cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Extended-cavity diode lasers with tracked resonances

We present a painless, almost-free upgrade to present extended-cavity diode lasers (ECDLs) that improves the long-term mode-hop-free performance by stabilizing the resonance of the internal cavity to the external cavity. This stabilization is based on the observation that the frequency or amplitude noise of the ECDL is lowest at the optimum laser diode temperature or injection current. Thus, keeping the diode current at the level where the noise is lowest ensures mode-hop-free operation within one of the stable regions of the mode chart, even if these should drift due to external influences. This method can be applied directly to existing laser systems without modifying the optical setup. We demonstrate the method in two ECDLs stabilized to vapor cells at 852 and 895 nm wavelengths. We achieve long-term mode-hop-free operation and low noise at low power consumption, even with an inexpensive non-antireflection-coated diode.
Clinical Management of Tenosynovitis and Tendon Friction Rubs in Systemic Sclerosis

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a systemic autoimmune disease with unknown cause and complex pathogenesis. It is characterized by extensive interstitial and vascular fibrosis resulting in skin fibrosis and internal organ involvement.
Connecting urban transportation systems with the spread of infectious diseases: A Trans-SEIR modeling approach

Abstract Urban transportation systems satisfy the essential mobility needs of the large-scale urban population, but it also creates an ideal environment that favors the spread of infectious diseases, leading to significant risk exposure to the massive urban population. In this study, we develop the mathematical model to understand the coupling between the spreading dynamics of infectious diseases and the mobility dynamics through urban transportation systems. We first describe the mobility dynamics of the urban population as the process of leaving from home, traveling to and from the activity locations, and engaging in activities. We then embed the susceptible-exposed-infectious-recovered (SEIR) process over the mobility dynamics and develops the spatial SEIR model with travel contagion (Trans-SEIR), which explicitly accounts for contagions both during travel and during daily activities. We investigate the theoretical properties of the proposed model and show how activity contagion and travel contagion contribute to the average number of secondary infections. We further develop an optimal control strategy for the effective entrance control of public transportation systems with optimal allocation of limited resources. In the numerical experiments, we explore how the urban transportation system may alter the fundamental dynamics of the infectious disease, change the number of secondary infections, promote the synchronization of the disease across the city, and affect the peak of the disease outbreaks. The Trans-SEIR model is further applied to understand the disease dynamics during early COVID-19 outbreak in New York City, where we show how the activity and travel contagion may be distributed and how effective entrance control can be implemented in urban transportation systems. The Trans-SEIR model, along with the findings in our study, may significantly improve our understanding of the coupling between urban transportation systems and disease dynamics, the development of quarantine and control measures for mitigating the disease risks and promoting the idea of disease-resilient urban transportation networks.
Contextualizing Gender’s Role in Kate Chopin’s The Awakening and Rajaa Alsanea’s Girls of Riyadh: A Comparative Historical Study

This study, through a new historicist comparative approach, strives to explore the dynamics of women in marriages and in friendships for Kate Chopin’s The Awakening and Rajaa Alsanea’s Girls of Riyadh. Although Chopin’s novel was written in 1899 and Alsanea’s in 2005, both received harsh condemnation and rejection in newspapers and book reviews when they were published, emphasizing gender`s role in both cultures. By explaining the reciprocal relationships between the texts and the newspaper reviews, and ephemera, this paper adds to scholarly understanding of how the newspapers and the critics` reflection for a certain literary text, as a human constant, can describe the gender segregation of the context`s time. Using textual analyses in the form of close readings of the female characters’ interactions with their partners and other women, and the struggle and experience of each women in both novels in terms of marriage, this paper will demonstrate links between the thoughts of critics as context and the novel as a creative historical output as both writers deftly caused great social discussions for change.
PieSlicer: Dynamically Improving Response Time for Cloud-based CNN Inference

Executing deep-learning inference on cloud servers enables the usage of high complexity models for mobile devices with limited resources. However, pre-execution time-the time it takes to prepare and transfer data to the cloud-is variable and can take orders of magnitude longer to complete than inference execution itself. This pre-execution time can be reduced by dynamically deciding the order of two essential steps, preprocessing and data transfer, to better take advantage of on-device resources and network conditions. In this work, we present PieSlicer, a system for making dynamic preprocessing decisions to improve cloud inference performance using linear regression models. PieSlicer then leverages these models to select the appropriate preprocessing location. We show that for image classification applications PieSlicer reduces median and 99th percentile pre-execution time by up to 50.2ms and 217.2ms respectively when compared to static preprocessing methods.
The changing impact of economics on managing bovine respiratory disease complex in feedlot cattle

