cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Electrostatic Doping-Based All GNR Tunnel FET: An Energy-Efficient Design for Power Electronics

Electrostatic doping (ED)-based graphene nanoribbon (GNR) tunneling field-effect transistor (TFET) with trigate design is studied. The transfer and output characteristics of the GNR-TFET are explored using extended Huckel semiempirical method. An ${I}_{ \mathrm{\scriptscriptstyle ON}}/{I}_{ \mathrm{\scriptscriptstyle OFF}}$ ratio as high as 1014 is obtained with the ON-state current on the order of $10^{\textsf {3}}~\mu \text{A}/\mu \text{m}$ . A sub-60 mv/decade subthreshold swing is also observed (35 mv/decade). Armchair GNR with widths of 11 and 9 dimmers is found to be the best geometry to obtain a high ${I}_{ \mathrm{\scriptscriptstyle ON}}/{I}_{ \mathrm{\scriptscriptstyle OFF}}$ ratio, and channel length of greater than 6.9 nm suppresses short-channel effect. The scaling behavior of the ED-based GNR-TFET is also studied. It is observed that a smaller gate-to-gate distance facilitate large ON-state current and small OFF-state current. Moreover, it is shown that for a high-quality switching performance, the lowest required built-in gate voltage must provide enough energy differential ${\Delta } \text{E}$ between the source- and drain-side energy bands.
Instruments assessing parental responsive feeding in children ages birth to 5 years: A systematic review

Responsive feeding of young children has been identified as a protective factor against the development of childhood obesity. Instruments developed to assess responsive feeding by parents of children birth to 5 years of age over the past 17 years were reviewed using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) checklist. Four electronic databases (PubMed, CINAHL, PsycINFO, and Scopus) were used to search for relevant articles to include at least one parental responsive feeding category (Food Rewards, Pressure to Eat, Parental Control of Intake, Emotional Feeding, or Responsiveness to Cues/Child Autonomy), development, validation, or reliability of the instrument, and evaluated in at least one child between ages birth to 5 years old. The final review included 33 individual responsive feeding related instruments. Risk of bias for each article was assessed using the Risk of Bias in Non-randomized Studies (ROBINS-I) assessment tool. Of the 15 instruments intended for birth to 2-year-olds and the 28 intended for 3- to 5-year-olds, only three instruments showed rigorous validation and reliability testing (Feeding Practices and Structure Questionnaire, Comprehensive Feeding Practices Questionnaire, and Family Food Behavior Survey). The most commonly reported psychometric testing was construct validity and internal reliability. There were limited instruments intended for young children (birth to 2 years), low-income, diverse racial and ethnic groups (Hispanic and non-Hispanic black), and fathers or other caregivers. The most frequently assessed feeding practices included Pressure to Eat, Parental Control, and Food Rewards, but none of the instruments assessed all aspects of responsive feeding. This review identified the need for more comprehensive instruments that measure all aspects of responsive feeding, the need for further testing in diverse populations, and further validity and reliability testing.
The Effectiveness of Selective Stem Cell Placement on Gait Performance in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis: a Phase I Clinical Trial

This report describes a Phase I clinical trial of a novel selective stem cell placement (SSCP) protocol using autologous bone marrow mononuclear stem cells (BM-MNSCs) to treat patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) with post-operative functional changes measured by gait performance. Previous studies have demonstrated that clinically significant gait deviations occur at all stages of MS that involve walking. Consequently, to determine the functional benefit of SSCP, the timed 25-foot walk (T25FW) was administered to 31 MS patients before and after treatment. The time and number of steps taken to complete the test significantly decreased post-intervention. This suggests that recovery of function in MS patients is possible and that SSCP using BM-MNSCs should be considered for future clinical trials as a possible treatment for MS. Study limitations and directions for future research are also discussed.
Radiotherapy-Compatible Robotic System for Multi-Landmark Positioning in Head and Neck Cancer Treatments

The spine flexibility creates one of the most significant challenges to proper positioning in radiation therapy of head and neck cancers. Even though existing immobilization techniques can reduce the positioning uncertainty, residual errors (2–3 mm along the cervical spine) cannot be mitigated by single translation-based approaches. Here, we introduce a fully radiotherapy-compatible electro-mechanical robotic system, capable of positioning a patient’s head with submillimeter accuracy in clinically acceptable spatial constraints. Key mechanical components, designed by finite element analysis, are fabricated with 3D printing and a cyclic loading test of the printed materials captures a great mechanical robustness. Measured attenuation of most printed components is lower than analytic estimations and radiographic imaging shows no visible artifacts, implying full radio-compatibility. The new system evaluates the positioning accuracy with an anthropomorphic skeletal phantom and optical tracking system, which shows a minimal residual error (0.7 ± 0.3 mm). This device also offers an accurate assessment of the post correction error of aligning individual regions when the head and body are individually positioned. Collectively, the radiotherapy-compatible robotic system enables multi-landmark setup to align the head and body independently and accurately for radiation treatment, which will significantly reduce the need for large margins in the lower neck.
Membrane Associated TGF-β1 on Leukemia Blast-Derived Microvesicles In Sera of Acute Myeloid Leukemia Patients Suppresses NK Cell Function

