cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Marine ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and risk for colorectal cancer according to microsatellite instability

Background: Chronic inflammation is involved in the development of colorectal cancer (CRC) and microsatellite instability (MSI), a distinct phenotype of CRC. Experimental evidence indicates an anti-inflammatory and antineoplastic effect of marine ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). However, epidemiologic data remain inconclusive.
Longitudinal mode behavior of PbSnTe buried heterostructure lasers

Output spectra for narrow stripe, PbSnTe buried heterostructure laser diodes are presented and it is shown that the lasers operate in a single longitudinal mode of the fundamental transverse mode family to approximately twice threshold after which multimode operation predominates. These observations are interpreted in terms of the spectral inhomogeneity of the gain function. The small inhomogeneity arises from an intraband relaxation time of the order of 2 ps.
De Novo Development of Eosinophilic Myocarditis With Left Ventricular Assist Device Support as Bridge to Transplant

The de novo development of myocarditis during left ventricular assist device support for dilated cardiomyopathy has not been previously described. We report a case of severe eosinophilic myocarditis associated with the use of leukotriene-receptor antagonist montelukast that developed during left ventricular assist device support accompanied by intra-device thrombus formation that was hemodynamically tolerated and subsequently discovered in the explanted heart. There may be no visible change in cardiac function as assessed by echocardiography, but the diagnosis should be entertained with the development of peripheral eosinophilia.
Contributions of COMT Val158Met to cognitive stability and flexibility in infancy

Adaptive behavior requires focusing on relevant tasks while remaining sensitive to novel information. In adult studies of cognitive control, cognitive stability involves maintaining robust cognitive representations while cognitive flexibility involves updating of representations in response to novel information. Previous adult research has shown that the Met allele of the COMT Val158Met gene is associated with enhanced cognitive stability whereas the Val allele is associated with enhanced cognitive flexibility. Here we propose that the stability/flexibility framework can also be applied to infant research, with stability mapping onto early indices of behavioral regulation and flexibility mapping onto indices of behavioral reactivity. From this perspective, the present study examined whether COMT genotype was related to 7-month-old infants' reactivity to novel stimuli and behavioral regulation. Cognitive stability and flexibility were assessed using (1) a motor approach task, (2) a habituation task, and (3) a parental-report measure of temperament. Val carriers were faster to reach for novel toys during the motor approach task and received higher scores on the temperament measure of approach to novelty. Met carriers showed enhanced dishabituation to the novel stimulus during the habituation task and received higher scores on the temperament measures of sustained attention and behavioral regulation. Overall, these results are consistent with adult research suggesting that the Met and Val alleles are associated with increased cognitive stability and flexibility, respectively, and thus suggest that COMT genotype may similarly affect cognitive function in infancy.
Technology Provides Innovative Reference Services at University of Michigan Libraries

Abstract The concept of virtual library services has far-reaching implications for academic libraries nationwide. As students begin to demand a wider variety of information services and support — and the nature of this support is constantly in flux, librarians and libraries will be motivated to discover new ways of delivering services such as reference, instruction, and research support. While virtual services are no longer the vanguard of the information explosion, distance-independent education and other asynchronous non-classroom-based forms of academic instruction are on the increase. Some of these programs have already developed virtual library services, while others leave students to find more traditional means of accessing those services. In any event, virtual and remote library services — whether by phone, email, or Internet — will no doubt deserve further consideration as an effective means of providing access to resources without boundaries. The Interactive Reference Assistance (IRA) project is an example of one such service innovation at the University of Michigan.
The Occurrence of Ipsilateral or Contralateral Foot Disorders and Hand Dominance: The Framingham Foot Study

Background: To our knowledge, hand dominance and side of foot disorders has not been described in the literature. We sought to evaluate whether hand dominance was associated with ipsilateral foot disorders in community-dwelling older men and women. Methods: Data were from the Framingham Foot Study (N = 2,089, examined 2002–2008). Hand preference for writing was used to classify hand dominance. Foot disorders and side of disorders were based on validated foot examination findings. Generalized linear models with generalized estimating equations were used to estimate odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals, accounting for intraperson variability. Results: Left-handed people were less likely to have foot pain or any foot disorders ipsilateral but were more likely to have hallux valgus ipsilateral to the left hand. Among right-handed people, the following statistically significant increased odds of having an ipsilateral versus contralateral foot disorder were seen: 30% for Morton’s neuroma, 18% for hammer toe...
Tracheobronchial injuries. Conservative treatment

