cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Low-Dose Prednisone Decreases the Severity but Not the Frequency of Lenalidomide Associated Tumor Flare Feaction (TFR) in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) Patients.

Abstract Introduction: Lenalidomide (L) is clinically active in pts with CLL. TFR is a common side effect of L, unique to CLL pts and is characterized by tender enlargement of lymph nodes (LN), spleen and/or liver with low-grade fever, rash and/or increase in white blood cell count. Onset is usually with 24 hours of first dose and it is rarely seen after the 1st cycle. The underlying etiology of TFR remains undetermined though clinical presentation is suggestive of an immune activation phenomenon. Diagnosis, management and effective prophylaxis of TFR is crucial for the pt care as it is associated with considerable morbidity and mimics disease progression. We investigated the effectiveness of low-dose prednisone prophylaxis in CLL pts treated with L. Method & Results: Forty five pts (36 male, 9 female), median age 64 years (range 42–75) with rel/ref CLL were enrolled on a phase II clinical trial. Single agent L (max. dose 25mg/day) was given to all pts enrolled. No prophylaxis was given to the first 29 pts (group A). Subsequently 16 pts (group B) were treated with prednisone 20mg PO QD × 5 days followed by 10mg PO QD × 5 days, starting day 1 of treatment. Median age was 64 years (range 42–75) with 36M and 9F. Stage III/IV disease was noted in 64% (n=18) of the pts. Twenty four (83%) pts in group A and 13 (81%) in group B developed TFR with > grade II TFR was seen in 31% and 6%, respectively. Among pts with TFR, 4 achieved complete remission (CR) and had grade > 2 reaction vs. 19 pts with a Conclusion: Although the sample size investigated is small, we observed that use of oral prednisone prophylaxis decreased the severity but not the overall incidence of TFR. We therefore recommend that low-dose prednisone be considered for lenalidomide associated TFR in patients with CLL.
On the Syntax of either...or

This study argues for the thesis that in sentences of the form...either...or..., either overtly marks the left edge of the disjunction whose coordinator is or. This thesis is defended against Larson's (1985) proposal that either may be distant from its disjunction as the result of syntactic movement. It is argued that examples which appear to motivate such a movement are to be reanalyzed as involving silent material at the left periphery of a second disjunct. It is shown in detail that a variety of observations on either/or disjunctions fall out from independently established properties of what Ross (1970) calls GAPPING. It will also be concluded that in certain cases, second disjuncts host silent subject pronouns. The results reached here are of relevance for future investigations in the syntax of coordinations and the scope of disjunctions.
ANTIEPILEPTIC DRUGS IN THE ELDERLY

Epilepsy is a common clinical problem in the elderly. Seizures may occur acutely in the course of systemic disease, due to drug toxicity, or as a consequence of disorders of the central nervous system (CNS) itself. Although seizures appearing in the context of an acute illness such as pneumonia, or even a cerebrovascular accident, may not recur, the incidence and prevalence of chronic seizures (“epilepsy”) increase with aging. Hauser and Kurland found an overall epilepsy incidence rate for Rochester, Minnesota of 5.7/1000, but 10.2/1000 for the population over 60.1
Another complication of cirrhosis.

A 53-year-old Native American woman with a history of liver cirrhosis secondary to alcohol abuse presents to the emergency department after 2 days of diffuse abdominal pain and weakness. The pain was sudden in onset and has progressed relentlessly over the last day, reaching 9 on a scale of 10 in
Health Care Teams and Multimethodological Research

This study of health care teams used a multimethodological approach. Participant observation and interaction analysis results described the faculty and student health care teams at a university whe...
Stability against localization of softening into ellipsoids and bands: Parameter study

Abstract Strain-localization instabilities due to strain-softening which result from distributed damage such as cracking in heterogeneous brittle materials are analysed. Attention is restricted to the stability problem of equilibrium states. This problem is not equivalent to bifurcation of the equilibrium path, which may occur before stability of equilibrium is lost. The continuum is local but is enhanced by the localization limiter used in the crack band model, consisting of a lower bound on the minimum dimension of the strain-localization region, which is regarded as a material property. Presented are derivations of the critical state conditions for localization of initially uniform strain into ellipsoidal domains within an infinite continuum and into a planar band within a layer of finite thickness. These derivations are simpler than the previous Bažant's derivations of the general stability conditions for these localizations. A numerical parameter study of the critical states is made for a broad range of material properties as well as various initial stress states and relative sizes of the strain-softening region. The material is described by Drucker-Pragcr plasticity with strain-softening that is caused by yield limit degradation. The Hatter the ellipsoidal domain, or the larger the size of the body (layer thickness), the smaller is found to be the strain-softening slope magnitude at which the critical state is reached. A softening Drucker-Prager material is found to be stable against planar-band localizations in infinite continuum for a certain range of softening material parameters.
Neurological and Neuromuscular Complications of Systemic Critical Illness

