although the pathogenesis of BPD is recognized to be both multifactorial and complex, the role of nutrition in the pathophysiology of BPD is typically limited to management after a diagnosis has been made. Infants born small for gestational age and those who experience postnatal growth failure are more likely to have BPD. Therapies for lung disease, such as fluid restriction, diuretics, and corticosteroids, can negatively impact postnatal growth. Future research is needed to optimize nutritional strategies in the neonatal intensive care unit and following hospital discharge.
Comparmentation of Amino Acids in Tomato Fruit Pericarp Tissue

During ripening of tomato fruit, there is a progressive decline in labeled amino acid incorporation into proteins of pericarp tissue (3). The specific radioactivity of ethylene produced from [14C]-methionine is also lower in ripe tissue than in green tissue and ethylene production in ripe tissue is relatively insensitive to aminoethoxyvinylglycine (AVG) (2). Also, the rate of ethylene production by tomato pericarp tissues is, under certain conditions, less than would be expected on the basis of ACC content (7). These phenomena could be due to changing uptake or compartmentation patterns of amino acids as the fruit ripens. A decompartmentalized methionine pool might dilute added labeled methionine resulting in lower incorporation of label into proteins and ethylene. A knowledge of amino acid uptake and compartmentation characteristics in tissue at various stages of ripening is important in understanding these observations, and the regulation of 1-aminocyclopropane-1 carboxylate (ACC) production and conversion to ethylene in tomato fruit.
Why Did So Many Subprime Borrowers Default During the Crisis: Loose Credit or Plummeting Prices?

The surge in subprime mortgage defaults during the Great Recession triggered trillions of dollars of losses in the financial sector and accounted for more than 50% of foreclosures at the height of the crisis. In particular, subprime mortgages originated in 2006-2007 were three times more likely to default within three years than mortgages originated in 2003-2004. In the ensuing years of debate, many have argued that this pattern across cohorts represents a deterioration in lending standards over time. I confirm this important channel empirically and quantify the relative importance of an alternative hypothesis: later cohorts defaulted at higher rates in large part because house price declines left them more likely to have negative equity. Using comprehensive loan-level data that includes much of the recovery period, I find that changing borrower and loan characteristics can explain up to 40% of the difference in cohort default rates, with the remaining heterogeneity across cohorts caused by local house-price declines. To account for the endogeneity of prices — especially that price declines themselves could have been caused by subprime lending — I instrument for house price changes with long-run regional variation in house-price cyclicality. Control-function results confirm that price declines unrelated to the credit expansion causally explain the majority of the disparity in cohort performance. Counterfactual simulations show that if 2006 borrowers had faced the price paths that the average 2003 borrower did, their annual default rate would have dropped from 12% to 5.6%.
Dynamic covalent synthesis of aryleneethynylene cages through alkyne metathesis: dimer, tetramer, or interlocked complex?

A dynamic covalent approach towards rigid aryleneethynylene covalent organic polyhedrons (COPs) was explored. Our study on the relationship of the COP structures and the geometry of their building blocks reveals that the topology of aryleneethynylene COPs strongly depends on the size of the building blocks. A tetramer (D2h symmetric), dimer, or interlocked complex can be formed from monomers with the same face-to-edge angle but in different sizes. As alkyne metathesis is a self-exchange reaction and non-directional, the cyclooligomerization of multi-alkyne monomers involves both intramolecular cyclization and intermolecular metathesis reaction, resulting in complicated thermodynamic process disturbed by kinetic competition. Although a tetrahedron-shaped tetramer (Td symmetric) has comparable thermodynamic stability to a D2h symmetric tetramer, its formation is kinetically disfavored and was not observed experimentally. Aryleneethynylene COPs consist of purely unsaturated carbon backbones and exhibit large internal cavities, which would have interesting applications in host–guest chemistry and development of porous materials.
Neural Mechanisms of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Aggression in Children and Adolescents: Design of a Randomized Controlled Trial Within the National Institute for Mental Health Research Domain Criteria Construct of Frustrative Non-Reward