Abstract Abstract 502 Natural killer (NK) cell cytotoxicity in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is significantly decreased relative to that in normal controls (NC). TGF-β1 is a potent inhibitor of NK cell cytotoxicity. We considered the possibility that suppression of NK cell activity in AML patients is mediated by leukemia blast-derived microvesicles (MV) via TGF-β1. Sera of 19 patients newly diagnosed with AML prior to any treatment were used to isolate MV by ultracentrifugation. MV from AML patients were positive for the blast-associated markers (CD33, CD34, CD117) by flow cytometry and for membrane-associated TGFb-1 in Western blots, whereas neither these markers nor TGFb-1 were detected in MV from NC. The protein content of blast-derived MV was higher (p Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Amino Acid Transport in Suspension-cultured Plant Cells

The carrier system which transports L-leucine (L-leu) into suspension-culturedNicotiana tabacum L. cv. Wisconsin 38 cells appeared to be constitutive since it was always present and was not induced by L-leu even in nitrogen-starved cells. However, L-leu uptake rates for cells grown in medium containing L-leu were transiently reduced as a result of either transinhibition or repression. Growth-phase cells appeared to have more L-leu carriers per unit area of membrane than stationary-phase cells, and for this reason growing-phase cells exhibit higher L-leu uptake rates. These higher rates reflect a physiological or developmental condition since growth-phase cells did not dramatically change their L-leu uptake rates when subcultured, while stationary-phase cells doubled their rates within 6 h after being subcultured. Cells grown in a medium lacking a useable carbon souce had uptake rates higher than control rates for several days. These higher rates peaked after about 1 d and then decreased over the next several days. Cells grown in a medium lacking a nitrogen souce responded similarly except that the increased rates peaked after about 3 d and persisted longer. Kinetic analysis of uptake rates in cells grown without a carbon souce for 1 d or without a nitrogen souce for 3 d indicated that the L-leu carrier had Kms similar to those of untreated cells. These results indicate that cultured tobacco cells respond to their environment by increasing or decreasing the number or activity of kinetically similar L-leu carriers.
Masseteric-zygomatic nerve transfer for the management of eye closure-smile excursion synkinesis.

Abstract Objective The purpose of this study is to illustrate the efficacy of masseteric-to-zygomatic nerve transfer to address eye closure-smile excursion synkinesis after facial nerve paralysis. Background Synkinesis after facial nerve paralysis represents a wide range of facial movement disability. One manifestation is involuntary smiling with eye closure and a concomitant reduction of oral commissure movement with attempted smile (“frozen smile”) – arising as a result of aberrant fibers populating the zygomatic branch-muscle complex. This is a particularly difficult area to treat with conservative management. We propose a single-stage procedure to sever the dysfunctional zygomatic nerve and perform a masseteric-zygomatic nerve coaptation to recover a voluntary smile. Methods We present a case series of eight patients with eye closure/smile excursion synkinesis who underwent single-stage masseteric-zygomatic nerve transfer by a single surgeon. The surgical technique and indications for surgery were reviewed. Patients underwent facial movement analysis using Emotrics. Results We analyzed the pre- and post- surgical photographic images of 8 patients with synkinesis (7 female, 1 male). Masseteric-facial nerve transfer was performed from 18 months to 22 years after the initial facial paralysis. Eyelid and brow positioning were more symmetric after surgery, with discrepancy between affected and unaffected side decreasing from 2.1 to 1.0 mm (p Conclusions The masseteric-zygomatic nerve transfer is a useful technique for the treatment of eye closure/smile excursion synkinesis after failure of chemodenervation and/or physical therapy.
Molecular profiling of vitreous fluid by massively parallel sequencing: a case series.

Introduction In cases of suspected intraocular malignancy, vitreous may be the preferred pathologic sample; however, cellularity may be insufficient for definitive cytopathological diagnosis. Ancillary methodology to study vitreous fluid aspiration for mutational analysis may assist in treatment decisions. Materials and methods Three individual patient vitreous humor samples were received in the laboratory for mutation testing. The samples were collected during standard of care and analyzed for routine cytopathology. In each case, cytopathology was inconclusive and mutational analyses to support diagnostic suspicions were clinically requested. Based on the clinically and pathologically suspected diagnoses, an appropriate massively parallel sequencing assay previously validated for clinical use was performed using DNA extracted from vitreous samples that had previously undergone various processing. Nucleic acid yield was assessed by fluorometric or spectrophotometric methods, with yield ranging from 2.7 to 86.5 ng. Library preparations were performed using standard laboratory protocols. Results Two of the cases were suspicious for melanoma and a 50-gene solid tumor panel was performed. The third case was worrisome for vitreoretinal lymphoma and a 49-gene myeloid panel was performed. Conclusions In all cases, the molecular profiling assisted with the clinical assessment and/or management of each patient.
ESTABLISHMENT AND DETECTION OF ANIMAL DNA PROVIRUSES IN CELL CULTURE SYSTEMS

