cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Point Defects and Surface Diffusion in Iron Oxide and Nickel Oxide

This paper reports diffusion of the {sup 57}Co isotope on Fe{sub 3}O{sub 4} (110) and NiO (100) surfaces investigated by the edge-source method. The surface diffusion parameter {alpha}{ital D{sub s}}{delta}, where {alpha} is the segregation factor, {ital D{sub s}} the surface diffusion coefficient, and {delta} the thickness of the high-diffusivity layer, was determined at 750{degrees}C for different partial pressures of oxygen. In both cases point defects strongly influenced surface diffusion. For Fe{sub 3}O{sub 4} the vacancy mechanism is dominant at high oxygen activities and interstitial (or interstitiacly) mechanism dominates at low oxygen activities. For NiO the surface diffusion at low oxygen activities is influenced by aliovalent impurities and at a high oxygen activities the strong influence of the intrinsic defects, nickel vacancies, on surface diffusion was observed. It is concluded that similar mechanisms operate during surface diffusion in the near surface layer and during diffusion in the lattice.
Evolution of texture in rhabdophane-derived monazite coatings

Microstructure and texture development of fiber coatings of rhabdophane-sol-derived monazite was studied. As-deposited textures and orientation relationships during phase transformations were determined by TEM. Monazite coatings had a crystallographic texture relict from that of as-deposited rhabdophane, with layers of rod-shaped particles that changed orientation by 90° across layers. Heat treatment at 1200°C of minicomposites with these coated fibers caused considerable monazite grain coarsening, and disappearance of the texture.
Effects of Pulsed Acoustic and Mechanical Stimuli on the Excitability of Isolated Neuronal and Cardiac Cells

Abstract This article presents the final results of a series of investigations conducted on the interaction of two specific forms of mechanical stimuli with isolated neuronal and cardiac cells: short bursts of focused, high peak-power ultrasound (1 to 7 MHz, 0.5 ms, 50 to 800 W/cm2 spatial-peak, pulse-average intensity, 3-mm half-power spot) and 0.5-ms direct pressure pulses applied with a transducer-driven glass stylus with a 1- to 6-μm peak displacement. The current study has investigated the effects of these stimuli on the mouse sciatic nerve trunk and cardiac preparations of the leopard frog. They are compared to those observed with the leopard frog sciatic nerve trunk and lobster axon, reported previously. These studies have revealed that each of these preparations exhibits brief and fully reversible modifications of cellular excitability within a 10- to 30-ms window following both single, submillisecond ultrasound bursts and appropriately applied direct mechanical stimuli. The high peak-power ultras...
Derivative-Neural Spectroscopy for Hyperspectral Bathymetric Inversion*

Bathymetry is an important variable in scientific and operational applications. The research objectives in this study were to estimate bathymetry based on derivative reflectance spectra used as input to a multilayer perceptron artificial neural network (ANN) and to evaluate the efficacy of field and simulated training/testing data. ANNs were used to invert reflectance field data acquired in optically shallow coastal waters. Results indicate that for the simulation-based models, nonderivative spectra yielded more accurate bathymetry retrievals than the derivative spectra used as ANN input. However, for the empirical field-based models, derivative spectra were superior to nonderivative spectra as ANN input. This study identifies circumstances under which derivative spectra are useful in bathymetry estimation, and thus increases the likelihood of obtaining accurate inversions.
Editorial: Leukocytes in tularemia—so many cells, so little time

Discussion of dysregulation of the inflammatory response in tularemia, focusing on cytokines and the role of neutrophils.
Improved survival following surgery and radiation therapy for olfactory neuroblastoma: analysis of the SEER database

Background: Olfactory Neuroblastoma is a rare malignant tumor of the olfactory tract. Reports in the literature comparing treatment modalities for this tumor are limited. Methods: The SEER database (1973-2006) was queried by diagnosis code to identify patients with Olfactory Neuroblastoma. Kaplan-Meier was used to estimate survival distributions based on treatment modality. Differences in survival distributions were determined by the log-rank test. A Cox multiple regression analysis was then performed using treatment, race, SEER historic stage, sex, age at diagnosis, year at diagnosis and SEER geographic registry. Results: A total of 511 Olfactory Neuroblastoma cases were reported. Five year overall survival, stratified by treatment modality was: 73% for surgery with radiotherapy, 68% for surgery only, 35% for radiotherapy only, and 26% for neither surgery nor radiotherapy. There was a significant difference in overall survival between the four treatment groups (p < 0.01). At ten years, overall survival stratified by treatment modality and stage, there was no significant improvement in survival with the addition of radiation to surgery. Conclusions: Best survival results were obtained for surgery with radiotherapy.
Nanophotonics for sustainable energy

Sustainable energy has become a critical challenge for modern society. Energy efficiency and renewable energy are “twin pillars” of sustainability. In this paper we present applications of nanophotonics in both aspects: (1) Electronic-photonic synergy for Green Information Technology by combining the merits of photons in ultralow energy data transmission with those of electrons in high capacity data processing on a single silicon microchip; (2) Self-assembled nanophotonic structures for light-trapping in thin-film solar cells to improve performance/cost ratio of photovoltaics. Efficiently manipulating radiated electromagnetic energy, nanophotonics will “light up” the future of energy sustainability.
The Effect of Glycosaminoglycans and Hydration on the Viscoelastic Properties of Aortic Valve Cusps

