cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Silver ferrite/maghemite composites and mixtures: Impact of one-pot composite preparation on battery-relevant electrochemistry

Abstract A series of silver ferrite/maghemite composite materials (AgxFeOy, where AgxFeOy = composites of xAgFeO2 + [(1 − x)/2] γ-Fe2O3 and y = 2 − (1 − x)/2) have been prepared via a non-stoichiometric, one-pot co-precipitation strategy. The impact of a one-pot composite preparation on electrochemistry was determined by comparison to a mechanical mixture of nanocrystalline AgFeO2 and γ-Fe2O3 powders, which were combined to afford an overall composition of Ag0.2FeO1.6. Notably, following 30 discharge-charge cycles, the one-pot Ag0.2FeO1.6 composite delivers an energy density (156 mWh/g) profoundly higher than the mechanical mixture Ag0.2FeO1.6 (67 mWh/g). AgxFeOy composites with the lowest Ag (x) content and smallest crystallite size, Ag0.2FeO1.6, deliver twice the discharge energy density (169 mWh/g) of stoichiometric AgFeO2 with no maghemite component and exhibited good capacity retention over 50 cycles. The notable electrochemistry of one-pot AgxFeOy composites may involve reduced AgFeO2 and γ-Fe2O3 aggregate sizes and a concomitant increase in AgFeO2/γ-Fe2O3 crystallite contact not achievable through mechanical mixing.
Impact of Total Pars Plana Vitrectomy on Postoperative Complications in Aphakic, Snap-On, Type 1 Boston Keratoprosthesis.

Purpose To determine the impact of total pars plana vitrectomies (PPVs) with peripheral shaving of the vitreous base on the rates of postoperative complications in patients with aphakic, snap-on type I Boston keratoprostheses (KPros). Design Retrospective, consecutive case series. Participants A total of 48 eyes in 46 patients with implantation of aphakic, snap-on type 1 Boston KPros performed at a tertiary care facility between January 1, 2007, and December 31, 2013, were included. Methods The cumulative incidences of postoperative complications were compared between patients who underwent total PPVs with shaving of the vitreous base (n = 22) and those who had partial PPVs or anterior vitrectomies (AVs) at the time of KPro implantation (n = 26). Main Outcome Measures Rates of complications between patients who underwent total PPVs and partial PPVs or AVs. Results The rate of total postoperative complications was lower in the total PPV group ( P = 0.018, log-rank test). In particular, eyes that underwent total PPVs had lower rates of retroprosthetic membranes (RPMs) requiring intervention ( P = 0.049) and less vision loss due to glaucoma progression ( P = 0.046). There was also a trend for fewer corneal melts ( P = 0.060) and less sight-threatening complications ( P = 0.051) in the total vitrectomy group. There was no difference in the rates of KPro extrusion ( P = 0.41), endophthalmitis or vitritis ( P = 0.15), retinal detachments ( P = 0.76), cystoid macular edema ( P = 0.83), or timing of complications between the 2 groups. The mean preoperative and postoperative visual acuities were similar between the 2 groups ( P = 0.97). The mean follow-up was 49±22 months. Conclusions Eyes that underwent total PPVs during implantation of aphakic, snap-on, type I Boston KPros had less postoperative complications than eyes with partial PPVs or AVs during the average 4 years of follow-up.
Instability of expanding bacterial droplets

Suspensions of motile bacteria or synthetic microswimmers, termed active matter, manifest a remarkable propensity for self-organization, and formation of large-scale coherent structures. Most active matter research deals with almost homogeneous in space systems and little is known about the dynamics of strongly heterogeneous active matter. Here we report on experimental and theoretical studies on the expansion of highly concentrated bacterial droplets into an ambient bacteria-free fluid. The droplet is formed beneath a rapidly rotating solid macroscopic particle inserted in the suspension. We observe vigorous instability of the droplet reminiscent of a violent explosion. The phenomenon is explained in terms of continuum first-principle theory based on the swim pressure concept. Our findings provide insights into the dynamics of active matter with strong density gradients and significantly expand the scope of experimental and analytic tools for control and manipulation of active systems.
Surrogate Endpoints and Risk Adaptive Strategies in Previously Untreated Follicular Lymphoma.

Abstract Follicular lymphoma is the second most common subtype of non-Hodgkin lymphoma with an estimated 3.18 cases per 100,000 people. Despite the prolongation of survival with chemoimmunotherapy, variability in response to initial treatment and outcome still exists. Whereas prolonging overall survival is important, it is generally an unreasonable primary endpoint in the front-line setting. The long follow-up needed and the influence of subsequent therapies creates a potential bias. Thus, clinical trials require approximately 5 to 8 years from activation to completion and analysis of outcomes. This duration results in enormous cost and a delay in developing newer therapies. Thus, there is a need to identify markers or surrogate endpoints that can be used in clinical trials to expedite the development of new treatments. This review will discuss various clinical, radiologic, and laboratory measures used to assess outcomes and overall survival in patients with untreated follicular lymphoma, and gauge their utility in clinical trials as surrogate endpoints.
Africa and the World Trade Organization: TRADE-RELATED ASPECTS OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS

among the agreements that became effective at the establishment of the WTO in 1995 was the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS). The TRIPS Agreement sets a minimum uniform standard to protect intellectual property rights in eight areas: copyright and related rights; trademarks; geographical indications; industrial designs; patents; layout-designs (topographies) of integrated circuits; protection of undisclosed information; and control of anti-competitive practices in contractual licenses. Under the TRIPS Agreement, patents provide protection for twenty years “for any inventions, whether products or processes, in all fields of technology, provided they are new, involve an inventive step and are capable of industrial application” (Article 27:1). Certain provisions give governments some discretion to refuse to grant patents for public health reasons. The signing of the TRIPS Agreement was a celebrated achievement for developed countries, the main producers of technological knowledge. African and other developing countries, on the other hand, had all along been opposed to and wary of an agreement that might adversely affect their access to generic and cheaper medicines and hamper their adoption of new technology. But concerted pressure from developed countries (Abbott, 2002) and promises that national emergencies and the need to protect public health would override the TRIPS Agreement rules brought developing countries to the signing table, although reluctantly. Moreover, Article 7 of the TRIPS Agreement gave developing countries some assurance with its stipulation that: The protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights should contribute to the promotion and to the transfer and dissemination of technology, to the mutual advantage of producers and users of technological knowledge and in a manner conducive to social and economic welfare, and to a balance of rights and obligations.
Parallel Computing: Perspectives and Prospects

The trend toward parallel processing is driven by both scientific and economic factors. At the high end of the performance range, parallelism is the only answer to the fundamental limits on computational speed that are being rapidly approached by today’s supercomputers. In the lower and middle performance ranges, parallel architectures assembled from commodity parts, such as microprocessors and memory chips, provide the most cost effective systems. These trends are mutually supportive, as the lessons learned and software developed are transferred across systems.
Burst Phenomenon in the Martensitic Transformation

The martensite reaction in single crystals and polycrystals of 70 pct Fe-30 pct Ni alloys, is shown to be autocatalytic in nature, producing bursts of transformation during cooling. The temperature of the first burst of transformation, called M b , occurs below M s in these alloys. Experiments were devised to test the athermal embryo and strain embryo theories of martensite nucleation. The results indicate that internal strains, either within the virgin austenite or around existing martensitic plates, control the nucleation process in these alloys. Furthermore, the growth of martensitic plates is not limited by the attainment of an elastic balance with the austenitic matrix, but by the occurrence of plastic deformation at the martensite boundaries which interferes with the propagation mechanism.
The “Rule of 10s” versus the “Rule of 2s”: High complication rates after conventional excision with postoperative margin assessment of specialty site versus trunk and proximal extremity melanomas

Specialty site melanomas on the head and neck, hands and feet, genitalia, and pretibial leg have higher rates of surgical complications after conventional excision with postoperative margin assessment (CE-POMA) compared with trunk and proximal extremity melanomas. The rule of 10s describes complication rates after CE-POMA of specialty site melanomas: ∼10% risk for upstaging, ∼10% risk for positive excision margins, ∼10% risk for local recurrence, and ∼10-fold increased likelihood of reconstruction with a flap or graft. Trunk and proximal extremity melanomas encounter these complications at a lower rate, according to the rule of 2s. Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS) with frozen section melanocytic immunostains (MMS-I) and slow Mohs with paraffin sections decrease complications of surgery of specialty site melanomas by detecting upstaging and confirming complete tumor removal with comprehensive microscopic margin assessment before reconstruction. This article reviews information important for counseling melanoma patients about surgical treatment options and for developing consensus guidelines with clear indications for MMS-I or slow Mohs.
Neuronal reactivation during post-learning sleep consolidates long-term memory in Drosophila

Animals consolidate some, but not all, learning experiences into long-term memory. Across the animal kingdom, sleep has been found to have a beneficial effect on the consolidation of recently formed memories into long-term storage. However, the underlying mechanisms of sleep dependent memory consolidation are poorly understood. Here, we show that consolidation of courtship long-term memory in Drosophila is mediated by reactivation during sleep of dopaminergic neurons that were earlier involved in memory acquisition. We identify specific fan-shaped body neurons that induce sleep after the learning experience and activate dopaminergic neurons for memory consolidation. Thus, we provide a direct link between sleep, neuronal reactivation of dopaminergic neurons, and memory consolidation.
Two are better than one

Finely tuned interactions in the second coordination sphere of enzymes or homogeneous catalysts can be essential for their function. Now, this concept has been applied to the surface of a catalytic material, utilizing pairs of Cu atoms for the selective electrochemical fixation of CO2.
Data-driven Identification and Prediction of Power System Dynamics Using Linear Operators

In this paper, we propose linear operator theoretic framework involving Koopman operator for the data-driven identification of power system dynamics. We explicitly account for noise in the time series measurement data and propose robust approach for data-driven approximation of Koopman operator for the identification of nonlinear power system dynamics. The identified model is used for the prediction of state trajectories in the power system. The application of the framework is illustrated using an IEEE nine bus test system.
Omega-3 fatty acid intake and prevalent respiratory symptoms among U.S. adults with COPD.

