cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Determining the Optimal Timing of Foliar Insecticide Applications for Control of Soybean Aphid (Hemiptera: Aphididae) on Soybean

Field experiments were performed over 3 yr to examine the impact of insecticide application timing to control soybean aphid, Aphis glycines Matsumura (Hemiptera: Aphididae), populations and to prevent soybean yield losses. Experiments were conducted in early and late-planted soybean, Glycine max (L.) Merr. Insecticide applications were made based on soybean growth stages. In 2001, applications were made at V1, V3, R2, and R3 growth stages; in 2002 and 2003, applications were made at R2, R3, and R4 stages. Additional treatments consisted of an unsprayed control and a multiple spray treatment that received insecticide applications at 7-10-d intervals. Soybean aphid densities were recorded throughout the growing season, and yields were measured. Soybean aphid populations varied considerably across years and planting dates. In general, late-planted soybean exhibited higher aphid pressure than early planted soybean, and experiments in 2002 had lower aphid numbers than those in 2001 and 2003. The multiple spray treatment significantly increased yield over the control in four of the six experiments, the exceptions being 2002 late planted and 2003 early planted. This suggests that soybean aphid populations were not large enough to cause yield losses in these two experiments. The R3 spray treatment increased yield in three of the six experiments (2001 late planting, 2002 early planting, and 2003 late planting), the R2 spray treatment increased yield in two of six experiments (2001 and 2003 late plantings), and the V1 application increased yield over the control in the 2001 late-planted experiment. Results suggest that when aphid populations are high insecticide applications made at R2 and R3 plant stages are most effective in preventing yield loss.
Guiding Principles And A Decision-Making Framework For Stakeholders Pursuing Healthy Food Environments

To address obesity and diet-related chronic diseases in the United States, organizations such as the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the Institute of Medicine have encouraged the use of voluntar...
Tristram's Mathematics Problem

Editor's note: We publish this short story as a footnote to the article "Mathematics and Literature" by Don 0. Koehler. Moore, a poet, writes, "Mathematics has meant a great deal to me as a poet (though it may not have been very) good for mv poetry career). We seem to live in a civilization where only mathematicians can ei?yov mathematics anid on/v poets appreciate poetry. My combination of interests gives me a very strong urge to fill in these gaps sonmehow. A nd in both cases the ancient Greeks play a part: the same impulse that made me study the ancient Greek theory of ratio led me to read Homer in the original for the sake of my poetry." The story is excerpted from [2]; other recent work by the author appears in the References.
The effect of recovery from depression on preferences for life-sustaining therapy in older patients

Background This study compared older veterans' preferences about life-sustaining therapy before and after treatment for depression in order to determine whether recovery from depression is associated with an increase in the desire for these interventions. Methods Medical inpatients over 65 years of age were eligible. Depressed subjects scored > 14 on the Geriatric Depression Scale and were independently diagnosed by a psychiatrist as depressed. A questionnaire quantified preferences regarding potentially life-sustaining interventions currently, and in four hypothetical scenarios of illness. Results Initial interviews were completed on 50 depressed and 50 nondepressed subjects. Within 6 months, 34 (68%) depressed and 40 (80%) control subjects were reevaluated. Preferences did not change significantly from initial to final interview, regardless of whether subjects had recovered from depression or remained depressed. With the exception of cardiopulmonary resuscitation, however, control subjects' preferences were more stable than depressed subjects' choices. Conclusions This study demonstrated that treatment of mild-to-moderate depression does not necessarily result in an increased desire for life-sustaining medical therapy. Because depressed patients exhibit less consistency in their preferences over time, we advise careful and repeated discussions with the depressed patient regarding these decisions.
Electron Microscopy of Mesoscale Arrays of Quantum-Confined CdS Nanoparticles Formed on DNA Templates

This paper describes the fabrication method and initial characterization of self-assembled mesoscale arrays of quantum-confined CdS nanoparticles using DNA as a template for the overall shape. Three DNAs were used: the circular and linear forms of the plasmid pUCLeu4, and circular φX174 RF II. In all three cases, the mesoscale lengths are consistent with the A-form of DNA. The structural signatures and crystallography were confirmed using conventional and high resolution transmission electron microscopy, and electron diffraction. Optical spectroscopy demonstrated that the particles display quantum-confinement effects. This research is a fundamental demonstration of the power of combining biochemical and solid-state processing techniques.
Dietary vitamin D3 supplementation at 50× the adequate intake decreases calbindin d28k and endoplasmic reticulum stress and increases apoptosis, suggesting toxicity, in the female transgenic G93A mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

BackgroundWe previously showed that dietary vitamin D3 (D3) at 50× the adequate intake increased functional capacity in the transgenic G93A mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), with ...
A Model Based Systems Engineering Approach to Resiliency Analysis of a Cyberphysical System

This article describes an approach to cyberattack resilience modeling for an example cyberphysical system – a network controlling an electric power distribution station. The approach is based on survivability analysis and uses Markov models implemented using Matlab and SysML. Example results from a transient analysis of the system are shown to demonstrate the utility of the approach.
Achieving High Parallel Efficiency on Modern Processors for X-Ray Scattering Data Analysis