This paper reviews the rationale for developing a tissue-engineered aortic valve by building up the complex microstructure from its basic components, and presents recent progress towards that goal. Over the past 4 years, we have been working on engineering the functional components of the composite valve the collagen fiber bundles, the elastin sheets, and the hyaluronan matrix that keeps the tissue hydrated. Most recently, we have been working on optimizing the geometry and material properties of the collagen constructs, by varying their size and aspect ratio, and the types of loading protocols the constructs experience during the culture process
THE ROLE OF SUBTERRANEAN APHIDS IN THE EPIDEMIOLOGY OF BARLEY YELLOW DWARF VIRUS1

Survival and dispersal of three root aphid species under greenhouse conditions was greatly enhanced in the presence of Lasius neoniger Emery. The ant was observed carrying three root aphid species but not two above-ground species. All attempts to transmit barley yellow dwarf (BYDV) with Forda olivacea Rohwer, Geoica utricularia (Passerini), Anoecia setariae Gillette & Palmer, or Aphis maidiradicis Forbes failed. However, A. maidiradicis was able to transmit cucumber mosaic virus. Rhopalosiphum padi (L.) could acquire BYDV from barley roots, but it rarely infected plants when feeding on roots. Zusammenfassung DIE BEDEUTUNG VON UNTERIRDISCH LEBENDEN BLATTLAUSEN IN DER EPIDEMIOLOGIE DER GELBVERZWERGUNGSVIROSE DER GERSTE Die vorliegende Arbeit versucht die Bedeutung unterirdisch lebender Blattlause fur die Gelbverzwergungsvirose der Gerste zu klaren. Sie schliesst sich damit fruheren Untersuchungen uber die Beziehung zwischen Schizaphis graminis (Rond.), einem Vektor des Virus, und der Ameise Lasius neoniger Emery an. Es konnte beobachtet werden, dass L. neoniger drei Wurzellausarten wegtrug, die in einer Versuchsarena freigelassen wurden, wahrend zwei oberirdisch-lebende Blattlausarten nicht transportiert wurden. Die Gegenwart von Ameisen im Versuchsareal forderte auch die Vermehrung von Wurzellausen auf Getreide und deren Ausbreitung auf benachbarte Pflanzen. Diese ausbreitungsfordende Wirkung des Blattlausbesuchs konnte von epidemiologischer Bedeutung sein, falls sich Wurzellause als Vektoren erweisen sollten. Alle Versuche, das Virus mit Forda olivacea Rohwer, Geoica utricularia (Passerini), Anoecia setariae Gillette & Palmer oder Aphis maidiradicis Forbes zu ubertragen, schlugen jedoch fehl. Das nichtpersistente Gurkenmosaik konnte allerdings durch A. maidiradicis ubertragen werden. Neben den typischen Wurzellausen wurden unterirdisch lebende Rhopalosiphum padi L. im Freiland angetroffen. Ubertragungsversuche ergaben, dass das Gelbverzwergungsvirus von der Blattlaus aus den Wurzeln aufgenommen werden konnte, dagegen gelang es nur selten, Getreidepflanzen durch auf Wurzeln saugende Blattlause zu infizieren. Da aber im Freiland die Mehrzahl der unterirdisch lebenden R. padi auf den leicht zu infizierenden Stengelteilen angetroffen wurden, durfte dieser relativen Widerstandsfahigkeit der Wurzeln gegenuber der Virusinfektion keine grossere Bedeutung zukommen.
Nationalism, Cosmopolitanism, and the Politics of Collecting in The Connoisseur: An Illustrated Magazine for Collectors, 1901-1914

This essay examines attitudes towards the practice of collecting represented in the Connoisseur: An Illustrated Magazine for Collectors between 1901 and 1914 under its first editor, J. T. Herbert Baily. I argue that contributors to the magazine worked to reformulate collecting in response to the Victorian critique of the practice, which emphasized the collector's narcissistic tendency to disregard the historical alterity of objects. This revised mode of collecting, which attends carefully to contexts of origin, often led its practitioners to consider the national significance of artifacts. The magazine reflects the complicated political results of this revision of collecting practices as it intertwines aggressive nationalism with cosmopolitanism and merges cultural imperialism with a critique of globalization.
Taking Another Look at Educating African American Engineers: The Importance of Undergraduate Retention

In this paper we identify the engineering schools that either graduate large classes of African Americans or that retain relatively high percentages of African American students in engineering; point out that modest improvements in student retention would significantly affect the total number of bachelors degrees earned annually by African Americans in engineering; examine the measures implemented by some schools that are particularly effective at retaining African Americans in engineering; and present our views on the future of diversity efforts in engineering. The message we wish to emphasize is that at the very least colleges and universities should endeavor to retain those under represented minority undergraduates who have decided to pursue an engineering education. Frequently used abbreviations EWC — Engineering Workforce Commission, HBCU — historically black college or university, MEP — minority engineering program, MES — minority engineering society, MRR — minority retention rate, NACME — National Action Council for Minorities in Engineering, TWI — traditionally white institution
Ghrelin regulates phasic dopamine and nucleus accumbens signaling evoked by food-predictive stimuli.

