cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
TLR9 expression and secretion of LIF by prostate cancer cells stimulates accumulation and activity of polymorphonuclear MDSCs

Proinflammatory signals promote prostate tumorigenesis and progression, but their origins and downstream effects remain unclear. We recently demonstrated that the expression of an innate immune receptor, TLR9, by prostate cancer cells is critical for their tumor-propagating potential. We investigated whether cancer cell-intrinsic TLR9 signaling alters composition of the prostate tumor microenvironment. We generated Ras/Myc (RM9) and Myc-driven (Myc-CaP) prostate cancer cells expressing the tetracycline-inducible gene Tlr9 (Tlr9ON ) or the control LacZ (LacZON ). When engrafted into mice and treated with tetracycline, Tlr9ON , but not LacZON , tumors showed accelerated growth kinetics compared with tumors in PBS-treated mice. Tlr9 upregulation in cancer cells triggered the selective accumulation of CD11b+Ly6GHILy6CLO myeloid cells, phenotypically similar to PMN-MDSCs. The PMN-MDSCs from tetracycline-treated RM9-Tlr9ON tumors increased the immunosuppressive activity of the STAT3 transcription factor, thereby more potently inhibiting T cell proliferation. We identified LIF, an IL-6-type cytokine and STAT3 activator, as a potential mediator of crosstalk between TLR9-expressing prostate cancer cells and PMN-MDSCs. Antibody-mediated LIF neutralization reduced the percentage of tumor-infiltrating PMN-MDSCs and inhibited tumor growth in mice. The clinical relevance of LIF is confirmed by the correlation between TLR9 and LIF expression in prostate cancer specimens. Furthermore, blood samples from patients with prostate cancer showed elevated levels of LIF and high LIFR expression on circulating PMN-MDSCs. Our results suggest that TLR9+ prostate cancers promote immune evasion via LIF-mediated expansion and activation of PMN-MDSCs. Finally, targeting TLR9/LIF/STAT3 signaling using oligonucleotide-based inhibitors, such as CpG-STAT3dODN, can offer new opportunities for prostate cancer immunotherapy.
Effect of patient-reported smoking status on short-term bariatric surgery outcomes

Preoperative patient screening is a major contributor to the remarkable safety of bariatric surgery. Smoking status is a modifiable patient risk factor, and smoking cessation is associated with improved outcomes in surgical patients. However, the length of smoking cessation necessary to optimize bariatric surgery patient outcomes is not yet defined. We sought to explore the relationship between patient-reported smoking status and short-term bariatric surgery outcomes. Using prospectively collected data from the MBSC registry, we evaluated the effects of patient-reported length of tobacco abstinence on 30-day surgical outcomes. Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) and sleeve gastrectomy (SG) patients (n = 49,772) were divided into three categories based on smoking status: never smoker, former smoker, and recent smoker. We compared risk-adjusted complication rates using multivariable logistic regression models and compared excess body weight loss using a one-way ANOVA test. The risk-adjusted rate of severe complications among RYGB patients in the recent smoker group was significantly increased relative to patients who had never smoked (OR 1.34; 95% CI, 1.01–1.77), but not among SG patients (OR 1.18; 95% CI 0.87–1.62). In the same populations, differences in overall complication rate were not significant for either RYGB (OR, 1.11; 95% CI 0.94–1.31) or LSG (OR 1.04; 95% CI 0.86–1.25). Recent smokers suffer detrimental effects of smoking on serious postoperative complications following RYGB surgery, but may not suffer an elevated risk of complications attributable to smoking for sleeve gastrectomy. An evaluation of the effect on long-term outcomes is necessary to further define the risks of smoking on bariatric surgery outcomes.
The Use of Similarity Indices in the Analysis of Temporal Distribution of Mammals

Mammal community structure is comprised of multidimensional data. This chapter analyzes the temporal distribution of mammals in the early Pleistocene site of ‘Ubeidiya, Israel. The statistical model reflects the relationship between communities from the same local but temporally distinct, by means of a spatial correlation. Resemblance matrices are computed for the response—that is, the dependent variable (in this case, the mammalian community structure)—and for the explanatory (independent) variables—for example, time and environment—by means of similarity indices. The connection between these matrices is computed through the application of the Mantel’s test, as shown by the relevant model equations. The statistical significance is estimated with 10,000 permutation repetitions.
Microstructure tuning facilitated photo-efficiency enhancement and environmental benign nature of HfO2/Mo/HfO2 multilayer films