Modern processors have increasingly more parallelism available on-chip, which include simultaneous multithreading (SMT) and single-instruction multiple-data (SIMD) parallelisms. The former is typically available through multiple compute cores and the latter through long vector units. In this paper, we consider several compute kernels of a real-world scientific application, X-ray scattering data analysis, to demonstrate and analyze high performance through the exploitation of available SMT and SIMD parallelism on such modern processors, which form the base of current state-of-the-art supercomputers. We discuss various methods to effectively exploit the available on-node parallelism to increase parallel efficiency and provide detailed performance analysis on two leading Cray supercomputers. In addition, we also present performance results obtained on the Intel Knights Landing processor.
Aldehyde dehydrogenase 1–positive nigrostriatal dopaminergic fibers exhibit distinct projection pattern and dopamine release dynamics at mouse dorsal striatum

Aldehyde dehydrogenase 1 (ALDH1A1)–positive dopaminergic (DA) neurons at the ventral substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc) preferentially degenerate in Parkinson’s disease (PD). Their projection pattern and dopamine release properties, however, remains uncharacterized. Here we show that ALDH1A1–positive axons project predominantly to the rostral two–thirds of dorsal striatum. A portion of these axons converge on a small fraction of striosome compartments restricted to the dorsolateral striatum (DLS), where less dopamine release was measured compared to the adjacent matrix enriched with the ALDH1A1–negative axons. Genetic ablation of Aldh1a1 substantially increases the dopamine release in striosomes, but not in matrix. Additionally, the presence of PD-related human α-synuclein A53T mutant or dopamine transporter (DAT) blockers also differentially affects the dopamine output in striosomes and matrix. Together, these results demonstrate distinct dopamine release characteristics of ALDH1A1–positive DA fibers, supporting a regional specific function of ALDH1A1 in regulating dopamine availability/release in striatum.
The Relative Importance of Tax Reporting Complexity and IRS Scrutiny in Voluntary Tax Disclosure Decisions

Managers face conflicting incentives when making voluntary tax disclosure decisions. Although voluntary tax disclosures can improve firms’ information environments and reduce financial statement users’ costs of processing complex tax information, they can also inform tax authorities about potential noncompliance. This study examines how managers trade off tax reporting complexity and IRS scrutiny in voluntary tax disclosures during quarterly earnings announcements and conference calls. We find that tax reporting complexity dominates managers’ voluntary tax disclosure decisions, on average. However, for firms with the highest IRS scrutiny, the potential costs of revealing useful information to the IRS partially attenuates the positive association between tax reporting complexity and voluntary tax disclosure. Collectively, our results further our understanding of voluntary income tax disclosures by revealing a trade-off between tax reporting complexity and IRS scrutiny. Voluntary tax disclosures are an underexplored yet important area as regulators and activists worldwide call for greater tax transparency.
Increased BPA production modulates Epo sensitivity of circulating BFU-E in sickle cell anemia.

We have examined the possibility that permanent “stress” hemopoiesis in sickle cell anemia (SS) patients leads to the modification of the behavior of circulating 14 day erythroid progenitor cells (BFU-E). In these patients we find that peripheral blood BFU-E are increased in number and have high sensitivity to erythropoietin (Epo). Maximal number of BFU-E are generated from peripheral blood of SS patients at 0.3–0.75 Epo/ml of culture compared to 1.5–2.0 U Epo/ml of culture in normals. Peripheral blood adherent cells depletion leads to the shift of Epo dose response curve, so that the Epo sensitivity of BFU-E significantly decreases. This result suggests that apparent Epo hypersensitivity reflects, in fact, an increased production of a burst promoting activity (BPA) by SS peripheral blood light density adherent (PB-LDA) cells. Experiments with conditioned medium by SS PB-LDA cells confirmed this interpretation. When peripheral blood light density non-adherent (PB-LDNA) cells of SS patients or normal individuals were plated in the presence of various concentrations of SS PB-LD cells conditioned medium and constant amounts of Epo, a dose dependent increase of the number of BFU-E was observed. When the same target cells were plated in the presence of PB-LD cells conditioned medium from normal individuals, such effect does not occur. We conclude that increased BPA production may play a role in the erythropoietic regulation during constant hemopoietic stress in sickle cell anemia and might partially explain the lower than expected Epo levels in these patients.
Fully automated segmentation and quantification of visceral and subcutaneous fat at abdominal CT: application to a longitudinal adult screening cohort.