Environmental stimuli that signal food availability hold powerful sway over motivated behavior and promote feeding, in part, by activating the mesolimbic system. These food-predictive cues evoke brief (phasic) changes in nucleus accumbens (NAc) dopamine concentration and in the activity of individual NAc neurons. Phasic fluctuations in mesolimbic signaling have been directly linked to goal-directed behaviors, including behaviors elicited by food-predictive cues. Food-seeking behavior is also strongly influenced by physiological state (i.e. hunger vs. satiety). Ghrelin, a stomach hormone that crosses the blood-brain barrier, is linked to the perception of hunger and drives food intake, including intake potentiated by environmental cues. Notwithstanding, whether ghrelin regulates phasic mesolimbic signaling evoked by food-predictive stimuli is unknown. Here, rats underwent Pavlovian conditioning in which one cue predicted the delivery of rewarding food (CS+) and a second cue predicted nothing (CS−). After training, we measured the effect of ghrelin infused into the lateral ventricle (LV) on sub-second fluctuations in NAc dopamine using fast-scan cyclic voltammetry and individual NAc neuron activity using in vivo electrophysiology in separate groups of rats. LV ghrelin augmented both phasic dopamine and phasic increases in the activity of NAc neurons evoked by the CS+. Importantly, ghrelin did not affect the dopamine nor NAc neuron response to the CS−, suggesting that ghrelin selectively modulated mesolimbic signaling evoked by motivationally significant stimuli. These data demonstrate that ghrelin, a hunger signal linked to physiological state, can regulate cue-evoked mesolimbic signals that underlie food-directed behaviors.
Achieving fairness and throughput for best-effort traffic in input-queued crossbar switches

Fairness and high throughput are two desirable properties for scheduling best-effort traffic in an input-queued crossbar switch. Unfortunately, to the best of our knowledge, existing scheduling schemes cannot achieve both goals. In this paper, we discuss the conflict between fairness and throughput and the fairness criterion in the context of an input-queued crossbar switch, and justify that a desirable scheduler should sustain full bandwidth for admissible traffic and ensure max-min fairness for non-admissible traffic. To this purpose, we propose an algorithm called largest virtual waiting time first (LVWTF).
The E295K DNA polymerase beta gastric cancer-associated variant interferes with base excision repair and induces cellular transformation.

Approximately 30% of human tumors examined for mutations in polymerase beta (pol β) appear to express pol β variant proteins (D. Starcevic, S. Dalal, and J. B. Sweasy, Cell Cycle 3:998-1001, 2004). Many of these variants result from a single amino acid substitution. We have previously shown that the K289M and I260M colon and prostate cancer variants, respectively, induce cellular transformation most likely due to sequence-specific mutator activity (S. Dalal et al., Biochemistry 44:15664-15673, 2005; T. Lang et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 101:6074-6079, 2004; J. B. Sweasy et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 102:14350-14355, 2005). In the work described here, we show that the E295K gastric carcinoma pol β variant acts in a dominant-negative manner by interfering with base excision repair. This leads to an increase in sister chromatid exchanges. Expression of the E295K variant also induces cellular transformation. Our data suggest that unfilled gaps are channeled into a homology-directed repair pathway that could lead to genomic instability. The results indicate that base excision repair is critical for maintaining genome stability and could therefore be a tumor suppressor mechanism.
Source populations in carnivore management: cougar demography and emigration in a lightly hunted population

Wildlife agencies typically attempt to manage carnivore numbers in localized game management units through hunting, and do not always consider the potential influences of immigration and emigration on the outcome of those hunting practices. However, such a closed population structure may not be an appropriate model for management of carnivore populations where immigration and emigration are important population parameters. The closed population hypothesis predicts that high hunting mortality will reduce numbers and densities of carnivores and that low hunting mortality will increase numbers and densities. By contrast, the open population hypothesis predicts that high hunting mortality may not reduce carnivore densities because of compensatory immigration, and low hunting mortality may not result in more carnivores because of compensatory emigration. Previous research supported the open population hypothesis with high immigration rates in a heavily hunted (hunting mortality rate = 0.24) cougar population in northern Washington. We test the open population hypothesis and high emigration rates in a lightly hunted (hunting mortality rate = 0.11) cougar population in central Washington by monitoring demography from 2002 to 2007. We used a dual sex survival/fecundity Leslie matrix to estimate closed population growth and annual census counts to estimate open population growth. The observed open population growth rate of 0.98 was lower than the closed survival/ fecundity growth rates of 1.13 (deterministic) and 1.10 (stochastic), and suggests a 12–15% annual emigration rate. Our data support the open population hypothesis for lightly hunted populations of carnivores. Low hunting mortality did not result in increased numbers and densities of cougars, as commonly believed because of compensatory emigration.
South Korean elementary teachers' anxiety for teaching mathematics