Abstract Nano-layered, multilayered films consisting of HfO2(dielectric)/Mo(metal)/HfO2(dielectric), (D/M/D architecture) with controlled layer thickness, chemistry and microstructure were demonstrated for efficient utilization of solar energy with well-designated spectral control. The effect of Mo metal interlayer on the energy performance and efficiency of HfO2/Mo/HfO2 multilayer films made by electron-beam deposition onto silicon and glass substrates has been evaluated. The Mo interlayer thickness [Mo(t)] was varied in the range of 5–25 nm while the top/bottom HfO2 layer thickness was kept constant at ∼50 nm. Structural, morphological and optical characterization was performed to understand the effect of Mo(t) induced microstructure on mechanical durability and optical behavior of the D/M/D multilayer films. Structural studies revealed that D/M/D multilayer films with relatively low Mo(t) were amorphous, while higher Mo(t) induces the amorphous-to-nanocrystalline microstructure transformation, which also induces surface roughening effects. The D/M/D multilayer film with Mo(t) = 20 nm, where the nano-columnar morphology of the D-M-D layers are aligned perpendicular to the substrate surface and exhibits the optimum spectral selectivity. Such microstructure and morphological tailoring also facilitates the environmentally friendly (self-cleaning/stain repellent) nature of these multilayer films by the high contact angle (∼102°) achieved. Molybdenum interlayer facilitated higher contact angle leads to super-hydrophobic nature of the HfO2/Mo/HfO2 multilayered film surfaces. The low surface roughness values (0.2–0.8 nm), which are primarily due to Mo at the interface, of the HfO2/Mo/HfO2 multilayered films satisfy the general requirements of heat mirror applications. In addition, the microstructure of intermediate Mo layer and HfO2-Mo interfaces significantly control the mechanical properties of D/M/D multilayer films. Optimal mechanical properties (hardness = 30 GPa, elastic modulus = 312 GPa, wear resistance = 0.094, adhesion strength = 2050 µN) have been obtained for Mo(t) = 20 nm D/M/D multilayer film. The mechanical response strongly supports flexible and wear resistive nature of HfO2/Mo/HfO2 multilayer films.
TinkerPlots™ Model Construction Approaches for Comparing Two Groups: Student Perspectives.

Teaching introductory statistics using curricula focused on modeling and simulation is becoming increasingly common in introductory statistics courses and touted as a more beneficial approach for fostering students’ statistical thinking. Yet, surprisingly little research has been conducted to study the impact of modeling and simulation curricula on student thinking, nor is there much research on how students make sense of the computer models they construct. The work presented here utilizes a framework developed by Biehler, Frischemeier, and Podworny (2015) for comparing two groups problems via a modeling and simulation approach using TinkerPlotsTM. Our work makes a contribution to the field by delving deeper into student reasoning as students create TinkerPlotsTM models to solve a comparing two groups problem. First published November 2017 at Statistics Education Research Journal Archives
Active terahertz metamaterials

We present a series of novel THz metamaterials with designed active functionality, enabling dynamic tuning of the amplitude, frequency and polarization state of a THz wave.
Adapting Traceability System to Origin Positioning System for Agricultural Product from an Electronic Scale Using GPS

To overcome the limitations of current agricultural products traceability information obtaining methodology, we developed the OPSAP (origin positioning system of agricultural product) with electronic scales. The positioning system is a software model working with the electronic scale and providing objective location information for the whole traceability system. The electronic scale not only has the weighting function, but also provides a method for determining location where the scale positioned. This article establishes the OPSAP and changes traceability system made to support the TSAP (traceability system of agricultural product). Together, the two modules provide customers the unique ability to obtain the agricultural products’ origin information through the traceability system. The application experiments showed that this was an effective way to complete agricultural products traceability chain.
Use of an intravascular temperature control catheter for rewarming of hypothermic trauma patients with ongoing hemorrhagic shock after combined damage control thoracotomy and laparotomy: A case series

Abstract Background Correction of hypothermia is a key component of the resuscitation of critically injured patients with hemorrhagic shock who require damage control surgery. External rewarming methods may not be sufficient in this population, while extracorporeal techniques lack widespread feasibility. Intravascular catheter-based temperature modulation is increasingly being employed in different critically ill patient populations but has not been described as part of a damage control resuscitation strategy in trauma patients. Methods We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of all patients admitted to our multi-trauma intensive care unit from July 1, 2015 – December 31, 2017 in whom an intravascular temperature control catheter (IVTCC) was employed for rewarming from hypothermia during the immediate postoperative resuscitation of continued hemorrhage after undergoing combined damage control thoracotomy and laparotomy for trauma. All patients received baseline treatment with active external rewarming modalities and inline fluid/blood warmers. Core temperature values over the first 24 h of hospital admission were analyzed. Efficacy (rewarming rate) and safety (associated adverse events) of the IVTCC system were determined. Results Three patients (age 22 ± 4.6, 100% male, 100% torso gunshot wounds with prehospital cardiac arrest) meeting the inclusion criteria were treated with the IVTCC system during the study period. Temperature at the start of rewarming using the IVTCC ranged from 30.1 to 35.5 °C. Despite ongoing severe hemorrhagic shock (24-hour ICU blood product requirement: 104 ± 44 units), a mean rewarming rate of 1.04 ± 0.63°C/hour was achieved. One patient suffered an uncomplicated catheter-associated deep vein thrombosis. Two of the 3 patients survived to hospital discharge with intact cognitive function. Conclusions Use of an IVTCC may be a minimally-invasive, practical, and effective method for rewarming critically ill trauma patients with ongoing hemorrhagic shock after multi-cavitary damage control surgery. Further studies are needed to compare this technology with currently available rewarming methods.
Cosmopolitanism and Education: A View from the Ground:

