cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Ventricular Septal Defect

A ventricular septal defect is a communication between the right and left ventricles. It is the most common congenital heart anomaly. It can occur as an isolated defect or in conjunction with other complex congenital heart anomalies. This section will review the incidence, physiology, and anesthetic considerations of both repaired and unrepaired ventricular septal defects in pregnancy.
Correction for Birger et al., "Asymptomatic Shedding of Respiratory Virus among an Ambulatory Population across Seasons".

Volume 3, no. 4, e00249-18, 2018. [https://doi.org/10.1128/mSphere.00249-18][1]. Page 1: Ruthie Birger should have two affiliations, as shown in this author correction. [1]: /lookup/doi/10.1128/mSphere.00249-18
Co-pyrolysis of sugarcane bagasse and polystyrene with ex-situ catalytic bed of metal oxides/HZSM-5 with focus on liquid yield.

Catalytic co-pyrolysis of sugarcane bagasse (SCB) and polystyrene (PS) was conducted in a fixed bed reactor over microporous HZSM-5, mesoporous metal oxides (MgO, CaO) and their blends to examine the effect on pyrolytic liquid yields and quality. Though the catalyst addition decreased the liquid yield, improvement in mono-aromatic hydrocarbon yield with the least content of oxygenates was achieved in the catalytic trials. Results revealed that HZSM-5 showed maximum conversion efficiency of acids, furans and phenols acting as hydrocarbon source for aromatic production. Basic MgO, with acidic HZSM-5, was found to conduce better catalytic performance yielding improved oil quality compared to HZSM-5:CaO catalyst. Mass ratio of 1:3 HZSM-5:MgO exhibited most eminent synergistic effect with maximum (56.8 wt%) mono-aromatic hydrocarbon (MAH) yield and lowest (20.8 wt%) poly-aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) content. Additionally, increased calorific value and density upgradation comparable to standard diesel fuel quality were observed in the presence of dual catalyst layout.
Continuous evolution of base editors with expanded target compatibility and improved activity

Base editors use DNA-modifying enzymes targeted with a catalytically impaired CRISPR protein to precisely install point mutations. Here, we develop phage-assisted continuous evolution of base editors (BE-PACE) to improve their editing efficiency and target sequence compatibility. We used BE-PACE to evolve cytosine base editors (CBEs) that overcome target sequence context constraints of canonical CBEs. One evolved CBE, evoAPOBEC1-BE4max, is up to 26-fold more efficient at editing cytosine in the GC context, a disfavored context for wild-type APOBEC1 deaminase, while maintaining efficient editing in all other sequence contexts tested. Another evolved deaminase, evoFERNY, is 29% smaller than APOBEC1 and edits efficiently in all tested sequence contexts. We also evolved a CBE based on CDA1 deaminase with much higher editing efficiency at difficult target sites. Finally, we used data from evolved CBEs to illuminate the relationship between deaminase activity, base editing efficiency, editing window width and byproduct formation. These findings establish a system for rapid evolution of base editors and inform their use and improvement.
PTH-035 EUS-guided biliary and endoluminal drainage by LAMS: initial experience from a HPB/Transplant centre

Introduction Endoscopic ultrasound-guided biliary or enteral drainage is an emerging alternative to managing biliary or enteral obstruction, when endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) or duodenal stenting fail. Recently developed electrocautery-enhanced Lumen-Apposing Metal Stents (LAMS), allow endoscopic anastomosis (Hot AXIOS™ system, Boston Scientific) to facilitate EUS guided choledochojejunostomy or gastrojejunostomy. EUS guided hepaticogastrostomy is also feasible; using a dedicated half covered biliary SEMS (Giobor® stent). The aim of this study was to assess the safety and effectiveness of these stents in gallbladder, biliary and endoluminal drainage where standard approaches have failed. Methods Case series of EUS guided biliary or enteral drainage from a tertiary referral HPB/Liver Transplant centre between January 2017 and January 2019. Results During the 2 year study period, 19 cases were undertaken on 14 patients; 7 Male, 7 Female. Median age 77 (range 34–91). 10 of the patients had malignant disease, 4 benign. Indications included 6 EUS guided biliary drainage with LAMS from D1, 4 EUS guided gallbladder drainage, 3 EUS wire guided rendezvous, 2 EUS guided drainage of an obstructed hepaticojejunostomy, 2 EUS guided gastrojejunostomy, 1 gastrojejunostomy stent change, 1 hepaticogastrostomy. The procedure was clinically successful in 68% (13/19) of cases. Median length of stay post procedure was 4 days (range 1–32). Adverse events occurred in 32% (6/19), 5/6 were small bile leaks, which settled clinically without need for further intervention, one case of stent displacement requiring surgical removal. Conclusion In our experience, EUS-guided LAMS placement for novel applications, performed by experienced endosonographers was safe and feasible in selected cases of benign and malignant disease.
Are emotions better left unknown? Sex-specific effects of emotional awareness and daily hassles on internalizing symptoms among college students.

