cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
One transistor ferroelectric memory with Pt/Pb/sub 5/Ge/sub 3/O/sub 11//Ir/poly-Si/SiO/sub 2//Si gate-stack

One transistor ferroelectric nonvolatile memory with gate stack of Pt/Pb/sub 5/Ge/sub 3/O/sub 11//lr/poly-Si/SiO/sub 2//Si was successfully fabricated. This device features a saturated memory window of 3 V at a programming voltage of higher than 3 V from C-V and I-V measurements. The memory window decays rapidly within 10 seconds after programming, but remains stable at 1 V for up to 100 h. The "on" and "off" state currents are greater than 10 /spl mu/A//spl mu/m and less 0.01 pA//spl mu/m, respectively, at a drain voltage of 0.1 V.
Evidence for charge imbalance waves in phase-slip centers

Abstract We have examined the I-V characteristics of superconducting phase-slip centers (PSCs) located in the middle of narrow In channels. Features in dV/dI can be associated with resonances in charge imbalance waves driven by the PSC, as suggested by the model of Kadin, Smith and Skocpol. The velocity and temperature dependence of the waves thus inferred are in rough accord with theoretical predictions.
Ocular manifestations of feline viral diseases

Feline viral diseases are common and cats can be presented with a variety of clinical manifestations. Ocular disease associated with viral pathogens is not unusual, particularly with viruses causing upper respiratory tract disease in cats, such as feline herpesvirus type 1 and feline calicivirus. These agents mainly cause ocular surface disease. Other viruses, such as feline immunodeficiency virus and feline coronavirus, can cause uveitis, while feline leukemia virus can induce ocular lymphosarcoma. This review covers the most common viral pathogens of cats that cause ocular manifestations, the specific features of the ocular diseases caused by these viruses and therapeutic recommendations.
Elastic moduli of colony-based lamellar solids

Abstract A means of calculating the effective elastic moduli of a material with a colony-based lamellar microstructure is presented. A two-step averaging process is employed in which the moduli of an individual colony are calculated using three-dimensional lamination theory and are then incorporated into a self-consistent scheme. Attention is focused on the effect of the colony orientation distribution and the moduli of the individual lamellae. Numerical results are presented for a range of material parameters, and analytic expressions are given for some special cases.
Modeling privacy values with experimental economics

The importance of personal privacy to Internet users has been extensively researched using a variety of survey techniques. The limitations of survey research are well-known and take place because there are no positive or negative consequences to the responses given. Experimental economics was first developed by John Nash and has been refined by several Nobel Prize winning economists. We use the principles of experimental economics to determine the relative values that consumers place on privacy and various forms of security, such as encryption and HIPAA. In particular, the experiment participants are graduate and undergraduate students currently seeking jobs.
Improving chronic care delivery and outcomes: the impact of the cystic fibrosis Care Center Network

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a multisystem, life-shortening genetic disease that requires complex care. To facilitate this expert, multidisciplinary care, the CF Foundation established a Care Center Network and accredited the first care centres in 1961. This model of care brings together physicians and specialists from other disciplines to provide care, facilitate basic and clinical research, and educate the next generation of providers. Although the Care Center Network has been invaluable in achieving substantial gains in survival and quality of life, additional opportunities for improvements in CF care exist. In 1999, analysis of data from the CF Foundation's Patient Registry detected variation in care practices and outcomes across centres, identifying opportunities for improvement. In 2002, the CF Foundation launched a comprehensive quality improvement (QI) initiative to enhance care by assembling national experts to develop a strategic plan to disseminate QI training and processes throughout the Care Center Network. The QI strategies included developing leadership (nationally and within each care centre), identifying best CF care practices, and incorporating people with CF and their families into improvement efforts. The goal was to improve the care for every person with CF in the USA. Multiple tactics were undertaken to implement the strategic plan and disseminate QI training and tools throughout the Care Center Network. In addition, strategies to foster collaboration between care centre staff and individuals with CF and their families became a cornerstone of QI efforts. Today it is clear that the application of QI principles within the CF Care Center Network has improved adherence to clinical guidelines and achievement of important health outcomes.
An extension of the mesh independence principle for operator equations in Banach space

Abstract In this study, we extend the validity of the mesh-independence principle to include perturbed Newton-like methods in Banach space. We show that when a perturbed Newton-like method is applied to a nonlinear equation as well as to some finite-dimensional discretization of that equation, there is a difference of at most one between the number of steps required by the two processes to converge to within a given tolerance. Our results cover and extend earlier results.
C-H bond activation by cationic iridium (III) NHC complexes: A combined experimental and computational study

