cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Microscopic lymphovascular invasion is an independent predictor of survival in resected pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma

Background and Objectives Despite routine inclusion of lymphovascular invasion (LVI) status in pathologic reports of resected pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas (PDA), the clinical implications of LVI have not been well characterized. Methods This study is a retrospective review of 2640 patients who underwent a pancreatectomy for PDA at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital, or Johns Hopkins Hospital (2003-2014). Clinical and pathologic records were extracted from institutional databases. Results The median post-resection survival for the total cohort was 19.2 months with a 5-year survival rate of 15.2%. In a multivariate Cox proportional hazards model including conventional pathologic features, LVI was an independent predictor of survival (HR = 1.14, P = 0.017). In a stratified Kaplan-Meier survival analysis, patients with N0, LVI- PDA had a significantly improved overall survival compared to those with N0, LVI+ PDA (median 31 vs 24 mo, P = 0.020). Similarly, patients with N1, LVI- PDA had superior survival to patients with N1, LVI+ disease (18.6 vs 16.5 mo, P = 0.001). Conclusions As the first large scale study focused on the clinical impact of LVI status in PDA, these data indicate that this routinely reported pathologic feature is a bona fide and independent adverse prognostic factor.
Spatiotemporal Industrial Activity Model for Estimating the Intensity of Oil and Gas Operations in Colorado

Oil and gas (O&G) production in the United States has increased in the last 15 years, and operations, which are trending toward large multiwell pads, release hazardous air pollutants. Health studies have relied on proximity to O&G wells as an exposure metric, typically using an inverse distance-weighting (IDW) approach. Because O&G emissions are dependent on multiple factors, a dynamic model is needed to describe the variability in air pollution emissions over space and time. We used information on Colorado O&G activities, production volumes, and air pollutant emission rates from two Colorado basins to create a spatiotemporal industrial activity model to develop an intensity-adjusted IDW well-count metric. The Spearman correlation coefficient between this metric and measured pollutant concentrations was 0.74. We applied our model to households in Greeley, Colorado, which is in the middle of the densely developed Denver–Julesburg basin. Our intensity-adjusted IDW increased the unadjusted IDW dynamic range ...
Transverse Mixing Tests in Natural Streams

Field tests to determine the transverse mixing coefficients of three river reaches, under both open water and ice covered conditions, are described. To interpret the test results, the streamtube method for mixing calculations, developed earlier by others, is used. For evaluating transverse mixing coefficients, the widely used moments method is modified so as to be consistent with the streamtube approach. Application of the modified method to test data gave consistent results, thus reinforcing the streamtube approach. For the tests described here, the transverse mixing coefficient ranges between 0.01 m²/s and 0.09 m²/s; when this coefficient is nondimensionalized with the hydraulic radius and shear velocity, it lies between 0.4 and 2.5. Open water values of the dimensionless transverse mixing coefficient are less than the corresponding values under an ice cover by as much as two and one-half times.
Nano-confinement-driven enhanced magnetic relaxivity of SPIONs for targeted tumor bioimaging

Superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) are highly biocompatible and have a versatile synthetic technique based on coprecipitation, reduction-precipitation, and hydrothermal methods, where Fe3+ and Fe2+ react in aqueous solutions; both these ions are present in our body and have clear metabolic pathways; therefore, they have attracted extensive research interest and development in the field of diagnostic imaging and therapy. However, most SPION-based clinical diagnostic contrast agents are discontinued due to severe pain, low transverse magnetic relaxivity range of 80–180 mM−1 s−1, shorter circulation half-life, and lack of disease specificity. Therefore, in this study, we engineered a bone cancer-targeted hybrid nanoconstruct (HNC) with a high transverse magnetic relaxivity of 625 mM−1 s−1, which was significantly higher than that of clinical contrast agents. The engineered HNC is peripherally decorated with a bone-seeking agent, alendronic acid-conjugated phospholipid, exhibiting a hydrodynamic size of 80 nm with a negative surface potential, −35 mV. The interior skeleton of the HNC is composed of biodegradable and biocompatible poly(L-lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA), in which 5 nm SPIONs are confined. We have successfully tuned the distance between the confined SPIONs from 0.5 to 4 nm, as revealed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images and magnetic resonance image (MRI) phantoms. This cluster confinement dramatically enhances magnetic relaxivity possibly due to the increase in net local magnetization due to proximal field inhomogeneity. In an in vitro examination, 80% of HNC is found to bind with hydroxyapatite (HAp), which when characterized by TEM shows a painting of SPIONs over a HAp crystal. HNC is found to accumulate in mouse osteosarcoma tumor (K7M2 tumor model); both MRI and histological examination of the tumor show the potential of HNC as targeting agents for diagnosis of tumor in the bone.
An unexpected career resource.

A few years ago, my graduate student association ran into some trouble. We knew that our classmates wanted our career development seminar series to cover opportunities in biotechnology, yet we were struggling to identify speakers. As president of the association, it was my responsibility to tell
The Personal Social Networks of Resettled Bhutanese Refugees During Pregnancy in the United States: A Social Network Analysis.