Abstract Objective: We present the rationale and design of a randomized controlled trial of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) for aggression in children and adolescents, which is conducted in response to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) Research Domain Criteria (RDoC) approach initiative. Specifically, the study is focused on the brain-behavior associations within the RDoC construct of frustrative non-reward. On the behavioral level, this construct is defined by reactions elicited in response to withdrawal or prevention of reward, most notably reactive aggression. This study is designed to test the functional magnetic resonance (fMRI) and electrophysiological (EEG) correlates of aggression and its reduction after CBT. Methods: Eighty children and adolescents with high levels of aggression across multiple traditional diagnostic categories, ages 8–16, will be randomly assigned to receive 12 sessions of CBT or 12 sessions of supportive psychotherapy. Clinical outcomes will be measured by the r...
Spatial and temporal pulse propagation for dispersive paraxial optical systems.

The formalism for pulse propagation through dispersive paraxial optical systems first presented by Kostenbauder (IEEE J. Quant. Elec.261148–1157 (1990)) using 4 × 4 ray-pulse matrices is extended to 6 × 6 matrices and includes non-separable spatial-temporal couplings in both transverse dimensions as well as temporal dispersive effects up to a quadratic phase. The eikonal in a modified Huygens integral in the Fresnell approximation is derived and can be used to propagate pulses through complicated dispersive optical systems within the paraxial approximation. In addition, a simple formula for the propagation of ultrashort pulses having a Gaussian profile both spatially and temporally is presented.
Iron Removal from Iwate Koshitsu Clay by High Gradient Magnetic Separation Method

Iron romoval from Iwate koshitsu clay (hard claystone) by high gradient magnetic separation (HGMS) method was investigated. Effects of operation conditions such as particle size, kind of matrix, pulp density, feeding rate, magnetic field strength on the iron removal were experimentally studied.It is important for HGMS method to select an adequate matrix against the clay particle size. For instance, matrix FW was suitable for koshitsu clay having 5000 particle size of 4.3μm and 8000 size of 17μm, but not matrix CX. On the contrary, matrix CX was fit for the clay having 5000 size of 52μm and 80% size of 205 μm, but not matrix FW.Between pulp densities of 5-30 wt.%, iron removal from the koshitsu clay showed almost same results. However the feeding rate had a great influence on the clay recovery results. Nonmag yield increased from 67.6% at 22.1 m/hr of linear velosity to 88.700 at 179 m/hr while the nonmag iron content remained almost constant values of around 1.10 wt.% under the following experimental conditions ; sample : koshitsu clay H4-1, feed iron content : 3.86%, feed 5000 particle size : 0.4μm, pulp density : 5 wt.%, matrix : FW and magnetic field strength : 9.7KG. Between the linear volocity of 179 and 492 m/hr, nonmag yield and iron content showed nearly constant values of 9000 and 1.20 wt.%, respectively.Also the magnetic field strength effected considerably on the iron removal results. Hinger than 3.0 KG, almost all siderite, in the clay could be separated and the iron content decreased less than 1.88 wt.% from around 9.80wt.%, however lower than 3.0 KG, iron content extremely increased as decreasing magnetic field strength under the following conditions ; sample : H4-2, feed 50% size : 52μm, matrix : CX and linear velocity : 179 m/hr.On the whole, good results for the iron removal from koshitsu clay by HGMS method were obtained at the higher linear velosity and rather low magnetic field strength.
Application of Diode-Laser-Based Measurements in Hypersonic Flows

The development of optical techniques capable of measuring in-stream flow properties of air breathing hypersonic engines is a goal of the Aerospace Propulsion Division at AFRL. This goal is motivated by the need for in-stream data to support both ground and flight tests of scramjet engine designs. While particular fundamental hypersonic flow problems are addressable using well-established laser-based techniques, advanced engine concepts using axisymmetric hardware typically have minimal optical access making some of the more traditional techniques difficult to deploy. To meet the need we have an ongoing in-house program to mature diode-laser-based techniques for application in hypersonic flows. Additional motivation for developing diode-laser-based measurement strategies comes from the need for flight sensors. Flight-worthy packages must be small, light, low-power and rugged. For measurement objectives in both ground and flight experiments we have adopted tunable diode laser absorption spectroscopy making heavy use of fiber coupling and integrated optomechanics. Water-based measurements of temperature, pressure, velocity, and water mole fraction are executed using time-multiplexed near-infrared diodes. These fundamental flow parameters can be combined to yield optical mass capture and thrust. Similar measurements can be made in inlets using an oxygen-based strategy employing visible diodes. In this paper we summarize the absorption sensor work done to date in AFRL. Particular attention will be paid to the fact that a single hardware platform can be used to capture absorption, non-resonant transmission, and optical emission signals all three of which provide relevant information.
Characterization of Heavy Petroleum Saturates by Laser Desorption Silver Cationization and Fourier Transform Ion Cyclotron Resonance Mass Spectrometry