Omega-3 fatty acids, including alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and derivatives, play a key role in the resolution of inflammation. Higher intake has been linked to decreased morbidity in several diseases, though effects on respiratory diseases like COPD are understudied. The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), with a focus on dietary assessment, provides a unique opportunity to explore relationships between omega-3 intake and morbidity in respiratory diseases marked by inflammation in the United States (US) population. We investigated relationships between ALA or EPA + DHA intake and respiratory symptoms among US adults with COPD, as well as variation in relationships based on personal characteristics or exposures. Of 878 participants, mean age was 60.6 years, 48% were current smokers, and 68% completed high school. Omega-3 intake was, 1.71 ± 0.89 g (ALA), and 0.11 ± 0.21 g (EPA + DHA). Logistic regression models, adjusting for age, gender, race, body mass index, FEV1, education, smoking status, pack-years, total caloric intake, and omega-6 (linoleic acid, LA) intake demonstrated no primary associations between omega-3 intake and respiratory symptoms. Interaction terms were used to determine potential modification of relationships by personal characteristics (race, gender, education) or exposures (LA intake, smoking status), demonstrating that at lower levels of LA intake, increasing ALA intake was associated with reduced odds of chronic cough (pint = 0.015) and wheeze (pint = 0.037). EPA + DHA, but not ALA, was associated with reduced symptoms only among current smokers who did not complete high school. Individual factors should be taken into consideration when studying the association of fatty acid intake on respiratory diseases, as differential responses may reveal susceptible subgroups.
Safety considerations in the psychopharmacology of pediatric bipolar disorder

Introduction: The standard of treatment of pediatric bipolar disorder (BPD) often requires life-long psychopharmacological management. Several pharmacological agents are approved by the US FDA for the treatment of pediatric BPD. However, each medication may cause adverse events (AEs). Provider awareness of AE profiles of common pharmacologic agents would serve to better inform patients and families in evaluating and selecting between treatment options. Areas covered: This review focuses on medications that, in our clinical experience, are commonly prescribed for youth with BPD and were evaluated in prospective clinical trials for the treatment of pediatric BPD. This paper highlights acute and long-term AEs described in these studies. Expert opinion: Most medications increase risk of AEs in youth with BPD. Treatment with lithium may lead to thyrotropin elevations, but generally does not cause significant weight gain. Divalproex may lead to weight gain; however, this finding was not consistent in comparison studies with lithium. Olanzapine, risperidone, quetiapine, and asenapine are associated with metabolic abnormalities and weight gain. Studies of ziprasidone, aripiprazole and lurasidone do not suggest significant metabolic AEs. More studies are needed to assess efficacy and safety of medications in managing pediatric BPD. Special focus on long-term maintenance trials is required to further identify long-term AEs in this population.
Extrusion Nozzle Shaping for Improved 3DP of Engineered Cementitious Composites (ECC/SHCC)

This paper focuses on the development of a nozzle steering and shaping system for concrete 3D printing (3DCP) of Engineered/Strain Hardening Cementitious Composites (ECC/SHCC). The investigation highlights the development of an integrated system that includes robotic end-effector tooling, automated control associated with the delivery and deposition processes, as well as multi-axis nozzle steering for enhanced surface quality of the printed components. The results are discussed along with demonstrated prototypes. While significant improvements to the speed and efficiency of 3DP cementitious materials have been developed in recent years, only a few precedents, discussed in the paper, have aimed to improve geometric surface quality of the final printed components. In addition to improving the surface quality, the designed extrusion shaping process has the potential to improve mechanical performance of ECC by maximizing interfacial surface area and improving fiber alignment. Material effects will also be discussed in relation to the development of the overall system. An overview of the geometric capabilities and limitations of the proposed system will be presented in comparison with existing 3DP techniques.
Multifunctional Synthetic Protein Nanoparticles via Reactive Electrojetting

Protein nanoparticles are a promising approach for nanotherapeutics, as proteins combine versatile chemical and biological function with controlled biodegradability. In this work, the development of an adaptable synthesis method is presented for synthetic protein nanoparticles (SPNPs) based on reactive electrojetting. In contrast to past work with electrohydrodynamic cojetting using inert polymers, the jetting solutions are comprised of proteins and chemically activated macromers, designed to react with each other during the processing step, to form insoluble nanogel particles. SPNPs made from a variety of different proteins, such as transferrin, insulin, or hemoglobin, are stable and uniform under physiological conditions and maintain monodisperse sizes of around 200 nm. SPNPs comprised of transferrin and a disulfide containing macromer are stimuli-responsive, and serve as markers of oxidative stress within HeLa cells. Beyond isotropic SPNPs, bicompartmental nanoparticles containing human serum albumin and transferrin in two distinct hemispheres are prepared via reactive electrojetting. This novel platform provides access to a novel class of versatile protein particles with nanoscale architectures that i) can be made from a variety of proteins and macromers, ii) have tunable biological responses, and iii) can be multicompartmental, a prerequisite for controlled release of multiple drugs.
Provably More Efficient Q-Learning in the One-Sided-Feedback/Full-Feedback Settings