Women comprise 50% of the refugee population, 25% of whom are of reproductive age. Female refugees are at risk for experiencing significant hardships associated with the refugee experience, including after resettlement. For refugee women, the strength of their personal social networks can play an important role in mitigating the stress of resettlement and can be an influential source of support during specific health events, such as pregnancy. A personal social network analysis was conducted among 45 resettled Bhutanese refugee women who had given birth within the past 2 years in the Akron Metropolitan Area of Northeast Ohio. Data were collected using in-depth interviews conducted in Nepali over a 6-month period in 2016. Size, demographic characteristics of ties, frequency of communication, length of relationship, and strength of connection were the social network measures used to describe the personal networks of participants. A qualitative analysis was also conducted to assess what matters were commonly discussed within networks and how supportive participants perceived their networks to be. Overall, participants reported an average of 3 close personal connections during their pregnancy. The networks were comprised primarily of female family members whom the participant knew prior to resettlement in the U.S. Participants reported their networks as “very close” and perceived their connections to be supportive of them during their pregnancies. These results may be used to guide future research, as well as public health programming, that seeks to improve the pregnancy experiences of resettled refugee women.
The Collective Coordinate Method and Bloch Wall Motion

It is my intention in this short report to give the reader an idea of how one could deal with the problem of the dissipative motion of Bloch walls via the so-called “collective coordinate method”. It is meant to be a tutorial and very informal approach to the subject. Although the emphasis will be on magnetic systems the method can also be applied to many other non-linear one dimensional field theoretical models.
Interaction of Nuclear and Chloroplast Mutations in Biogenesis of Chloroplast Ribosomes in Chlamydomonas

In Chlamydomonas, as in higher plants, the chloroplast genome codes for chloroplast ribosomal RNAs, tRNAs, about 1/3 of the ribosomal proteins, and a number of proteins of the photosynthetic apparatus (Table 1, Fig. 1). Other proteins are coded by the nuclear genome and imported, generally as precursors which are processed to mature form within the chloroplast (Table 1). Because C. reinhardtii can dispense with photosynthetic functions if provided acetate as an alternative carbon source, this species is an ideal model system for investigation of mutations affecting these components. In the case of the large subunit of ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase (RUBISCO; Spreitzer & Ogren, 1985), the 32 kd herbicide binding protein (Erickson et al., 1985), and the beta subunit of the CF0CF1 ATPase (Woessner et al., 1986), analysis of chloroplast genes has extended to the DNA sequence level, and to comparison of mutations and reversions within the same gene.
Modeling Failure Initiation in Sea Ice Based on Loss of Ellipticity

The opening of leads and ridge formation in sea ice are examples of material failure analogous to failure mechanisms in other geological materials. The prediction of failure initiation should be the role of a proper constitutive equation, in addition to the usual expectation of providing an accurate correlation between stress and strain. Under certain assumptions, the loss of ellipticity is also the state at which material stability is lost and the state at which a discontinuous bifurcation appears. Since these conditions are identical, it is proposed that these states also be identified with the initiation of material failure. In addition to the location of failure, the criterion also provides the orientation of the failure surface as a surface-normal vector, and the mode of failure initiation as an eigenvector of the acoustic tensor. The eigenvector can be interpreted as the direction of the potential strong discontinuity in displacement. The underlying theory is summarized together with references that provide applications to other geological materials.
The Regulation and Function of the L-Type Amino Acid Transporter 1 (LAT1) in Cancer

The progression of cancer is associated with increases in amino acid uptake by cancer cells. Upon their entry into cells through specific transporters, exogenous amino acids are used to synthesize proteins, nucleic acids and lipids and to generate ATP. The essential amino acid leucine is also important for maintaining cancer-associated signaling pathways. By upregulating amino acid transporters, cancer cells gain greater access to exogenous amino acids to support chronic proliferation, maintain metabolic pathways, and to enhance certain signal transduction pathways. Suppressing cancer growth by targeting amino acid transporters will require an in-depth understanding of how cancer cells acquire amino acids, in particular, the transporters involved and which cancer pathways are most sensitive to amino acid deprivation. L-Type Amino Acid Transporter 1 (LAT1) mediates the uptake of essential amino acids and its expression is upregulated during the progression of several cancers. We will review the upstream regulators of LAT1 and the downstream effects caused by the overexpression of LAT1 in cancer cells.
Esterase Activity is Affected by Genetics, Age, Insecticide Exposure, and Viral Infection in the Honey Bee, Apis mellifera

