cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Dicaesium tetra­chlorido­dioxido­plutonate(VI)

The anion of the title complex, Cs2[PuCl4O2], adopts a pseudo-octa­hedral geometry (2/m crystallographic site symmetry) with two plutonyl oxide ligands in axial sites and four chloride ligands occupying the equatorial plane. Charge balance is maintained by two caesium cations per tetra­chlorido­dioxido­plutonate(VI) anion. Principal bond lengths include Pu—O = 1.752 (3) A and Pu—Cl = 2.6648 (8) A.
Between sexual and apomictic: unexpectedly variable sporogenesis and production of viable polyhaploids in the pentaploid fern of the Dryopteris affinis agg. (Dryopteridaceae)

Background and aims In ferns, apomixis is an important mode of asexual reproduction. Although the mechanisms of fern reproduction have been studied thoroughly, most previous work has focused on cases in which ferns reproduce either exclusively sexually or exclusively asexually. Reproduction of ferns with potentially mixed systems and inheritance of apomixis remains largely unknown. This study addresses reproduction of the pentaploid Dryopteris × critica, a hybrid of triploid apomictic D. borreri and tetraploid sexual D. filix-mas. Methods Spore size, abortion percentage and number of spores per sporangium were examined in pentaploid plants of D. × critica grown in an experimental garden. The sporangial content of leaf segments was cultivated on an agar medium, and DNA ploidy levels were estimated by DAPI flow cytometry in 259 gametophytes or sporophytes arising from the F2 generation of the pentaploid hybrid. Key results The hybrid is partly fertile (89-94% of aborted spores) and shows unstable sporogenesis with sexual and apomictic reproduction combined. The number of spores per sporangium varied from approx. 31 to 64. Within a single sporangium it was possible to detect formation of either only aborted spores or various mixtures of aborted and well-developed reduced spores and unreduced diplospores. The spores germinated in viable gametophytes with two ploidy levels: pentaploid (5x, from unreduced spores) and half of that (approx. 2·5x, from reduced spores). Moreover, 2-15% of gametophytes (both 2·5x and 5x) formed a viable sporophyte of the same ploidy level due to apogamy. Conclusions This study documents the mixed reproductive mode of a hybrid between apomictic and sexual ferns. Both sexual reduced and apomictic unreduced spores can be produced by a single individual, and even within a single sporangium. Both types of spores give rise to viable F2 generation gametophytes and sporophytes.
Regulation of PDGF-A: a possible mechanism for angiotensin II-induced vascular growth.

This study was designed to determine the effects of angiotensin II infusion on structure of conduit and resistance arteries and to see if the effects correlate with changes in platelet-derived growth factor A chain (PDGF-A) gene and protein expression. Wistar rats were subcutaneously infused by osmotic minipump with either angiotensin II (ANG II) at 200 ng.kg-1.min-1 or physiological saline (control) for 14 days. Tail-cuff systolic blood pressure was significantly higher in ANG II compared with control rats beginning the second day of infusion and continuing to the end of 2 wk. Both aorta and external spermatic artery (first-order arteriole of the cremaster muscle) developed increased wall-to-lumen ratios in the ANG II rats, but this occurred by hypertrophy of the wall in the aorta and reduction of the lumen in the arteriole. Digoxigenin-labeled cRNA probes were used for in situ hybridization of vascular sections to identify PDGF-A mRNA. Gene expression of PDGF-A in ANG II rats was upregulated in the hypertrophied aorta and the nonhypertrophied arteriole. With the use of immunocytochemistry techniques, PDGF-A and proliferating cell nuclear antigen were increased in the aorta but not in the arterioles of ANG II rats compared with control rats. These results suggest that the difference in growth response between the aorta and the arteriole induced by ANG II may lie in posttranscriptional modification of PDGF-A mRNA, differential control of transition, or turnover of PDGF-A protein.
Measuring Effectiveness of Aid Agencies: The Effect of Recipient Participation on Goal Achievement

One of the functions of accounting is to measure performance, effectiveness, and efficiency of organizational systems. In for profit entities the tools and metrics used to measure performance include the income statement, as well as measures of return on investment. Measuring performance in not-for-profit (NFP) entities, where income maximization is not the ultimate goal, can be accomplished using different or additional metrics. In the specific NFP arena of developmental aid agencies, measuring effective goal achievement is an under explored research area. This current research paper examines the relationship between donations to developmental countries for education and the school enrollment rates in those countries. Country Programmable Aid (CPA), donations to developing countries over which the recipient has some say in how the funds are utilized, has been tracked for the last decade. Expectancy theory, used extensively in participative budgeting research, provides the theoretical framework for predicting a relationship between recipient participation and goal achievement. Just as manager participation in the budgeting process may lead to improved performance, recipient participation in the operationalization of the developmental program is expected to lead to improved performance. Participation is measured by the dollar amount of Country Programmable Aid. Performance is measured by the enrollment rates in primary and secondary education within educationally impoverished countries. Thirty-six countries with low initial enrollment rates were included in the analysis. Significant explanatory power was found in only a few instances. Small sample size, cultural effects, and mediating variables in the participative budgeting model may explain the weak results. Addressing each of these weaknesses are areas for future research.
Effects of ethylene on the orientation of microtubules and cellulose microfibrils of pea epicotyl cells with polylamellate cell walls