Background/ ContextIn recent years, scholars the world over in both the social sciences and humanities have reanimated the ancient idea of cosmopolitanism. They discern in the idea ways in which pe...
Vehicle engine classification using normalized tone-pitch indexing and neural computing on short remote vibration sensing data

Abstract As a non-invasive and remote sensor, a Laser Doppler Vibrometer (LDV) has found a broad spectrum of applications. It is a remote, non-line-of-sight sensor to detect threats more reliably and provide increased security protection, which is of utmost importance to military and law enforcement applications. However, the use of the LDV in situation surveillance, especially in vehicle classification, lacks systematic investigations as to its phenomenological and statistical properties. In this work, we aim to identify vehicles by their engine types within a very short period of time to yield a practical expert and intelligent system to classify vehicle engines remotely using laser sensors. Based on our preliminary success on the use of tone-pitch indexes (TPI) over these data, a new normalized tone-pitch indexing (nTPI) scheme is developed to capture engine periodic vibrations by various engine types with vibration data over a much shorter period (from 1.25 to 0.2 s), which makes it possible to monitor slowly moving vehicles around 15 miles per hour. We also exploit the learning power of neural computing, including artificial neural network (ANN), Deep Belief nets (DBN), Stacked Auto-Encoder (SAE), and Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN). To apply a CNN, a two-dimensional array is formulated by stacking nTPI data in an overlapping manner, which is termed as 2DonTPI. The classification results using the proposed nTPI and 2DonTPI over a standard LDV dataset are promising: with encoding duration significantly smaller than that required by the original TPI, consistently high performance is attained for all four neural computing methods. The new vibration data representation combined with neural computing approaches gives rise to a powerful expert and intelligent system for vehicle engine classification, which can find a great array of applications for civil, law enforcement, and military agencies for Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance purposes that are of crucial importance to national and international security.
Deployment and Flight Operations of a Large Scale UAS Combat Swarm: Results from DARPA Service Academies Swarm Challenge

The DARPA Service Academies Swarm Challenge (SASC) was a unique opportunity for future military leaders to innovate in the rapidly evolving domain of unmanned aerial system (UAS) swarm combat. The United States Naval Academy (USNA), United States Military Academy (USMA), and United States Air Force Academy (USAFA) competed in head-to-head games of simulated aerial swarm combat. The competition culminated in a live fly event in Camp Roberts CA. This paper describes the participation of the USNA team who won the competition. The students were tasked with developing game strategy, combat tactics, and managing their UAS fleet. This challenge highlighted the need for large scale experiments to identify and push the limits of current technology.
Computer-Based Video Instruction for Training Medical Students on Skin Biopsies.

BACKGROUND The development of procedural skills is necessary for medical students. Computer-based video instruction (CBVI) increases knowledge and procedural skills. OBJECTIVE This pilot study's aim was to investigate the usefulness of CBVI in dermatologic procedure training for medical students and secondarily assess students' overall perception of the field of dermatology. METHODS Twenty-nine first- and second-year medical students were randomly assigned to the CVBI group or control group, in addition to in-person instructor demonstration of shave and punch biopsies using fresh cadaver tissue. Blinded evaluators graded student performances using a five-point Likert scale immediately after demonstration, and 1 week later to assess knowledge retention. RESULTS In overall performance, the CBVI group demonstrated higher scores both in shave (3.54 vs 2.59, p = .01) and punch biopsies (3.63 vs 2.88, p = .01) at immediate recall and knowledge retention (3.68 vs 2.67, p = .01; 4.00 vs 2.99, p < .001, respectively). Approximately 33.3% of the students stated that the experience increased their interest in the field of dermatology. CONCLUSION Incorporation of CBVI into the dermatology curriculum augments medical students' procedural skills. The CBVI group performed significantly better in all 7 grading categories for shave biopsy and in 5 of 7 categories for punch biopsy. Integration of procedural laboratory tests raises students' interest in dermatology.
The performance of Haynes 282 and its weld in supercritical CO2

Abstract The supercritical carbon dioxide Brayton cycle is being considered as a replacement of the steam Rankine cycle due to the potential for higher operational efficiency and lower capital cost. Higher temperature and pressure conditions allow for higher efficiencies, leading to a demand for materials with high strength at these elevated temperatures. Haynes 282® has been found to have good high temperature strength and corrosion resistance, but the mechanical and weld performance in CO2 has not been studied. This work addresses that gap in knowledge by testing the mechanical properties of both base and gas tungsten arc welded samples before and after exposure to either supercritical carbon dioxide at 750 °C, 20 MPa or argon at 750 °C, 0.12 MPa for 1000 h. Both exposures resulted in a small increase in yield strength and a loss in ductility in welded and base material, with the fusion line exhibiting the most severe loss of ductility. Corrosion analysis revealed attack at a maximum of 20 μm for both base and fusion zones, with no impact of a depth-dependent effect in the fracture surfaces. Bulk analysis revealed the presence of grain boundary carbides – intermittent in base material and constant in the fusion zone – which created a region devoid of γ’ strengthening precipitates. This morphology, as well as all observed mechanical effects, was caused by the thermal aging of 282. Corrosion in CO2 was not mechanically detrimental to 282 at 750 °C, 20 MPa after 1000 h for the sample size and orientation used in this study.
Side Gust Effects on the Performance of a Supersonic Inlet with Bleed