Objective: Amid growing concern about internalizing disorders on college campuses, few researchers have examined the ways emotional awareness deficits may contribute to risk. We examined the effect...
Heterogeneous Integration for HPC and Data Centers

Abstract Invited Session on HETEROGENEOUS INTEGRATION ROADMAP - Heterogeneous Integration for HPC and Data Centers. This TWG focuses on the system-level implications related to performance, power m...
Performance of neoadjuvant therapy in locally advanced adenocarcinoma of the pancreas: A single large volume center experience.

e16745Background: Pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PC) is a disease with low 5-year survival rates even in patients who undergo surgical resection: ~10% overall and 20-35% in those with negative lymph no...
Facile Synthesis of 57Fe(CO)5

Abstract An improved, one-step synthesis for Fe(CO)5 designed for use with 57Fe is presented. This method allows for easy recovery of the unreacted starting material, requires low pressures, and avoids the use of specialized equipment.
The Forgotten Survivor: The Articulated Needs of Survivors of Psychological and Economic Abuse Who Stay

Despite improvements, extant research and praxis has not yet given sufficient attention to nonphysical forms of intimate partner violence, including psychological and economic abuse. Furthermore, i...
Crosslinked PEDOT:PSS Organic Electrochemical Transistors on Interdigitated Electrodes with Improved Stability

The influence of gate voltage in the off state (Vg,off) on the stability of the transfer curve of an organic electrochemical transistor (OECT) based on interdigitated electrodes (IDEs) is studied i...
A public online resource to track COVID-19 misinfodemic.

The COVID-19 pandemic has seen the rise of many unique online narratives through social media and other sources. They can range from theories about the origin of the virus, to misinformation regarding personal health measures. Such narratives have a direct impact on public health and safety. In an effort to inform the general public and with support of the Arkansas Attorney General’s office our team sought to keep track of narratives for research purposes and provide near-real-time public documentation via a website with two main goals. The first is to track every unique narrative as curated by our analysts. This allows individuals to fact-check the information they consume. The second goal is to relay recommendations to the State Attorney General on how to detect such misinformation and avoid fraud and scams seeking to profit from this online fear and chaos. This paper showcases our website as well as some research findings from the data we collected. More broadly, this effort showcases a unique collaboration between scientists and policy makers to stem the flow of misinformation during a major public health crisis.
Comparison of musculoskeletal pain severity and pain interference using ecological momentary assessment: a longitudinal analysis

Musculoskeletal (MSK) pain can be assessed in terms of its intensity and by how it interferes with daily activities. This study examined whether: 1) MSK pain intensity is associated with pain interference, and 2) demographic and psychological factors explain variability in pain interference. We recruited adult patients who presented to the emergency department (ED) of a single academic medical center with a chief complaint of MSK pain of one-week duration or less; subjects completed a baseline survey in the ED, and using a mobile health application, they completed longitudinal assessments regarding pain catastrophizing (via the Pain Catastrophizing Scale), pain severity (via the Brief Pain Inventory) and pain interference (via the 6-item Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System) on 15 different days throughout 1-month post-ED discharge. We used a random effects model to examine the association between the pain severity and interference, accounting for time. We enrolled 52 subjects, 45 (78% female; 34 ± 12 years of age) of whom provided sufficient data for inclusion in the analysis. The average response rate per subject was 73%. Pain severity score decreased from a mean (SD) of 5.8 (2.6) to 3.2 (3.4), and pain interference decreased from an average of 22 (6.6) to 14 (8.2), from day 1 to day 30 post-ED discharge. Pain severity and interference were significantly higher in patients with lower level of education, unemployment, temporary or permanent disability, mental health disorders, excessive rumination, and psychological distress. In the random effects model, pain interference was associated with severity (B=2.6, 95% CI = 2.4-2.8), after accounting for time. These findings suggest that MSK pain severity is associated with interference throughout the first month after ED discharge, and highlight certain subgroups of patients that may be at higher risk of persistent pain severity and interference within 1-month post-ED discharge. Emergency Medicine Foundation & NIH training grant T32HL134615.
E-Verify Mandates and Unauthorized Immigrants' Access to Employer-Sponsored Health Insurance

Over the last two decades, state and local governments have adopted policies requiring employers to electronically verify (E-Verify) the work eligibility of their new hires, in an effort to disrupt unauthorized immigrants’ access to the formal labor market. These EVerify mandates previously enjoyed bipartisan support, and the Trump administration has identified a nationwide E-Verify mandate as an immigration policy priority. I show in this paper that state E-Verify mandates are associated with a 5 percentage point reduction in the probability that likely-unauthorized immigrants are employed and a 2 percentage point reduction in the probability that they have employer-sponsored insurance. However, these changes are limited to one period after implementation. In all remaining periods, the relationships are not distinguishable from zero. I show that this pattern can be explained by selective outmigration of otherwise unemployed and uninsured likely-unauthorized immigrants. By preventing unauthorized immigrants from moving to a more favorable policy environment, a nationwide E-Verify mandate would likely further limit unauthorized immigrants’ access to private health insurance.
Phase I Dose Escalation Trial Using 3-Fraction SBRT for Locally Advanced Pancreatic Cancer.