Following a 5 hours ethylene treatment, cortical cells of Pea (Pisum sativum L. var Alaska) epicotyl third internode showed a change in the orientation of both microtubules near the plasma membrane and recently deposited cellulose microfibrils. Control cortical cells had mostly transverse microtubules. The ratio of the average frequency of transverse to longitudinal microtubules was 6.0. After 5 hours of ethylene treatment, cortical cells had mostly longitudinal microtubules, with the ratio of transverse to longitudinal microtubules equal to 0.1. Epidermal cells were more variable than cortical cells with regard to the frequency of longitudinal and transverse microtubules. Observation of cortical cell walls in conventionally stained thin sections revealed that recent deposition of microfibrils had been primarily transverse in almost all of the control cortical cells sampled. In contrast, more than half of the ethylene-treated cortical cells had recent deposition oriented primarily longitudinally. This change in microtubule and microfibril orientation may be early enough to constitute the primary effect of ethylene leading to radial cell expansion.
Antiteratogenic Effects of Leaf Extract of Mentha Cordifolia Opiz. (Mint), Allium Sativum L. (Garlic), and Pterocarpus Indicus Willid. (Narra) on Mus Musculus (White Mice)

The study was conducted to compare the antiteratogenic effects of leaf extracts from mint, garlic and narra. Specifically, this aimed to determine the fertility, implantation and gestation indices, percentage dead implants, and percentage female resorptions; examine and describe the gross anatomy of the fetuses; and compare the sperm morphology of all treatments. Twenty-five (25) sexually mature male and fifty (50) sexually mature female mice were used in this study. These were randomly allocated to five groups labeled as T0+ (distilled water), T0- (tetracycline), T1 (tetracycline + mint extract), T2 (tetracycline + garlic extract), and T3 (tetracycline + narra extract) with five replicates. Antiteratogenic activities were monitored using dominant Lethal Test. Treatments were administered daily in male mice subcutaneously for six days. Treated mice were allowed to mate with two female mice for 24 hours. Sperm morphology assay was done to all male mice after mating. After 18 days mated female mice were sacrificed and pups were examined for any malformations. Positive control showed 100% fertility, 0% resorption, and fetal lethality while negative control revealed 0% fertility. At 0.3 ml of pure extracts per 20 g mice, narra treated mice significantly increased the frequency of fertile matingâ€™s to 40%, mint to 30% and garlic to 20%; significantly increased implantation to 83% (mint), 85% (garlic), and 82% (narra); significantly decreased the number of females with resorptions to 25%, 33.3% and 50% (mint, narra and garlic, respectively); and significantly decreased the number of dead implantations to 17.6% (garlic), 15.2% (narra), and 4% (mint). Gross morphological examination of pups showed no signs of congenital malformations. Sperm morphology assay revealed significant decrease in the frequency of abnormal sperm cells in mice administered with leaf extracts of mint, garlic and narra. Â Keywords: Antiteratogenic effects, Mentha cordifolia Opiz. (mint), Allium sativum L. (garlic), Pterocarpus indicus Willid. (narra), Mus musculus (white), sperm morphology, antifertility
Exploring the secrecy burden: Secrets, preoccupation, and perceptual judgments.

Recent work suggests that secrecy is perceived as burdensome. A secrecy-burden relationship would have a number of consequences for cognitive, perceptual, social, and health psychology, but the reliability of these influences, and potential mechanisms that support such influences are unknown. Across 4 studies, the current work examines both the reliability of, and mechanisms that support, the influence of secrecy processes upon a judgment that varies with diminished resources (i.e., judgments of hill slant). The current work finds that a manipulation of secret "size" fails to reliably predict judged hill slant, whereas measurement and manipulation of preoccupation with a secret does reliably predict judged hill slant. Moreover, these effects are found to be mediated by judged effort to keep the secret, consistent with a resource-based mechanism of the burdens of secrecy.
An energy management model to study energy and peak power savings from PV and storage in demand responsive buildings

Abstract Demand Response (DR) applications along with strategically deployed solar photovoltaic (PV) and ice storage systems at the building level can help reduce building peak demand and energy consumption. Research shows that no work has been carried out to study the impact of integrated control of PV and ice storage on improving building operation and energy savings in demand responsive buildings. This can enable building operators to take advantage of different electricity prices and enable utilities to spread the demand over whole day. This research presents a model to study coordinated control of building end-use loads including cooling, lighting and plug loads, together with PV and ice storage integrated with packaged air conditioning (AC) units. This is used to study their impacts on peak demand and energy consumption in a simulated medium-sized office building located in Virginia/Maryland, U.S. area. Research findings provide an improved understanding of the contribution of DR, solar PV and ice storage systems towards reducing building peak electricity demand and energy consumption while being sensitive to occupant thermal and lighting needs.
Design of a Linear Bistable Compliant Crank–Slider Mechanism