UNLABELLED Tracheal lacerations are iatrogenic, localized, low impact injuries with longitudinal tears (in about 1:20,000 intubations). In contrast traumatic tracheobronchial ruptures are high velocity injuries with horizontal transections. Between 1986 and 2002, we treated 27 tracheobronchial injuries (8 bronchial 3 of them iatrogenic, 19 tracheal 17 of them iatrogenic (+1 horizontal rupture+1 tracheoesophageal stabbing)). Extension of the tears 5-12 cm. All bronchial ruptures, the tracheal rupture as well as six iatrogenic tracheal tears have been managed operatively. All the other underwent conservative treatment. INDICATIONS (1) critically ill patients, (2) delay in diagnosis >72 h, and (3) refusal of operation. It consists in endotracheal intubation for 5-9 days. This way we prevent pressure peaks as well as retention achieving a continuous control. Conservative group: 12/13 patients survived, neither stenosis nor megatrachea. Operative group: 1 patient died (MOF), 1 postoperative stenosis (Montgomery tube for 2 months). Tracheobronchial ruptures have to be operated. Lacerations show frequently discrete clinical signs, but typical X-rays. They can be dealt with conservatively in the majority of cases as well as operatively. According to our experience, conservative treatment is safe and shows a mortality as low or lower than operative procedures.
Development of new technologies and practical applications of plasma immersion ion deposition (PIID)

This paper reviews the latest research and development at Southwest Research Institute (SwRI®) in plasma immersion ion deposition. SwRI has developed a few new technologies including high rate deposition of diamond-like carbon (DLC) coatings, thick DLC for improved erosion and corrosion resistance and the deposition of the inner surface of long pipes. These technologies are based on hollow cathode discharge (HCD) plasma process rather than the conventionally used glow discharge process. In the HCD process, electrons generated on the part experience multiple collisions before they can escape to the anode; therefore, an intensive plasma is generated, and hence a high current can be obtained. As a result a much higher deposition rate and a much thicker coating can be achieved than those obtained from conventional PIID processes. In this paper, we will discuss the principle of the HCD process, the experimental results of the DLC coatings in comparison with the DLC coating produced using conventional PIID and some practical applications of these technologies. In addition to the meshed PIID, SwRI has also been working on conventional, but large scaled PIID. A few issues and applications will be presented at the end of this paper.
Stabilization and preformulation of anticancer drug--SarCNU.

Abstract The stability of SarCNU (NSC364432), 1-(2-chloroethyl)-3-sarcosinamide-1-nitrosourea in several pharmaceutically acceptable solvents was investigated by high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC). The influences of light, ionic strength, pH, buffer concentration, and the following excipients: benzyl alcohol, ascorbic acid, sodium bisulfite, and disodium EDTA were studied at room temperature. The stability of the drug was also determined in water, EtOH, PG, Capmul PG, DMSO, and in different combinations of these cosolvents at four different temperatures. The degradation of the drug, which is catalyzed not only by general but also by specific acid and base, follows first order kinetics. Antioxidants, EDTA, and light have no effect on the degradation rate, suggesting oxidation is not a major degradation pathway. The t 90 in pure cosolvent is 25–50 times higher than that in water or semi-aqueous vehicles. Neat EtOH can be used to store the drug in a nonaqueous concentrate that is diluted with aqueous solvent prior to injection.
Organizational adoption and assimilation of complex technological innovations: development and application of a new framework

This paper explores the applicability of traditional innovation adoption and diffusion models to contingent, authority innovation processes occurring within an organizational context (Zaltman, Duncan & Holbeck, 1973); that is, when employees in organizations adopt an innovation that has been chosen by an authority figure. This paper identifies existing gaps in traditional innovation adoption models and concludes that a new framework is required --- one that incorporates the unique processes and factors related to organizational adoption and assimilation of innovations. A new hybrid theoretical framework is developed which combines insights from organizational-level research on technology implementation (Cooper & Zmud, 1990; Orlikowski, 1993) with constructs from traditional innovation adoption models (Rogers, 1983; Prescott & Conger, 1995). The resulting theory is a hybrid process/variance theory, which captures both implementation events and the factors that influence them (Shaw & Jarvenpaa, 1997). Data from a longitudinal case study of a firm that implemented client/server development are used to illustrate the framework and to develop propositions for future research.
Partial Lifting and the Elliptic Curve Discrete Logarithm Problem

It has been suggested that a major obstacle in finding an index calculus attack on the elliptic curve discrete logarithm problem lies in the difficulty of lifting points from elliptic curves over finite fields to global fields. We explore the possibility of circumventing the problem of explicitly lifting points by investigating whether partial information about the lifting would be sufficient for solving the elliptic curve discrete logarithm problem. Along this line, we show that the elliptic curve discrete logarithm problem can be reduced to three partial lifting problems. Our reductions run in random polynomial time assuming certain conjectures, which are based on some well-known and widely accepted conjectures concerning the expected ranks of elliptic curves over the rationals. Should the elliptic curve discrete logarithm problem admit no subexponential time attack, then our results suggest that gaining partial information about lifting would be at least as hard.
A survey: conscious sedation with epidural and zygapophyseal injections: is it necessary?