Neurological complications of acute systemic illnesses involve both central and peripheral parts of the nervous system and contribute to mortality and morbidity. Acute encephalopathy is the most common neurological complication in ICU patients. In addition, a variety of neuromuscular disorders have been described in critically ill patients, including a sensorimotor axonal polyneuropathy (critical illness polyneuropathy), disuse atrophy, steroid-induced myopathy, persistent neuromuscular blockage following the use of neuromuscular blocking agents, and an acute necrotizing myopathy in patients concomitantly receiving a neuromuscular blocking agent and corticosteroids. Some authors have used the term ICU/critical illness myopathy to describe the myopathy found in ICU patients. However, as there may be different forms of this condition, I prefer to classify these disorders according to the associated features and inciting factors. It is often extremely difficult to distinguish these disorders from each other on purely clinical grounds, although certain clues may make one more likely. Nerve conduction studies, needle electromyography, and muscle biopsy are often necessary to make a firm diagnosis.
Taking publication date into consideration: a response to the review of Mobile Technologies for Every Library

Comment on Becker D. Mobile technologies for every library [review]. J Med Libr Assoc. 2017 Jul;105(3):296–7. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5195/jmla.2017.269 .
High-energy wavelength tunable dual-channel Tm:YLF laser

A dual channel high energy solid state laser using intracavity volume Bragg gratings is presented. CW operation showed a maximum output power of 5.7 W with a slope efficiency of 48%. Implementation of a Cr:ZnSe saturable absorber with 80% transmission achieved q-switching regime with 160 ns long pulses and combined energy of 4 mJ. Each channel had less than 1 nm spectral width in the range between 1880 and 1908 nm. The spectral difference between the two channels was tuned from 5 to 20 nm, corresponding to 0.4 to 1.7 THz, providing an alternative method for generating narrowband terahertz radiation.
Mammalian Glucocerebrosidase: Implications for Gaucher’s Disease

More than 20 years ago Brady, Kanfer, and Shapiro and coworkers (13) and Patrick (49) identified the deficiency of glucocerebroside: β-glucosidase (glucocerebrosidase) as the cause of Gaucher’s disease, the first sphingolipidosis for which the biochemical-enzymatic basis was established. In the intervening years, many investigators working in laboratories around the world have made important contributions to the fund of knowledge which has allowed us to construct the current picture we have of mammalian glucocerebrosidase.
Physical Layer Security in Cell- Free Massive MIMO

The achievable secrecy rates for a cell-free massive multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) in the presence of a single-antenna active eavesdropper are derived and compared with that of co-located massive MIMO. The active eavesdropper contaminates the uplink channel estimates at the access points (APs), and the downlink precoders at the APs are constructed based on this contaminated channel estimates. Hence, the APs inadvertently beamform confidential information towards the active eavesdropper during the downlink transmission. The achievable rates at the legitimate user nodes and the rates leaked into the active eavesdropper are derived for estimated/imperfect channel state information in the finite and infinite regimes of the number of APs. A transmit power allocation algorithm for maximizing the achievable secrecy rate is developed. Our analysis and numerical results reveal that the rate leaked into the eavesdropper can be of significance in the presence of active pilot attacks in cell-free massive MIMO.
Book Review: Aakash Singh Rathore and Rimina Mohapatra, Hegel’s India: A Reinterpretation, with Texts:

Aakash Singh Rathore and Rimina Mohapatra, Hegel’s India: A Reinterpretation, with Texts, New Delhi: Oxford University Press, 2017, 310 pp.
N‐Methyl­ethyl­enedi­ammonium tetra­iodo­cadmium(II)

The title compound, (C3H12N2)[CdI4] [abbreviated (MEDA)CdI4], contains isolated N-methyl­ethyl­enedi­ammonium cations and tetrahedral tetraiodidecadmate(II) anions, forming segregated layers. Hydro­gen bonding between cations and anions provides three-dimensional stability to the crystal structure.
The Relationship Between Physiological Mechanisms and the Self-Perception of Vocal Effort.