ABSTRACT. This paper reviews recent evidence that RNA animal viruses normally lacking reverse transcriptase activity can become established in eukaryotic cells as DNA copies under conditions of persistent infection and independent of viral gene expression. Two in vitro models of persistent infection with respiratory syncytial (RS) virus were developed: (A) HEp-2/RS cells obtained as the survivors of cytocidal infection with wild-type virus and which produced attenuated RS virus on a continuous basis; and, (B) Bovine embryonic kidney (BEK) cells latently infected with a temperature sensitive ( ts ) mutant which could be reactivated by co-cultivation or drug induction techniques. DNA capable of generating infectious RS virus in cell transfection experiments could be recovered from early but not late passages of the HEp-2/RS cells and from the BEK/RS ts carrier cells before they ultimately entered into growth senescence. A single RNA negative type ts mutant of influenza virus has been found to inconsistently establish latent infections of chicken cells at nonpermissive temperature with the appearance of DNA species that produces noninfectious hemagglutinin in transfected chicken cell cultures. Other recent reports indicate that the formation of DNA intermediates in persistently infected cells is a phenomenon that involves other riboviruses of positive and negative strand genome polarity such as Sindbis and measles virus. It is postulated that initiation of this event involves an RNA-dependent DNA polymerase of cellular or viral origin.
Dichloroacetate improves hepatic and systemic energy metabolism during sepsis

Dramatic metabolic reprogramming between an anabolic resistance and catabolic tolerance occurs within the immune system in response to systemic infection with the sepsis syndrome. While metabolic tissues such as the liver are subject to end-organ damage during sepsis and are the primary cause of sepsis death, how their metabolic and energy reprogramming during sepsis state ensures survival is unclear. Employing comprehensive metabolomic screening, targeted lipidomic screening, and transcriptional profiling in a mouse model of septic shock, we show that hepatocyte lipid metabolism, mitochondrial TCA energetics, and redox balance are significantly reprogramed after cecal ligation and puncture (CLP). We identify increases in TCA cycle metabolites citrate, cis-aconitate, and itaconate with reduced fumarate, elevated triglyceride synthesis, and lipid droplet accumulation in the septic hepatocytes. Transcription analysis of liver tissue supports and extends the hepatocyte findings. Plasma metabolomics show systemic hypoglycemia and increased concentrations of free fatty acids, ketones and corticosterone in parallel with liver reprogramming. Strikingly, the administration of the pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase (PDK) inhibitor dichloroacetate (DCA) reverses dysregulated hepatocyte and systemic metabolism and mitochondrial dysfunction. DCA administered during sepsis arrests anorexia and weight loss, restores V02 levels as an index of increased carbohydrate oxidation and promotes physical activity. We suggest that sepsis inflicts an energy demand and supply crisis with distinct shifts in hepatocyte and systemic mitochondrial function. Targeting the mitochondrial PDC/PDK energy homeostat rebalances life-threatening energy deregulation caused by bacterial sepsis.
Anti-Oppressive Social Work Research: Prioritising Refugee Voices in Kakuma Refugee Camp

Research studies with refugee young people (RYP) commonly recognise researchers’ theoretical and methodological approaches with respect to their work. Minimal scholarship, however, considers the pr...
Motor unit gains in treated spinal muscular atrophy patients

Over the last 5 years, three gene-targeting therapeutics have been approved for spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) including the splice switching oligonucleotide nusinersen in 2016, the gene therapy onasemnogene abepavovec in 2019 and the splice switching small molecule risdiplam in 2020. Although past and ongoing clinical trials demonstrate improvements in motor function scores in treated SMA patients of variable magnitude, the changes of motor neuron structure and function that underlie these clinical outcomes are unknown. In the paper by Kariyawasam et al 1 this knowledge gap is explored in 20 children with symptomatic SMA of various types, who were treated with nusinersen for 1–2 years in the commercial setting and evaluated sequentially with a novel motor unit …
The U.S. Veterans Health Administration national giant cell arteritis (GCA) database cohort: incident ophthalmic complications in biopsy-negative GCA patients

This study aimed to identify the incidence of ophthalmic complications of giant cell arteritis (GCA) among subjects with negative temporal artery biopsy (TAB) and to determine if duration of prednisone exposure relative to GCA diagnosis was associated with ophthalmic complications in TAB-negative subjects. The U.S. Veterans Health Administration (VHA) national database was queried for subjects between 1999 and 2017 with ICD-9/-10 diagnosis code for GCA, procedure code for TAB, and ICD-9/-10 diagnosis code for blindness, anterior or posterior ischemic optic neuropathy, or branch or central retinal artery occlusion. Pharmacy data regarding prednisone dispensation were collected. A Cox proportional hazard model was performed using ophthalmic complication by 1 year as the outcome variable in TAB-negative subjects, adjusting for age, TAB length, TAB laterality, and prednisone dose relative to GCA diagnosis date. Incident ophthalmic complication occurred by 1 year in 9.6% with positive TAB and in 6.2% with negative TAB. The majority of complications occurred within the first month for both groups. Compared to a reference group of prednisone initiation 0–14 days prior to GCA diagnosis, ophthalmic complications in TAB-negative subjects were significantly higher when prednisone initiation was delayed 14–28 days after GCA diagnosis. A substantial number of TAB-negative subjects accrued an incident ICD-9/-10 code for ophthalmologic complication within a year after diagnosis, most occurring within the first month. Delaying prednisone initiation 14–28 days after GCA diagnosis in TAB-negative subjects led to a 3.5-fold higher rate of ophthalmic events occurring by 1 year.
The Case for Institutional Capital