Abstract Background context Substantial variation exists regarding the use of sedation before interventional spine techniques. Patient preference should play an important role in decision making regarding the need for sedation. However, little is known about patients' anxiety levels before spinal injections and their perceptions about the necessity of sedation. Purpose To determine patient perception for need for sedation before epidural steroid injections and zygapophyseal joint injections. Study design/setting Survey of consecutive spinal injection patients in an outpatient spine center. Patient sample 500 consecutive lumbar, thoracic, and cervical patients receiving spinal injections. Outcome measures A 12-item questionnaire assessing patients' perceived anxiety before to a spinal injection. Methods Subjects were given the questionnaire after their spinal injection. Percentages requesting sedation for a first and potential second procedure were assessed. Additionally, anxiety level and pain rating, location of injection, age, sex, and other medication use were analyzed to determine the effect on the request for sedation. Results 17% of patients questioned requested sedation before an injection, and 28% would request sedation if they were to have a second injection. Conclusions Routine sedation before diagnostic and therapeutic injections is not necessary as the majority of patients would not request sedation before the procedure when given the option. However, in some patients sedation is indicated, and all patients would benefit from educational material on sedation before the injection.
SU-GG-T-532: Dosimetric Comparison of Proton Delivery Techniques: Double-Scattering and Uniform-Scanning

Purpose: To compare proton dose distributions generated with double‐scattering to uniform‐scanning for different clinical sites. Method and Materials: The ‘universal nozzle’ developed by IBA incorporates several delivery modes. In double‐scattering (DS) a flattening filter scatters the proton beam into a flat circular profile. In uniform‐scanning(US) two dipole magnets scan the beam into a rectangular profile. US covers larger volumes both laterally and in depth, and has dosimetric characteristics that are different from US. This study deals with cases that can be treated with either US or DS. Eclipse (Varian) treatment planning is commissioned for both delivery modes. Comparison of water‐phantom calculations to measurements validates the treatment‐planning algorithm. We compare the dose for the following sites: prostate (2 cases), head‐and‐neck (4 cases), cranio‐spinal (3 cases). Dose‐volume‐histograms are used to evaluate target coverage and dose to critical structures. Results: The US in‐air penumbra is typically smaller because of less scattering material in the beam path. For a range of 15.0g/cm2, modulation of 8.0g/cm2, and air gap of 12.0cm, the 80%–20% penumbra at 11.0cm depth is 4.4mm in US and 6.9mm in DS. In addition, the US distal fall‐off is sharper because of reduced energy straggling in the treatment head. For a range of 5.0 (28.0) cm in water the 80%–20% fall‐off is 2.7mm (5.5mm) in US, compared to 4.0mm (6.0mm) in DS. For deep seated tumors (prostate) the sharper in‐air dose distribution in US is washed out by in‐patient scatter, resulting in no significant benefit. For targets at shallow and intermediate depth, located next to a critical structure, the sharper fall‐off in US allows for better target coverage and less dose to the critical structure. Conclusion: The sharper lateral and distal penumbra in uniform scanning are beneficial when the target volume abuts a critical structure. For deep‐seated tumors this advantage diminishes.
Influence of whooping crane population dynamics on its recovery and management

Abstract Wildlife populations experience periods of negative growth of varying magnitudes and duration. Understanding these dynamics and a population’s sensitivity to them informs conservation planning, policy decisions, recovery criteria and management triggers, especially when management actions are expensive or risky. Therefore, to inform management and conservation of the only wild, migratory population of endangered whooping cranes (Grus americana), we modeled its 73-year time-series of abundances and simulated future growth using Monte Carlo forecasting. We estimated the probability of the population reaching downlisting criteria. We used Monte Carlo simulation to examine this population’s sensitivity to periods of negative growth (i.e., annual growth rate (r) = −0.025, −0.050, −0.100, or −0.150 for 1–3 consecutive years). We found this population exhibiting periodic declines on a 10-year cycle. We show it is unlikely to go extinct assuming conditions remain similar to the past. Our forecasts suggested the population will contain >400 birds by 2025. We found ⩾3 consecutive years of r ⩽ −0.1 or ⩾2 consecutive years of r ⩽ −0.15 must occur to significantly reduce abundance from the current trajectory and delay recovery. Favorably, the probability of reaching 400 birds by 2040 was 0.892 for the worst scenario. Such a scenario has only occurred once in 73 years of monitoring. Our simulations provide managers and policy makers information for evaluating recovery timelines, while forecasts aid setting habitat conservation targets. By describing how the population responds to periods of negative growth (natural or manmade), we identify management triggers, while informing monitoring frequency. Furthermore, our analyses provide a framework for moving discussions away from short-term, reactive decisions such as supplemental feeding, aquaculture, or small-scale freshwater provisioning, to long-term conservation approaches.
Phase transitions under shock-wave loading

First-order polymorphic, second-order, melting, and freezing transitions induced by shock-wave loading are reviewed. Comprehensive tabulations of the experimental observations are presented and materials that have been subjected to in-depth study are reviewed in more detail. Theories of the mechanics, thermodynamics, kinetics, and shear strength of shock-loaded materials are described and experimental techniques are briefly reviewed.
Electrolyte-moderated interactions in water/oil microemulsions