Purpose This study aimed to examine the relationship between a large set of hypothesized physiological measures of vocal effort and self-ratings of vocal effort. Method Twenty-six healthy adults mo...
Adverse events and modes of failure related to the FilterWire EZ Embolic Protection System: Lessons learned from an analytic review of the FDA MAUDE database.

Objectives To assess the commonly reported complications and failure modes for FilterWire EZ Embolic Protection Devices (EPD) by analyzing the postmarketing surveillance data from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Manufacturer and User Facility Device Experience (MAUDE) database. Background EPDs prevent distal embolization of atheroembolic materials during percutaneous interventions resulting in reduced microvascular obstruction and improved microcirculation while maintaining tissue perfusion. The FilterWire EZ EPD (Boston Scientific, Natick, MA) is approved for use in interventions of de novo saphenous vein grafts (SVG) and carotid artery stenosis. Robust data on the commonly reported complications and failure modes associated with the FilterWire EZ device are limited. Methods The MAUDE database was queried from September 1, 2008, through September 30, 2018, for FilterWire EZ system, yielding 474 reports. After exclusion of duplicate and incomplete reports, 464 device reports were included in the final analysis. Results Device-related adverse events were most commonly reported for carotid (n = 281) and SVG (n = 101) interventions. The most commonly reported major complications were: ischemic stroke (n = 57), vessel perforation or dissection (n = 12), death (n = 8), and myocardial infarction (n = 5). Minor complications included: hypotension (n = 68), bradycardia (n = 41), and vasospasm (n = 27). The most commonly reported failure modes were: detachment and/or damage of the device components (n = 118), device entrapment (n = 90), and stent-related issues (n = 46). Conclusions Analysis of the MAUDE dataset is helpful in identifying the commonly reported adverse events and failure modes of FilterWire EZ devices. This platform serves as an important tool for both physicians and manufacturers to optimize device performance and clinical outcomes.
Selection of Landsat 8 OLI Band Combinations for Land Use and Land Cover Classification

Land use and land cover (LULC) classification using satellite images is an important approach to monitor changes on earth. To produce LULC maps, supervised classification methods are often used. For many supervised classification algorithms, independence of features is an implied assumption. However, this assumption is rarely tested. For LULC classification, using all bands as input features to models is the default approach. However, some of the bands may be highly correlated, which may cause model performances unstable. In this research, correlations and multicollinearity among multi-spectral bands are analyzed for four major LULC types, i.e. cropland, forest, developed area and water bodies. Guided by the correlation analysis, different band combinations were used to train Support Vector Machines (SVM) for four-class LULC classification and the results were compared. From our experiments, band 4, 5, 6 is the best three-band combination and band 1, 2, 5, 7 is the best four-band combination which achieved almost identical performance as using all bands for LULC classification.
GERM and Its Effects on ECEC: Analyzing Unintended Consequences and Hidden Agendas

Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) worldwide is currently being reshaped by a variety of policies, known as the Global Education Reform Movement (GERM). This article examines the implications of GERM and discusses ways in which this largely unquestioned movement can be held accountable. A thorough analysis of GERM and its effects on ECEC contributes to a dialogue that is aimed at preventing well-intentioned policies from becoming another part of the GERM trend. This seems necessary to reveal (un)-intended negative consequences and hidden agendas that are connected to the dominance of GERM policies. It also helps the ECEC community reflect on how we are complicit by accepting and implementing GERM features, and what we can do to resist and change the ECEC landscape.
Impact of timing of palliative care consults on disposition to type of hospice care.

50Background: The 2018 ASCO palliative care guidelines recommend palliative care team (PCT) involvement within 8 weeks for patients with an advanced cancer diagnosis. However, the optimal timing an...
The Haunting Aesthetics of Tacoma

Video games are well suited to exploring questions of philosophical intent through their construction and design. Exploring the layered and complex forms of video game design and aesthetics is a gr...
The Observed Asymptotic Variance: Hard edges, and a regression approach

Abstract High frequency financial data has become an essential component of the digital economy, yielding an increasing number of estimators. However, it is hard to reliably assess the uncertainty of such estimators. The Observed Asymptotic Variance (observed AVAR) is a non-parametric estimator for (squared) standard error in high frequency data. The device is related to observed information in likelihood theory, but in this case it is non-parametric and uses the high-frequency data structure. An earlier paper has developed the estimator in the case where edge effects are small to moderate. In practical data, it is often more realistic to assume that edge effects can be large, and this is the problem that we tackle in the current paper. We here find a regression approach to observed AVAR which is highly robust to large edges. This approach covers most high frequency estimators.
A Fast, Accurate, and Scalable Probabilistic Sample-Based Approach for Counting Swarm Size