Purpose/Objective(s) This prospective multi-institutional study aimed to determine the safety and maximally tolerated dose of 3-fraction stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) for locally advanced pancreatic cancer (LAPC). Materials/Methods Patients with localized, histologically confirmed pancreatic adenocarcinoma deemed unresectable on radiographic multidisciplinary review without distant progression following induction chemotherapy for at least 2 months were eligible. Patients received 3-fraction LINAC-based SBRT at 3 dose levels, 27Gy, 30Gy and 33Gy following a modified 3+3 design, allowing for enrollment of additional patients at the last dose level during the 90-day observation period, provided no dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs) were observed. DLTs were defined as ≥ Grade 3 treatment-related GI toxicity within 90 days of RT as scored by CTCAE v.4. The secondary endpoints were overall survival (OS), local progression-free and distant metastasis-free survival (LPFS and DMFS, respectively), treatment-related toxicity and quality of life. Results Between 3/2016 and 4/2019, 23 consecutive evaluable LAPC patients were enrolled at two academic hospitals (14 and 9 patients, respectively), including 8 patients at 27Gy, 8 patients at 30Gy and 7 patients at 33Gy. The median age was 67 years (range 52 - 79 years), 9 patients (39%) were male, all were stage III, 12 (52%) had a head/uncinate tumor location, with a median tumor size of 3.5cm (range, 1.0 - 6.4cm) and a median CA19-9 of 60U/mL (range, Conclusion For select LAPC patients, dose escalation to the target dose of 33Gy in 3 fractions resulted in no DLTs and disease outcomes comparable to conventional RT. These results warrant further exploration of hypofractionated SBRT schemes to maximize tumor control while enabling efficient integration of RT with systemic therapy for more expedient treatment options for these high-risk LAPC patients.
Three-factor Model of multicultural counseling for consumers with disabilities

This article provides counselors with a simplified representation of critical constructs in multicultural counseling: adjustment to disability, stage of development, and cultural identity. Exploring these factors will facilitate the working alliance and thereby serve to enhance the effectiveness of counseling interventions. The development and application of the Model is highly individualized in a manner consistent with rehabilitation philosophy.
Real Computable Manifolds and Homotopy Groups

Using the model of real computability developed by Blum, Cucker, Shub, and Smale, we investigate the difficulty of determining the answers to several basic topological questions about manifolds. We state definitions of real-computable manifold and of real-computable paths in such manifolds, and show that, while BSS machines cannot in general decide such questions as nullhomotopy and simple connectedness for such structures, there are nevertheless real-computable presentations of paths and homotopy equivalence classes under which such computations are possible.
Studies of Transfer of Learning in Gross Motor Skills

Abstract Ninety men taking college physical education classes learned six paired gross motor skills with order and method of teaching as variables. Observations seem to warrant the following general conclusions: (1) Skills and activities which involve similar elements and patterns should not be learned at the same time; (2) The method of deliberate teaching for transfer of learning (at the beginning levels of learning) appears to be ineffective in the subsequent learning of skills with similar patterns and movements.
SOME LIKE IT HOT: CONSCIOUSNESS AND HIGHER-ORDER THOUGHTS

Evaluation de l'hypothese de la pensee d'un ordre superieur (higher-order thought, or HOT) chez Rosenthal et des principales objections -dont celle de F. Dretske- qui lui sont opposees concernant la nature de l'etat mental conscient et de l'etat sensoriel. Soulevant le probleme de l'inexpressibilite, de la pensee impensable et de l'introspection, l'A. montre que l'hypothese de la pensee d'un ordre superieur n'est pas a meme d'expliquer la conscience phenomenale
Tree Edit Models for Recognizing Textual Entailments, Paraphrases, and Answers to Questions

We describe tree edit models for representing sequences of tree transformations involving complex reordering phenomena and demonstrate that they offer a simple, intuitive, and effective method for modeling pairs of semantically related sentences. To efficiently extract sequences of edits, we employ a tree kernel as a heuristic in a greedy search routine. We describe a logistic regression model that uses 33 syntactic features of edit sequences to classify the sentence pairs. The approach leads to competitive performance in recognizing textual entailment, paraphrase identification, and answer selection for question answering.
Technological Change and Public Financing of Education

We study investment in education in an overlapping generation model with altruism where credit market imperfections ration borrowing and cause persistent underinvestment in human capital. We characterize the optimal government policy and the policy that would emerge under majority voting in response to a technological change that raises the returns to education. The optimal government policy consists in a transfer of resources from future to current generations to finance investment in education and an increase in consumption for the current old generation. The policy chosen under majority voting accomplishes a generational transfer only if a majority of individuals are credit constrained. We consider two policy instruments: a labor income tax and an education subsidy. Current voters prefer a reduction in the current income tax rate to an education subsidy, as the former can finance an increase in their consumption.
Heterodyne phase shift diagnostic for measuring atomic vapor density

We describe a technique for atomic density measurements. We generate and recombine frequency shifted laser beams producing beat signals on reference and signal detectors. Opacity in the signal detector leg is proportional to the phase difference between detector signals. 4 refs., 2 figs.
A systematic relationship analysis for modeling information domains