A method was developed for the analysis of high-boiling petroleum saturates by laser desorption and silver cationization (LDI-Ag) coupled to Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FTICR-MS). Commercial polywax standards, petroleum vacuum gas oil (VGO), and vacuum resid (VR) were successfully analyzed with a carbon number span from 30 to 100. Representative model compounds were studied to evaluate relative sensitivity of the ionization method. “Soft” ionizations have been observed for all hydrocarbon types, generating primarily M + Ag+ • ions. Because of the existence of silver isotopes, an ultrahigh mass resolution [e.g., resolving power (RP) > 65 000 at mass ∼ 1000 Da] is found necessary to resolve the key mass overlap (107AgH2/109Ag doublet; ΔM ∼ 16 mDa). Petroleum saturate composition was arranged by homologous series with a general chemical formula (CcH2c + Z), where c stands for the carbon number and Z is generally referred as the hydrogen deficiency index. A comparison of Z num...
Insect Sex Pheromones: Formulations to Increase the Stability of Conjugated Dienes

Formulation substrates were tested for their ability to suppress isomerization of pheromone components containing the conjugated diene structure. Formulation substrates compared were red natural rubber septa (sleeve-type stopper); gray halo-butyl isoprene blend elastomer septa (sleeve-type stopper); black halo-butyl elastomer septa, containing carbon filler (flange-type stopper, designated 55C); and black halo-butyl elastomer septa (flange-type stopper, designated 50C). All substrates except for 55C contained mineral filler. Red septa were cured with sulfur and the others were cured with phenolic resin. During the first 2 weeks of field exposure, isomerization of ( E, Z )-7,9-dodecadien-1-ol acetate was fastest in red septa followed by 55C black (5-fold slower), and the gray (7-fold slower). Isomerization of ( Z, E )-9,11-tetradecadien-1-ol acetate was fastest in red septa and slower in 55C black (8-fold during the first 2 weeks). Isomerization of ( E, E )-8,10-dodecadien-1-ol was fastest in red septa, followed by 55C black (3.7-fold slower during the first 2 weeks) and gray (4.7-fold slower). After 43 days in direct sunlight, the ( E, E )-8,10-dodecadien-1-ol acetate isomer content decreased from ca. 96% of total isomers by 16.7, 16.8, and 13.0% in the gray, 50C black, and 55C black, respectively. Type of filler, carbon or mineral, had no effect on stability, and differences in stability of the conjugated dienes in the nonsulfur-cured formulations substrates were minimal. Because of its convenient shape, gray is the preferred substrate for minimizing isomerization of conjugated dienes. Based on these data, conjugated dienes with field lives of 2–3 days in red rubber septa are predicted to last 2–3 weeks in gray septa. The most important factors for minimizing isomerization were avoiding isomerization catalysts such as sulfur and minimizing exposure to sunlight.
Short-term perinatal 10% O2 alters postnatal development of lung alveoli

We studied the effect of breathing 10% O2 for less than or equal to 9 h by rat dams during the last day of gestation and (with their pups) for 1-2 h immediately after birth on the development of th...
Utilization of magnesium and other macrominerals in sheep supplemented with different readily-fermentable carbohydrates.