The cationic complexes [Cp*Ir(NHC)Me(solv)]+[MeB(C6F5)3]− were prepared and studied as models for methane oxy-functionalization catalysts (Cp* = η5-C5Me5; NHC = 1,3,4,5-tetramethylimidazol-2-ylidene (MeIMe, 3a), 1,3-dimethylimidazol-2-ylidene (IMe, 3b), 1,3-dimethylbenzimidazol-2-ylidene (BIMe, 3c); solv = solvent or open site). These complexes were targeted on the basis of the C–H bond activation reactions of the previously reported complexes [Cp*Ir(PMe3)R]+ (R = Me, H) and the general robustness of Ir–NHC complexes under oxidizing conditions. The syntheses of the new iridium(III) complexes Cp*Ir(NHC)Me2 are described (NHC = MeIMe (4a), IMe (4b), BIMe (4c)). When 4a–c were allowed to react with B(C6F5)3 in CH2Cl2, the methyl abstraction products [Cp*Ir(NHC)Me(solv)]+[MeB(C6F5)3]— (3a–c) were produced. Complexes 3a–c reacted with arenes to form the aryl complexes [Cp*Ir(NHC)Ar(solv)]+[MeB(C6F5)3]— and methane (Ar = C6H5 (7), C6H4F (8)). Complexes 3a–c reacted very slowly with alkanes; the slow reaction ra...
Phase distribution in the HfO2Er2O3Ta2O5 system

Abstract Phase relationships obtained by heating coprecipitated oxide powders in the HfO 2 Er 2 O 3 Ta 2 O 5 system were investigated by X-ray diffractometry. Partial isothermal sections at 1100 and 1500°C are presented.
Interaction of cholesterol with photoactivable phospholipids in sonicated vesicles

Abstract Photoactivable phospholipids containing either α-diazo-β-trifluoropropionyloxy or m-diazirinophenoxyl groups in the ω-positions of sn-2 fatty acyl chains were synthesized and incorporated into sonicated vesicles containing 33 mol% of cholesterol. Photolysis of the vesicles at 350 nm produced covalent cross-links between the synthetic phospholipids and cholesterol. The cross-linked products obtained using [14C]cholesterol were characterized by their chromatographic behavior, cleavage on phospholipase A2 treatment, base-catalyzed transesterification and mass spectral measurements. The cross-linking was shown not to involve the 3-β-hydroxyl group of cholesterol, and it was concluded that the reactive carbene intermediates formed from the photolabels inserted into the hydrocarbon skeleton of cholesterol in the bilayer. The extent of cross-linking obtained was comparable to that observed previously using phospholipids alone, indicating that no lateral phase separation occurred. The present approach is promising for further precise studies of the molecular interactions between cholesterol and phospholipids in biological membranes.
Radiotherapy as an adjuvant in the treatment of carcinoma of the breast.

During the period from 1950-1974, 510 patients with a diagnosis of invasive ductal carcinoma treated with the standard Halsted radical mastectomy were reviewed retrospectively from the records of the Tumor Clinic of The Memorial Hospital, Danville, Virginia. The primary aim of the study was to determine whether postoperative adjuvant radiation therapy (POART) as delivered in a community hospital setting contributed to better cancer control and effectively influenced five and ten year survival rates. The results of the review indicated that the use of POART whether from an orthovoltage or cobalt source did not differentially influence the patient's disease outcome. The use of POART did not improve the five- and ten-year survival rates regardless of lesion location in patients with Stages I, II, and III disease with positive lymph nodes. POART did cause a significant decline in five- and ten-year survival rates of patients with Stage II and III disease with negative nodes when compared to the survival of patients with the same stage of disease that did not receive POART, i.e., 75% versus 94% five-year difference, and a 65% versus 85% ten-year difference. These results suggest that radiotherapy may have a detrimental effect on immunocompetence and thus alter survival rates in certain circumstances. Therefore, any clinical investigation measuring the results of various therapeutic modalities singularly or in combination should be based on pathologic staging rather than clinical staging so that these factors can be adequately evaluated.
Soil biology, soil ecology, and global change

This overview paper addresses aspects of scaling in space and time, and scaling in relation to micro-and macrohabitats. Ecological processes in soils are examined for possible generalizations about processes and organisms, across a wide range of different habitats. Problems of scaling in space and time that have an important impact on processes associated with global change are outlined.
A polarimetric search for a Venus halo during the 1969 inferior conjunction

Abstract Polarimetric observations of Venus during the 1969 inferior conjunctions show no evidence of a halo effect due to hexagonal ice crystals. From this I conclude that the magnitude of the anomaly cannot exceed 0.2% in polarization. These results may not be incompatible with the photometric measurements of O'Leary which imply, on a simple model, a polarization anomaly of ⩾0.2%.
Comment on the Elastic Properties of β Brass

The Pippard equation relating ${C}_{p}$ (the constant-pressure heat capacity) to $\ensuremath{\alpha}$ (the volume coefficient of thermal expansion) near a $\ensuremath{\lambda}$ point is shown to be valid for $\ensuremath{\beta}$ brass. As a result of this, one can predict that the static adiabatic compressibility should have a very small peak at ${T}_{\ensuremath{\lambda}}$ (and the low-frequency elastic constant ${c}_{11}$, a small dip). It is suggested that the failure to observe such a dip in ${c}_{11}$ for 10-Mc/sec ultrasonic waves is due to the long relaxation time associated with ordering in $\ensuremath{\beta}$ brass.
Effect of Thiouracil on the Body Temperatures of White Rock Females

