cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Pressure-Dependent Changes in the Infrared C—H Vibrations of Monolayer Films at the Air/Water Interface Revealed by Two-Dimensional Infrared Correlation Spectroscopy

Two-dimensional infrared correlation analysis (2D-IR) was applied to a set of surface pressure-dependent unpolarized IR spectra of a monolayer film of 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DPPC) at the air/water (A/W) interface. The experimentally measured asynchronous 2D-IR spectra were compared with synthetic spectra calculated by using an ''overlapped peaks'' model vs. a ''frequency shifting'' model. The results presented here show that when the experimentally observed monolayer IR spectra are acquired as a function of surface pressure, one model cannot be used exclusively for spectral interpretation. In this study, the monolayer IR spectra were divided into a low-pressure region subset ( 11 mN/m). When the monolayer IR spectra acquired as a function of surface pressure are analyzed by 2D correlation methods, the results strongly support the following conclusions: (1) the low-pressure subset, which encompasses both the liquid expanded (LE) and the liquid expanded/liquid condensed (LE/LC) regions of the DPPC monolayer isotherm, is best modeled by two overlapped peaks correlated with ordered and disordered conformational states of the monolayer film; and (2) the high-pressure subset, which reflects solely the liquid condensed (LC) phase of the monolayer isotherm, is best modeled by a single peak, which undergoes a minor frequency shift, and which may be primarily correlated with gradual packing of the liquid condensed structure. This interpretation of the 2D-IR correlation spectra is in agreement with the interpretation of sub-bands seen in polarized monolayer IR spectra previously reported by our laboratory.
Synergistic cytotoxicity of irinotecan and cisplatin in dual-drug targeted polymeric nanoparticles

Aim: Two unexplored aspects for irinotecan and cisplatin (I&C) combination chemotherapy are: actively targeting both drugs to a specific diseased cell type, and delivering both drugs on the same vehicle to ensure their synchronized entry into the cell at a well-defined ratio. In this work, the authors report the use of targeted polymeric nanoparticles (NPs) to coencapsulate and deliver I&C to cancer cells expressing the prostate-specific membrane antigen. Materials & methods: Targeted NPs were prepared in a single step by mixing four different precursors inside microfluidic devices. Results: I&C were encapsulated in 55-nm NPs and showed an eightfold increase in internalization by prostate-specific membrane antigen-expressing LNCaP cells compared with nontargeted NPs. NPs coencapsulating both drugs exhibited strong synergism in LNCaP cells with a combination index of 0.2. Conclusion: The strategy of coencapsulating both I&C in a single NP targeted to a specific cell type could potentially be used to treat ...
218 Dramatic Improvement in Endoscope Cleanliness Using a Commercial Bioburden Detection System and Implementation of a Modified Cleaning Algorithm

and 2 upper endoscopes on days 0, 7, 14 and 21 following standard protocol for mechanical cleaning and high level disinfection using an automated endoscope reprocessor. Endoscopes were stored hanging per institutional practice. A 1mL aliquot of each sample was inoculated onto trypticase soy agar with 5% sheep blood (blood agar), thiogycollate broth, a CDC anaerobic blood agar plate, and Sabouraud dextrose agar (for yeast and molds). All media were incubated at 2535C for 7 days. Organisms were identified using standard microbiological techniques; results were reported in colony forming units. Results: There were 33 positive cultures from 28 out of the 96 sites tested (29.2% overall contamination rate). 30/33 isolates were typical skin or environmental contaminants, thus clinically insignificant (Table 1). Three potential pathogens were cultured, including
Bistahieversor sealeyi, gen. et sp. nov., a new tyrannosauroid from New Mexico and the origin of deep snouts in Tyrannosauroidea

Skeletal remains of Late Cretaceous (Campanian and Maastrichtian) tyrannosauroids are rare in southwestern North America (Carr and Williamson, 2000). Historically, the identity and diversity of sou...
Noise coupling due to through silicon vias (TSVs) in 3-D integrated circuits

Three-dimensional (3-D) integration is a promising technology to alleviate the interconnect bottleneck by stacking multiple dies in a monolithic fashion. Both power dissipation and delay can be reduced by utilizing the third dimension where through silicon vias (TSVs) are used for vertical communication. Characteristics of switching noise that couples to a sensitive device due to a TSV are investigated in this paper. A model is developed to evaluate the noise performance of a TSV. Several noise isolation strategies are also discussed. Ignoring noise characteristics during the TSV placement process produces a poor 3-D circuit with high susceptibility to switching noise.
Influenza vaccinations of Washington State Medicare beneficiaries seen by physiatrists in the outpatient setting in 1994

Abstract Objective: To compare influenza vaccination billing rates for patients seen by physiatrists with those of four other specialties: neurology, rheumatology, family practice, and internal medicine. Design: Retrospective cohort analysis using Medicare billing data. Patients: 234, 164 Medicare outpatients seen in Washington state between September 1 and December 31, 1994. Results: Based on Medicare's billing data, only 6 of 99 physiatrists ordered vaccinations, and they immunized only 159 (6%) of the patients seen. An additional 1, 109 (42%) patients seen by physiatrists were vaccinated by other physicians. Physiatric patients were less likely to have been vaccinated than those seen by internists, family practitioners, or rheumatologists ( p p = .07). A significantly smaller percentage of physiatrists ordered vaccinations than all other specialties ( p $90,000). Conclusions: Missed opportunities for vaccination by physiatrists appear to be more frequent than in other specialties and have potentially large health and economic costs.
A T cell receptor V alpha domain expressed in bacteria: does it dimerize in solution?