Abstract Interactions between the disperse phase droplets of water-in-oil ( W O ) microemulsions of Aerosol-OT are profoundly affected by the addition of small amounts of electrolyte. We find that the effect of added electrolyte in W O microemulsions is opposite to that which is observed in aqueous micellar solutions and W O microemulsions, here the addition of electrolyte decreases attractive interactions rather than increasing them. Dynamic light scattering measurements show that the addition of salt decreases (and even eliminates) the dependence of the diffusion coefficient on disperse phase concentration. Time-averaged intensity measurements and shear viscosity measurements provide further evidence of increased hard-sphere-like behavior as the salt concentration increases. Analysis of the time-averaged intensity using a formalism developed by A. A. Calje, W. G. M. Agterof, and A. Vrij (“Micellizations, Solubilization, and Microemulsions” (K. L. Mittal, Ed.), Vol. 2, Plenum, New York, 1977) suggests that the attractive part of the interaction potential is significantly larger than that expected between pure water droplets. The attractive potential decreases as the electrolyte concentration increases. Based on interactions between fluctuating dipoles, a semiquantitative explanation for the effect of salt on attractive interactions is provided.
On the external storage fragmentation produced by first-fit and best-fit allocation strategies

Published comparisons of the external fragmentation produced by first-fit and best-fit memory allocation have not been consistent. Through simulation, a series of experiments were performed in order to obtain better data on the relative performance of first-fit and best-fit and a better understanding of the reasons underlying observed differences. The time-memory-product efficiencies of first-fit and best-fit were generally within 1 to 3 percent of each other. Except for small populations, the size of the request population had little effect on allocation efficiency. For exponential and hyperexponential distributions of requests, first-fit outperformed best-fit; but for normal and uniform distributions, and for exponential distributions distorted in various ways, best-fit out-performed first-fit. It is hypothesized that when first-fit outperforms best-fit, it does so because first-fit, by preferentially allocating toward one end of memory, encourages large blocks to grow at the other end. Sufficient contiguous space is thereby more likely to be available for relatively large requests. Results of simulation experiments supported this hypothesis and showed that the relative performance of first-fit and best-fit depends on the frequency of requests that are large compared to the average request. When the coefficient of variation of the request distribution is greater than or approximately equal to unity, first-fit outperformed best-fit.
Position Paper: Logic Programming for Parallel Irregular Applications

Parallel computers are becoming increasingly heterogeneous and correspondingly more difficult to program as a result. Irregular applications exacerbate this problem further, given that this class of applications is more diverse and uses different performance features of a computer system than more common application classes. Thus, new approaches are necessary to achieve performance and productivity simultaneously. Domain-specific languages are becoming increasingly popular for high-performance computing, both in the domains of regular (e.g., SPIRAL) and irregular (e.g., Green-Marl) applications. However, past languages for graph computations tend to be too limited to efficiently express the wide range of irregular algorithms needed in applications. Instead, this position paper advocates adapting a language from the database community, Datalog, to the domain of high-performance irregular applications. Although the plain Datalog language is also insufficient for the class of applications targeted, extensions can be added to increase its expressiveness. Starting with a standard language also enables taking advantage of the literature on Datalog implementations, including in the contexts of parallelism and incremental execution of algorithms. Thus, this approach promises to be a good way to implement irregular applications with both productivity and performance.
Myocardial regeneration therapy for ischemic cardiomyopathy with cyclin A2.

Objective Heart failure therapies ranging from revascularization to remodeling to replacement are variably effective. Theoretically, endogenous repair via myocardial regeneration would be an ideal therapy. This study examined the ability to initiate regeneration by adenoviral-mediated expression of the cell cycle regulator cyclin A2. Our prior studies have demonstrated robust cyclin A2 transgene expression and marked antiphosphorylated histone H3 activity with this strategy, indicating the induction of cardiomyocyte mitosis. Methods Adult male, Lewis rats underwent left anterior descending coronary artery ligation followed by intramyocardial delivery of either cyclin A2 adenoviral vector (n = 8) or empty adeno-null vector as a control (n = 8) into the peri-infarct border zone. In vivo myocardial function was analyzed by echocardiography and invasive left ventricular pressure catheter at 6 weeks, when the animals are traditionally in heart failure. Hearts were explanted for immunoblotting and left ventricular geometric analysis. Cellular proliferation was assessed by proliferating cellular nuclear antigen expression. Results Cyclin A2 hearts exhibited improved left ventricular function as compared with controls including enhanced cardiac output (32 ± 3.3 vs 26 ± 5.0 mL/min, P P P P P P Conclusions In failing hearts, targeted delivery of cyclin A2 improves hemodynamic function, as measured by echocardiography and pressure catheter analysis, preserves ventricular wall thickness, and may serve as an ideal myocardial regenerative therapy.
Bioelectrical characteristics of regenerated fibers in the feline spinal cord