Objective:To investigate a fully automated CT-based adiposity tool, applying it to a longitudinal adult screening cohort.Methods:A validated automated adipose tissue segmentation algorithm was applied to non-contrast abdominal CT scans in 8852 consecutive asymptomatic adults (mean age, 57.1 years; 3926 M/4926 F) undergoing colonography screening. The tool was also applied to follow-up CT scans in a subset of 1584 individuals undergoing longitudinal surveillance (mean interval, 5.6 years). Visceral and subcutaneous adipose tissue (VAT and SAT) volumes were segmented at levels T12-L5. Primary adipose results are reported herein for the L1 level as mean cross-sectional area. CT-based adipose measurements at initial CT and change over time were analyzed.Results:Mean VAT values were significantly higher in males (205.8 ± 107.5 vs 108.1 ± 82.4 cm2; p < 0.001), whereas mean SAT values were significantly higher in females (171.3 ± 111.3 vs 124.3 ± 79.7 cm2; p < 0.001). The VAT/SAT ratio at L1 was three times high...
The Role of Sleep in Mental Illness in Veterans and Active Service Members

Active duty service members as well as retired veterans are at greater risk for insomnia and/or sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) than the general population. Difficulties such as these may facilitate the development of or exacerbate psychiatric symptoms, as well as difficulties with cognition, and are a hallmark feature of mental health problems in this population. Cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) is an effective psychotherapeutic intervention for insomnia, while continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is effective in treating sleep-disordered breathing. While CBT-I is successful in ameliorating psychiatric symptoms in addition to sleep, less is known about its efficacy in individuals with psychosis, particularly in the veteran population. Regular screening is important among veterans with psychiatric disorders, but is not regularly assessed in clinics. Similarly, older adults are particularly susceptible to SDB, and early identification of the presence of sleep-disordered breathing may improve cognitive functioning and prevent rapid cognitive decline. The Veterans Health Administration is diligently working to improve access to sleep services, which will ultimately enhance the quality of life for many veterans.
Screening for and biological characterization of antitumor agents using microorganisms.

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses screening for biological characterization of antitumor agents using microorganisms. The chapter illustrates that great advances have been and are being made (1) in the understanding of some causes of cancer with the promise of being able to reduce cancer incidence by removing or controlling these causative factors and (2) in treatment by surgery and ionizing radiation and supportive post-surgical treatment. Successful biological research efforts demand: (1) inductive reasoning to establish reasonable hypotheses, and (2) usable experimental tools to put the hypotheses to objective test. Searching for anticancer agents in human cancer patients is a practical impossibility for a variety of reasons. Tumor-bearing experimental animals have been the test systems of choice in researches for evaluation of anticancer agents. Screening for effective new anticancer agents and evaluation of congeners of known anticancer agents against a variety of experimental animal tumors demand time, laboratory space, technical labor, money, experimental animals, and the drugs being tested. The use of antitumor-agent-resistant microorganisms as tools for preliminary identification of new anticancer agents and of drug-sensitive or drug-resistant bacteria for gaining information concerning possible sensitive metabolic sites inhibited by new anticancer agents has great potential.
Early Culture and Medicine to 1895 and the Creation of the MGH

There is no certainty as to the origins of medicine. Well before recorded history, there was surely a wide spectrum of shamans with their sacred herbs and diverse procedures to relieve symptoms and make the “patients” more comfortable with their situation.
Celestial Objects for Modern Telescopes: Practical Amateur Astronomy Volume 2

Based on field notes made by the author during his own career as an amateur astronomer, this unique guide covers both the traditional and novel approaches to studying the night sky. In addition to the more standard techniques, it discusses the latest modern resources available to today's astronomer, such as personal computers, the Internet, and computerized telescopes. It includes practical advice on aspects such as site selection and weather; provides the reader with detailed instructions for observing the Sun, Moon, planets, and all types of deep-sky objects; and it introduces newer specialities such as satellite observing and the use of astronomical databases. The book concludes with detailed information about 200 stars, clusters, nebulae, and galaxies, suitable for viewing with modest-sized telescopes under suburban conditions. Written to complement How to Use a Computerized Telescope, this book will also appeal to astronomers with more traditional equipment.
Improved grazing angle bidirectional reflectance distribution function model using Rayleigh–Rice polarization factor and adaptive microfacet distribution function

The bidirectional reflectance distribution function (BRDF) describes optical scattering off realistic surfaces. The microfacet BRDF, while computationally simple, lacks accuracy especially for grazing angles. An approximation, which replaces mathematically problematic elements of the microfacet model with the polarization factor from wave optics, has proved useful in accurately modeling the grazing region. We now expand upon this analysis by additionally varying the microfacet distribution function—a fundamental part of microfacet BRDF models. We find that after choosing the best microfacet distribution, 12 of the 18 materials studied show a significant improvement in the BRDF fit at grazing angles using the proposed approximation. Additionally, there was one case for which the approximation produced a model statistically tied for best within the experimental uncertainty of the data. The remaining five materials have significant sources of error outside the grazing region and will be further studied in future work.
Applying a value-based care framework to post-mastectomy reconstruction