Motivated by the episodic version of the classical inventory control problem, we propose a new Q-learning-based algorithm, Elimination-Based Half-Q-Learning (HQL), that enjoys improved efficiency over existing algorithms for a wide variety of problems in the one-sided-feedback setting. We also provide a simpler variant of the algorithm, Full-Q-Learning (FQL), for the full-feedback setting. We establish that HQL incurs O~(H3T) regret and FQL incurs O~(H2T) regret, where H is the length of each episode and T is the total length of the horizon. The regret bounds are not affected by the possibly huge state and action space. Our numerical experiments demonstrate the superior efficiency of HQL and FQL, and the potential to combine reinforcement learning with richer feedback models.
Irradiation induced void spheroidization, shrinkage and migration in Cu at elevated temperatures: An in situ study

Abstract Understanding the void evolution in irradiation environment is of great interest and significance, as irradiation-induced voids typically lead to pronounced volumetric swelling and degradation of mechanical properties. In situ studies on the irradiation response of nanovoids at elevated temperature remain limited. In this work, we performed systematic in situ 1 MeV Kr++ irradiations on Cu with nanovoids in a transmission electron microscope up to 350 °C. The in situ studies revealed intriguing void spheroidization, shrinkage and migration. Furthermore, the morphology evolution and migration of nanovoids showed a strong dependence on irradiation temperature and initial void size. Post-irradiation analyses identified defect clusters in the form of stacking fault tetrahedrons, and the remaining large faceted nanovoids. The underlying mechanisms of irradiation-induced void spheroidization and shrinkage were discussed based on phase-field modeling.
Sticky Beliefs: A Characterization of Conservative Updating

This paper characterizes a decision maker with sticky beliefs. That is, a decision maker may not update enough in response to information, where enough means as a Bayesian decision maker would. Experimental evidence of this phenomena can be see in Mobius et al. and is also referred to as conservative updating. This paper provides axiomatic foundations for sticky beliefs by weakening the standard axioms of dynamic consistency and consequentialism. I derive a representation in which updated beliefs are a convex combination of the prior and the Bayesian posterior. A unique parameter captures the weight on the prior and is interpreted as the agent’s measure of belief stickiness or conservatism bias. This parameter is endogenously identified from preferences. On a more technical note, this paper shows that when information is modeled as an event tree, there is a connection between dynamic consistency and consequentialism. Imposing either one of them in the presence of the weaker versions implies that conservatism bias vanishes and we have a Bayesian agent.
Age-related impairment of cerebral blood flow response to KATP channel opener in Alzheimer’s disease mice with presenilin-1 mutation:

Local cerebral blood flow (CBF) responses to neuronal activity are essential for cognition and impaired CBF responses occur in Alzheimer's disease (AD). In this study, regional CBF (rCBF) responses to the KATP channel opener diazoxide were investigated in 3xTgAD, WT and mutant Presenilin 1(PS1M146V) mice from three age groups using Laser-Doppler flowmetry. The rCBF response was reduced early in young 3xTgAD mice and almost absent in old 3xTgAD mice, up to 30%-40% reduction with altered CBF velocity and mean arterial pressure versus WT mice. The impaired rCBF response in 3xTgAD mice was associated with progression of AD pathology, characterized by deposition of intracellular and vascular amyloid-β (Aβ) oligomers, senile plaques and tau pathology. The nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitor Nω-nitro-L-arginine abolished rCBF response to diazoxide suggesting NO was involved in the mediation of vasorelaxation. Levels of phosphor-eNOS (Ser1177) diminished in 3xTgAD brains with age, while the rCBF response to the NO donor sodium nitroprusside remained. In PS1M146V mice, the rCBF response to dizoxide reduced and high molecular weight Abeta oligomers were increased indicating PS1M146V contributed to the dysregulation of rCBF response in AD mice. Our study revealed an Aβ oligomer-associated compromise of cerebrovascular function in rCBF response to diazoxide in AD mice with PS1M146V mutation.
WISE/NEOWISE PRELIMINARY ANALYSIS AND HIGHLIGHTS OF THE 67P/CHURYUMOV-GERASIMENKO NEAR NUCLEUS ENVIRONS