This paper describes a distributed algorithm for computing the number of robots in a swarm, only requiring communication with neighboring robots. The algorithm can adjust the estimated count when the number of robots in the swarm changes, such as the addition or removal of robots. Probabilistic guarantees are given, which show the accuracy of this method, and the trade-off between accuracy, speed, and adaptability to changing numbers. The proposed approach is demonstrated in simulation as well as a real swarm of robots.
Adult-onset asthma and periocular xanthogranuloma - A rare infiltrative disease of the orbit and eyelid

Abstract Purpose To present a case of adult onset asthma with periocular xanthogranuloma (AAPOX), and discuss existing literature on adult orbital xanthogranulomatous diseases (AOXGDs) and their treatment. Observations A 63 year old male presented with progressive bilateral eyelid swelling with overlying yellow plaques associated with asthma. CT scan showed periorbital swelling with enlargement of the superior and lateral rectus muscles bilaterally. Biopsy demonstrated orbital xanthogranulomatous disease with increased IgG4 plasma cells. The patient was treated with intralesional triamcinolone, oral prednisone, and cyclophosphamide without significant improvement. Surgical debulking was eventually performed which improved his external symptoms until he was lost to follow up 15 months later. Conclusions and Importance AOXGDs are a group of rare infiltrative diseases of the eyelids and orbit that can be associated with significant systemic morbidities. While they all have similar underlying histopathologic features, appreciating the clinical difference between these diseases is important in understanding patient prognosis and ensuring appropriate clinical monitoring. There is also growing research demonstrating that AAPOX, along with other AOXGDs, may represent part of a continuum of IgG4 related disease, similar to what is seen in this case. There is currently no reliably effective treatment for AOXGDs, and additional research into the management of these diseases is necessary.
The Collapse of Labor Productivity Growth in U.S. Manufacturing after 2010

Real value-added per employee in U.S. manufacturing fell between 2010 and 2016. Manufacturing accounted for over half the drop in private economy productivity growth between 1990-2000 and 2010-2016, though it accounted for less than 20% of aggregate value-added. While productivity growth fell in almost all three-digit manufacturing industries, almost 40% of the fall in aggregate manufacturing productivity growth reflected a slower decline of the deflator for computers and electronic products. Almost all of this drop seems to have reflected sharp slowdowns in the decline of the deflators for computers and, especially, semiconductors, for which measurement problems seem to have worsened.
A compact presentation for the alternating central extension of the positive part of U q ( sl ^ 2 )

This paper concerns the positive part U q + of the quantum group U q ( sl ^ 2 ) . The algebra U q + has a presentation involving two generators that satisfy the cubic q -Serre relations. We recently introduced an algebra U q + called the alternating central extension of U q + . We presented U q + by generators and relations. The presentation is attractive, but the multitude of generators and relations makes the presentation unwieldy. In this paper we obtain a presentation of U q + that involves a small subset of the original set of generators and a very manageable set of relations. We call this presentation the compact presentation of U q + .
Bad Smells and Broken DNA: A Tale of Sulfur-Nucleic Acid Cooperation.

Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is a gasotransmitter that exerts numerous physiologic and pathophysiologic effects. Recently, a role for H2S in DNA repair has been identified, where H2S modulates cell cycle checkpoint responses, the DNA damage response (DDR), and mitochondrial and nuclear genomic stability. In addition, several DNA repair proteins modulate cellular H2S concentrations and cellular sulfur metabolism and, in turn, are regulated by cellular H2S concentrations. Many DDR proteins are now pharmacologically inhibited in targeted cancer therapies. As H2S and the enzymes that synthesize it are increased in many human malignancies, it is likely that H2S synthesis inhibition by these therapies is an underappreciated aspect of these cancer treatments. Moreover, both H2S and DDR protein activities in cancer and cardiovascular diseases are becoming increasingly apparent, implicating a DDR–H2S signaling axis in these pathophysiologic processes. Taken together, H2S and DNA repair likely play a central and presently poorly understood role in both normal cellular function and a wide array of human pathophysiologic processes. Here, we review the role of H2S in DNA repair.
Bridge Deck Deterioration and Crack Control