The researcher examined South Korean elementary teachers’ anxiety for teaching mathematics and what factors increase their anxiety levels. A translated and adapted version of the McAnallen Anxiety in Mathematics Teaching Survey was used to gather information on teachers’ anxiety for teaching mathematics and their background information. Based on statistical analyses (ANOVA and multiple regression model), I demonstrate in this study that South Korean teachers’ anxiety for teaching mathematics differs by educational level in mathematics education, certification level, and range of teaching experiences. In addition, the results of the data analysis demonstrated that teachers’ gender, educational attainment in general elementary education, and teaching experiences were not significant factors that affect South Korean elementary teachers’ anxiety for teaching mathematics. The findings of this study imply that elementary teachers’ anxiety for teaching mathematics might be decreased with teacher education programs in mathematics education. Implications include more studies are needed to examine the effects that teacher education programs in mathematics education.
Research in the 1980s: The Fifth Generation

Recruited by still active members of earlier MDIBL research Generations, and the new Markey and NIEHS Fellowships, members of the Fifth Generation of summer researchers came to the Laboratory in the 1980s. The combined research efforts made advances in gastric secretion, urea transport across the toad bladder, the nervous control of cardiac function, ingestion of seawater by marine teleost fishes, invertebrate osmoregulation, mammalian kidney function, the physiology of the blood–brain barrier, cytokinesis, the chemistry and physiology of carbonic anhydrase, taurine transport, red blood cell volume regulation, control of rectal gland salt secretion, cell volume regulation, shark hemodynamics, amphibian limb regeneration, fish cardiac physiology, renal toxicology, intestinal salt transport, physiology of the cornea, bile formation and liver detoxification, cardiac electrophysiology, xenobiotic metabolism, the physiology of the eye ciliary epithelium, transport across membrane vesicles, ammonia transport across the fish gill, fish gill hemodynamics, the endocrinology of fish reproduction, potassium secretion by the fish urinary bladder, salt and fluid secretion by the perfused fish proximal tubule, NaCl-coupled transport by the fish urinary bladder, osmoregulation by the goldfish in hypersaline solutions, microanatomy of the elasmobranch kidney, crustacean osmoregulation, the biochemistry of tanning in the skate egg case, acid–base and nitrogen excretion by fishes, ion and water transport across isolated shark kidney tubules, transport across isolated skate liver cells, taurine uptake by coelomocytes of the blood worm, the role of pH in intestinal chloride uptake, the role of carbonic anhydrase in shark acid–base regulation, the hormonal control of shark renal function, and the culture of shark rectal gland cells.
Creating a literature database of low-calorie sweeteners and health studies: evidence mapping

Evidence mapping is an emerging tool used to systematically identify, organize and summarize the quantity and focus of scientific evidence on a broad topic, but there are currently no methodological standards. Using the topic of low-calorie sweeteners (LCS) and selected health outcomes, we describe the process of creating an evidence-map database and demonstrate several example descriptive analyses using this database. The process of creating an evidence-map database is described in detail. The steps include: developing a comprehensive literature search strategy, establishing study eligibility criteria and a systematic study selection process, extracting data, developing outcome groups with input from expert stakeholders and tabulating data using descriptive analyses. The database was uploaded onto SRDR™ (Systematic Review Data Repository), an open public data repository. Our final LCS evidence-map database included 225 studies, of which 208 were interventional studies and 17 were cohort studies. An example bubble plot was produced to display the evidence-map data and visualize research gaps according to four parameters: comparison types, population baseline health status, outcome groups, and study sample size. This plot indicated a lack of studies assessing appetite and dietary intake related outcomes using LCS with a sugar intake comparison in people with diabetes. Evidence mapping is an important tool for the contextualization of in-depth systematic reviews within broader literature and identifies gaps in the evidence base, which can be used to inform future research. An open evidence-map database has the potential to promote knowledge translation from nutrition science to policy.
A glutamate/aspartate switch controls product specificity in a protein arginine methyltransferase

Trypanosoma brucei PRMT7 (TbPRMT7) is a protein arginine methyltransferase (PRMT) that strictly monomethylates various substrates, thus classifying it as a type III PRMT. However, the molecular basis of its unique product specificity has remained elusive. Here, we present the structure of TbPRMT7 in complex with its cofactor product S-adenosyl-l-homocysteine (AdoHcy) at 2.8 A resolution and identify a glutamate residue critical for its monomethylation behavior. TbPRMT7 comprises the conserved methyltransferase and β-barrel domains, an N-terminal extension, and a dimerization arm. The active site at the interface of the N-terminal extension, methyltransferase, and β-barrel domains is stabilized by the dimerization arm of the neighboring protomer, providing a structural basis for dimerization as a prerequisite for catalytic activity. Mutagenesis of active-site residues highlights the importance of Glu181, the second of the two invariant glutamate residues of the double E loop that coordinate the target arginine in substrate peptides/proteins and that increase its nucleophilicity. Strikingly, mutation of Glu181 to aspartate converts TbPRMT7 into a type I PRMT, producing asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA). Isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) using a histone H4 peptide showed that the Glu181Asp mutant has markedly increased affinity for monomethylated peptide with respect to the WT, suggesting that the enlarged active site can favorably accommodate monomethylated peptide and provide sufficient space for ADMA formation. In conclusion, these findings yield valuable insights into the product specificity and the catalytic mechanism of protein arginine methyltransferases and have important implications for the rational (re)design of PRMTs.
Education, Income and Disability in African Americans