This paper presents a new model for a linear bistable compliant mechanism and design guidelines for its use. The mechanism is based on the crank–slider mechanism. This model takes into account the first mode of buckling and postbuckling behavior of a compliant segment to describe the mechanism's bistable behavior. The kinetic and kinematic equations, derived from the pseudo-rigid-body model (PRBM), were solved numerically and are represented in plots. This representation allows the generation of step-by-step design guidelines. The design parameters consist of maximum desired deflection, material selection, safety factor, compliant segments' widths, maximum force required for actuator selection, and maximum footprint (i.e., the maximum rectangular area that the mechanism can fit inside of and move freely without interfering with other components). Because different applications may have different input requirements, this paper describes two different design approaches with different parameters subsets as inputs. The linear bistable compliant crank–slider mechanism (LBCCSM) can be used in the shape-morphing space-frame (SMSF) as potential application. The frame's initial shape is constructed from a single-layer grid of flexures, rigid links, and LBCCSMs. The grid is bent into the space-frame's initial cylindrical shape, which can morph because of the inclusion of LBCCSMs in its structure.
Online State Assessment and Dynamic Reconfiguration of Intelligent Electronic Devices in Smart Substation

Online state assessment and dynamic reconfiguration of faulty automation functions is the guarantee for reliable operation of smart substations.The urgency of technology development of online state assessment and dynamic reconfiguration of intelligent electronic devices(IEDs)in smart substation is illustrated.Based on the existing IEC 61850standard and plugand-play technology,a redundant backup schema of online assessment and dynamic reconfiguration is put forward.Further study is discussed on key techniques of plug-and-play,diagnosis model,automatic generation of IED database,online state assessment and dynamic reconfiguration.Current main problems demanding prompt solution are analyzed.
Dynamic properties Study on Logistic Map with Stochastic Perturbation

In this paper,we discuss logistic map with stochastic perturbation x_(n+1)=rx_n(1-x_n) +αe_n,0x_11,wheree_n is standard white noise.Whenαis sufficiently small,the dynamic properties of the map is studied, and we give the maximum likelihood estimation for some parameters.Besides,we prove the stochastic Logistic map will tend to the deterministic's if.
Mercury dynamics in Tivoli South Bay, a freshwater tidal mudflat wetland in the Hudson River

The accumulation of total mercury (HgT) andmethylmercury (MeHg) was evaluated in sediments ofTivoli South Bay, a freshwater tidal mudflat wetlandin the Hudson River National Estuarine ResearchReserve system. HgT concentrations in sedimentcores were measured to evaluate the spatialvariability of HgT deposition, and to establisha chronology of HgT accumulation. Cores takenfrom the northern, middle, and southern sections ofthe bay had similar distribution patterns andconcentrations of HgT, suggesting a common sourceof HgT throughout the bay. Sedimentconcentrations ranged from 190 to 1040 ng Hg g−1,2 to 10 times greater than concentrations expected insediments from non-anthropogenic sources. HgTdeposition rates were similar in different regions ofthe bay, and increased from 200 ng Hg cm−2yr−1in the 1930s to a maximum of 300 ngHg cm−2 yr−1 in the 1960s. Deposition rateshave steadily declined since the 1970s and arecurrently at 80 ng Hg cm−2 yr−1. Transportof HgT by tidal waters from the Hudson River islikely the main source of HgT in the bay.Distribution patterns and absolute concentrations ofMeHg in sediment cores were similar throughout thebay, with concentrations ranging from 0.43 to 2.95ng g−1. Maxima in MeHg concentration profilesoccurred just below the sediment-water interface andat a depth of 30 cm. The maximum at 30 cm wascoincident with maximum HgT concentrations. MeHgconcentrations in suspended particulate matter (SPM)from the Hudson River suggest that MeHg in the baycould be derived from riverine SPM rather than formedin situ.
Cardiopulmonary and arterial baroreflex responses to acute volume expansion during fetal and postnatal development

Recent studies demonstrated that renal denervation had no effect on the natriuretic response to volume expansion (VE) in fetal sheep, suggesting that the sensitivity of the cardiopulmonary reflex in response to VE is impaired in the fetus. To test this hypothesis, we investigated the renal sympathetic nerve activity (RSNA) and heart rate (HR) responses to 20 and 50% intravascular VE in fetal (130-135 days gestation; term 145 days) (n = 7), newborn (n = 8), and 6- to 8-wk-old sheep (n = 9). Despite similar increases in right atrial pressure (RAP) in the three groups, 20% VE had no significant effect on RSNA and HR in fetal sheep but significantly decreased RSNA in newborn (-22.8 +/- 7.3%) and 6- to 8-wk-old sheep (-32.1 +/- 11.7%). Bradycardic responses to VE were also observed in both newborn (from 237 +/- 6 to 200 +/- 12 beats/min) and 6- to 8-wk-old sheep (from 170 +/- 9 to 140 +/- 9 beats/min). A 50% VE had no significant effect on fetal RSNA and HR, whereas it increased RAP by 6.8 +/- 0.9 mmHg. In addition, we tested the hypothesis that interactions between cardiopulmonary and arterial baroreflexes in response to VE change during development. We found that 20 and 50% VE shifted the RSNA and HR arterial baroreflex response curves to the right in the fetus but had no significant effects on the gain of the arterial baroreflex curves in either fetal, newborn, or 6- to 8-wk-old sheep.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Experimental characterization of redundant channels in industrial Wi-Fi networks