On 2010 January 18-19 and June 28-29, the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) spacecraft imaged the Rosetta mission target, comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko. We present a preliminary analysis of the images, which provide a characterization of the dust environment at heliocentric distances similar to those planned for the initial spacecraft encounter, but on the outbound leg of its orbit rather than the inbound. Broadband photometry yields low levels of CO_2 production at a comet heliocentric distance of 3.32 AU and no detectable production at 4.18 AU. We find that at these heliocentric distances, large dust grains with mean grain diameters on the order of a millimeter or greater dominate the coma and evolve to populate the tail. This is further supported by broadband photometry centered on the nucleus, which yield an estimated differential dust particle size distribution with a power-law relation that is considerably shallower than average. We set a 3σ upper limit constraint on the albedo of the large-grain dust at ≤0.12. Our best estimate of the nucleus radius (1.82 ± 0.20 km) and albedo (0.04 ± 0.01) are in agreement with measurements previously reported in the literature.
Cockroaches adjust body and appendages to traverse cluttered large obstacles

Abstract To traverse complex natural terrain, animals often transition between locomotor modes. It is well known that locomotor transitions can be induced by switching in neural control circuits or be driven by a need to minimize metabolic energetic cost. Recent work discovered that locomotor transitions in complex 3-D terrain cluttered with large obstacles can also emerge from physical interaction with the environment controlled by the nervous system. To traverse cluttered, stiff grass-like beams, the discoid cockroach often transitions from using a strenuous pitch mode to push across to using a less strenuous roll mode to maneuver through the gaps, during which a potential energy barrier must be overcome. Although previous robotic physical modeling demonstrated that kinetic energy fluctuation from body oscillation generated by leg propulsion can help overcome the barrier and facilitate this transition, the animal was observed to transition even when the barrier still exceeds kinetic energy fluctuation. Here, we further studied whether and how the cockroach makes active adjustments to facilitate this locomotor transition to traverse cluttered beams. We observed that the animal flexed its head and abdomen, reduced hind leg sprawl, and used both hind legs differentially during the pitch-to-roll transition, which were absent when running on a flat ground. Using a refined potential energy landscape with additional degrees of freedom modeling these adjustments, we found that head flexion did not substantially reduce the transition barrier, whereas the leg sprawl reduction did so dramatically. We discussed likely functions of the observed adjustments and suggested future directions.
Density functional theory and bridging to classical interatomic force fields

Abstract The foundation for computational multiscale modeling of biological materials is in the quantum mechanical realm. At this scale, fundamental physical equations can be used to describe molecular systems and ab initio calculations can, in principle, be performed at the size scale of the electron. In practice, a number of assumptions are used to make computations tractable, such as those employed by density functional theory (DFT), and these assumptions allow for accurate results for the behavior of organic systems at the next scale up of individual molecules. These calculations can serve as the basis, via length-scale bridging for further simplifications used to motivate classical force field atomic models that are useful for molecular dynamics (MD) simulations on scales up to millions or even billions of atoms. This is in contrast to DFT, which is limited computationally to at most a few hundred atoms. In this chapter, we will briefly introduce the physics that governs molecular interactions at the smallest scale (electron) and the computational techniques used in solutions to these fundamental equations. We will then discuss the length-scale bridge between first principles (electron) calculation and classical force field models (atom). We will then review an existing formalism for modeling MD of biologically relevant molecules and demonstrate how it is informed by lower length-scale simulation. Finally, we will outline the process for developing new force fields using simple hydrocarbons as a model system.
Diversity and Inclusion in Radiation Oncology: A Survey of Residency Program Directors.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE(S) Women and traditionally underrepresented minorities in medicine (URM) including Black Americans, Hispanic/Latino Americans, and Indigenous Americans remain underrepresented in the radiation oncology workforce. It has been argued by some in the field that addressing racial and gender disparities in the radiation oncology workforce or in radiation oncology residency training represents an ethical imperative in light of both the tangible benefits diversity generates as well as the fact that these disparities are often byproducts of unethical societal practices. In light of this, however, the question remains: how can we increase diversity and inclusion of URM and women physicians in radiation oncology? Moreover, what methods are currently in use or preferred by residency program directors to address any disparities in representation that exist? Although similar studies have been performed in other medical specialties such as otolaryngology, they have not been conducted for the specialty of radiation oncology. MATERIALS/METHODS A questionnaire was developed and distributed to Program Directors of radiation oncology residency programs throughout the United States. The purpose of this questionnaire is to measure the relative representation of women and underrepresented racial/ethnic minorities in radiation oncology departments as well as to identify the methods that are most preferred by program directors to increase diversity in residency programs. The survey was disseminated electronically to residency program directors of radiation oncology programs in the United States. Analyses will be performed using statistical software. RESULTS At the time of abstract submission, final results of this study were pending. The strategies to increase diversity that are preferred by residency program directors and those that are currently being implemented will be reported and then compared using chi-squared analysis. Residency program characteristics will additionally be analyzed as predictor variables for strategies to increase diversity and inclusion in radiation oncology residency. CONCLUSION Of the 91 radiation oncology residency programs that are currently accredited by the ACGME, responses from 7 were received at the time of abstract submission. This survey may inform program directors about the current representation of women and URM in radiation oncology residencies. Furthermore, program directors may benefit from being aware of which strategies to increase diversity are preferred by their contemporaries. Finally, identification of strategies used to promote diversity in radiation oncology residency is critical to increasing representation of women and URM within the field.
Improved control and characterization of adjustable x-ray optics