Abstract Numerous investigations have shown that the ad libitum feeding of a ration containing 0.1 and 0.2% thiouracil caused a decrease in the oxygen consumption of chickens (Schaffner and Andrews, 1948; McCartney and Shaffner, 1949; Singh and Shaffner, 1950; and Mellen, 1958). If a decrease in oxygen consumption reflects reduced cellular oxidation, one might expect that the body temperature of birds fed thiouracil would be lower than that of control chickens. Published results on the influence of thiouracil on body temperature of birds are inconsistent. Andrews and Schnetzler (1944) observed a significant increase in the rectal temperatures of broilers fed a ration containing 0.2% thiouracil for 14 days, whereas Shaffner and Andrews (1948) found no significant difference in the rectal temperatures of birds that has been fed a ration containing 0.2 and 0.5% thiouracil for 18 weeks. Newcomer (1957) reported a significant decrease in the rectal temperatures of White Leghorn cockerels …
Transferability of skills over the IT career path

The primary goal of this study is to help IT professionals prepare themselves for their future careers by identifying transferable skills across the three different IT jobs: programmer/analysts, systems analysts, and IT managers. By collecting and analyzing data from Fortune 500 corporate websites, this research attempts to provide IT professionals with a list of skills that they need to retain and new skills to develop for their future careers.
The Archaeology of Warfare: Prehistories of Raiding and Conquest – Edited by Elizabeth N. Arkush and Mark W. Allen

Twenty years ago, archaeologists in the United States paid scant attention to warfare in prehistory, but that is not true today. This volume's temporal, geographical, and cultural breadth—thirteen ...
Idiopathic fibrous mediastinitis.

SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS Fibrous mediastinitis has been recognized as a disease entity for more than half a century. At the turn of the century and in subsequent decades it paralleled then prevalent and notoriously sclerogenic tuberculous and syphilitic infections. In recent decades, similar exuberant fibrous processes are observed, but some are of rather nebulous origin and are therefore considered idiopathic. Obstruction of the superior vena cava is the hallmark of this disease. It has been estimated that 10 to 23 per cent of such obstructions are due to fibrous mediastinitis. Of 20 Mayo Clinic patients with the so-called idiopathic variety diagnosed on the basis of surgical exploration or necropsy, 12 had either complete or partial superior vena caval obstruction, four had involvement of the tracheobronchial tree, two had esophageal obstruction, one died of stenosis of the pulmonary vein, and one had fibrosis as an incidental finding at necropsy. Grossly the process usually assumes the form of a diffuse and adherent woody mass of fibrosis, but occasionally a circumscribed localized type is also encountered, which can be removed surgically with relative ease. Histologically, nothing more is seen than an inflammatory mass of fibrous tissue in various stages of maturity, ranging from young fibroblastic tissue intermixed with inflammatory cells to ancient and hyalinized collagen. The process is most probably an exaggerated reparative fibroblastic reaction secondary to mediastinal adenopathy or to direct spread of inflammation from infections of the upper and lower parts of the respiratory tract. Less commonly it may result from hemorrhage, from rheumatic fever or unknown acute mediastinitis. All of this appears to take place in a patient with great proclivity to form excessive fibrous tissue such as may be observed in other phases of surgery in the form of exuberant scars and adhesions. Surgical treatment is concerned mainly with superior vena caval obstruction, the effective relief of which still awaits further perfecting of grafting material and procedures. The over-all prognosis is good, as the disease progresses very slowly and the complication results usually from the slow contraction of scar tissue. Exception is made in stenosis of the pulmonary vein: all six patients so affected died of this complication.
Femoropopliteal Bypass for Claudication: Vein vs. PTFE

The vascular graft of choice for femoropopliteal bypass in patients with intolerable claudication is controversial. We retrospectively reviewed our experience with 239 patients suffering from claudication secondary to superficial femoral artery obstruction. Femoropopliteal reconstruction was performed with saphenous vein to the below-knee popliteal artery in 66 patients (BK-vein). Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) was used in 128 patients as a bypass graft to the above-knee popliteal artery (AK-PTFE) and 45 patients had a PTFE graft to the below-knee popliteal artery (BK-PTFE). All patients were enrolled in a postoperative graft surveillance program with graft revision when appropriate. There was one perioperative death (0.4%). Primary patency at 5 years for AK-PTFE, BK-PTFE, and BK-vein was 58.0%, 55.0%, and 60.3%, respectively, and was not significantly different among the graft groups. Graft revision for failed/failing grafts resulted in 5-year secondary patency rates of 79.2% (AK-PTFE), 73.3% (BK-PTFE), and 74.4% (BK-vein). These secondary patency rates were not statistically different. Eventual conversion to a vein graft in patients initially treated with PTFE maximized patency in the femoropopliteal segment with 5-year patency rates of 84.6% and 93.0% for the AK-PTFE and BK-PTFE graft groups, respectively. Major leg amputation was necessary during the entire course of the study in eight (3.3%) patients. We conclude that long-term patency rates for femoropoliteal bypass in patients with intolerable claudication are similar for PTFE and autologous saphenous vein grafts.
Value and safety of cardiac catheterization during active infective endocarditis

Abstract Cardiac Catheterization during active infective endocarditis is considered to be hazardous and, consequently, is often delayed. A review was made of experience with 35 patients who underwent Catheterization for severe heart failure (30 patients) and persistent sepsis or recurrent embolization (5 patients) in consideration of surgical intervention. The mean interval from hospital admission to Catheterization was 19 days, and 11 of 35 procedures were performed within 10 days of admission. Precatheterization clinical assessment was incomplete or incorrect in 23 patients. Cardiac Catheterization revealed clinically unsuspected multiple valve involvement in seven patients and documented single valve involvement in six patients with murmurs clinically suggestive of multiple valve endocarditis. In one patient thought to have mitral endocarditis, Catheterization localized the problem to the tricuspid valve. In six patients the study disclosed valve ring abscess and in three it provided anatomic definition of a left to right shunt associated with infection of a ruptured sinus of Valsalva. One additional patient was “cured” of infection by removal of a subclavian catheter fragment. The only complication encountered was transient atrial fibrillation. Catheterization-induced embolization and postcatheterization hemodynamic deterioration did not occur in these 35 patients. It is concluded that cardiac Catheterization yields invaluable hemodynamic and anatomic information and can be performed with minimal risk in patients with infective endocarditis who are being considered for surgery.
Plasma Vitamin C is Inversely Associated with Periodontitis

Article Title and Bibliographic Information Java project on periodontal diseases: the relationship between vitamin C and the severity of periodontitis Amaliya, Timmerman MF, Abbas F, Loos BG, Van der Weijden GA, Van Winkelhoff AJ, et al. J Clin Periodontol 2007;34(4):299-304 Level of Evidence 3 Purpose/Question To evaluate the relation between the severity of periodontitis and plasma vitamin C. Source of Funding Self-funded by the investigators and their institutions Type of Study/Design Cohort study
A Concurrent Tri-Band Low-Noise Amplifier With a Novel Tri-Band Load Resonator Employing Feedback Notches

A concurrent tri-band low-noise amplifier (LNA) with a novel feedback tri-band load has been designed around 13.5/24/35 GHz. The feedback tri-band load is composed of two passive LC notch filters with feedback and provides stable and high stopband rejection especially needed in multiband components. It overcomes the dependency of stopband rejection performance on the low quality factor of integrated passive inductors. The comparative analysis and comprehensive design principles of the conventional, modified, and new feedback tri-band loads are presented. The concurrent tri-band LNA has been fabricated in a 0.18- μm SiGe BiCMOS process and occupies an area of 1180 μm × 500 μm. The measured power gains are 22.4/23.7/20.2 dB at 13.5/24/35 GHz, respectively, with 36-mW power consumption from a 1.8-V supply. The tri-band LNA achieves the best noise figure (NF) of 3.4/3.2/3.7 dB and IIP3 of -13.5/ -17.1/ -16.1 dBm at the respective passbands. The tri-band LNA also attains less than 3.5-dB gain imbalance and 41/30-dB stopband rejection ratios in the low/high stopbands, respectively. The developed concurrent tri-band LNA achieves the lowest NF as well as the best stopband rejection ratios among the reported concurrent tri-band LNAs.
Trajectories of Adolescent Emotional and Cognitive Development: Effects of Sex and Risk for Drug Use

Adolescence has been widely accepted as a time for notable alterations in brain functioning. The objective of this longitudinal study was to compare trajectories of emotional and cognitive development in adolescent girls and boys with low- versus high-risk for future drug use. Nineteen healthy adolescents (aged 13.9 +/- 2.0 years; 10 girls), stratified into low- and high-risk groups based on family history of drug abuse, were examined at baseline and after one year. Emotional intelligence was assessed using the Bar-On Emotional Quotient Inventory, the Multidimensional Anxiety Scale for Children, and the Perceived Stress Scale. The neurocognitive test battery was designed to evaluate academic achievement, executive function, verbal memory and learning, and included the Wide Range Achievement Test, Stroop Color-Word Interference Test, Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test, and Digit Span and Digit Symbol subtests of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Revised. Improvements in academic achievement, executive function, and working memory were observed at the one-year follow-up. Notable sex differences also were evident in emotional intelligence, academic achievement, and memory. Interestingly, these sex-related differences interacted with risk status; improvement in cognitive performance in boys and low-risk girls was generally superior to high-risk girls, who tended to show modest, if any, improvement at the one-year follow-up. These preliminary findings provide evidence of sex differences in emotion intelligence and cognitive function. Furthermore, these data also suggest that history of familial drug abuse may have a more pronounced impact on emotional and cognitive development in adolescent girls than boys.
Transcription factors RUNX1/AML1 and RUNX2/Cbfa1 dynamically associate with stationary subnuclear domains

The runt-related transcription factors (RUNX/Cbfa/AML) are essential for cellular differentiation and fetal development. C-terminal truncations of RUNX factors that eliminate the targeting of these factors to subnuclear foci result in lethal hematopoietic and skeletal phenotypes. Here we demonstrate that in living cells the RUNX C-terminus is necessary for the dynamic association of RUNX into stable subnuclear domains. Time-lapse fluorescence microscopy shows that RUNX1 and RUNX2 localize to punctate foci that remain stationary in the nuclear space. By fluorescence recovery after photobleaching assays, both proteins are shown to dynamically associate at these subnuclear foci, with a 10 second half-time of recovery. A truncation of RUNX2, removing its intranuclear targeting signal (NMTS), increases its mobility by an order of magnitude, resulting in a half-time of recovery equivalent to that of EGFP alone. We propose that the dynamic shuttling of RUNX factors in living cells to positionally stabilized foci, which is dependent on the C-terminus, is a component of the mechanism for gene regulation in vivo.
Lifetime of the bond network and gel-like anomalies in supercooled water.

We analyze the distribution of bond lifetimes in simulations of liquid water using a novel bond definition. We find that the characteristic lifetimes of the bonds and of the ``gel'' network itself both increase strongly when temperature is decreased\char21{}and even appear to diverge at a temperature well below the freezing temperature\char21{}thereby providing an appealing physical picture of the anomalous behavior of water in the supercooled region.
Differential expression of an estrogen receptor messenger RNA containing exon 1' sequences in MCF-7 breast cancer cell line stocks.

Abstract The presence of an exon 1′ sequence in the estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) mRNA was detected in different stocks of ER-positive MCF-7 human breast cancer cells by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and ribonuclease protection analysis (RPA), but not by Northern blot analysis. This mRNA, however, was not detectable in ERα-positive ZR-75-1 or ERα-negative MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells, suggesting that exon 1′ ER mRNA is differentially expressed in some but not all ER-positive cell lines, and then, only at very low levels.
A unique continuation theorem for second order parabolic differential operators

The purpose of this paper is to show that the unique continuation results in [10] extend naturally to the setting of second order parabolic operators. Previously, we showed that if P(x, D) is a second order elliptic differential operator with a C ∞ real principal part, and if |P(x, D)u|≤|Vu| for some V∈L loc n/2 (R n ), then u must vanish identically if it vanishes in an open subset
An Ensemble Topic Model for Sharing Healthcare Data and Predicting Disease Risk

With the recent signing of the Affordable Care Act into law, the use of electronic medical data is set to become ubiquitous in the United States. This presents an unprecedented opportunity to use population health data for the benefit of patient-centered outcomes. However, there are two major hurdles to utilizing this wealth of data. First, medical data is not centrally located but is often divided across hospital systems, health exchanges, and physician practices. Second, sharing specific or identifiable information may not be allowed. Moreover, organizations may have a vested interest in keeping their data sets private as they may have been gathered and curated at great cost. We develop an approach to allow the sharing of beneficial information while staying within the bounds of data privacy. We show that the use of a probabilistic graphical model can facilitate effective transfer learning between distinct healthcare data sets by parameter sharing while simultaneously allowing us to construct a network for interpretation use by domain experts and the discovery of disease relationships. Our method utilizes aggregate information from distinct populations to improve the estimation of patient disease risk.
In vitro alkylation of calf thymus DNA by acrylonitrile. Isolation of cyanoethyl-adducts of guanine and thymine and carboxyethyl-adducts of adenine and cytosine☆

Reaction of the rodent carcinogen acrylonitrile (AN) at pH 5.0 and/or pH 7.0 for 10 and/or 40 days with 2'-deoxyadenosine (dAdo), 2'-deoxycytidine (dCyd), 2'-deoxyguanosine (dGuo), 2'-deoxyinosine (dIno), N6-methyl-2'-deoxyadenosine (N6-Me-dAdo) and thymidine (dThd) resulted in the formation of cyanoethyl and carboxyethyl adducts. Adducts were not detected after 4 h. The adducts isolated were 1-(2-carboxyethyl)-dAdo (1-CE-dAdo), N6-CE-dAdo, 3-CE-dCyd, 7-(2-cyanoethyl)-Gua (7-CNE-Gua), 7,9-bis-CNE-Gua, imidazole ring-opened 7,9-bis-CNE-Gua, 1-CNE-dIno, 1-CE-N6-Me-dAdo and 3-CNE-dThd. Structures were assigned on the basis of UV spectra and electron impact (EI), chemical ionization (CI), desorption chemical ionization (DCI) and Californium-252 fission fragment ionization mass spectra. Evidence is presented which strongly suggests that N6-CE-dAdo was formed by Dimroth rearrangement of 1-CE-dAdo during the reaction between AN and dAdo. The carboxyethyl adducts resulted from initial cyanoethylation (by Michael addition) at a ring nitrogen adjacent to an exocyclic nitrogen atom followed by rapid hydrolysis of the nitrile moiety to a carboxylic acid. It was postulated that the facile hydrolysis is an autocatalyzed reaction resulting from the formation of a cyclic intermediate between nitrile carbon and exocyclic nitrogen. AN was reacted with calf thymus DNA (pH 7.0, 37 degrees C, 40 days) and the relative amounts of adducts isolated were 1-CE-Ade (26%), N6-CE-Ade (8%), 3-CE-Cyt (1%), 7-CNE-Gua (26%), 7,9-bis-CNE-Gua (4%), imidazole ring-opened 7,9-bis-CNE-Gua (19%) and 3-CNE-Thy (16%). Thus a carcinogen once adducted to a base in DNA was shown to be subsequently modified resulting in a mixed pattern of cyanoethylated and carboxyethylated AN-DNA adducts. Three of the adducts (1-CE-Ade, N6-CE-Ade and 3-CE-Cyt) were identical to adducts previously reported by us to be formed following in vitro reaction of the carcinogen beta-propiolactone (BPL) and calf thymus DNA. The results demonstrate that AN can directly alkylate DNA in vitro at a physiological pH and temperature.
Importance of Steric Effects in Cluster Models of Silicon Surface Chemistry: ONIOM Studies of the Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD) of Al2O3on H/Si(111)†

Cluster based density functional calculations have been carried out to examine the effect of steric interactions on chemical reactions at the H/Si(111) surface, adopting the initial Al2O3 atomic layer deposition (ALD) surface reactions involving H2O and Al(CH3)3 (TMA) as our test reactions. Results obtained for the minimal Si10H16 cluster and two larger Si43H46 ONIOM embedded clusters reveal a substantial difference of up to 0.28 eV (6 kcal/mol) in the predicted activation energies involving TMA, revealing the inadequacy of small clusters to model atomically dense semiconductor surfaces.
Cocarcinogens and Tumor Promoters and Their Environmental Importance

In recent years a great deal of effort has been spent on uncovering new carcinogens and studying the mode of action of well-known carcinogens such as nitroso compounds, aromatic hydrocarbons and aromatic amines and their occurrence in air, water, foods and other environmental sources. It has been known for about thirty years that some materials, while non-carcinogenic, can enhance greatly the potency of low-levels of known environmental carcinogens. The first such material to be discovered was the tumor promotor, croton oil, derived from the seeds of a tropical plant, Croton tiglium L, indigenous to India and Sri Lanka. Researchers interested in chemical carcinogenesis have examined its unusual behavior for many years. The active principles of croton oil, the phorbol esters, were finally isolated and chemically characterized. Recently these phorbol esters have become widely available. Consequently, their effects have been examined in a wide range of biochemical and biological studies. The phorbol esters a...
Medical Device Risk Management And Public Safety: Using Cost-benefit As A Measure Of Effectiveness

Public safety can be enhanced through the development of a comprehensive medical device risk management. This can be accomplished through case studies using a framework that incorporates cost-benefit analysis in the evaluation of risk management attributes. This paper presents a framework for evaluating the risk management system for regulatory Class III medical devices. The framework consists of the following sixteen attributes of a comprehensive medical device risk management system: Fault/Failure Analysis, Medical Literature Surveillance, Premarket Testing/ Device/Patient Registries Clinical Trials Device Performance Monitoring Post-Approval Studies Returned Product Analysis Manufacturer Sponsored Autopsy Program Hospital Studies Emergency Treatment Funds/ Product Labeling Interim Compensation Establishment Inspections Product Liability Problem Reporting Program Alternative Compensation Mandatory Hospital Reporting Mechanisms Review of performance histories for several medical devices can reveal the value of information for many attributes, and also the inter dependencies of the attributes in generating risk information flow. Such an information flow network is presented as a starting point for enhancing medical device risk management by focusing on attributes with high net benefit values and potential to spur information dissemination.
Synthesis and Crystallinity of Conjugated Block Copolymers Prepared by Click Chemistry

Conjugated block copolymers have the potential to improve solution processed optoelectronic devices such as organic photovoltaics (OPVs), but significant synthetic challenges exist and systematic studies investigating structure–property relationships are lacking. We demonstrate a new route to conjugated block copolymers via copper-catalyzed click coupling and apply this method to synthesize a series of poly(3-hexylthiophene)-block-poly(9,9-dioctylfluorene) (P3HT-b-PF) conjugated block copolymers with varying block weight fractions. The resulting block copolymers are comprised of two conjugated polymers joined by a flexible, nonconjugated linker. The series of conjugated block copolymers prepared enables an investigation into the role of polymer block lengths and composition on crystallization and self-assembly behavior. Grazing incidence wide-angle X-ray scattering measurements indicate the formation of highly oriented P3HT and/or PF crystallites in thermally annealed block copolymer films. Crystallizatio...
Energy optimization in IP-over-WDM networks

The energy crisis and environmental protection are gaining increasing concern in recent years. ICT (Information and Communication Technology) has a significant impact on the total electricity consumption all over the world. Telecom networks, being an important part of ICT, consume significant energy since more network equipment is deployed annually. Specifically, in IP-over-WDM networks, energy is consumed by network elements at both IP and WDM layers. Routers in the IP layer are the largest energy consumer in this architecture, and current network infrastructures have no energy-saving scheme, so a large amount of energy is wasted when traffic load is low. In this paper, we propose a novel approach to save energy in IP-over-WDM networks by shutting down idle line cards and chassis of routers based on time-of-the-day network traffic variation. A method based on Mixed Integer Linear Programming (MILP) is proposed to ensure that the energy cost incurred by the IP routers and optical cross-connects is minimized by our approach. We also propose some possible approaches to minimize potential traffic disruption when the network elements are shut down.
DNA Damage in Dihydroartemisinin-resistant Molt-4 Cells

Artemisinin generates carbon-based free radicals when it reacts with iron, and induces molecular damage and apoptosis. Its toxicity is more selective toward cancer cells because cancer cells contain a higher level of intracellular free iron. Dihydroartemisinin (DHA), an analog of artemisinin, has selective cytotoxicity toward Molt-4 human lymphoblastoid cells. A major concern is whether cancer cells could develop resistance to DHA, thus limiting its therapeutic efficacy. We have developed a DHA-resistant Molt-4 cell line (RTN) and found out that these cells exhibited resistance to DHA but no significant cross- resistance to artemisinin-tagged holotransferrin (ART-TF), a synthetic artemisinin compound. In the present study, we investigated DNA damage induced by DHA and ART-TF in both Molt-4 and RTN cells using the comet assay. RTN cells exhibited a significantly lower level of basal and X-ray-induced DNA damage compared to Molt-4 cells. Both DHA and ART-TF induced DNA damage in Molt-4 cells, whereas DNA damage was induced in RTN cells by ART-TF, and not DHA. The result of this study shows that by the cell selection method, it is possible to generate a Molt-4 cell line which is not sensitive to DHA, but sensitive to ART-TF, as measured by DNA damage.
Variation of the critical feedback level in a 1550nm quantum-dash Fabry-Perot semiconductor laser

Dynamic properties of a 1550 nm quantum dash laser are investigated. Due to an increase in the linewidth enhancement factor (alphaH-factor) with bias current, a collapse in the feedback sensitivity as high as 20 dB is reported.
A trajectory sensitivity method for the identification of nonlinear excitation system models

A sensitivity method for identifying parameters of nonlinear synchronous generator models is proposed and applied to the identification of the parameters of IEEE type ST3 and DC1 models. The method generates the sensitivities directly from the nonlinear model and does not require linearization. The use of singular values and singular vectors to detect the identifiability of parameters is discussed. The identification of the parameters requires, in general, very few iterations. The presence of noise in data reduces the identifiability of the parameters. However, reasonable approximations can be obtained if the parameters to be identified are chosen carefully. >
Semi-Empirical Approach for Missile-Seeker Sizing

This paper describes a first-order method for deriving system sizing requirements for missile radio-frequency seekers. Parameters of interest include threat radio-frequency signature, closing speeds, handover volume, search times, airframe time constants, guidance section update rate, seeker sensor parameters, and radio-frequency waveform design. Endgame kinematic constraints are represented by required missile-airframe time constants required to resolve any remaining heading errors and/or countermeasures as well as the available maximum airframe acceleration. Support weapon control radar is represented by time at which firm track occurs and trackangle accuracy. This approach has been implemented using a spreadsheet to quickly evaluate a large number of seeker concepts and provide a top-level understanding of the key architecture-design implementation considerations and size of the battle space.Missile architectures evaluated were radio-frequency seekers operating in a self-defense, low-altitude regime over various terrain types, but the method is not restricted to this regime.
Effect of carbon source on polysaccharide production by alginate-entrapped Aureobasidium pullulans ATCC 42023 cells.

The production of the exopolysaccharide pullulan using entrapped cells of the fungus Aureobasidium pullulans ATCC 42023 was investigated relative to carbon source. Fungal cells grown on glucose or sucrose as a carbon source were entrapped in calcium alginate beads and found to be capable of synthesizing the polysaccharide for two production cycles. Using 2.5% glucose or sucrose as a carbon source, productivity was 18.3 or 21.9 mg polysaccharide/g cells × h, respectively after the initial production cycle and decreased to 9.6 or 8.5 mg polysaccharide/g cells × h, respectively, after the second production cycle. Independent of carbon source, the entrapped fungal cells exhibited a higher yield during the initial cycle than the second production cycle while the entrapped ATCC 42023 cells elaborated a polysaccharide with a higher pullulan content during the second production cycle compared to the initial production cycle. (© 2011 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
A Phase 2, Randomized, Dose-Response Trial of Taprenepag Isopropyl (PF-04217329) Versus Latanoprost 0.005% in Open-Angle Glaucoma and Ocular Hypertension

Purpose: To evaluate the safety of escalating doses of taprenepag isopropyl (PF-04217329), a selective EP2 receptor agonist administered as a topical ophthalmic solution, versus its vehicle (Stage I), and dose-response of taprenepag isopropyl alone and in unfixed combination with latanoprost ophthalmic solution 0.005% versus latanoprost alone (Stage II).Subjects and Methods: Randomized, vehicle- and active-controlled, double-masked, two-stage, dose-finding trial in primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) or ocular hypertension; first taprenepag isopropyl study in patients (NCT00572455). Study eye: 26 mmHg ≤ intraocular pressure (IOP) <36 mmHg at 8 am and 22 mmHg ≤ IOP <36 mmHg at 10 am, 1 pm, 4 pm. Stage I: 3 cohorts (total n = 67) received 1 drop of taprenepag isopropyl unit dose formulation qPM/eye for 14 days: low dose: 0.0025%, 0.005%, vehicle; middle dose: 0.01%, 0.015%, vehicle; high dose: 0.02%, 0.03%, vehicle. Stage II: 7 groups (total n = 250) received 1 drop of taprenepag isopropyl multidose formulat...
Error and the growth of technical understanding