A computational investigation on the effects of side gust on the performance of a supersonic inlet with a bleed system at Mach 1.8 is reported. This is an extension to a recent study (Halwas, H. K....
The changing long-run linkage between yields on Treasury and municipal bonds and the 1986 Tax Act

Abstract The Tax Act of 1986 changed the tax treatment of tax-exempt municipal bonds for banks. Since banks were the dominant participant in the municipal bond market until 1986, some believe that this resulted in a breakdown of the long-run equilibrium relationship between municipal and US Treasury securities of equal maturity. We present evidence that there was a significant structural break in the relationship between municipal and Treasury bonds around the time of the Tax Act. This break is characterized by both a shift in the mean and a flattening of the slope parameter that links the two interest rates in a long-run equilibrium relationship.
Standards for Hardware Security

Due to the globalization of design, manufacturing and distribution of integrated circuits (ICs), hardware underlying information systems have become increasingly vulnerable to a number of malicious attacks, primarily counterfeiting of ICs and piracy of intellectual properties (IPs). To ensure the security of our critical infrastructure, the use of trusted hardware is absolutely necessary. There are a handful of standards, either currently available today or in progress, that provide guidance to undertake hardware security issues. This article focuses on the standardization activity in the domain of hardware security.
Abstract 5831: Clearance of therapy-induced senescent cancer cells by the senolytic ABT-263 in a model of non-small cell lung cancer

While most chemotherapies will initially lead to tumor reduction in patients, residual tumor cells that enter a state of dormancy can re-emerge as aggressive, recurrent disease after treatment is terminated. One mechanism by which cancer cells may escape chemotherapy-induced death is senescence. Senescence is a specialized form of cell cycle arrest that is primarily characterized as a durable, prolonged loss of proliferative capacity. While senescence was traditionally considered to be irreversible, evidence has accumulated in recent years supporting the premise that senescence is instead a durable form of growth arrest from which a subpopulation of cells can ultimately escape. Moreover, the accumulation of senescent cells post cancer therapy has been linked with a plethora of unfavorable outcomes. A sequential approach in which chemotherapy is followed by a senolytic, an emerging class of drugs that selectively kill senescent cells, may therefore delay or circumvent recurrent disease by eliminating residual senescent cells. To this end, we tested whether etoposide- or radiation-treated non-small cell lung cancer (NSCL) cells become susceptible to the BH-3 mimetic ABT-263– an established senolytic– following senescence induction. Treatment with etoposide or radiation induced a robust senescent state, as evidenced by the development of multiple senescent phenotypes. Senescent tumor cells demonstrated increased sensitivity to ABT-263 compared to non-senescent cells, undergoing rapid apoptosis subsequent to ABT-263 exposure. We further determined that ABT-2639s mechanism of action appears to depend upon the disruption of the BCL-XL/Bax interaction. ABT-2639s capacity to eliminate senescent cells is conserved in vivo, as tumor-bearing animals treated with etoposide followed by ABT-263 undergo rapid tumor reduction followed by tumor maintenance, while etoposide-only treated animals develop progressive disease subsequent to treatment completion. These data support the use of senolytics as complementary therapy to eliminate residual tumor cells following chemotherapy or radiation, and thereby potentially delay or reduce recurrent disease. Citation Format: Valerie Carpenter, Tareq Saleh, David Gewirtz. Clearance of therapy-induced senescent cancer cells by the senolytic ABT-263 in a model of non-small cell lung cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research 2020; 2020 Apr 27-28 and Jun 22-24. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2020;80(16 Suppl):Abstract nr 5831.
Nanophotonics as computing machines

Merging the concept of metamaterials with the nanophotonics platform brings new functionalities to the science and technology of both fields. Since photons are usually controlled by materials, metamaterials have provided interesting platforms for engineering light-matter interaction. In recent years, a variety of features and exciting applications of meso-, micro-, and nanoscale metamaterials have been explored and developed. One of these applications is the development of material-based wave-based analog computing machines, which we are investigating in my group. We have designed material structures that can perform mathematical operations as waves propagate through them. Such materials have effectively become computing machines. For example, we have explored metastructures that can solve integral and differential equations and can invert matrices using waves as incoming waves interact with them. Moreover, we have also been investigating how collections of other photonic networks (such as the Mach-Zehnder interferometers), either by themselves or together with metamaterials, can provide another light-based method for solving equations and performing mathematical operations with light. In this talk, I will discuss the most recent results in some of our ongoing research programs on this topic, will present physical insights into these results, and will forecast future research directions in this area.
Implementing an Evidence-Based Bundle to Reduce Early Labor Admissions and Increase Adherence to Labor Arrest Guidelines: A Quality Improvement Initiative.