Many conceptual modeling and system design methodologies provide tools to help system designers to model the real world. No guidelines exist, however, for determining the relationships within conceptual domains or implementations. RNA (Relationship Navigation Analysis), based on a generic relationship taxonomy, provides a systematic way of identifying useful relationships in application domains. Developers can then implement each relationship as a link. Viewing an application domain from the relationship management point of view and modeling from a philosophy of maximum access provides a unique vantage point for application design. We present RNA and its generic relationship taxonomy, describing their use for system analysis. 1. Motivation When reengineering a legacy system for the World Wide Web or developing a new Web application, how does a systems developer determine what to link? A vital aspect of hypermedia system design is identifying relationships and implementing them as links [Fielding et al., 1998]. Yet, many relationships in applications—including analytic applications—are poorly identified or ignored in current hypermedia design methodologies [Isakowitz et al., 1995, Koufaris, 1998, Lange, 1994, Schwabe et al., 1996]. Furthermore, many Web applications do not take advantage of the major hypermedia features of the Web—linking, structural and navigational features. Few designers explicitly think about their applications' interrelationships and whether users should access and navigate them directly. This occurs for several reasons [Bieber and Vitali, 1997]. In part, existing applications demonstrate a rich link structure that could serve as examples for system developers. In part, few tools exist that help system developers to think of an application in terms of its relationships [Bieber, 1998a, Bieber, 1998b]. RNA (Relationship Navigation Analysis) was developed to solve these problems. RNA can be used as part of a systems analysis, either to thoroughly describe an existing system (or information domain) in terms of its relationships, or to understand a system being designed. RNA provides systems analysts with a systematic technique for determining the relationship structure of an application, helping them to discover all potentially useful relationships in application domains. These later may be implemented as links. RNA also helps determine appropriate navigational structures on top of these links. RNA enhances system developers' understanding of application domains by broadening and deepening their conceptual model of the domain. Developers can then
Kinetic modeling of dissolution and crystallization of batch reactions with in situ spectroscopic measurements

The use of Process Analytical Technologies (PATs) recommended by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has significantly increased during the past years in the design, control and monitoring of pharmaceutical or chemical manufacturing processes [1]. Nowadays PAT is also commonly used in Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs). Some PAT techniques employ on-line fiber-optic sensors to acquire non-destructive measurements of physical properties and kinetic information of dissolved and solid fraction of molecular substances in slurries in real time [2]. The main objective of this project is to develop a global model for DuPont’s sulfonylurea coupling reaction for monitoring purposes (e.g. detect process upset, detect endpoint, and forecast changes). The global model will allow us to estimate the kinetics of the reaction, the kinetics of nucleation, the kinetics of dissolution, and the kinetics of crystallization. Before such complex model can be developed, it is necessary to conduct experiments in a simpler system (e.g. salicylic acid in water-ethanol mixture). These experiments allow us to control critical parameters and establish precisely known conditions. In addition, they are designed so the process of dissolution and the process of crystallization can be observed independently one another, and independently of chemical reactions. Consequently, we will be able to develop an appropriate model for each process in our small-scale semi-batch reactor. For the simpler system, this study uses attenuated total reflectance ultra-violet visible (ATR UV-vis) spectroscopy for kinetic modeling of the dissolution and crystallization of salicylic acid in ethanol-water. The dissolution model, which relies on a power-law equation, can be obtained by adding aliquots of an ethanol-water mixture into a salicylic acid slurry. Near-infrared (NIR) diffuse reflectance spectroscopy is used to detect the degree of saturation, quantify the solid fraction present in a slurry using a calibration, and for verification and validation purposes. A temperature probe is also used to monitor heat changes involved in this dissolution. [1] Fevotte G., International Journal of Pharmaceutics 241 (2002) 263-278 [2] Gemperline et al, Analytical Chemistry 76 (2004) 2575-2582
LTS SQUID ¢?? Microscopy: A Leap in sensitivity?

Room-temperature (RT) sample scanning superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) microscopy (SSM) is a very powerful and promising technique for imaging magnetic field distributions . A SQUID microscope with interchangeable sensor configurations for imaging magnetic fields of room-temperature (RT) samples with sub-millimeter resolution was developed. The sensors are mounted in the vacuum space of a cryostat and thermally anchored to the helium reservoir. A positioning mechanism allows us to adjust the sample-to-sensor spacing from the top of the Dewar. Combining microfluidic based devices and SQUID microscopy allows us to identify a moving single micron sized ferromagnetic particles with a magnetic moment of 10-14 Am2 at a bandwidth of 2.5 KHz and a sensor to particle spacing of 95 mum. Although magnetic force microscopes (MFMs) have better moment sensitivities than SQUID microscopes, the current generation of SQUID microscopes have field sensitivities 105 times better than the MFM and do not suffer from the sample-instrument interactions that plague MFM-sensing of magnetically soft materials.
Harmonic content of electron energy distributions and excitation rates