We report on improvements in our efforts to control and characterize piezoelectrically adjustable, thin glass optics. In the past, an optical profilometer and a Shack-Hartmann wavefront sensor have been used to measure influence functions for a at adjustable mirror. An electronics system has since been developed to control > 100 actuator cells and has been used in a full calibration of a high-yield at adjustable mirror. The calibrated influence functions have been used to induce a pre-determined figure change to the mirror, representing our first attempt at figure control of a full mirror. Furthermore, we have adapted our metrology systems for cylindrical optics, allowing characterization of Wolter-type mirrors. We plan to use this metrology to perform the first piezoelectric figure correction of a cylindrical mirror over the next year.
Integrated charger with wireless charging and boost functions for PHEV and EV applications

Integrated charger topologies that have been researched so far with dc-dc converters and the charging functionality have no isolation in the system. Isolation is an important feature that is required for user interface systems that have grid connections and therefore is a major limitation that needs to be addressed along with the integrated functionality. The topology proposed in this paper is a unique and a first of its kind topology that integrates a wireless charging system and the boost converter for the traction drive system. The new topology is also compared with an on-board charger system from a commercial electric vehicle (EV). The ac-dc efficiency of the proposed system is 85.1% and the specific power and power density of the onboard components is ∼455 W/kg and ∼320 W/l.
From the Comic to the Ludic: Postmodern Fiction

The French edition of Alain Robbe-Grillet's Project for a Revolution in New York (1970) contains a short insert by the author in which he calls for the replacement of chronology, as the organizing force in fiction, with ludic organization. The term "ludic"—less common in English than it has recently become in French—is derived from the Latin word ludus, meaning "game" or "play." In the seminal work Homo ludens: A Study of the Play-Element in Culture, published in German in 1944, the Dutch scholar Johan Huizinga sees a strong relationship between the process of creation in the arts and the process of play. Not only is improvisation a form of play (p. 126), "all poetry," he tells us, "is born of play" (p. 129). And in his view, as civilizations grow and become more serious, they lose touch with play, so that "finally only poetry remains as the stronghold of living and noble play" (p. 134).
Breaking down silos for improved biomarker development: an interview with George Poste

Interview with Dr George Poste by Claire Raison (Commissioning Editor)George Poste, DVM, PhD, FRS, CBE, is the Chief Scientist at the Complex Adaptive Systems Initiative at Arizona State University (Tempe, AZ, USA) and serves as a member of the Editorial Advisory Board of Expert Review of Molecular Diagnostics. Dr Poste’s career has spanned 40 years, during which time he has been the head of research and development at SmithKline Beecham (now GSK), served as an advisor to the US Department of Defense on counter-bioterrorism and established the Biodesign Institute and the Complex Adaptive Systems Initiative at Arizona State University. Here, he discusses his work with the National Biomarker Development Alliance and his perspectives on the research and development challenges for progress in biomarkers and diagnostics.
Identification of RTX toxin target cell specificity domains by use of hybrid genes.

Abstract The Escherichia coli hemolysin (HlyA) and Pasteurella haemolytica leukotoxin (LktA) are cytolytic toxins encoded by genes belonging to the recently described RTX gene family. These cytotoxins are, respectively, 1,023 and 953 amino acids in length and are encoded by genes within identically organized operons. They share 45% amino acid sequence identities but differ in their target cell specificities. In vitro-derived recombinant hybrid genes between hlyA and lktA were constructed by using restriction endonuclease sites created by oligonucleotide site-directed mutagenesis. The cytolytic activity of hybrid proteins was investigated using as targets sheep erythrocytes and two cultured cell lines from different species (BL3, bovine leukemia-derived B lymphocytes; and Raji, human B-cell lymphoma cells). HlyA is cytolytic to all three cell types. LktA lyses only BL3 cells. Among the hybrid proteins displaying cytolytic activity, the striking finding is that the hemolytic activity of several LktA-HlyA hybrids was independent of any cytolytic activity against either cultured cell species. The hemolytic activity was associated with the HlyA region between amino acids 564 and 739. Structures that are critical for HlyA cytolytic activity against BL3 or Raji cells were destroyed when LktA-HlyA and HlyA-LktA hybrids were made, respectively, at amino acid positions 564 and 739 of HlyA. In contrast to HlyA, which lysed the two different cultured cell lines with equal efficiency, Lkt-HlyA hybrids possessing the amino-terminal 169 residues of LktA lysed BL3 cells more efficiently than Raji cells. This suggests that a significant but not exclusive element of the LktA ruminant cell specificity resides in the amino-terminal one-fifth of the protein. A molecular model of the functional domains of HlyA and LktA is presented.
Feudal Incomes and Demand Elasticity for Bread in Late Eighteenth-Century France

The works of Labrousse and Chabert on income fluctuations in pre-and post-revolutionary France have already been subjected to abundant criticism by Professor Landes in the November 1950 issue of THE JOURNAL OF ECONOMIC HISTORY. The present note results from an attempt at resolving in a constructive way certain of the contradictions observed between Labrousse's inferences and his data. The argument, originally developed on the basis of observations in the decade immediately preceding the French Revolution, was extended to cover the thirty years (1815-1845) following the fall of Napoleon's empire. After a short review of Labrousse's “grain crop” interpretation of French economic cycles, it is shown that (1) his computations of feudal revenues do not agree with his description of their cyclical pattern and (2) grain revenue figures are only consistent with an elastic demand for bread over a certain range. This squarely contradicts the inelasticity assumption which underlies both Labrousse's theory and Landes' criticism of it. The treatment of eighteenth-century bread demand as price-inelastic had already wide currency among contemporary economists, and does not seem to have been seriously challenged ever since. An inductive analysis supported by scattered pieces of empirical evidence is then developed, with the conclusion that demand for bread (and grain) should indeed be elastic over the relevant region. The last section represents an extension of this interpretation to crop and price data in the post-Napoleonic period.
Research in Second Language Teacher Education

Teacher Cognition in Language Teaching: Beliefs, Decision-Making, and Classroom Practice. Devon Woods. New York: Cambridge University Press, 1996. Teacher Learning in Language Teaching. Donald Freeman and Jack Richards (Eds.). New York: Cambridge University Press, 1996.
The effects of grain size and dislocation source density on the strengthening behaviour of polycrystals: a two-dimensional discrete dislocation simulation

In this study, the evolution of the flow stress for grain sizes ranging from about 11 to 1 µm under shear deformation was examined using two-dimensional discrete dislocation dynamics. The grain boundaries were assumed to be both the only sources for nucleation of the dislocations and also the only obstacles to the dislocation motion. The analyses were confined to a single-slip system within each grain, with various orientations with respect to the slip system of neighbouring grains. The simulations were carried out for two sets of system sizes. In the first set of simulations the grain morphology was kept constant and the simulation unit cell size varied from 25 µm × 25 µm to 2.5 µm × 2.5 µm. In the second set of simulations the simulation unit-cell size was kept at 25 µm × 25 µm and the grain size was varied. For the grain-size ranges considered, an inverse relationship between the grain size and 0.2% offset flow stress in the form of the Hall–Petch relationship with a d −1/2 dependence was observed, al...
Effect of structural modification at carbon atom 1 of leukotriene B4 on the chemotactic and metabolic response of human neutrophils

Human neutrophils biosynthesize the chemoattractant leukotriene B4 (LTB4) and metabolize LTB4 to omega oxidative products 20-hydroxy-LTB4 (20-OH-LTB4) and 20-carboxy-LTB4 (20-COOH-LTB4). In this study, we prepared the C-1 methyl ester and N-methyl amide of LTB4 and then examined neutrophil chemotaxis and metabolism of these derivatives of LTB4. The results show that chemical modification of LTB4 at carbon atom 1 dramatically affects metabolism of the lipid molecule. The free acid form of LTB4 was taken up and metabolized by human neutrophils, while the methyl ester and N-methyl amide derivatives were poor substrates for omega oxidation. Although human neutrophils were poorly attracted to the methyl ester of LTB4, the amide derivative was a complete agonist of the neutrophil chemotactic response and displayed an ED50 for chemotaxis identical to that of LTB4. Therefore, we concluded that omega oxidation is not a requirement for the neutrophil chemotactic response induced by LTB4. These results also indicate that the N-methyl amide of LTB4 may be a useful ligand for the elucidation of molecular mechanisms operative in neutrophil chemotaxis to LTB4, since the C-1 derivative is not further metabolized. Two separate responses of human neutrophils are elicited by LTB4, resulting in both cellular activation and generation of omega oxidation products. It appears that putative receptors on the neutrophils can distinguish between LTB4 and certain derivatives that are structurally identical except for modification at the C-1 position (i.e., the methyl ester). LTB4 derivatives modified at the C-1 position do not undergo conversion to omega oxidation products by the neutrophil.
Signaling theory and information asymmetry in online commerce

An e-business environment results in information asymmetry because buyers cannot physically evaluate the quality of products and easily assess the trustworthiness of sellers. Product and seller quality are communicated through website signals. Using signaling theory, we developed a three-dimensional framework to classify website signals. We empirically tested the framework with a comparative content analysis of websites from a sample of online pharmacies. We found that low-quality sellers were likely to avoid costly and easy-to-verify signals and used fewer signals than did high-quality sellers, who used costly and difficult-to-verify signals and displayed more signals. These results provide information to online buyers and regulatory institutions in charge of online retailer evaluation.
Method for the determination of the index of refraction of particles suspended in the ocean

It is shown that the complex index of refraction of a given particle-size distribution may be calculated if the particle extinction coefficient and the particle absorption coefficient are known. If the particles are assumed to be nonabsorbing, a real index of refraction may be calculated from the ratio of light scattering at 45° from the forward for two wavelengths. Application of the method to two stations off Ecuador indicates that the particle index of refraction can be determined with sufficient accuracy to become an important parameter in the study of the oceans.
The HERG N-Terminal Interacts with Voltage Sensitive Transitions

The channels underlying native human IKr are thought to be formed by homo/heterotetramers of the 2 HERG splice variants HERG1a and HERG1b. HERG1b has a shorter and highly basic 36 amino acid N-terminal, but is otherwise identical to HERG1a. This minor structural difference is sufficient to produce a significant change in gating kinetics: HERG1b has faster activation and deactivation kinetics than HERG1a. HERG activation is a multi-step process involving voltage-dependent and voltage independent transitions. It is unclear whether the difference in activation gating between HERG1a and 1b reflects modification of the voltage sensitive or insensitive steps by the N-terminal domain.We used an envelope of tails protocol to isolate activation from the fast overlapping inactivation for both HERG1a and 1b. Both of these isoforms showed saturation of activation rate at very positive potentials. This suggests that the voltage-independent step is rate limiting at these potentials for both isoforms. At +140 mV the rate of activation of HERG1a was 13.09 ± 0.66 ms (n=3), and HERG1b was 14.25 ± 0.37 ms (n=3). This suggests that the voltage-insensitive step is not affected by the presence or absence of the N-terminal. In contrast, activation at lower potentials was strongly dependent on voltage and was significantly different between isoforms. This indicates that the N-terminal modifies a voltage-sensitive step in the activation pathway. Deactivation is also strongly affected by the presence or absence of the N-terminal. This suggests that the N-terminal affects voltage-dependent transitions near the open state. In conclusion, our data indicate that the HERG N-terminal interacts primarily through modification of voltage-sensitive transitions.
Evidential and Extralegal Factors in Juror Decisions: Presentation Mode, Retention, and Level of Emotionality

Examined whether video scene re-creations affect juror decisions by assessing factual retention, emotional state, liability assessments, and damage awards. 102 mock jurors reviewed case materials from a wrongful death suit in 1 of 3 formats: print (transcripts), videotaped testimony, or videotaped testimony plus video re-creation. Pre- to posttest differences in emotionality were assessed with the Profile of Mood States questionnaire. Retention levels were measured by multiple choice questionnaire. Jurors in the videotaped testimony conditions experienced greater emotional reactions than those who read transcripts. Mood changes were inversely related to liability assessments on the plaintiff but no differences in damage awards were noted. This suggests that perceptions of levels of defendant liability are influenced by emotions, but damage awards appear to be based more on factual evidence. Video scene re-creations may thus be more effective in inducing out-of-court settlements than in actually swaying jurors' decisions.
Corticosteroidogenic responsiveness to adrenocorticotropin and dibutyryl cyclic AMP in isolated adrenal cells of hypophysectomized rats.

Abstract 1. 1. Isolated adrenal cells from rats hypophysectomized for approximately 12, 24, 36, 48, 72 and 144 h, as well as from sham-operated controls, were prepared by the trypsin digestion method. Corticosterone synthesis was measured in response to various concentrations of adrenocorticotropin and dibutyryl cyclic AMP as well as to exogenous NADPH. In addition, the conversion of pregnenolone, progesterone and desoxycorticosterone to corticosterone was measured in both hypophysectomized and control rats. 2. 2. Plasma corticosterone decreased from 17.6 μg/100 ml (control) to 1.3 μg/100 ml at 12 h post hypophysectomy and remained decreased for the entire 144-h period when compared to the sham-controls. Adrenal cells from the hypophysectomized rats were hypersensitive to both adrenocorticotropin and dibutyryl cyclic AMP until 72 h post hypophysectomy when hyposensitivity was first noted. Pregnenolone, progesterone and desoxycorticosterone were converted to corticosterone in cells from both sham-controls and hypophysectomized rats. However, when compared to shamcontrols, the conversion of these precursors was significantly greater in hypophysectomized rats until 48 h post hypophysectomy. Whereas after 72 h pots hypophysectomy the conversion of pregnenolone and progesterone to corticosterone was significantly decreased, the conversion of desoxycorticosterone was unaltered. Only the ability of NADPH to stimulate the conversion of desoxycorticosterone to corticosterone was lost. 3. 3. These studies suggest that the site of both hypersensitivity and hyposensitivity to adrenocorticotropin may be located after the formation of the second messenger.
Modeling goal-directed attention in tone sequences using a weighted Kalman filter

Humans exhibit a great ability to attend to particular sound sources while ignoring competing streams. Attention is an important process that facilitates focusing computational resources on sound elements of interest in a scene. Attention is believed to facilitate segregation of sound streams by locking onto the characteristics of a ‘target’ sound; hence giving it more weight compared to other sounds and tracking its evolution over time. In this paper, we explore the hypothesis that the segregation process occurs through tracking target tokens and ignoring the background as outliers to the attended stream. We implement this hypothesis using a weighted Kalman filter approach. The scheme is tested on sinusoidal patterns using classic streaming two tone paradigms. The attentive model developed here is able to attend to a target stream of interest, hence emulating how humans attend to a particular sound in presence of multiple sounds.