Summary To evaluate the potential for dimerization through a particular T cell receptor (TCR) domain, we have cloned the cDNA encoding a TCR Vo~ from a hybridoma with specificity for the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) envelope glycoprotein 120-derived peptide P18-I10 (RGPGRAFVTI) bound to the murine major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I molecule, H-2D d. This cDNA was then expressed in a bacterial vector, and protein, as inclusion bodies, was solubilized, refolded, and purified to homogeneity. Yield of the refolded material was from 10 to 50 nag per liter of bacterial culture, the protein was soluble at concentrations as high as 25 mg/ml, and it retained a high level of reactivity with an anti-Vot2 monoclonal antibody. This domain was monomeric both by size exclusion gel chromatography and by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Circular dichroism spectra indicated that the folded Vot domain had secondary structure similar to that of single imrnunoglobulin or TCR domains, consisting largely of [~ sheet. Conditions for crystallization were established, and at least two crystal geometries were observed: hexagonal b!pyramids that failed to diffract beyond ~6 A, and orthorhombic crystals that diffracted to 2.5 A. The dimerization of the Vot domain was investigated further by solution nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, which indicated that dimeric and monomeric forms of the protein were about equally populated at a concentration of I raM. Thus, models of TCR-mediated T cell activation that invoke TCR dimerization must consider that some V~x domains have little tendency to form hornodimers or multimers.
Sepsis after major cancer surgery.

Abstract Background Cancer patients undergoing procedures are at increased risk of sepsis. We sought to evaluate the incidence of postoperative sepsis following major cancer surgeries (MCS), and to describe patient and/or hospital characteristics associated with heightened risk. Methods Patients undergoing 1 of 8 MCS (colectomy, cystectomy, esophagectomy, gastrectomy, hysterectomy, lung resection, pancreatectomy, and prostatectomy) within the Nationwide Inpatient Sample from 1999–2009 were identified (N = 2,502,710). Logistic regression models fitted with generalized estimating equations were used to estimate primary predictors (procedure, age, gender, race, insurance, Charlson Comorbidity Index, hospital volume, and hospital bed size) effect on sepsis and sepsis-associated mortality. Trends were evaluated with linear regression. Results The incidence of MCS-related sepsis increased 2.0% per year (P Conclusions Between 1999 and 2009, the incidence of MCS-related sepsis increased; however, sepsis-related mortality remained stable. Significant disparities exist in patient and hospital characteristics associated with MCS-related sepsis. Hospital volume is an important modifiable risk factor associated with improved sepsis-related outcomes following MCS.
Binaural interaction in the inferior colliculus of the big brown bat, Eptesicus fuscus

Binaural interaction plays an important role in shaping response properties of central auditory neurons. Using single unit recording and iontophoresis, we examined frequency tuning curves (FTCs), interaural intensity difference (IID) curves, and rate-intensity functions of inferior collicular (IC) neurons of the big brown bat, Eptesicus fuscus, under closed system or free field stimulation conditions. We isolated 46 EI (excitation-inhibition), 24 EO (monaural excitation) and 6 EE (excitation-excitation) neurons. Inhibitory FTCs of EI neurons plotted under ipsilateral sound stimulation fell within (n=10, 22%), partly overlapped (n=26, 56%), or almost entirely encompassed (n=10, 22%) excitatory FTCs plotted by contralateral sound stimulation. The discharge rate of EI neurons was a sigmoid function of IID. The peak discharge rate occurred at IIDs at which contralateral sound stimulation was stronger than ipsilateral sound stimulation. Application of bicuculline, an antagonist for gamma-aminobutyric acid A receptors, raised the IID curves and broadened the excitatory FTCs but partly or completely abolished the ipsilateral inhibitory FTCs. For EE neurons, excitatory FTCs and rate-intensity functions plotted by contralateral sound stimulation were always broader and higher than those plotted by ipsilateral sound stimulation. The sharpness of FTCs of EI neurons was significantly greater at ipsilateral 30 degrees than at 30 degrees contralateral. This direction-dependent frequency tuning was effectively abolished by occlusion of the ipsilateral ear. Possible mechanisms underlying these observations are discussed.
Genome Resource Banking for Wildlife Research, Management, and Conservation