Sheep were used to determine the effects of dietary supplementation with readily-fermentable carbohydrates on Mg, Ca, K and P utilization. In each of two metabolism trials, 15 mature, crossbred wethers (average weight, 49.2 kg) were allotted to five dietary treatments consisting of 800 g/d of orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata, L.) hay alone, or supplemented with 450 g/d of either glucose, sucrose, lactose or starch. Each trial consisted of a 5-d adjustment period, a 10-d preliminary period and a 10-d collection period. Compared with wethers fed hay alone, supplementation with each kind of carbohydrate to the diet decreased (P less than .05) fecal Mg excretion and increased (P less than .05) apparent absorption and retention of Mg. Apparent absorption of the Ca was lower (P less than .05) in wethers fed lactose and tended to be decreased by glucose, sucrose and starch supplementation. Calcium retention was lower (P less than .05) in wethers fed sucrose and lactose, compared with those fed hay alone. All types of supplementary carbohydrates depressed (P less than .05) apparent absorption and urinary excretion of K. Serum Mg and Ca were not affected and serum K was depressed (P less than .05) by carbohydrate supplementation. Ruminal fluid pH was decreased (P less than .05) by glucose and lactose supplementation, and addition of these carbohydrates tended to decrease molar proportions of acetate and increase those of propionate and butyrate, compared with sheep fed hay alone. Sucrose addition decreased (P less than .05) acetate and increased (P less than .05) butyrate molar proportions in the ruminal fluid.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Mitigation of Electrical Failure of Silver Nanowires under Current Flow and the Application for Long Lifetime Organic Light-Emitting Diodes

The extended lifetime of organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) based on enhanced electrical stability of a silver nanowire (AgNW) transparent conductive electrode is reported. Specifically, in depth investigation is performed on the ability of atomic layer deposition deposited zinc oxide (ZnO) on AgNWs to render the nanowires electrically stable during electrical stressing at the range of operational current density used for OLED lighting. ZnO-coated AgNWs have been observed to show no electrical, optical, or morphological degradation, while pristine AgNW electrodes have become unusable for optoelectronic devices due to dramatic decreases in conductivity, transparency, and fragmentation of the nanowire network at ≈150 mA cm−2. When fabricated into OLED substrates, resulting OLEDs fabricated on the ZnO-AgNW platform exhibit a 140% increase in lifetime when compared to OLEDs fabricated on indium tin oxide (ITO)/glass, and ≈20% when compared to OLEDs fabricated on AgNW based substrates. While both ZnO-coated and pristine AgNW substrates outperform ITO/glass due to the lower current densities required to drive the device, morphological stability in response to current stressing is responsible for the enhancement of lifetime of ZnO-AgNW based OLEDs compared to pristine AgNW based OLEDs.
An empirical examination of mark-to-market accounting for corporate pension plans ☆

Abstract Since 2010, a small but growing number of firms have voluntarily switched from the prevailing corridor approach (i.e., continuous smoothing) to a mark-to-market (MTM) alternative (i.e., immediate recognition) when accounting for pension gains and losses for their pension plans. This paper investigates the determinants of, and market reactions to, this voluntary adoption as well as its financial reporting and operational consequences. We find that larger firms and firms with greater deferred pension losses are more likely to adopt the MTM approach. On the other hand, we do not find an association between a firm’s level of financial transparency or earnings volatility and MTM adoption. Further, our market tests reveal that investors reacted positively to the standalone announcements of MTM adoption and to the magnitude of the one-time pension loss adjustment upon adoption. Finally, in examining the consequences of MTM adoption, we find a reduction in earnings informativeness and an increase in plan assets allocated to debt relative to matched non-adopters. Overall, our study provides early evidence on the implications of MTM pension accounting.
Interpolating Cubic Spline Wavelet Packet on Arbitrary Partitions

In many applications, the splines on an arbitrary partition are very useful. In this paper, a spline wavelet structure is created in the way that it provides a multiresolution approximation of the spline subspaces with arbitrary partition in the space of continuous functions on a finite interval. Based on the wavelet basis and the wavelet packet in this structure, a multi-level interpolation method is developed for decomposing a function into wavelet series and reconstructing it from its wavelet representation.
STEAM by another name: Transdisciplinary practice in art and design education

