cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
An Open-Label Study of Lamotrigine Adjunct or Monotherapy for the Treatment of Adolescents With Bipolar Depression

ABSTRACT Objective The treatment of pediatric bipolar depression has not been well studied. The authors wished to prospectively study the efficacy of lamotrigine as adjunctive or monotherapy in adolescents with bipolar disorder who were experiencing a depressive episode. Method This was an 8-week open-label trial of lamotrigine with 20 adolescents ages 12-17 years (mean age 15.8; 7 boys, 13 girls) with diagnoses of bipolar disorder I, II, or not otherwise specified, who were experiencing a depressive episode. Lamotrigine was begun at 12.5 to 25 mg/day. Primary response criteria was a 1 or a 2 on the Clinical Global Impression-Improvement at week 8. A secondary criterion was at least a 50% decrease in Children's Depression Rating Scale-Revised scores. Results Nineteen subjects completed the trial. The mean final dose was 131.6 mg/day. Seven subjects were taking other psychotropic medications. Sixteen subjects (84%) responded by primary criteria, and 12 (63%) responded to our secondary criteria. Eleven subjects (58%) were considered in remission at week 8. Young Mania Rating Scale and Overt Aggression Scale-Modified scores also decreased significantly during the trial. There was no significant weight change, rash, or other adverse effects during the trial. Conclusions Adolescents with bipolar depression appeared to respond to lamotrigine treatment, whether as adjunctive therapy or monotherapy, with decreases in depression, mania, and aggression. Larger, placebo-controlled studies of lamotrigine are needed in this population. J. Am. Acad. Child Adolesc. Psychiatry , 2006;45(3):298-304.
Developing XML web services with WebSphere studio application developer

Web services have recently emerged as a powerful technology for integrating heterogeneous applications over the Internet. The widespread adoption of Web services promises to usher in an exciting new generation of advanced distributed applications. These will support a new and growing set of specifications, such as Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP), Web Services Description Language (WSDL), and Universal Description, Discovery, and Integration (UDDI). Extensible Markup Language (XML) and its associated family of standards also play a central role in Web services by providing a data interchange format that is independent of both programming languages and operating systems. The application developer seeking to reap the benefits of Web services is therefore faced with a significant, and potentially steep, new learning curve. Clearly, application development tools that lower this barrier are crucial for the rapid and widespread adoption of Web services. This paper discusses the development tasks associated with XML Web services and describes a new suite of tools that improve developer productivity, by reducing the requirements for detailed knowledge of the underlying specifications and standards, and allow the developer to focus on the business problem domain. This suite of XML and Web services tools is part of IBM's recently released WebSphere® Studio Application Developer product, which is based on the new Eclipse open source tool integration platform.
Longitudinal proximity effects in superconducting transition-edge sensors.

We have found experimentally that the critical current of a square thin-film superconducting transition-edge sensor (TES) depends exponentially upon the side length L and the square root of the temperature T, a behavior that has a natural theoretical explanation in terms of longitudinal proximity effects if the TES is regarded as a weak link between superconducting leads. As a consequence, the effective transition temperature T(sub c) of the TES is current-dependent and at fixed current scales as 1/L(sup 2). We also have found that the critical current can show clear Fraunhofer-like oscillations in an applied magnetic field, similar to those found in Josephson junctions. We have observed the longitudinal proximity effect in these devices over extraordinarily long lengths up to 290 micrometers, 1450 times the mean-free path.
Stable fluorinated sulfonated poly(arylene ether) membranes for vanadium redox flow batteries

Partially fluorinated sulfonated poly(arylene ether) (SFPAE) copolymers were investigated as chemically stable proton exchange membranes for application in vanadium redox flow batteries (VRFB). The membranes' proton conductivity and vanadium ion permeability were quantified and correlated to other membrane properties such as water uptake and tensile modulus to provide insight into the tradeoffs in the design of new membranes for flow battery applications. The SFPAE-1.8 sample with optimized proton conductivity to vanadium permeability selectivity was selected for evaluation in a VRFB device and compared to the performance of a cell with a NAFION® N212 membrane. The VRFB cell with a SFPAE-1.8 membrane had higher coulombic efficiency, voltage efficiency, and energy efficiency compared to a VRFB with a N212 membrane under all tested current densities. The capacity fade of a VRFB with the SFPAE-1.8 membrane was 1.1 mA h per cycle, which was about 7 times lower than the fade experienced for a VRFB with a N212 membrane. The performance characteristics of the device could be correlated directly to the membrane properties and this work demonstrates our progress towards high-performance, low-cost, long-lifetime ion exchange membranes for electrochemical energy storage devices.
FREEZE-THAW DURABILITY OF CONCRETE WITH GROUND WASTE TIRE RUBBER