Cryobiology offers an important opportunity to assist in the management and study of wildlife, including endangered species. The benefits of developing genome resource banks for wildlife are profound, perhaps more so than for traditional uses in terms of livestock and human fertility. In addition to preserving heterozygosity and assisting in the genetic management of rare populations held in captivity, frozen repositories help insure wild populations against natural and human-induced catastrophes. Such banks also are an invaluable source of new knowledge (for basic and applied research) from thousands of species that have yet to be studied. However, it is crucial that genome resource banks for wildlife species be developed in a coordinated fashion that first benefits the conservation of biodiversity. Spurious collections will be of no advantage to genuine conservation. The Conservation Breeding Specialist Group (CBSG; of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources' Species Survival Commission) has promoted international dialogue on this topic. CBSG working groups have recognized that such repositories be developed according to specific, scientific guidelines consistent with an international standard that ensures practicality, high-quality ethics, and cost-effectiveness. Areas requiring priority attention also are reviewed, including the need for more basic research, advocacy, and support for developing organized repositories of biomaterials representing the world's diverse biota.
The effects of dietary acid stress on bone metabolism in young ovariectomized and intact rats

1. Two studies were performed to determine the effects of acid stress and ovariectomy on bone metabolism in young rats. In Expt 1, eighteen female weanling Sprague-Dawley-descended rats were ovariectomized, placed in one of three dietary groups and given a diet containing (g/kg): 6 calcium and 3, 6 or 12 phosphorus for 10 weeks. In Expt 2, thirty-two female weanling Sprague-Dawley-descended rats were ovariectomized, and thirty-two were left intact. Eight rats from each group were given a diet containing (g/kg): 6 Ca and 3 P, 12 P, 3 P + 1 S or 3 P + 20 ammonium chloride for 10 weeks. 2. Feeding diets containing 12 g P/kg resulted in decreased serum Ca and increased urinary P with no changes in femur composition. Feeding high-sulphate and ammonium chloride diets resulted in increased urinary Ca and, when combined with ovariectomy, lower femur Ca and P with no changes in femur hydroxyproline or hexosamines. 3. The findings reflect the more rapid turnover of the amorphous calcium phosphate salts found in greater amounts in bones of younger animals than for more stable apatitic crystals that predominate in bones of older animals.
Analytical challenges in the quantitative determination of 2H/1H ratios of methyl iodide

RATIONALE: A published method to determine the hydrogen isotope ( 2 H/ 1 H) ratios of methoxyl groups, cleaved from lignin by hydroiodic acid (HI), calls for the analysis of methyl iodide (CH3I). However, analysis of halogenated compounds by gas chromatography/pyrolysis/isotope ratio mass spectrometry (GC/P/IRMS) yields incomplete conversion into H2 and unwanted HX products post-pyrolysis. METHODS: We tested analytical capabilities when measuring a pure CH3I standard using a GC Isolink pyrolysis furnace at 1420 � C and a DELTA V Plus™ isotope ratio mass spectrometer, both by Thermo Scientific. We added and tested the efficacy of either a secondary reduction furnace containing heated metals or a cold trap to eliminate unwanted HI prior to IRMS analysis for 2 H/ 1 H determinations. RESULTS: While 94% of the hydrogen in CH3I is converted into H2 in GC/P/IRMS, 6% yields HI. The use of either a secondary reduction furnace or cold trap can eliminate HI. However, secondary reduction is untenable given changes in reduction/transmission efficiency and 2 H/ 1 H drift. A cold trap provides a pragmatic solution: the d 2 H values of � 97 % were measured from injections of 23–57 m go f CH3I to a precision of 4.5 % (n=26), within the error of the offline measurements. CONCLUSIONS: We have refined an earlier method to measure the d 2 H values of CH3I by GC/P/IRMS by adding a cold trap to remove HI. This approach should facilitate future experimentation with the measurement of CH3I liberated from natural samples for potentially diverse applications including forensic sourcing of wood and tree-wood-based reconstructions of source water. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Impact of updated traffic emissions on HONO mixing ratios simulated for urban site in Houston, Texas

Abstract. Recent measurements in Houston show that HONO traffic emissions are 1.7% of NOx emissions, which is about twice the previously estimated value of 0.8% based on tunnel measurements in 2001. The 0.8% value is widely used to estimate mobile emissions of HONO for air quality modeling applications. This study applies the newly estimated HONO / NOx ratio in the WRF–SMOKE–CMAQ modeling system and estimates the impact of higher HONO traffic emissions on its mixing ratios. Since applied emission inventory resulted in overestimates of NOx mixing ratios and because HONO emissions and chemical formation depend on the magnitude of NOx, thus, before proceeding with HONO emission modifications emissions of NOx were adjusted to reflect current emission trends. The modeled mixing ratios of NOx were evaluated against measured data from a number of sites in the Houston area. Overall, the NOx mean value dropped from 11.11 ppbv in the base case to 7.59 ppbv in the NOx-adjusted case becoming much closer to the observed mean of 7.76 ppbv. The index of agreement (IOA) is improved in the reduced NOx case (0.71 vs. 0.75) and the absolute mean error (AME) is lowered from 6.76 to 4.94. The modeled mixing ratios of HONO were evaluated against the actual observed values attained at the Moody Tower in Houston. The model could not reproduce the morning HONO peaks when the low HONO / NOx ratio of 0.008 was used to estimate HONO emissions. Doubling HONO emissions from mobile sources resulted in higher mixing ratios, and the mean value increased from 0.30 to 0.41 ppbv becoming closer to the observed mean concentrations of 0.69 but still low; AME was slightly reduced from 0.46 to 0.43. IOA for simulation that used the 2001 emission values is 0.63 while for simulation with higher HONO emission it increased to 0.70. Increased HONO emissions from mobile sources resulted in a 14% increase in OH during morning time at the location of the Moody Tower and 3% when averaged over an urban area. The increase calculated for daytime was 7 and 1% for the Moody Tower and the urban area, respectively. The impact on ozone was found to be marginal. This study results shed light on the underestimated HONO and OH in the morning from global/regional chemical transport models with the typical emission of 0.8% HONO emission out of the total NOx emissions.
Names and Naming in Aristophanic Comedy

One of the ironies of literary history is that the survival of Aristophanic comedy and indeed of all Greek drama is due to the more or less faithful transmission of a written text. Reading a play and watching one, after all, are very different sorts of activities. Unlike a book, in which the reader can leaf backward for reminders of what has already happened or forward for information about what is to come, a play onstage can be experienced in one direction only, from ‘beginning’ to ‘end’. Nor can a play be put down and picked up again at one's leisure or interrupted while the audience puzzles over a difficult or intriguing passage. Live theatre is an ephemeral and essentially independent thing, which must be experienced in its own time and on its own terms or not at all, and as a result we modern readers, dependent on the written page, are at a marked disadvantage in understanding ancient drama. Taplin's study of staging in Aeschylus has shed considerable light on the dramatic technique of Athenian tragedy. Stage-practice in Aristophanic comedy, and in particular the ways in which names and naming are used there, has received much less attention.
Comment on Rodnick's Review of Levy's MODERNIZATION: LATE‐COMERS AND SURVIVORS

I am moved to write you about what is described in the American Anthropologist (76:90, 1974) as a review of my book entitled Modernization: Late-Comers and Survivors. Professor David Rodnick has written the review, but it is a review that makes only one direct reference to my book, and that one is in error. He states that i make no attempt to define what is meant by modernization. Later on in his review, he takes Professors Reinhold Bendix and Peter
KEEPING AN OPEN MIND WHILE RESTORING ESOPHAGEAL PATENCY IN PATIENTS WITH CANCER AND ESOPHAGORESPIRATORY FISTULA

S uccessful management of patients with malignant, incurable esophageal obstruction should be safe and effective treatment that is both time and cost efficient. Radiation, both external beam and brachytherapy, and chemotherapy are options that may be applicable after the relief of the acute obstructive process. However, the prerequisite delay in the resumption of oral nutrition and the ability to manage sal iva~ secretions requires techniques that produce immediate results. Repeated bouginage can provide immediate improvement in swallowing but usually requires frequent repeat treatments. Laser therapy has a proven track record with respect to acute palliation of malignant obstruction but requires expensive equipment and multiple treatments with both complication rates and outcomes highly dependent on the skill and experience of the laser endoscopist. As a result, the vast majority of people with malignant esophageal obstruction are currently managed with a variety of endoscopic and fluoroscopically inserted esophageal prostheses.
On the Syntax of usus est

THE discussion of the construction with usus est is conventionally bound up with that of opus est, and comparatively little attention has been given to the problem presented by the use of the ablative case with the former phrase. The tendency to pass lightly over this matter is due doubtless to the manifest etymological connexion between usus and utor, which leads to the assumption that the verbal noun would naturally follow the syntax of the verb. Interest, therefore, has centred upon the enigmatic opus est; and much ingenuity has been expended upon theories as to the reason for its association with the ablative case. In his Syntax of Early Latin,1 Bennett devotes two pages to this subject, reviewing the discussion up to date, and setting forth his own view of the matter.
Space object classification and characterization via Multiple Model Adaptive Estimation

In recent years there has been an increase in the number of inactive and debris objects in space. The characterization of the uncertainty in the knowledge of these Space Objects (SOs) is very important in developing an understanding of the space debris fields and any present or future threat they may pose. This work examines classification based on Multiple Model Adaptive Estimation (MMAE) to extract SO characteristics from observations while estimating the probability the observations belong to a given class of objects. Recovering these characteristics and trajectories with sufficient accuracy is shown in this paper, where the characteristics are inherent in unique SO models used in the MMAE filter bank. A number of scenarios are shown to highlight the effectiveness of the proposed classification approach. The performance of this strategy is demonstrated via simulated scenarios.
The future of anesthesiology: implications of the changing healthcare environment

Purpose of reviewAnesthesiology is at a crossroad, particularly in the USA. We explore the changing and future roles for anesthesiologists, including the implication of new models of care such as the perioperative surgical home, changes in payment methodology, and the impact other refinements in hea
Uniform Metal-assisted Chemical Etching and the Stability of Catalysts

Recently, metal-assisted chemical etching (MaCE) has been demonstrated as a promising technology in fabrication of uniform high-aspect-ratio (HAR) micro- and nanostructures on silicon substrates. In this work, MaCE experiments on 2 μm-wide line patterns were conducted using Au or Ag as catalysts. The performance of the two catalysts show sharp contrast. In MaCE with Au, a HAR trench was formed with uniform geometry and vertical sidewall. In MaCE with Ag, shallow and tapered etching profiles were observed, which resembled the results from isotropic etching. The sidewall tapering phenomena can be explained by the dissolution and re-deposition of the Ag catalyst in the etchant solution. The existence of Ag that was redeposited on the sidewall was further confirmed by energy dispersive spectrum. Also, etchant composition is found to play a profound role in influencing the etching profile by the Ag catalysts.
Hydroxylation of salicylate by the in vitro diaphragm : evidence for hydroxyl radical production during fatigue

There is increasing evidence that oxygen-derived free radicals produced during strenuous work by the diaphragm may contribute to diaphragm fatigue and/or injury. However, the precise identity of th...
Greener on the Other Side: Cultivating Community and Improvement Through Sustainability Practices

Sustainability practices that lead to greener schools are often overlooked in leadership preparation programs and in school improvement efforts. An urban middle school principal recognizes the pote...
SHINE and Mini-SHINE Column Designs for Recovery of Mo from 140 g-U/L Uranyl Sulfate

Argonne is assisting SHINE Medical Technologies (SHINE) in their efforts to develop an accelerator-driven process that utilizes a uranyl-sulfate solution for the production of fission Mo 99. In an effort to design a Mo-recovery system for the SHINE project using low-enriched uranium (LEU), we conducted batch, breakthrough, and pulse tests to determine the Mo isotherm, mass-transfer zone (MTZ), and system parameters for a 130 g-U/L uranyl sulfate solution at pH 1 and 80°C, as described previously.1,2 The VERSE program was utilized to calculate the MTZ under various loading times and velocities. The results were then used to design Mo separation and recovery columns employing a pure titania sorbent (110-μm particles, S110, and 60 Å pore size). The plant-scale column designs assume Mo will be separated from 271 L of a 141 g-U/L uranyl sulfate solution, pH 1, containing 0.0023 mM Mo. The VERSE-designed recovery systems have been tested and verified in laboratory-scale experiments, and this approach was found to be very successful.
Implementing Tablet-Based Devices to Improve Communication Skills of Students with Autism.

Students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have difficulties in communication that limit their opportunities to participate in daily living and educational activities. Augmentative alternative co...
Constrained optimal iterative learning control with mixed-norm cost functions

Abstract Iterative learning Control (ILC) is a widely used design technique for determining feedforward control inputs to systems that perform the same task repeatedly. This feedforward control design problem can be posed as an optimization problem in the Norm Optimal ILC (NO-ILC) framework. Although NO-ILC problems are usually formulated without constraints, they may be extended to enforce constraints by posing an analogous constrained optimization problem, termed Constrained Optimal ILC (CO-ILC). Typical NO-ILC and CO-ILC algorithms use 2-norm type cost functions (i.e., minimizing tracking error and control effort 2-norms), which are smooth and have analytical gradient expressions for design of the update law. However, in many applications, the max (∞) norm of tracking error is critical, which is a nonsmooth function and thus gradient-based ILC methods cannot be directly used. In this manuscript, we design a CO-ILC algorithm to explore the performance of using non-smooth type cost functions and compare them with the case using 2-norm cost function with actuator (or more generally state) box constraints. Specifically, CO-ILC algorithms for linear system with linear constraints are derived using (1) an ∞-norm cost function, (2) a mixed ( 2 − ∞ ) -norm cost function and (3) a sequential ( 2 − ∞ ) -norm cost function; the performance results of these are then compared with the traditional CO-ILC using 2-norm cost function on a precision motion control stage experimentally. We also provide proofs for robust monotone convergence of the proposed CO-ILC algorithms for a class of uncertainty models.
Straight from the Source? Media Framing of Creative Crowd Labor and Resultant Ethical Concerns

Increasing numbers of marketers are turning to the crowd—members of the public engaged with brands via the Internet—to develop marketing and advertising campaigns. Some marketers use social media to connect directly with customers, while others use crowdsourcing agencies to harness the power of crowd labor. As more members of the public become aware of creative crowdsourcing, they look to the media to understand more about it. As a result, it is important to examine how the media currently frame creative crowdsourcing to the public, particularly when numerous ethical issues about crowdsourcing have been identified (e.g. work is devalued as crowdworkers earn little money and no benefits for their work). This study examines media coverage of creative crowdsourcing to examine how benefits and challenges are presented. Informed by a framework developed by Swain (Understanding and communicating science: new agendas in communication, Routledge, London, pp 209–232, 2009), results indicate that most media coverage focuses solely on benefits to the industry: benefits to the ‘crowd’ are rarely discussed, yet drawbacks to the crowd are mentioned more frequently than drawbacks for the industry. This provides a skewed vision of what creative crowdsourcing is and may affect participation in the practice.
Growth, structural, and magnetic properties of single-crystal full-Heusler Co2TiGe thin films

This work presents the growth, structural characterization, and measurement of magnetic properties of Co2TiGe thin films grown by molecular beam epitaxy on insulating MgO (001) substrates and conductive lattice matched InAlAs/InGaAs/InAlAs epitaxial layers grown on n-InP (001) substrates. A GdAs diffusion barrier was used to minimize interfacial reactions during Co2TiGe growth on InAlAs. The surface morphology, structural quality, and magnetic behavior were examined by reflection high-energy electron diffraction, scanning tunneling microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and superconducting quantum interference device magnetometry. The results reveal high quality Co2TiGe thin films with a saturation magnetization of ∼1.8 μB/formula unit and a Curie temperature of ∼375 K. The magnetic easy axis was found to lie in the [110] direction but magnetometry also reveals that there is only a small difference in energy between the [110] and [010] magnetization directions.
Mid-Infrared Microresonator-Based Frequency Combs

We describe our recent work on the generation of modelocked microresonator frequency combs in the mid-infrared and its application to spectroscopy.
Country reputation management: developing a scale for measuring the reputation of four African countries in the United States

This study extends the development of country reputation measurement to other cultural contexts, specifically among sub-Saharan African countries that have shown the desire to improve their reputation in the United States and other Western nations. Although effective management of a country’s reputation lies in its ability to measure the perceptions of its target publics, there is currently no established scale that can be relied upon for such measurement of sub-Saharan African countries. In this study, a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was conducted using second-order latent variables, and based on the goodness-of-fit indices, it was established that all four models for measuring the reputation of four countries—Angola, Ghana, Kenya, and Nigeria—met the data fit criteria, thus validating the instrument. Validation of this scale provides empirical evidence that contributes to public diplomacy and country reputation management. Because the CFA process used in this study allows for replication of measurements across independent samples, practitioners interested in measuring the reputation of sub-Saharan African countries can use this scale to evaluate the reputation of these countries across samples of interest.
Floating-point output

Conversions of numerical values to string representations, and the reverse, are surprisingly complex and difficult. Older programming languages provide limited support, such as Fortran’s FORMAT statement specifier Iw for integer conversions, and Ew.d, Fw.d, and Gw.d for floating-point conversions.
The ubiquitin-proteasome pathway in adult and pediatric brain tumors: biological insights and therapeutic opportunities

Nearly 20 years ago, the concept of targeting the proteasome for cancer therapy began gaining momentum. This concept was driven by increased understanding of the biology/structure and function of the 26S proteasome, insight into the role of the proteasome in transformed cells, and the synthesis of pharmacological inhibitors with clinically favorable features. Subsequent in vitro, in vivo, and clinical testing culminated in the FDA approval of three proteasome inhibitors—bortezomib, carfilzomib, and ixazomib —for specific hematological malignancies. However, despite in vitro and in vivo studies pointing towards efficacy in solid tumors, clinical responses broadly have been evasive. For brain tumors, a malignancy in dire need of new approaches both in adult and pediatric patients, this has also been the case. Elucidation of proteasome-dependent processes in specific types of brain tumors, the evolution of newer proteasome targeting strategies, and the use of proteasome inhibitors in combination strategies will clarify how these agents can be leveraged more effectively to treat central nervous system malignancies. Since brain tumors represent a heterogeneous subset of solid tumors, and in particular, pediatric brain tumors possess distinct biology from adult brain tumors, tailoring of proteasome inhibitor-based strategies to specific subtypes of these tumors will be critical for advancing care for affected patients, and will be discussed in this review.
New constraints for holographic entropy from maximin: A no-go theorem

The Ryu-Takayanagi (RT) formula for static spacetimes arising in the AdS/CFT correspondence satisfies inequalities that are not yet proven in the case of the Rangamani-Hubeny-Takayanagi (HRT) formula, which applies to general dynamical spacetimes. Wall's maximin construction is the only known technique for extending inequalities of holographic entanglement entropy from the static to dynamical case. We show that this method currently has no further utility when dealing with inequalities for five or fewer regions. Despite this negative result, we propose the validity of one new inequality for covariant holographic entanglement entropy for five regions. This inequality, while not maximin provable, is much weaker than many of the inequalities satisfied by the RT formula and should therefore be easier to prove. If it is valid, then there is strong evidence that holographic entanglement entropy plays a role in general spacetimes including those that arise in cosmology. Our new inequality is obtained by the assumption that the HRT formula satisfies every known balanced inequality obeyed by the Shannon entropies of classical probability distributions. This is a property that the RT formula has been shown to possess and which has been previously conjectured to hold for quantum mechanics in general.
A case against colonialism

The notion that colonialism is always and everywhere a bad thing needs to be rethought in light of the grave human toll of a century of anti-colonial regimes and policies. The case for Western colo...
Heroes in Medical History ab[Abstract

Medicine has traveled a long and illustrious path over the past millennia, beginning with the first instance when one of our long-forgotten ancestors noticed that a sick or injured person recovered following some earnest appeal to the spirits of nature and culminating in the recent major milestone of the mapping of the human genome. This chapter will take us along that trail as we look in on the lives of the “Great Doctors,” the heroes of medical history. As your guide, I will point out only what I believe to be the most significant highlights. The real purpose of this chapter is not to make you a medical historian, but to put medical history in perspective so that the 12 chapters of this book make sense in the context of our heritage.
Asymptotic form ofn-th-order Spence functions

The constant terms in the large-amplitude expansions ofn-th-order Spence functions are derived. The results are then used to relate the perturbation coefficients in the high-energy expansions of the renormalized Green's functions and the renormalization constants in quantum electrodynamics.
Microsystem Technologies for Automotive Applications

Within the automotive industry, micro-electro-mechanical-systems (MEMS) technology has contributed to the improved performance, reliability and lower-cost sensors that support basic automobile functions, including driving, turning, and stopping. Future goals of the automobile industry must target the development of environmentally friendly cars that are capable of obtaining higher gas mileage, are safer, and more comfortable. Also, these cars should be capable of the reception and transmission of necessary information. At this time the automotive industry is currently focusing its R&D on ultra-low emission vehicles and intelligent transport systems (ITS). MEMS technology is expected to play an extremely important role in this future direction of R&D in the automotive field, particularly in achieving higher levels of safety. The integration of MEMS technology in various devices is essential so that the system maintains a high level of reliability and mass productivity. This paper discusses how MEMS technologies are used in current vehicles and will have been used in the future vehicles.
The Myth of Value Neutrality

A physician offers his view that health care practitioners should share their values and faith beliefs with their patients in a way that is non-imposing. Virtual Mentor is a monthly bioethics journal published by the American Medical Association.
Exact Model Knowledge Control

In high performance applications, passive control may not provide sufficient vibration or noise control. This chapter introduces active, model-based controllers that damp vibration and noise. Exact knowledge of the model structure and parameters provides controllers with fast transient decay and excellent disturbance rejection. Exact model knowledge (EMK) controllers are introduced that compensate for the effects of actuator dynamics, geometric nonlinearities, and spatial parameter nonuniformity.
Protein Kinase C and the Development of Squamous Cell Carcinoma

An important role for protein kinase C (PKC) signaling in squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the skin has been recognized since the early 1980s, when PKC was discovered to be the major receptor for phorbol ester tumor promoters commonly used in mouse skin chemical carcinogenesis studies. Since then, we have gained a tremendous understanding of the unique roles for different PKC isoforms in keratinocyte, KC, proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis, as well as how PKC regulation and signaling integrate into the etiology of chemically induced SCC skin. In addition, the role of PKC in ultraviolet (UV)-induced cutaneous SCC is becoming appreciated. This is a significant development as human skin cancers are very common and are caused primarily by exposure to UV radiation. This chapter will summarize our current understanding of PKC function and regulation in normal KCs, as well as the etiology of both chemical and UV-induced cutaneous SCCs.
Adulto mayor: Resignificación y desafíos para la salud y la enfermería

Las personas mayores conforman en la actualidad un grupo que va aumentado en las poblaciones de todo el mundo, cambio demografico asociado a factores sociales, economicos y de salud. Sin embargo, como se estan asumiendo los desafios que conlleva el aumento de la poblacion adulta mayor y el significado que se le ha asignado, son aspectos que se hace necesario analizar. Con el proposito de dar respuesta a estas interrogantes la presente reflexion pretende resignificar el concepto de persona mayor y su lugar en la sociedad, especialmente desde el punto de vista de la disciplina enfermera en su rol educador, a fin de que los objetivos y las lineas de trabajo que se establecen en el quehacer profesional permitan un cambio en la conceptualizacion que posee la poblacion de la persona mayor, rescatando un envejecimiento activo y positivo.
Shear Localization, Slip, and the Limiting Stress

Abstract From the early days of elastohydrodynamic lubrication, it has been appreciated that, under some conditions, the friction appears to be the same as that of dry contact with a friction coefficient roughly independent of load and sliding speed. This limiting stress response is also responsible for the characteristic logarithmic shape at lower stress that is shown in Fig. 1.7. The slope of the logarithmic friction is dependent on fragility as shown in Table 6.1. Experimental flow visualization has shown that the stress limit is due to a type of liquid failure in which the deformation localizes into bands where the shear rate is much greater than in the bulk of the liquid and these bands may be regarded as slip planes. The first normal stress difference causes these planes to be rotated from the shear direction.
Raman Scattering from Metastable (Gasb)1-xGe2x Alloys

In an extension of earlier work (1) we have used Raman Scattering to reveal structural information in mixed, metastable, crystalline [GaSb]1-xGe2x=[Ga1-xGex] [Sb1-xGex]. These alloys were deposited on GaAs substrates using a multitarget r.f. sputtering system (2).
Survey Results Regarding Uptake and Impact of Synthetic Digital Mammography With Tomosynthesis in the Screening Setting

Abstract Synthesized digital mammography (SM) was developed to replace digital mammography (DM) in digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) imaging to reduce radiation dose. This survey assessed utilization and attitudes regarding SM in DBT screening. The study was institutional review board exempt. An online survey was sent to members of the Society of Breast Imaging in June 2018. Questions included practice information, utilization of DBT and SM, perception of change in recall rates (RRs) and cancer detection rates (CDRs) with SM–DBT versus DM–DBT, and attitudes regarding SM versus DM in DBT screening. χ2 Tests were used to compare response frequencies across groups. In all, 312 of 2,600 Society of Breast Imaging members responded to the survey (12%). Of respondents, 96% reported DBT capability, and 83% reported SM capability. Of those without SM, the most cited reasons were cost or administration and image quality concerns (both 32%). In addition, 40% reported combined SM and DM use in DBT screens, and 52% reported SM use without DM in the majority of DBT screens. The overall satisfaction with SM was 3.4 of 5 (1-5 scale). Most cited SM advantages were decreased dose (85%) and increased lesion conspicuity (27%). The most cited SM disadvantages were calcification characterization (61%) and decreased image quality (31%). Most respondents were unsure if CDRs changed (44%) and RR changed (30%) with few reporting adverse outcomes (6% RR increase, 1% CDR decrease). Most radiologists screening with DBT have SM, but only one-half have replaced DM with SM. Despite few reported adverse screening outcomes with SM–DBT, radiologists have concerns about image quality, specifically calcification characterization.
Predictive Mathematical Models of Weight Loss

