cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Assessing human risk of illness with West Nile virus mosquito surveillance data to improve public health preparedness

Summary Surveillance for West Nile virus (WNV) and other mosquito-borne pathogens involves costly and time-consuming collection and testing of mosquito samples. One difficulty faced by public health personnel is how to interpret mosquito data relative to human risk, thus leading to a failure to fully exploit the information from mosquito testing. The objective of our study was to use the information gained from historic West Nile virus mosquito testing to determine human risk relative to mosquito infection and to assess the usefulness of our mosquito infection forecasting models to give advance warning. We compared weekly mosquito infection rates from 2004 to 2013 to WNV case numbers in Illinois. We then developed a weather-based forecasting model to estimate the WNV mosquito infection rate one to 3 weeks ahead of mosquito testing both statewide and for nine regions of Illinois. We further evaluated human illness risk relative to both the measured and the model-estimated infection rates to provide guidelines for public health messages. We determined that across 10 years, over half of human WNV cases occurred following the 29 (of 210) weeks with the highest mosquito infection rates. The values forecasted by the models can identify those time periods, but model results and data availability varied by region with much stronger results obtained from regions with more mosquito data. The differences among the regions may be related to the amount of surveillance or may be due to diverse landscape characteristics across Illinois. We set the stage for better use of all surveillance options available for WNV and described an approach to modelling that can be expanded to other mosquito-borne illnesses.
How much does the Addiction-Like Eating Behavior Scale add to the debate regarding food versus eating addictions?

How much does the Addiction-Like Eating Behavior Scale add to the debate regarding food versus eating addictions?
Wound Care Management for Venous Ulcers

This chapter discusses the evaluation and management of venous ulcers. Successful treatment of venous ulcers depends upon following essential steps as based on current evidence in order to maximize success. These steps include confirming adequate arterial perfusion, eliminating edema, treating infection and biofilm, addressing venous reflux, alleviating venous obstruction, and reducing the impact of host risk factors and comorbidities. Such factors as reduction in obesity, improvement in calf muscle pump dysfunction, elimination of smoking, reduction of standing, and maximizing nutrition remain paramount to healing. Comprehensive wound centers may be better poised to offer this care in a coordinated fashion that helps incorporate a more patient-centric approach.
The critical particle size for enhancing thermal conductivity in metal nanoparticle-polymer composites

Polymers used as thermal interface materials are often filled with high-thermal conductivity particles to enhance the thermal performance. Here, we have combined molecular dynamics and the two-temperature model in 1D to investigate the impact of the metal filler size on the overall thermal conductivity. A critical particle size has been identified above which thermal conductivity enhancement can be achieved, caused by the interplay between high particle thermal conductivity and the added electron-phonon and phonon-phonon thermal boundary resistance brought by the particle fillers. Calculations on the SAM/Au/SAM (self-assembly-monolayer) system show a critical thickness Lc of around 10.8 nm. Based on the results, we define an effective thermal conductivity and propose a new thermal circuit analysis approach for the sandwiched metal layer that can intuitively explain simulation and experimental data. The results show that when the metal layer thickness decreases to be much smaller than the electron-phonon c...
The multifaceted abstract brain.

Abstract concepts play a central role in human behaviour and constitute a critical component of the human conceptual system. Here, we investigate the neural basis of four types of abstract concepts...
Purely elliptic Möbius groups

Let M(n) denote the full Mobius group of conformal and anti-conformal self maps of ℝ n = ℝ n ∪ {∞}. Such maps are a composition of inversions in spheres and reflections in planes. They may be extended to act as Mobius transformations of ℝ n+1 preserving hyperbolic n + 1-space: $${H^{n + 1}}\, = \,\{ x = ({x_1},...,{x_{n + 1}}) \in \,{R^{n + 1}}|{x_{n + 1}} >0\} $$ with the line element $$d{s^2}\, = \,{{dx_1^2\, + ... + dx_{n + 1}^2} \over {x_{n + 1}^2}}.$$ Viewed as such M(n) is the full isometry group of H n+1.
Generation of Coherent Optical Phonons in Methylammonium Lead Iodide Thin Films

A long-lived hot carrier in organic–inorganic hybrid perovskite materials is possibly assisted by the large polaron and hot phonon bottleneck. The phonon plays a significant role in the properties ...
Monitoring Crack Tip Plastic Zone Size During Fatigue Loading

Digital image correlation has been used to obtained detailed strain maps around a propagating fatigue crack. The size of the plastic zone has been estimated from the maps and compared with the value calculated using Dugdale’s and Irwin’s models for crack tip yielding and from measurements made using thermoelastic stress analysis.
Education and debate: Regulating health information: a US perspective.