Seamless redundancy can be profitably exploited to improve predictability of wireless networks, including IEEE 802.11. Packets are sent on two channels at the same time and duplicate copies are discarded by receivers. As long as behavior of channels is reasonably uncorrelated, both transmission latencies and the frame loss ratio improve noticeably. In this paper, such an assumption has been analyzed by means of experimental measurements carried out on real devices. Results confirm that, in typical operating conditions, independence reasonably holds.
Hayek and market socialism

Hayek’s understanding of the nature of the market process developed as a critique of the economic theory of market socialism. These market socialists believed that a centrally planned economy, organized around the rational economic order described by neoclassical economics, would outperform the anarchy of the free enterprise system. To Hayek, this position misunderstood both the nature of the knowledge that economists have about the economy and that economic agents possess. Hayek saw change as the ultimate cause of the economic problem of society. This led him to conclude that alternative economic systems must be compared and evaluated on their ability to utilize the local knowledge of individuals to adapt to unexpected change in economic circumstances.
Successes and Failures: US Aid in the Postwar Era

This chapter will first explore the factors in United States development aid policy which helped set the course for the economic advancement of South Korea and Taiwan, utilizing the same model that had been established in Japan. Subsequently, a transformation of US foreign policy that occurred during the Eisenhower administration reversed this trend. This reversal was part of the Cold War redirection of policy away from New Deal antifascism and toward containment of communism through alliance with native elites in Third World countries. The United States no longer pushed for redistribution of property and power through land reform in its affiliate states. Instead, it placed itself squarely on the side of the power elites in Vietnam and Central America. These countries therefore lacked the modifying and democratizing element of large redistributive land reforms which had set the course for the earlier East Asian successes.
MICHAEL F. HENDY – BYZANTINE HISTORIAN AND NUMISMATIST: BIOGRAPHY & BIBLIOGRAPHY

Michael F. Hendy was a noted Byzantine historian and numismatist who was active in the mid-to-late 20 th century. Trained at the University of Oxford, and effectively mentored by noted historian and numismatist Philip Grierson, Hendy would publish three seminal works on Byzantine coinage, economy and fiscal administration. This article will provide a brief biography of Professor Hendy, along with a bibliography of his published works and reviews by other scholars of his work. Byzantine Historian, Biography, Bibliography, 20 th Century Historian, Numismatics, Ancient History, Byzantine Empire, Administrative History, Coinage
Effects of microstructure and heat treatment on mechanical properties and corrosion behavior of powder metallurgy derived Fe–30Mn alloy

Abstract Microstructures, mechanical properties and corrosion rates (CR) of powder metallurgy derived Fe–Mn alloys have been investigated with respect to the particle size of the iron (Fe) powder and the extent of manganese (Mn) diffusion and alloying during sintering. By applying different heat treatments on Fe–30wt%Mn alloy, a phase transformation (γ → e) for this composition and its influence on mechanical and corrosion properties have been studied. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) have been conducted to characterize the transformation and identify the austenite (γ) and epsilon martensite (e) phases in the system. Microstructures and tensile fracture surfaces were examined by Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). The results show that the Fe particle size affects the overall Mn alloying significantly, i.e., coarse Fe particles (30–200 µm) result in Fe–Mn alloys with σy = 48.2 MPa, σu = 73.6 MPa, fracture strain of 2.42% and CR = 1.36 mmpy, while ultrafine particle size (
A limited-preview filtered B-spline approach to tracking control – With application to vibration-induced error compensation of a 3D printer

Abstract A limited-preview filtered B-spline (FBS) approach for minimizing errors in tracking a desired trajectory is presented. In the full-preview FBS approach, the feedforward control input to a stable linear system, with or without non-minimum phase zeros, is decomposed into B-spline basis functions with unknown coefficients; the basis functions are forward filtered using the (modeled) dynamics of the system, and their coefficients selected to minimize tracking errors of the entire trajectory in one batch. Instead, this paper proposes the use of a receding horizon to recursively compute unknown coefficients that minimize tracking errors for small batches (subsets) of the trajectory at a time, by exploiting the local property of B-splines. This allows optimal control signals to be determined at much lower computational cost compared to full-preview FBS, thus enabling online implementation on real-time controllers. The adverse effects of limited preview on tracking accuracy, relative to full preview, are analyzed, and limited-preview FBS is shown in numerical examples to preserve the versatility of full-preview FBS in tracking systems irrespective of their zero locations. The practicality and effectiveness of the limited-preview FBS approach are demonstrated by employing it for online feedforward compensation of tracking errors caused by structural vibrations of a stepper-motor-driven 3D printer. Alleviation of vibration-induced surface waviness and layer-to-layer registration errors, without sacrificing print speed, are demonstrated.
Expression of a functional monocotyledonous phytochrome in transgenic tobacco