Background At many hospitals, the cesarean birth rate among nulliparous term singleton vertex (NTSV) pregnancies is higher than World Health Organization benchmarks. Reducing NTSV cesarean birth is a national quality imperative. The aim of this initiative was to implement an evidence-based bundle at an urban community teaching hospital in at least 50% of labors in 60 days in order to reduce early labor admissions and increase adherence to evidence-based labor management guidelines shown to decrease cesarean birth. Methods Chart audits, root-cause analysis, and staff engagement informed bundle development. An early labor triage guide, labor walking path, partograph, and pre-cesarean checklist were implemented to drive change. Four Rapid Cycle Plan Do Study Act cycles were conducted over 8 weeks. Results The bundle was implemented in 58% of births. The bundle reduced early labor admissions labor from 41% to 25%. Team knowledge reflecting current guidelines in labor management increased 35% and 100% of cesareans for labor arrest met criteria. Patient satisfaction scores exceeded 98%. Conclusions Implementing an evidenced-based bundle was effective in reducing early labor admissions and increasing utilization of and adherence to labor management guidelines. Implications for nursing Implementation of evidence-based bundles has the potential to achieve meaningful quality improvements in maternity care.
Anterior Petrosal [Kawase] Approach to Meckel's Cave Meningioma: 2-Dimensional Operative Video.

Meningiomas arising from Dorello's canal1-3 are a rare disease entity often resulting in an unclear diagnosis even at the time of surgery.4,5 We present a case of a 63-yr-old man who presented with a sixth nerve palsy. He was found to have a lesion in the region of Meckel's cave on neuroimaging studies. Additionally, there were cutaneous and joint complaints that gave rise to a clinical possibility of sarcoidosis. The differential diagnosis also included meningioma or other inflammatory processes. The patient underwent a right-sided middle fossa approach and partial anterior petrosectomy (Kawase approach). Meckel's cave was opened, the tumor resected, and the petrosphenoid ligament (Gruber's) was identified. It was a meningioma. The case presentation, surgical anatomy, technique, and postoperative course and outcome are reviewed. The patient gave verbal consent for participating in the procedure and surgical video.
Charge State Dependence of Si K X-Ray Production in Solid and Gaseous Targets by 40 MeV Oxygen Ion Impact

We have studied the yield of silicon K x rays induced by 2 1/2 MeV/amu oxygen ions in gaseous (SiH4) and amorphous solid targets. For a gas density 7.4 x 1014 cm-2 the yield increases approximately exponentially with the charge state q of the projectile in the region q = 6, 7, 8. A similar, but smaller, trend is found for a 7 μg/cm2 solid target. At this beam energy the most probable oxygen charge state emerging from a solid Si target is 07+. The x-ray yield from the solid is in accord with the emergent charge state.
A Registry for Inherited Colorectal Cancer

Patients and families identified as having a dominantly inherited syndrome of colorectal cancer need education, support, and lifelong management of the clinical aspects of the syndrome. Although many such patients are strongly motivated to research their own condition and make full use of all resources available, they need expert care. Care of such families is a commitment that grows as family connections are unearthed and as new generations expand the numbers of potential patients. Who will be available to answer questions for the family, to help them arrange surveillance appointments, to issue reminders to forgetful relatives, to assist in dealing with insurance companies, to coordinate surgery? These are not functions of any single physician, but they fall under the umbrella of an organization formed specifically to carry them out; a Genetics department, Center or Registry.
Effects of creatine supplementation on performance and training adaptations

Creatine has become a popular nutritional supplement among athletes. Recent research has also suggested that there may be a number of potential therapeutic uses of creatine. This paper reviews the available research that has examined the potential ergogenic value of creatine supplementation on exercise performance and training adaptations. Review of the literature indicates that over 500 research studies have evaluated the effects of creatine supplementation on muscle physiology and/or exercise capacity in healthy, trained, and various diseased populations. Short-term creatine supplementation (e.g. 20 g/day for 5–7 days) has typically been reported to increase total creatine content by 10–30% and phosphocreatine stores by 10–40%. Of the approximately 300 studies that have evaluated the potential ergogenic value of creatine supplementation, about 70% of these studies report statistically significant results while remaining studies generally report non-significant gains in performance. No study reports a statistically significant ergolytic effect. For example, short-term creatine supplementation has been reported to improve maximal power/strength (5–15%), work performed during sets of maximal effort muscle contractions (5–15%), single-effort sprint performance (1–5%), and work performed during repetitive sprint performance (5–15%). Moreover, creatine supplementation during training has been reported to promote significantly greater gains in strength, fat free mass, and performance primarily of high intensity exercise tasks. Although not all studies report significant results, the preponderance of scientific evidence indicates that creatine supplementation appears to be a generally effective nutritional ergogenic aid for a variety of exercise tasks in a number of athletic and clinical populations.
Lactobacillus and Pediococcus species richness and relative abundance in the vagina of rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta).