Summary form only given, as follows. Although low pressure ( MHz) inductively coupled plasmas (ICPs) are thought of as providing quasi-cw sources of excitation, harmonic excitation may occur, particularly for high threshold processes. This harmonic excitation results from modulation of the electron energy distribution (EED) due to both linear and non-linear processes. In this paper, the harmonic content of EEDs and excitation rates in low pressure ICPs will be discussed using results from a 2-dimensional plasma equipment model. The model uses a Monte Carlo Simulation (MCS) to resolve electron energy transport in self-consistently generated electromagnetic and electrostatic fields. During collection of statistics in the MCS, Fourier transforms in time are taken of the electron trajectories, binned according to space. The end results are Fourier coefficients of the time harmonics as a function of position and energy which can be used to reconstruct the time dependence of the EEDs.
Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy/dysplasia: An update

Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy/dysplasia (ARVC/D) is a genetic cardiomyopathy characterized by ventricular arrhythmias and structural abnormalities of the right ventricle (RV). The diagnosis is based on the International Task Force criteria. Cardiologists may not be aware of these diagnostic criteria for ARVC/D and may place too much importance on the results of MRI imaging of the right ventricle. Patients with ARVC/D usually have an abnormal 12-lead electrocardiogram, abnormal echocardiogram, and ventricular arrhythmias with a left bundle branch block morphology. If noninvasive testing suggests ARVC/D, invasive testing with an RV angiogram, RV biopsy, and electrophysiologic study is recommended. Once a diagnosis of ARVC/D is established, the main treatment decision involves whether to implant an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator. We also recommend treatment with β blockers. Patients with ARVC/D are encouraged to avoid competitive athletics. Recent advances in the understanding of the genetic basis of ARVC/D have revealed that ARVC/D is a disease of desmosomal dysfunction.
Light emission based biosensor for detection of food pathogens : a review

Rapid detection, identification and enumeration of pathogenic microorganisms is highly important to the food industry to address the food safety concerns. Biosensors are devices that promise to achieve these objectives, these analytical devices can accurately and selectively estimate the levels of foodborne pathogens. The most widely applied biosensors are based on the optical properties like absorption, fluorescence, reflection, refraction, dispersion etc. This review is done to provide an overview of optic based biosensor and their application in the area of food safety. Working principles of Surface plasmon resonance , resonant mirror and fiber optic based biosensor are described in the article. Resonant mirror based biosensor has been used for the estimation of S. aureus, it was proven selective for the strain being tested (Cowan-1). Using colloidal-gold conjugates in sandwich assay format increased the sensitivity of the assay. An integrated fiber optic based biosensor is used for detection of Salmonella typhimurium reducing the detection time to 30 min. Fiber optic based biosensors offer advantage of compactness, flexibility, resistance to electrical noise and small probe size.
The pathology of gonadal neoplasms composed of germ cells and sex cord stroma derivatives.

Summary Neoplasms composed of germ cells and sex cord stroma derivatives intimately admixed together occur only in the gonads and consist of two distinctive and separate entities, gonadoblastoma and mixed germ cell-sex cord stroma tumour. These two entities differ from each other not only pathologically, but also in somatic, genetic, endocrine, and biological aspects. Gonadoblastoma which is the more common, occurs in young phenotypic females who are frequently virilized. The majority are chromatin negative and possess a Y chromosome. The gonad in which the tumour originates when not indeterminate is usually a streak or a testis. Gonadoblastoma is generally small and frequently bilateral. Histologically gonadoblastoma consists of cellular nests surrounded by connective tissue stroma. These nests usually show hyalinization and calcification, which may lead to the obliteration of the lesion. Gonadoblastoma is frequently overgrown by dysgerminoma and sometimes by other more malignant neoplastic germ cell elements. Mixed germ cell-sex cord stroma tumour occurs most frequently in somatically and genetically normal female infants and children in the first decade, and less frequently in anatomically normal elderly males. The tumours are unilateral and are usually large and solid. Histologically they are composed of germ cells and sex cord derivatives intimately admixed with each other forming a number of different patterns. There are no regressive changes and the tumour is actively proliferative. Admixture with other neoplastic germ cell elements is very rare, and metastases have never been encountered.
Use of the Cornell Scale in Nondemented Patients

The Cornell scale is a 19-item clinician-administered scale of depression that uses information from interviews with both patients and their caregivers. The Cornell scale has been validated in demented patients. In this study, the Cornell scale was psychometically tested in nondemented geriatric subjects by administering it to 15 depressed patients, 15 patients with other psychiatric diagnoses, and 15 normal control subjects. The Cornell scale had high interrater reliability (Cohen's kappa = 0.74), internal consistency (Kuder-Richardson's coefficient = 0.98), and sensitivity, and correlated significantly (Spearman's r = 0.81) with Research Diagnostic Criteria psychiatric diagnoses associated with various intensity of depression. To our knowledge, the Cornell scale is the only depression-rating instrument that has been validated in both demented and nondemented geriatric subjects.
Discrete Element Analysis of the Influences of Aggregate Properties and Internal Structure on Fracture in Asphalt Mixtures