The important role that capital plays in economic growth cannot be understated. The magnitude of this importance is a function of the form of capital. The idea of capital has been extended first from physical capital to human capital and most recently to political or democratic capital. At the same time, there has been a growing body of work that identifies the importance of both political and economic institutions. This work has been greatly influenced by the development of institutional measures, such as the Fraser Institute's Economic Freedom of the World Index. This paper makes an argument to link the two ideas of capital and economic institutions, creating a measure of economic institutional capital similar to the political institutional capital of democratic capital. These two forms of institutional capital will then be employed in economic growth analysis.
Coding the Computing Continuum: Fluid Function Execution in Heterogeneous Computing Environments

Advances in network technologies have greatly decreased barriers to accessing physically distributed computers. This newfound accessibility coincides with increasing hardware specialization, creating exciting new opportunities to dispatch workloads to the best resource for a specific purpose, rather than those that are closest or most easily accessible. We present Delta, a service designed to intelligently schedule function-based workloads across a distributed set of heterogeneous computing resources. Delta implements an extensible architecture in which different predictors and scheduling algorithms can be integrated to provide dynamically evolving estimates of function execution times on different resources—estimates that can be used to determine the most appropriate location for execution. We describe predictors for function runtime, data transfer time, and cold-start resource provisioning and configuration delay; dynamic learning methods that update predictor models over time; and scheduling strategies that take into account both function and endpoint information. We show that these methods can halve workload makespan when compared with a strategy that selects the fastest resource, and decrease makespan by a factor of five when compared to a round robin strategy, when deployed on a heterogeneous testbed with resources ranging from a Raspberry Pi to a GPU node in an academic cloud.
A simple model for the viscosity of rhyolites as a function of temperature, pressure and water content

Abstract In order to better constrain the viscosity ( η ) of high-silica rhyolite at low to moderate water contents ( X ), which represent water saturation at near-surface pressure–temperature ( P – T ) conditions, we made 211 viscosity measurements on Mono Craters rhyolites containing between 0.01 and 1.2 wt.% H 2 O, at temperatures between 796 and 1774 K using parallel plate and concentric cylinder methods at atmospheric pressure. We then developed and calibrated a new empirical model for the rhyolitic melt viscosity, where non-linear variations due to temperature ( T ), and water content ( X ) are nested within linear and exponential dependencies of log η on pressure ( P ). The model was fitted to a total of 691 data points including published data on rhyolites, granites and haplogranites. The significance of model parameters was evaluated at the 95% confidence level. The model is simple enough for use in numerical models of conduit or lava flow dynamics: log η = - 4.40 + 11609 - 1248 ln ( w + 0.17 ) T - ( 140.1 - 62.3 ln ( w + 0.17 ) ) - P 0.00082 + 0.000051 w - 0.95 T where η is viscosity in Pa s, w is water content in wt.%, P is pressure in MPa and T is temperature in K. The root mean square error (RMSE) between the model and the 691 data points used in calibration is 0.43 log units, and analysis of the residuals shows that the model fits all modeled regions of P – T – X (H 2 O) space to a similar degree of quality. In both regards, the new model outperforms previous models for rhyolite viscosity. Multi-level modeling enabled us to show that higher temperatures and higher water contents both independently favor a more negative pressure-dependence of viscosity. The model suggests that the effect of pressure on viscosity undergoes a transition from a positive to a negative effect as temperatures rise above ∼1175 K for anhydrous rhyolites, and above ∼865 K for melts containing 5 wt.% H 2 O. We validated the model by examination of the few published viscosity data where P is varied but T and X (H 2 O) remain approximately constant. Experimental constraints have led to spurious correlations between P , T , X (H 2 O) and η in viscosity datasets, so that models may struggle to correctly resolve the individual effects of P , T and X (H 2 O), and especially their cross-correlations.
Projective Controls for Disturbance Attenuation in LSS Systems

A design methodology is presented which addresses three main issues in the control of Large Space Structures: improving the disturbance attenuation of the system. implementing the design as a low order output feedback controller and ensuring that the controller is robust to modeling uncertainty. The method developed to solve this problem makes use of projective controls. A new frequency domain characterization of the disturbance attenuation properties of projective controllers is developed in order to use design freedoms in the controllers to achieve robust disturbance attenuation. A 20 mode LSS example demonstrates the use of this methodology.
Channel characterization for unmanned aircraft systems

Unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), also known as unmanned aerial vehicles, or by the misnomer “drones,” are seeing explosive growth, and this growth is expected to continue for the foreseeable future. Hence numerous entities are involved with research, design, and testing to ensure safe and reliable UAS operation in the worldwide airspace. Since many UAS will be small and highly maneuverable, air-ground channel conditions will differ from—and often be more challenging than—those of traditional piloted aircraft, where ground sites are in open areas with tall antenna towers. Thus new research is required to accurately characterize the air-ground channel. We provide motivation for accurate air-ground channel characterization and modeling, and briefly define the main characteristics of the air-ground channel. Various channel modeling options are described. We provide example air-ground channel measurement results from our work with NASA, discuss initial air-ground channel models, and future work.
Nuclear RNA polymerases: role of general initiation factors and cofactors in eukaryotic transcription.