Reconstructive breast surgeons, like all procedural care providers, face a transition from volume reimbursement (i.e., per unit of service) to value-based care. Value can be defined as the relationship between outcomes and costs, or more specifically healthcare outcomes per unit cost. Although the definition of a meaningful outcome for a particular treatment can vary, some weighted average of survival, function, complications, process measures, and patient-reported outcomes (PROs) comprise the numerator, while the total cost of a complete care cycle is the denominator. We aim to construct a value-based care framework for reconstructive surgery using post-mastectomy reconstruction as an organizing element. A preexisting value framework was applied to breast reconstruction using expert opinion and literature review. Domains and associated realization strategies were constructed based on established health economic principles. Seven domains were identified including: implementing an inclusive and transparent process for stakeholder engagement, practicing clear and explicit treatment goals, anchoring care delivery to the patient perspective, maximizing value across the entire continuum of care, optimizing operation efficiency, and scaling best practices with implementation science. In the near future, reconstructive plastic surgeons may be asked to solve clinical problems for fixed reimbursement (i.e. bundled payments). Considering breast reconstruction through a value lens provides surgeons with an opportunity to adapt and thrive in an evolving healthcare landscape. Lastly, we hope this document helps promote value assessment within the specialty.
HIV/AIDS information promotion at the library: creative campaigns for young adults

Background: While rates of new HIV diagnoses have gone down nationally, Florida’s HIV-positive population is growing and remains one of the largest in the country. Given this landscape, it is clear that diverse, creative, and collaborative efforts are needed to better inform the public about HIV risks, prevention, and treatment and to encourage healthy behaviors. Case Presentation: Building on previous work, librarians at the University of Florida engaged in a yearlong project to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS risks, prevention, and treatment among university students and to improve their information-seeking behaviors related to this disease. The “Creative Campaigns” project included 3 distinct elements of activity and engagement, designed to complement one another: a graphic novel contest, a social media campaign, and training for campus health care providers. The contest yielded 4 high-quality submissions, and the monthlong social media campaign garnered over 50,000 views and utilized Facebook ads to extend beyond the library’s typical audience. The instruction proved useful to campus counseling and wellness staff. Conclusions: Overall, the team considered the project a success in terms of reaching new audiences in new ways, and several of its components have been integrated into subsequent projects and regular operations. Exploring new methods of outreach through social media and creative formats required careful planning and the development of new skill sets amongst project team members but proved to be a rewarding way to generate engagement in the local community.
Sincalide: A Review of Clinical Utility, Proper Infusion Methodology, and Alternative Cholecystogogues

Sincalide (Kinevac) is widely used in conjunction with cholescintigraphy for a variety of clinical indications. Over the years, numerous publications have verified the optimal infusion methodology. Published data and consensus recommendations emphasize that sincalide, 0.02 μg/kg, should be infused over 60 min. Production problems sometimes limit the availability of sincalide. In that case, non-Food and Drug Administration pharmacy-compounded sincalide may serve as an alternative. Fatty meals have also been used. Various illnesses and drugs may inhibit gallbladder contraction. Thus, these drugs should be withheld for 48 h before the study. Sincalide cholescintigraphy is most commonly used to diagnose or exclude chronic acalculous gallbladder disease. The study should preferably be performed as an outpatient procedure.
Pharmacoepigenetics of Bipolar Disorder

Abstract Several studies have suggested a key role of DNA sequence variants in modulating the response to treatment in patients with bipolar disorder. However, as a multifactorial disorder thought to result from gene × environment interactions, recent studies have started to investigate the role of epigenetic mechanisms, such as DNA methylation, histone modifications, and the control of gene expression by microRNAs, in bipolar disorder and its treatment. In this chapter we review accumulating clinical and preclinical evidence of epigenetic mechanisms involved in the action of mood stabilizers, antidepressants, and antipsychotics used for the treatment of patients with bipolar disorder, and further discuss the clinical implications and limitations of the evolving field of pharmacoepigenetics. It is expected that the studies discussed here may provide powerful predictive epigenetic biosignatures of treatment response for bipolar disorder, which could eventually revolutionize the field and significantly benefit patients and clinicians in the near future.
Having Fun Isn’t Hard: A Quick Fix Designed to Promote Independent Reading

In one of my favorite episodes of Arthur, Arthur and his friends excitedly sing about the magic of owning a library card (Fallon 1998). Their joyous declaration that “having fun isn’t hard when you...
Nanomechanical analysis of medical grade PEEK and carbon fiber-reinforced PEEK composites.