Increased loads on hot-mix asphalt (HMA) pavements have necessitated the development of new-generation asphalt mixture designs that rely on stone-on-stone contact among coarse aggregates in resisting and distributing applied loads. These stone-on-stone contacts, however, promote localized internal stresses that could cause aggregate fracture. Therefore, it is imperative that methods are developed to analyze the contribution of the coarse aggregate structure and properties to HMA performance during mixture design. This paper introduces an approach that combines the discrete element method (DEM) and image processing techniques to analyze the combined effects of aggregate gradation, shape, stiffness, and strength on HMA resistance to fracture. The DEM input parameters were determined based on measuring aggregate and HMA properties. Consequently, the model was used to quantify the internal forces in asphalt mixtures and determine their relationship to aggregate fracture which cannot be accomplished by conventional experimental methods. The model was successful to large extent in representing the influence of variability in aggregate properties and blending two sources of aggregates on mixture strength. The results showed that the required aggregate strength and optimum blending limits to achieve certain mixture strength are dependent on mixture design.
Draining of a Fluid from a Rotating Cylindrical Tank

References 1 Pinsker, Z. G., Electron Diffraction, Butterworths London, 1953. 2 Beylich, A. E., "Condensation in Carbon Dioxide Jet Plumes," AlAA Journal, Vol. 8, No. 5, May 1970, pp. 965-967. 3 Bauchert, J. and Hagena, O. F., "Massenbestimmung ionisierter Agglomerate in kondensierten Molekularstrahlen nach einer elektrischen Gegenfeldmethode," Zeitschrift Naturforschung, Vol. 20a, 1965, pp. 1135-1142. 4 Audit, P. and Rouault, M., "Condensation dans les jets moleculaires. Etude par diffraction electronique," Comptes Rendus des Seances de TAcademie des Sciences, Paris, tome 265, Serie B, Nov. 13, 1967, pp. 1100-1103. 5 Buhler, R. D. and Nagamatsu, H. T., "Condensation of Air Components in Hypersonic Wind Tunnels—Theoretical Calculations and Comparison with Experiment," Memo 13, Dec. 1, 1952, GALCIT, Pasadena, Calif. 6 Frenkel, J., Kinetic Theory of Liquids, Dover, New York, 1955. pp. 1-6.
A MEMS ultrasonic sensor design for early detection of ovarian cancer

In this study, we investigate a simple, disposable, low-cost, ultrasensitive, and fully-integrated biosensor chip for early ovarian cancer detection. The proposed sensor quantifies urinary anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 level that is elevated at various stages of ovarian cancer. Our approach utilizes MEMS ultrasonic transducers that have been demonstrated to be advantageous when compared to piezoelectric transducers. Piezoelectric transducers are expensive, bioincompatible (contain lead), and cannot be integrated in a fully-packaged chip. More importantly, these transducers lack the sensitivity required for early ovarian cancer detection, expensive, not biocompatible (contains Lead) and cannot be integrated for a fully-packaged chip. Our experimentally verified simulations indicate 0.15 pg/ml mass sensitivity with our sensor.
Recent progress on spherical torus research

The spherical torus or spherical tokamak (ST) is a member of the tokamak family with its aspect ratio (A = R0/a) reduced to A ∼ 1.5, well below the normal tokamak operating range of A ≥ 2.5. As the aspect ratio is reduced, the ideal tokamak beta β (radio of plasma to magnetic pressure) stability limit increases rapidly, approximately as β ∼ 1/A. The plasma current it can sustain for a given edge safety factor q-95 also increases rapidly. Because of the above, as well as the natural elongation κ, which makes its plasma shape appear spherical, the ST configuration can yield exceptionally high tokamak performance in a compact geometry. Due to its compactness and high performance, the ST configuration has various near term applications, including a compact fusion neutron source with low tritium consumption, in addition to its longer term goal of an attractive fusion energy power source. Since the start of the two mega-ampere class ST facilities in 2000, the National Spherical Torus Experiment in the United St...
Plasma Line Emission during Single-Bubble Cavitation

Emission lines from transitions between high-energy states of noble-gas atoms (Ne, Ar, Kr, and Xe) and ions (${\mathrm{Ar}}^{+}$, ${\mathrm{Kr}}^{+}$, and ${\mathrm{Xe}}^{+}$) formed and excited during single-bubble cavitation in sulfuric acid are reported. The excited states responsible for these emission lines range 8.3 eV (for Xe) to 37.1 eV (for ${\mathrm{Ar}}^{+}$) above the respective ground states. Observation of emission lines allows for identification of intracavity species responsible for light emission; the populated energy levels indicate the plasma generated during cavitation is comprised of highly energetic particles.
Feasibility and oncologic control after percutaneous image guided ablation of metastatic renal cell carcinoma.