ABSTRACTThe recent movement to include art and design in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education has made Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) an increasingly common acronym in the education lexicon. The STEAM movement builds on existing models of interdisciplinary curriculum, but what makes the union of art and design with the STEM disciplines so persuasive? In this article, I draw from research on interdisciplinary curricular projects that fit into the category of STEAM, but may also be considered inquiries into the role of art and design in the creative inquiry process, in order to sketch a transdisciplinary curriculum model that may be applied across disciplines.
Treatment of Aqueous Film-Forming Foam by Heat-Activated Persulfate Under Conditions Representative of In Situ Chemical Oxidation

Poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) have been detected in an increasing number of water supplies. In many instances, the contamination is associated with the use of PFAS-containing aqueous film-forming foams (AFFF) in firefighting activities. To investigate the potential for remediating AFFF contamination in groundwater with heat-activated persulfate, PFAS oxidation and the generation of transformation products was evaluated under well-controlled conditions. Fluorotelomer- and perfluoroalkyl sulfonamide-based polyfluorinated compounds were transformed to perfluorinated carboxylic acids, which underwent further degradation under acidic conditions produced after persulfate decomposed. The presence of aquifer sediments decreased the efficiency of the remedial process but did not alter the transformation pathways. At high concentrations, the presence of organic solvents, such as those present in AFFF formulations, inhibited transformation of a representative perfluorinated compound, perfluorooctanoic ...
SINGLE CENTER CLINICAL EXPERIENCE USING ISOCHRONAL LATE ACTIVATION MAPPING FOR ABLATION OF VENTRICULAR TACHYCARDIA

Given hemodynamically instability of most ventricular tachycardias (VT), mapping and ablating scar based arrhythmias during sinus rhythm is of clinical utility. Isochronal late activation mapping (ILAM) is a functional mapping method which may better guide ablation of abnormal electrograms. All
C-Reactive Protein As a Mediator of Complement Activation and Inflammatory Signaling in Age-Related Macular Degeneration

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a devastating neurodegenerative disease affecting millions worldwide. Complement activation, inflammation, and the loss of choroidal endothelial cells have been established as key factors in both normal aging and AMD; however, the exact mechanisms for these events have yet to be fully uncovered. Herein, we provide evidence that the prototypic acute phase reactant, C-reactive protein (CRP), contributes to AMD pathogenesis. We discuss serum CRP levels as a risk factor for disease, immunolocalization of distinct forms of CRP in the at-risk and diseased retina, and direct effects of CRP on ocular tissue. Furthermore, we discuss the complement system as it relates to AMD pathophysiology, provide a model for the role of CRP in this disease, and outline current therapies being developed and tested to treat AMD patients.
Understanding the Impacts of Biomass Blending on the Uncertainty of Hydrolyzed Sugar Yield from a Stochastic Perspective

Feedstock price and availability are key challenges for biorefinery development. Biomass blending has been suggested as a route to overcome these limitations. However, the impacts of feedstock blending on the uncertainty in hydrolyzed sugar yields remain unclear. This study quantifies the uncertainties in the sugar yields from hydrolysis of the blends of corn stover, switchgrass, and grass clippings by considering both feedstock compositional variation and model uncertainty. The results indicate that feedstock blending reduces the uncertainties in sugar yields and delivers feedstock of more uniform quality. A 60/35/5 blend of corn stover, switchgrass, and grass clippings on average achieves a glucose yield of 32.6 g/100 g of biomass, which is comparable to those of corn stover (33.3 g/100 g) and switchgrass (32.9 g/100 g), but drastically higher than that of grass clippings (21.7 g/100 g). This same blend also achieves the lowest variance in glucose yield (2.9 g/100 g) compared to corn stover (3.1 g/100 g...
Cryoglobulin-induced red blood cell morphologic changes.

![Figure][1] A 52-year-old man with untreated hepatitis C presented to the hospital with cough and shortness of breath. The examination was notable for ≥3 pitting edema, and cross-sectional imaging showed pleural effusions and ascites. Laboratory findings revealed a hemoglobin of 7.6 g/dL,
Surge current failure mechanisms in 4H-SiC JBS rectifiers

