cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Catalytic, Conductive Bipolar Membrane Interfaces through Layer‐by‐Layer Deposition for the Design of Membrane‐Integrated Artificial Photosynthesis Systems

In the presence of an electric field, bipolar membranes (BPMs) are capable of initiating water disassociation (WD) within the interfacial region, which can make water splitting for renewable energy in the presence of a pH gradient possible. In addition to WD catalytic efficiency, there is also the need for electronic conductivity in this region for membrane-integrated artificial photosynthesis (AP) systems. Graphene oxide (GO) was shown to catalyze WD and to be controllably reduced, which resulted in electronic conductivity. Layer-by-layer (LbL) film deposition was employed to improve GO film uniformity in the interfacial region to enhance WD catalysis and, through the addition of a conducting polymer in the process, add electronic conductivity in a hybrid film. Three different deposition methods were tested to optimize conducting polymer synthesis with the oxidant in a metastable solution and to yield the best film properties. It was found that an approach that included substrate dipping in a solution containing the expected final monomer/oxidant ratio provided the most predictable film growth and smoothest films (by UV/Vis spectroscopy and atomic force microscopy/scanning electron microscopy, respectively), whereas dipping in excess oxidant or co-spraying the oxidant and monomer produced heterogeneous films. Optimized films were found to be electronically conductive and produced a membrane ohmic drop that was acceptable for AP applications. Films were integrated into the interfacial region of BPMs and revealed superior WD efficiency (≥1.4 V at 10 mA cm-2 ) for thinner films (<10 bilayers≈100 nm) than for either the pure GO catalyst or conducting polymer individually, which indicated that there was a synergistic effect between these materials in the structure configured by the LbL method.
Growth factor receptor pathway targeting in ERBB2-amplified esophageal cancers

2703 Background: ERBB2 is a growth factor receptor and is the oncogene most frequently amplified (amp) in esophageal adenocarcinomas (EAC). Overexpression of ERBB2 results in its constitutive phosphorylation and activates downstream intracellular signaling pathways that regulate cell growth and apoptosis including phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3 Kinase) /AKT. The purpose of these experiments was to compare the effect of inhibitors of ERBB2 and PI3K on the growth of EAC cell lines with and without ERBB2 amplifications. Methods: OE19 (100-fold amp EAC line), OE33 (10-fold amp EAC line), Bic-1 (no ERBB2 amp Barrett’s associated EAC line), and Kato-III (no ERBB2 amp gastroesophageal junction tumor) were grown for 72 hours in media containing traztuzumab (ERBB2 monoclonal antibody), LY294002 (PI3 Kinase inhibitor), combinations of the 2 drugs, or control antibody. Cell viability was assessed; 50% inhibitory concentrations (IC50) of the drugs and combination indices (test for synergism) were calculated. Results: The IC50 of traztuzumab for OE19 was 20ug/ml. At this concentration, growth of the OE33 EAC cell line was inhibited by only 20% and inhibition of Bic-1 and Kato-III was minimal. In contrast, the IC50s of LY294002 for OE19, OE33, Bic-1, and Kato-III (2-5 ug/ml) were similar. Drug combinations did not inhibit EAC cell line growth in a synergistic manner. Conclusions: Significant growth inhibition following treatment of esophageal cancer cells with traztuzumab was observed only in cell lines with ERBB2 amplifications. Growth of the EAC cell line with the highest ERBB2 copy number (OE19) was inhibited by traztuzumab to the greatest extent; however even saturating concentrations of antibody only reduced proliferation to slightly greater than 50% of control values. In contrast, LY294002 was an extremely potent inhibitor of proliferation in all cell lines tested. These results suggest that non-ERBB2 dependent means of PI3 Kinase pathway activation are present even in those EAC cell lines with high-level growth factor amplifications. Targeting of multiple intracellular signaling pathways may be necessary to achieve complete growth arrest of malignant cells.
Practical Aspects of IME Appointments: Scheduling, Agreements, Etc.

Independent medical evaluations are different than usual physician appointments where a doctor-patient relationship exists and parameters regarding appointments, billing, and correspondence are straightforward. IMEs require considerations of dealing with a requesting party who is often unaffiliated with the examinee. Thus, multiple avenues of communication need to occur for IME appointments to be successfully scheduled and attended. Since these evaluations are conducted within a medicolegal context, the IME physician should develop policies that address billing, no-shows, cancellations, and follow-up work.
Surface States Mediate Triplet Energy Transfer in Nanocrystal–Acene Composite Systems

Hybrid organic:inorganic materials composed of semiconductor nanocrystals functionalized with acene ligands have recently emerged as a promising platform for photon upconversion. Infrared light absorbed by a nanocrystal excites charge carriers that can pass to surface-bound acenes, forming triplet excitons capable of fusing to produce visible radiation. To fully realize this scheme, energy transfer between nanocrystals and acenes must occur with high efficiency, yet the mechanism of this process remains poorly understood. To improve our knowledge of the fundamental steps involved in nanoparticle:acene energy transfer, we used ultrafast transient absorption to investigate excited electronic dynamics of PbS nanocrystals chemically functionalized with 6,13-bis(triisopropylsilylethynyl)pentacene (TIPS-pentacene) ligands. We find photoexcitation of PbS does not lead to direct triplet energy transfer to surface-bound TIPS-pentacene molecules but rather to the formation of an intermediate state within 40 ps. Thi...
Anwendung des Schränkeisens

Jetzt sollte es klar geworden sein, das die Markpinnung kein stereotypes Verfahren ist, das unterschiedslos angewandt werden kann. Man mus sich dauernd mit dynamischen Kraften auseinandersetzen. Die Ergebnisse konnen brillant oder katastrophal sein und hangen von der sinnvollen Nutzbarmachung dieser Krafte ab. Wir bitten instandig darum, das kein Chirurg sich auf dieses Verfahren einlast, ohne sich mit den wichtigen damit zusammenhangenden Faktoren und den moglichen Gefahren, die nicht immer leicht erkennbar sind, vertraut gemacht zu haben.
The 10-year Risk of Verified Motor Vehicle Crashes in Relation to Physiologic Sleepiness

STUDY OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to determine the risk of DMV documented crashes as a function of physiological sleepiness in a population-based sample. DESIGN: 24-hour laboratory assessment (nocturnal polysomnogram and daytime MSLT) and 10-year crash rate based on DMV obtained accident records. PARTICIPANTS: 618 individuals (mean age = 41.6 +/- 12.8; 48.5% male) were recruited from the general population of southeastern Michigan using random-digit dialing techniques. RESULTS: Subjects were divided into 3 groups based on their average MSLT latency (in minutes) as follows: excessively sleepy, 0.0 to 10 (n = 345). Main outcome measures were DMV data on accidents from 1995-2005. Rates for all accidents in the 3 MSLT groups were: excessively sleepy = 59.4%, moderately sleepy = 52.5%, alert = 47.3%. Excessively sleepy subjects were at significantly greater risk of an accident over the 10-year period compared to alert subjects. A similar relation was observed when we limited the database to those accident victims with severe injury (excessively sleepy = 4.3%, moderately sleepy = 0.5%, alert = 0.6%; P = 0.028). When the victim was the only occupant of the car, subjects in the lowest MSLT group (highest sleepiness) had the greatest crash rate compared with alert individuals (excessively sleepy = 52.2%, moderately sleepy = 42.2%, alert = 37.4%; P = 0.022). INTERVENTIONS: N/A. CONCLUSIONS: These data demonstrate that the MSLT, a physiological measure of sleepiness, is predictive of an increased risk of DMV documented automotive crashes in the general population. Language: en
Screening Experiments for Removal of Low-Level Tritiated Water

Screening experiments for low levels of tritiated water (HTO) remediation based upon selective adsorption/desorption mechanisms utilizing equilibrium isotope effects have been carried out. Several organic and inorganic high surface area materials were investigated to assess their ability to selectively adsorb low concentrations of HTO. Ion-exchange resins with cation functionalities, chitosan, sodium alginate, and several inorganic media modified with metal cations exhibited promising results. Biomaterials, for example, chitosan and modified alginate, demonstrated positive results. Based on the literature and our preliminary testing, we postulate four possible mechanisms for selected tritium adsorption: hydrogen ion exchange, HTO coordination with surface cation sites, hydrogen bonding to surface basic sites, and secondary hydrogen bonding (structural water) in fine pores.
P039 The bumpy road to epic beaker implementation

Our lab has reported discrete results into Epic EMR since the initial Epic Go Live allowing for access to electronic data for clinical and research use. YNHH initiated the LIS update from SoftLab to Epic Beaker in 2016. This update dramatically changed our workflow. Initially, the Epic Beaker team set up our lab with a workaround to report results back into Epic without completing the standard Beaker sample workflow. Generic sample labels and incomplete specimen collection information often led to confusion and samples were redrawn or orders were automatically canceled in Epic before results were posted to the EMR. In 2017, a project was initiated to incorporate the HLA lab into the Epic Beaker workflow. This project faced three primary challenges. First, Beaker lacked support for Epic order panels with multiple tests and sample types, which were initially set up to improve efficiency when ordering multiple concurrent tests. As a solution, these panels were split into orders based on the various tube types necessary to perform the test and order sets were created in Beaker. The second challenge was the Beaker required update of the HL7 orders and results interfaces to support the data transfer between Epic and HistoTrac. The final hurdle was that every result message needed to be updated with the Beaker sample ID. This prompted the HLA Lab to consolidate our Epic orders removing organ specificity and reducing orders from 28 to 10 unique order codes. Furthermore, Beaker enforced a one to one relationship between orders and results. To accommodate this rule, SystemLink added status logic to the results message. All results are sent as preliminary until the last outstanding test result is signed off in HistoTrac and sent as final. Prior to the HLA lab Go Live the Epic team trained the sample collection staff to process our orders with the standard Beaker workflow, updated the clinicians with an Epic splash screen message, and trained the HLA staff to receive samples in Beaker before processing in HistoTrac. All Epic outstanding orders, standing orders and preference lists were updated by the Epic consolidation team. Post-Go Live optimization has included filing results for all pre-Go Live outstanding tests in HistoTrac, and identifying sample collection sites needing updated order transmittal rules which add the Beaker sample ID at collection. As a result of the Epic Beaker implementation order specific labels are printed for all samples, sample status is updated in real time, and samples are processed with the standard Beaker workflow.
On the need for sensor and actuator placement algorithms in nonlinear systems: WIP abstract

In this work, we consider the problem of selecting-or placing- sensors and control nodes in nonlinear dynamic networks (NDN) which model the evolution of many cyber-physical systems. Specifically, we illustrate here the need for computational methods that obtain the optimal combinations of sensors and actuators, while considering the nonlinear behavior of NDN and and systems-theoretic performance metrics. This work-in-progress abstract briefly show-cases our recent work in this problem, which is divided into two steps: (1) Characterizing the classes of nonlinearities encompassed in NDN; (2) Developing tractable computational algorithms to solve the joint problem of selecting control nodes/sensors and designing feedback control/state estimators.
Older Veterans EmpoweRed To Use Regular Exercise (OVERTURE) II: Design and methods of a randomized controlled trial among older veterans with chronic health conditions.

There are physical and mental health benefits associated with regular physical activity across the life span [1]; however, individuals are less likely to engage in regular physical activity with advancing age. Recent statistics from the Federal Interagency Forum on Aging Related-Statistics (FIFA-RS) [2] suggest that only 12% of adults 65 years and older engage in regular physical activity that meets the Federal guidelines for physical activity. The guidelines recommend that U.S. adults engage in at least 150 min of moderate-intensity aerobic activity weekly and two to three alternating days of muscle-strengthening activities [3,4]. The guidelines further recommend that older adults with chronic health conditions strive to be as physically active as possible. Among older adults, veterans represent a special population that may not be able to meet the Federal government's guidelines for physical activity. As a result of military service, older veterans who once were considered to be in optimal physical and mental condition as active duty service members, often live with multiple chronic conditions (MCCs) that may limit physical activity [5,6]. For example, older veterans receiving care through the Veterans Affairs (VA) often report a high degree of functional limitations and mental health issues [5,6], such as chronic knee and back pain [7], major depression [8], and post-traumatic stress disorder [8]. Consequentially, the presence of MCCs increases the risk for poor quality of life (QOL) [9,10] and wellbeing (WB) [11] and limits physical activity. In spite of the evidence that physical activity is beneficial to QOL [9] and WB [11], there is scant evidence in the research literature of exercise interventions for older adults with MCCs, specifically for older veterans. Older adults, regardless of veteran status, who have MCCs are often excluded from exercise interventions [12]. OVERTURE II endeavors to determine the feasibility of an exercise intervention that may promote QOL and WB among older veterans with MCCs.
New Missouri Mayfly (Ephemeroptera) State and County Records

Seven mayfly species represent new state records, and an additional eight mayfly species represent new county records for Missouri. These 15 species from eight families increased the total Ephemeroptera species richness of the state to 110. Many species reported here include habitat specialists and large-river species collected as either larvae or adults. Homoeoneuria ammophila (Spieth) was collected from the Missouri River, a species having otherwise sparse records in North America, and the predacious, widespread Pseudiron centralis (McDunnough) was collected from the Mississippi River following an absence in Missouri records for over 65 years. Ongoing threats from land-use change and climate alterations make aquatic insect distribution records critically important. Greater sampling efforts should be concentrated in large-river habitats.
Bifurcation pulmonary venoplasty and stenting for recalcitrant pulmonary vein stenosis after surgical pulmonary vein reconstruction.

Pulmonary vein stenosis (PVS) is a rare, severe, and potentially fatal complication most often arising from pulmonary vein ablation for medication refractory, symptomatic, and permanent atrial fibrillation. At present, the optimal approach for the management of PVS remains to be defined. Here, we describe a unique case of bifurcation pulmonary venoplasty and stenting in a patient with recalcitrant PVS after surgical reconstruction of her pulmonary veins. To our knowledge, this is the first such report of its kind. .
Compositional Effects and Optical Properties of P2O5 Doped Magnesium Silicate Mesoporous Thin Films

Mesoporous P2O5 doped magnesium silicate (MS-P) thin films were prepared using the activated sol–gel method and calcinated at different temperatures (200, 300, and 400 °C). The effect of both P2O5 content, and the calcinating temperature on the thin films structure, morphology, FTIR, and UV–Vis optical properties, was examined. The structural results demonstrate that the changing of the P2O5 content ratio and the temperature of preparation have significant effects on crystallization and the internal structure. All films were found to have a relative value of transmittance that reaches or exceeds about 90% in the visible range. The optical band gap shows a blue shift with increasing of the P2O5 content as well as with calcinating temperature increase. The refractive index is nearly constant and uniform in the overall visible zone for all samples. The optical conductivity shows nearly relative values and similar behaviors in all P2O5 contents at all calcinating temperatures, where it is constant at low energies and increases at higher incident photon energies.
Machine Learning-Based Structural Damage Identification Within Three-Dimensional Point Clouds

Damage identification via remotely sensed data amid routine structural inspections or assessments in the aftermath of extreme events has been the subject of intensive research in recent years. By analyzing remotely sensed data, these tasks can be performed rapidly, safely, and economically while maintaining high accuracy and objectivity. Therefore, many methods have been proposed to detect damage from remotely sensed point clouds of the civil structures. These methods use various feature extraction techniques based on geometry and other spectral information and classification based on supervised or unsupervised learning algorithms. However, the proposed solutions are typically optimized to detect particular types of damage or group various types of damage as a single class, limiting the application of these methods. This article proposes an advanced workflow to identify damage from point clouds by extracting semantic information using supervised and unsupervised learning methods. The supervised learning method is comprised of a deep learning model developed based on both voxel- and index-based data structures to segment the point cloud data into various objects semantically. An unsupervised learning algorithm classifies the segmented scene into instances for damage detection into various damage states and handles rare cases of damage instances.
Comparison of Au-free versus Au-doped YBa2Cu3O7−δ single crystals: Overdoping and oxygen mobility

Abstract By systematically changing the oxygen concentration of YBa2Cu3O7−δ single crystals grown in Au-crucibles, we demonstrate that the incorporated Au-impurities have only a minor effect on the maximum in Tc due to overdoping. On the other hand, we demonstrate that the Au-impurities significantly increase the oxygen mobility in the basal planes of oxygen deficient YBa2Cu3O7−δ single crystals.
Non-vanishing cosmological constant Λ, phase transitions, and Λ-dependence of high energy processes

Abstract It is pointed out that a collider experiment involves a local contribution to the energy–momentum tensor, a circumstance which is not a common feature of the current state of the Universe at large characterized by the cosmological constant Λ 0 . This contribution may be viewed as a change in the structure of space–time from its large scale form governed by Λ 0 to one governed by a Λ peculiar to the energy scale of the experiment. Possible consequences of this effect are explored by exploiting the asymptotic symmetry of space–time for non-vanishing Λ and its relation to vacuum energy.
Robust Sensor Fusion: Analysis and Application to Audio Visual Speech Recognition

This paper analyzes the issue of catastrophic fusion, a problem that occurs in multimodal recognition systems that integrate the output from several modules while working in non-stationary environments. For concreteness we frame the analysis with regard to the problem of automatic audio visual speech recognition (AVSR), but the issues at hand are very general and arise in multimodal recognition systems which need to work in a wide variety of contexts. Catastrophic fusion is said to have occurred when the performance of a multimodal system is inferior to the performance of some isolated modules, e.g., when the performance of the audio visual speech recognition system is inferior to that of the audio system alone. Catastrophic fusion arises because recognition modules make implicit assumptions and thus operate correctly only within a certain context. Practice shows that when modules are tested in contexts inconsistent with their assumptions, their influence on the fused product tends to increase, with catastrophic results. We propose a principled solution to this problem based upon Bayesian ideas of competitive models and inference robustification. We study the approach analytically on a classic Gaussian discrimination task and then apply it to a realistic problem on audio visual speech recognition (AVSR) with excellent results.
Chemisorption on (001), (110) and (111) nickel surfaces: A correlated study using LEED spectra, Auger spectra and work function change measurements

Abstract An experimental study of the chemisorption of a variety of closely related absorbates (H, O, C, CO, S, Se and Te) on clean single crystal nickel surfaces is presented. The nature of chemisorption is investigated through a correlated study of the modifications in low energy electron diffraction (LEED) patterns and intensity-energy spectra, Auger electron energy distributions, and work function change measurements which occur as a function of coverage and heat treatment. These experimental features are used to categorize the observed chemisorption phenomena into three distinct groups: (1) Molecular-like adsorption associated with relatively weak bonding, characteristic of carbon monoxide on (001), (110) and (111) nickel and oxygen and sulfur on (111) nickel. The adsorption is associated with attenuation of the LEED spectra intensities where only relatively minor changes occur in the structure and position of peaks in the integral order beams from that of the corresponding clean surfaces. The occurrence of relatively larger work function changes (∼ 1 eV) is characteristic of this group. (2) Atomic-like adsorption associated with strong bonding, but negligible substrate disruption, characteristic of oxygen, sulfur, selenium, tellurium and carbon on (001) Ni and for relatively low coverages (≲ 0.5 monolayers) of oxygen on (110) Ni. Here strong modifications of the specular beam LEED intensity-energy features occur with only slight modification of the other integral order beams from those of the clean surface. The surface dipole is smaller than in case (1) and produces a relatively small work function change (≲ 0.5 eV). (3) Disruptive adsorption associated with possible distortion and/or penetration of the lattice. This is characteristic of adsorption temperatures above room temperature and/or higher coverages (≳ 0.5 monolayers) of oxygen on both (001) and (110) surfaces, for hydrogen exposure to (001) and to (110) nickel, and to a lesser extent, possibly sulfur on (001) and (110) nickel. The LEED intensity-energy spectra show strong modifications in the integral order beam lineshapes from that of the clean surface. Associated work function changes again are small (∼ 0.50 eV). In summary, chemisorption of reactive gases on nickel is dependent on specific factors including the adsorbate, the surface crystallography, the adsorption temperature and the intensity of exposure. Specific variations among these factors correlate with large variations in the adsorption process from superficial bonding to the surface at one extreme to significant surface penetration and lattice disruption at the other.
Magnetic Excitations of the Doped-Hole State in Diamagnetic La2Cu0.5Li0.5O4.

Substitution of Li for Cu in ${\mathrm{La}}_{2}{\mathrm{Cu}}_{1\ensuremath{-}x}{\mathrm{Li}}_{x}{\mathrm{O}}_{4}$ donates holes; at $x\phantom{\rule{0ex}{0ex}}=\phantom{\rule{0ex}{0ex}}0.5$ the Li ions form an ordered superlattice which isolates individual ${\mathrm{CuO}}_{4}$ plaquettes from one another, and the number of doped holes is sufficient that each plaquette is occupied. Above 170 K, an activated temperature dependence of the Cu nuclear spin relaxation rate reveals a magnetic excitation of the doped-hole state with an energy of $\ensuremath{\sim}130\mathrm{meV}$. Below 170 K relaxation is primarily due to fluctuations of the electric field gradient; the temperature dependence of this rate is anomalously slow: ${T}_{1}^{\ensuremath{-}1}\ensuremath{\propto}\sqrt{T}$.
Sporulation of Saccharomyces cerevisiae in the Absence of a Functional Mitochondrial Genome

The role of the mitochondrial system during sporulation of Saccharomyces cerevisiae was studied. Addition of ethidium bromide (EthBr) to cells growing in acetate medium resulted in the quantitative (>98%) conversion of the culture to the petite genotype in one generation. The cells were respiratory active (derepressed) but contained no mitochondrial deoxyribonucleic acid (mtDNA) as demonstrated by analytical ultracentrifugation in CsCl. When transferred to acetate sporulation medium, the culture sporulated. Ascus production was only slightly below that of the control culture. Synthesis of mtDNA occurred during sporulation in the control but not in the EthBr-treated culture. Mitochondrial protein synthesis was virtually eliminated in the EthBr-treated culture. Therefore, completely derepressed cells can sporulate without a functional mitochondrial genetic system. When partially repressed cells were treated with EthBr, no ascus formation was observed after transfer to sporulation medium. Control cultures underwent respiratory adaptation in sporulation medium and then sporulated. Extensive derepression of the respiratory system is thus required for sporulation, and this adaptation is dependent on a functional mitochondrial system. Our results suggest that once the cells are fully derepressed no mitochondrial genetic information has to be expressed during meiosis and ascus formation.
Cognitive Style Diversity in Decision Making Teams: A Conceptual Framework

Team diversity scholars have called for examining cognitive variables (van Knippenberg & Schippers, 2007), such as cognitive style, in team dissimilarity research. However, due to the dearth of research on cognitive style diversity in teams, heeding these calls requires new theory. Therefore, we extended recent theoretical developments that suggested indirect relationships between diversity and performance by orienting cognitive style within the team diversity literature and by proposing cognitive style diversity’s effects on team processes in decision making teams. We also integrated the moderating role of team member perspective taking into the framework. We presented arguments and propositions for the combined effects of cognitive style diversity and perspective taking on task conflict, affective conflict, and the development of schema congruence. We offer suggestions for testing the proposed relationships in future research regarding variable measurement and multi-level data. Implications for and contributions to practice are also addressed.
Marketing Democracy: The Political Economy of U.S. Aid for Democracy in Egypt and Morocco

What explains the limited impact of U.S. spending on democracy promotion in the Middle East? The results of a cross-national study commissioned by the USAID to assess the effectiveness of its spending on democracy in its programs worldwide found that such aid works; the only exception, however, were programs in the Middle East. Case studies of U.S. democracy programming in Egypt and Morocco illuminate reasons for this exception. Most states in the region are governed by authoritarian regimes and are of strategic importance to the United States. Why would such regimes allow external actors to promote democracy? This paper develops a framework to explain the interaction between the United States and such regimes calling attention to the conceptualization of democracy promoted and the motivations for its acceptance.
Composition of Intraocular Fluids and the Microenvironment of the Retina

On the basis of its embryonic derivation, morphological organization, and function, the retina must be regarded as part of the central nervous system (CNS). A unique aspect of the CNS is its ability to maintain local extracellular chemical environments that are vastly different from those of other organ systems. Our understanding of the chemical microenvironment of the brain and the mechanisms that maintain its homeostasis is largely based on studies on the composition of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Similar information about the retina can be gained from studies on the chemical composition of the intraocular fluids (IOFs), particularly the vitreus* adjacent to the retina, since there are no appreciable diffusion barriers between the vitreus and the extracellular fluid (ECF) of the retina.1,2
THE ECONOMICS OF COMPUTER HACKING

This paper considers various classes of computer hackers, with a special emphasis on fame-driven versus profit-driven hackers. We use simple economic analysis to examine how each of these hacking "markets" work. The resulting framework is employed to evaluate current U.S. policy aimed at reducing the threat of computer hacking and shows that this policy is largely effective. We consider policy adjustments consistent with the insights of the framework provided as a means of strengthening cyber security.
Microcystin concentrations and genetic diversity of Microcystis in the lower Great Lakes

The resurgence of Microcystis blooms in the lower Great Lakes region is of great concern to public and ecosystem health due to the potential for these colonial cyanobacteria to produce hepatotoxic microcystins. A survey of Microcystis cell densities and microcystin concentrations during August 2004 showed particularly high concentrations of both cells and toxin in the nearshore regions of Saginaw Bay (Lake Huron) and western Lake Erie, often exceeding the World Health Organization's recommended drinking water limit of 1 microg L(-1). The dominant congener of microcystin in both basins was microcystin-LR (MC-LR), whereas the second most abundant congeners, accounting for up to 20-25% of the total microcystin concentrations, were MC-LA in Saginaw Bay and MC-RR in western Lake Erie. Multiplex PCR assays of Microcystis colonies isolated from these two regions showed that a much greater percentage of the Microcystis colonies from Saginaw Bay carried the mcyB gene necessary for microcystin production, in comparison with those from western Lake Erie. The mcyB genotypes sequenced separated into two distinct phylogenetic clusters, with Microcystis originating from Lake Erie predominantly in one branch and from Saginaw Bay present in both branches. These results indicate that the genetic composition of the bloom could impact the concentrations and congeners of microcystin produced and that the cell count methods currently being used to gauge public health threats posed by Microcystis blooms may not sufficiently assess actual bloom toxicity.
The Future of America's Past: Some Additional Comments

Finally, beyond the above, a matter of equal-and potentially greater-importance is the increasing disdain and/or contempt of certain American Indians and Indian groups toward archeological research, per se, in the United States. Archeologists now can join ethnologists as targets of rising Indian resentment (some of which is doubtless justifiable) and attempts-at least in some cases-to curtail their field research and to retrieve materials from previous excavations. Beside the difficulties of deterring vandalism and other types of destruction, then, there are some weighty questions relating to the desecrating nature of some of their activities that can be dismissed peremptorily only by the most myopic or insensitive archeologist. One thing is clear: American archeologists must work diligently on these several problem areas if there is to be anything left to excavate or, in effect, any future to America's past.
Home delivery of dietary products in inherited metabolic disorders reduces prescription and dispensing errors.

In the UK, for patients with inherited metabolic disorders (IMD) the traditional system for acquiring essential dietary products [patient prompted prescriptions generated by a medical general practitioner (GP) and dispensed by a chemist] is problematic. Objective To investigate the efficacy of a home delivery service (HDS) for essential dietary products (EDP) (i.e. protein substitutes, milk replacements, energy and vitamin and mineral supplements) for subjects with IMD, particularly examining any prescription and dispensing errors, metabolic control and consumer satisfaction. Methods A prospective, controlled, home delivery trial for EDP was conducted in patients with IMD for 12 months. Sixty-two patients with IMD [50 with phenylketonuria (PKU); 12 with other IMD: aged 6 months–30 years] were recruited. Thirty subjects used a monthly HDS (Homeward: Nutricia) to receive EDP, 32 remained on the traditional system. Each month, the HDS checked home stock levels of EDP, obtained their prescriptions directly from GP's, and then delivered them to the subjects’ homes. An independent researcher completed monthly telephone interviews with patients/parents about any EDP prescription errors or delay in receipt. Results Incorrect protein substitute was dispensed once by the HDS compared with nine subjects who had 12 errors in the control group (P = 0.01); incorrect flavours of protein substitute were dispensed to the home delivery group once compared with eight subjects getting 11 errors via the chemist (P = 0.03). The HDS delayed delivery of protein substitute for one subject on three occasions compared with 39 occasions in 16 subjects via the chemist (P = 0.001). In patients with PKU, plasma phenylalanine control deteriorated in the control group (P < 0.05) but not in the HDS group. Conclusions The long-term use of a HDS for EDP in IMD is safer, effective and more reliable than conventional systems.
Block of cerebral actions of L-dopa with methyl receptor substances.

AFTER sufficient L-dopa was administered to patients with Parkmsonism1,2 it was found that a large proportion of the labile methyl groups supplied in their diets was excreted as homovanillic acid (HVA)2. The resulting control of Parkinsonism was sometimes marred by episodes of “freezing” while walking1,2. Such episodes were reduced by co-administration of the peripheral decarboxylase inhibitor α-methyl-dopa hydrazine (MK-485) which potentiates clinical effects of L-dopa2. The inhibitor has diminished, however, the proportion of L-dopa recovered as HVA in experiments to be discussed elsewhere. If HVA could block cerebral effects of L-dopa, its diminution could have contributed to the potentiation of L-dopa by the inhibitor. Experimental pursuit of this hypothesis in mice led to radically different conclusions.
Alteration of hemodynamics in aneurysm models by stenting: Influence of stent porosity

Recent developments in minimally invasive approach to cerebrovascular diseases include the placement of stents in arteries for treatment of aneurysms. Preliminary clinical observations and experimental studies have shown that intravascular stents traversing the orifice may lead to thrombosis and subsequent occlusion of the aneurysm. The alterations in vessel local hemodynamics due to the introduction of a stent are not yet well understood. We investigated changes in local hemodynamics resulting from stent implantation. Pulsatile flow patterns in an experimental flow apparatus were visualized using laser-induced fluorescence of rhodamine dye. The test cells were constructed in a rectangular shape to facilitate an undisturbed longitudinal view of flow patterns in parent vessel and aneurysm models with and without porous stents. Woven nitinol stents of various porosities (76%, 80%, 82%, and 85%) were investigated. The selected fluid dynamic similarity parameters (Reynolds and Womersley numbers) represented conditions usually found in high-flow, larger arteries in humans (such as the carotid artery) and low-flow, smaller arteries (such as the vertebral artery). The mean Reynolds number for the larger arteries was 180, with maximum/minimum values of 490/-30 and the Womersley number was 5.3. The mean Reynolds number for the smaller arteries was 90, with maximum/minimum values of 230/2, and the Womersley number was 2.7. For the larger arteries modeled, placement of a stent of the lowest porosity across the aneurysm orifice resulted in reduction of aneurysmal vortex speed and decreased interaction with parent vessel flow. For smaller arteries, a stent of the same porosity led to a substantial reduction of parent vessel/aneurysmal flow interaction and the appearance of a nonrecirculating crescent of fluid rich in rhodamine dye in the aneurysm dome. Our results can help explain in vivo thrombus formation within an aneurysm after placement of a stent that is compatible with local hemodynamics.
An abbreviated procedure for the cloning and identification of Ets transcription factors regulating the expression of the human presenilin 1 gene.

Abstract We have previously defined a crucial DNA element controlling 90% of the expression of the presenilin 1 gene at (−35 to +6). This region contains an Ets transcription factor binding motif, and a two-basepair alteration within the core sequence (GGAA to TTAA) of the Ets consensus also reduced transcription by over 90%. We have shown that Ets1/2 transcription factors bind specifically to the −10 Ets element and activate PS1 transcription. The identification of other transcription factors recognizing specifically this promoter area should provide insights into the regulation of PS1. We have used the −10 Ets element as a bait in yeast one hybrid screening of a human brain cDNA library using a His3 reporter construct. We describe an abbreviated one-hybrid protocol to screen cDNA libraries. This assay selected four factors from the Ets family: Ets2, ER81, ERM and Elk1. We have also shown that specific DNA binding activity to the −10 Ets element of PS1 could easily be detected in yeast clones by EMSAs including protein extracts from yeast cells, thus confirming specific DNA binding activity without further sequencing and subcloning into suitable expression vectors. Ultimately the identity of putative clones was confirmed by DNA sequencing. We also confirmed the specific DNA binding properties of the factors identified by showing that the proteins produced by in vitro translation of the entire cDNAs from Elk1 and ER81 indeed binds specifically to the −10 region of the PS1 promoter.
Synthesis and properties of grafted latices from a soybean oil‐based waterborne polyurethane and acrylics

A novel soybean oil-based vinyl-containing waterborne polyurethane (VPU) dispersion has been successfully synthesized from toluene 2,4-diisocyanate, dimethylol propionic acid and a 90 : 10 mixture of chlorinated soybean oil-based polyol and acrylated epoxidized soybean oil (AESO). Then, a series of VPU/acrylic grafted latices have been prepared by emulsion graft copolymerization of acrylic monomers (40 wt % butyl acrylate and 60 wt % methyl methacrylate) in the presence of the VPU dispersion, using potassium persulfate as an initiator. The structure, morphology, and thermal and mechanical properties of the resulting latices, containing 15–60 wt % soybean oil-based polyols as a renewable resource, have been investigated by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, solid state 13C NMR spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, dynamic mechanical analysis, and mechanical testing. The results indicate that graft copolymerization of the acrylic monomers onto the VPU network occurs during emulsion polymerization, leading to a significant increase in the thermal stability and mechanical properties of the resulting miscible grafted latices. This work provides new environmentally-friendly latices from a renewable resource with high performance for coating applications. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011
Ion Channels: Molecules in Action

Mononen I. Aronson N., Lysosomal Storage Disease, 1997, Chapman and Hall, New York, 197, $89.95Naegeli H. Mechanisms of DNA Damage Recognition in Mammalian Cells, 1997, Chapman and Hall, New York, 210 $89.95Roberts D. Sharp P. Alderson C. Collins M., Evolution of Microbial Life 1997, Cambridge University Press, New York, 299 $115.00Rouabhia M., Skin Substitute Production by Tissue Engineering, 1997, Chapman and Hall, New York, 241, $89.95Rubanyi G., The Endothelium in Clinical Practice 1997 Marcel Dekker, New York, 551,$195.00Testa N. Lord B. Dexter T.M., Hematopoetic Lineages in Health and Disease, 1997, Marcell Dekker, New York, 376,$150.00Turner P.C., Ribozyme Protocols, 1997, Humana Press, Totowa, New Jersey, 492,$69.50Zanetti M. Capra J.D., The Antibodies, Vol 2, 1997, Harwood Academic Publishers, 258, $65.00
Mutations and cell transformation with 2-azido-9-fluorenone oxime.

When photolyzed in situ for as little as 15 s 2-azido-9-fluorenone oxime causes Type II and Type III transformation in C3H 10T 1/2 CL8 cells. In the yeast strainSaccharomyces cerevisiae D-7, simple reversions and gene conversions occurred and also mitotic crossing over, to a lesser extent, but no mitochondrial “petite” mutants occurred. No mutations or transformation were induced in the dark or by the light itself.
Dialkyldicyanofumarate Diesters: Tunable Building Blocks for Molecule-Based Ferromagnets

Dicyanofumarate diesters have been discovered to be viable and versatile alternatives to tetracyanoethylene as building blocks for the synthesis of molecule-based magnets. The reaction of decamethylmanganocene, Mn(Cp*)2, and dimethyldicyanofumarate, DMeDCF, in methylene chloride at −50 °C gives a one-to-one charge-transfer salt ferromagnet, [Mn(Cp*)2][DMeDCF], that possesses one of the highest Curie temperatures, 10.6 ± 0.1 K, ever observed in this class of compounds. At 1.8 K, this compound exhibits hysteresis with Hcoer ∼ 7 kG. Measurement of ac susceptibility suggests some glassiness in the ferromagnetic state, similar to that seen for the tetracyanoethylene analogue, [Mn(Cp*)2][TCNE]. Diethyldicyanofumarate, DEtDCF, reacts with decamethylmanganocene to give the homologous salt, [Mn(Cp*)2][DEtDCF]. In contrast to the dimethyl ester, the magnetic properties of this compound are those of a glassy, hysteretic metamagnet that exhibits coercivity of around 10 kG at 1.8 K.
Comparison of Volterra and Box-Cox Methodologies for the Fusion of Processing Strings, as Applied to Automated Sea Mine Classification in Shallow Water

An improved sea mine computer-aided-detection / computer-aided-classification (CAD/CAC) processing string has been developed. The classified objects of 3 distinct strings are fused using the classification confidence values and their expansions as features and Fisher ratio based fusion rules. The utility of the overall processing strings and their fusion was demonstrated with new shallow water high-resolution sonar imagery data. Two significant fusion algorithm improvements were made. First, a new nonlinear 2nd order expansion (Volterra) feature fusion algorithm was developed, and an optimal subset of the Volterra features was selected during the training phase of the algorithm. Second, another new nonlinear Box-Cox expansion of the features (raising the features to an appropriately selected exponent) was utilized in the fusion block. It was shown that, when properly formulated, the Box-Cox nonlinear feature fusion of the CAD/CAC processing strings outperforms the Volterra feature fusion algorithm, and also yields an improvement over the best single CAD/CAC processing string, providing a significant reduction in the false alarm rate.
Kinetics of Ground-State Cd Reactions with Cl2, O2, and HCl over Wide Temperature Ranges

Reactions of ground-state Cd(1S) have been investigated in the 10−80 mbar pressure range using the high-temperature fast-flow reactor (HTFFR) technique. The Cd + Cl2 → CdCl + Cl reaction yielded k(466−875 K) = 9.0 × 10-10 exp (−5959K/T) cm3 molecule-1 s-1, with a 2σ precision of about ±15% and corresponding accuracy of ±27%. For Cd + O2 and Cd + HCl reactions the upper limits are k(300 K) < 1 × 10-15 cm3 molecule-1 s-1, or < 5 × 10-34 cm6 molecule-2 s-1. Orbital symmetry rules are used to deduce the reaction products and, along with electron configuration arguments, help explain the slowness of the latter two reactions. The importance of these results for the speciation of Cd, Hg, and Zn in waste incineration is discussed, and the consequences of the present findings for transition metal reactions are mentioned.
Stabbing and ray shooting in 3 dimensional space

In this paper we consider the following problems: given a set T of triangles in 3-space, with |T| = n,answer the query “given a line l, does l stab the set of triangles?” (query problem).find whether a stabbing line exists for the set of triangles (existence problem).Given a ray r, which is the first triangle in T hit by r?The following results are shown.There is an O(n3) lower bound on the descriptive complexity of the set of all stabbers for a set of triangles.The existence problem for triangles on a set of planes with g different plane inclinations can be solved in O(g2n2 log n) time (Theorem 2). The query problem is solvable in quasiquadratic O(n2+e) preprocessing and storage and logarithmic O(log n) query time (Theorem 4).If we are given m rays we can answer ray shooting queries in O(m5/6-δ n5/6+5δ log2 n + m log2 n + n log n log m) randomized expected time and O(m + n) space (Theorem 5).In time O((n+m)5/3+4δ) it is possible to decide whether two non convex polyhedra of complexity m and n intersect (Corollary 1).Given m rays and n axis-oriented boxes we can answer ray shooting queries in randomized expected time O(m3/4-δ n3/4+3δ log4 n + m log4 n + n log n log m) and O(m + n) space (Theorem 6).
Hybrid electromagnetic modeling of non-contact probes for terahertz device characterization

We present a hybrid full-wave/quasi-optical electromagnetic model for the design of lens-integrated THz antennas for high frequency non-contact device characterization (0.1-3 THz). The new non-contact probe setup consists of on-chip receiving and transmitting THz antennas in a co-planar waveguide environment. Commercially available THz-frequency extension modules are used in conjunction with microwave vector network analyzers to excite the probes. A hemispherical lens couples the signals into device-under-test using the on-chip antennas. To maximize antenna-to-device coupling over a wide bandwidth, we developed a hybrid electromagnetic model to optimize the THz antenna topology. This paper is focused on the system level computational analysis of the probe structure. The overall signal coupling performance of the non-contact probe is analyzed in a hybrid fashion by propagating the antenna fields computed from the moment method throughout the quasi-optical system.