An evaluation is made of bridge deck survey findings and laboratory research data in order to characterize the most common types of bridge deck deterioration. Possible causes are identified from the findings of published bridge deck surveys. The most widely accepted mechanisms of deterioration and related results of research on concrete fracture are described. The thermal incommpatibility mechanism and structural cracking mechanism are introduced to explain certain laboratory tests results and observed bridge deck deterioration. The use of revibration, nonrusting reinforcement; polymerized concrete, mixes with improved resistance to early cracking, and the adoption of improved methods of mixture quality control and aggregate selection are suggested as possible preventatives.
The Political Dimension of Confucius’s Idea of Ren

This essay argues that there is a political dimension to Confucius’s idea of ren. This thesis is based on a careful analysis of what may be called the definitional passages in the Analects. The author contends that contrary to what may be called the unqualified egalitarian claim, ren is not applicable to every human being because its political aspect requires some degree of constraint in its application.
Jehovah's Witnesses and cardiac surgery: a single institution's experience

Background Based on biblical doctrines, patients of the Jehovah's Witness faith refuse allogeneic blood transfusion. Cardiac surgery carries a high risk of blood transfusion, but has been performed in Jehovah's Witnesses for many years. The literature contains information on the outcomes of this cohort, but does not detail the perioperative care of these patients. This article describes a single institution's experience in perioperative care of Jehovah's Witnesses undergoing cardiac surgery. Study Design and Methods A chart review of adult Jehovah's Witness patients undergoing cardiac surgery at Duke University between January 2005 and June 2012 was completed. Institutional protocols regarding preoperative erythropoietin (EPO) therapy and intraoperative isovolemic hemodilution are detailed. Patient demographics and use of various blood conservation techniques are described. Hemoglobin (Hb) at various points throughout the perioperative management, hospital length of stay, and mortality are reviewed as indicators of outcome. Results Forty-five Jehovah's Witness patients underwent cardiac surgery at Duke University Medical Center. Preoperative EPO increased the mean Hb by 1.2 g/dL before surgery. Intraoperative normovolemic hemodilution was used in 37 patients with intraoperative mean nadir Hb of 10.3 g/dL. Antifibrinolytics and desmopressin were commonly used as coagulation adjuncts. Mean cardiopulmonary bypass time was 137 minutes, with mean nadir temperature of 30.5°C. The mean length of hospital stay was 6.2 days, with mean intensive care unit stay of 1.7 days. This cohort had zero 90-day mortality in the perioperative period. Conclusions This case series demonstrates that bloodless cardiac surgery can be performed in select patients refusing allogeneic blood transfusion.
Female reproductive factors and risk of Seizure or Epilepsy: Data from the Nurses’ Health Study II

Reproductive factors are associated with seizures in women with epilepsy. We prospectively examined the association between reproductive factors and the risk of adult-onset isolated seizure, epilepsy, or any unprovoked seizure (defined as single unprovoked seizure or epilepsy) among 114,847 Nurses' Health Study II participants followed from 1989 to 2005. Validated seizure questionnaires and medical records were used to confirm incident cases of isolated seizure (n = 95) or epilepsy (n = 151). Overall, there were no significant associations between any reproductive factor and risk of any unprovoked seizure (n = 196). However, menstrual irregularity at ages 18-22 years was specifically associated with an increased risk of epilepsy [relative risk (RR) 1.67, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.12-2.51]. Menstrual irregularity during follow-up (RR 2.21, 95% CI 1.16-4.20) and early age at menarche (<12 years vs. 12-13 years; RR 1.76, 95% CI 1.10-2.81) increased the risk of isolated seizure. Oral contraceptive use and parity were not associated with isolated seizure or epilepsy. Therefore, menstrual factors were associated with risk of seizure and epilepsy.
Copyright and Universities: Legal Compliance or Advancement of Scholarship? (The Growth of Copyright)

The legal questions of copyright issues at universities are diverse and regularly demand an analysis that melds the law with a formidable understanding of the institutional mission. This essay surveys some of the dominant copyright issues that arise at universities and examines the gradual development of copyright officer positions that have emerged at many institutions of higher education in the United States.
Of ice and elephants

What caused the great ice ages? Accurate dating of the end of one of these ice ages makes us reconsider which part of the climate system drives severe glaciation.
Comparative authentication of three “snow lotus” herbs by macroscopic and microscopic features