The cattle market has set year-over-year record high prices since 2009. The increasing value of cattle has substantially increased the financial risk of feeding cattle, and has commensurately increased the economic losses from disease. As cattle feeding profitability continues to be challenged by the low margin between selling prices and operating costs, all facets of cattle feeding are being evaluated to improve efficiency. Better disease management is an area where economic efficiencies can be gained. Bovine respiratory disease complex (BRDC) is widely cited as the most costly disease of beef cattle in North America. Management tools and efforts need to be reexamined, and new tools developed, to reduce BRDC economic losses. This paper reviews cattle feeding financial risk and recent economic implications from the Integrated Program for Reducing Bovine Respiratory Disease Complex in Beef and Dairy Cattle Coordinated Agricultural Project.
The sympathetic nervous system in development and disease

The sympathetic nervous system prepares the body for ‘fight or flight’ responses and maintains homeostasis during daily activities such as exercise, eating a meal or regulation of body temperature. Sympathetic regulation of bodily functions requires the establishment and refinement of anatomically and functionally precise connections between postganglionic sympathetic neurons and peripheral organs distributed widely throughout the body. Mechanistic studies of key events in the formation of postganglionic sympathetic neurons during embryonic and early postnatal life, including axon growth, target innervation, neuron survival, and dendrite growth and synapse formation, have advanced the understanding of how neuronal development is shaped by interactions with peripheral tissues and organs. Recent progress has also been made in identifying how the cellular and molecular diversity of sympathetic neurons is established to meet the functional demands of peripheral organs. In this Review, we summarize current knowledge of signalling pathways underlying the development of the sympathetic nervous system. These findings have implications for unravelling the contribution of sympathetic dysfunction stemming, in part, from developmental perturbations to the pathophysiology of peripheral neuropathies and cardiovascular and metabolic disorders. The sympathetic regulation of bodily functions relies on precise connections between sympathetic neurons and peripheral organs. In this Review, Scott-Solomon and colleagues discuss the mechanisms underlying the development of the sympathetic nervous system and provide insight into disorders regulated by this branch of the nervous system.
Classification of streaming time series under more realistic assumptions

Much of the vast literature on time series classification makes several assumptions about data and the algorithm's eventual deployment that are almost certainly unwarranted. For example, many research efforts assume that the beginning and ending points of the pattern of interest can be correctly identified, during both the training phase and later deployment. Another example is the common assumption that queries will be made at a constant rate that is known ahead of time, thus computational resources can be exactly budgeted. In this work, we argue that these assumptions are unjustified, and this has in many cases led to unwarranted optimism about the performance of the proposed algorithms. As we shall show, the task of correctly extracting individual gait cycles, heartbeats, gestures, behaviors, etc., is generally much more difficult than the task of actually classifying those patterns. Likewise, gesture classification systems deployed on a device such as Google Glass may issue queries at frequencies that range over an order of magnitude, making it difficult to plan computational resources. We propose to mitigate these problems by introducing an alignment-free time series classification framework. The framework requires only very weakly annotated data, such as "in this ten minutes of data, we see mostly normal heartbeats$$\ldots $$?," and by generalizing the classic machine learning idea of data editing to streaming/continuous data, allows us to build robust, fast and accurate anytime classifiers. We demonstrate on several diverse real-world problems that beyond removing unwarranted assumptions and requiring essentially no human intervention, our framework is both extremely fast and significantly more accurate than current state-of-the-art approaches.
Addressing the Problem of Imprecision

Chapters 1 and 2 introduced SMS as a system that employs a many-valued system of evaluation. Chapter 3 discusses the need for a many-valued approach and briefly describes the basis of the qualified response component of the system. The problem of imprecision in communicative discourse is discussed to reinforce the need for a many-valued approach and to set the context for a description of multiquerying, a strategy designed to address some aspects of imprecision. The problem of imprecision is described as a dual problem. One aspect of the problem is grounded in lack of denotative and temporal specificity. It is suggested that the best way to handle this problem under current automated technology is through interaction with the user. The other aspect of the problem is rooted in inadequate query construction. A query often does not precisely represent what the questioner actually wants to know. The many-valued approach is described as an effective means by which to address certain aspects of this problem. A multi-querying strategy is described that employs multiple values in generating responses to queries.
The stability of meromictic lakes in central Washington1

Schmidt’s stability concept is used in a comparison of profiles of temperature and salinity for six meromictic lakes in 1953–4958 and 1972. The dual control of density in these lakes is emphasized by distinguishing “thermal” from “chemical” (or “meromictic”) stability. A slight modification of the Schmidt equation is made to yield a plot with depth of the minimum work required for destratification. Significant erosion of the salinity stratification has occurred in nearly all those lakes investigated, with consequent decreases in stability. Soap Lake, in the Lower Grand Coulee, has been considerably modified by dilution; one effect has been to prolong the existence of meromixis by at least 20 years.
Shareholder Wealth and Trading Volume Responses to Train Wrecks

Train wrecks are random events which have the potential to cause catastrophic losses in lives and property. Information about the extent of losses becomes available slowly which can delay shareholder responses. The sub-set of train wrecks with passenger fatalities are associated with an immediate and significantly negative CAR. There is weak evidence of a delayed decline in shareholder wealth after a train wreck. No other wreck attribute (injuries, property damage, environmental damage, etc.) are systematically correlated with announcement period or subsequent returns. There is a highly significant rise in trading volume following train wrecks, which increase and remains high as long as six weeks after the wreck. This evidence is consistent with the hypothesis that bad news is incorporated slowly but efficiently into asset prices.
Developing Molecular Biomarkers for Cancer

For decades, biologists have sought to develop noninvasive tests for detecting cancer. In a Perspective, [Ransohoff][1] discusses new work that could be applied to developing a noninvasive test for detecting colorectal cancer ([ Cui et al .][2]). [1]: http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/299/5613/1679 [2]: http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/short/299/5613/1753
Hospital Influences on Early Infant-Feeding Practices

Newborn nursery nursing staff members were surveyed to determine their attitudes and teaching practices regarding breast- and bottle-feeding. Concurrently, mothers using this nursery responded to a structured interview concerning their infant-feeding practices at 14 to 21 days postpartum and possible hospital influences on these practices. The nursing staff strongly advocated breast-feeding and did not favor specific bottle-feeding practices or products. Nursing staff counseling was generally interpreted by mothers as supporting breast-feeding, but this did not deter a large proportion of mothers who stated an initial preference for breast-feeding from introducing formula as a supplementary or exclusive form of infant feeding during the short study period. Almost all mothers doing any amount of bottle-feeding at the time of their interview were using the same formula brand and a ready-to-feed preparation used during their hospital stay. Other influences on mother9s infant-feeding patterns are discussed. It is concluded that the hospital staff and routines exerted a stronger influence on mothers9s infant-feeding practices by nonverbal teaching (the hospital "modeling" of infant formula products) than by verbal teaching (counseling supporting breast-feeding). Future studies might explore new ways of supporting mothers who desire to breast-feed by designing innovative hospital routines to model breast-feeding rather than feeding by infant formula.
Composite fermions with a warped Fermi contour.

Via measurements of commensurability features near the Landau filling factor $\ensuremath{\nu}=1/2$, we probe the shape of the Fermi contour for hole-flux composite fermions confined to a wide GaAs quantum well. The data reveal that the composite fermions are strongly influenced by the characteristics of the Landau level in which they are formed. In particular, their Fermi contour is warped when their Landau level originates from a hole band with significant warping.
Quantification Theory in a Nutshell

I first knew Professor Halmos when I was a student at the University of Chicago. I recall sitting in on a course he gave on axiomatic set theory and that towards the beginning he announced that he was about to prove the existence of the empty set. I, brash student that I was, interrupted him and said: “But that’s obvious! If there wasn’t an empty set, then the set of all empty sets would be empty and we would have a contradiction! ”I was very proud of myself, until Halmos wisely answered: “That’s a bad pun! ”I then realized that my fallacy consisted in the unwarranted assumption that there was such a thing as the set of all empty sets. [Incidentally, if one took this assumption as an axiom, instead of the weaker axiom that there exists a set, then the existence of the empty set would follow (by the very argument I gave) without use of the separation axiom (aussunderungsaxiom) necessary for the usual proof.
A simple microscale method for determining the relative stereochemistry of statine units.

A simple method to determine the relative stereochemistry of statine amino acids (γ-amino-β-hydroxyacids) by using 1H NMR spectroscopy is described. Configurational assignment of statine units with...
Large-eddy simulations of leading edge film cooling: Analysis of flow structures, effectiveness, and heat transfer coefficient

Abstract A numerical investigation is conducted to study leading edge film cooling with large eddy simulation (LES). The domain geometry is adopted from an experimental setup of [Ekkad, S.V., Han, J.C., Du, H., 1998. Detailed film cooling measurement on a cylindrical leading edge model: Effect of free-stream turbulence and coolant density. Journal of Turbomachinery 120, 799–807.] where turbine blade leading edge is represented by a semi-cylindrical blunt body with compound angle of injection. At blowing ratio of 0.4 and coolant to mainstream density ratio of unity, a laminar constant velocity and fully-turbulent coolant jet are studied. In both cases, the results show the existence of an asymmetric counter-rotating vortex pair in the immediate wake of the coolant jet. In addition to these primary structures, vortex tubes on the windward side of the jet are convected downstream over and to the aft- and fore-side of the counter-rotating vortex pair. All these structures play a role in the mixing of mainstream fluid with the coolant. The fully-turbulent coolant jet increases mixing with the mainstream in the outer shear layer but does not directly influence the flow dynamics in the turbulent boundary layer which forms within two coolant hole diameters of injection. As a result, the turbulent jet decreases adiabatic effectiveness but does not have a substantial effect on the heat transfer coefficient. The span-wise averaged adiabatic effectiveness agrees well with experiments for a turbulent coolant jet, without which the calculated effectiveness is over-predicted. On the other hand, the heat transfer coefficient which is only a function of near wall turbulence, shows good agreement with experiments for both coolant jet inlet conditions.
Cardiac unloading alters contractility and calcium homeostasis in ventricular myocytes.

Abstract M. Ritter, Z. Su, S. Xu, J. Shelby and W. H. Barry. Cardiac Unloading Alters Contractility and Calcium Homeostasis in Ventricular Myocytes. Journal of Molecular and Cellular Cardiology (2000) 32, 577–584. Altered cardiac workload has an important effect on myocyte structure and function. Cardiac hypertrophy resulting from an increase in load has been studied extensively in the past. However, the effects of unloading and atrophy have recently become of more interest since devices for mechanical left ventricular unloading have been introduced into clinical practice for the treatment of patients with terminal heart failure, and a resulting improved cardiac and myocyte contractility have been reported. We used the heterotopic abdominal mouse heart transplant model in order to study the effects of 5 days of unloading on cell size (confocal microscopy), contractility (fractional shortening: video motion), calcium homeostasis ([Ca 2+ ] i transients, SR Ca 2+ content); and L-type Ca 2+ and sodium/calcium exchanger currents (whole cell patch clamp technique). We found unloading caused decreased cell volume consistent with atrophy. An increased fractional shortening and [Ca 2+ ] i transient were observed in myocytes from unloaded hearts as compared with controls. Transsarcolemmal I Ca,L and I Na/Ca densities, and SR Ca 2+ content were unaltered, as was membrane capacitance. A reduction in cell volume with mainteinance of internal and surface membrane areas, and/or a decrease in concentration of cellular protein Ca 2+ buffers, may contribute to the increase in the [Ca 2+ ] i transient in this model.
Feasibility Study of Outdoor Wireless Communication in the 60 GHz Band

In 2001, the Federal Communications Commission made available a large block of spectrum known as the 60 GHz band. The 60 GHz band is attractive because it provides the opportunity of multi-Gbps data rates with unlicensed commercial use. One of the main challenges facing the use of this band is poor propagation characteristics including high path loss and strong attenuation due to oxygen absorption. Antenna arrays have been proposed as a means of combating these effects. In this paper we study the feasibility of outdoor communication in the 60 GHz band. Because arrays are required for antenna gain and adaptability, we explore the use of arrays as a form of equalization in the presence of channel-induced intersymbol interference. A site-specific study is conducted using ray tracing to model an outdoor environment on the Virginia Tech campus. The performance of outdoor links is evaluated through simulation of the bit error probability.
Nanometer-Scale Patterning of Surfaces Using Self-Assembly Chemistry. 3. Template-Directed Growth of Polymer Nanostructures on Organothiol Self-Assembled Mixed Monolayers

We report the template-directed growth of polyaniline nanostructures at Au electrodes modified with two-component self-assembled monolayers consisting of 4-aminothiophenol (4-ATP) and n-octadecanethiol (ODT). 4-ATP, which is more easily oxidized to the cation radical than aniline, serves as a nucleation site for the electrochemical deposition of polyaniline. Therefore, when 4-ATP/ODT mixed monolayers are oxidized in the presence of aniline, polyaniline features are formed selectively from islands of 4-ATP embedded in the ODT monolayer. The size and distribution of these features were characterized by AFM. In this work, we show that the feature density is a function of monolayer composition and that the feature height is dependent on the concentration of aniline in solution.
Position of the American Dietetic Association: Breaking the Barriers to Breastfeeding

Abstract It is the position of the American Dietetic Association (ADA) that broad-based efforts are needed to break the barriers to breastfeeding initiation and duration. Exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months and breastfeeding with complementary foods for at least 12 months is the ideal feeding pattern for infants. Increases in initiation and duration are needed to realize the health, nutritional, immunological, psychological, economical, and environmental benefits of breastfeeding. Breastfeeding initiation rates have increased, but cultural barriers to breastfeeding, especially against breastfeeding for 6 months and longer, still exist. Gaps in rates of breastfeeding based on age, race, and socioeco-nomic status remain. Children benefit from the biologically unique properties of human milk including protection from illness with resulting economic benefits. Mother's benefits include reduced rates of premenopausal breast and ovarian cancers. Appropriate lactation management is a critical component of successful breastfeeding for healthy women. Lactation support and management is even more important in women and children with special needs caused by physical or developmental disability, disease, or limited resources. Dietetics professionals have a responsibility to support breastfeeding through appropriate education and training, advocacy, and legislative action; through collaboration with other professional groups; and through research to eliminate the barriers to breastfeeding.
Relations between job facet comparisons and employee reactions.

Abstract This study examined relations between a variety of behavioral and attitudinal reactions and employees' feelings of inequity with regard to four job facets: job complexity, supervisory behavior, compensation, and security. Results showed that employees who felt disadvantaged (underrewarded) on each of the facets were less satisfied than those who felt equitably treated or advantaged (overrewarded) relative to their referents. Only the job complexity dimension related significantly to the behavioral reactions. Employees who felt disadvantaged on this dimension exhibited lower performance and higher absenteeism and turnover than employees who felt equitable or advantaged. The nature of the comparative referents used by employees when contrasting their compensation and job complexity facets also related to the behavioral reactions. For example, employees who used self-future referents (themselves at a future point in time) were most likely to permanently withdraw from the organization. Finally, the research examined employee reactions to various combinations of job facet inequities and to combinations of comparative referents.
Spiritual well-being: A neglected subject in quality of life research

The social indicators and quality of life (QOL) movements have given scant attention to religiosity, in spite of theoretical and empirical evidence that it is related to personal and social well-being. Reasons for this include the constitutional provisions pertinent to religion, problems of funding, the lack of measuring instruments, conceptual and theoretical difficulties, biases of researchers, and the lack of consensus regarding the definition of QOL. A partial solution to this neglec is to engage in conceptual, theoretical, qualitative, and empirical research on spiritual well-being (SWB). The authors indicate its potential and some initial steps toward bringing SWB into the QOL movement.
Infrastructure-as-a-service clouds in a professional environment

In order to investigate the possibility and evaluate the benefit for a middle-sized business to deploy its private cloud, two infrastructure-as-a-service (IaaS) clouds were built with ordinary hardware equipment by installing and configuring open-source cloud computing software Eucalyptus and Xen Cloud Platform (XCP). Advanced technologies and application programs, such as HybridFox, XenCenter and XenWebManager were integrated into the clouds to administer the clouds and manage their resources with graphical user interfaces (GUIs). The clouds were tested from a local computer and from a remote machine with Internet access. Different technologies were used for remote access to the clouds, including secure shell (SSH), Putty and Web browsers. Comparisons between those two clouds were performed in the aspects of management, administration, offerings, performance and system requirements. In addition, different designs of the cloud were discussed for specific purposes. This research was conducted in the settings of an undergraduate senior project. The results provide a good reference for people who want to build a cloud either for their business or for education purposes.
Strategies to enhance gender sensitivity in communication education

This essay “translates” research findings regarding gender inequities in education into pragmatic strategies for change. Strategies are described that administrators, academic support services, and faculty may use to pursue the goal of enhancing gender sensitivity in communication education.
Hypoxia—implications for pharmaceutical developments

Cells sense oxygen availability using not only the absolute value for cellular oxygen in regard to its energetic and metabolic functions, but also the gradient from the cell surface to the lowest levels in the mitochondria. Signals are used for regulatory purposes locally as well as in the generation of cellular, tissue, and humoral remodeling. Lowered oxygen availability (hypoxia) is theoretically important in the consideration of pharmacology because (1) hypoxia can alter cellular function and thereby the therapeutic effectiveness of the agent, (2) therapeutic agents may potentiate or protect against hypoxia-induced pathology, (3) hypoxic conditions may potentiate or mitigate drug-induced toxicity, (4) hypoxia may alter drug metabolism and thereby therapeutic effectiveness, and (5) therapeutic agents might alter the relative coupling of blood flow and energy metabolism in an organ. The prototypic biochemical effect of hypoxia is related to its known role as a cofactor in a number of enzymatic reactions, e.g., oxidases and oxygenases, which are affected independently from the bioenergetic effect of low oxygen on energetic functions. The cytochrome P-450 family of enzymes is another example. Here, there is a direct effect of oxygen availability on the conformation of the enzyme, thereby altering the metabolism of drug substrates. Indirectly, the NADH/NAD+ ratio is increased with 10% inspired oxygen, leading not only to reduced oxidation of ethanol but also to reduction of azo- and nitro-compounds to amines and disulfides to sulfhydryls. With chronic hypoxia, many of these processes are reversed, suggesting that hypoxia induces the drug-metabolizing systems. Support for this comes from observations that hypoxia can induce the hypoxic inducible factors which in turn alters transcription and function of some but not all cytochrome P-450 isoforms. Hypoxia is identified as a cofactor in cancer expression and metastatic potential. Thus, the effects of hypoxia play an important role in pharmacology, and the signaling pathways that are affected by hypoxia could become new targets for novel therapy or avenues for prevention.
Stability of Fluorescence of Sodium Salicylate

Sodium salicylate fluorescence stability over long periods of time - prevention of contamination by impurities
Preparation and photocatalytic properties of titanium(IV) oxide films

Abstract Films of titanium(IV) oxide were deposited on a variety of substrates by a simple nebulization and pyrolysis technique. Good uniformity and adhesion was obtained in all cases. The films showed appreciable photocatalytic activity toward the degradation of salicylic acid. The observed activity was increased by the deposition of elemental gold on the TiO2 films.
ARE THE KIDS WEIGHING YOU DOWN

![Figure][1] As a new father of twins, I have an all too acute and intimate familiarity with some of the costs associated with reproduction (never did I imagine yearning for 4 h of sleep, for example). However, compared with my wife, I've had it, and still have it, relatively easy. After all
Using Drosophila melanogaster To Identify Chemotherapy Toxicity Genes

The severity of the toxic side effects of chemotherapy shows a great deal of interindividual variability, and much of this variation is likely genetically based. Simple DNA tests predictive of toxic side effects could revolutionize the way chemotherapy is carried out. Due to the challenges in identifying polymorphisms that affect toxicity in humans, we use Drosophila fecundity following oral exposure to carboplatin, gemcitabine and mitomycin C as a model system to identify naturally occurring DNA variants predictive of toxicity. We use the Drosophila Synthetic Population Resource (DSPR), a panel of recombinant inbred lines derived from a multiparent advanced intercross, to map quantitative trait loci affecting chemotoxicity. We identify two QTL each for carboplatin and gemcitabine toxicity and none for mitomycin. One QTL is associated with fly orthologs of a priori human carboplatin candidate genes ABCC2 and MSH2, and a second QTL is associated with fly orthologs of human gemcitabine candidate genes RRM2 and RRM2B. The third, a carboplatin QTL, is associated with a posteriori human orthologs from solute carrier family 7A, INPP4AB thus it seems likely that standing variation in toxicity is due to regulatory alleles.
Thin film structure and adhesion of sputtered TiNi layers on silicon

Abstract Thin film stress, adhesion and structure at different argon pressures have been investigated in the system Ni(200–800 nm)/Ti(100–400 nm)/Si, prepared in a d.c. planar magnetron sputtering apparatus. The adhesion between titanium and silicon has been found to decrease at low argon pressure (0.67 Pa (5 mTorr)) and to increase at high argon pressure (2.67 Pa (20 mTorr)) X-ray diffraction analysis revealed a highly oriented Ni(111) layer near the boundary between nickel and titanium, and the X-ray fluorescence method showed that the density was higher at an argon pressure of 0.67 Pa. The adhesion change is considered to be influenced mainly by the change in stress of the nickel film; that is, the modulus of elasticity seems to vary with crystalline orientation and density, which are affected by the argon pressure.
The impact of fluvial processes and landscape evolution on archaeological sites and settlement patterns along the San Xavier reach of the Santa Cruz river, Arizona

The Santa Cruz arroyo in the Tucson Basin, Arizona, has undergone major environmental changes over the last 8000 years. the Holocene stratigraphy along a 15 km segment of the arroyo, known as the San Xavier reach, which traverses the San Xavier Indian Reservation was investigated in detail. the Holocene alluvial sequence reveals that aggradation occurred until 8000 yr B.P. within a braided stream, was followed by a major period of channel erosion and widening from 8000 to 5500 yr B.P., which, in turn, was followed by vertical aggradation of the floodplain and five short periods of channel cutting. Broad climatic changes are correlated with major changes in the fluvial regime and landscape. However, the cycles of arroyo cutting and filling, during the semiarid climate of the last 2500 years, were probably the result of the creation of unstable internal geomorphic conditions, flooding, and human impacts on the floodplain. the alluvial history of the San Xavier reach has had a pronounced effect on the preservation and completeness of the archaeological record. Periods of erosion have created absences or gaps in the archaeological record and deep burial has removed some of the preserved archaeological remains from view. Environmental changes on the floodplain also influenced late prehistoric Hohokam settlement and subsistence patterns in the San Xavier region.
Aire's Partners in the Molecular Control of Immunological Tolerance

Aire induces the expression of a battery of peripheral-tissue self-antigens (PTAs) in thymic stromal cells, promoting the clonal deletion of differentiating T cells that recognize them. Just how Aire targets and induces PTA transcripts remains largely undefined. Screening via Aire-targeted coimmunoprecipitation followed by mass spectrometry, and validating by multiple RNAi-mediated knockdown approaches, we identified a large set of proteins that associate with Aire. They fall into four major functional classes: nuclear transport, chromatin binding/structure, transcription and pre-mRNA processing. One set of Aire interactions centered on DNA protein kinase and a group of proteins it partners with to resolve DNA double-stranded breaks or promote transcriptional elongation. Another set of interactions was focused on the pre-mRNA splicing and maturation machinery, potentially explaining the markedly more effective processing of PTA transcripts in the presence of Aire. These findings suggest a model to explain Aire's widespread targeting and induction of weakly transcribed chromatin regions.
Determination of the dielectric functions of MBE-grown Zn1-xMgxTe II-VI semiconductor alloys

We have explored the dielectric functions of ternary Zn 1-x Mg x Te thin films using a variable angle spectroscopic ellipsometer for samples between x = 0 and x = 0.52. We obtained values for the complex dielectric function for Zn 1-x Mg x Te in both the transparent and absorption regions by incorporating a three-layer model to simulate the experimental data. To this end, we also used the previously published relations of the dispersion of the indices of refraction (in the transparent region) of Zn 1-x Mg x Te measured using a combination of prism coupler and reflectivity. We have fitted the second derivatives of both the real and the imaginary parts of the dielectric function to obtain the critical point parameters corresponding to the higher order electronic transitions in the lattice.
Scalability-performance tradeoffs in MPLS and IP routing

MPLS (Multi-Protocol Label Switching) has recently emerged to facilitate the engineering of network traffic. This can be achieved by directing packet flows over paths that satisfy multiple requirements. MPLS has been regarded as an enhancement to traditional IP routing, which has the following problems: (1) all packets with the same IP destination address have to follow the same path through the network; and (2) paths have often been computed based on static and single link metrics. These problems may cause traffic concentration, and thus degradation in quality of service. In this paper, we investigate by simulations a range of routing solutions and examine the tradeoff between scalability and performance. At one extreme, IP packet routing using dynamic link metrics provides a stateless solution but may lead to routing oscillations. At the other extreme, we consider a recently proposed Profile-based Routing (PBR), which uses knowledge of potential ingress-egress pairs as well as the traffic profile among them. Minimum Interference Routing (MIRA) is another recently proposed MPLS-based scheme, which only exploits knowledge of potential ingress-egress pairs but not their traffic profile. MIRA and the more conventional widest-shortest path (WSP) routing represent alternative MPLS-based approaches on the spectrum of routing solutions. We compare these solutions in terms of utility, bandwidth acceptance ratio as well as their scalability (routing state and computational overhead) and load balancing capability. While the simplest of the per-flow algorithms we consider, the performance of WSP is close to dynamic per-packet routing, without the potential instabilities of dynamic routing.© (2002) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Extraction of zirconium nitrate by TBP in n-octane: Influence of cation type on third phase formation according to the sticky spheres model

Small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) data for the tri-n-butyl phosphate (TBP)−n-octane, HNO3−Zr(NO3)4 solvent extraction system, obtained under a variety of experimental conditions, have been interpreted using the Baxter model for hard spheres with surface adhesion. The increase in scattering intensity in the low Q range observed when increasing amounts of Zr(NO3)4 were extracted into the organic phase was interpreted as arising from interactions between small reverse micelle-like particles containing two to three TBP molecules. Upon extraction of Zr(NO3)4, the particles interact through attractive forces between their polar cores with a potential energy that exceeds 2 kBT. The interparticle attraction, under suitable conditions, leads to third phase formation. A linear relationship exists between the derivative of the potential energy of attraction with respect to the concentration of nitrate ions in the organic phase and the ionization potential or the hydration enthalpy of the extracted metal cations.
HeartMate Implantable Left Ventricular Assist Device: Bridge to Transplantation and Future Applications

The HeartMate implantable left ventricular assist device (LVAD) is approaching the time when it will be implanted permanently. Experience with the HeartMate 1000 IP LVAD at the Cleveland Clinic as a bridge to heart transplantation in 21 patients has shown (1) excellent hemodynamic function [improving cardiac index from a mean ± standard deviation of 1.6 ± 0.26 L · min −1 · m −2 to 3.0 ± 0.42 L · min −1 · m −2 ]; (2) 81% survival before transplantation with a mean duration of 64 ± 34 days of LVAD support; (3) 100% survival after transplantation; (4) New York Heart Association class IV and moribund patients were returned to class I or II status while on the LVAD; and (5) a remarkably low risk of thromboemboli during 1,583 patient-days of support. The multicenter experience (173 patients) confirms the low risk of embolic events (2%, including septic emboli). A "target population" for initial use of the permanent device was outlined from a retrospective review of 570 patients. A subgroup of 74 patients (13%) were between 18 and 75 years of age, had isolated cardiac failure (without multiple comorbidities), and required inotropic medications, intraaortic balloon pump support, or both. Survival for this patient group (mean age, 57 ± 13 years; 68% male) was poor: median survival was 7 months, 21.6% died during the hospitalization, and 47.3% died after discharge. Of the survivors, only 4 patients (5% of the initial 74 patients) were in New York Heart Association class I. From the bridge-to-transplantation experience we extrapolate that survival and quality of life should improve for patients in the target population treated with the portable LVAD. A randomized, clinical trial (medical therapy versus portable LVAD) is therefore appropriate and is necessary to evaluate long term effectiveness of the LVAD.
Observations on the proteolytic enzymes in the digestive fluid of the barnacle Balanus nubilus

Abstract 1. 1. Digestive fluid extracts of the barnacle Bolanus nubilus examined within 24 hr after capture were found to have a pH value of 5.3, which is in the range for many decapod crustaceans. 2. 2. In contrast, the protein content in the range of less than 2 per cent was lower than that found for many decapods even after starvation. 3. 3. Most of the proteinase activity of the digestive fluid was confined to the acid range, and the pH optimum varied between pH 3.5 and 6.4 depending on whether hemoglobin, azocasein or casein was used as the substrate. 4. 4. Based on electrophoretic studies of the digestive fluid, most of the acid proteinase activity could be attributed to a single component. It is not known whether the acid proteinase is exogenous or endogenous in origin. 5. 5. An electrophoretic comparison of proteinases of glandular and digestive fluid extracts produced no proteinases of common electrophoretic mobilities. However, evidence is presented that indicates several additional proteinases are present in low concentrations in the digestive fluid and are involved in extracellular digestion.
Review: Rapid-response teams do not reduce mortality in hospital patients

Source Citation Chan PS, Jain R, Nallmothu BK, Berg RA, Sasson C. Rapid response teams: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Arch Intern Med. 2010;170:18-26. 20065195
Inactivation of the type II receptor reveals two receptor pathways for the diverse TGF-beta activities

Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) is a multifunctional protein that regulates cell proliferation and differentiation and extracellular matrix production. Although two receptor types, the type I and type II receptors, have been implicated in TGF-beta-induced signaling, it is unclear how the many activities of TGF-beta are mediated through these receptors. With the use of cells overexpressing truncated type II receptors as dominant negative mutants to selectively block type II receptor signaling, the existence of two receptor pathways was shown. The type II receptors, possibly in conjunction with type I receptors, mediate the induction of growth inhibition and hypophosphorylation of the retinoblastoma gene product pRB. The type I receptors are responsible for effects on extracellular matrix, such as the induction of fibronectin and plasminogen activator inhibitor I, and for increased JunB expression. Selective inactivation of the type II receptors alters the TGF-beta response in a similar manner to the functional inactivation of pRB, suggesting a role for pRB in the type II, but not the type I, receptor pathway.
Variability in soil properties at different spatial scales (1 m-1 km) in a deciduous forest ecosystem

The purpose of this research was to test the hypothesis that variability in 11 soil properties, related to soil texture and soil C and N, would increase from small (1 m) to large (1 km) spatial scales in a temperate, mixed-hardwood forest ecosystem in east Tennessee, USA. The results were somewhat surprising and indicated that a fundamental assumption in geospatial analysis, namely that variability increases with increasing spatial scale, did not apply for at least five of the 11 soil properties measured over a 0.5-km2 area. Composite mineral soil samples (15 cm deep) were collected at 1, 5, 10, 50, 250, and 500 m distances from a center point along transects in a north, south, east, and westerly direction. A null hypothesis of equal variance at different spatial scales was rejected (P{le}0.05) for mineral soil C concentration, silt content, and the C-to-N ratios in particulate organic matter (POM), mineral-associated organic matter (MOM), and whole surface soil. Results from different tests of spatial variation, based on coefficients of variation or a Mantel test, led to similar conclusions about measurement variability and geographic distance for eight of the 11 variables examined. Measurements of mineral soil C and N concentrations, C concentrations inmore » MOM, extractable soil NH{sub 4}-N, and clay contents were just as variable at smaller scales (1-10 m) as they were at larger scales (50-500 m). On the other hand, measurement variation in mineral soil C-to-N ratios, MOM C-to-N ratios, and the fraction of soil C in POM clearly increased from smaller to larger spatial scales. With the exception of extractable soil NH4-N, measured soil properties in the forest ecosystem could be estimated (with 95% confidence) to within 15% of their true mean with a relatively modest number of sampling points (n{le}25). For some variables, scaling up variation from smaller to larger spatial domains within the ecosystem could be relatively easy because small-scale variation may be indicative of variation at larger scales.« less