Technical writers, for the most part, write user documentation of some kind. However, they also have skills that might enable them to also serve as user-advocates on product development teams and testers of prototype systems. In the computer hardware and software industry, they have the additional skills needed to develop online help tools, to design user interfaces, and to write system and error messages (J. Fisher, 1998). Fisher's recent survey of (Australian) technical communicators showed that some are employed in such tasks, but not widely so. She reports, for instance, that only 38% were consulted by developers about error messages, only 32% actually wrote error messages, and only 13% reported that they had some role in system testing (J. Fisher, 1998). A question emerges out of such results: is there really any necessary and supportive connection between the process of explaining a product to a user and the original process of developing that product? As technical writers looking to expand our roles [and salaries], we would like to say yes. But, in fairness, we have to admit our bias. We need to check such biases against other, independent evidence. The article interfaces this question with a parallel question in the philosophy of science: is there any connection between experimental test results used to "sell" a theory to a scientific audience and the original process of developing that theory?.
Scooter Injuries in Children

Objective. To describe a series of nonmotorized scooter-related injuries to children to increase public awareness and encourage prevention of such injuries. Design. A descriptive study of a consecutive series of patients. Setting. The pediatric emergency service of a municipal hospital. Participants. All children Methods. Patients were identified by review of the PES medical records. Charts were reviewed for patient data including age, place of injury, use of protective gear, adult supervision, injury sustained, medical management, and disposition. Results. There were 15 children treated in the PES for scooter-related injuries. The mean age was 7.8 years, 73% were male. Approximately 90% of injuries occurred as a result of falling off a scooter. Irregular pavement caused 3 falls and tandem riding caused 2 falls. Inability to use the foot brake caused 1 collision, and 1 child was hit by a motor vehicle while crossing the street. Injuries occurred in a park (33%), on a sidewalk (47%), in a home (13%), and on the street (7%). Adult supervision was present in half of the cases. Only 2 children were wearing helmets at the time of injury; none wore protective padding. Five children (33%) suffered head trauma; 1 lost consciousness, and 2 suffered amnesia. Three children required a head computed tomography scan, and 1 required cervical spine radiographs. All radiographs were negative. None of these 5 children were wearing helmets. Seven children (47%) sustained facial injuries, and 4 of these children required laceration repair. Seven children (47%) sustained extremity trauma, including 1 laceration and 6 fractures (1 supracondylar, 1 distal radius, 2 radius/ulnar, 1 tibia/fibula, and 1 patella). Four fractures involved the upper extremity. Four fractures were managed by closed reduction; 2 required operative repair. One child required splinting of an avulsed tooth. Three of the children (20%) were admitted. The 5 children with head trauma were observed and released. Conclusion. The use of nonmotorized scooters by children may result in serious injury, particularly in the young child. Although not life-threatening, these injuries require significant medical intervention and may result in permanent functional and cosmetic deformity. These injuries are potentially preventable with the proper use of protective gear and supervision. Public and parental awareness and education are essential to prevent additional injuries.
Impact of Residual Inducer on Titratable Expression Systems

Inducible expression systems are widely employed for the titratable control of gene expression, yet molecules inadvertently present in the growth medium or synthesized by the host cells can alter the response profile of some of these systems. Here, we explored the quantitative impact of these residual inducers on the apparent response properties of inducible systems. Using a simple mathematical model, we found that the presence of residual inducer shrinks the apparent dynamic range and causes the apparent Hill coefficient to converge to one. We also found that activating systems were more sensitive than repressing systems to the presence of residual inducer and the response parameters were most heavily dependent on the original Hill coefficient. Experimental interrogation of common titratable systems based on an L-arabinose inducible promoter or a thiamine pyrophosphate-repressing riboswitch in Escherichia coli confirmed the predicted trends. We finally found that residual inducer had a distinct effect on “all-or-none” systems, which exhibited increased sensitivity to the added inducer until becoming fully induced. Our findings indicate that residual inducer or repressor alters the quantitative response properties of titratable systems, impacting their utility for scientific discovery and pathway engineering.
Invasion of Lake Victoria by the Large Bodied Herbivorous Cladoceran Daphnia Magna

Zooplankton collections from offshore Lake Victoria during the early to mid 1990s contained a Ctenodaphnia species that is morphologically similar to Daphnia monacha (D. lumholtzi var. monacha) which is present in Lakes Edward and Albert. Direct comparison of the Lake Victoria specimens with representative D. monacha from the Rift Valley lakes reveals that the taxa are not the same, however. Instead, the Lake Victoria animals conform more closely to the morphology of Daphnia magna. The large body size of D. magna makes it unlikely that it was overlooked by previous investigators of the lake. Instead, it appears that food web alterations of Lake Victoria created occasional conditions of relaxed planktivory by fish to such a degree that an herbivore of unusually large size could establish viable populations. The observation runs counter to prevailing paradigms about the small size structure of tropical zooplankton communities compared with those in temperate zones. The observation is consistent with claims that biological interactions rather than physical and chemical factors are the typical determinants of zooplankton size structure in the tropics.
Solving known good die (and substrate) test issues

A qualification process for MCM technologies used in military applications does not exist. The opportunities for failure resulting from material interactions in MCM's will remain if an understanding of failure mechanisms is not taken into account. For example, corrosion and stress voiding (cracking) of metal and interlayer materials is a concern for ICs in a stockpile. More research needs to be conducted in this area for different MCM technologies. Not only does test have to prove out the "known good die" requirement, but the system as a whole needs to be designed to take advantage of the best test strategies available for the particular MCM design technology.