Validated thermodynamic energy balance models that predict weight change are ever more in use today. Delivery of model predictions using web-based applets and/or smart phones has transformed these models into viable clinical tools. Here, we provide the general framework for thermodynamic energy balance model derivation and highlight differences between thermodynamic energy balance models using four representatives. Energy balance models have been used to successfully improve dietary adherence, estimate the magnitude of food waste, and predict dropout from clinical weight loss trials. They are also being used to generate hypotheses in nutrition experiments. Applications of thermodynamic energy balance weight change prediction models range from clinical applications to modify behavior to deriving epidemiological conclusions. Novel future applications involve using these models to design experiments and provide support for treatment recommendations.
Changes in health-related quality of life with intensive behavioural therapy combined with liraglutide 3.0 mg per day

This study examined the effects of intensive behavioural therapy (IBT) for obesity (IBT-alone), IBT plus liraglutide 3.0 mg/day (IBT-liraglutide), and IBT-liraglutide combined with 12 weeks of a portion-controlled diet (Multicomponent) on changes in general health-related (HR) quality of life (QoL) and weight-related QoL. Adults with obesity (79.3% female; 54.0% white; 44.7% black; mean age = 47.6 ± 11.8 years and body mass index = 38.4 ± 4.9 kg/m2 ) were randomized to IBT-alone (n = 50), IBT-liraglutide (n = 50) or Multicomponent (n = 50). General HRQoL was measured with the Short Form-36 (SF-36), and weight-related QoL was assessed with the Impact of Weight on Quality of Life-Lite scale. At week 52, participants in the three groups lost 6.1 ± 1.3%, 11.5 ± 1.3% and 11.8 ± 1.3% of initial body weight, respectively. Both liraglutide-treated groups were significantly more likely than IBT-alone to achieve clinically meaningful improvements in total weight-related QoL. They also both achieved greater improvements than IBT-alone in weight-related public distress and in general mental health, as measured by the SF-36 mental component summary score. Independent of treatment group, greater categorical weight loss was associated with greater improvements in several domains of both general and weight-related QoL. The addition of liraglutide to IBT appeared to improve aspects of both general HRQoL and weight-related QoL.
Unintended consequences for patients denied bariatric surgery: a 12-year follow-up.

Abstract Background Many patients who seek weight loss surgery are denied an operation due to insurance barriers, psychological concerns, and poor medical fitness for surgery. Objective The aim of this cohort study was to study the causes and outcomes of selected patients denied metabolic and bariatric surgery (MBS). Setting Academic, Accredited Bariatric Program Methods From January-December 2007, a multidisciplinary, accredited MBS program denied 107 patients surgery. Twelve years later a retrospective chart review and phone survey was conducted. Qualitative and quantitative analysis was performed using chi-square and t-test, respectively. Results Forty patients either declined participation or were lost to follow-up. Of the 64 remaining patients, 13 patients were noted to have been ineligible for surgery by NIH criteria. 3 additional patients were excluded from the study. Of the remaining 51 denied patients, 24 patients (47%) ultimately underwent MBS at a later date. These patients had less severe hypertension (p Conclusion This study found that most patients who were initially turned away from MBS ultimately satisfied qualification criteria. Those who are denied MBS represent a vulnerable group of patients who may never seek MBS again despite eventually qualifying. These patients may benefit from continued follow-up and counseling to achieve weight loss.
Trends and Disparities in Self-Reported and Measured Osteoporosis among US Adults, 2007-2014.

(1) Background: Studies examining osteoporosis trends among US adults by different socioeconomic status (SES) are limited. The prevalence of self-reported osteoporosis in the US is rarely reported. (2) Methods: Data from the National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey (NHANES) between 2007–2008 and 2013–2014 cycles were analyzed. Age-adjusted prevalence of self-reported and that of measured osteoporosis were calculated overall and by sex, race/ethnicity, education attainment, and SES. (3) Results: The prevalence of self-reported osteoporosis was higher than that of measured osteoporosis in all three survey cycles for women, and in 2007–2008 and 2009–2010 for men. Participants with high school/GED or higher educational attainment had an increased prevalence of measured osteoporosis during the study period. Among all SES groups, participants with low family income (PIR < 1.3) had the highest prevalence of measured osteoporosis, and the prevalence increased from 49.3 per 1000 population to 71.8 per 1000 population during the study period. (4) Conclusions: The prevalence of self-reported osteoporosis was higher than that of measured osteoporosis in US adults between 2007 and 2014. The age-adjusted prevalence of measured osteoporosis increased in participants with the educational attainment of high school/GED or above, and individuals with low family income.