Background The rhesus monkey is an important animal model to study human vaginal health to which lactic acid bacteria play a significant role. However, the vaginal lactic acid bacterial species richness and relative abundance in rhesus monkeys is largely unknown.
The Selling Cycle: An Exploratory Study of Its Variations and Correlates in Sales Organizations

Abstract The selling cycle, a measure of calendar time from the initiation to the completion of a sale, is a significant factor in planning and assessing sales force deployment. Empirically-based analyses of the selling cycle are nonexistent, however. This paper reports an exploratory study of selected relationships involving the length of the selling cycle in various selling situations and in different types of sales organizations, and then concludes with management implications and further research ideas.
6. Transition Radiation

Publisher Summary The chapter presents a study on transition radiation. When an energetic charged particle makes a transition from vacuum into a metal, there is an emission of electromagnetic radiation known as “transition radiation.” This radiation appears whenever a charged particle crosses an interface separating media of different dielectric constants. The radiation is produced at the interface separating the two media and is strongly polarized in the plane containing the normal to the interface and the direction of the emitted photon. The chapter discusses the theoretical and experimental spectra from a self-supported, 66-nm-thick vacuum-deposited silver (Ag) foil when bombarded by 40-keV normally incident electrons. The radiation was observed at an angle of 30 degree from the film normal in the forward direction. The strong peak near 330 nm is the radiation from the excitation of the plasma oscillation in the metal foil. The theoretical curves were obtained from the Ritchie–Eldridge theory, using the optical constants measured from bulk Ag and from vacuum-evaporated Ag. Good agreement with the experimental spectrum is obtained if the optical constants of vacuum-evaporated Ag are used in the theory. Braundmeier and Arakawa have measured the transition radiation from a vacuum-evaporated Be foil deposited on a stainless steel substrate.
Confronting the Anthropocene and Contesting Neoliberalism: An Interview with William E. Connolly

William E. Connolly has been at the forefront of debates within contemporary political theory for over 40 years, consistently interrogating the way in which political, economic, and cultural practices have hindered the flourishing of deeper forms of democracy, pluralism, and economic justice. His most recent work brings critical attention to the devastating human and ecological consequences associated with neoliberal capitalism, particularly as it undergirds and overdetermines the current intensive and extensive transformations associated with the Anthropocene, the two hundred year period when industrial carbon dioxide emissions have altered the Holocene, gaining particular traction after the “Great Acceleration” of the 1950s.
Other Trace Elements

The bluish white, lustrous, very brittle metal (atom. no. 51, atom. wt. 121.75, specific gravity 6.69, melting pt. 631 °C) is found in nature in more than 100 minerals. However, only about one dozen ores are commercially important, such as Sb oxides and sulfides, and complex Cu—, Pb—, and Hg—Sb sulfides, the most important of which is stibnite (Sb2S3). It also occurs with sphalerite, pyrite, and galena and is found in minor amounts in Hg deposits. In nature, it occurs primarily in the III oxidation state.
Blockage of abasic site repair enhances antitumor efficacy of 1,3-bis-(2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea in colon tumor xenografts

Methoxyamine (MX) has been shown to potentiate the antitumor effect of temozolomide (TMZ) in human tumor xenograft models. This potentiation is due to the reactivity of MX with apurinic/pyrimidinic (AP) sites in DNA, which are formed following DNA glycosylase removal of TMZ-induced methyl-purine adducts. MX-bound AP sites cannot be further processed by base excision repair (BER), resulting in cell death. On the basis of this finding, we investigated in vivo whether MX enhanced therapeutic efficacy of other agents, such as 1,3-bis-(2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea (BCNU) that generates AP sites during DNA repair. Nude mice carrying human colon tumor xenografts, HCT116 and HCT116-Ch3, were treated by a single injection (i.p) of BCNU alone (30 mg/kg) or MX (2 mg/kg) combined with BCNU. The effect on tumor growth of BCNU alone was very moderate. Combined administration of MX and BCNU produced significant inhibition of tumor growth. Tumor growth delays were 14 ± 3 days in HCT116 and 16 ± 2 days in HCT116-Ch3 tumors, respectively ( P < 0.05 versus control or BCNU alone groups). Similar results were also observed in SW480 and DLD1 tumors. Importantly, no systemic toxicity was noted with BCNU and MX. In contrast, BCNU (at dose of 25 mg/kg) combined with O 6-benzylguanine (BG), an inhibitor of O 6-alkylguanine-DNA alkyltransferase (AGT) being tested in clinical trials, caused toxic death in all treated mice. However, a lower dose BCNU (10 mg/kg) combined with BG and MX had significant antitumor effect without toxic death. Thus, targeting BER with MX is a promising strategy to improve the antitumor activity of BCNU and perhaps other DNA-damaging agents.
Rich Source-Side Context for Statistical Machine Translation