Abstract A chimeric oat phytochrome structural gene with an uninterrupted coding region was constructed for expression of the monocot protein in transgenic plants. The structural gene was placed under the transcriptional control of either a light-regulated oat phytochrome promoter or the constitutively active cauliflower mosaic virus 35S promoter. These genes were then introduced into Nicotiana tabacum and N.plumbaginifolia. None of the regenerated plants showed expression of oat phytochrome RNA when transcription was controlled by the oat promoter. In contrast, RNA was obtained in plants when the structural gene was functionally linked to the 35S promoter. Transformants expressing oat phytochrome RNA produced a full length 124-kd polypeptide that was recognized by oat-specific anti-phytochrome monoclonal antibodies. The oat protein was a substrate for chromophore addition in tobacco as judged by its red/far-red photoreversible sensitivity to trypsin degradation. Production of oat phytochrome in transgenic plants gave rise to increased phytochrome spectral activity in both light- and dark-grown plants. This increased phytochrome content resulted in phenotypic changes in transformed plants, including semi-dwarfism, darker green leaves, increased tillering and reduced apical dominance. The possible significance of expressing a biologically active phytochrome in transgenic plants is discussed.
Lucy Stone: An Unapologetic Life. By Sally G. McMillen. (New York, NY: Oxford University Press, 2015. Pp. xiii, 360. $29.95.) : Book Review

Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony so completely reign over the women's rights movement in the public imagination that Lucy Stone's life acts as an illuminating counterpoint. Like Stanton,...
Precision Immuno-Oncology: Prospects of Individualized Immunotherapy for Pancreatic Cancer

Pancreatic cancer, most commonly referring to pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), remains one of the most deadly diseases, with very few effective therapies available. Emerging as a new modality of modern cancer treatments, immunotherapy has shown promises for various cancer types. Over the past decades, the potential of immunotherapy in eliciting clinical benefits in pancreatic cancer have also been extensively explored. It has been demonstrated in preclinical studies and early phase clinical trials that cancer vaccines were effective in eliciting anti-tumor immune response, but few have led to a significant improvement in survival. Despite the fact that immunotherapy with checkpoint blockade (e.g., anti-cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen 4 [CTLA-4] and anti-programmed cell death 1 [PD-1]/PD-L1 antibodies) has shown remarkable and durable responses in various cancer types, the application of checkpoint inhibitors in pancreatic cancer has been disappointing so far. It may, in part, due to the unique tumor microenvironment (TME) of pancreatic cancer, such as existence of excessive stromal matrix and hypovascularity, creating a TME of strong inhibitory signaling circuits and tremendous physical barriers for immune agent infiltration. This informs on the need for combination therapy approaches to engender a potent immune response that can translate to clinical benefits. On the other hand, lack of effective and validated biomarkers to stratify subgroup of patients who can benefit from immunotherapy poses further challenges for the realization of precision immune-oncology. Future studies addressing issues such as TME modulation, biomarker identification and therapeutic combination are warranted. In this review, advances in immunotherapy for pancreatic cancer were discussed and opportunities as well as challenges for personalized immune-oncology were addressed.
A review of coccidiosis in South American camelids

Camelids (llamas, alpacas, vicunas, guanacos) are important for the economy of South America and Eimeria infections are important as cause of mortality in camelids. Of the five most prevalent species of Eimeria in South American camelids, Eimeria macusaniensis, Eimeria lamae, Eimeria alpacae, Eimeria punoensis, and Eimeria ivitaensis, E. macusaniensis is considered the most pathogenic. There is considerable confusion concerning the endogenous developmental stages of Eimeria spp. in camelids. Many papers on camelid coccidiosis were published in local Peruvian journals, not easily accessible to wider audience. The objective of the present paper is to summarize information on history, validity of Eimeria species, life cycle, pathogenicity, prevalence, epidemiology, diagnosis, and control of coccidiosis in camelids.
Wearable Device Validity in Determining Step Count During Hiking and Trail Running

Because wearable technology is ubiquitous, it is important to determine validity and reliability not only in a laboratory setting, but applied environments where the general population utilizes the...
Sidney Riegelman — The Wisconsin Years

I am pleased to be able to participate in this Symposium in which we pay honor and respect to Sidney Riegelman, a friend and colleague to so many of us. His many contributions to pharmacy, pharmaceutics education and research will be outlined in the chapters to follow. It is my pleasure to recall for you events in Sid’s preparative years which we call The Wisconsin Years.
Common Uses of Power Ultrasound in the Food Industry

The use of power ultrasound in the food industry has increased exponentially in the last 10 years primarily due to significant improvements in the equipment itself and the viability of implementing the technology in industrial settings.
Changes in adipose tissue physiology during the first two weeks posthatch in chicks from lines selected for low or high body weight.