Used tires represent an increasingly serious environmental problem in the United States. This study examines the freeze-thaw durability of concrete with ground waste tire rubber. Various percentages of rubber, by weight of cement, were added to a control concrete mixture. To evaluate the freeze-thaw durability of these “rubcrete” mixtures, freeze-thaw tests in accordance with ASTM C666 Procedure A and microscopic analyses in accordance with ASTM C457 Procedure B, were conducted. Results show that the rubcrete mixtures with 10 and 15 percent rubber by weight of cement are freeze-thaw durable. Results of the microscopic analysis indicate that properties such as air content and spacing factors are difficult to determine accurately because of the problems associated with polishing of the rubcrete specimens.
Some considerations on the problem of torsion and flexure of prismatical beams

Abstract Based on previous work for the problem of end-loaded cantilever beams with loading conditions prescribed in terms of displacements rather than stresses, for the purpose of defining shear center location in terms of influence coefficients, the present report uses the principles of minimum potential and complementary energy for the establishment of upper and lower bounds for these influence coefficients. In applying the complementary energy principle we modify an earlier procedure by not departing from a St. Venant stress distribution and by using instead a stress approximation in which both shear and normal stress distributions are determined through use of the variational equation. In doing this the problem is solved more simply than before, for a more general class of cases.
The Accuracy of Remapping Irregularly Spaced Velocity Data onto a Regular Grid and the Computation of Vorticity

The velocity data obtained from molecular tagging velocimetry (MTV) are typically located on an irregularly spaced measurement grid. To take advantage of many standard data processing techniques, the MTV data need to be remapped onto a grid with a uniform spacing. In this work, accuracy and noise issues related to the use of a least-squares-fit to various low order polynomials for the remapping of these data onto a uniformly spaced grid and the subsequent computation of vorticity from these data are examined. This information has relevance to PIV data processing as well. It has been previously noted that the best estimate of the velocity vector acquired through the use of tracer techniques such as PIV, is at the midpoint of the displacement vector. Thus, unless special care is taken, PIV data are also initially obtained on an irregular grid. The error in the remapped velocity and the calculated vorticity field is divided into a mean bias error and a random error. In the majority of cases, the mean bias error is a more significant source of error than the more often quoted random error. Results of the simulation show that the best choice for remapping is the use of a least-squares fit to a 2nd order polynomial and the best choice for vorticity calculation is to use a 4th order accurate, central, finite difference applied to uniformly sampled data. The actual value of the error depends upon the data density and the radius used for the selection of velocity measurements to be included in the remapping process. Increasing the data density and reducing the fit radius improve the accuracy.
Fast-neutron total and scattering cross sections of 107Ag in the MeV region

Abstract Neutron total cross sections are measured from 0.25 to 4.5 MeV at intervals of ≲ 10 keV. Neutron differential elastic- and inelastic-scattering cross sections are measured from 1.5 to 4.0 MeV at intervals of ≦ 0.2 MeV. Cross sections for scattering into more than 20 energy groups are determined. Cross sections calculated from an optical-statistical model are in quantitative agreement with measured neutron total and elastic-scattering cross sections and in qualitative agreement with measured neutron inelastic-scattering cross sections. In the context of this model, significant dependence of the inelastic-scattering process on parity and/or deformation is not in evidence. The interpretation of the observed neutron inelastic neutron scattering results is consistent with previous reported J π assignments and the systematics of nuclear level densities.
Thermodynamic assessment of the Al-Fe-Si system

The phase equilibria and thermodynamic properties of the ternary Al-Fe-Si system were analyzed and a complete thermodynamic description of the ternary system was obtained. The thermodynamic descriptions of the three binary systems were taken from the literature. Most of the binary intermetallic phases, except Al13Fe4(ϑ), FeSi2-L, and FeSi2-H, were assumed to have no ternary solubility. Based on the experimental data, seven stable ternary intermetallic phases were considered in the system. Two of them were treated as semistoichiometric compounds with homogeneity ranges for Al and Si, and the others were treated as stoichiometric compounds. Reasonable agreement was obtained between calculation results and experimental information in the ternary system.
Inhibition of avian retrovirus protein synthesis in the presence of host cellular mRNA.

Two conditions of in vitro translation are described in which the RNA of Rous sarcoma virus is significantly less efficient at protein synthesis than host cellular chick mRNA. In direct competition, addition of increasing amounts of host cell mRNA inhibits synthesis ofgag gene products from RSV RNA. When the denaturant dimethyl sulfoxide is added to a mixture of the two RNA's the inhibition is even greater. These results support the idea that protein synthesis from avian retrovirus RNA is negatively regulated in vivo in the presence of the host cell mRNA.
Observation of nontrivial correlation and anti-correlation from pulsed chaotic-thermal light

We have observed a nontrivial spatial correlation and anti-correlation from a ∼200 femtosecond pulsed chaoticthermal source. The classical picture of statistical correlation of intensity fluctuations fails to give an adequate interpretation. In the view of quantum mechanics these observations are the result of two-photon interference, involving the superposition of two-photon amplitudes, nonclassical entities corresponding to different yet indistinguishable alternative ways of triggering a joint-detection event.
A Marker Set for Construction of a Genetic Map of the Silver Fox (Vulpes vulpes)

The silver fox, a variant of the red fox (Vulpes vulpes), is a close relative of the dog (Canis familiaris). Cytogenetic differences and similarities between these species are well understood, but their genomic organizations have not been compared at higher resolution. Differences in their behavior also remain unexplained. Two silver fox strains demonstrating markedly different behavior have been generated at the Institute of Cytology and Genetics of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Foxes selected for tameness are friendly, like domestic dogs, while foxes selected for aggression resist human contact. To refine our understanding of the comparative genomic organization of dogs and foxes, and enable a study of the genetic basis of behavior in these fox strains, we need a meiotic linkage map of the fox. Towards this goal we generated a primary set of fox microsatellite markers. Four hundred canine microsatellites, evenly distributed throughout the canine genome, have been identified that amplify robustly from fox DNA. Polymorphism information content (PIC) values were calculated for a representative subset of these markers and population inbreeding coefficients were determined for tame and aggressive foxes. To begin to identify fox-specific single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in genes involved in the neurobiology of behavior, fox and dog orthologs of serotonin 5-HT1A and 5-HT1B receptor genes have been cloned. Sequence comparison of these genes from tame and aggressive foxes reveal several SNPs. The close relationship of the fox and dog enables canine genomic tools to be utilized in developing a fox meiotic map and mapping behavioral traits in the fox.
Non-Linear Predictor-Based Dynamic Bandwidth Allocation over TDM-PONs: Stability Analysis and Controller Design

Non-linear predictor-based dynamic bandwidth allocation (NLPDBA) schemes for improving the time division multiplexed passive optical networks (TDM-PONs) upstream transmission efficiency have been investigated in an ad hoc manner. In this paper, we establish a general state space model to analyze the stability of the NLPDBA schemes from the TDM-PON system's point of view, and propose controller design guidelines to maintain the system stability under different scenarios. We prove that a TDM-PON system with NLPDBA is stable by proper pole placements as the traffic changes. Our analysis suggests a straightforward framework for designing and applying the NLPDBA scheme for TDM-PONs that ensures stability.
Scalability of supernova remnant simulations

The simulation or solution of the supernova remnant evolution may be scaled from one interstellar environment to another. We systematically examine this scalability, the use of which is so far still very limited in astrophysical literature. We show how the scalability is affected by various constraints imposed by physical processes and initial conditions, and demonstrate the use of the scaling as a powerful tool to explore the interdependence among relevant parameters, based on a minimum set of simulations. In particular, we devise a scaling scheme that can be used to adaptively generate numerous seed remnants and plant them into 3D hydrodynamic simulations of the supernova-dominated interstellar medium.
Tail morphogenesis in the ascidian, Ciona intestinalis, requires cooperation between notochord and muscle.

We present evidence that notochord and muscle differentiation are crucial for morphogenesis of the ascidian tail. We developed a novel approach for embryological manipulation of the developing larval tissues using a simple method to introduce DNA into Ciona intestinalis and the several available tissue-specific promoters. With such promoters, we misexpressed the Xenopus homeobox gene bix in notochord or muscle of Ciona embryos as a means of interfering with development of these tissues. Ciona embryos expressing bix in the notochord from the 64-cell stage develop into larvae with very short tails, in which the notochord precursors fail to intercalate and differentiate. Larvae with mosaic expression of bix have intermediate phenotypes, in which a partial notochord is formed by the precursor cells that did not receive the transgene while the precursors that express the transgene cluster together and fail to undergo any of the cell-shape changes associated with notochord differentiation. Muscle cells adjacent to differentiated notochord cells are properly patterned, while those next to the notochord precursor cells transformed by bix exhibit various patterning defects. In these embryos, the neural tube extends in the tail to form a nerve cord, while the endodermal strand fails to enter the tail region. Similarly, expression of bix in muscle progenitors impairs differentiation of muscle cells, and as a result, notochord cells fail to undergo normal extension movements. Hence, these larvae have a shorter tail, due to a block in the elongation of the notochord. Taken together, these observations suggest that tail formation in ascidian larvae requires not only signaling from notochord to muscle cells, but also a "retrograde" signal from muscle cells to notochord.
Generalized effective-medium theory for metamaterials

We present an effective-medium model for calculating the frequency-dependent effective permittivity $\ensuremath{\epsilon}(\ensuremath{\omega})$ and permeability $\ensuremath{\mu}(\ensuremath{\omega})$ of metamaterial composites containing spherical particles with arbitrary permittivity and permeability. The model is derived from the zero-scattering condition within the dipole approximation, but does not invoke any additional long-wavelength approximations. As a result, it captures the effects of spatial dispersion and predicts a finite effective refractive index and antiresonances in $\ensuremath{\epsilon}(\ensuremath{\omega})$ and $\ensuremath{\mu}(\ensuremath{\omega})$, in agreement with numerical finite-element calculations.
Free-radical polymerization of methyl methacrylate in tubular reactors

Mathematical modeling and experimental studies of the freeradical polymerization of methylmethacrylate in tubular reactors have been performed to ascertain the operating constraints, reactor behavior, and product quality of this process. This paper focuses on reactions at a temperature below the glass transition of poly(methyl methacrylate). This class of experiments is here referred to as low-temperature runs, in contrast to above-Tg polymerization. Reactor temperature and conversion histories of these low-temperature experiments are successfully described by a rheokinetic model, incorporating both detailed considerations of velocity profile development in the reactor and conversion-dependent kinetics. The limitations of this process are discussed in light of the complex fluid flow and heat transfer problems encountered in the system.
Energetic Decomposition of High-Nitrogen Metal Complexes and the Formation of Low-Density Nano-Structured Metal Monoliths

Metal complexes of the energetic high-nitrogen ligand, bistetrazole amine (BTA) were ignited in inert environments and their decomposition characteristics were determined. These molecules were found to have the unique properties of a comparatively slow burning rate with very little pressure dependency, unlike most energetic, metal-containing molecules which tend to detonate, rather than burn steadily. This process resulted in unprecedented ultra-low-density, nano-structured, transition metal monoliths, useful as a self-propagating combustion synthesis technique. The resulting nanostructured metal monolithic foams formed in the post flame-front dynamic assembly have remarkably low densities down to 0.011 g cm-3 and extremely high surface areas as high as 270 m2 g-1. In this work we discuss primary the production of iron monoliths, however have produced monolithic nano-porous metal foams via this method with cobalt, copper and silver metals as well. We expect to be able to apply this to many other metals and to be able to tailor the resulting structure significantly.
Edge-Preserving Image Denoising via Group Coordinate Descent on the GPU

Image denoising is a fundamental operation in image processing, and its applications range from the direct (photographic enhancement) to the technical (as a subproblem in image reconstruction algorithms). In many applications, the number of pixels has continued to grow, while the serial execution speed of computational hardware has begun to stall. New image processing algorithms must exploit the power offered by massively parallel architectures like graphics processing units (GPUs). This paper describes a family of image denoising algorithms well-suited to the GPU. The algorithms iteratively perform a set of independent, parallel 1D pixel-update subproblems. To match GPU memory limitations, they perform these pixel updates in-place and only store the noisy data, denoised image, and problem parameters. The algorithms can handle a wide range of edge-preserving roughness penalties, including differentiable convex penalties and anisotropic total variation. Both algorithms use the majorize–minimize framework to solve the 1D pixel update subproblem. Results from a large 2D image denoising problem and a 3D medical imaging denoising problem demonstrate that the proposed algorithms converge rapidly in terms of both iteration and run-time.
Ultrastructural and immunohistochemical evidence of measles virus in active otosclerosis.

Because of the similarity between otosclerosis and Paget's disease of bone, and the mounting evidence of a viral cause in Paget's disease, we have investigated a possible viral cause for otosclerosis. Transmission electron microscopy of stapes footplate fragments with active otosclerosis has revealed structures morphologically identical with measles virus nucleocapsid in osteoblasts and preosteoblasts. lmmunofluorescence and immunoperoxidase studies have confirmed the presence of measles nucleocapsid antigen in active lesions. Application of sera from patients with subacute sclerosing panencephalitis, a defective measles virus infection of the central nervous system, resulted in positive immunoreaction in areas of active otosclerosis.
Output and English as a Second Language Pragmatic Development: The Effectiveness of Output-focused Video-based Instruction

Swain’s Output Hypothesis proposes a facilitative effect for output on the acquisition of second language morphosyntax. In the context of classroom instruction, a number of studies and reviews suggest that explicit instruction in pragmatic elements promotes development. Other studies have offered less conclusive evidence of the effectiveness of various instructional options. The present classroom-based study examined the effectiveness of output-focused, video-based instruction for the development of second language intercultural pragmatic development among adult ESL learners representing different first language backgrounds in an intensive English program setting. The results suggest that the instructional treatment had a significant effect on a written pragmatic acceptability judgment task (PAJT). Results on a written discourse completion task (DCT) were mixed; no significant effects were identified, but a relatively large effect size was calculated for the output group.
Phosphorylation of Ser530 facilitates hormone-dependent transcriptional activation of the chicken progesterone receptor.

Phosphorylation regulates the activities of many proteins, including transcription factors. However, the evidence for the significance of phosphorylation in steroid hormone receptor action is mainly indirect. In this study, one of the hormone-induced phosphorylation sites of chicken progesterone receptor, Ser530, was mutated to alanine, a nonphosphorylatable amino acid, and the transcriptional activity of the mutant receptor was compared with that of wild type in a transient cotransfection assay. The results showed that this mutation resulted in reduced transcriptional activity of chicken progesterone receptor at low hormone concentrations but did not affect the maximal activity of the receptor at saturating levels of hormone, suggesting that the phosphorylation at Ser530 influences the response of the receptor to its ligand. The decreased sensitivity of the mutant receptor is not due to a decrease in hormone-binding affinity, leading to our hypothesis that Ser530 phosphorylation stabilizes the receptor i...
Medical futility: legal and ethical analysis.

Physicians do not have to give therapies or perform procedures that they judge to be futile, and Catholic patients have the moral right to determine what is extraordinary or ordinary care. Virtual Mentor is a monthly bioethics journal published by the American Medical Association.
On the inadequacy of link connectivity monitoring

Internet backbone networks are constantly evolving along several dimensions such as technology, protocols, and features. The rapid rate of this evolution often places a tremendous amount of burden on network operators and router vendors to cope with both unanticipated as well as complicated failure scenarios. While routing protocols are designed to detect these failures and respond by switching to alternate paths, we argue that current routing protocols (e.g., OSPF) do not completely verify all data plane paths properly. Thus, there potentially exist failure scenarios that are not detected by them and thereby recover from. To alleviate this problem, we show how a simple extension to OSPF, wherein each router injects probes to a 2-hop neighbor, can easily verify all the data plane forwarding paths within the adjacent router. While we point out the extension in the context of OSPF, we believe our approach is generally applicable to other control plane protocols as well. Using Rocketfuel topologies, we quantify the resulting overhead of injecting these 2-hop probes for routers in real ISPs.
Change and infection control.

Many investigators have recognized that despite the availability of clear guidelines and a solid knowledge base, health care personnel often choose to ignore or compromise recommended infection control practices such as handwashing, isolation precautions, and aseptic technique. ‘-’ To change behavior, a number of motivational strategies have been recommended and tried in the field of infection control with varying degrees of success.6-‘2 Indeed, one section of the course material from the “Management Skills for Infection Control Nurses” course developed under the sponsorship of the Centers for Disease Control deals with the problems of motivation. Despite the combined efforts of infection control practitioners across the country over the past several decades, it seems that little progress has been made in this regard. However, when we look at the need to change or adopt behaviors known to be “good for us” in other areas of professional and personal life, the picture is not any brighter. This feeling of helplessness or lack of control over change has been expressed in one song, “If you hold your breath for change, we’re gonna carry you away,” and in the Bible by Paul, “I do not understand my own actions. For I am so far from habitually doing what I want to do that I find myself doing the very thing that I hate. I do not act as I desire to act; on the contrary, I do what I detest” (Romans 7:1.5-20, Twentieth Century New Testament translation). This article does not offer any new solutions to the problem of behavior change. Its purpose is to explore some philosophic views of
Optimum State Assignment for the D Flip-Flop

This correspondence is a modification of the basic SHR-optimal1 state assignment procedure for the D flip-flop. Under the minimum sum-of-products (MSOP) constraint, a sequential machine with n D flip-flops has 2n times as many distinct state assignments and twice as many distinct state assignment columns as the other flip-flop types. This correspondence shows that even though the D flip-flop machine has 2nN total distinct state assignments, the costs of these assignments can be uniquely determined by examination of only N of these assignments. Integration of this concept into the basic SHR-optimal algorithm produces a computational saving on the order of 2n-1 times.
Discourse Structure: Expectations of Beginning Readers and Readability of Text

This paper examines discourse factors as sources of difficulty in texts for beginning readers. The least readable portions of three primer and trade texts were identified through miscue data from nine beginning readers. Analysis of children's miscues and retellings showed patterns of difficulty related to (a) connective devices, (b) narrative voice, (c) patterned repetition, and (d) the role of pictures. Results suggested that beginning readers were more successful when text met their expectations about the use of connective and rhetorical devices and when patterned repetition and pictures were related to discourse structure. This study challenges conventional notions of readability and indicates the need for a broader consideration of text characteristics which support learning to read. Although primer stories in basal reading programs are intended to be easy for children to read, text construction and evaluation are generally governed by conventional notions of readability based on sentence length and word length, frequency, and difficulty. The result is often short texts composed of short sentences with short, high-frequency words that may also follow regular phonics rules (Durkin, 1983; Rhodes, 1979). Several studies (e.g., Garman, 1977; Lutz, 1974) have shown that the language of these primer texts is far less complex than the language children at this age spontaneously use in conversation and dictation of experience stories. Moreover, the language of primer texts is not just overly simple, it is deviant. In the effort to simplify texts to meet conventional readability criteria, publishers frequently violate higher-order principles for structuring
AlGaN multiple quantum well based deep UV LEDs and their applications

In this paper we will describe the approaches that we have used to grow AlGaN-based multiple quantum well deep UV LED structures and to overcome issues of doping efficiency, cracking, and slow growth rates both for the n- and the p-type layers of the device structures. This has led to the fabrication of devices with emission from 250-340 nm and cw-milliwatt powers at pump currents of only 20 mA (V f ≤ 6 V). Record wall plug efficiencies as high as 1.5% are now achievable for devices with emission at 280 nm. Thermal management and a proper device design are not only a key to achieving these record performance numbers but are also crucial to device reliability. We will also discuss some of our initial research to clarify the factors influencing the lifetime of the deep UV LEDs. In addition to our own work, we will review the results from the excellent research carried out at several other laboratories worldwide.
Stromal matrix metalloprotease-13 knockout alters Collagen I structure at the tumor-host interface and increases lung metastasis of C57BL/6 syngeneic E0771 mammary tumor cells

Background Matrix metalloproteases and collagen are key participants in breast cancer, but their precise roles in cancer etiology and progression remain unclear. MMP13 helps regulate collagen structure and has been ascribed largely harmful roles in cancer, but some studies demonstrate that MMP13 may also protect against tumor pathology. Other studies indicate that collagen’s organizational patterns at the breast tumor-host interface influence metastatic potential. Therefore we investigated how MMP13 modulates collagen I, a principal collagen subtype in breast tissue, and affects tumor pathology and metastasis in a mouse model of breast cancer.
MSM waveguide photodetectors optimized for monolithic integration with high electron mobility transistors

This paper describes the design of two types of MSM photodetectors, one with interdigitated fingers running across a waveguide and one with electrodes running alongside the waveguide ridge. Both detectors employ the same layer structure as well-characterized high electron mobility transistors (HEMT's) for ease of integration. Resistive loss at the electrode surface, radiation loss into the substrate, and scattering loss are all accounted for in the optimization for internal detection efficiency of these 50 GHz detectors. >
A prospective, randomized comparison of cerebral venous oxygen saturation during normothermic and hypothermic cardiopulmonary bypass.

Recent reports have described cerebral venous oxygen desaturation during and after rewarming from hypothermic cardiopulmonary bypass. Additionally, patients undergoing normothermic cardiopulmonary bypass may be at higher risk for neurologic injury. This study was designed to determine whether patients undergoing normothermic cardiopulmonary bypass are at increased risk for sustained cerebral desaturation. Fifty-two patients undergoing first-time coronary artery bypass grafting were randomized to receive normothermic (37° C, n = 26) or hypothermic (27° C, n = 26) cardiopulmonary bypass. The anesthetic was standardized and alpha-stat pH management was used. A 4F oximetric catheter was placed in the jugular bulb and cerebral venous and radial arterial blood were sampled. Oxygen partial pressure and saturation were measured at six intervals from cerebral venous blood and from radial arterial blood. Patients receiving normothermic cardiopulmonary bypass had lesser values of oxygen partial pressure and saturation in cerebral venous blood than patients subjected to hypothermia during the first 40 minutes of bypass. Cerebral venous desaturation (oxygen saturation in cerebral venous blood of 50 % or less) was observed in 54 % of patients in the normothermic group and 12 % of patients in the hypothermic group during cardiopulmonary bypass. In the normothermic group, cerebral desaturation occurred primarily in early bypass (14 of 26). The three episodes of desaturation in the hypothermic group occurred during rewarming. During cardiopulmonary bypass, the arteriovenous oxygen content difference was greater in the normothermic group than in that in the hypothermic group, suggesting higher oxygen consumption. Differences in glucose utilization during early cardiopulmonary bypass between the groups was also detected. One patient in the hypothermic group had an embolic stroke and subsequently died. There were no other perioperative strokes or deaths in the study population. The present study demonstrates that patients undergoing normothermic cardiopulmonary bypass are at greater risk for cerebral desaturation. Because it is a global assessment, cerebral venous oxygen saturation may be insensitive to focal ischemic events. It remains to be seen whether these differences in cerebral physiologic states translate into differences in clinical outcome.
Effect of Polydispersity on Stresses in Granular Shear Flow

Event-driven molecular dynamics simulations are performed for the simple shear flow of smooth inelastic disks, with a focus on the effect of polydispersity on stresses. Simulations are conducted for both binary mixtures and polydisperse media with a Gaussian size distribution. For the binary mixture, the total solids volume fraction (φ = φ1 + φ2), the solids fraction ratio (φ1 / φ2) the particle diameter ratio (d1 / d2) and the coefficient of restitution (ep) are varied, and the simulation results are compared with an existing kinetic-theory model. The calculated stresses compare reasonably well with the model predictions for d1 / d2 < 2 in the nearly elastic limit, but the agreement deteriorates significantly at larger size ratios. Furthermore, the assumption of equipartition of granular energy between the two particle sizes appears to have a very limited range of validity in terms of both particle-size ratio and inelasticity. For a granular mixture characterized by a Gaussian size distribution, simulations are carried out in which the standard deviation in particle diameter, the coefficient of restitution and the total solids fraction are varied. The calculated stresses are in good agreement with predictions obtained from an existing kinetic-theory model for an “equivalent” monodisperse mixture.
Experimental Evidence for the Double-Beta Decay of Te 130

It is shown that double-beta decay occurs in nature. The half life of ${\mathrm{Te}}^{130}$ is ${10}^{21.34\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.12}$ yr.
Static Fluid Condensers for the Containment of Refluxing Solvent

Allihn-type condensers have been modified to contain a fixed volume of ethylene glycol. These condensers do not require circulating fluid or bulky and expensive “heat sinks” and demonstrate acceptable solvent retention of high as well as low boiling solvents under reflux conditions. This inexpensive, effective, and “waterless” apparatus mitigates spill and flooding risks associated with circulating fluid condensers and provides a sustainable solution to the use of potable water for condensing purposes.
States in O22 via β decay of N22

The energy-level structure of {sup 22}O with the recently identified N=14 subshell closure was investigated by the beta decay of {sup 22}N for the first time. A beta-delayed-neutron, time-of-flight measurement revealed six new neutron transitions attributed to the beta decay of {sup 22}N. One- and two-beta-delayed neutron decay of {sup 22}N, with emission probabilities of 33(3)% and 12(3)%, respectively, were observed to correspond to four new negative-parity states in {sup 22}O. The half-life of {sup 22}N beta decay was determined to be 20(2) ms. Three gamma-ray transitions in {sup 22}O and single gamma rays in {sup 21}O and {sup 20}O were observed following the beta decay of {sup 22}N. The observation of large Gamow-Teller strength for a highly excited state in {sup 22}O indicates a halo structure for {sup 22}N. A comparison of results with shell-model predictions showed overall poor agreement. The measured P{sub n} values of {sup 24}O and {sup 25}F components of the secondary beam showed an enhancement relative to the P{sub n} values of adjacent oxygen and fluorine isotopes, providing additional evidence for the N=14 closed subshell.
Provision of well-water treatment units to 600 households in Bangladesh: A longitudinal analysis of urinary arsenic indicates fading utility.

Abstract Background Millions of villagers in Bangladesh remain exposed to high levels of arsenic (As) from drinking untreated well-water even though the scale of the problem was recognized 15 years ago. Water treatment at the household-level has been promoted as a viable complement but few longitudinal studies of their efficacy using an objective measure of exposure have been conducted. Participants (N = 622) of a nutrition trial in Araihazar, Bangladesh were each provided with READ-F filters at the beginning of the study and encouraged to use them over the 6 month duration of the intervention. Well-water As, treated water As, and urinary As were monitored periodically during the trial and measured again one year after the trial ended. Results The READ-F filters were initially well received and median urinary As levels for participants declined from 117 μg/L to 51 μg/L within a single week. However, median urinary As levels gradually rose back to 126 μg/L by the end of the trial. Fifty filters were replaced over the course of the trial because of insufficient As removal or reduced flow. With these exceptions, most of the treated water met the WHO guideline for As in drinking water of 10 μg/L. One year after the nutritional trial ended, 95% of participants had abandoned their filter citing inconvenience as the primary reason. At that time, median urinary As levels for 10 participants who had switched to a nearby low-As well had declined to 63 μg/L. Conclusions Participants were probably no longer using the READ-F filter long before the 6 month nutritional intervention ended despite claiming that they were using them. Household-level treatment is likely to continue to play a minor role in the effort to reduce As exposure in Bangladesh. Understanding the limitations of such expensive interventions is important for future policy regarding As mitigation.
Brain Abscess from a Peritonsillar Abscess

Researchers at Louisiana State University, Shreveport, LA, report the case of a 9-year-old immunocompetent girl diagnosed with a left frontal brain abscess accompanied by fever, headache, and weight loss for a 3-month period.
Hard Probe Results from PHENIX

Abstract We report on selected recent results from the PHENIX collaboration. For thermal photons, total yields and flow coefficients in s N N = 200 GeV Au+Au collisions are reported. Results from small systems (d+Au and 3He+Au) colliding at s N N = 200 GeV show collective behavior for transverse momenta up to approximately 6 GeV/c. How small systems develop collective behavior remains a challenge for modelers.
Invasive Fungal Sinusitis and Fungal Abscess of the Sella

Fungal disease of the pituitary and parasellar region can present as a fungal abscess or as an invasive fungal sinusitis. Rhino-orbito-cerebral involvement is typically an extreme form of invasive fungal sinusitis seen in patients with mucormycosis. Allergic fungal sinusitis (AFS) is another manifestation of sinonasal fungal disease that is typically not invasive.
Meningoencephalitis and Demyelination Are Pathologic Manifestations of Primary Polyomavirus Infection in Immunosuppressed Rhesus Monkeys

The human polyomavirus JC (JCV) is the etiologic agent of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML), a demyelinating disease of the CNS that occurs in immunosuppressed individuals. Because polyomavirus-induced CNS pathology usually occurs as a result of the reactivation of latent virus, little is known about the disease manifestations of a primary polyomavirus-induced disease in man. To model such a primary infection, SV40-negative rhesus monkeys were immunosuppressed by infection with the virus SHIV-89.6P and then superinfected with the polyomavirus SV40. The animals developed CNS pathology characterized by both demyelination and meningoencephalitis. This observation suggests that a primary polyomavirus infection can be associated with an inflammatory CNS process. These data shed new light on the pathogenic mechanisms of primate polyomaviruses in the immunocompromised host.
Partial replication of small two-level factorial designs

Replicating runs in designed experiments is good practice. The most important reason to replicate runs is to allow for a model-independent estimate of the error variance. Without the pure error degrees of freedom provided by replicated runs, the error v..
Global Functions of PRC2 Complexes

Abstract The PRC2 complex is well known or producing H3K27me3, associated with silenced Polycomb target genes. However, the predominant activity of PRC2 produces H3K27me2 in an untargeted, genome-wide, hit-and-run mode that methylates 60–70% of all histone H3. The level of H3K27me2 is correlated with low or absent transcriptional activity. Inactivation of PRC2 leads to loss of H3K27me2, global increase in H3K27ac and H3K4me1, and transcriptional activation. Transcriptional activity increases in proportion to the previous levels of H3K27me2 but even highly transcribed genes increase two- to fourfold. These effects indicate that PRC2 is a very dynamic, untargeted modifier of genomic chromatin that operates in constant antagonism with H3K27 acetylation and H3K4 monomethylation. This chapter reviews the evidence for a chromatin surveillance mechanism that restricts access to genomic DNA while allowing transient access to DNA binding proteins and the possibility of stable opening of gene regulatory regions. Functional and evolutionary relationships to PRC1 activities are examined.
We Asked You: Public Opinion and Consultation in China

China’s leaders describe their system of rule as “consultative democracy”, whereby the public, forbidden from organizing on matters of politics, is encouraged to participate on issues of policy. In particular, citizens are routinely solicited for input on upcoming policy debates. But are public inputs incorporated into policy outputs or is it all ‘window-dressing’? In pursuit of an answer, we employ an online survey designed to measure public preferences on a range of policies recently debated by China’s National People’s Congress (NPC). Next, we compare final policy decisions, based on whether or not they were opened for public consultation, for evidence of convergence between public opinion and policy choices. Our findings suggest that consultation is associated with more popular policy choices. To check for robustness, we pair our measures of policy preference with latent measures of ideology from our survey, and outside surveys, to extrapolate a predicted ’public opinion’ for the broader Chinese constituency. While we cannot discount the possibility that topics were selectively opened to public input, closer examination of public opinion distributions does not support this interpretation.
Secondary Liability of Service Providers in Brazil: The Effect of the Civil Rights Framework

In April 2014, the Brazilian National Congress passed Federal Law number 12.965, known as the Civil Rights Framework for the Internet. This law is praiseworthy both for the means by which it was developed and its effect. That is to say, the legislation (i) was the result of numerous public hearings in which civil society was called on to participate actively, (ii) endorses democratic principles for full access and use of the Internet in the country, and (iii) sets clear parameters for the liability of Internet-service providers. Based on this new legislation, this Chapter sets out to portray the panorama of the liability of Internet-service providers in Brazil today, in comparison with the understanding of Brazilian doctrine and jurisprudence on the matter prior to the enactment of the Civil Rights Framework. It concludes that the Brazilian system seems to have taken an important step in building efficient parameters for the liability of providers, including the need for a legal notification as a formal requirement to hold the provider responsible.
Evaluation and Initial Management of Graft Dysfunction

The initial assessment of kidney allograft dysfunction follows similar principles to the evaluation of native acute kidney injury, but with special attention to a broader differential diagnosis. Depending upon the timing post-transplant, surgical issues, infectious etiologies, and immunologic causes of graft dysfunction may be more or less likely; these causes are above and beyond typical concerns regarding medication toxicity, hemodynamic factors, and other common causes of kidney dysfunction. The purpose of this chapter is to provide the reader with an understanding of the potential causes of kidney transplant dysfunction and offer a framework for assessment and management in a stepwise manner. Many of the specific causes of graft dysfunction are discussed in greater detail in accompanying chapters, and the reader is directed to these chapters when applicable.