Non-target impacts of insecticide treatments are a major public and environmental concern, particularly in contemporary beekeeping. Therefore, it is important to understand the physiological mechanisms contributing to insecticide sensitivity in honey bees. In the present studies, we sought to evaluate the role of esterases as the source of variation in insecticide sensitivity. To address this question, the following objectives were completed: 1) Evaluated esterase activity among honey bee stocks, 2) Assessed the correlation of esterase activity with changes in insecticide sensitivity with honey bee age, 3) Established if esterases can be used as a biomarker of insecticide exposure, and 4) Examined the effects of Varroa mite infestation and viral infection on esterase activity. Results indicated that honey bees have a dynamic esterase capacity that is influenced by genetic stock and age. However, there was no consistent connection of esterase activity with insecticide sensitivity across genetic stocks or with age, which suggests other factors are more critical for determining insecticide sensitivity. The trend of increased esterase activity with age in honey bees suggests this physiological transition is consistent with enhanced metabolic rate with age. The esterase inhibition with naled but not phenothrin or clothianidin indicates that reduced esterase activity levels may only be reliable for sublethal doses of organophosphate insecticides. The observation that viral infection, but not Varroa mite infestation, reduced esterase activity shows viruses have extensive physiological impacts. Taken together, these data suggest that honey bee esterase activity toward these model substrates may not correlate well with insecticide sensitivity. Future studies include identification of esterase substrates and inhibitors that are better surrogates of insecticide detoxification in honey bees as well as investigation on the usefulness of esterase activity as a biomarker of pesticide exposure, and viral infection.
Ettringite induced heaving in stabilized high sulfate soils

Stabilization of expansive soils using lime and cement additives have been used by practitioners over the years. However, recent heaving and premature pavement failures in lime and cement-treated subgrades containing sulfates led to questioning the use of calcium-based stabilization methods for these soils. Annually, millions of dollars are spent to repair pavements distressed by this Ettringite induced heaving. Based on the past studies, researchers and practitioners have proposed various methods to treat sulfate soils. Applicability of these methods is mostly limited to soils with sulfate levels below 8000 ppm. Soils with sulfate content above 8000 ppm are termed as “high sulfate” soils, and chemical treatment of such soils is currently not considered. A research study was designed to aid in understanding the heaving phenomenon in soils with sulfate contents above 8000 ppm and to develop practical techniques to stabilize such soils. High sulfate soils were sampled and treated with lime at varying mellowing periods and treated soils were then subjected to the engineering and chemical tests. Tests results were analyzed to understand the effectiveness of mellowing period on the heaving phenomenon of these soils. Treated soils at higher mellowing periods showed reduced sulfate-induced heaving when sulfate levels are lower than 30,000 ppm. Sulfate levels in excess of 30,000 ppm did not result in effective treatment of soils. It was also observed that compaction void ratios and soil clay mineralogy have a significant impact on the swell behavior of chemically treated high sulfate soils. An innovative method comprising of aerial technologies is used to monitor the pavement heaving. This keynote paper provides a comprehensive review of stabilization of high sulfate soils and methods studied to mitigate sulfate heaving.
Varieties of Conscious Experience and the Subjective Awareness of One’s “True” Self:

The subjective awareness of one’s true self is considered a fundamental aspect of authenticity. It is theorized to reflect an experienced disconnect between one’s conscious awareness and actual exp...
Does administration of haloperidol or ketorolac decrease opioid administration for abdominal pain patients? A retrospective study.

Background Haloperidol and ketorolac have been recommended as therapies that may decrease opioid use for treatment of pain in emergency department patients. The objective of our study is to determine if administration of haloperidol or ketorolac is associated with lower use of i.v. opioids for patients with non-specific abdominal pain. Methods A retrospective cohort study of adults (Age 18-60) with non-specific abdominal pain presenting to an emergency department in a large healthcare system. Cases were identified using ICD-10 codes and variables were abstracted from electronic health records. The association between administration of haloperidol or ketorolac with 1) any i.v. opioid administration and 2) receiving >1 dose of i.v. opioids were measured using adjusted odds ratios (AOR) from nominal logistic regression. The model included potential confounders related to both opioid and ketorolac or haloperidol administration. Results Of 11,688 patients 4091 received one or more doses of an i.v. opioid, 240 received haloperidol and 1788 received ketorolac. The majority of patients were women (67%) and the median age was 32 years. Odds ratios were adjusted for variables associated with opioids, ketorolac or haloperidol use. Haloperidol was not associated with decreased i.v. opioid use (AOR for receiving iv opioids 2.0, 95% CI 1.5 to 2.6) or a lower odds of reciving >1 dose of (AOR 2.0, 95% CI 1.3 to 3.1). Ketorolac was associated with a modest decrease in i.v. opioid use (AOR 0.84 95% CI.0.76 to 0.94 for receiving iv opioids) and a modest decrease for receiving multiple dose of iv opioids (AOR 0.79 95% CI 0.63 to 0.99). Conclusions Haloperidol was not associated with decreased i.v. opioid use. Ketorolac was associated with a modest decrease in i.v. opioid use. Providers should consider the use of haloperidol and ketorolac as potentially beneficial in some cases, but there is a need for high quality studies before they can be recommended as standard therapy.
Preparing Teachers as Democratic Professionals.