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether the association between SES and disability vary by age in African Americans. METHODS: Logistic regression models were conducted to estimate the association between SES and disability by age group in 395 African Americans participating in the Carolina African American Twin Study of Aging. Disability was defined as difficulty in performing at least one of seven basic activities of daily living. Education and family income were used as measures of SES. Age was categorized as individuals aged or = 50 years. RESULTS: After adjusting for demographic and health-related characteristics among older adults, a higher odds of disability was associated with no post-secondary education (OR = 3.09, 95% CI: 1.24-7.71), and with low-income (OR = 2.74, 95% CI: 1.17-6.43) compared to more educated or affluent people, respectively. No association between SES and disability was observed in young adults. When considering the combined effect of no post-secondary education and low-income on disability, older adults with no post-secondary education had a greater odds of being disabled (OR = 2.63, 95% CI: 1.03-6.73) relative to those with a post-secondary education controlling for covariates. CONCLUSIONS: The findings demonstrate the advantage of disentangling the confounding of race and SES as an initial step to understanding the relationship among age, SES and disability in African Americans. ( Ethn Dis . 2013;23[1]:12–17)
The Value of the Complement Fixation Test in the Diagnosis of Psittacosis

As early as 1930 Bedson1,2 had shown that the serum of cases of human psittacosis reacts specifically in the complement fixation test when brought in contact with infectious mouse spleen suspensions. These reactions were not demonstrable in the presence of normal mouse spleen specimens. Subsequent studies by the same author in 19353 and 19374 definitely proved the usefulness of this test in the early diagnosis of psittacosis. In fact, since the analysis of the antigenic composition of the psittacosis virus recognized two types of antigens, one heat labile and the other resistant to boiling, the complement fixation test became a less dangerous and decidedly more accurate and dependable procedure in the hands of an expert like Bedson. Repeated attempts by other workers in this field were disappointing. A crude antigen made from infected mouse spleens only fixed the complement in the presence of hyperimmune serum in low dilutions. The antigen was decidedly unstable and unsafe. Boiling of the suspension improved the antigenicity of the extracts but the potency varied a great deal. It was decided, therefore, to experiment with antigens prepared from cultures of the virus in Rivers-Li medium. Simultaneously, the mouse spleen antigens were reinvestigated. The results have been so definite and valuable in the diagnosis of human psittacosis and the study of the immunity mechanism in the experimental disease, that the results are reported in this paper.
A Low-Leakage Discontinuously-Rotating Regenerator Designed for a Motor-Vehicle Gas Turbine

A novel regenerator sealing concept is reported that can potentially reduce net compressed-air regenerator-seal leakage in gas turbines to unprecedented levels — near 1% of the net flow, greatly increasing the cycle thermal efficiency. The concept involves primarily discontinuously rotating a disk-type regenerator and implementing clamping seals. This work explains the principle of operation with discussions on preliminary-design calculations based on its use in a conceptual automotive gas turbine (Pfahnl and Wilson, 1995). Detailed regenerator-leakage calculations illustrate the drastically improved leakage rates.Copyright © 1996 by ASME
Elastomeric Polyether-Ester Block Copolymers. I. Structure-Property Relationships of Tetramethylene Terephthalate/Polyether Terephthalate Copolymers

Abstract The properties of elastomeric tetramethylene terephthalate/polyether terephthalate copolymers have been related to the chemical structure, chain length, and concentration in the copolymers of the PTMEG-, PEG-, and PPG-derived polyether units. Low-temperature properties and tear strength are dependent on all three polyether-related variables. Melting point, hardness, and stress at 100% elongation appear to be independent of polyether structure. Polyether glycols of low MW volatilize during copolymer preparation. High-MW polyethers tend to crystallize when present in the copolymers. Polyether glycols of intermediate MW (∼ 1000) yield copolymers with the best resistance to low-temperature stiffening. Copolymer synthesis is most difficult with PPG as the polyether glycol. Inherent viscosities are low, and phase separation occurs at lower polyether MW than with PTMEG or PEG. The PEG-based copolymers exhibit high water swell, particularly at intermediate and high PEG MW. The PTMEG-based copolymers are ...
CIDEP from a Polarized Ketone Triplet State Incarcerated within a Nanocapsule to a Nitroxide in the Bulk Aqueous Solution