4H-SIC Junction Barrier Schottky (JBS) rectifiers can operate in both a purely unipolar mode during normal operation, and a bipolar mode during surge conditions. The transition between operation modes is not only a function of the static device physics, but also the dynamic heating that occurs during a surge transient. For long surge transients on the order of 1ms, heat diffusion into the package allows for 4H-SiC JBS diodes to absorb up to an order of magnitude more energy than surge transients that occur in the 10 μβ time scale. Data from surge operation of 4H-SiC diodes at varying time scales was used to map surge currents to an allowed operation space.
TRANSPORTERS | GABA Transporters: Structure, Oligomerization, Trafficking, and Pharmacology Determine Neuronal Excitability

γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is the principal inhibitory neurotransmitter in the vertebrate central nervous system. Activation of ionotropic and metabotropic GABA receptors by GABA reduces the excitability of the cell, inhibiting neuronal firing. Plasma membrane GABA transporters maintain the extracellular GABA concentration in the vicinity of the synapse and consequently control the activity of the GABA receptors. Synaptic transporters play an important role in terminating neurotransmission, while extrasynaptic transporters control GABAergic tone. In this article, we review how the structure, assembly, trafficking, and pharmacology of the four known GABA transporter isoforms modulate extracellular [GABA] and determines neuronal excitability.
Building Modern Clouds: Using Docker, Kubernetes & Google Cloud Platform

To develop and build a modern cloud infrastructure or DevOps implementation than both Docker and Kubernetes have revolutionized the era of software development and operations. Although both are different, they unify the process of development and integration, it is now possible to build any architecture by using these technologies. Docker is used to build, ship and run any application anywhere. Docker allows the use of the same available resources. These containers can be used to make deployments much faster. Containers use less space, are reliable and are very fast. Docker Swarm helps to manage the docker container. Kubernetes is an automated container management, deployment and scaling platform. Using Google Cloud Platform to deploy containers on Kubernetes Engine enabling rapid application development and management. Kubernetes provides key features like deployment, easy ways to scale, and monitoring.
Measure development and the hermeneutic task

I examine the dynamics of measure development using two case studies: temperature, and health-related quality of life. I argue, following Bas van Fraassen and Leah McClimans that in each case these dynamics have a hermeneutic structure. Measure development is plagued by epistemic circularity, as is the task of interpreting a text, and similar strategies can be used in both measure development and hermeneutics to overcome that circularity. I show that Hans Georg Gadamer’s philosophical hermeneutics in particular are an effective lens through which to examine the development of the temperature standard as described by Hasok Chang. Despite similar grounding in hermeneutics, I note an important difference between measure development for temperature and for health-related quality of life. Namely, while the meaning of temperature can be standardized, the meaning of health-related quality of life cannot. This standardization of meaning for the temperature concept represents a limit to the analogy with hermeneutics. Finally, I argue that the indeterminacy we find in health-related quality of life measurement is a result not only of analogy with the hermeneutic task, but of full-fledged participation in it.
Abstract ES6-1: Oxidative stress responses in cancer

Generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), a natural byproduct of oxygen metabolism, occurs in all aerobic organisms at a controlled rate. Cancer cells are subjected to numerous cellular insults, including dysregulated oncogenes and loss of their natural extracellular matrix (ECM) interactions, that lead to the generation of high levels of ROS and selection for upregulation of anti-oxidant programs that allow adaptation to elevated ROS. Although cancer cells possess enhanced canonical antioxidant programs that neutralize ROS, they nevertheless exhibit prominent ROS levels in response to these insults, suggesting the existence of additional programs that allow cancer cells to tolerate elevated ROS. My presentation will include a discussion of the evolving concepts about the role of oxidative stress and anti-oxidants in distinct processes associated with tumor initiation and progression and the potential for targeting anti-oxidants for therapeutic intervention. In addition, I will describe studies from our laboratory using 3-dimensional culture systems to model early events in breast cancer which have highlighted the critical role of oxidative stress in eliminating aberrantly proliferating breast epithelial cells, as well as the role of endogenous anti-oxidants in promoting proliferation and survival of pre-malignant cells. I will also discuss studies providing evidence for an unconventional mechanism whereby cancer cells co-opt the ROS-activated neuronal Ca2+-permeable TRPA1 channel in order to adapt to oxidative environments. Citation Format: Brugge J. Oxidative stress responses in cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2018 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2018 Dec 4-8; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(4 Suppl):Abstract nr ES6-1.
A topology-based descriptor for 3D point cloud modeling: Theory and experiments