This paper discusses the concept of democratic professionalism and argues that it offers a way to frame teacher education so that it can contribute to more productively managing long standing tensi...
Toward Implementing the Agent-Deed-Consequence Model of Moral Judgment in Autonomous Vehicles

Autonomous vehicles (AVs) and accidents they are involved in attest to the urgent need to consider the ethics of AI. The question dominating the discussion has been whether we want AVs to behave in a 'selfish' or utilitarian manner. Rather than considering modeling self-driving cars on a single moral system like utilitarianism, one possible way to approach programming for AI would be to reflect recent work in neuroethics. The Agent-Deed-Consequence (ADC) model [1-4] provides a promising account while also lending itself well to implementation in AI. The ADC model explains moral judgments by breaking them down into positive or negative intuitive evaluations of the Agent, Deed, and Consequence in any given situation. These intuitive evaluations combine to produce a judgment of moral acceptability. This explains the considerable flexibility and stability of human moral judgment that has yet to be replicated in AI. This paper examines the advantages and disadvantages of implementing the ADC model and how the model could inform future work on ethics of AI in general.
Bioactive Lipid Signaling in Cardiovascular Disease, Development, and Regeneration

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains a leading cause of death globally. Understanding and characterizing the biochemical context of the cardiovascular system in health and disease is a necessary preliminary step for developing novel therapeutic strategies aimed at restoring cardiovascular function. Bioactive lipids are a class of dietary-dependent, chemically heterogeneous lipids with potent biological signaling functions. They have been intensively studied for their roles in immunity, inflammation, and reproduction, among others. Recent advances in liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry techniques have revealed a staggering number of novel bioactive lipids, most of them unknown or very poorly characterized in a biological context. Some of these new bioactive lipids play important roles in cardiovascular biology, including development, inflammation, regeneration, stem cell differentiation, and regulation of cell proliferation. Identifying the lipid signaling pathways underlying these effects and uncovering their novel biological functions could pave the way for new therapeutic strategies aimed at CVD and cardiovascular regeneration.
Simulation of 3-D Nonequilibrium Seeded Air Flow in the NASA-Ames MHD Channel

The 3-D nonequilibrium seeded air flow in the NASA-Ames experimental MHD channel has been numerically simulated. The channel contains a nozzle section, a center section, and an accelerator section where magnetic and electric fields can be imposed on the flow. In recent tests, velocity increases of up to 40% have been achieved in the accelerator section. The flow in the channel is numerically computed us ing a 3-D parabolized Navier-Stokes (PNS) algorithm that has been developed to efficiently compute MHD flows in the low magnetic Reynolds number regime: The MHD effects are modeled by introducing source terms into the PNS equations which can then be solved in a very efficient manner. The algorithm has been extended in the present study to account for nonequilibrium seeded air flows. The electrical conductivity of the flow is determined using the program of Park. The new algorithm has been used to compute two test cases that match the experimental conditions. In both cases, magnetic and electric fields are applied to the seeded flow. The computed results are in good agreement with the experimental data.
Perturbation correction for refraction in interferometric tomography.

Plusieurs algorithmes de reconstruction ont ete developpes en supposant que le rayonnement de sondage se propage suivant des lignes droites. Lorsqu'il existe des gradients de l'indice de refraction, on propose une modification de la methode
On the detectability of 57Fe axion-photon mode conversion in the Sun

Aims. The purpose of this paper is to assess the feasibility of axion detection by X-ray spectroscopy of the sun. Methods. We review the theory of axion-photon mode conversion with special attention to axions emitted in the 14.4 keV M1 decay of 57Fe at the solar center. These then mode convert to photons in the outer layers of the solar envelope, and may in principle be detected subsequently as X-rays. Results. For axion masses above about 10−4 eV, resonant mode conversion at a layer where the axion mass matches the local electron plasma frequency is necessary. For axion masses above about 10−2 eV, this mode conversion occurs too deep in the solar atmosphere for the resulting photon to escape the solar surface and be detected before Compton scattering obscures the line. At the (detectable) axion masses below this, the flux of mode converted photons predicted by axion models appears to be too low for detection to be feasible with current instrumentation. Nonresonant mode conversion for axion masses below 10−4 eV is also plausible, but with still lower predicted fluxes, since the axion coupling constant is related to its mass. Conclusions. Prospects for meaningful constraints on massive axion parameters from X-ray observations of this transition from the Sun do not appear to be promising. However parameters for massless counterparts (e.g. the “arion”) may still result from such observations. It may mode convert in the outer layers of the solar atmosphere, but is not restricted by this to have a small coupling constant.
New Assessments and Teacher Accountability: Lessons for Teachers’ Practice:

The transition to new assessments aligned to the Common Core State Standards was a significant turning point in the standards’ implementation. Concerns about the transition led districts to suspend...
First Results from the Phase Space Mapping Experiment