We explore the augmentation of statistical machine translation models with features of the context of each phrase to be translated. This work extends several existing threads of research in statistical MT, including the use of context in example-based machine translation (Carl and Way, 2003) and the incorporation of word sense disambiguation into a translation model (Chan et al., 2007). The context features we consider use surrounding words and part-of-speech tags, local syntactic structure, and other properties of the source language sentence to help predict each phrase's translation. Our approach requires very little computation beyond the standard phrase extraction algorithm and scales well to large data scenarios. We report significant improvements in automatic evaluation scores for Chinese-to-English and English-to-German translation, and also describe our entry in the WMT-08 shared task based on this approach.
A Feedback, Runtime Technique for Scaling the Frequency in GPU Architectures

This paper presents a dynamic frequency scaling (DFS) technique, PIDDFS, targeting on real-time applications running on GPU platforms. PIDDFS technique applies a feedback controlling algorithm, Proportional-Integral-Derivative (PID), to scale the frequencies of core domain and DRAM domains based on memory access statistics. The major goal of PIDDFS is minimizing the energy consumption while the memory traffic is intensive or even causes the pipeline to stall. Performance can also be improved via increasing the frequency while the memory traffic is in a starving status. Based on the feedback, closed-loop controlling model with proper leading and lagging phases, PIDDFS can respond timely towards the variations during runtime and ignore the insignificant noise that causes unnecessary frequency adjustments. The proposed technique has been simulated on GPGPU-Sim, a cycle-level simulator of GPU architecture and power savings have been modeled by GPUWattch. According to the benchmark simulation result, a power saving of more than 23% with a performance improvement of 4% is achieved at the same time. Stalled cycles caused by saturation of memory request queues are reduced over 40%.
Socioeconomic inequalities in indicator scores for diabetes: poor quality or poor measures?

Hippisley-Cox et al report on scores for quality indicators for diabetes among a large number of UK patients and practices and how these vary depending on sex, ethnicity, and material deprivation.1 For many of the indicators, scores were worse for women and worse in practices with a high proportion of ethnic patients and those with high levels of material deprivation. This revelation of worse measures of care for women, poor people, and people from ethnic minority groups is not unique; there is a robust literature in America showing these same findings across numerous conditions,2 3 and similar findings have been reported in England.4 The question relevant to policy, particularly in light of …
Simultaneous Multisite Mapping Studies During Induced Atrial Fibrillation in the Sterile Pericarditis Model Insights Into the Mechanism of its Maintenance

Background Chronic atrial fibrillation (AF) is thought to be due to multiple, simultaneously circulating wavelets. In the canine sterile pericarditis model, the mechanisms of maintenance of AF are not yet understood. Methods and Results During six induced AF episodes in six dogs with sterile pericarditis, 372 unipolar electrograms were recorded simultaneously from an electrode array placed around both atrial free walls, along with 10 to 24 electrodes from the atrial septum, by use of a multiplexing system. Activation maps during 12 consecutive 100-ms windows were analyzed from an episode of sustained AF in each dog (mean duration, 32±24 minutes). In two dogs, two such activation maps during the same episode of AF were analyzed. During AF, multiple unstable reentrant circuits (mean number, 1.4±0.1 per 100-ms analysis window) with very short cycle lengths (mean, 111±8 ms) present primarily in the atrial septum and right atrium were responsible for maintenance of AF. The unstable reentrant circuits frequentl...
Optical frequency comb generation from aluminum nitride microring resonator

Aluminum nitride (AlN) is an appealing nonlinear optical material for on-chip wavelength conversion. Here we report optical frequency comb generation from high-quality-factor AlN microring resonators integrated on silicon substrates. By engineering the waveguide structure to achieve near-zero dispersion at telecommunication wavelengths and optimizing the phase matching for four-wave mixing, frequency combs are generated with a single-wavelength continuous-wave pump laser. Further, the Kerr coefficient (n2) of AlN is extracted from our experimental results.
Functional anergy in a subpopulation of naive B cells from healthy humans that express autoreactive immunoglobulin receptors

Self-reactive B cells not controlled by receptor editing or clonal deletion may become anergic. We report that fully mature human B cells negative for surface IgM and retaining only IgD are autoreactive and functionally attenuated (referred to as naive IgD+IgM− B cells [BND]). These BND cells typically make up 2.5% of B cells in the peripheral blood, have antibody variable region genes in germline (unmutated) configuration, and, by all current measures, are fully mature. Analysis of 95 recombinant antibodies expressed from the variable genes of single BND cells demonstrated that they are predominantly autoreactive, binding to HEp-2 cell antigens and DNA. Upon B cell receptor cross-linkage, BND cells have a reduced capacity to mobilize intracellular calcium or phosphorylate tyrosines, demonstrating that they are anergic. However, intense stimulation causes BND cells to fully respond, suggesting that these cells could be the precursors of autoantibody secreting plasma cells in autoimmune diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus or rheumatoid arthritis. This is the first identification of a distinct mature human B cell subset that is naturally autoreactive and controlled by the tolerizing mechanism of functional anergy.
Shielding Properties of Thick Conducting Cylindrical Shells with an Obliquely Incident Plane Wave