“Snow lotus” is a famous Chinese Materia Medica derived from species of the genus Saussurea (Compositae). To differentiate three representative easily-confused snow lotus herbs, namely, Saussurea involucrata (Kar. et Kir.) Sch.-Bip, Saussurea laniceps Hand.-Mazz., and Saussurea medusa Maxim., macroscopic features of the three herbs were systemically observed, and microscopic features were compared by using ordinary light microscopy, polarized light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results indicate that, as for macroscopic identification, capitula situation and arrangement, and as for microscopic identification, pollen grains, nonglandular hairs, glandular hairs, and cells of inner surface of the microdiodange can be used to authenticate the three snow lotus herbs. Comprehensive table comparing the characteristics were presented in this study. SEM has been found to provide a number of unique characteristics of pollen grains. Based on the observation of pollen grains, evolution sequence of the three species was speculated. The present method was proven to be efficient, convenient, simple, and reliable, which was successfully applied to the authentication of three snow lotus herbs. Microsc. Res. Tech.1 77:631–641, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
On the Use of Spatial Time Frequency Distributions forSignal Extraction

This paper deals with the extraction of signals from their instantaneous linear mixtures using time-frequency distributions. Fundamentally, this problem is a signal synthesis from the time-frequency (t-f) plane. However with the incorporation of the spatial information provided by a multisensor array, the problem can be posed as special case of blind source separation. So far, the blind source separation has been solved using only statistical information available on the source signals. Herein, we propose to solve the aforementioned problem using time-frequency signal representations and the spatial array aperture. The proposed approach relies on the difference in the t-f signatures of the sources to be separated. It is based on the diagonalization of a combined set of spatial time-frequency distribution matrices. A numerical example is provided to illustrate the effectiveness of our method.
Phosphoinositide 3-Kinase δ Regulates Migration and Invasion of Synoviocytes in Rheumatoid Arthritis

Cartilage destruction mediated by invasive fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS) plays a central role in pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Increased cell migration and degradation of extracellular matrix are fundamental to these processes. The class I PI3Ks control cell survival, proliferation, and migration, which might be involved in cartilage damage in RA. PI3Kδ isoform was recently identified as a key regulator of FLS growth and survival, suggesting that it could contribute to synoviocyte aggressive behavior. Therefore, we assessed the role of PI3Kδ in RA synoviocyte migration and invasion. We observed that PI3Kδ inhibition or small interfering RNA knockdown decreased platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-mediated migration and invasion of FLS. We then showed that PI3Kδ regulates the organization of actin cytoskeleton and lamellipodium formation during PDGF stimulation. To gain insight into molecular mechanisms, we examined the effect of PI3Kδ inhibition on Rac1/PAK, FAK, and JNK activation. Our studies suggest that Rac1/PAK is key target of PDGF-mediated PI3Kδ signaling, whereas FAK and JNK are not involved. Thus, PI3Kδ contributes to multiple aspects of the pathogenic FLS behavior in RA. These observations, together with previous findings that PI3Kδ regulates FLS growth and survival, suggest that PI3Kδ inhibition could be chondroprotective in RA by modulating synoviocyte growth, migration, and invasion.
Performance benchmarks for Si, III–V, TFET, and carbon nanotube FET - re-thinking the technology assessment methodology for complementary logic applications

Aspiring emerging device technologies (e.g. III–V, CNFET, TFET) are often targeted to outperform Si FETs at the same off-state current (I off ) and supply voltage (V dd ). We present a new device technology assessment methodology based on energy-delay optimization which treats I off and V dd as “free variables”, and bounded by constraints due to device variation and circuit noise margin. We show that for each emerging device (III–V, CNFET, TFET), there is a corresponding and different optimal set of I off and V dd , and an optimal energy-delay. Today's best-available III–V and CNFET can outperform the best Si FET by 1.5–2x and 2–3.5x, respectively. Projected into the 10nm gate length regime, III–V on-Insulator, CNFET, and TFET are 1.25x, 2–3x, and 5–10x (for FO1 delays of 0.3ns, 0.1ns, and 1ns respectively) better than the ITRS target at the same gate length.
Superconvergent hdg methods on isoparametric elements for second-order elliptic problems

We propose a projection-based a priori error analysis of a wide class of mixed and hybridizable discontinuous Galerkin methods for diffusion problems for which the mappings relating the elements to the reference elements are nonlinear. We show that if the local spaces on the reference elements satisfy suitable conditions, and if the mappings used to define the mesh and global spaces satisfy simple regularity and compatibility conditions, the methods provide optimally convergent approximations for both unknowns as well as superconvergent approximations for the scalar variable. A crucial feature of the analysis of the methods is the use of two new spaces of traces and two associated, suitably defined projections thanks to which the error analysis then becomes almost identical to that obtained by the authors in [Math. Comp., 81 (2012), pp. 1327--1353] where the case in which the mappings are affine is considered.
The Evolution of AUSM Schemes