Chickens from lines selected for low (LWS) or high (HWS) body weight (BW) differ in appetite and adiposity. Mechanisms associated with the predisposition to becoming obese are unclear. The objectiv...
An Introduction to Instrumentation Used in Fire Debris and Explosive Analysis

Instrumentation is essential to forensic analysis of fire debris and explosives. Coupled gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer instruments are used extensively in the analysis of fire debris. The molecular compositions of explosives are analyzed with a variety of methods including gas and liquid chromatography, mass spectrometry, X-ray diffraction, and vibrational spectroscopy. The inorganic and elemental composition of explosives and related materials can be interrogated using techniques such as ion chromatography, vibrational spectroscopy, X-ray fluorescence, and scanning electron microscopy–energy-dispersive spectroscopy. Each instrumental technique has advantages and disadvantages for different types and forms of samples. A basic understanding of each method and the underlying theory will inform the development of effective analytical schemes for samples.
Tumor necrosis by pretreatment breast MRI: association with neoadjuvant systemic therapy (NAST) response in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC)

To determine if tumor necrosis by pretreatment breast MRI and its quantitative imaging characteristics are associated with response to NAST in TNBC. This retrospective study included 85 TNBC patients (mean age 51.8 ± 13 years) with MRI before NAST and definitive surgery during 2010–2018. Each MRI included T2-weighted, diffusion-weighted (DWI), and dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) imaging. For each index carcinoma, total tumor volume including necrosis (TTV), excluding necrosis (TV), and the necrosis-only volume (NV) were segmented on early-phase DCE subtractions and DWI images. NV and %NV were calculated. Percent enhancement on early and late phases of DCE and apparent diffusion coefficient were extracted from TTV, TV, and NV. Association between necrosis with pathological complete response (pCR) was assessed using odds ratio (OR). Multivariable analysis was used to evaluate the prognostic value of necrosis with T stage and nodal status at staging. Mann–Whitney U tests and area under the curve (AUC) were used to assess performance of imaging metrics for discriminating pCR vs non-pCR. Of 39 patients (46%) with necrosis, 17 had pCR and 22 did not. Necrosis was not associated with pCR (OR, 0.995; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.4–2.3) and was not an independent prognostic factor when combined with T stage and nodal status at staging (P = 0.46). None of the imaging metrics differed significantly between pCR and non-pCR in patients with necrosis (AUC 0.40). No significant association was found between necrosis by pretreatment MRI or the quantitative imaging characteristics of tumor necrosis and response to NAST in TNBC.
An Unsupervised Learning Model for Deformable Medical Image Registration

We present a fast learning-based algorithm for deformable, pairwise 3D medical image registration. Current registration methods optimize an objective function independently for each pair of images, which can be time-consuming for large data. We define registration as a parametric function, and optimize its parameters given a set of images from a collection of interest. Given a new pair of scans, we can quickly compute a registration field by directly evaluating the function using the learned parameters. We model this function using a CNN, and use a spatial transform layer to reconstruct one image from another while imposing smoothness constraints on the registration field. The proposed method does not require supervised information such as ground truth registration fields or anatomical landmarks. We demonstrate registration accuracy comparable to state-of-the-art 3D image registration, while operating orders of magnitude faster in practice. Our method promises to significantly speed up medical image analysis and processing pipelines, while facilitating novel directions in learning-based registration and its applications. Our code is available at https://github.com/balakg/voxelmorph.
Modern Kinetics and Mechanism of Protein Folding: A Retrospective.

Modern experimental kinetics of protein folding began in the early 1990s with the introduction of nanosecond laser pulses to trigger the folding reaction, providing an almost 106-fold improvement in time resolution over the stopped-flow method being employed at the time. These experiments marked the beginning of the "fast-folding" subfield that enabled investigation of the kinetics of formation of secondary structural elements and disordered loops for the first time, as well as the fastest folding proteins. When I started to work on this subject, a fast folding protein was one that folded in milliseconds. There were, moreover, no analytical theoretical models and no atomistic or coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations to describe the mechanism. Two of the most important discoveries from my lab since then are a protein that folds in hundreds of nanoseconds, as determined from nanosecond laser temperature experiments, and the discovery that the theoretically predicted barrier crossing time is about the same for proteins that differ in folding rates by 104-fold, as determined from single molecule fluorescence measurements. We also developed what has been called the "Huckel model" of protein folding, which quantitatively explains a wide range of equilibrium and kinetic measurements. This retrospective traces the history of contributions to the "fast folding" subfield from my lab until about 3 years ago, when I left protein folding to spend the rest of my research career trying to discover an inexpensive drug for treating sickle cell disease.
Effect of Roughness on the Friction Coefficient on a Closed Channel

THIS paper presents the results of one series of tests included in a comprehensive program of research on hydraulic friction and roughness being carried on at the University of California. An investigation was made of the friction coefficients of closed rectangular channels having the same absolute roughness. The walls of the channels were made of smooth brass artificially roughened by sixty degree V-grooves transverse to the direction of flow. The effect of relative roughness on skin friction is important in the extrapolation of experimental results on models to the prototype. At present Nikuradse's equation based on data of the pressure drop in pipes artificially roughened with sand is used for this purpose. The results of these tests provide data to justify this procedure. The friction coefficients of four channels having hydraulic radii ranging from 0.030 to 0.230 feet were determined for different rates of flow. The channels were constructed of two brass plates one-quarter inch by five and three-quarters inches by eight feet and spacers one-sixteenth, one-eighth, one-quarter, and one-half inch wide. Both plates and spacers were roughened their full length by the grooves machined 0.060 inches apart with an average depth of 0.0125 inches. Practically, the absolute roughness of the different channels was the same since the relative width of the plates, which were the same in all, was large compared to that of the spacers. The large aspect ratio of the channel also insured nearly two-dimensional flow. The plates were held in place by heavy iron castings running the full length of the channel. Fig. 1 is an end view of the assembled channel. Five piezometer holes were located nineteen and one-half inches apart along the center-line of one plate. Pressure drops were measured between adjacent holes with vertical or inclined, mercury or carbon-tetrachloride manometers. The results given are for the downstream pair of taps only, pressure drops farther upstream being appreciably affected by entrance conditions. Rates of flow were measured either by an orifice calibrated in place or by direct weighting. A second series of tests were made on the one-eighth, one-quarter, and onehalf inch set-ups after the original one had been dismantled, and the results checked with those of the first series. In the turbulent region where the friction coefficient for rough surfaces does not depend on Reynold's number, a function, containing two empirical constants, FIG. 1. End view of roughness channel showing brass roughness plates and cast iron supporting frame.
Quorum Sensing in Burkholderia

This chapter focuses on quorum sensing in Burkholderia, specifically Burkholderia pseudomallei, Burkholderia thailandensis, and Burkholderia mallei (the Bptm group). This group has highly conserved quorum sensing systems, yet each species occupies strikingly different environments. Quorum sensing systems have been found in all of the Burkholderia species studied to date. Prior to discussing the quorum sensing components of the Bptm group, it is important to understand the evolutionary history and lifestyle of each species. B. thailandensis and B. pseudomallei are saprophytic bacteria found in the soil and water in tropical regions common to Southeast Asia, northern Australia, South America, the Middle East, and some regions in Africa. Diagnosis and treatment of melioidosis are challenging because the disease presents with various symptoms and B. pseudomallei is intrinsically multidrug-resistant. Quorum sensing was first described to occur in the Bptm group within the past decade. The quorum sensing circuits in these bacteria are among the most complex acylated homoserine lactone (AHL) systems described. A summary of the quorum sensing components and AHL signals for each species is discussed in the chapter. Quorum sensing in B. pseudomallei has many parallels with quorum sensing in P. aeruginosa. Bacterial adherence, aggregation into microcolonies, and biofilm formation are important survival factors during the saprophytic and host-associated lifestyle of many opportunistic pathogens. The quorum sensing-controlled phenotypes observed in B. thailandensis are consistent with the idea that this bacterium uses quorum sensing during its saprophytic lifestyle.
Unsaturated heterocyclic systems—XVI : A novel synthesis of cyclic hydroxamic acid esters

Abstract The formation of O-substituted derivatives of 1-hydroxy-2(1H)-pyridone and 1-hydroxycarbostyril (cyclic hydroxamic acid esters) on treatment of 2-ethoxypyridine-1-oxide and 2-ethoxy-quinoline-1-oxide monohydrate, respectively, with primary and secondary halides is described. The interaction of 4-ethoxypyridine-1-oxide and benzyl halides under similar conditions afforded only the corresponding benzaldehydes. The mechanisms of these reactions are discussed.
The kinetic significance of cell size. II. Size distributions of resting and proliferating cells during interphase.

Abstract This second part in a two part report describes the kinetic, cell size and nuclear size characteristics of S phase cells and cells with greatly protracted generation times (‘resting’ cells) in a cell line of human lymphoid cells. The median cell and nuclear sizes of S phase cells were greater than the corresponding median sizes observed in the whole population. Resting cells (operationally defined as unlabelled cells after 5 days of continuous labelling with [ 3 H]TdR) have cell and nuclear size distributions overlapping with the cell and nuclear size distributions of the whole population. These resting cells are kinetically characterized by means of the observed labelling index vs time data during continuous labelling. The implication of these results are discussed.
Advances in SHRUTI—A Neurally Motivated Model of RelationalKnowledge Representation and Rapid Inference Using Temporal Synchrony

We are capable of drawing a variety of inferences effortlessly, spontaneously, and with remarkable efficiency—as though these inferences are a reflex response of our cognitive apparatus. This remarkable human ability poses a challenge for cognitive science and computational neuroscience: How can a network of slow neuron-like elements represent a large body of systematic knowledge and perform a wide range of inferences with such speed? The connectionist model SHRUTI attempts to address this challenge by demonstrating how a neurally plausible network can encode a large body of semantic and episodic facts, systematic rules, and knowledge about entities and types, and yet perform a wide range of explanatory and predictive inferences within a few hundred milliseconds. Relational structures (frames, schemas) are represented in SHRUTI by clusters of cells, and inference in SHRUTI corresponds to a transient propagation of rhythmic activity over such cell-clusters wherein dynamic bindings are represented by the synchronous firing of appropriate cells. SHRUTI encodes mappings across relational structures using high-efficacy links that enable the propagation of rhythmic activity, and it encodes items in long-term memory as coincidence and coincidence-error detector circuits that become active in response to the occurrence (or non-occurrence) of appropriate coincidences in the on going flux of rhythmic activity. Finally, “understanding” in SHRUTI corresponds to reverberant and coherent activity along closed loops of neural circuitry. Over the past several years, SHRUTI has undergone several enhancements that have augmented its expressiveness and inferential power. This paper describes some of these extensions that enable SHRUTI to (i) deal with negation and inconsistent beliefs, (ii) encode evidential rules and facts, (iii) perform inferences requiring the dynamic instantiation of entities, and (iv) seek coherent explanations of observations.
Confidentiality and Claims of Ineffective Assistance

This column discusses what a defense lawyer should do when called upon to reveal client information in response to an ineffective assistance of counsel claim.
NIF solid-state switch pulse generator optimization for multi-pulse operation

A solid-state high voltage pulse generator developed as part of the Advanced Radiographic Capability (ARC) mission for the National Ignition Facility (NIF) has been deployed. This paper will provide details of the pulser design and the upgrades required to achieve reliable operation for multi-pulse bursts for an ever-increasing mission space. The pulser design has been demonstrated to be robust, reliable and to meet all performance specifications as they apply to the Plasma Electrode Pockels Cell (PEPC). This pulser is realized as a FET-driven twenty-seven stage magnetic adder operating with 700 volt primaries. It delivers a programmable multi-pulse burst of 18 kV, 3 kA pulses to a PEPC at repetition rates up to 1 Hertz. The typical pulse widths are 200ns with 20ns rise-and-fall-times at the pulser. A capacitive load, significant cable lengths between pulser and Pockels cell, fast transition times, and the microsecond type delays between pulses lead to non-ideal interactions that must be addressed to limit pulse distortion and reduce stress on the pulse electronics. In this paper we discuss the various options considered for resolving these issues, down-select decisions, and test results that demonstrate improvements.
Integration of operations in process systems: a systems and control perspective

The problem of system integration in the context of an Industrial Enterprise is a multidimensional problem with fundamental dimensions those of: (i) Overall process operations, (ii) Overall System Design/Redesign, and (iii) Information, Data and Software. Each of the above three areas is addressed by respective groups which consider their area as representing the entirety of the problem and they frequently ignore the other important dimensions. The aim of this paper is to consider first the general problem of integration from all its fundamental aspects and focus on the key paradigm of Global Operations and then show that systems and Control concepts and problems play a central role in the development of an overall integration methodology and associated techniques. The subject of modelling emerges with a central role in the effort to develop integration and new families of systems emerge in the corresponding areas. Amongst the important families of systems that are crucial for system integration are the Multilevel hybrid systems (Hierarchy of Operations), Structure Evolving systems (in the total Design and Life-cycle analysis), and Object Dynamic Systems (Data problems). The significance of the above families in the integration process and their link with generalised control problems are discussed. The paper provides an overview of the subject area and focuses on the development of the general conceptual framework for integration.
Collaborative Complexities: Co-Authorship, Voice, and African American Rhetoric in Oral History Community Literacy Projects

This co-authored article describes a community literacy oral history project involving 14 undergraduate students. It is intellectually situated at the intersection of writing studies, oral history, and African American rhetoric and distinguished by two features: 1) we were a combined team of 20 collaborators, and 2) our narrator, Frank Gilyard, the founder and former director of the Central Pennsylvania African American Museum (CPAAM), was deceased. Because oral history is narrator-driven, Gilyard’s death required us to remain especially attentive to the epistemic value of his voice.
Glutamine stability in biological tissues evaluated by fluorometric analysis

Although glutamine has been considered unstable during storage and therefore difficult to quantitate, recent results suggest this amino acid is stable at low pH ranges. We evaluated the stability of glutamine in plasma and tissue extracts, using fluorometric analysis. The measured concentration of glutamine detected varied linearly up to 0.8 mmol/L for the aqueous solution (r2 = 98.7, P = 0.0001) with a mean (+/- SD) coefficient of variation of 2.41% +/- 0.79%. When glutamine was dissolved in 50 g/L trichloroacetic acid (TCA), the values were essentially unaltered. Glutamine in an aqueous solution and stored at -70 degrees C was stable for at least 16 days; glutamine in TCA was stable for 6-8 days, then decreased to a concentration significantly lower than that of the aqueous solution. The expected and observed concentrations in plasma were equal (r2 = 0.99975) for increasing amounts of added glutamine. Glutamine concentrations in plasma were stable for > 1 year when stored at -70 degrees C. The glutamine of a transplantable rat sarcoma and a normal rat liver could be extracted with 50 g/L TCA with high efficiency (88.6% +/- 1.9% and 90.2% +/- 0.04%, respectively); the extracted glutamine is stable in TCA for at least 7 days without neutralization when stored at -70 degrees C. Fluorometric analysis of glutamine required only a small quantity of plasma (25 microL) or tissue (200 mg) and is a convenient method for quantifying this important amino acid.