Abstract Polyether ether ketone (PEEK) and PEEK composites are viable candidates for orthopedic implants owing to their ability for modulus match of surrounding bone tissue. The structural properties of these systems for load-bearing application in the body can be tailored by incorporating carbon fibers; to this end, polyacrylonitrile (PAN) and pitch fibers are commonly incorporated in the PEEK matrix. Mechanical property optimization for a given medical application requires consideration of carbon fiber type and volume fraction, as well as processing conditions for the composite systems. While much is known about the bulk mechanical properties of PEEK and PEEK composites, little is known about the nanomechanical properties of these systems. Insight into nanoscale behavior can offer valuable information about fiber-matrix interactions that may influence long-term integrity of these biomaterials when used in load bearing medical device applications. In this study, we utilize nanoindentation as a method to characterize mechanical behavior of clinical grade PEEK and PEEK composites. We examine PEEK formulations with pitch and PAN fibers and evaluate a range of thermal treatments known to influence polymer microstructure. We use a conospherical tip of 1.5 μm in radius and a conospherical tip of 20 μm radius to determine indentation modulus over different length scales. We correlate these findings with previous characterization on these same PEEK systems using microindentation. A novelty of this work is that we combine nanoindentation with k-means clustering to quantitatively discern the influence of heat treatment and carbon fiber type on the mechanical behavior of PEEK composites and their constituents. We demonstrate that nanoindentation is an effective characterization tool for discerning fiber-matrix interactions and measuring the mechanical behavior in response to thermal treatment and carbon fiber type in PEEK composites. Nanoindentation is shown to be a viable tool for characterizing complex biomaterials and can serve as an effective technique to guide optimization of microstructures for long-term structural applications in the body.
Computing Hypergraph Homology in Chapel

In this paper, we discuss our experience in implementing homology computation, in particular the Betti number calculations in Chapel hypergraph Library (CHGL). Given a dataset represented as a hypergraph, a Betti number for a particular dimension k indicates how many k-dimensional `voids' are present in the dataset. Computing the Betti numbers involve various array-centric and linear algebra operations. We demonstrate that implementing these operations in Chapel is both concise and intuitive. In addition, we show that Chapel provides language constructs for implementing parallel and distributed execution of the linear algebra kernels with minimal effort. Syntactically, Chapel provides succinctness of Python, while delivering comparable and better performance than C++-based and Julia-based packages for calculating the Betti numbers respectively.
Nanoparticles as delivery vehicles for antiviral therapeutic drugs

Abstract With the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic still escalating, many researchers are turning to nanotechnology as a method of treatment not only for this pandemic, but in preparation for the pandemics of the future. Given both a wide variety of biomaterials at their disposal and the recent rise of nanotechnology, scientists now have the means to release and distribute therapeutic drugs in a variety of ways. Such a variety permits medical professionals the ability to choose biomaterials and methods that would provide the best release and treatment methodologies for the viral ailment they are attempting to remedy. This integrative review discusses context of previous pandemics, viral pathogenesis, issues associated with the current state of antiviral delivery systems, numerous biomaterials used for this purpose, and further information regarding the ongoing global COVID-19 pandemic.
Polyakov-Nambu-Jona-Lasinio model in 0 + 1 dimensions

We formulate the Polyakov-Nambu-Jona-Lasinio model in $0+1$ dimensions. The thermodynamics captured by the partition function yields a bulk pressure, as well as quark susceptibilities versus temperature that are similar to the ones in $3+1$ dimensions. Around the transition temperature the behavior in the pressure and quark susceptibilities follows from the interplay between the lowest Matsubara frequency and the Polyakov line. The reduction to the lowest Matsubara frequency yields a matrix model. In the presence of the Polyakov line the UV part of the Dirac spectrum features oscillations when close to the transition temperature.
Tobacco retail availability and cigarette and e-cigarette use among youth and adults: a scoping review.

Author(s): McDaniel, Patricia A | Abstract: OBJECTIVE: States and localities are formulating strategies to reduce the widespread retail availability of tobacco products. Evidence of associations between retailer density/proximity and tobacco use outcomes can help inform those strategies. We conducted a scoping review on tobacco retail availability and cigarette/e-cigarette use in adults and youth, and considered variations in spatial units, measures of retailer exposure and outcomes across studies.nMETHODS: A systematic search for studies examining the association between retailer density/proximity and youth and adult cigarette/e-cigarette use was conducted across MEDLINE (PubMed), Web of Science and Google Scholar through August 27, 2020 with no restrictions.RESULTS:n Thirty-five studies were included in our qualitative synthesis. While there were differences in neighborhood definitions (e.g. egocentric versus administrative), there is evidence for a positive association between higher retailer density in egocentric neighborhoods around homes and current smoking in adults and adolescents. Administrative unit measures in some studies showed associations with adult current smoking, and adolescent lifetime and current smoking. Studies on tobacco outlet proximity to homes obtained mixed results. Density/proximity of tobacco outlets around schools showed no or inverse association with adolescent smoking, but suggest higher susceptibility to smoking. Evidence of an association between e-cigarette retail availability and e-cigarette use is limited due to a small number of studies.CONCLUSION: The current literature provides limited empirical evidence of the association between tobacco retailer availability and smoking or e-cigarette use. More research with uniform measures of environmental exposure to tobacco retailers is needed to allow for greater comparability between studies.
The Influences of Non-Volatile Surface Compound Layer on the Dry Etching of Borosilicate Glass