This paper focuses on the evolution of advection upstream splitting method (AUSM) schemes. The main ingredients that have led to the development of modern computational fluid dynamics (CFD) methods have been reviewed, thus the ideas behind AUSM. First and foremost is the concept of upwinding. Second, the use of Riemann problem in constructing the numerical flux in the finite-volume setting. Third, the necessity of including all physical processes, as characterised by the linear (convection) and nonlinear (acoustic) fields. Fourth, the realisation of separating the flux into convection and pressure fluxes. The rest of this review briefly outlines the technical evolution of AUSM and more details can be found in the cited references.Defence Science Journal, 2010, 60(6), pp.606-613, DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.14429/dsj.60.580
2.8 μm emission from type-I quantum wells grown on InAsxP1−x/InP metamorphic graded buffers

We report 2.8 μm emission from compressively strained type-I quantum wells (QWs) grown on InP-based metamorphic InAsxP1−x step-graded buffers. High quality metamorphic graded buffers showed smooth surface morphology and low threading dislocation densities of approximately 2.5 × 106 cm−2. High-resolution x-ray diffraction scans showed strong satellites from multiple quantum wells grown on metamorphic buffers, and cross-sectional transmission electron microscopy revealed smooth and coherent quantum well interfaces. Room-temperature photoluminescence emission at 2.8 μm with a narrow linewidth (∼50 meV) shows the promise of metamorphic growth for mid-infrared laser diodes on InP.
Overset grids in compressible flow

Numerical experiments have been performed to investigate the importance of boundary data handling with overset grids in computational fluid dynamics. Experience in using embedded grid techniques in compressible flow has shown that shock waves which cross grid boundaries become ill defined and convergence is generally degraded. Numerical boundary schemes were studied to investigate the cause of these problems and a viable solution was generated using the method of characteristics to define a boundary scheme. The model test problem investigated consisted of a detached shock wave on a 2-dimensional Mach 2 blunt, cylindrical body.
Rattlesnake denning: theoretical considerations on winter temperatures.

Abstract Aggregations of over-wintering rattlesnakes are considered as a hypothetical metabolic unit. Estimates of fat consumption are utilized to predict heat production during the denning season. Previously determined temperature heat production curves allow prediction of a mean body temperature for the winter season which is around 15°C above the ambient den site temperature. An estimate from the previously derived relationship between heat production per unit surface area and body temperature predicts a reduction in aggregate effective surface area of 40 % of the summed surface areas of the individual animals constituting the hypothetical aggregation.
Funny or Harmful?: Derogatory Speech on Fox’s Family Guy

Throughout its multiple seasons, the language on Fox's Family Guy has been the subject of criticism, foundation reports, and even lawsuits. The show's creators assert that the language used in the show simply provides satirical social commentary; others believe the language is inappropriate for broadcast television. This study investigated the presence of derogatory language in Family Guy in order to make an argument regarding the potential cultivating effects of such language when presented in an animated format. The study found that derogatory messages were present in roughly 9% of Family Guy scenes and that correlations existed between the types of characters that were the senders and recipients of derogatory messages and the types of messages transmitted.
Inhibition of 125 I-Epidermal Growth Factor Binding to Cultured Keratinocytes by Antiproliferative Molecules Gamma Interferon, Cyclosporin A, and Transforming Growth Factor-Beta

Abstract The growth of cultured human keratinocytes (KC) is inhibited by gamma interferon (IFN-γ), cyclosporin A and transforming growth factor-beta, but not by tumor necrosis factor. When these antiproliferative molecules were added to KC they induced a concentration and time-dependent inhibition of 125 I-epidermal growth factor (I-EGF) binding. These anti-proliferative molecules primarily reduced the number of binding sites by approximately 25%-50% without affecting the binding affinity. Tumor necrosis factor did not influence the ligand binding by I-EGF. In parallel with the ability of the antiproliferative molecules to inhibit I-EGF binding, there was an increase in transforming growth factor-alpha production. These results suggest that several different anti-proliferative molecules may share a common mechanism to inhibit cell growth by reducing I-EGF binding to KC.
The Biochemistry, Chemistry and Physiology of the Isoflavones in Soybeans and their Food Products