A new experiment, called the PHAse Space MApping (PHASMA) experiment, features laser induced fluorescence diagnostics for ion measurements, Thomson scattering diagnostics for electron velocity distribution function measurements, and a microwave scattering system for turbulence measurements. PHASMA is designed to enable the direct measurement of ion and electron vdfs in space-relevant plasma phenomena including reconnection, shocks, and turbulence. To create the conditions necessary for different experimental regimes, PHASMA employs a 2 kW, steady-state helicon source capable of generating variable-density background hydrogen, helium, argon, krypton, and xenon plasmas with controllable plasma pressure (relative to the magnetic pressure), collisionality, and azimuthal flow shear. Reconnecting flux ropes arise through the merging of discharges from two pulsed plasma guns.
Supplemental Watermelon Juice Attenuates Acute Hyperglycemia-Induced Macro-and Microvascular Dysfunction in Healthy Adults.

BACKGROUND Acute hyperglycemia reduces NO bioavailability and causes macro- and microvascular dysfunction. Watermelon juice (WMJ) is a natural source of the amino acid citrulline, which is metabolized to form arginine for the NO cycle and may improve vascular function. OBJECTIVES We examined the effects of 2 weeks of WMJ compared to a calorie-matched placebo (PLA) to attenuate acute hyperglycemia-induced vascular dysfunction. METHODS In a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, crossover trial, 6 men and 11 women (aged 21-25; BMI, 23.5 ± 3.2 kg/m2) received 2 weeks of daily WMJ (500 mL) or a PLA drink followed by an oral-glucose-tolerance test. Postprandial flow-mediated dilation (FMD) was measured by ultrasound (primary outcome), while postprandial microvascular blood flow (MVBF) and ischemic reperfusion were measured by near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) vascular occlusion test (VOT). RESULTS The postprandial FMD area AUC was higher after WMJ supplementation compared to PLA supplementation (838 ± 459% · 90 min compared with 539 ± 278% · 90 min; P = 0.03). The postprandial MVBF (AUC) was higher (P = 0.01) following WMJ supplementation (51.0 ± 29.1 mL blood · 100 mL tissue-1 · min-1 · 90 min) compared to the PLA (36.0 ± 20.5 mL blood · 100 mL tissue-1 · min-1 · 90 min; P = 0.01). There was a significant treatment effect (P = 0.048) for WMJ supplementation (71.2 ± 1.5%) to increase baseline tissue oxygen saturation (StO2%) when compared to PLA (65.9 ± 1.7%). The ischemic-reperfusion slope was not affected by WMJ treatment (P = 0.83). CONCLUSIONS Two weeks of daily WMJ supplementation improved FMD and some aspects of microvascular function (NIRS-VOT) during experimentally induced acute hyperglycemia in healthy adults. Preserved postprandial endothelial function and enhanced skeletal muscle StO2% are likely partially mediated by increased NO production (via citrulline conversion into arginine) and by the potential antioxidant effect of other bioactive compounds in WMJ.
Cracking of lunar mare soil.

Demonstration that lunar soil deforms and cracks in the same manner as homogeneous isotropic terrestrial soil s of moderate bulk density with a small amount of cohesion. This conclusion is made from an analysis of Surveyor 3 TV pictures and of Apollo 11 closeup picture of lunar surface disturbances by bearing tests and instrument pressure.
The Online Challenge: Why Not Teach Music History Unconventionally?

As the proliferation of online courses reaches into the fields of music history and music theory, more colleagues are contemplating the efficacy and desirability of getting involved, while some institutions are pushing faculty into the new medium of instruction. This essay explores one such instance of online instruction by first outlining the format and implementation system at a major state university, then reflecting on both the positive and negative experiences encountered by the instructor, who has taught online music history and music fundamentals courses for the past seven years.
Stability of extreme static and dynamic bulk moduli of an elastic two‐phase composite due to a non‐positive‐definite phase

Elastic composite materials having phases that violate elastic positive-definiteness (so-called negative-stiffness phases) have been reported to, in principle, realize extreme values of overall elastic moduli such as the effective bulk modulus, if the composite geometry and the constituents’ elastic properties are appropriately tuned. In addition, previous studies have confirmed the stabilizing effect of the geometric constraints on the individual phases within a composite material: a non-positive-definite phase can be stabilized by a constraining matrix that is sufficiently stiff and sufficiently thick. However, to date no analysis has correlated the predicted extreme elastic response to the regime of stability. Therefore, it has remained an open question whether or not the inclusion of a non-positive-definite phase in an elastic composite can lead to stable extreme overall moduli. In this contribution we aim to close this gap by investigating the effective static and time-harmonic dynamic response of the simple elastic two-phase system of a coated spherical inclusion, and we report the results of its stability analysis. We show that the predicted extreme effective static bulk modulus of the two-phase system cannot be stable, whereas time-harmonic dynamic conditions indicate potential for considerable increases of the effective dynamic bulk stiffness in a resonant-like fashion due to the negative-stiffness induced low-frequency resonance.
Quantum Well Infrared Photodetectors: Device Physics and Light Coupling

It is customary to make infrared (IR) detectors in the long wavelength range (8 – 20 urn) by utilizing the interband transition which promotes an electron across the bandgap (Eg) from the valence band to the conduction. These photo-electrons can be collected efficiently, thereby producing a photocurrent in the external circuit. Since the incoming photon has to promote an electron from the valence band to the conduction band, the energy of the photon (hv) must be higher than the Eg of the photosensitive material. Therefore, the spectral response of the detectors can be controlled by manipulating Eg of the photosensitive material. Detection of very long wavelength IR radiation up to 20 μm requires small bandgaps down to 62 meV. Examples of such materials meeting these requirements are Hg1-xCdxTe and Pb1-xSnxTe in which the energy gap can be controlled by varying x. It is well known that these low bandgap materials are more difficult to grow and process than large bandgap semiconductors such as GaAs. These difficulties motivate the exploration of utilizing the intersubband transitions in multi quantum well (MQW) structures made of large bandgap semiconductors.
Sintering and Performance of High Alumina Refractory with ZrO2 Addition

Sintering behavior and performance of high alumina refractory based on the ternary subsystem MgAl2O4-CaAl4O7-CaAl12O19 were investigated using ZrO2 as an additive up to 8 wt.% by solid state reaction sintering. It was found that the added ZrO2 could dissolve in the CA6 grains in the form of a solid solution, which enhanced the isotropic growth of CA6 grains and then improved the sintering. As a result, the densification process was improved and areas with enrichment of ZrO2 showed a more compact structure. With further increase of ZrO2 addition, tetragonal ZrO2 were found to locate in the grain boundaries for exceeding the solid solubility limit, which enhanced the thermal shock resistance, indicating that addition of ZrO2 exhibited a positive effect on sintering behavior and performance of this refractory. In addition, it is considered that the optimal amount of ZrO2 addition was about 4% considering the performance together with the cost.
Seasonal Variability and Transport of Suspended Microfungi in a Southeastern Salt Marsh

Tidally induced fluctuations and transports of microfungi were investigated. Samples were collected at three depths from three stations positioned at a transect in a large salt marsh creek. Samples were taken every 1.5 h for 50 consecutive h during neap tides and 50 consecutive h during the corresponding spring tides. In each season, microfungi concentrations fluctuated out of phase with the tides during both neap and spring tides. Mean concentrations of suspended microfungi did not vary appreciably throughout the year. Fungi were exported from the marsh during the majority of the tidal cycles studied. The results suggest that microfungi may serve as indicators of water mass movements.
A fast distributed optimal routing algorithm for multicommodity large data networks

A a new distributed algorithm is investigated for optimal routing problems of large data network with multicommodities. The existing algorithms for general network topology have parallel time complexity of at least O(M/spl Phi//sup 2/) using all the nodes of the network as processors. Our algorithm takes O(m/spl Phi//sup 2/) time units using the same number of processors if some mild network conditions are met. Here, /spl Phi/ is the diameter of the network; M is the number of commodities; m is a positive number usually much smaller than M and is a function of the pattern of all the OD pairs including the locations of each origin node and destination node, and the flow demand of each OD pair. The implementation of the algorithm for a 200-node network is simulated using OPNET simulation tool and the results show that our algorithm is much faster than the general algorithms. >
Suspended Sediment Transport – Flocculation and Particle Characteristics

In the history of sediment transport research within hydrological sciences, there has possibly been no greater paradigm shift than that which has been provided by the identification of flocculation as a dominant mechanism operating within, and mediating, cohesive suspended sediment transport. Flocculation (the process of aggregating smaller particles together to form larger particles) significantly modifies the hydrodynamic properties of the sediment by altering their effective size, shape, density, porosity, and composition. Such changes have a dramatic impact on the downward flux of sediments and as such influence the transportation and fate of suspended sediments. The traditional assumption of suspended sediment being inorganic individual grains for the quantification and modeling of sediment transport is likely to result in erroneous results and management decisions. Flocs settle faster than their individual constituent particles (but orders of magnitude slower than that predicted by Stokes' equation for a similar size), and, for large flocs, can have porosity close to 100% and a corresponding density close to that of water. Flocs are composed of significant living organic components (primarily bacteria) which produce an extracellular polymeric substance (fibrils) which glues particles together giving them greater strength than an electrochemically bound floc, and a pseudo plastic nature. Because of this active living component, flocs should be thought of as micro ecosystems (composed of a matrix of water, inorganic, and organic particles) with autonomous and interactive physical, chemical, and biological functions or behaviors operating within the floc matrix. A better understanding of how floc structure influences floc behavior will help to refine our knowledge and management of suspended sediment transport in a variety of aquatic ecosystems. Keywords: sediment transport; floc; flocculation; aggregation; cohesive sediments; settling velocity; density; porosity; bacteria; EPS
ORAL THERAPY IN ADRENAL INSUFFICIENCY

The disadvantages occasioned by the frequent subcutaneous injections of adrenal cortical extract in patients with advanced Addison's disease are well known. It has been shown that the effect of a single subcutaneous injection of extract is short-lived (1) and that a constant supply of hormone can be insured only by repeated injections. The desirability of administering the extract in some form which obviates the necessity of frequent injections and at the same time provides for a constant rate of absorption is readily understood. The earliest successful attempt to use a glycerol extract of fresh adrenal tissue in the treatment of Addison's disease appears to have been made by Osier (2) in the Johns Hopkins Hospital in 1895. Because recent medical literature contains no reference to this classical study, excerpts of this report as it appeared in the International Medical Magazine for February, 1896, follow.
Antibody to dihydrofolate reductase from a methotrexate-resistant subline of the L1210 lymphoma.

An antiserum has been prepared against dihydrofolate reductase (EC 1.5.1.3) from mouse L1210 R tumor cells by injection of the purified enzyme into rabbits. The antiserum both precipitates and inactivates the enzyme; the antigen-antibody interaction fixes complement. The antibody inactivates dihydrofolate reductase from L5178Y, Ehrlich ascites carcinoma, and Sarcoma 180 murine tumors as well as that from the L1210 lymphoma. It partially inactivates enzyme from human bone marrow, but does not inactivate enzyme from Escherichia coli or from mouse, chicken, guinea pig, or rabbit liver. The cofactor NADPH, the substrates dihydrofolate and folate, and the inhibitor methotrexate protect the enzyme from inactivation by the antibody at low concentration.
Pasteurization of Poultry Meat by Steam Under Reduced Pressure

Abstract INTRODUCTION APREVIOUS report from this laboratory (Klose and Bayne, 1970) established the feasibility, under laboratory conditions in glass, of reducing the normal bacterial count on ready-to-cook poultry surfaces 10,000 to 100,000 fold by exposing the surfaces to condensing vapors from boiling liquids, including water boiling at reduced pressure. For example, exposure of chicken drumsticks to 76°C. (169°F.) water vapor for 2 minutes gave a reduction of 1,000 fold, and for 8 minutes a reduction of 70,000 fold. Extension of chilled shelf life was 3 and 11 days, respectively. Since these orders of reduction are in the same order of magnitude as those reported for total count reduction in well established food pasteurization procedures, it was considered to be of interest to extend these tests with water vapor under reduced pressure to whole ready-to-cook poultry carcasses and to conditions and equipment that would more closely simulate food processing technology. This paper…
Temperature effects in a Brillouin fiber ring laser

Temperature effects in a Brillouin fiber ring laser have been investigated. The results show that temperature plays a major role in many different laser characteristics such as lasing frequency, mode hopping, spontaneous pulsing, and frequency mode pulling. Thermal coefficients for the Brillouin frequency shift and for the frequency difference between the pump wave and the first-Stokes wave were measured and are consistent with theoretical predictions based on published basic material parameters. Experimental observation and measurement of the temperature dependence of the spontaneous pulsing threshold show that temperature is a key parameter that may be important in uncovering the physical mechanism underlying spontaneous pulsing.
Electron transport in pure and substituted iron oxyhydroxides by small-polaron migration.

Iron oxyhydroxides (FeOOH) are common crystalline forms of iron that play a critical role in technology and the natural environment via a variety of important reduction-oxidation reactions, including electrical semiconduction as an aspect. However, a basic understanding of the electron transport properties of these systems is still lacking. We examine the electron mobility in goethite (α-FeOOH), akaganeite (β-FeOOH), and lepidocrocite (γ-FeOOH) polymorphs by means of density functional theory based (DFT+U) calculations. We show that room temperature charge transport should be dominated by the small-polaron hopping type, and that the attendant mobility should be highest for pure goethite and akaganeite. Hopping pathways through the various lattices are discussed in terms of individual electron exchange steps and rates for each. Given the usual occurrence of compositional impurities in natural iron oxyhydroxides, we also investigate the effect of common stoichiometric defects on the electron hopping activation energies such as Al and Cr substitutional cations in goethite, and Cl anions in the channels of akaganeite.
Cardiac arrhythmias associated with Cheyne-Stokes respiration: a note on the possible mechanisms.

Cardiac arrhythmias consisting of A-V block of varying grades have been observed fairly frequently by us in patients with Cheyne-Stokes respiration secondary to left ventricular failure. Nine patients with Cheyne-Stokes respiration (CSR) related arrhythmias and five with little or no irregularity during CSR were studied in the hope of elucidating the responsible mechanisms. Arterial and cerebrospinal fluid gas tensions, arterial and cerebral venous pressures and CSF pressures were recorded continuously. The slowing of heart rate and true A-V block which occurs at the end of apnea or early hyperpnea were found to be purely vagal in nature and correctable with atropine. The most likely factors seem to be variations in arterial blood gases, and perhaps more importantly, of cerebrospinal fluid P CO2 and pH. It is postulated that cardio-regulatory centers similar to respiratory centers may be scattered on the surface of medulla and respond to changes in CSF gas tensions.
The Intergranular Phase in Hot‐Pressed Silicon Nitride: II, Evidence for Phase Separation and Crystallization

Compositional and morphological evidence obtained using transmission electron microscopy is presented indicating that the noncrystalline phase in a hot-pressed silicon nitride can undergo phase separation. The compositional range determined for the phase separation is close to the known miscibility gap in the pseudobinary system SiO/sub 2/-MgO. Crystallization of Si/sub 2/N/sub 2/O and MgSiO/sub 3/ from the noncrystalline phase is also evident, suggesting that it can contain some dissolved nitrogen and that the intergranular phase may be crystallizable. 6 refs.
Increasing student employee morale and retention by developing advanced employment opportunities: a Penn State perspective

The presenters manage two different groups of students with different responsibilities. Each was faced with the same problems-high turnover, the retention of good employees, and employee morale and motivation. The presenters will discuss how they individually addressed these issues by developing advanced employment opportunities. While these programs are very different, they meet the same objectives-boosting student employee morale while rewarding and retaining good student employees. This presentation is an overview of both programs. Both presenters will address the criteria for each program, why and how it was implemented, general student duties and responsibilities as well as the benefit to the students themselves.
Hypersonic transitional and turbulent flow studies on a lifting entry vehicle

An experimental and analytical program was conducted to obtain turbulent heat-transfer and boundary-layer transition data on a lifting entry configuration at Mach 10. Heat-transfer and static pressure distributions, shadowgraphs, and boundary-layer flowfield surveys were obtained. Transitional and turbulent data were taken over a range of angle of attack from —10° to 60° and freestream unit Reynolds numbers from 300,000 to 2,400,000/ft. Transition onset, transition zone heat transfer and extent, and turbulent heat transfer were correlated with existing theories and criteria. Transition occurred at much lower Reynolds numbers on the flat lower surface than has been observed on sharp or blunt cones under similar operating conditions. No transition was observed on the conical upper surface, even at negative vehicle angles of attack.
Localized IRES-Dependent Translation of ER Chaperone Protein mRNA in Sensory Axons

Transport of neuronal mRNAs into distal nerve terminals and growth cones allows axonal processes to generate proteins autonomous from the cell body. While the mechanisms for targeting mRNAs for transport into axons has received much attention, how specificity is provided to the localized translational apparatus remains largely unknown. In other cellular systems, protein synthesis can be regulated by both cap-dependent and cap-independent mechanisms. The possibility that these mechanisms are used by axons has not been tested. Here, we have used expression constructs encoding axonally targeted bicistronic reporter mRNAs to determine if sensory axons can translate mRNAs through cap-independent mechanisms. Our data show that the well-defined IRES element of encephalomyocarditis virus (EMCV) can drive internal translational initiation of a bicistronic reporter mRNA in distal DRG axons. To test the potential for cap-independent translation of cellular mRNAs, we asked if calreticulin or grp78/BiP mRNA 5'UTRs might have IRES activity in axons. Only grp78/BiP mRNA 5'UTR showed clear IRES activity in axons when placed between the open reading frames of diffusion limited fluorescent reporters. Indeed, calreticulin's 5'UTR provided an excellent control for potential read through by ribosomes, since there was no evidence of internal initiation when this UTR was placed between reporter ORFs in a bicistronic mRNA. This study shows that axons have the capacity to translate through internal ribosome entry sites, but a simple binary choice between cap-dependent and cap-independent translation cannot explain the specificity for translation of individual mRNAs in distal axons.
Mesoporous amine‐bridged polysilsesquioxane for CO2 capture

Th is publication was based on work supported by Award No. KUS-C1-018-02, made by King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST). Experimental details of the synthesis and characterization of the sorbent. Adsorption and desorption of the sorbent.
Spherical shape instability induced changes in the structure of microemulsions

The dispersed phase of a microemulsion in equilibrium with the excess dispersed phase is in the form of spherical globules. A change in the structure of the microemulsion near the transition from two to three phases is predicted on the basis of thermodynamic considerations. This change occurs because the spherical interface of the globules becomes unstable to perturbations. Because this instability is a result of the condition of equilibrium itself, there is a similarity (but not identity) to the behavior near a critical point. The spherical interface can also become unstable to perturbations in some single-phase microemulsions, although it is stable in microemulsions that coexist with the excess dispersed phase. Thermodynamic considerations also indicate that at the transition from two to three phases, the curvature of the spherical globules must be zero. This result is extended to the entire middle-phase microemulsion as the condition of zero mean-time or space-average curvature. Such a condition can be satisfied in the neighborhood of the transition points from two to three phases and again from three to two phases via the oscillations of the globular interface; in the central region of the middle phase, where the volume fraction of oilΦ∼0.5, this condition is likely to be satisfied via the oscillations of the interface of a bicontinuous sponge.