Purpose: We assessed the safety, local control and oncologic efficacy of percutaneous ablation in the treatment of metastatic renal cell carcinoma.Materials and Methods: A retrospective review was performed of 61 patients who underwent 74 ablation procedures to treat 82 metastatic renal cell carcinoma lesions with the intent of local eradication. Technical success, local tumor control, complications and patient survival were analyzed according to standard criteria.Results: Four (4.9%) technical failures were observed while 2 patients were lost to followup. Time to recurrence was assessed for the subset of 76 (93%) tumors that were followed after ablation. Six (of 76, 7.9%) tumors recurred at a mean of 1.6 years after ablation (median 1.4, range 0.6 to 2.9). Thus, known overall local tumor control was achieved in 70 of 80 (87.5%) tumors. Estimated local recurrence-free survival rates (95% CI, number still at risk) at 1, 2 and 3 years after ablation were 94% (88–100, 41), 94% (88–100, 32) and 83% (70–97, 17...
Generating Random Points (or Vectors) Controlling the Percentage of them that Are Extreme in their Convex (or Positive) Hull

This paper presents a technique to generate random data in dimensional space m such that their convex (or positive) hull contains a specific percentage of extreme points (or vectors), determined by the analyst or generator of the data. The methodology strives to remove symmetry, regularity, or predictability, which may be desirable in data used to test or compare algorithms or heuristics. There are numerous applications for this methodology.
Isolation, primary structure and synthesis of leucokinins VII and VIII: The final members of this new family of cephalomyotropic peptides isolated from head extracts of leucophaea maderae

Abstract 1. Two additional octapeptides, belonging to the leucokinin family of cephalomyotropins, were isolated from head extracts of the cockroach, Leucophaea maderac. 2. A series of 4 high-performance liquid-chromatographic (HPLC) fractionations yielded sufficient quantities of pure peptides for micro amino acid analysis and primary sequence determination. The sequences obtained for the two peptides were: Asp-Pro-Ala-Phe-Ser-Ser-Trp-Gly-NH2 and Gly-Ala-Ser-Phe-Tyr-Ser-Trp-Gly-NH2. They were designated leucokinins VII (L-VII) and VIII (L-VIII) respectively. 3. The minimum concentrations of synthetic L-VII and L-VIII required to evoke a response from the isolated cockroach hindgut were 1.3 × 10−10 M and 2.8 × 10−11 M respectively. 4. L-VII and L-VIII are the lowest titre peptides of the leucokinin series (0.09 and 0.06 picomoles/head equivalent respectively). These are the final leucokinins isolated from our extracts.
The perpendicular CD stretching band ν8 of allene-d4

Abstract The perpendicular infrared band of the degenerate CD stretching vibration ν 8 (species E) in allene- d 4 with band origin at 2321.2473 cm −1 was measured on a high resolution Fourier transform spectrometer and deconvolved to a linewidth of ∼0.0028 cm −1 . A total of 23 subbands with K Δ K ranging from −10 to +12 have been assigned. An improved set of ground state constants B 0 , D J 0 , D JK 0 , and H JK 0 was obtained using ∼1300 combination differences from this band and from the parallel bands ν 5 and ν 6 measured on the same instrument. The ν 8 band exhibits many perturbations caused by interactions with various combinations of lower lying vibrations. The nature of the perturbing states is discussed and three of the strongest perturbations are quantitatively accounted for by constructing a Hamiltonian matrix which includes three different perturbing states and their Coriolis interactions with the upper state of ν 8 . The ν 2 + ν 7 parallel band, strongly enhanced by Fermi resonance with ν 5 , is observed just below the ν 8 band. Its upper state was also included in the H matrix, but its J xy -Coriolis interaction with ν 8 could not satisfactorily account for the perturbations seen in the K Δ K = −8 to −10 subbands of ν 8 . Using data for the subbands from K Δ K = −7 to +10, a set of spectroscopic constants was obtained for the ν 8 state (and for the three perturbing states) with the aid of our computer program system SYMTOP designed for the treatment of symmetric top bands whose upper states are involved in arbitrary interactions. The standard deviation of the fit, 0.0031 cm −1 , far exceeds the precision of the measurements (∼0.0004 cm −1 ) and is evidence for the presence of additional high-order perturbations.
The quark model and the strange baryon magnetic moments

Abstract It is shown that standard quark models have difficulties reproducing the new, precise strange baryon magnetic moments. One possible theoretical resolution is to require that baryons are surrounded by a mesonic cloud in which isoscalar and isovector components are enhanced due to strong meson correlations.
Municipal sludge management: Health aspects of crop uptake of cadmium from sludge-amended soil and recommendations for regulation

Regulations have been proposed by the United States Environmental Protection Agency to promote the proper management of sludge disposal on croplands. The application of municipal sludge to croplands raises serious questions concerning the increase in dietary levels of metals resulting from metal uptake by crops. A model is presented that affords a quantitative estimate of the dietary increase of metals when foods are derived from sludge-amended soil. If a diet or part of a diet is derived completely from sludge-amended soil, it is likely to be excessive in cadmium and pose a clear health hazard. Recommendations designed to reduce the potential health threat of excessive metals in the diet are presented.
Beauty or Brains: Which Image for Your Mate?

Male and female subjects evaluated a male after seeing a videotape of him with his girlfriend. The attractiveness and intelligence of the girlfriend was varied. A multivariate analysis of variance on 10 dependent measures showed the male to be evalu ated more favorably when his partner was more attractive or more intelligent. Univariate analysis showed attractiveness affected all of the dependent measures. Intelligence affected a more select group of attributes--talent, self-confidence, and intelli gence--but affected this group about as much as attractiveness did. Intelligence and beauty have special and different places in the interpersonal marketplace.
Purification and Characterization of Rat Skeletal Muscle Acetyl-CoA Carboxylase

An acetyl-CoA carboxylase has been purified from rat hindlimb muscle using ammonium sulfate fractionation and avidin-Sepharose affinity chromatography. SDS/PAGE of the isolated enzyme showed a major protein band at approximately 272 kDa and a minor band at 265 kDa. The liver acetyl-CoA carboxylase gave a major protein band at 265 kDa and a minor band at 280 kDa. Adipose tissue acetyl-CoA carboxylase migrated to the 265-kDa position on the gel. Western blots performed using streptavidin–alkaline-phosphatase suggest that the bands from the three tissues contain biotin. The present study has characterized the muscle and adipose tissue enzymes under steady-state kinetics and determined Michaelis constants for the substrates. The activation constant for citrate, an essential activator for both preparations, was 2.13 ± 0.05 mM for the muscle enzyme and 3.02 ± 0.12 mM for adipose tissue (P 0.05. The muscle acetyl-CoA carboxylase was inhibited by malonyl-CoA (Ki= 10.6 ± 1.0 μM) and palmitoyl-CoA (Ki= 2.2 ± 0.3 μM). These properties are consistent with the hypothesis that regulation of acetyl-CoA carboxylase plays an important role in governing the rate of fatty acid oxidation in the skeletal muscle.
Two Conceptions of Reasons for Action

In his rich and inventive book, Morality: It's Nature and Justification, Bernard Gert offers the following "formal definition" of reasons for action: "Reasons for acting are conscious rational beliefs that can make some otherwise irrational actions rational" (56). As a definition of the subject matter of dispute, the account is inadequate because it presupposes a substantive view of what is at issue-anyone who thinks that reasons can be desires could not have a genuine quarrel with Gert because she would simply have the wrong concept. As a substantive view of reasons for action, however, Gert's account has much more appeal. Suppose I am deciding whether to get root canal work done on my teeth. Getting a root canal for no reason at all or because I want to put off some trivial pain, such as grading papers, is irrational. But if I consciously, rationally believe that getting a root canal will save me from the excrutiating pain of having my teeth fall out one by one, I have a reason to get the root canal. My rational belief that the root canal will save me from significantly worse future suffering is a reason because it makes the otherwise irrational act of getting a root canal, rational. Gert's claim is that all reasons are beliefs of this sort. In this note, I examine Gert's claim that all reasons must be able to make some otherwise irrational actions rational. (I assume, for the sake of argument, that Gert is right in thinking that reasons must be conscious rational beliefs.) Gert's claim involves what I will call the 'toggle' conception of reasons: considerations are reasons just in case they can toggle actions from being otherwise irrational to being rational. I will suggest that this conception is not faithful to our ordinary understanding of reasons, and that the deep view of rationality that seems to underwrite it is compatible with a more
Chromatin modifications and DNA repair: beyond double-strand breaks.

DNA repair must take place in the context of chromatin, and chromatin modifications and DNA repair are intimately linked. The study of double-strand break repair has revealed numerous histone modifications that occur after induction of a DSB, and modification of the repair factors themselves can also occur. In some cases the function of the modification is at least partially understood, but in many cases it is not yet clear. Although DSB repair is a crucial activity for cell survival, DSBs account for only a small percentage of the DNA lesions that occur over the lifetime of a cell. Repair of single-strand gaps, nicks, stalled forks, alternative DNA structures and base lesions must also occur in a chromatin context. There is increasing evidence that these repair pathways are also regulated by histone modifications and chromatin remodeling. In this review, we will summarize the current state of knowledge of chromatin modifications that occur during non-DSB repair, highlighting similarities and differences to DSB repair as well as remaining questions.
Fused sister kinetochores initiate the reductional division in meiosis I

During meiosis I the genome is reduced to the haploid content by a coordinated reductional division event. Homologous chromosomes align, recombine and segregate while the sister chromatids co-orient and move to the same pole. Several data suggest that sister kinetochores co-orient early in metaphase I and that sister chromatid cohesion (which requires Rec8 and Shugoshin) supports monopolar orientation. Nevertheless, it is unclear how the sister kinetochores function as single unit during this period. A gene (monopolin) with a co-orienting role was identified in Saccharomyces cerevisiae; however, it does not have the same function in fission yeast and no similar genes have been found in other species. Here we pursue this issue using knockdown mutants of the core kinetochore protein MIS12 (minichromosome instability 12). MIS12 binds to base of the NDC80 complex, which in turn binds directly to microtubules. In maize plants with systemically reduced levels of MIS12, a visible MIS12-NDC80 bridge between sister kinetochores at meiosis I is broken. Kinetochores separate and orient randomly in metaphase I, causing chromosomes to stall in anaphase due to normal cohesion, marked by Shugoshin, between the chromatids. The data establish that sister kinetochores in meiosis I are fused by a shared microtubule-binding face and that this direct linkage is required for reductional division.