In this review of the chemistry, absorption, metabolism, and mechanisms of action of plant isoflavones, emphasis is placed on the isoflavones in soy and the food products derived from them. Soybeans have been part of food history in Asia for several millennia but did not reach the Americas and Europe until the eighteenth century. In the twentieth century, there was a tremendous increase in the cultivation of soybeans in the United States and more recently in South America. Soy foods have entered the U.S. food supply in ever-increasing amounts both in the form of traditional products (soy milk, tofu) and in more subtle ways in dairy and bread/cake products. The isoflavones in non-fermented foods are for the most part in the form of glycoside conjugates. These undergo changes due to different processing procedures. Isoflavones and their metabolites are well absorbed and undergo an enterohepatic circulation. They are often termed phytoestrogens because they bind to the estrogen receptors although weakly compared to physiologic estrogens. This estrogenicity is not the only mechanism by which isoflavones may have bioactivity-they inhibit tyrosine kinases, have antioxidant activity, bind to and activate peroxisome proliferator regulators alpha and gamma, inhibit enzymes in steroid biosynthesis, strongly influence natural killer cell function and the activation of specific T-cell subsets, and inhibit metastasis. These various properties may explain the much lower incidence of hormonally-dependent breast cancer in Asian populations compared to Americans and Europeans.
1,3,4-oxadiazolin-2-ones from carbo-t-butoxyhydrazones

5-Substituted-1,3,4-oxadiazolin-2-ones 2 were synthesized by the oxidation of carbo-t-butoxyhydrazones 1 of aromatic aldehydes with lead tetraacetate or, preferably, iodosobenzene diacetate. In some instances 5-acetoxy-1,3,4-oxadiazoles 3 were obtained along with 2. The oxidation of carboethoxyhydrazones 4 gave 2-ethoxy-1,3,4-oxadiazoles 5.
Gas composition strategies for the successful scale-up of Catharanthus roseus cell cultures for the production of ajmalicine

Ajmalicine, serpentine, catharanthine, and vindoline are monoterpenoid indole alkaloids (MIAs) of commercial interest which are produced by the Catharanthus roseus plant. Cultures of C. roseus have been investigated as a potential source of these pharmaceutically important compounds since the early 1960s. In addition, their production from C. roseus cultures has served as a model system for investigating secondary metabolism and for evaluating production-enhancing strategies. Initially, this review will survey (1) the MIAs of interest for large-scale production from plant cell cultures and (2) the volumetric productivities of a specific MIA, ajmalicine, achieved and projected using plant cell cultures. To meet the need for these valuable compounds, the production of these MIAs from plant cell cultures must be successfully reproduced in large-scale aerated and agitated reactors. While the large-scale cultivation of plant cell cultures is currently feasible, initial attempts at scale-up may yield results that differ from that optimized in flasks. To bridge the jump between production in flasks and production in large-scale bioreactors, changes introduced with scale-up such as gas composition must be identified and rationally manipulated to reproduce or even improve growth and secondary metabolite production. Hence, this review will (1) identify the effects of gas composition (i.e., O2, CO2, ethylene, or other endogenous volatile compounds) on growth and secondary metabolism and (2) draw operating strategies for optimizing the gas composition for growth of C. roseus cultures and the production of ajmalicine.
A fluidizing column for extracting cysts of Heterodera avenae from soil

Smiley, R. W. 2012. A fluidizing column for extracting cysts of Heterodera avenae from soil. Plant Dis. 96:820-826. The cereal cyst nematode Heterodera avenae can be extracted from soil using several different floatation or elutriation methods. Automated methods are prohibitively expensive for use in small labs and, for optimal efficiency, floatation methods require that the soil be air dried for an extended period. A method which suspends soil particles in a water column above a fluidizing plate was reported as being most efficient with wet and dry soils. Use of the fluidizing column for extracting H. avenae has not been reported in the United States and materials to construct the column using contemporary components have not been described. Objectives of this research were to construct a column with components available in the United States, and to compare numbers of cysts and eggs plus juveniles (from cysts) extracted by the column and three other floatation methods: Fenwick can, flask, and Cobb sieving. From a soil containing recently produced (more dense) cysts, the column extracted at least 18% more cysts and 23% more eggs plus juveniles than the Fenwick and flask methods. The fluidizing column was found to be useful for small laboratories because it is inexpensive ($253 for two columns), easily and quickly constructed by nonprofessional labor, and produces adequately repeatable results. