cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Isotope ratio mass spectrometry in forensic science applications

Abstract This review highlights advances in the application of isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS) to materials of interest to the forensic community. We give special attention to the natural abundance differences in the stable isotopes of carbon, nitrogen, hydrogen and oxygen because they are the most abundant and informative elements in typical forensic casework. We also present some of the recent developments in normalization, error reporting and data analysis, which together provide a more scientific and robust foundation for admissibility in court. The review focusses on research published in the last decade and is organized into 10 major sections, including human provenancing, wildlife forensics, environmental forensics, seized drugs, ignitable liquids, explosives, food forensics, poisoning, questioned documents and miscellaneous applications.
Driving In-Role and Extra-Role Brand Performance among Retail Frontline Salespeople: Antecedents and the Moderating Role of Customer Orientation

Abstract The organizational frontline in retail represents the frontline for an entire supply chain. This channel structure distances the branded supplier from the end consumer and makes the supplier dependent on a retail frontline salesperson that (1) it does not control and (2) also represents competing brands. This study reveals mechanisms that the supplier may use to influence retail frontline salespeople. We demonstrate the importance of consumer marketing programs and supplier representatives in building brand identification between the manufacturer’s brand and the retail frontline employee that translates into increased brand sales, while also revealing the role of rewards programs in stimulating brand-specific extra-role behaviors. Interestingly, retail frontline customer orientation, built by the retailer, diminishes the effect of brand extra-role behaviors toward the focal brand on the focal brand’s sales, providing an informal control mechanism for retailers to protect its objectives. The results of this study have powerful ramifications for both retailers and suppliers in achieving both their mutual, and sometimes differing, objectives related to the retail frontline.
The effects of caffeine on marksmanship accuracy and reaction time: a systematic review.

Military and law enforcement personnel are required to maintain optimal marksman accuracy and reaction time during extended duty hours amidst environmental stressors. Although caffeine is commonly ...
A mixture model for determination of root cause frequency: Proposed solution to the open challenge

The application which led to this open challenge is described by Jensen (2018). An overview is provided here.The challenge concerns a key quality characteristic that is measured once on a medical d...
Abstract A09: CD4 T cells mediated protumorigenic pathway in pancreatic cancer

A hallmark of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is an exuberant stroma comprised of diverse cell types that enable or suppress tumor progression. This Kras*-driven heterotypic signaling circuit in the early and advance tumor microenvironment enables cooperative protumorigenic interactions in early steps of the neoplastic transformation process as well as in promoting growth of established tumors, providing novel therapeutic targets in the Kras* pathway for this intractable disease. Here, we explored the role of Kras* in protumorigenic signaling interactions between cancer cells and host cells in tumor microenvironment. Early-stage malignant lesions and advanced tumors show close proximity of Kras* expressing cancer cells and abundant invading TH2 (CD4+ Gata-3+) cells, which can produce IL-4 and IL-13. Single-cell analysis of low- and high-grade IPMN and PDAC patient samples revealed CD4+ T-cell infiltration and higher percentage of the CD4+ T cells are Gata3+ TH2 subtypes compared to T-bet+ TH1 cells. Similarly, imaging mass spectrometry analysis showed presence of CD4+ T cells in close proximity to cancer cells. Mechanistic studies identified Jak1-Stat6 as the primary signaling pathway downstream of IL-4/IL-13 activated IL-4 receptor complexes in cancer cells. Integrated transcriptomic and chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing (ChIP-seq) profiling identified cMyc, specifically its upstream enhancer element, as a direct target of activated Stat6. Metabolomic analysis demonstrated that IL-4/13STAT6cMyc upregulation drives increased glycolysis along with upregulated expression of key glycolysis enzymes, forging a link between Kras*-driven glycolysis via paracrine activation of cMyc. Citation Format: Prasenjit Dey, Jun Li, Jianhua Zhang, Huamin Wang, Wen-Ting Liao, Vincent P Bernard, Giannicola Genovese, Anirban Maitra, Anders Strom, Ronald A. DePinho. CD4 T cells mediated protumorigenic pathway in pancreatic cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Pancreatic Cancer: Advances in Science and Clinical Care; 2019 Sept 6-9; Boston, MA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(24 Suppl):Abstract nr A09.
Refusal of surgery results in inferior survival in esophageal cancer.

364Background: Trimodality therapy with chemoradiation followed by surgery is the standard of care for non-metastatic esophageal cancer. Some patients refuse surgery and this information is capture...
Optimal Stress Tests in Financial Networks

I study the ex ante information design on a financial network to maximize its stability, where banks' endogenous default outcomes are determined by a fixed point payment problem that accounts for both project qualities and interbank contagion. In addition to the cross-state risk sharing in single-bank stress test models, the system-level design highlights the novel cross-bank risk sharing—the banks that are passed together as a group become healthier due to reduced counterparty risk, but at a cost of reporting the same information despite their independent fundamentals. When expected bank profitability is high, or counterparty exposure is large, the optimal policy is relatively less discriminatory across banks. For specific network structures, I find: 1) in a ring network, banks at least a specific distance away from the nearest shock may pass, at states where shocks are connected on adjacent banks; 2) under the optimal policy, a connected structure is more efficient in reducing counterparty risk, but a sparse structure is more efficient in quarantining shocks; so an interconnected structure is not necessarily more stable; 3) typically more connected banks receive preferred treatment.
Book Review: Not Enough: Human Rights in an Unequal World

Many will read Samuel Moyn’s powerful history of the quest for social and material justice as an intended wake-up call. Rather than as a blaring alarm though, Not Enough is better read as an invitation to dream.
Bleeding Risk Following Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy for Localized Prostate Cancer in Men on Baseline Anticoagulant or Antiplatelet Therapy.

Purpose: Patients on anticoagulant/antiplatelet medications are at a high risk of bleeding following external beam radiation therapy for localized prostate cancer.1 SBRT may reduce the bleeding risk by decreasing the volume of bladder/rectum receiving high doses. This retrospective study sought to evaluate the rates of hematuria and hematochezia following SBRT in these patients. Methods: Localized prostate cancer patients treated with SBRT from 2007 to 2017 on at least one anticoagulant/antiplatelet at baseline were included. The minimum follow-up was 3 years with a median follow-up of 72 months. Patients who had a rectal spacer placed prior to SBRT were excluded. Radiotherapy was delivered in 5 fractions to a dose of 35 Gy or 36.25 Gy utilizing the CyberKnife system. Hematuria and hematochezia were prospectively assessed before and after treatment using the Expanded Prostate Cancer Index Composite (EPIC-26). Toxicities were scored using the CTCAE v4. Cystoscopy and colonoscopy findings were retrospectively reviewed. Results: Forty-four men with a median age of 72 years with a history of taking at least one anticoagulant and/or antiplatelet medication received SBRT. Warfarin (46%), clopidogrel (34%) and rivaroxaban (9%) were the most common medications. Overall, 18.2% experienced hematuria with a median time of 10.5 months post-SBRT. Altogether, 38.6% experienced hematochezia with a median time of 6 months post-SBRT. > Grade 2 hematuria and hematochezia occurred in 4.6% and 2.5%, respectively. One patient required bladder neck fulguration and one patient underwent rectal cauterization for multiple non-confluent telangiectasia. There were no grade 4 or 5 toxicities. Cystoscopy revealed bladder cancer (40%) and benign prostatic bleeding (40%) as the most common hematuria etiology. Colonoscopy demonstrated hemorrhoids (54.5%) and radiation proctitis (9.1%) as the main causes of hematochezia. There was no significant change from the mean baseline EPIC-26 hematuria and hematochezia scores at any point during follow up. Conclusion: In patients with baseline anticoagulant usage, moderate dose prostate SBRT was well tolerated without rectal spacing. High grade bleeding toxicities were uncommon and resolved with time. Baseline anticoagulation usage should not be considered a contraindication to prostate SBRT.
Detailed experimental and numerical investigation of single-edge notched tensile cross-ply laminates

Abstract Failure in a fiber-reinforced polymer composite is a complex event, with the possibility of intra-laminar and inter-laminar modes interacting. These modes may initiate, propagate and accumulate for prescribed loading conditions, stacking sequences and geometries of the structure. In this paper, the failure progression in a cross-ply tensile specimen with a single-edge notch was examined through experiments that provided detailed observations using digital image correlation . A numerical model based on the semi-discrete methodology presented by the authors earlier was developed further to analyze and understand the fracture mechanisms and interactions between the different failure modes, namely transverse cracking/ splitting, delamination and fiber breakage . The present modeling strategy is able to reproduce the experimental results accurately regarding the damage progression, final failure and overall response.
Cardiovascular events in patients treated with chimeric antigen receptor t-cell therapy for aggressive B-cell lymphoma.

Standard of care (SOC) chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapies such as axicabtagene ciloleucel (axi-cel) and tisagenlecleucel (tisa-cel) are associated with multisystem toxicities. There is limited information available about cardiovascular (CV) events associated with SOC axi-cel or tisa-cel. Patients with CV comorbidities, organ dysfunction, or lower performance status were often excluded in the clinical trials leading to their FDA approval. An improved understanding of CV toxicities in the real-world setting will better inform therapy selection and management of patients receiving these cellular therapies. Here, we retrospectively reviewed the characteristics and outcomes of adult patients with relapsed/refractory large B-cell lymphoma treated with SOC axi-cel or tisa-cel. Among the 165 patients evaluated, 27 (16%) developed at least one 30-day Major adverse CV event (MACE). Cumulatively, these patients experienced 21 arrhythmias, 4 exacerbations of heart failure/cardiomyopathy, 4 cerebrovascular accidents, 3 myocardial infarctions (MI), and one patient died due to MI. Factors significantly associated with an increased risk of 30-d MACE included age ≥60 years, an earlier start of cytokine release syndrome (CRS), CRS ≥ grade 3, long duration of CRS, and use of tocilizumab. After a median follow-up time of 16.2 months (range 14.3-19.1), the occurrence of 30-d MACE was not significantly associated with progression-free survival (PFS) or with overall survival (OS). Our results suggest that the occurrence of 30-d MACE is more frequent among patients who are elderly, with early, severe, and prolonged CRS. However, with limited followup, larger prospective studies are needed, and multidisciplinary management of these patients is recommended.
Building Design by Computer Graphics

The views and comments expressed here are not from a computer scientist but rather from a user of computer graphics who has only a very limited understanding of the machine and the processes that instruct these machines to perform certain functions However, I am involved in developing some systems and programs that will assist the architect or engineer in the practice of his profession, namely that of creating buildings or physical structures, from their early planning stage to their final occupancy.
Comparing alternative approaches for mobile content delivery in information-centric networking

The information-centric networking (ICN) concept has been investigated to support mobile content delivery, in which content is distributed and requested directly through their names. Pervasive in-network caching is normally enabled in ICN to further facilitate mobile content delivery. Several different architectures have been proposed to realize ICN. In this work, we present their common features and then compare different approaches for mobile content delivery in these architectures. Such comparison would greatly deepen our understanding of different design choices and help with future ICN research.
Subunit molecular weight of human hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase.

Abstract The subunit molecular weight of hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase is reported to be 25,000 for the Chinese hamster enzyme (Olsen, A. S., and Milman, G. (1974) J. Biol. Chem. 249, 4030) and 34,500 for the human enzyme (Arnold, W. J., and Kelley, W. N. (1971) J. Biol. Chem. 246, 7398–7404). To investigate this difference the enzyme was purified from human erythrocytes by the method reported to give a 34,500 molecular weight subunit. Although the purification produces what appears to be a single active band on nondenaturing polyacrylamide gels, the major protein components observed on sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gels are not derived from the enzyme. Instead, activity is associated with a minor component of subunit molecular weight 26,000. Heating at 85° in the presence of phosphoribosylpyrophosphate yields complete recovery of enzyme activity, removes contaminating proteins, and leaves only a 26,000 molecular weight subunit. Thus the enzyme from both species appears to have the same subunit molecular weight of 25,000 to 26,000.
Effect of Ang II on angiotensinogen expression levels in hypertensive rat astrocytes (1140.1)

Objective: To investigate the effects of Angiotensin II (Ang II) on Angiotensinogen (AGT) mRNA and protein levels in spontaneous hypertensive rats (SHR) astrocytes. Background: AGT is the precursor molecule for the synthesis of Ang II produced by the renin angiotensin system (RAS). Astrocytes are the major source of AGT in the brain, and regulation of brain AGT levels alters blood pressure and electrolyte homeostasis. In this study, SHR were used as a genetic hypertension model and the results were compared to normotensive Wistar rats. Methods: Astrocytes isolated from neonatal rat’s cerebellum (CB) and brainstem (BS) regions were treated with 100nM Ang II, and the time-dependent effect of Ang II on AGT protein and mRNA levels were measured using Western blotting and quantitative polymerase chain reaction techniques, respectively. Results: Ang II significantly increased AGT protein levels but, decreased AGT mRNA levels over most time points examined in BS and CB Wistar and SHR astrocytes. There was no sig...
Evaluation of automated threshold selection methods for accurately sizing microscopic fluorescent cells by image analysis.

The accurate measurement of bacterial and protistan cell biomass is necessary for understanding their population and trophic dynamics in nature. Direct measurement of fluorescently stained cells is often the method of choice. The tedium of making such measurements visually on the large numbers of cells required has prompted the use of automatic image analysis for this purpose. Accurate measurements by image analysis require an accurate, reliable method of segmenting the image, that is, distinguishing the brightly fluorescing cells from a dark background. This is commonly done by visually choosing a threshold intensity value which most closely coincides with the outline of the cells as perceived by the operator. Ideally, an automated method based on the cell image characteristics should be used. Since the optical nature of edges in images of light-emitting, microscopic fluorescent objects is different from that of images generated by transmitted or reflected light, it seemed that automatic segmentation of such images may require special considerations. We tested nine automated threshold selection methods using standard fluorescent microspheres ranging in size and fluorescence intensity and fluorochrome-stained samples of cells from cultures of cyanobacteria, flagellates, and ciliates. The methods included several variations based on the maximum intensity gradient of the sphere profile (first derivative), the minimum in the second derivative of the sphere profile, the minimum of the image histogram, and the midpoint intensity. Our results indicated that thresholds determined visually and by first-derivative methods tended to overestimate the threshold, causing an underestimation of microsphere size. The method based on the minimum of the second derivative of the profile yielded the most accurate area estimates for spheres of different sizes and brightnesses and for four of the five cell types tested. A simple model of the optical properties of fluorescing objects and the video acquisition system is described which explains how the second derivative best approximates the position of the edge. Images
Emerging role of Hpo signaling and YAP in hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the sixth most common cancer and the third most common cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. Due to the poor prognosis and limited therapeutic options, there is great interest in further understanding better the molecular underpinnings and potential molecular targets associated with HCC. The Hippo (Hpo) signaling pathway and YAP, its principal downstream effector, represent an innovative area of research in HCC. Pioneered in Drosophila melanogaster, the Hpo cascade controls tissue homeostasis including organ size, cell proliferation, apoptosis, as well as cell-cycle regulation and differentiation. This conserved kinase cascade in mammals depends on central control by the tumor suppressor mammalian sterile 20-like kinase 1/2 (Mst1/2). The Mst1/2 commences the downstream kinase cascade, ultimately activating the oncoprotein YAP and allowing its physical association with downstream targets to enhance the gene expression signatures that are involved in proliferation and survival. Alterations in YAP expression and defective regulation of other key Hpo pathway members, such as Mst1/2, Salvador, neurofibromatosis and Mer (Nf2/mer), large tumor suppressor homolog 1/2 (Lats1/2), and Mps one binder kinase activator-like 1A and 1B (Mob1) drive carcinogenesis in animal models. The dysregulation of the Hpo pathway - resulting in an unchecked activation of YAP - culminates in the development of a broad range of human tumor types, including HCC. The abrogation of Mst1/2-mediated YAP phosphorylation permits YAP entry into the nucleus in murine models and functions similarly in human HCCs. Chemoresistance mechanisms displayed by HCC tumors occur in a YAP-dependent manner. The HCC specimens exhibit YAP overexpression, and YAP serves as an independent prognostic marker for disease-free survival and overall survival in patients with HCC. Recently, the small molecule inhibitor, verteporfin has been shown to attenuate YAP activity in murine models, perhaps offering a novel therapeutic approach for patients with advanced HCC.
Trust, Culture, and Cooperation: A Social Dilemma Analysis of Pro-Environmental Behaviors

Social dilemmas require a choice between cooperation, or sacrificing for the greater good, and self-interest. One commonly studied social dilemma is environmental conservation. Previous work sugges...
Nonoperative Management (Including Ultrasound-Guided Injections) of Proximal Biceps Disorders

Nonoperative management of conditions of the long head of biceps tendon (LHBT) involves a multifaceted approach, addressing the entire shoulder complex in addition to conditions that involve the LHBT. LHBT pathologic conditions are divided into 3 categories: inflammation, instability and rupture. This article provides an overview of a nonoperative treatment algorithm that addresses these specific categories and includes a review of ultrasound-guided injection techniques used in the diagnosis and management of LHBT disorders.
Right hepatic artery injury associated with laparoscopic bile duct injury: incidence, mechanism, and consequences

Because most bile duct injuries involve the common hepatic duct, the right hepatic artery, which is nearby, can also be injured. Reports on the frequency and significance of right hepatic artery injury (RHAI) associated with bile duct injury are sparse but suggest that RHAI increases mortality and decreases the success of the biliary repair. We studied the incidence, mechanism, and consequences of RHAI accompanying major bile duct injury. A total of 261 laparoscopic bile duct injuries were analyzed. Distribution was as follows: class I, 6%; class II, 22%; class III, 61%; and class IV, 11%. RHAI was present in 84 cases (32%): class I, 6%; class II, 17%; class III, 35% (P < 0.04 vs. class I/II); and class IV, 64% (P < 0.007 vs. class I/II/III). RHAI was more commonly associated with abscess, bleeding, hemobilia, right hepatic lobe ischemia, and subsequent hepatectomy (54% with RHAI vs. 11% without RHAI; P < 0.0001). RHAI had no infiuence on the success of the bile duct injury repair or on the mortality rate. Complications occurred more often with RHAI among cases repaired by the primary surgeon (41% RHAIvs.2%no RHAI; P < 0.0001) but not among repairs by a biliary surgeon (3%RHAIvs.2%no RHAI, P = NS; P < 0.0001 primary vs. biliary surgeon). RHAI increased morbidity, and occurred more often with class III and IV injuries refiecting the mechanisms of these injuries. RHAI did not increase the mortality rate or alter the success of biliary repair. Among biliary injuries repaired by the primary surgeon, RHAI was associated with a higher incidence of postoperative abscess, bleeding, hemobilia, hepatic ischemia, and the need for hepatic resection. A similar increase in the complication rate was not seen in patients treated by a biliary specialist.
Object manifestations for medical imaging applications

As healthcare providers become increasingly decentralized and distributed, information systems support must follow suit by providing healthcare professionals with flexible, adaptable and secure views of medical data in a timely fashion. To this end, this paper introduces the notion of manifestations of medical image objects in a heterogeneous client environment. We define the fundamental building blocks of manifestations using object-oriented concepts. Examples are given of how constraints and rules can be used to govern the presentation of data within objects and for the environmental (e.g. hardware and network) and user defined factors (e.g. preferences) that act as inputs to manifestations. Using these techniques, we give several examples of user interactions with a system based on manifestations. This paper demonstrates how objects can be efficiently and effectively presented to users with various information appliances using manifestation techniques.
Fully relativistic quark models for heavy-light systems

A fully relativistic quark model is constructed and applied to the study of wave functions as well as the spectrum of heavy-light mesons. The free parameters of the model are a constituent quark mass and (on the lattice) an adjustable {ital r} parameter in the fermionic kinetic energy, while the confinement is introduced via potentials measured by Monte Carlo simulation. The results are compared to Monte Carlo energies and Coulomb-gauge wave functions. They are in very good agreement with the data. A comparison with previous models suggests that we are seeing in the Monte Carlo data the quantum-relativistic delocalization of the quark due to {ital Zitterbewegung.} {copyright} {ital 1996 The American Physical Society.}
Response to Change: Understanding How Forest Management Activities Affect Nonindigenous Species Occurrence and Distribution

ABSTRACT Disturbances, including natural phenomena and forest management activities such as thinning, reforestation, rehabilitation seeding, and livestock grazing, are often associated with changes that make systems more susceptible to invasion by nonindigenous species (NIS). However, the susceptibility of a landscape to any particular species is not uniform. To prevent and manage (NIS) effectively we need to understand the effect of different types of disturbance on such species and understand how these effects vary on the landscape. Such an understanding is required in a general way for different nonindigenous taxa, but also for specific species or species associations in order to be able to develop comprehensive management plans. We performed three reviews, one each for nonindigenous plants, pathogens, and insects concerning the effect of a range of different forest management activities on their occurrence, spread, and spatial distribution in the United States of America. Much remains to be understood...
Critical misorientation morphology in AlGaAs and GaAs grown by atmospheric-pressure MOCVD on misoriented substrates

Abstract Critical misorientation morphology has been observed in AlGaAs epitaxial layers grown by metalorganic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) for the first time. These observations may lead to smoother epitaxial layers grown by MOCVD. Misorientation effects were previously observed in both liquid phase epitaxy (LPE) and chloride-transport vapor phase epitaxy growth of GaAs. More recently, molecular beam epitaxy grown AlGaAs deposited on substrates critically misoriented from (100) at growth temperatures below 700°C resulted in atomically-smooth morphology and improved photoluminescence compared to similar epitaxial films grown on nominally (100)-oriented substrates. This work describes a study of misorientation effects in the growth of AlGaAs and GaAs by atmospheric-pressure MOCVD. The pronounced rough morphology reported here was observed at 700°C using misoriented (100) GaAs substrates with a high density of induced nucleation flaws. Growth on these substrates was characterized by faceted defects with a well-defined angle between singular-plane treads and clustered monatomic step risers. These faceted defects were not formed when the substrate misorientation reached an angle of 2.5°−3.0° from the (100). Long-range morphology on a GaAs epitaxial layer in the form of terraces similar to those seen in LPE was also observed for growth at 700°C on a well-prepared (100) substrate. The observation of long-range surface morphology and critical misorietation effects demonstrates that near-equilibrium growth conditions have been found in atmospheric-pressure MOCVD where the step surface energy is lowered by a long-range morphology of treads and risers, for growth on slightly misoriented (100) substrates.
Observations of the diffuse interstellar EUV radiation field

Results are reported for observations and a preliminary theoretical analysis of the diffuse interstellar EUV radiation field exhibiting positive measurable fluxes in the wavelength range from 912 to 1150 A. The observations were made with the UV spectrometers on the two Voyager spacecraft, and a spectral half-width of 30 A was obtained. The procedures used in the analysis are described in detail, particularly those relating to the elimination of thermal and cosmic-ray noise, internal instrumental scattering from bright lines, and possible contributions from direct starlight. Measurements in several directions reveal diffuse intensities at 975 A ranging from a maximum of about 10 to the -7th erg/sq cm per (sec sr A) near the galactic plane to an upper limit of 10 to the -8th erg/sq cm per (sec sr A). A comparison of the present measurements with various theoretical predictions and previous measurements indicates reasonable agreement with some theoretical predictions of the interstellar EUV intensity.
Geometry from a differentiable viewpoint

The development of geometry from Euclid to Euler to Lobachevsky, Bolyai, Gauss and Riemann is a story that is often broken into parts – axiomatic geometry, non-Euclidean geometry and differential geometry. This poses a problem for undergraduates: Which part is geometry? What is the big picture to which these parts belong? In this introduction to differential geometry, the parts are united with all of their interrelations, motivated by the history of the parallel postulate. Beginning with the ancient sources, the author first explores synthetic methods in Euclidean and non-Euclidean geometry and then introduces differential geometry in its classical formulation, leading to the modern formulation on manifolds such as space-time. The presentation is enlivened by historical diversions such as Huygens's clock and the mathematics of cartography. The intertwined approaches will help undergraduates understand the role of elementary ideas in the more general, differential setting. This thoroughly revised second edition includes numerous new exercises and a new solution key. New topics include Clairaut's relation for geodesics and the use of transformations such as the reflections of the Beltrami disk.
Effects of Mn doping on (TiO2)n (n = 2–5) complexes

Abstract Mn-doped TiO 2 systems are of interest for low cost and high efficiency photocatalysts. However, little is known about the effects of doping on their structure. In this work, Mn is doped into (TiO 2 ) n ( n = 2–5) complexes. In the most stable structures of Mn doped TiO 2 complexes, the overall appearance of the cluster does not change much from that of the associated parent complex. Mn–O bonds are usually shorter, and nearby Ti–O bonds lengthen slightly. However, the angle centered on Mn significantly increases. Structures exhibit trigonal planar arrangements around Mn with 3 O ligands and tetrahedral arrangements with four ligands. The most stable structures typically have Mn at lower coordinated positions. Relative to the parent TiO 2 systems, occasionally a Mn–O bond breaks in order to maintain a low coordination number of Mn. The HOMO–LUMO gap decreases significantly by Mn doping, but this decrease is not proportional to the number of doped Mn.
Verapamil acutely reduces ventricular-vascular stiffening and improves aerobic exercise performance in elderly individuals.

AbstractOBJECTIVESWe tested the hypothesis that acute intravenous verapamil acutely enhances aerobic exercise performance in healthy older individuals in association with a combined reduction of ve...
Metastable Extensions of Intermediate Phases in Some Aluminum - Rare-Earth Metal Systems

Using the arc-furnace hammer-and-anvil method, metastable alloys in the Al-rich portions of four Al-RE systems (10–30 at. pet. RE; Re = Gd, Ho, Er and Y) were prepared and examined by XRD. The principal results are: all equilibrium alloy phases [Al4RE (T phase), Al3RE (CN12 close-packed phases) and Al2RE (Laves phase)] have substantial metastable solid solubilities for excess Al; e.g., in the Al-Y system, L phase is extended from 66.7 up to 86 at. pet. Al, suppressing any formation of the Al3RE phase in that system. For early RE elements up to and including Gd, T phase is favored; for alloy chemically intermediate RE elements such as Y, L phase is dominant and for late RE elements (after Ho), the CP phases are extended most. DSC work indicates the formation of additional metastable phases occurring during equilibration.
On-Line Sorting of Wood Treated with Chromated Copper Arsenate Using Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy

This paper details the design, implementation, and field evaluation of an online detector system using laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) for the analysis of copper chromated arsenate (CCA) treated wood products. The LIBS-based instrument functioned by creating the laser-induced plasma directly on the sample surface while wood was translated under the detector system, and was successful in discriminating between CCA treated wood and untreated wood products based on the atomic emission signal of chromium. The system was optimized for plasma emission collection both in and out of the laser focal plane and temporally optimized for chromium analysis using a compact, non-intensified charge-coupled device (CCD)/spectrometer unit. Using either single laser pulse spectra or 5-shot and 10-shot spectral averages, the accuracy of LIBS-based analysis ranged from 92 to 100% for identifying both CCA treated and untreated wood samples from the waste stream at a construction and demolition debris recycling center. Additional implementation issues are discussed in the context of LIBS-based on-line sorting of construction and demolition wood debris.
Periodic Trends in Monoatomic Chemisorbate Bonding on Platinum-Group and Other Noble-Metal Electrodes As Probed by Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy

Metal−adsorbate vibrations evaluated by surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) are reported for chloride, bromide, and sulfide on four Pt-group electrode materials (platinum, palladium, rhodium, and iridium) in comparison with Group IB surfaces (copper, silver, and gold) to ascertain periodic trends in monoatomic chemisorbate bonding at electrochemical interfaces in comparison with theoretical predictions and related vibrational behavior at metal−vacuum interfaces. The measurements utilize our recently developed strategies for preparing ultrathin yet pinhole-free Pt-group films on gold, yielding near-optimal SER spectra essentially free from substrate interferences. The metal−adsorbate stretching frequencies, νM-X, and derived force constants, fM-X, for all three chemisorbates display the same periodic trends, the fM-X values decreasing from left to right across the 4d and 5d series, increasing from 4d to 5d within a given group. While the νM-X values for bromide and especially chloride on silver and ...
Optimizing the silver collar worker: in the shoes of the older employee

Older workers are increasingly prized in the workplace, though they still represent an undertapped resource. What can be done to meet the needs of employees over the age of fifty so that they can enjoy a sense of self accomplishment, job satisfaction, personal growth and self respect—all while optimizing their contributions to the organization? This article uses the situations of six diverse “silver collar” employees to consider meaningful actions employers can take.
Composition of proof-carrying architectures for cyber-physical systems

The Internet of Things (IoT) integrates a variety of cyber-physical systems; systems that are safety-critical and those that are not. Each of these systems is composed from assets that may have been intended to integrate successfully, but they have not necessarily been verified as doing so before the product is instantiated. Because assets are commonly shared among a family of cyber-physical products, Software Product Line (SPL) methods are crucial for the success of these systems if they are to be built economically without compromise to safety. Verification of the SPL architectures will help to ensure the safety of these systems is not compromised by any of the numerous assets that can be swapped in and out as new products are configured. The contribution of this work is an illustration of how software architectures might be annotated embedding verification information of the architecture supporting a compositional approach to verification.In order for verification of the SPL to be successful, the verification properties of one asset must seamlessly integrate with the verification properties of other assets in the SPL family. We introduce a method using two languages which are annexes of the Architecture Analysis & Description Language (AADL), AGREE and Resolute, that can be used to verify a variety of properties of the system described by the AADL model. Our technique allows for definition of constraints that can be proven as being met when the products are instantiated, however, the languages are not entirely sufficient. Our work shows both working cases and the limitations of verification of the architecture.
Ligand substitution, pH dependent deoxygenation, and linkage isomerization reactions of the 2,2'-bipyridinetetranitroruthenate dianion.

The reaction of the [Ru(bpy)(NO2)4]2- (bpy = 2,2‘-bipyridine) ion in aqueous solutions produces two different nitrosyl complexes, depending on the pH of the solution. At acidic pH, complex cis,cis-Ru(bpy)(NO2)2(ONO)(NO) was isolated. At neutral or basic pH, [Ru(bpy)(NO2)4]2- reacts to give cis,trans-Ru(bpy)(NO2)2(NO)(OH). Both new complexes were fully characterized by elemental analysis and UV−vis, IR, 1H NMR, and 15N NMR spectroscopy. A single-crystal X-ray structure of cis,trans-Ru(bpy)(NO2)2(NO)(OH) was also obtained. cis,cis-Ru(bpy)(NO2)2(ONO)(NO) isomerizes in acetone or water solution to give a mixture of the trans,cis-Ru(bpy)(NO2)2(ONO)(NO) and cis,cis-Ru(bpy)(ONO)2(NO2)(NO) linkage isomers as determined by 1H and 15N NMR spectroscopy. A single-crystal X-ray structure of a solid solution of cis,cis-Ru(bpy)(ONO)2(NO2)(NO)/trans,cis-Ru(bpy)(NO2)2(ONO)(NO) was also obtained. This pair of isomers is the first crystallographically characterized compound with nitro, nitrito, and nitrosyl ligands. The kin...
The point‐spread function of a confocal microscope: its measurement and use in deconvolution of 3‐D data

SUMMARY We have measured the point-spread function (PSF) for an MRC-500 confocal scanning laser microscope using subresolution fluorescent beads. PSFs were measured for two lenses of high numerical aperture—the Zeiss plan-neofluar 63 × water immersion and Leitz plan-apo 63 × oil immersion—at three different sizes of the confocal detector aperture. The measured PSFs are fairly symmetrical, both radially and axially. In particular there is considerably less axial asymmetry than has been demonstrated in measurements of conventional (non-confocal) PSFs. Measurements of the peak width at half-maximum peak height for the minimum detector aperture gave approximately 0·23 and 0·8 μm for the radial and axial resolution respectively (4·6 and 15·9 in dimensionless optical units). This increased to 0·38 and 1·5 μm (7·5 and 29·8 in dimensionless units) for the largest detector aperture examined. The resulting optical transfer functions (OTFs) were used in an iterative, constrained deconvolution procedure to process three-dimensional confocal data sets from a biological specimen—pea root cells labelled in situ with a fluorescent probe to ribosomal genes. The deconvolution significantly improved the clarity and contrast of the data. Furthermore, the loss in resolution produced by increasing the size of the detector aperture could be restored by the deconvolution procedure. Therefore for many biological specimens which are only weakly fluorescent it may be preferable to open the detector aperture to increase the strength of the detected signal, and thus the signal-to-noise ratio, and then to restore the resolution by deconvolution.
Radical prostatectomy for octogenarians: how old is too old?

Abstract Objectives As the population ages, healthy octogenarians are increasingly diagnosed with prostate cancer. Some of these patients will request radical prostatectomy (RP), although outcome data in this population group are lacking. We report our experience with patients undergoing RP during their ninth decade of age. Methods From 1986 to 2003, 13,154 patients underwent RP at our institution. Of these patients, 19 (0.14%) were 80 years old or older at surgery and were included in this analysis. Patient survival and quality-of-life measures were retrospectively obtained from the Mayo Clinic Prostatectomy Registry. Results The reasons for RP varied, but usually patients requested or demanded operative intervention. At surgery, the mean patient age was 81 years (range 80 to 84), the median prostate-specific antigen level was 10.2 ng/mL (range 1.3 to 45.9), and the mean American Society of Anesthesiologists score was 2.4 (range 2 to 3). Of the 19 patients, 13 (68%) had Stage pT3 disease or a Gleason score of 7 or more. The median follow-up was 10.5 years (range 1.2 to 14.2). At the last follow-up visit, 10 patients had survived more than a decade after RP and 3 patients had died within 10 years of surgery. The remaining 6 patients were alive at less than 10 years of follow-up. Of the 19 patients, 14 (74%) were continent; 1 patient required an artificial sphincter. No patient had died of prostate cancer, and the 10-year all-cause survival rate was similar to that observed in healthy patients 60 to 79 years old undergoing RP. Conclusions On rare occasions, healthy and well-informed octogenarians will request RP for prostate cancer treatment. Our data suggest that select patients can achieve satisfactory oncologic and functional outcomes after surgery, although the rate of urinary incontinence is increased compared with that in younger counterparts.
Exploring the tradeoff between waiting time and service cost in non-asymptotic operating regimes

Motivated by the problem of demand management in smart grids, we study the problem of minimizing a weighted-sum of the mean delay of user demands and the power generation cost, where the latter metric increases with both the mean and the variance of the service demand. The state-of-the-art algorithms for this problem are asymptotically optimal, i.e., they are optimal only when the mean delay of user demands increases to infinity or decreases to zero. Yet, these algorithms may perform poorly for moderate delay, which is the regime in which most applications operate. Hence, there is a pressing need for the design of algorithms that can operate efficiently in the moderate delay regime. We attack this challenging problem in a generic framework by first proposing two classes of parameterized algorithms, which include some existing policies as special instances. Then, we obtain the optimal designs by explicitly characterizing the mean delay and the power generation cost as a function of the algorithmic parameters. The proposed algorithms with the optimal parameters not only are asymptotically optimal but also outperform the existing algorithms uniformly for all cases.
Dogma 95: A manifesto for our times

(2001). Dogma 95: A manifesto for our times. Quarterly Review of Film and Video: Vol. 18, No. 2, pp. 191-202.
New developments in antibody therapy for acute myeloid leukemia

In the past three decades, improvements in the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) have increased survival in patients younger than 55 years without significant survival impact in older individuals. Unfortunately, many patients, regardless of age at diagnosis, will eventually die from their disease. Advances in the development of targeted therapies have proven beneficial in chronic myeloid leukemia and lymphoma. Gemtuzumab ozogamicin (GO; Mylotarg, Wyeth-Ayerst, St Davids, PA), a monoclonal antibody conjugated to calicheamicin, targets the CD33 antigen found on the surface of more than 80% of AML leukemic blasts. GO is approved for relapsed disease in patients older than 60 years, but is being evaluated in combination with chemotherapy, in the setting of hematopoietic stem cell transplant, and in high-risk myelodysplasia.
X-band RF MEMS phase shifters suitable for printed phased array antennas

An X-band RF MEMS phase shifter fabricated using flexible printed circuit technology is reported. A main-line type loaded line phase shifter has been implemented using two shunt MEMS varactors mounted on a CPW line. A phase shift of 31/spl deg/ with a maximum insertion loss of 0.56 dB has been obtained at 9 GHz for an applied DC bias voltage of 40 V. This type of phase shifter is suitable for batch integration with printed circuit based phased array antennas.
Genome-wide Association Studies of Pit-and-Fissure- and Smooth-surface Caries in Permanent Dentition

While genetics clearly influences dental caries risk, few caries genes have been discovered and validated. Recent studies have suggested differential genetic factors for primary dentition caries and permanent dentition caries, as well as for pit-and-fissure- (PF) and smooth- (SM) surface caries. We performed separate GWAS for caries in permanent-dentition PF surfaces (1,017 participants, adjusted for age, sex, and the presence of Streptococcus mutans) and SM surfaces (1,004 participants, adjusted for age, education group, and the presence of Streptococcus mutans) in self-reported whites (ages 14 to 56 yrs). Caries scores were derived based on visual assessment of each surface of each tooth; more than 1.2 million SNPs were either successfully genotyped or imputed and were tested for association. Two homologous genes were suggestively associated: BCOR (Xp11.4) in PF-surface caries (p value = 1.8E-7), and BCORL1 (Xq26.1) in SM-surface caries (p value = 1.0E-5). BCOR mutations cause oculofaciocardiodental syndrome, a Mendelian disease involving multiple dental anomalies. Associations of other plausible cariogenesis genes were also observed for PF-surface caries (e.g., INHBA, p value = 6.5E-6) and for SM-surface caries (e.g., CXCR1 and CXCR2, p value = 1.9E-6). This study supports the notion that genes differentially affect cariogenesis across the surfaces of the permanent dentition, and nominates several novel genes for investigation.
Prenatal exposure of human foetuses to synthetic progestin and oestrogen affects personality

THE offspring of mothers given steroid hormones for the maintenance of at-risk pregnancy provide a human population equivalent to experimental animals for investigating early hormone effects on behaviour and personality1. Although patients showing the genetically induced clinical endocrine syndromes2 associated with diminished or augmented prenatal hormone levels have been used as an alternative source of subjects, they are less useful, as results attributed to the altered hormone environment can also be attributed to genes linked to the primary source of the endocrine disfunction. Investigations using offspring of hormone-supported pregnancies are equivalent to the animal studies because in both cases the source of hormone intervention is exogenous. We report here that prenatal exposure to synthetic progestins and oestrogens affects later personality in humans.
Thermal Redistribution of Oxygen and Carbon in Boron-Doped Pseudomorphic SiGeC Heterojunction Nanometer Base Layers

This work is the second report on a localized elevated oxygen concentration (or pileup), which occurs with thermal anneals of strained, boron-doped SiGeC layers. The thermally activated oxygen updiffusion into thin strained layers of SiGeC is correlated to the preferential outdiffusion of carbon from the SiGe setback or spacer layers. A strong dependency on both prebake temperature and postgrowth anneal is demonstrated, which correlates to available oxygen at the surface of the p-type silicon substrate. Additionally, evidence is provided with secondary ion mass spectrometry data that carbon diffusivity in SiGeC:B is significantly reduced as compared to SiGeC without boron.
On Lyapunov stability of impulsive Takagi–Sugeno fuzzy systems

We analyze the Lyapunov stability of impulsive Takagi–Sugeno fuzzy systems. Using the direct Lyapunov method, we establish sufficient conditions for the stability of these systems. We show that these conditions can be expressed in terms of a system of linear matrix inequalities. As an example, we consider an impulsive fuzzy control in a two-species “predator–prey” model.