Thioxanthone and benzil derivatives were incarcerated into an octa acid nanocapsule. Photoexcitation of these ketones generated electronic triplet excited states, which become efficiently quenched by positively charged nitroxides adsorbed outside on the external surface of the negatively charged nanocapsule. Although the triplet excited ketone and quencher are separated by a molecular wall (nanocapsule), quenching occurs on the nanosecond time scale and generates spin-polarized nitroxides, which were observed by time-resolved EPR spectroscopy. Because opposite signs of spin polarization of nitroxides were observed for thioxanthone and benzil derivatives, it is proposed that the electron spin polarization transfer mechanism of spin-polarized triplet states to nitroxides is the major mechanism of generating nitroxide polarization.
Predictive Models for the Growth of Staphylococcus aureus in Roast Duck

Modified Gompertz(SGompertz) and logistic(Slogistic) models were selected as the primary growth models to fit the growth curves of Staphylococcus aureus in roast duck at various storage temperatures(10,15,25,30 and 37 ℃).Using the obtained specific growth rate(μmax) and lag time(λ),square root model and quadratic polynomial model were selected to fit the secondary growth models of Staphylococcus aureus in roast duck.The results showed that the SGompertz model could well describe the growth of Staphylococcus aureus at different temperatures,and therefore μmax and λ values obtained from it were used to establish the secondary growth models.It was found that for the square root and quadratic polynomial models based on μmax,R2 values were 0.942 3 and 0.947 1;Bf were 1.02 and 0.93;Af were 1.18 and 1.37,respectively,suggesting that the square root model could be employed to predict the growth of Staphylococcus aureus in roast duck.For the square root and quadratic polynomial models describing λ,R2 were 0.953 3 and 0.987 1;Bf were 0.99 and 1.00;Af were 1.11 and 1.06,respectively,suggesting that the quadratic polynomial model could be employed to predict λ.This study can provide basic information for quantitative microbial risk assessment of roast duck and other ready-to-eat cooked meat products.
The Impact of Delayed Hepatitis C Viral Load Suppression on Patient Risk: Historical Evidence from the Veterans Administration.

Background The high cost of new hepatitis C (HCV) treatments has resulted in "watchful waiting" strategies being developed to safely delay treatment, which will in turn delay viral load suppression (VLS). Objective To document if delayed VLS adversely impacted patient risk for adverse events and death. Methods 187,860 patients were selected from the Veterans Administration's (VA) clinical registry (CCR), a longitudinal compilation of electronic medical records (EMR) data for 1999-2010. Inclusion criteria required at least 6 months of CCR/EMR data prior to their HCV diagnosis and sufficient data post-diagnosis to calculate one or more FIB-4 scores. Primary outcome measures were time-to-death and time-to-a composite of liver-related clinical events. Cox proportional hazards models were estimated separately using three critical FIB-4 levels to define early and late viral response. Results Achieving an undetectable viral load before the patient's FIB-4 level exceed pre-specified critical values (1.00, 1.45 and 3.25) effectively reduced the risk of an adverse clinical events by 33-35% and death by 21-26%. However, achieving VLS after FIB-4 exceeds 3.25 significantly reduced the benefit of viral response. Conclusions Delaying VLS until FIB-4 >3.25 reduces the benefits of VLS in reducing patient risk.
Revisiting the Self and Exploring Its Role in Identity Formation

Like all scientific endeavor, our quest for truth regarding The Self requires continuous successful approximations of some objective construct that is in fact the self. Many such approximations have been put forth over time, each contributing in a significant way, to our current understanding of the self. This research is one such endeavor that revisits the previous conceptions of the self (including views from behaviorism, psychoanalysis, social interaction, information processing, etc.), and tries to extract value from each in putting forth a more complete model of the self. The more complete explanation examines how the different posited sub-facets that constitute the self interact with each other, in the process of determining consumers’ behaviors, and ultimately, their value-seeking endeavors on the path to consummation.
Abstract 4153: Abnormal expression of MUC1 mucin on colon epithelia stimulates production of pro-inflammatory cytokines promoting colitis-associated colon cancer in a murine model