In the dry etching of borosilicate glass (BSG), the process gas reacts with the impurities of borosilicate glass and forms a non-volatile compound layer on the surface. This surface compound layer (SCL) makes it difficult to control the surface morphology and device structure dimension with precision and significantly influences the etch rate. We examined the influence of SCL on the etch rate of quartz and BSG and discussed its etching mechanism depending on the thickness of the SCL. The formation of SCL was dominated by both the plasma gas composition and substrate material, and the etching regime can be defined by the thickness of the SCL. A thin SCL was formed on the BSG by CF4/Ar gas plasma etching, and the etch rate was suppressed by the SCL. A significantly thin SCL was formed on the quartz specimens under in same etching conditions, and a direct etching reaction was occurred. As the ratio of physical etching gas (Ar) increased, both the ion energy flux and the physical ion bombardment increased and consequently improved the etch rate. The SCL plays the role of an F radical supplier, while the thick SCL reduces the etch rate because it takes time for the etchants to transit from the surface to the interface. The SCL acts as a barrier in the etching reaction, which could be adjusted by the regulation of the etching gas composition or the plasma parameters, such as the inductive power and the bias power of the RIE reactor. [2021-0071]
Amorality

Actions are usually grouped into one of several moral categories. Familiar ones include the morally required, the morally permitted, and the morally prohibited. These categories have been expanded and/or refined to include the supererogatory and the “suberogatory”. Some eschew deontic categories such as the above, but nevertheless allow the existence of two comparative moral categories, i.e., the morally better or morally worse. At the risk of adding to the clutter, I want to explore the possibility of yet a further category, viz., amoral action, or actions that, strictly speaking, lack any moral status whatsoever. I think admitting the existence of amoral actions is not only plausible in its own right, but has consequences for our understanding the nature of moral obligation.
A new proposal for assignment criteria of the oxidizers into 5.1 class and packaging categories of IMDG Code

Derivatographic tests (based on DTA method) were carried out on wood flour - oxidizer mixtures to determine new criteria for assignment of the oxidizers to the class 5.1 and appropriate packaging categories of IMDG Code. It was demonstrated that DTA method can be applied to elaborating the criterion of classification of oxidizing substances into 5.1 class and appropriate packaging categories on the basis of the temperature change and time value for a reactive mixture after its selfignition. As the criterion the temperature change rate, in °C/s, counted from the self-ignition instant to that of obtaining the maximum temperature value, is proposed. On the basis of the criterion new principles of classifying the oxidizers and assigning to them a packaging category were formulated.
Extended Surgery for Advanced Ovarian Cancer

Survival in women with advanced ovarian cancer has markedly improved over the last 30 years through the use of combination platinum and taxane as standard primary chemotherapy, and through progressive improvements in the ability to perform maximal cytoreductive surgery. The goal of surgical cytoreduction has evolved from residual disease ≤1 cm to no visible residual disease, supported by evidence that there is improved survival in women with no remaining visible disease. To achieve this goal, “extended surgery” beyond standard ovarian cancer cytoreduction, including increasingly radical pelvic resection and extensive upper abdominal procedures, are more frequently performed. This chapter details the rationale and procedures required to achieve maximal cytoreduction in most patients, as well as the available evidence for postoperative outcomes after extended surgery.
The Learning Alliance Inventory: Instrument Development and Initial Validation

Despite potential applications to educational contexts, the working alliance concept has largely been confined to psychotherapy intervention research. Some have explored theoretically related concepts (e.g., immediacy, rapport), but no measure currently exists of the working alliance between a teacher and student within an academic course. The aim of this study was to develop such a measure. Results of exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses led to the creation of the Learning Alliance Inventory (LAI), which contained three factors (Collaborative Bond, Teacher Competency, and Student Investment). Reliability and validity analyses indicated that the LAI has temporal stability, distinguishes between instructors, and correlates with numerical course grades when controlling for GPA. As a result, the LAI provides a psychometrically sound instrument for measuring aspects of student-teacher interactions pertaining to their collaborative, purposive work. As such, the LAI may prove helpful in furthering our understanding of student learning and teaching effectiveness.
Deformable MEMS micromirror array for wavelength and angle insensitive retroreflecting modulators

We demonstrate a large-aperture, angle-insensitive MEMS modulator that switches from flat to a reflective microlens array. We measure 10 dB contrast with 0.55 /spl mu/m sag, and calculate 0.8 /spl mu/m sag will produce 20 dB contrast.
Dynamic Coding of Taste Stimuli in the Brainstem: Effects of Brief Pulses of Taste Stimuli on Subsequent Taste Responses

Recent studies have suggested that the response profiles of taste-responsive cells in the brainstem may be modulated by inhibitory interactions, potentially originating from activity in peripheral taste nerves. This idea was explored by testing the hypothesis that brief (100 msec) pulses of taste stimuli would alter the responses to subsequently presented tastants in the nucleus of the solitary tract (NTS) of urethane-anesthetized rats. Pulses of taste stimuli, called prepulses, were followed by a 3 sec presentation of the same or different taste stimulus. The prepulse-stimulus interval was either 1 or 5 sec, during which the tongue was rinsed with distilled water. Taste stimuli consisted of 0.1 m NaCl, 0.5 m sucrose, 0.01 m quinine HCl, and 0.01 m HCl. Taste prepulses suppressed (or enhanced) subsequent taste responses in 30 of 49 (61%) units when the prepulse-stimulus interval was 1 sec but were ineffective when this interval was 5 sec. Most commonly, NaCl or HCl prepulses attenuated the response to quinine. Control experiments showed that these effects were not attributable to adaptation, mixture effects, or response variability. In 19 (39%) of the units tested, effects of prepulses were large enough to change the order of effectiveness of the taste stimuli. Taste responses in these cells were "dynamically tuned" in that the magnitude of response was a function of the taste stimulus that immediately preceded it. Dynamic tuning may be the result of inhibitory interactions within the NTS; cells that show dynamic tuning may have a unique function in taste coding.
Possible involvement of norepinephrine transporter activity in the pulsatility of hypothalamic gonadotropin-releasing hormone release: influence of the gonad.

Pulsatile secretion of hypothalamic gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) is suppressed by alpha-adrenergic antagonists in ovariectomized (OVX) rabbits, thus suggesting that initiation of GnRH pulses requires the presence of norepinephrine (NE) stimulation. Terminals of NE neurons are located in proximity with GnRH cells in the hypothalamus, including the arcuate nucleus-median eminence (AME) region. Synaptic NE molecules may be catabolized or transported back to NE terminals (i.e. reuptake) via specific NE transporter proteins (NET). Thus, the amount of synaptic NE acting on GnRH cells is a function of the rate of NE release, metabolism and reuptake. Hypothetically, the rise and fall of a GnRH pulse may be associated with the similar fluctuations of synaptic NE release and/or NET activity. To test this hypothesis, we examined the effects of AME administration of desipramine (DMI, a specific NET blocking drug) on GnRH release. First, we delivered 0.2-10 mM doses of DMI continuously for 1 h via an AME microdialysis (microD) system into intact male rabbits. We found that each AME-DMI infusion, between dosages of 1 mM and 10 mM, stimulated a GnRH pulse, and that the size of these GnRH pulses were proportional to the dosage of DMI. To confirm the specificity of DMI on NET, we measured catecholamine content in microD samples by HPLC. The temporal (60 min) DMI induced a pattern of NE release that included a rising limb within the first 20-30 min; although NE returned to baseline values within the period of DMI treatment. Neither epinephrine nor dopamine levels were changed by DMI. Second, a median dose of DMI (5 mM) was given by microD for 60 min in four separate rabbit models: gonadal intact females (F-INT), intact males (M-INT), gonadectomized females (F-GDX) and castrated males (M-GDX). Individual microD samples were measured for NE and GnRH. Regardless of gender or gonadal status, 5 mM of DMI concomitantly induced a pulse-like release of NE and GnRH. Furthermore, the response of GnRH to DMI was greater in GDX rabbits than in INT animals of both genders. Third, we administered DMI (5 mM) for 30 min via a push-pull perfusion (PPP) system during four repeated 90 min intervals, in either F-INT or ovariectomized (F-GDX) females, and measured GnRH in PPP samples. In both F-INT and F-GDX, each DMI challenge induced a GnRH pulse. In F-INT, all sequential DMI-induced GnRH pulses were nearly equal in size. In contrast, in F-GDX, the first DMI-induced GnRH pulse was greater than subsequent ones. Collectively, these observations are consistent with the concept of noradrenergic regulation of pulsatile GnRH release, and we conclude that the temporal activity of NET may be an integral part of the mechanism by which GnRH pulses operate.
The modulating effect of isoproterenol on DNA replication and protein synthesis: Synthesis patterns of the HMG proteins from electrostatically sorted salivary gland nuclei during the in vivo cell cycle

Abstract Within 96 h after initial isoproterenol administration, DNA replication and cell cycling were activated, as reflected in the bimodal distribution of nuclear fluorescence determined by flow-microfluorometric technques. A group of proteins, the cetyltrimethylammonium bromide extractable nuclear proteins (CTAB-proteins), isolated from electrostatically sorted nuclei of rat salivary glands, was shown by staining and autoradiography after two-dimensional electrophoresis to undergo differential synthesis during various phases of the in vivo cell cycle after isoproterenol administration. Stained chromatographs revealed quantitative differences in protein synthesis. Gel autoradiography was a more sensitive technique than staining for detecting nuclear protein synthesis during cell cycling. As observed in the autoradiographs of the CTAB-proteins, isoproterenol initiated two distinct periods of protein synthesis in the salivary gland cell cycle: one during the 2C population (G0/G1), and one during the 4C population (G2/M). Protein synthesis after isoproterenol administration was much more dramatic in the 2C (isoproterenol) population, where 22 additional spots were observed, than in the 4C (isoproterenol) population, where five new spots were seen. There was less radioactive incorporation in the 4C (isoproterenol) population. Two spots ‘a’ and ‘b’ that demonstrate differential protein synthesis in stained gel chromatographs and gel autoradiographs were shown to have electrophoretic mobilities, molecular weights and amino acid compositions highly similar to those of HMG1 and HMG2, respectively. A positive correlation could also be drawn between quantitative levels of ‘a’ and ‘b’ and their levels of incorporation during cellular activity with HMG (high mobility group) proteins. For example protein ‘b’ (HMG2) was consistently more abundant in proliferating cell populations than in the quiescent ones. Autoradiographic patterns of the CTAB-proteins indicated that proteins ‘a’ and ‘b’ were synthesized during the G 0 G 1 phase of the cell cycle, as were the majority of CTAB-proteins.
Isolation and characterization of a dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase mutant of Pseudomonas chlororaphis

A dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase mutant of Pseudomonas chlororaphis ATCC 17414 was isolated and characterized in this study. Initially, reductive catabolism of uracil was confirmed to be active in ATCC 17414 cells. Following chemical mutagenesis and d-cycloserine counterselection, a mutant strain unable to utilize uracil as a nitrogen source was identified. It was also unable to utilize thymine as a nitrogen source but could use either dihydrouracil or dihydrothymine as a sole source of nitrogen. Subsequently, it was determined that the mutant strain was deficient for the initial enzyme in the reductive pathway dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase. The lack of dehydrogenase activity did not seem to have an adverse effect upon the activity of the second reductive pathway enzyme dihydropyrimidinase activity. It was shown that both dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase and dihydropyrimidinase levels were affected by the nitrogen source present in the growth medium. Dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase and dihydropyrimidinase activities were elevated after growth on uracil, thymine, dihydrouracil or dihydrothymine as a source of nitrogen.
Healthy homes and communities: putting the pieces together.

Context This article reviews and updates the evidence base informing four recommendations of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Commission to Build a Healthier America (the commission) that address the creation of healthy, vital neighborhood and community environments. Evidence acquisition Reviews of published research, consultation with experts in housing, community development policy, and site visits by the commission were conducted between 2006 and 2009. The literature reviews and national statistics were updated with publications appearing through the first half of 2010. Evidence synthesis The physical, social, and economic environments of local communities affect residents' health and exacerbate health disparities. Public and private decision makers are increasingly recognizing the importance of investing in cross-cutting strategies to reduce exposures harmful to health and to establish conditions that support healthful daily practices. Pilot and demonstration projects that engage community members in identifying priorities and implementing interventions that improve health and quality of life show promise in terms of their overall impact and effect on health disparities. Conclusions Consistent with the broad policy directions outlined in the commission's recommendations, an effective population health improvement strategy requires enlisting new partners among public agencies including housing, transportation, recreation, community development, and planning, and joint efforts between private sector business and voluntary organizations. Evaluation research of community-based interventions is needed to generate strong evidence of impact in order to guide policy and secure future investments in such measures.
Distinct but Concerted Roles of ATR, DNA-PK, and Chk1 in Countering Replication Stress during S Phase.

The ATR-Chk1 pathway is critical for DNA damage responses and cell-cycle progression. Chk1 inhibition is more deleterious to cycling cells than ATR inhibition, raising questions about ATR and Chk1 functions in the absence of extrinsic replication stress. Here we show that a key role of ATR in S phase is to coordinate RRM2 accumulation and origin firing. ATR inhibitor (ATRi) induces massive ssDNA accumulation and replication catastrophe in a fraction of early S-phase cells. In other S-phase cells, however, ATRi induces moderate ssDNA and triggers a DNA-PK and Chk1-mediated backup pathway to suppress origin firing. The backup pathway creates a threshold such that ATRi selectively kills cells under high replication stress, whereas Chk1 inhibitor induces cell death at a lower threshold. The levels of ATRi-induced ssDNA correlate with ATRi sensitivity in a panel of cell lines, suggesting that ATRi-induced ssDNA could be predictive of ATRi sensitivity in cancer cells.
Properties of the Self-tuning Minimax Predictive Control (MPC)

This paper examines the stability, performance, and robustness of a self-tuning two degree of freedom receding horizon control law based on the mixed H 2 /H ? minimization. The paper briefly reviews the derivation which is carried out as follows. First, the integrand in the frequency domain representation of the generalized predictive control (GPC) performance criterion is decomposed into disturbance and reference spectra. Then the controller is derived whose H ? part minimizes the peaks of the disturbance spectrum and the H 2 part minimizes the integral of the reference spectrum on the unit circle. The resulting two degrees of freedom control strategy referred to as the minimax predictive control (MPC) is shown to have stabilizing and robustness properties superior to the GPC for identical horizons. The MPC synthesis, based on spectral factorization and Diophantine equations, is much simpler than the standard state space H ? optimal controller. Then, the two degree of freedom MPC design is combined with a long range predictive estimator to form the self-tuning minimax predictive control. The self-tuning algorithm is very similar to the indirect self-tuner based on the standard GPC control law with extended least squares estimator. The two degree of freedom self-tuning MPC is shown to have stability and robustness properties superior to those of self-tuning GPC.