The shielding properties of a thick circular cylindril shell of finite conductivity is analyzed for the case of an obliquely incident plane wave. The results show that the apparent radius of the cylinder is contracted as compared to the normal incidence case.
Orientation of the modulated phases in the rhombohedral system

Abstract The dependence of the elastic free energy per unit volume on the direction of the composition fluctuation occurring during spinodal decomposition of rhombohedral systems is calculated. The results remove a discrepancy previously noted in the literature.
Cholesterol and its derivatives, are the principal steroids isolated from the leech species Hirudo medicinalis

Steroids were isolated from the blood-sucking leech species Hirudo medicinalis and their structure was studied with one- and two-dimensional NMR spectroscopy (DQF-COSY and HMQC), GC-MS and ESI-MS spectrometry. Fractionating leech lipid using silicic acid chromatography led to the isolation of cholesterol in an early chloroform-eluted peak. Only minor traces of cholest-4-en-3-one, 4 beta-methylcholesterol, and sitosterol were present. The subsequent acetone-eluted fraction contained steroidtriols that were further purified by preparative TLC; these included cholest-7-ene-3,5,6 triol, cholest-4,7-diene-3,6,15 triol and to a lesser amount, cholestane-3,5,6 triol. A developmental study on cholesterol content in the leech showed that it is also the principal steroid in embryonic and freshly hatched leeches prior to feeding. The abundance of cholesterol, comprising approximately 5% of the total leech lipid, suggests that H. medicinalis, a blood sucking leech, has adapted itself fully to its mammalian host in terms of its steroid content. It remains to be seen whether lipids are directly transferred from the host to the parasite or whether leeches have evolved mechanisms to synthesize their own steroids.
Severely Impaired Urinary Concentrating Ability in Transgenic Mice Lacking Aquaporin-1 Water Channels

Water channel aquaporin-1 (AQP1) is strongly expressed in kidney in proximal tubule and descending limb of Henle epithelia and in vasa recta endothelia. The grossly normal phenotype in human subjects deficient in AQP1 (Colton null blood group) and in AQP4 knockout mice has suggested that aquaporins (other than the vasopressin-regulated water channel AQP2) may not be important in mammalian physiology. We have generated transgenic mice lacking detectable AQP1 by targeted gene disruption. In kidney proximal tubule membrane vesicles from knockout mice, osmotic water permeability was reduced 8-fold compared with vesicles from wild-type mice. Although the knockout mice were grossly normal in terms of survival, physical appearance, and organ morphology, they became severely dehydrated and lethargic after water deprivation for 36 h. Body weight decreased by 35 +/- 2%, serum osmolality increased to >500 mOsm, and urinary osmolality (657 +/- 59 mOsm) did not change from that before water deprivation. In contrast, wild-type and heterozygous mice remained active after water deprivation, body weight decreased by 20-22%, serum osmolality remained normal (310-330 mOsm), and urine osmolality rose to >2500 mOsm. Urine [Na+] in water-deprived knockout mice was <10 mM, and urine osmolality was not increased by the V2 agonist DDAVP. The results suggest that AQP1 knockout mice are unable to create a hypertonic medullary interstitium by countercurrent multiplication. AQP1 is thus required for the formation of a concentrated urine by the kidney.
An approximate analysis of the LRU and FIFO buffer replacement schemes

In this paper, we develop approximate analytical models for predicting the buffer hit probability under the Least Recently Used (LRU) and First In First Out (FIFO) buffer replacement policies under the independent reference model. In the case of the analysis of the LRU policy, the computational complexity for estimating the buffer hit probability is O(KB) where B is the size of the buffer and K denotes the number of items having distinct access probabilities. In the case of the FIFO policy, the solution algorithm is iterative and the computational complexity of each iteration is O(K). Results from these models are compared to exact results for models originally developed by King [KING71] for small values of the buffer size, B, and the total number of items sharing the buffer, D. Results are also compared with results from a simulation for large values of B and D. In most cases, the error is extremely small (less than 0.1%) for both LRU and FIFO, and a maximum error of 3% is observed for very small buffer size (less than 5) when the access probabilities are extremely skewed. To demonstrate the usefulness of the model, we consider two applications. In our first application, we compare the LRU and FIFO policies to an optimal static buffer allocation policy for a database consisting of two classes of data items. We observe that the performance of LRU is close to that of the optimal allocation. As the optimal allocation requires knowledge of the access probabilities, the LRU policy is preferred when this information is unavailable. We also observe that the LRU policy always performs better than the FIFO policy in our experiments. In our second application, we show that if multiple independent reference streams on mutually disjoint sets of data compete for the same buffer, it is better to partition the buffer using an optimal allocation policy than to share a common buffer.