MUC1 is a transmembrane glycoprotein aberrantly expressed in human adenocarcinoma as well as chronic inflammatory conditions. We have previously demonstrated that the tumor form of MUC1, in association with p65, upregulates the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines in the tumor microenvironment, including IL-6 and TNF-alpha, by modulating their transcriptional activity in epithelial cancer cells. Here, we explored the mechanism underlying MUC1/p65-induced transcription of IL-6 and TNF-alpha in colon cancer cells and its significance for the microenviroment of colitis that is known to be the precursor to cancer. We used a mouse model of colitis-associated colon cancer where wild type (WT) and human MUC1 transgenic (MUC1.Tg) mice are given carcinogen azoxymethane (AOM), followed by three cycles of 1.2% dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) in drinking water to induce colitis. MUC1.Tg showed higher tumor incidence, decreased survival, increased body weight loss and shorter colon length. These features accelerated the severity of inflammation-induced colon cancer. Consistent with our previous in vitro data, expression of NF-kB family members was higher in MUC1.Tg mice compared to WT. We previously showed that in tumors, MUC1/p65 complex modulated the expression of histone methyltransferase Enhancer of Zeste protein-2 (EZH2) and interaction with pro-inflammatory cytokine promoters. In order to understand the significance of MUC1/p65-modulated cytokines in progressive colitis that gives rise to colon cancer, we analyzed infiltration of inflammatory cells into the inflamed colon tissues. The number of infiltrating macrophages was much higher in AOM/DSS-treated MUC1.Tg mice compared to WT. ELISA assay and gene expression analyses demonstrated that the treatment with AOM/DSS in the presence of human MUC1 on the colonic epithelia resulted in a significant increase in M1 type macrophage-associated genes, including IL-6, TNF-alpha and iNOS, whereas M2 type macrophage markers such as Arginase 1, Ym1, and IL-10 were drastically reduced when compared to colon tissues of treated WT mice. Taken together, our findings reveal a pro-inflammatory role for MUC1 in colitis-related carcinogenesis. Our study also provides a mechanism by which MUC1 accelerates tumor initiation and progression. Citation Format: Sandra Cascio, Jacque Faylo, Jia Xue, Olivera Finn. Abnormal expression of MUC1 mucin on colon epithelia stimulates production of pro-inflammatory cytokines promoting colitis-associated colon cancer in a murine model. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2016 Apr 16-20; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(14 Suppl):Abstract nr 4153.
Narrow linewidth UV sources at 257nm

We describe and compare the performance of two types of compact, passively Q-switched Yb:YAG 1030nm lasers and their use for 257nm fourth harmonic generation (FHG). In the first implementation, an end-pumped Yb:YAG laser produced a 250μJ pulse train with an average power at 1030nm of 3.6W. Using a 10mm LBO crystal (70% doubling efficiency), followed by a 7mm BBO crystal (45% conversion efficiency), 1.1W at 257nm was generated (overall FHG efficiency of 30%). The second implementation was a side-pumped Q-switched Yb:YAG laser pumped by a 200W diode bar. A 10mm KTP crystal followed by a 6mm BBO crystal resulted a 15% FHG conversion efficiency. The UV emission was in a form of 1-5 Hz PRF, 2ms long burst of 0.2mJ pulses with a 30kHz intra-burst PRF. Within a 1.65ms emission window, an 11.5mJ burst at 257 nm was generated that had a maximum intra-burst power of 7W. This paper will address the merits of each approach for realizing a man-portable laser suitable for ultraviolet Raman explosives detection.
“400 Years”: Modernity, The Longue Durée, and Jamaican Music

This chapter examines reggae music from Jamaica through the longue duree framework of modernity—the historical processes arising after the 1400s, including colonialism, the Atlantic Slave system, capitalism, the Enlightenment, the nation-state (or nationalism), and imperialism. Reggae music in the 1970s exemplified the time-space compression characterizing the experience of people of African descent caught in the deep legacies of modernity. Through pop songs, reggae artists tied the experience of enslavement to the contemporary conditions of black Jamaicans caught in an anti-black world with its ongoing marginalization of people of African descent. The Rastafarian influence on reggae represented modernity as Babylon (taken from the Old Testament), with people of African descent trapped in a similar situation as the Israelites who sought a return to Zion. These global sounds found their way into the U.K. and the U.S. production techniques and musical aesthetics in the 1970s and 1980s—from hip-hop to post-punk.
Transnational Community Ties, Black Philanthropy, and Triple Identity Consciousness

Highlighting the significance of black philanthropy, Lorick-Wilmot points to the ways the MSGCIs link their philanthropy to the transnational connections they choose to maintain with their parents’ country of origin and beyond. Most notable themes explored focus on the importance of coalition building across African American, Afro-Latino, and Afro-Asian American ethnic communities. Woven throughout the chapter are the MSGCIs’ interpretations of success in America as a means of continuing the “good fight” against oppression and the important lessons they hope to impart on to their children. The chapter concludes with a discussion on the MSGCIs’ pessimism toward the state of United States race relations and the ways they feel the United States is still “unwilling” to fully contend with the legacies of systematized oppression that persist today.
Hip resurfacing arthroplasty for patients with inflammatory arthritis: a systematic review:

Introduction:Modern metal-on-metal hip resurfacing arthroplasty has led to decreased revision rates and high implant survival rates as compared to prior generations of resurfacing. Many of the seri...
Effect of Recording Conditions on the Downtrack Thermal Gradient in Heat-Assisted Magnetic Recording

Downtrack thermal gradient (DTG) is calculated for heat-assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) systems in both spin-stand experiment and micromagnetic model. DTG is an important parameter in HAMR. It describes the change in temperature in the vicinity of the write position. Recording conditions and media properties affect the switching process, which in turn affects the measured DTG. Trends in DTG versus different recording conditions such as linear velocity and applied field showed very good agreement between experiment and model. The model is also used to quantify the effect on DTG from parameters that are difficult to measure, such as Curie temperature distributions, anisotropy field distributions, and curvature. Finally, a breakdown of the contribution of the different conditions and properties considered on DTG is presented.
Improved inverse Gaussian process and bootstrap: Degradation and reliability metrics

Abstract The inverse Gaussian (IG) process is commonly used in modeling monotonically increasing degradation processes. Traditional degradation modeling considers the process parameters as functions of time and environmental conditions. However, in many practical situations, the degradation increment in the next time interval may depend on degradation state at the current time interval. Therefore, in this paper, we propose an improved inverse Gaussian (IIG) process which considers the dependency between degradation increments and prior degradation states. Reliability metrics of the IIG process are estimated and validated using crack length growth data as well as simulated degradation data. Results show that the proposed model provides more accurate reliability metrics than the IG process model. Bootstrap of degradation increments or detrended degradation increments is introduced as a supplementary method to estimate the remaining life probability interval.
Psychosocial sequelae of bariatric surgery: a pilot study.

The effects of various preoperative psychiatric parameters on postoperative psychosocial adjustment following bariatric surgery in 29 patients was investigated. Presence of presurgical axis I diagnoses or elevated Beck Depression Index (BDI) scores were associated with postsurgical medical and psychiatric complications; patients without postsurgical complications showed a lack of axis I diagnoses and low BDI scores. Higher presurgery scores on the Bulimia Cognitive-Distortion Scale (BCDS) indicated a trend for occurrence of postsurgical problems. A history of sexual problems was also associated with postsurgical problems.
Phonology: Optimality Theory

Optimality theory, introduced in the early 1990s, is a model of language in which the mapping between input and output is mediated by a constraint hierarchy, composed of a language-particular ranking of universal constraints. A key innovation in this model is that each constraint is violable, its degree of violability being determined on a language-particular basis by the ranking of constraints for that language. A second important point is that there are no intermediary representations: there is only input and output. This article introduces the architecture of the model, explores a variety of implications that follow directly from the architecture, examines some extensions of the model, and discusses its major challenge.
Interest mea et imperatoris castam ducere in uxorem: Can ‘est’ be used impersonally?

There is an obvious syntactic similarity between such sentences as:1 1. It is daytime. (est dies) 2. It is between black and white. (est inter album et nigrum 2) and: 3. It rueth me. (paenitet me) 4. There is running by me. (curritur a me)
Scientific Obstacles to Overcome in Establishing Systematic Post-marketing Surveillance

After three years of study, the Joint Commission on Prescription Drug Use unequivocally and unanimously supported the need for extending post-marketing surveillance beyond what presently exists in the United States. A Center for Drug Surveillance was requested. The Center was not to focus on regulatory implications or requirements of a post-marketing surveillance system rather it was to develop information that would encourage optimal medical decisions. The Center was to be a private, non-profit organization capable of generating support and research funds from industry, academia, and government It was charged with the responsability for the development and dissemination of therapeutic information that could be applied to the optimal use of drugs. The dominant functions of the Center would include education of physicians about drug related effects; the development of new methodology for post-marketing surveillance activities; and the training of physicians in epidemiology applicable to post-marketing surveillance requirements. The Commission stressed the need for the determination of rates of anticipated and unanticipated efficacy to be developed on the same patient population in whom incidences of adverse drug effects were determined. The feasibility for and approach to such studies of efficacy was stressed. The Commission found that even non- experimental techniques could be used for the estimation of anticipated efficacy in a large percentage of situations of actual practice use of the drugs. The Commission also indicated the requirement that data on the epidemiology of prescription drug use in the United States could be acquired and would be useful to practitioners and the public. The academic challenges that present themselves in developing an effective PMS will be discussed.
Privatization and Public Opinion in Germany

Privatization has been a major issue around the world, but research on public opinion about it has been scarce. The German Social Survey provides an opportunity to compare citizen opinions from a formerly socialist-authoritarian regime with those from a democratic regime, in their opinions about privatizing banks, electrical power, and hospitals. As do citizens in surveys in other nations, Germans support privatization of the services in the order just given. Citizens from the east, where privatization led to sharp increases in unemployment, oppose privatization much more than do westerners. A LISREL analysis indicates that their opposition is not due to their concerns about its economic effects on themselves or the nation (“economic pessimism”), but more due to perception of the proper role of government (“opposition to government spending”), and sense of political efficacy. The analysis also reflects on the roles of other variables such as ideology, partisanship, gender, being unemployed, education, and preference for taxes versus public services. We discuss implications for theory and research on public opinion about government policies and services, such as the role of direct economic self-interest versus more symbolic and ideological orientations.
Development of Orientation-Specific Neuronal Responses in Ferret Primary Visual Cortex

Neurons in the primary visual cortex of higher mammals respond best to light-dark borders at particular orientations. These orientation-specific responses are present at birth in the monkey (Hubel et al., 1977), and can be recorded by the end of the first postnatal week in the cat (Hubel and Wiesel, 1963; for review see Fregnac and Imbert, 1984). Since it is difficult to perform electrophysiological recordings in very young animals, we have chosen to study the development of oriented visual cortical responses in the ferret. The ferret visual system is quite similar to that of the cat (Law et al., 1988), but the ferret is born approximately three weeks earlier in development. (Linden et al., 1981).