Publisher Summary This chapter reviews some of the many factors that function in the three RNA polymerase systems, referring to studies in eukaryotes ranging from yeast to mammalian cells. It is clear that significant advances have made it possible to study fundamental transcription mechanisms in systems reconstituted with highly purified RNA polymerases and general transcription factors, many of which are available as functional recombinant proteins. Further, systems of variable purity can be used to study the mechanism of action of gene-specific activators, most notably with model promoters and activators. However, a major challenge will be to extend the analyses to natural promoters and activators, as well as to natural chromatin templates; and this will undoubtedly demand the identification, purification, and characterization of still other (co)factors—at least in the Pol II systems. In addition, the identification of multicomponent complexes of RNA polymerases, general factors, and cofactors necessitates that the physiological relevance of these complexes be further investigated and that the preinitiation complex assembly and activation pathways worked out with isolated components be evaluated accordingly.
The crystallization of calcium carbonate: IV. The effect of magnesium, strontium and sulfate ions☆

Abstract The spontaneous crystallization of calcium carbonate (calcite) from solution at 25°C was studied in the presence of magnesium, strontium, and sulfate ions. Supersaturated solutions containing 10 -3 M sulfate ion, 10 -4 M strontium ion, or 10 -4 M magnesium ion yielded calcite crystals with a morphology identical with that obtained in the absence of these ions. The addition of 10 -3 M magnesium ion resulted in calcite crystallites with a poorly developed crystal habit which gradually improves with aging. Evidence from X-ray powder diffraction, chemical analysis and scanning electron microscopy of the precipitates formed in the presence of 10 -3 M magnesium ion indicates that calcium carbonate formation involves an unstable amorphous phase that undergoes subsequent transformation to aragonite adn calcite. The crystal growth and morphologic changes of calcite crystals produced by 10 -3 M magnesium ions for calcium ions in the calcite crystal lattice.
Treatment of massive bleeding with prothrombin complex concentrate: argument for

See also Godier A, Susen S, Samama C-M. Treatment of massive bleeding with prothrombin complex concentrate: argument against. This issue, pp 2592–5.
A randomized controlled trial of the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of a texting intervention on medication adherence in adults prescribed oral anti-cancer agents: study protocol.

Aim The aim of this study was to report a study protocol that examines feasibility, preliminary efficacy and satisfaction of a text message intervention on the outcome of medication adherence in adult patients prescribed oral anti-cancer agents. Background Administration of oral anti-cancer agents occurs in the home setting, requiring patients to self-manage the regimen as prescribed. However, many barriers to medication adherence exist: regimens are often complex, with cycling of two or more medications; side effects of treatment; most cancer patients are older with comorbid conditions and competing demands; and cognitive decline and forgetfulness may occur. Research indicates patients miss nearly one-third of the prescribed oral anti-cancer agent dosages. Text message interventions have been shown to improve medication adherence in chronic conditions other than cancer. However, a majority of those patients were less than 50 years of age and most cancer patients are diagnosed later in life. Design A two-group randomized controlled trial with repeated measures. Methods Seventy-five adult patients newly prescribed an oral anti-cancer agent will be recruited (project funded in April 2013) from community cancer centres and a specialty pharmacy. Participants will be randomized to either a control group (n = 25; usual care) or an intervention group (n = 50; usual care plus text messages timed to medication regimen). Outcome measures include: medication adherence, feasibility and satisfaction with the intervention. Data will be collected over 8 weeks: baseline, weekly and exit. Discussion Standardized text message intervention protocol and detailed study procedures have been developed in this study to improve medication adherence.
Patent life of antiretroviral drugs approved in the US from 1987 to 2007.

Abstract This study analyzes the effective patent life of antiretroviral (ARV) new molecular entities (NMEs) approved for marketing in the United States (US) between 1987 and 2007. The study includes all NMEs approved during the study period with at least one patent listed in the Orange Book (OB). Drugs discontinued from the market were excluded from the analysis. Data sources are the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the US Patent and Trademark Office. A comparison between the effective patent life of ARV NMEs and NMEs from other therapeutic classes was performed. The first and last patents were used to estimate the minimum and maximum effective patent life of NMEs. Group differences were assessed using group comparison t-tests, Chi-Square and Fishers’ exact tests. The FDA approved 547 NMEs during the study period; 153 NMEs did not have a patent listed in the OB or were discontinued from the US market. The patent analysis included 22 ARV NMEs and 372 other NMEs. ARV MNEs had a range from 1 to 15 ...
Efficient Intertemporal Utility Pricing under Uncertainty

Electric utilities today face increasing competition from substitutes for utility-generated power. As a result, utilities are being forced to reevaluate their pricing policies to address competition from other fuels and potential customer ‘bypass’ of the utility. This paper extends the analysis of second-best utility pricing to explicitly account for both the short- and long-run price responses of customers with competitive alternatives to utility-generated power. The presence of long-run substitution opportunities reduces the optimal percentage mark-up of price over marginal cost for noncore customers. Uncertainty concerning the substitution response of noncore electricity customers also tends to reduce the optimal price mark-up. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Redesigning primary care to tackle the global epidemic of noncommunicable disease.

Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) have become the major contributors to death and disability worldwide. Nearly 80% of the deaths in 2010 occurred in low- and middle-income countries, which have experienced rapid population aging, urbanization, rise in smoking, and changes in diet and activity.Yet the health systems of low- and middle-income countries, historically oriented to infectious disease and often severely underfunded, are poorly prepared for the challenge of caring for people with cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer, and chronic respiratory disease.We have discussed how primary care can be redesigned to tackle the challenge of NCDs in resource-constrained countries. We suggest that four changes will be required: integration of services, innovative service delivery, a focus on patients and communities, and adoption of new technologies for communication.
Lysosomal enzymes in aquatic species—III. Zonal centrifugation studies of thermally acclimated skeletal muscle lysosomes of rainbow trout, salmo gairdneri☆

Abstract 1. 1. Fractionation of total muscle homogenates by rate zonal centrifugation shows a slow sedimenting population peak of acid hydrolases around fraction four and a fast sedimenting population with the mitochondria against the gradient cushion. 2. 2. Cold and warm acclimated muscle lysosomes have a significant increase in acid hydrolase activity against the gradient cushion. 3. 3. Isopycnic zonal centrifugation shows that 12°C acclimated muscle lysosomes are as dense as the mitochondria having a modal equilibrium density peak at 1·18. 4. 4. Cold and warm acclimated muscle lysosomes have modal equilibrium densities, less dense (1·17) and more dense (1·19), respectively, than optimum acclimated muscle lysosomes. 5. 5. The response of warm acclimated muscle cells was the formation of autophagic vacuoles.
Influence of AlN nucleation layer growth conditions on quality of GaN layers deposited on (0 0 0 1) sapphire

Abstract The influence of AlN nucleation layer (NL) growth conditions on the quality of GaN layer deposited on (0 0 0 1) sapphire by organometallic chemical vapor phase epitaxy (OMVPE) has been investigated by X-ray diffraction, atomic force microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. Growth pressure, temperature and time were varied in this study. Results indicate that there exists an optimal thickness of the NL is required for optimal growth. Both thin and thick NLs are not conducive to the growth of high-quality GaN layers. Arguments have been developed to rationalize these observations.
Hard disc bose gas

Abstract It is pointed out that the integral whose asymptotic properties were investigated in a recent note by Hines et al., has a simple exact expression which should be useful for extending their results.
Yucca Mountain repository approved

At a quiet White House ceremony on 23 July, U.S. President George W. Bush signed into law House Joint Resolution 87, which approves the site at Yucca Mountain, Nevada, for the development of a repository for disposing of high-level radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel. White House spokesman Ari Fleischer called the signing “an important step forward on the way to a comprehensive policy for dealing with our nation's nuclear waste.”
With strings attached: Philanthropic funding and greater inclusiveness

Abstract A dominant theme of the philanthropy research literature is conservative funder influence on social movements. In this paper we look at a “reverse” case, focusing on a philanthropic funder using financial clout to move non-profit organizations in a more liberal direction. We interviewed a random sample of 48 executive directors from the 634 non-profit organizations that were funded recently by the Gay & Lesbian Fund for Colorado (GLFC). GLFC required grantees to change personnel policies toward greater inclusiveness and to publicly acknowledge GLFC funding. Directors responded to interview questions on reactions to sponsorship and changes in diversity and inclusivity. Results show retaliation, a serious form of resistance or pushback, was rare and is more common from external sources, especially donors, than internal sources (e.g. staff; p
Housing Investment and Residential Land Supply in Japan: An Asset Market Approach

Abstract This article investigates Japan's housing market using an equilibrium market approach based on both theoretical and empirical perspectives. An equilibrium model of the housing market is developed by combining the consumption capital asset pricing model with the supply functions of housing and residential land as determined by the housing industry. To verify the model's results, the Japanese housing market is subsequently estimated via Hansen's (1982) generalized method of moments, after which simulations are performed that enable examination of the main factors affecting housing investment. Findings suggest that fluctuations in housing investment during the 1970s occurred as a result of a decline in productivity caused by the 1973 oil crisis, with its downward trend in the first half of the 1980s being due to the decrease in the growth rate of Japan's adult population. J. Japan Int. Econ., March 1997, 11 (1), pp. 27–54. Department of Economics, Northwestern University, 2003 Sheridan Road, Evanston, Illinois 60208.
The Effect of Neighborhood Characteristics and Spatial Spillover on Urban Juvenile Delinquency and Recidivism

The objective of this research is to investigate the relationship between neighborhood characteristics and juvenile delinquency and recidivism (the proportion of delinquents who commit crimes following completion of a court-ordered program) in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. We acquired data on collective efficacy, socioeconomic character, and crime for input into multivariate ordinary least squares (OLS) and spatial econometric regression analyses. Both delinquency and recidivism are concentrated in impoverished neighborhoods with violent crime, although this relationship is far stronger for delinquency than for recidivism. After accounting for the influence of crime and poverty, OLS regression results suggest that African American neighborhoods tend to exhibit higher delinquency rates, but lower recidivism rates, than other neighborhoods. Spatial lag models of recidivism rate indicate the presence of spatial spillover effects, which renders the influence of neighborhood racial character on recidivism rate n...
Electrochemical vehicle power plants

The requirement of high energy density for vehicle applications leads to the selection of battery systems made up of light, highly reactive metals found in the upper-left-hand corner of the periodic table for one electrode and the light oxidizers found in the top-right-hand corner of the periodic table for the other electrode. Many of these reactive materials will react with water and hence water-based electrolytes cannot be used in such systems. Electric vehicles also require the battery to have a high power density, which further limits the use of water-based electrolytes. The parameters relevant to achieving high-energy, high-power batteries are discussed in general terms and several systems presently being studied are reviewed.
Glycomics analysis of serum: a potential new biomarker for ovarian cancer?

We recently reported the use of matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization (MALDI) Fourier transformation mass spectrometry (FTMS) techniques to identify unique glycan markers in ovarian cancer cell lines which may be biomarkers for diagnosis of ovarian cancer. Glycan markers and CA125 levels are compared in a series of ovarian cancer patients and normal control subjects. Oligosaccharides (OS) were cleaved from the serum glycoproteins and isolated using solid phase extraction. MALDI–FTMS was then used to identify unique mass spectrometry (MS) peaks. Sensitivity, specificity, and the area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve were calculated to measure the test performance of glycan markers. Sixteen unique OS MS signals were identified in ovarian cancer patient sera. Their additive mass/charge intensities were used to determine their presence or absence. The ovarian cancer patients varied in their disease status, with initial cancer stages ranging from IC to IV. Forty-four of 48 patients had detectable OS signals, with CA125 values between 2 and 17,044. Four patients had undetectable signals and their CA125 ranged between 7 and 10. Twenty-three of 24 control subjects had no detectable glycan markers, with CA125 levels between 10 and 64. Sensitivity and specificity values were determined to be 91.6% and 95.8%, respectively. The area under the ROC curve for all 72 samples was 0.954 (95% CI: 0.896, 1.0) using the glycomics assay, which was superior to CA125 in discriminating between cases and controls. This preliminary study suggests that glycomics profiling may be useful for the detection of ovarian cancer.
Gravitational waves and the scale of inflation

We revisit alternative mechanisms of gravitational wave production during inflation and argue that they generically emit a non-negligible amount of scalar fluctuations. We find the scalar power is larger than the tensor power by a factor of order $1/\epsilon^2$. For an appreciable tensor contribution the associated scalar emission completely dominates the zero-point fluctuations of inflaton, resulting in a tensor-to-scalar ratio $r\sim \epsilon^2$. A more quantitative result can be obtained if one further assumes that gravitational waves are emitted by localized sub-horizon processes, giving $r_{\rm max} \simeq 0.3 \epsilon^2$. However, $\epsilon$ is generally time dependent, and this result for $r$ depends on its instantaneous value during the production of the sources, rather than just its average value, somewhat relaxing constraints from the tilt $n_s$. We calculate the scalar 3-point correlation function in the same class of models and show that non-Gaussianity cannot be made arbitrarily small, i.e. $f_{NL} \geq 1$, independently of the value of $r$. Possible exceptions in multi-field scenarios are discussed.
Abstract 2947: Knockdown of splicing factor SRp20 induces apoptosis in ovarian tumor cells

Proceedings: AACR 101st Annual Meeting 2010‐‐ Apr 17‐21, 2010; Washington, DC SRp20 is a member of the serine/arginine-rich (SR) protein family with multiple functions in RNA processing such as alternative splicing and polyadnylation. Our previous studies found that SRp20, together with another splicing factor, polypyrimidine tract-binding protein (PTB), is up-regulated in human ovarian tumors compared to normal ovarian surface epithelia (He, X et al, Clin Cancer Res, 10:4652). In order to determine whether overexpressed SRp20 is required for ovarian tumor cell growth, we studied the effects of SRp20 knockdown in several ovarian cancer cell lines. The knockdown of SRp20 expression was achieved by lentivirus-delivered, doxycycline (Dox)-induced siRNAs. We identified two effective siRNAs against SRp20, SRp20si1 and SRp20si2, which can suppress SRp20 expression by approximately 50% and 90%, respectively. In ovarian cancer cell lines A2780, SKOV3 and IGROV1, knockdown of SRp20 by either SRp20 siRNA caused substantial inhibition of cell growth and colony formation in soft agar. The degree of inhibition correlated with the extent of SRp20 suppression. Massive down-regulation of SRp20 expression by SRp20si2 led to almost complete loss of A2780's capability to form colonies in soft agar. Moreover, Hoechst 33342 staining revealed that the percentage of apoptotic cells was remarkably increased when SRp20 was knocked down ∼90% by SRp20si2. In contrast, moderate suppression (∼50%) of SRp20 by SRp20si1 did not trigger apoptosis. These results suggest that overexpression of SRp20 is required for ovarian cancer cell growth and survival. To determine which apoptotic pathway is activated by SRp20 knockdown, we examined the cleaved fragments of several caspases by immunoblotting and found that caspases 9, 3 and 7 but not caspases 2 and 8were cleaved in cells with SRp20 knocked down by SRp20si2. These results imply that the intrinsic apoptotic pathway is activated by massive SRp20 knockdown. In support of this, we also observed a substantial down-regulation of Bcl-2, a major anti-apoptotic regulator of the intrinsic apoptotic pathway, in the above cells. How SRp20 regulates Bcl-2 expression is unclear at present and currently under investigation. (Supported in part by CA40570 and CA138762 from NCI (to WTB), in part by OCRF (to XH), and in part by UIC). Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 2947.
Baring essentials: Science as desire

Sexual expression is fixed in neither discourse nor time. Exploring that expression requires good theory and inventive research methodologies. Social science has been growing new approaches to investigating sexuality, bolstered by new theory from the humanities, and encouraged by a lack of success in traditional psychosocial and behavioral research in dealing with Western sexual politics since the 1960s and the HIV pandemic since the early 1980s. New theory and innovative methodologies have led to research that confounds the basic science/applied research divide, suggesting that, had this been done earlier, responses to HIV/AIDS might have been less hit-and-miss and grounded in a more sophisticated understanding of sexual life. New technologies are also re-shaping sexuality; their relevance to sex research is also explored in this paper to suggest possibilities for social research in the twenty-first century that offers both the certainty of basic science and enhances the impact of applied research.
Pediatric burns: Initial response, lasting effects.

Timely assessment and intervention impact your young patient's chances of survival and the subsequent rehabilitation process.
The distribution of trace quantities of germanium between metal, silicate and sulflde phases

Hydrothermal investigation of Ge trace quantity distribution between metal, silicate and sulfide phases at controlled oxygen partial pressure by oxygen buffer techniques
Main-chain Chiral Smectic Polymers Showing a Large Electroclinic Effect in the SmA* Phase

The synthesis and characterization of a main-chain smectic liquid-crystalline polymer system designed for development into electromechanical actuators is described. The chemical structure is chosen to provide a large electroclinic effect in the SmA* phase, with large concomitant layer shrinkage (a rare combination). The polymers are prepared by acyclic diene metathesis polymerization (ADMET) of liquid-crystalline ,-dienes. Oligomers with a degree of polymerization of {approx}10-30 are obtained using Grubbs first-generation catalyst, while oligomers with a degree of polymerization of {approx}200 are obtained using Grubbs second-generation catalyst. All polymer samples show the following phase sequence: I - SmA* - SmC* - Glass. X-ray analysis of polymer powder samples demonstrates the desired layer shrinkage at the SmA* - SmC* transition. The polymers form well-aligned fibers by pulling from the isotropic melt, and X-ray analysis of fibers in the SmA* phase shows that in the bulk of the fiber the layers are oriented perpendicular to the fiber axis, while at the surfaces there appears to be a thin sheath where the layers are parallel to the fiber/air interface. The desired layer shrinkage with tilt at the SmA* - SmC* transition in these fibers is seen as well, and in the SmC* phase the fibers exhibitmore » an interesting conical chevron layer structure. Electro-optic investigation of aligned thin films of the polymer, prepared from quenched fiber glasses using a novel technique, exhibit a large electroclinic effect, with substantial degradation of alignment quality upon field-induced tilt. This degradation in alignment quality, coupled with the layer shrinkage at the SmA* - SmC* transition demonstrated by X-ray scattering, strongly suggests the desired layer shrinkage with electroclinic tilt is in fact occurring in the polymer films.« less
Measurement of Instrumental Activities of Daily Living in Stroke

Background Functional assessment in stroke patients is critical in both clinical practice and outcome studies. Ability in the areas relating to instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) that require increased interaction with the environment, whether household or community, appears to be a prerequisite for independent living in the community. The majority of the research in this area has been in the geriatric population. A literature review was undertaken to answer the following questions: What is a working definition of IADL? What are the criteria that determine inclusion with specific applicability in the stroke population? What are the reliability and validity of available measures in the stroke population? What is the relevance of IADL to functional outcome? Summary of Review The findings at this time indicate that there is no consensus for a clear definition of IADL. The terminology used includes the original IADL as described by Lawton and Brody, extended ADL, social ADL, and advanced ADL. Four...