Abstract Complete transection of the spinal cord was performed on cats and kittens. The surgical procedure included tubulation of the cord stumps with Millipore. The adult animals recovered without further treatment, but the kittens received intramuscular injections of Piromen during the first 6 weeks after surgery. At the end of a postoperative period, varying between 5 and 21 months, the spinal cord was examined by electrophysiological and histological techniques. Electrical stimulation of spinal cord fibers evoked conducted potentials which could be recorded through and beyond the site of the transection. Responses were obtained in five cats and two kittens. Positive evidence was obtained that the recorded potentials arose from regenerated intraspinal fibers of the lateral and occasionally the ventral columns. Physiological and histological findings were in agreement in all animals. Certain elements in the propriospinal system, which had regenerated across the cord gap, may have been responsible for the bioelectrical phenomena recorded.
Perioperative pulmonary embolism: diagnosis and anesthetic management

All perioperative patients, but especially trauma victims and those undergoing prostate or orthopedic surgery, are at increased risk of venous thromboembolism. Patients at highest risk include those with malignancy, immobility, and obesity; those who smoke; and those taking oral contraceptives, hormone replacement therapy, or antipsychotic medications. Dyspnea, anxiety, and tachypnea are the most common presenting symptoms in awake patients, and hypotension, tachycardia, hypoxemia, and decreased end-tidal CO2 are the most common findings in patients receiving general anesthesia. The presence of shock and right ventricular failure are associated with adverse outcomes. Helical computed tomographic scanning is the preferred definitive diagnostic study, but transesopha- geal echocardiography may be valuable in making a presumptive diagnosis in the operating room. Early diagnosis allows supportive therapy and possible anticoagulation (in some cases, to be started before the conclusion of surgery).
Clinical Outcomes in Two Different Cohorts of Patients with Inflammatory Breast Cancer (IBC) Treated at the MD Anderson Cancer Center: The Experience of the Morgan Welch IBC Research Program and Clinic.

BACKGROUND: Inflammatory Breast Cancer (IBC) is a rare but aggressive manifestation of primary breast cancer. Survival in patients with IBC is significantly lower than for non-IBC breast cancer patients. Appropriate diagnostic and treatment strategies provided by a specialized multidisciplinary team could impact the overall prognosis of the disease. We recently established an IBC research program and clinic including investigators from various disciplines solely dedicated to this disease. We sought to compare the characteristics and clinical outcomes of newly diagnosed IBC patients evaluated and treated using novel diagnostic and therapeutic approaches with an historical cohort of IBC patients treated at our institution. METHODS: We included 240 IBC patients treated at MD Anderson Cancer Center between January 1970 and August 2000. In this analysis we compared characteristics, 1 year progression free survival (PFS) and 1 year survival between the historic cohort and 47 patients diagnosed with IBC and seen at our IBC clinic between August 2007 and September 2008. The new patients are part of a prospective IBC registry. All of them had staging and monitoring with breast MRI and FDG-PET/CT. When indicated, they were treated with targeted therapies (e.g. trastuzumab and tipifarnib), that were not available for the patients in the old cohort. Descriptive statistics were used. Kaplan Meier product-limit method was used to calculate survival outcomes, groups were compare by log-rank test. RESULTS: Median age was similar in both cohorts (53 vs 51). In the new cohort 40% of the patients had evidence of distant metastasis at presentation. The most common sites were contralateral lymph nodes (26%), pleura (16%), bone (16%) and liver (11%). In the old cohort only 17% presented with stage IV. 38.7% of the new patients had Her2-neu amplified and 34%, triple receptor negative IBC. There was no difference in 1-year survival between the two groups (92.4% vs. 93.8%, p=0.637). For patients with stage III disease, the 1-year survival was 95% for both groups. The 1 year-PFS was 86.4% in the new cohort compared to 77.9% (p=0.43) in the old cohort. With a median follow up of 13 months, 51%of the patients in the new cohort are disease free and 87% are still alive. CONCLUSIONS: IBC is an aggressive but rare disease with poor prognosis. We have established a specialized IBC research program and clinic that introduces novel concepts and strategies in laboratory, imaging diagnostics and targeted therapies. This approach may accelerate our understanding of the biology, develop new therapeutic strategies and finally improve the outcome of IBC. Early results of this multidisciplinary approach show a modest, but not significant difference in outcome. We hope that with additional patients and longer follow-up a significant improvement in outcomes will become apparent. Citation Information: Cancer Res 2009;69(24 Suppl):Abstract nr 5119.
Miocene phosphate accumulation in the Cuyama Basin, Southern California

Abstract Middle and upper Miocene phosphatic strata in the Cuyama Basin of southern California contain approximately 6.4×10 9 metric tons (2.1×10 14 mol) of phosphorus (P) that accumulated in slope and shelf strata at rates between 0.9 and 3.8 μmol P cm −2 year −1 from 15.5 to 10.8 Ma. An estimated 63% of all phosphorus lies in a single third-order sequence deposited between 14.8 and 13 Ma. The main impetus for this brief phosphogenic event was a >200 m relative sea level rise that resulted from strike-slip faulting immediately east of the basin. Minor element and petrologic analyses suggest the overall increase in phosphorus accumulation correlates with less reducing conditions in the shallowly buried marine sediments on the slope, and the expansion of phosphogenesis to the outer shelf. Both events were probably related to landward shifts of the Pacific oxygen minimum zone and coastal upwelling centers during the relative sea level rise. Whereas these tectonic events were apparently local, the phosphatic deposits of the Cuyama Basin clearly demonstrate that tectonism can strongly influence phosphate accumulation rates in marginal marine environments.
Acidity of Neutral Buffered 1-Ethyl-3-methylimidazolium Chloride−AlCl3 Ambient-Temperature Molten Salts

A series of studies on the acidity of AlCl3−1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride (EMIC) melts buffered with alkali metal chlorides were carried out. The solubility of HCl, a strong Bronsted acid in these melts, was measured in melts buffered with LiCl, NaCl, and KCl. The solubility of HCl in all three melts is 450−475 mM under 1 atm of HCl, approximately the same as that in the acidic (AlCl3-rich) melts. The relative solubility products of LiCl, NaCl, and KCl were measured, and it was found that Ksp(NaCl)/Ksp(LiCl) = 72 ± 6 and Ksp(KCl)/Ksp(NaCl) = 1000 ± 400. It is likely that the differences in the acidity of HCl in the various melts are due to the differences in the solubility product of the relevant alkali metal chlorides. These ratios are consistent with the results of previous studies on the acidity of HCl in the melts. The concentrations of the strongly Lewis acidic Al2Cl7- ion in melts buffered with LiCl were measured using an aluminum electrode. The results of the potentiometric work indicate tha...
Spectral analysis of tomato late blight infections for remote sensing of tomato disease stress in California

California growers produce more than 86% of tomatoes in the United States. Late blight is one of the diseases threatening tomato crop productivity due to the aggressive nature of the disease. Monitoring crop growth and disease infections can be economically viable and ecologically sound. This study explores spectral analysis to identify the spectral relationships of the disease infections on tomatoes. Preliminary results indicated that there is a strong relationship between disease infection stages and the spectra reflectance at specific wavelength intervals. These spectral intervals include wavelength intervals of 600-690, 750-930, 950-1030, 1040-1130, 1450-1850, and 2000-2400. The relationship of the disease and spectral reflectance was developed using field spectra data and validated using hyperspectral image data with known disease infection locations and stages. On the basis of spectral analysis, 6 healthy indices has been proposed in the study for approach development and 3 of them have great potential to be applied in image analysis to identify the infected plants using hyperspectral remote sensing images. The results indicated that the DI 1, DI3, and DI4 are effective in identifying diseased plants; and when DI1 is above 13, the canopy contained healthy plants, when DI1 is between 2 and 13, they may contain the diseased plants with various infection stages. Specifically, the plants can be identified as infected at stage 3 when DI1 is around 6 and stage 4 when DI1 is ~5.2. The developed relationship can further be used in mapping the disease for monitoring crop growth and precision disease management
Perforated tile models for improving data center CFD simulation

There is strong interest in being able to predict the air thermal distribution in data centers to have a better understanding of the problem so that cooling energy can be reduced. As experimental studies in data centers require exhaustive measurement efforts, CFD presents an alternative solution. A few of these studies were validated against experimental data, and relatively large errors were found between numerical results and experimental data. These errors could be due to either a non-controlled experiment (e.g. floor flow leakage and leakage path on servers' racks) or non-suitable boundary conditions (e.g. thermal boundary conditions on the floor) in the numerical simulations. Another important factor that is commonly ignored in data center CFD analysis is the modeling of the perforated surfaces (e.g. tile or rack back door) with the correct mass and momentum of the airflow. The study of Abdelmaksoud et al. [1, 2] shows the importance of including the correct momentum issuing from perforated tile in data center CFD simulations. In the present paper, we have applied various perforated tile models on a small data center test cell that consists of three high-power simulated racks generating up to 100kW heat load in total. Including these perforated tile models in the CFD analysis show a significant effect on the CFD results. Further discussion about modeling techniques of the perforated tile in the data center CFD simulations is presented in this paper.
American joint committee on cancer T category for eyelid sebaceous carcinoma correlates with nodal metastasis and survival

Purpose To determine whether T category of the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) TNM staging system for eyelid carcinoma, 7th edition, correlates with lymph node metastasis, distant metastasis, and survival in patients with sebaceous carcinoma of the eyelid. Design Retrospective, cohort study. Participants Fifty consecutive patients treated by 1 author (BE) for eyelid sebaceous carcinoma between May 1999 and August 2010. Methods Each tumor was staged according to the AJCC 7th edition TNM criteria. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to determine associations between disease-specific survival and (1) T category at presentation, (2) lymph node metastasis, and (3) distant metastasis. Main Outcome Measures T category at presentation, nodal metastasis, survival. Results The study included 37 women and 13 men (median age, 68.5 years; range, 44–86 years). Forty-four patients were white, 5 were Hispanic, and 1 was Asian. TNM designations were TXN0M0, 7 patients; T1N0M0, 4 patients; T2aN0M0, 12 patients; T2bN0M0, 11 patients; T2bN1M0, 2 patients; T2bN1M1, 1 patient; T3aN0M0, 2 patients; T3aN1M0, 5 patients; T3bN0M0, 1 patient; T3bN1M0, 1 patient; T3bN0M1, 2 patients; T4N0M0, 1 patient; and T4N0M1, 1 patient. T category at presentation was significantly associated with lymph node metastasis ( P = 0.0079). No tumors with T category better than T2b or smaller than 9 mm in greatest dimension were associated with nodal metastasis. Five patients (10%) died of disease during follow-up. Their TNM designations were T2bN1M1, 1 patient; T3bN0M1, 2 patients; T4N0M0, 1 patient; and T4N0M1, 1 patient. No tumors smaller than 12 mm in greatest dimension were associated with distant metastasis or death. T category was significantly associated with disease-specific survival ( P = 0.0009). Disease-specific survival was poorer among patients with T category of T3a or worse ( P = 0.035). Conclusions T category in the 7th edition of the AJCC TNM staging system for eyelid carcinoma correlates with outcomes in patients with sebaceous carcinoma of eyelid. On the basis of the present findings, it seems reasonable to recommend sentinel lymph node biopsy or at least strict regional lymph node surveillance for patients with eyelid sebaceous carcinoma with tumors of T category T2b or worse or 10 mm or more in greatest dimension. Financial Disclosure(s) The author(s) have no proprietary or commercial interest in any materials discussed in this article.
Identification of Primary Initiation Sites for DNA Replication in the Hamster Dihydrofolate Reductase Gene Initiation Zone

Mammalian replication origins appear paradoxical. While some studies conclude that initiation occurs bidirectionally from specific loci, others conclude that initiation occurs at many sites distributed throughout large DNA regions. To clarify this issue, the relative number of early replication bubbles was determined at 26 sites in a 110-kb locus containing the dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR)-encoding gene in CHO cells; 19 sites were located within an 11-kb sequence containing ori-beta. The ratio of approximately 0.8-kb nascent DNA strands to nonreplicated DNA at each site was quantified by competitive PCR. Nascent DNA was defined either as DNA that was labeled by incorporation of bromodeoxyuridine in vivo or as RNA-primed DNA that was resistant to lambda-exonuclease. Two primary initiation sites were identified within the 12-kb region, where two-dimensional gel electrophoresis previously detected a high frequency of replication bubbles. A sharp peak of nascent DNA occurred at the ori-beta origin of bidirectional replication where initiation events were 12 times more frequent than at distal sequences. A second peak occurred 5 kb downstream at a previously unrecognized origin (ori-beta'). Thus, the DHFR gene initiation zone contains at least three primary initiation sites (ori-beta, ori-beta', and ori-gamma), suggesting that initiation zones in mammals, like those in fission yeast, consist of multiple replication origins.
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease in the Older Adult: What Defines Abnormal Lung Function?

Background: The Global Initiative on Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) stages for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) uses a fixed ratio of the post- bronchodilator forced expiratory volume in one second ( FEV1 )/ forced vital capacity (FVC) of 0.70 as a threshold. Since the FEV1/FVC ratio declines with age, using the fixed ratio to define COPD may "overdiagnose" COPD in older populations Objective: To determine morbidity and mortality among older adults whose FEV1/FVC is less than 0.70 but greater than the lower limit of normal (LLN). Methods: We classified the severity of COPD in 4,965 participants age 65 years and older in the Cardiovascular Health Study using these two methods and determined the age-adjusted proportion of the population that died or had a COPD-related hospitalization in up to 11 years of follow-up. Results: 1621(32.6%) subjects died and 935 (18.8%) had at least one COPD-related hospitalization during the follow-up period. People (n=1134) whose FEV1/FVC fell between the LLN and the fixed ratio had an increased adjusted risk of death (hazard ratio [HR] 1.3, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.1, 1.5) and COPD-related hospitalization (HR 2.6, 95% CI 2.0, 3.3) during follow- up compared to asymptomatic individuals with normal lung function. Conclusion: In this cohort, subjects classified as "normal" using the LLN but abnormal using the fixed ratio were more likely to die and to have a COPD-related hospitalization during follow-up. This suggests that a fixed FEV1/FVC < 0.70 may identify at-risk patients, even among older adults.
A benchmark for life cycle air emissions and life cycle impact assessment of hydrokinetic energy extraction using life cycle assessment

As the demand for renewable energy increases, it becomes important to critically examine the environmental impacts of renewable energy production. Often, the approach has been trial and error in renewable energy with respect to its impact on the environment. Hydrokinetic Energy Extraction (HEE) has been seen as a potentially “benign” form of renewable hydropower. This paper provides a benchmark for initial measurement of HEE environmental impacts, since negative outcomes have been present with previously assumed “benign” renewable hydropower. A Gorlov system was used to represent a HEE system. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) was utilized to compare the environmental impacts of HEE with small hydropower, coal, natural gas and nuclear power. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) criteria air emissions were quantified and compared over the life cycle of the systems. Life cycle air emissions were used in combination with TRACI to compare the systems. The Gorlov system was found to have the lowest life cycle impact with a system lifetime comparison, and did compare closely with small hydropower.
Dielectric barrier discharge-based plasma actuator operation in artificial atmospheres for validation of modeling and simulation

We present an experimental case study of time-resolved force production by an aerodynamic plasma actuator immersed in various mixtures of electropositive (N2) and electronegative gases (O2 and SF6) at atmospheric pressure using a fixed AC high-voltage input of 16 kV peak amplitude at 200 Hz frequency. We have observed distinct changes in the discharge structures during both negative- and positive-going voltage half-cycles, with corresponding variations in the actuator's force production: a ratio of 4:1 in the impulse produced by the negative-going half-cycle of the discharge among the various gas mixtures we explored, 2:1 in the impulse produced by the positive-going half-cycle, and cases in which the negative-going half-cycle dominates force production (by a ratio of 1.5:1), where the half-cycles produce identical force levels, and where the positive-going half cycle dominates (by a ratio of 1:5). We also present time-resolved experimental evidence for the first time that shows electrons do play a signif...
Associative Processes in Learning-to-Read: A Reply to Samuels

Recall that Samuels' (1977) rebuttal states that if errors occurred during the acquisition trials "help" was given in the form of experimenter correct verbal feedback, and, that "no help" was given during the test trials. It was precisely my analysis of the amount and function of the "help" received by each of the three groups during the acquisition trials (See Montare, ef a/., 1977, p. 275) which we demonstrated to be the key to the understanding of what was learned. Since only one error occurred in the 400 total acquisition trials for all ten subjects in the simple picture group, it was obvious that 9 out of 10 subjects learned enorlessly (i.e., without "help"), and, that what was learned was an intrinsic, visual-visual association between a simple picture and a printed word. In contrast, it was demonstrated that in the no-picture group, the "help" was actually the essential auditory stimulus without wWch no learning could have occurred; and, that what vfas learned was a visual-auditory association wherein the unconditional stimulus was the "help". The question of now the learning occurred was answered in figures 1 and 2 of the Montare, et ai. (1977) paper on page 277. That analysis concluded that learning in all three groups occurred as the resultant of a classical conditioning paradigm. The matter of whether or not this is the correct model to explain how the learning occurred is a matter for the field at large to decide. Samuels' protestations that the operant is the only correct model and that classical conditioning is limited to autonomie responses serve merely to reveal an apparent ignorance of the essence and power of an appropriate, sophisticated use of the classical conditioning model. A basic problem for an operant model to explain is the behavioral fact that the simple pic
A restudy of cardiac conduction pathways by techniques for visualization of cholinesterase reaction

Histochemical reactions which demonstrate cholinesterase reactions in tissues were used for slides of serial frozen sections of hearts of pigs, dogs, and rats to determine whether there are special types of modified muscle cells in continuous pathways from the SA (sinoartial) to the AV (atrioventricular) node. There were positive reactions for acetylcholinesterase with less reaction for butyrl cholinesterase in ganglion cells and nerve fibers. No continuous pathways of cholinesterase-reacting cardiac muscle fibers from the SA to the AV node were identified although the muscle fibers were in intimate relation with the nerve fibers. No cells of Purkinje type were demonstrated in the atria.
Valuing or pricing natural and environmental resources

Abstract This paper is a critique on contemporary non-market valuation study. We argue that the consumer value (willingness to pay (WTP)) derived from contingent valuation method or other methods is a poor guideline for resource allocation and cost–benefit analysis. Only shadow value is meaningful for the public and decision makers in resource allocation. Shadow value is the value to the society, or exchange value in the context of society level. Consumer value and shadow value are apparently different, but they are often not distinguished in many valuation studies. Attention should be given to investigating shadow value rather than willingness to pay or willingness to accept (WTA) in valuing non-market environmental resources. Theoretically, shadow value can be derived from full marginal cost pricing, but it often faces some technical problems for many non-market resources. Appraisal value, which is more holistic but considers both demand and supply, might be a good potential approach to assess shadow value or price.