# Regulating health information: a US perspective {#article-title-2} Technologically mediated health care raises problems of quality of information, cross border practice, and patient confidentiality. Nicolas Terry probes the legal aspects of these complexities, and Benedict Stanberry adds a European perspective Identifying the regulatory agenda for health information is not difficult. The quality of publicly available health information, cross border medical and pharmacy practice, and the privacy of medical records appear on the radar screens of most public health and consumer protection organisations. Left unregulated, any of these issues can cause considerable harm. Each issue also embodies difficult tensions: state versus federal rights, increased access to care versus quality assurance, and confidentiality versus professional discourse. US state and federal legal systems have not achieved a coherent approach to regulating the dissemination of health information. Furthermore, the American experience will not always transfer directly to publicly funded medicine and government initiatives. Nevertheless the American experience with private sector ehealth is an instructive model, even if some areas have been neglected and others over-regulated. #### Summary points Quality of publicly available health information, cross border medical and pharmacy practice, and privacy of records will be key issues for European regulators Concerns about medical advice sites may be exaggerated US regulators have yet to find the appropriate balance between risk and benefits of cross border practice New US federal laws on health privacy appear cumbersome but may be instructive for other legal systems Concerns about widespread inaccuracies in online health information are speculative and intuitive rather than based on robust research. Berland's quality assessments, at least for English language sites and well educated users, suggest the picture is not so gloomy as critics expected.1 Public law regulation of health information may conflict with US guarantees of free speech, and differences of opinion among medical professionals make the broad regulation of health advice difficult. Consequently, …
Growing pains in Latin America : an economic growth framework as applied to Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Mexico, and Peru

This book tackles the complex issue of how to accelerate economic growth and ensure sustainability in Latin America. It first lays out the framework designed by experts in the economics and politics of growth in the region. Although simple and intuitive, the framework addresses the many ingredients that shape economic growth there, including macroeconomics, the quality of political institutions, productivity, income inequality, democracy, and resistance to reform. A second group of experts then apply the framework to five countries: Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Mexico, and Peru. They provide specific policy recommendations on how to proceed with the reform process while taking into account the local conditions (economic, social, and political) that characterize the individual countries.
The Role of Autophagy and Apoptosis in the Drug Resistance of Cancer

Drug resistance is a major obstacle that limits the effectiveness of cancer therapy. Many cancer cells acquire resistance mechanisms that allow them to survive apoptosis, contributing to the initiation and progression of cancers. Therefore, novel therapeutic strategies are needed to address the emerging problem of drug resistance. Recent studies have suggested that the induction of autophagy could be a useful therapeutic approach to overcome drug resistance of cancers to some therapeutic agents, particularly those which typically induce an apoptotic response. However, the functional relationship between apoptosis and autophagy is extremely complex, and the molecular machinery is still obscure. Therefore, understanding the regulation of apoptotic and autophagic signaling pathways could provide important information for the development of novel cancer therapies in drug resistance.
Conversion of Sugars and Biomass to Furans Using Heterogeneous Catalysts in Biphasic Solvent Systems

Within the last decade, interest in using biphasic systems for producing furans from biomass has grown significantly. Biphasic systems continuously extract furans into the organic phase, which prevents degradation reactions and potentially allows for easier separations of the products. Several heterogeneous catalyst types, including zeolites, ion exchange resins, niobium-based, and others, have been used with various organic solvents to increase furan yields from sugar dehydration reactions. In this minireview, we summarized the use of heterogeneous catalysts in biphasic systems for furfural and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural production from the past five years, highlighting trends in chemical and physical properties that effect catalytic activity. Additionally, the selection of an organic solvent for a biphasic system is extremely important and we review and discuss properties of the most commonly used organic solvents.
Impact of an HIV Care Coordination Program on Durable Viral Suppression.

BACKGROUND To assess long-term effectiveness of an intensive and comprehensive Ryan White Part A-funded HIV Care Coordination Program recruiting people living with HIV with a history of suboptimal HIV care outcomes. METHODS We merged programmatic data on CCP clients with surveillance data on all adults diagnosed with HIV. Using propensity score matching, we identified a contemporaneous, non-CCP-exposed comparison group. Durable viral suppression (DVS) was defined as regular viral load (VL) monitoring and all VLs ≤200 copies per milliliter in months 13-36 of follow-up. RESULTS Ninety percent of the combined cohort (N = 12,414) had ≥1 VL ≤200 during the follow-up period (December 1, 2009-March 31, 2016), and nearly all had routine VL monitoring, but only 36.8% had DVS. Although DVS did not differ overall (relative risk: 0.99, 95% confidence interval: 0.95 to 1.03), CCP clients without any VL suppression (VLS) in the 12-month pre-enrollment showed higher DVS versus "usual care" recipients (21.3% versus 18.4%; relative risk: 1.16, 95% confidence interval: 1.04 to 1.29). CONCLUSIONS Enrollment in an intensive intervention modestly improved DVS among those unsuppressed before CCP enrollment. This program shows promise for meeting treatment-as-prevention goals and advancing progress along the HIV care continuum, if people without evidence of VLS are prioritized for CCP enrollment over those with recent evidence of VLS. Low overall DVS (<40%) levels underscore a need for focused adherence maintenance interventions, in a context of high treatment access.
Japan nosocomial infections surveillance (JANIS): a model of sustainable national antimicrobial resistance surveillance based on hospital diagnostic microbiology laboratories

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is now recognized as a major threat to public health, and surveillance of AMR is essential for successful containment. In 2000, Japan Nosocomial Infections Surveillance (JANIS) Clinical Laboratory (CL) division has been launched as a voluntary AMR surveillance funded by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare and managed by the National Institute of Infectious Diseases. In this study, we aimed to propose a model of sustainable national AMR surveillance which provides not only national AMR surveillance reports but also benchmarking reports to each hospital to facilitate infection control practices. JANIS CL division collects comprehensive specimen-based data complies with JANIS data format from participating hospitals each month. It had targeted only blood and cerebrospinal fluid samples but was expanded to all types of specimens in 2007 at revision of JANIS. The JANIS system interprets the antimicrobial susceptibility according to the same criteria and conducts removal of duplicates to allow accurate comparison between hospitals. Monthly feedback reports are created automatically within 48 h, while quarterly and annual reports are generated after data validation. At the beginning, 468 hospitals were enrolled in the JANIS CL division, but the number of hospitals that submitted data decreased to 210 (45%) in 2006. After surveillance revision in 2007, annual recruitment of hospitals was initiated and as of 2015, 1475 hospitals participated, and 1461 (99%) of them submitted data throughout the year. Nationwide surveillance data collected over the past decade revealed that the prevalence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus has decreased since 2008, and that its prevalence is higher in the western part of Japan, where the number of hospitals per capita is higher than in the eastern part. JANIS CL division serves a model of sustainable national AMR surveillance system. Comprehensive data for all specimens promotes understanding of the sampling frequency and prevalence of AMR. As a well-established system for providing rich information to guide action both locally and nationally, JANIS may also be utilized for sharing AMR data globally.
Pharmacological activation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPAR-γ) protects against hypoxia-associated fetal growth restriction

The hypoxia of high-altitude (HA) residence increases the risk of intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) and preeclampsia 3-fold, augmenting perinatal morbidity and mortality and the risk for childhood and adult disease. Currently, no effective therapies exist to prevent these vascular disorders of pregnancy. The peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPAR-γ) is an important regulator of uteroplacental vascular development and function and has been implicated in the pathogenesis of IUGR and preeclampsia. Here, we used a model of HA pregnancy in mice to determine whether hypoxia-induced fetal growth restriction reduces placental PPAR-γ protein expression and placental vascularization and, if so, to evaluate the effectiveness of the selective PPAR-γ agonist pioglitazone (PIO) for preventing hypoxia-induced IUGR. Hypoxia resulted in asymmetric IUGR, placental insufficiency, and reduced placental PPAR-γ expression; PIO prevented approximately half of the fetal growth restriction and attenuated placental insufficiency. PIO did not affect fetal growth under normoxia. Although PIO was beneficial for fetal growth, PIO treatment reduced placental vascular density of the labrynthine zone in normoxic and hypoxic (Hx) conditions, and mean vascular area was reduced in the Hx group. Our results suggest that pharmacological PPAR-γ activation is a potential strategy for preventing IUGR in pregnancies complicated by hypoxia, although further studies are needed to identify its likely metabolic or vascular mechanisms.-Lane, S. L., Dodson, R. B., Doyle, A. S., Park, H., Rathi, H., Matarrazo, C. J., Moore, L. G., Lorca, R. A., Wolfson, G. H., Julian, C. G. Pharmacological activation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPAR-γ) protects against hypoxia-associated fetal growth restriction.
Gender Benders in Off-Shore Production: Bangladesh-China Comparisons

To climb the middle-income ladder and streamline the sustainable development goals (SDG) by 2030, Bangladesh’s women must be more engaged. Borrowing from China in two cases, this chapter argues, Bangladesh’s chances improve greatly: involving what Chairman Mao Zedong called ‘half of the sky’, that is, women, in the work-setting; and inducing the women-dominated RMG (ready-market-garment) sector in China to shift to lower-waged Bangladesh. Both are explored in the chapter through (a) a comparative study of working women in the two countries and (b) inducement assessments for China to shift production to Bangladesh.
Reconstruction of Combined Full-Thickness Defect of the Lateral Canthus and Lateral Upper and Lower Third Eyelids With an Extended Modification of the Fricke Flap, Periosteal Flap, and Conjunctival Flap:

Introduction:The Fricke flap was originally described in 1829 as a laterally based flap from the temporal region that could be used to reconstruct potentially total lower eyelid defects. There have...
A comparison of estimators of the conditional mean under non-stationary conditions

Abstract There is increasing attention to the development of a myriad of complex methods for nonstationary frequency analysis (NFA) of floods, droughts and other hydrologic processes. We assume that the need for NFA arises from well understood deterministic mechanisms of change. A common assumption in NFA, questioned here, is that more accurate estimators of hydrologic statistics result when more realistic, complex and sophisticated models are employed. By considering the mean annual flood (drought or other hydrologic event), general conditions are derived when the sample mean (SM) is a more efficient (lower mean square error, MSE) estimator than a regression estimate of the mean (RM). We introduce an optimal fractional mean estimator, FM*, which is simply the SM of the most recent period of record nf*, where f* is the optimal fraction of the full sample n, which leads to minimum MSE among all possible values of f. Interestingly, FM* is generally preferred over RM for attained significance levels associated with the fitted regression model in excess of about 0.05. Given the considerable attention and uncertainty surrounding potential nonstationary conditions, we demonstrate that a parsimonious estimator which exploits an optimal recent subset of the historical record may be more attractive than many of the more complex nonstationary approaches commonly advocated.
Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Manifestation as Acute Myocardial Infarction in a Young, Healthy Male

Although a large part of the symptomology of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been attributed to its effects in the lungs, the virus has also been shown to cause extensive cardiovascular complications in a small subset of patients. In this case report, we describe a 29-year-old nonobese hospital food service associate who presented with diffuse abdominal and chest pain; he was found to be positive for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) with significantly elevated levels of troponin T and multiple acute phase reactants; his EKG demonstrated ST-elevations consistent with anterolateral infarction. Despite having no significant past medical history or atherosclerotic risk factors, he was found to have a complete occlusion of his left anterior descending artery that required cardiac catheterization. This case demonstrates that cardiovascular complications must be considered in the COVID-19 population, even without the clear presence of other risk factors for heart disease.
Characterization of patients with advanced chronic pancreatitis using natural language processing of radiology reports.

Study aim To develop and apply a natural language processing algorithm for characterization of patients diagnosed with chronic pancreatitis in a diverse integrated U.S. healthcare system. Methods Retrospective cohort study including patients initially diagnosed with chronic pancreatitis (CP) within a regional integrated healthcare system between January 1, 2006 and December 31, 2015. Imaging reports from these patients were extracted from the electronic medical record system and split into training, validation and implementation datasets. A natural language processing (NLP) algorithm was first developed through the training dataset to identify specific features (atrophy, calcification, pseudocyst, cyst and main duct dilatation) from free-text radiology reports. The validation dataset was applied to validate the performance by comparing against the manual chart review. The developed algorithm was then applied to the implementation dataset. We classified patients with calcification(s) or ≥2 radiographic features as advanced CP. We compared etiology, comorbid conditions, treatment parameters as well as survival between advanced CP and others diagnosed during the study period. Results 6,346 patients were diagnosed with CP during the study period with 58,085 radiology studies performed. For individual features, NLP yielded sensitivity from 88.7% to 95.3%, specificity from 98.2% to 100.0%. A total of 3,672 patients met cohort inclusion criteria: 1,330 (36.2%) had evidence of advanced CP. Patients with advanced CP had increased frequency of smoking (57.8% vs. 43.0%), diabetes (47.6% vs. 35.9%) and underweight body mass index (6.6% vs. 3.6%), all p<0.001. Mortality from pancreatic cancer was higher in advanced CP (15.3/1,000 person-year vs. 2.8/1,000, p<0.001). Underweight BMI (HR 1.6, 95% CL 1.2, 2.1), smoking (HR 1.4, 95% CL 1.1, 1.7) and diabetes (HR 1.4, 95% CL 1.2, 1.6) were independent risk factors for mortality. Conclusion Patients with advanced CP experienced increased disease-related complications and pancreatic cancer-related mortality. Excess all-cause mortality was driven primarily by potentially modifiable risk factors including malnutrition, smoking and diabetes.
The Adams spectral sequence for 3-local $$\mathrm {tmf}$$ tmf

The purpose of this article is to record the computation of the homotopy groups of 3-local $$\mathrm {tmf}$$ via the Adams spectral sequence.
Understanding Protective Factors for Suicidality and Depression Among U.S. Sexual and Gender Minority Adolescents: Implications for School Psychologists

Sexual and gender minority (SGM) youth experience higher rates of adverse mental health outcomes, most notably suicidal thoughts and behaviors (STBs). The current study examines risk and protective...
Development of Hydropersulfide Donors to Study Their Chemical Biology

Significance: Hydropersulfides (RSSH) are ubiquitous in prokaryotes, eukaryotic cells, and mammalian tissues. The unique chemical properties and prevalent nature of these species suggest a crucial ...
DUST MONITORING BY THE DRY SLIDE SETTLING TECHNIQUE

A method of air sampling is described to evaluate the size, quantity and nature of airborne particulate matter in such environments as are found in white rooms, laboratories, and production areas. This method utilizes the particle settling principle for particle collection. Particle examination is facilitated by the use of a comparator type microscope which greatiy simplifies particle counting, sizing, and identification, and reduces operator fatigue as compared to conventional microscopes. (auth)
Relativistic corrections for the conventional, classical Nyquist theorem

New expressions for the Nyquist theorem are derived under the condition in which the random thermal speed of electrons, in a system of charged and neutral particles, can approach the speed of light. Both the case in which the electrons have not net drift velocity relative to the ions or neutral particles and the case in which drift occurs are investigated. In both instances, the new expressions for the Nyquist theorem are found to contain relativistic correction terms; however, for electron temperaturesT≅109 K and drift velocity magnitudes |w|≅0.5c, wherec is the speed of light, the effects of these correction terms are generally small. The derivation of these relativistic corrections is carried out by means of procedures developed in an earlier work. A relativistic distribution function, which incorporates a constant drift velocity with a random thermal velocity for a given particle species, is developed.
Myeloid cell TRAF3 regulates immune responses and inhibits inflammation and tumor development in mice

Myeloid cells, including granulocytes, monocytes, macrophages, and dendritic cells, are crucial players in innate immunity and inflammation. These cells constitutively or inducibly express a number of receptors of the TNFR and TLR families, whose signals are transduced by TNFR-associated factor (TRAF) molecules. In vitro studies showed that TRAF3 is required for TLR-induced type I IFN production, but the in vivo function of TRAF3 in myeloid cells remains unknown. In this article, we report the generation and characterization of myeloid cell-specific TRAF3-deficient (M-TRAF3(-/-)) mice, which allowed us to gain insights into the in vivo functions of TRAF3 in myeloid cells. We found that TRAF3 ablation did not affect the maturation or homeostasis of myeloid cells in young adult mice, even though TRAF3-deficient macrophages and neutrophils exhibited constitutive NF-κB2 activation. However, in response to injections with LPS (a bacterial mimic) or polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid (a viral mimic), M-TRAF3(-/-) mice exhibited an altered profile of cytokine production. M-TRAF3(-/-) mice immunized with T cell-independent and -dependent Ags displayed elevated T cell-independent IgG3 and T cell-dependent IgG2b responses. Interestingly, 15- to 22-mo-old M-TRAF3(-/-) mice spontaneously developed chronic inflammation or tumors, often affecting multiple organs. Taken together, our findings indicate that TRAF3 expressed in myeloid cells regulates immune responses in myeloid cells and acts to inhibit inflammation and tumor development in mice.
Executive summary: Report on the resolution of outstanding property claims between Cuba & the United States

As Cuba transitions to the post-Castro era, the U.S. must consider re-engaging the island. The first step to lifting the embargo against Cuba under current U.S. law is resolution of property claims issues arising from Castro's 1959 nationalization policies. This is the executive summary of Creighton University's USAID funded report, the full version of which is available from the Law School.
Effects of high B-doping on Si(001) dangling bond densities, H desorption and film growth kinetics during gas-source molecular beam epitaxy

Abstract Si(001) layers doped with B concentrations C B ranging from 5 × 10 16 to 2 × 10 21 cm −3 were grown on Si(001)-(2 × 1) substrates by gas-source molecular beam epitaxy using Si 2 H 6 and B 2 H 6 . B was incorporated into substitutional electrically active sites at concentrations up to 2.5 × 10 20 cm −3 . With increasing incident flux ratios J B 2 H 6 /J Si 2 H 6 ≥ 0.01 (corresponding to C B = 2 × 10 19 cm −3 ), film growth rates decreased at T s ≥ 600°C, but increased at T s ≤ 550°C. Deuterium temperature-programmed desorption measurements as a function of increasing C B show strong B surface segregation, decreased steady-state H coverages θ H , and lower dangling bond densities. The Si:B growth kinetics are well described by a model showing that at low temperatures, where steady-state θ H values are high, increased H desorption rates from B-backbonded Si adatoms dominate, leading to an enhancement in R Si , whereas at higher temperatures R Si decreases due to the decreased adsorption-site density.
Histamine-triggered localized vasculitis in patients with seropositive rheumatoid arthritis.

Abstract To gain some insight into the pathogenesis of vasculitis in rheumatoid arthritis, and to investigate its relation to circulating immunoreactants, we injected 50 μ l of histamine intradermally in four seropositive and four seronegative patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Skin biopsies obtained before histamine and at 4 hours after histamine were studied by immunofluorescence microscopy, and skin biopsies 24 hours after histamine were studied by light microscopy. At 4 hours after histamine, all seropositive patients demonstrated deposits of IgM and complement components in dermal vessels; by 24 hours, various degrees of leukocytoclastic vasculitis were noted. Circulating material reactive with Raji cells, C1q, or both, was present in 3/3 seropositive patients. In contrast, none of the seronegative patients exhibited vascular deposits of immunoreactants or vasculitis. The results indicate that patients with rheumatoid arthritis who are seropositive may have circulating complexes with appropriate characteristics to induce vasculitis and that vasoactive substances may be used to trigger their local deposition in vessels.
Invariant subspaces containing all constant directions

A closed subspace M of H2H invariant under the shift operator which contains for each eϵH a function of the form qe, where q is inner and depends on e, contains a subspace of the form qH2H; that is q can be chosen independently of e. This theorem is generalized and proved and its relationship to the local characterization of C0 operators of Sz.-Nagy and Foias (J. Func. Anal. 8 (1961), 76) is discussed.
Experimental realization of a continuous version of the Grover algorithm

A continuous, analog version of the Grover algorithm is realized using NMR. The system studied is 2 3 Na in a liquid-crystal medium. The presence of quadrupolar coupling makes the spin I=3/2 nucleus a two-qubit system. Applying a specially designed pulse sequence, the time evolution of the spin-density operator is described in an interaction representation that has no external time-dependent radio-frequency fields. This approach is used to implement one instance of the continuous Grover search for the transform of a uniform state to a target state, and the implementation provides a clear physical interpretation of the algorithm. The experimental results are in good agreement with the theory.
Abstract 1205:In vivoanimal models with patient-derived tumor xenografts for better clinical prediction

More predictive in vivo animal tumor models are urgently needed to test efficacy of newly developed cancer therapies and predict clinical response. At SRI we have developed highly innovative and predictive models initiated with single tumor cells isolated from cancer patient specimens, including colon, lung, and breast tumor xenografts. These tumors propagated in immunocompromised mice recapitulate primary tumor heterogeneity as shown by histology. In our models, the tumor cells are implanted subcutaneously to evaluate inhibition of primary tumor, or at orthotopic sites to recapitulate advanced metastatic disease and analyze circulating tumor cells (CTCs) or disseminated tumor cells (DTCs). Tumor cells are also implanted in organs, e.g. kidney capsule, to mimic the vascularized tumor microenvironment or in the human skin graft to analyze the tumor interactions with human stroma and vasculature, and the effect of treatment on angiogenesis. The cellular suspension method offers several advantages over the widely employed tumor fragments, including the ability to assess the phenotype of tumor cell populations, tumorigenicity, and tumor initiating cells. Cells isolated from tumors of mice in control and treatment groups are mouse-lineage depleted prior to evaluation in a number of in vitro or ex vivo assays, including migration and invasion through extracellular matrix proteins. To determine whether treatment affects frequency of tumor initiating cells (TICs) and metastasis initiating cells (MICs), we will perform in vivo limiting dilution assay (LDA). Moreover, to evaluate the ability of our tumor models to induce angiogenesis we utilized the chicken embryo chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) assay and scored the vascularity of mouse lineage-depleted tumor cells using an established CAM scoring guide with 5 as the highest score and 0 as the lowest score. One patient derived ER- invasive ductal carcinoma breast cancer (SRI-B1) with high growth rate demonstrated strong pro-angiogenic activity, inducing blood vessels in the CAM assay with a score of 4 compared to 5 for a VEGF positive control and 0 of negative control. The high vascular density induced by SRI-B1 tumor cells correlated with in vivo metastatic dissemination to distant organs upon orthotopic implantation in NOD/SCID mice, suggesting that tumor models can be screened in the CAM assay to evaluate their metastatic potential. We plan to further use these models to test the anticancer activity of experimental therapies that target metastasis. Citation Format: Jun Li, Jessica Kalra, Dominic Dinh, Wan-ru Chao, Xiaohe Liu, Lidia Sambucetti, Lucia Beviglia. In vivo animal models with patient-derived tumor xenografts for better clinical prediction. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 1205. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-1205
Paternal child care and children's development

This paper uses the NLSY-Child data to assess the effects on cognitive and social-emotional development of father care as a child care arrangement among children in two-parent families with working mothers. Our results show that father care for infants is no better or worse than other types of arrangements. However, toddlers in non-paternal modes of child care (e.g., relatives, family day care or center care) have slightly better cognitive outcomes than those whose fathers provided care. Although our analyses do not provide a definitive explanation for this finding, there is a substantial influx of fathers in our data who provide child care in years 2 and 3 and these fathers appear compositionally different from fathers who provided care during a child's infancy. In particular, there is some indication that these fathers who are newly providing care during a child's toddler years may be temporary care providers due to changing economic circumstances.
In vitro tests for a circadian rhythm in the electrical activity of a single neuron inAplysia californica

1. Several tests for a circadian rhythm in the action potential (AP) frequency of a singleAplysia neuron (R15) have been performed. The action potentials were continuously recorded intracellularly while the ganglion was maintained in org anculture for up to a week. 2. The peak in endogenous AP frequency observed on the first day in culture does not reoccur rhythmically in constant light or darkness and constant temperature (Fig. 4). 3. The peak time on the first day can be predicted by considering the time of the last observed dawn and the time of dissection (Fig. 6). 4. Periodogram analysis of the long term activity indicates that minor periodic components may occur. However, they cannot be correlated with any obvious circadian periodicity of the cell (Fig. 5). 5. In vitro attempts to entrain R15 to periodic temperature, light or synaptic stimulation were not successful. Although R15 follows the driving stimulus, the periodic activity does not persist (free-run) when constant conditions are established (Figs. 7, 8). 6. Excitatory synaptic stimulation of R15 increases the AP frequency and leads to long term depression when the stimulation is terminated (Fig. 8). This depression lasts several hours and is associated with a decrease in membrane resistance and hyperpolarization of the membrane potential (Fig. 9).
New theory of nuclear forces. Relativistic origin of the repulsive core

A relativistic, three-dimensional wave equation which restricts one of the two interacting particles to its mass shell is applied to the study of nuclear forces. In the nonrelativistic limit, the equation reduces to a Schr\"odinger equation with effective potentials composed of two parts. One part, with longer range, is similar to nonrelativistic potentials obtained from other theories, while a second short-range part, which arises solely from the relativistic nature of this equation, is repulsive and dominates over the longer-range part at short distances. The resulting soft-core potentials are evaluated numerically for a simple one-particle-exchange model limited to the exchange of $\ensuremath{\pi}$, $\ensuremath{\rho}$, $\ensuremath{\omega}$, and a neutral spinless meson. By adjusting four of the parameters we obtain good fits to the Reid soft-core potentials, especially in the $S$ states. The couplings obtained are very reasonable, and the results are compared with other recent models. The general features of the theory and the quantitative details of the model are thoroughly discussed.
DIALOGUE WITH BAKHTIN ON SECOND AND FOREIGN LANGUAGE LEARNING: NEW PERSPECTIVES, Joan Kelly Hall, Gergana Vitanova, and Ludmila Marchenkova (Eds.)

DIALOGUE WITH BAKHTIN ON SECOND AND FOREIGN LANGUAGE LEARNING: NEW PERSPECTIVES. Joan Kelly Hall, Gergana Vitanova, and Ludmila Marchenkova (Eds.) . Mahwah, NJ: Erlbaum, 2005. Pp. v + 241. $75.00 cloth. This book is the first to explore the relevance of the Russian theorist Mikhail Bakhtin's ideas for the field of SLA research and pedagogy. Each chapter in this edited volume is framed within a Bakhtinian perspective and uses his conceptual apparatus to address some aspect of second and foreign language learning. The authors' collective aim is to challenge traditional, formalist approaches to language and demonstrate how Bakhtin's insights can enrich our understanding of second language learning and teaching.
Analysis of lateral instability of in-plane comb drive MEMS actuators based on a two-dimensional model

Abstract This paper presents a development of the lateral instability analysis of in-plane comb drive MEMS actuators based on a two-dimensional model considering both lateral translational and rotational stiffness. Analytic solutions of the critical voltage are developed. Numerical comparison reveals that the critical voltage obtained from the two-dimensional model is always less than those obtained from a one-dimensional model considering only the lateral translational stiffness or only the rotational stiffness. How a defined stiffness ratio influences the critical voltage is discussed based on numerical calculation. The effect of lateral and angular offsets on the critical voltage is analyzed. Numerical calculation shows that when there exists a lateral offset of 10, 20 or 50% of the one side gap, the critical voltage drops 25, 40 or 72%, respectively. A representative example is presented. Results show that the critical voltage could be in the range of a practical design voltage if there exists a lateral or angular offset.
Turbulent free convection from a vertical, isothermal plate

The temperature and velocity fields adjacent to an isothermal, vertical plate have been calculated by finite-difference methods using the time-averaged equations of conservation. Effective diffusivities for turbulent transfer were computed from differential balances for the turbulent kinetic energy and the rate of dissipation of turbulent energy, using the empirical coefficients previously evaluated for forced convection together with an additional Prandtl-number-dependent coefficient associated with the buoyant production of turbulent kinetic energy. Although the turbulent boundary layer almost approaches an asymptotic condition, the slight development requires a two-dimensional solution proceeding from the leading edge through the laminar and turbulent regimes. It was necessary to trigger the transition from laminar to turbulent motion, but the ultimate turbulent behavior was found to be independent of the point of triggering. The computed velocity fields, temperature fields, and rates of heat transfer ...
Giant Hepatic Mitochondria: Production in Mice Fed with Cuprizone

Giant mitochondria in hepatocytes that have the average size of nuclei can be consistently produced in the liver of weanling mice by feeding them cuprizone (bis-cyclohexanone oxaldihydrazone). The simplicity of the procedure and the consistency of the results make the feeding of cuprizone a new and useful experimental tool for the study of mitochondrial metabolism.
Height, diameter and crown dimensions of Cordia alliodora associated with tree density.

Abstract To investigate the responses of Cordia alliodora associated with tree density, three permanent Nelder plots and 31 temporary 0.09 ha plots in northern Costa Rica, representing a range of densities (100–195 883 per hectare), ages (1–45 years), and elevation (30–430 m), were measured between 1993 and 1996. Tree height, age, stem diameter at breast height, and crown diameter were analyzed with regression techniques. The height of C. alliodora was significantly associated with tree age and stem diameter, but not with density. Stem diameter decreased with increasing tree density. Results were consistent with competition-density patterns observed in temperate forest trees. The ratio between the crown diameter and stem diameter in C. alliodora was not significantly related to density, although this ratio varied directly with tree age. These results suggest that the merchantable yield of C. alliodora in the low-elevation moist tropics of Atlantic Costa Rica may be increased via stand-density management. Study results also indicate that silvicultural research techniques developed in temperate forests can be used to study tropical species. Tropical trees that regenerate in even-aged stands and that permit an estimate of age are the best candidates for such techniques.
Comparative effects of Nosema epilachnae and Nosema varivestis on the Mexican bean beetle, Epilachna varivestis

Abstract In comparative tests with two species of microsporidia of the Mexican bean beetle, Epilachna varivestis, Nosema epilachnae was decidedly more virulent than N. varivestis , with the lowest dosage rate of N. epilachnae (1 × 10 3 spores per larva) resulting in an adult emergence rate of only 50% in contrast to a 96.3% survival rate of larvae exposed to the highest dosage rate of N. varivestis (1 × 10 6 spores per larva)—a 1000-fold difference in spore dosage rates. The adults infected with N. varivestis also survived an average of two to three times longer than those infected with N. epilachnae . Although both species produced significant reductions in adult longevity and fecundity, the test individuals were exposed to N. epilachnae as either late-stage larvae or as newly emerged adults while those exposed to spores of N. varivestis were inoculated as neonate larvae. Reductions in fecundity were manifested as lower average numbers of egg masses per adult and egg masses per adult per day; however, neither species reduced the average number of eggs per mass on a consistent basis. Reductions in adult longevity and fecundity by N. epilachnae were related to adult age at exosure. Both species were also transmitted transovarially, but the average rate of transmission of N. varivestis was low and did not increase in time. In contrast, the incidence of transovarian transmission of N. epilachnae increased with time to levels approaching 100% and was accompanied by a dramatic decline in egg hatching rates. The highly virulent nature of N. epilachnae for both larvae and adults of the MBB indicates that further effort to evaluate its potential as a microbial control agent is warranted.
Multiscale modeling of bone fracture using cohesive finite elements

Abstract Bone is a hierarchical material that exhibit fracture mechanisms at multiple scales and will benefit from a multiscale evaluation approach for better fracture risk assessment. This study developed a cohesive finite element modeling approach that simulated bone fracture at micro- and macroscale. Simulation results showed that the microscale fracture toughening was most effective when the cement line had lower strength than the surrounding bone reducing the propensity to fracture at the macroscale. These results demonstrate the importance of cement line strength in controlling the fracture toughening mechanisms and the effect of microscale properties in the whole bone fracture risk assessment.
Biological Variation of Total, Free and Percent Free Serum Prostate Specific Antigen Levels in Screening Volunteers

AbstractPurpose: We determined the biological variation of the total, free and percent free serum prostate specific antigen (PSA) in men 50 years old or older.Materials and Methods: Between July 1995 and February 1996 we studied 84 healthy men from our PSA screening study to determine biological variation by calculating the coefficients of variation of 3 PSA measurements on blood samples drawn from each subject 2 weeks apart.Results: The mean coefficients of variation for total, free and percent free serum PSA were 15, 17 and 14%, respectively. Age, total PSA and ejaculation were not confounding factors in this analysis (that is multivariate R2 less than 5% for all indexes).Conclusions: There is a mean variation of approximately 15% in measurements of total, free and percent free PSA that does not appear to be significantly affected by age and total PSA level.
Mechanical sensation and pain thresholds in patients with chronic arthropathies

This study measured mechanical sensation and pain thresholds in the cutaneous field overlying the knee joints of rheumatoid arthritis (RA; N = 27) and osteoarthritis (OA; N = 28) patients, compared with age- and weight-matched normal control subjects (Norm; N = 27) by using graded von Frey monofilaments. A visual analog scale (VASpain), cutaneous joint temperature and circumference were measured for subjective ongoing pain and inflammation. Compared to Norm, RA and OA groups had (1) significantly higher VASpain scores, joint circumferences and (RA only) surface temperatures, (2) significantly increased average thresholds for innocuous mechanical sensation (0.014 +/- 0.003 vs 0.077 +/- 0.035 and 0.123 +/- 0.043 g, respectively) indicative of hypoesthesia and (3) significantly decreased pain thresholds, indicative of mechanical allodynia (446.683 +/- 0 vs 285.910 +/- 40.012 and 322.681 +/- 34.521 g for Norm vs RA and OA, respectively). Intrapatient joint temperature, circumference, and pain threshold were significantly correlated in RA. The highest scores in average mechanical sensation mapped to the same grid region as the lowest scores in average pain thresholds in RA and OA patients. The simultaneous hypoesthesia and allodynia, with paradoxical decrease in sensation and increased pain thresholds may reflect peripheral and central alterations in neuronal responsiveness to mechanical stimulation and suggests activation of a descending inhibitory system.
193 nm resists and lithography

A review of recent efforts to develop photoresist materials and processes for 193 nm (ArF excimer laser) photolithography is reported. Three categories of resist processes are discussed: (1) conventional single layer, (2) bilayer and (3) surface-imaged resist processes. To date, materials have been developed for each process which exhibit resolution to less than 0.25 μm with sensitivities of less than 50 mJ/cm2.