Abstract This paper presents a topology-based global descriptor that allows for efficient 3D point cloud processing tasks associated with the analysis of shapes. The descriptor is called the Signature of Topologically Persistent Points (STPP). By using persistent homology, STPP is formed by the computation of topological invariants involving the zeroth and first homology groups. Persistent homology is a methodology that finds the features of a topological space at different spatial resolutions. STPP requires no preprocessing and uses a single tuning parameter. It is an effective 3D point cloud descriptor with robustness to noisy sensor data. The paper highlights this aspect with experimental comparisons to the state of the art. Our research has been validated on a publicly available RGB-D dataset. The results show that STPP can be used as a distinctive signature by employing a small number of features with object detection and classification benefiting from its usage.
Applied Epidemiology Workforce Growth and Capacity Challenges: The Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists 2017 Epidemiology Capacity Assessment.

Objectives:To better understand the current status and challenges of the state public health department workforce, the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists (CSTE) assessed the number an...
OPTION PRICING: A NEW APPROACH TO MINE VALUATION

Uncertainty is an important feature of many investments, but it is especially important for mineral properties. Mine properties often entail large investments and fixed commitments. Managers in the mining industry often view price uncertainty as undesirable, due to the possibility that the price of the mined commodity will fall to a level that prevents the firm from recovering its investment and fixed costs. This paper identifies pitfalls in conventional valuation methods and outlines a new approach to valuation based on option pricing theory and dynamic programming. In the process, it identifies generic strategies for organizing mine production in ways that allow the owner to benefit from the uncertainty in mineral prices.
Basic Principles of Ethanol Fermentation

The microbial production of ethyl alcohol from agricultural commodities for blending into gasoline to decrease our dependence on imported crude oil has recently received much regional, national, and international attention.(1–5) The microbial conversion of agricultural substrates into ethanol is, however, an ancient practice that certainly predates the science of microbiology, the chemistry of the distillation process, and the engineering of an ethanol fermentation plant. Only in the mid-1900s was microbial production of ethanol replaced by synthetic ethanol derived from petroleum as the major source of this chemical for our society. The development of synthetic ethanol occurred at approximately the same time that microbiologists were beginning to investigate the potential of microbial processes for the production of industrial feedstocks or solvents such as glycerol, lactic acid, citric acid, acetone, and butanol for the rapidly expanding chemical industries.(6) The development of the necessary support science and technology for this young fermentation industry was therefore repressed when chemical based technology proved so successful. With the recognition in the 1970s that our petroleum reserves are being rapidly depleted, researchers began to update the fermentation technology for industrial ethanol production. Fortunately, the biochemistry of this fermentation process was continually examined over the last 100 years. Pasteur’s research with French wines in the 1860s defined the basic concepts of the fermentation process and commercial interests in beer, wine, and hard liquor production promoted continual interest in understanding the biochemistry of ethanol fermentations. Thus, the basic, biochemical aspects of microbial ethanol production are relatively well understood, but technology for industrial ethanol production by microbial processes has, until recently, been neglected.
Understanding the impact of one-dimensional pore containing 10MR and 12MR and aluminium content on MTH reaction pathways: direct synthesis of heteroatom containing UZM-55

Zeolites are utilized in many catalytic applications on large scale, and we report here the direct synthesis of alumino- and borosilicate versions of UZM-55, a recent unidimensional (1D) zeolite with a kinked channel containing both 10MR and 12MR. Up to approximately one heteroatom per unit cell has been incorporated, and the aluminosilicate forms tested for the MTH reaction. UZM-55 shows very high selectivity to propene at ∼51%, <5% selectivity to ethene, and high selectivity to C3 + C4 products of ∼76–79%. Unlike other 1D zeolites containing 12MR, UZM-55 clearly favors the olefin cycle mechanism.
Modular Exponentiation, Inversion, and Division

Modular exponentiation is the computation of xe mod m, and multiplicative modular inversion is the computation of y such that x ∗ y mod m = 1. This chapter consists of two sections, one each on the two operations. Modular division is included implicitly in the second, as in practice it is effected as multiplication by an inverse.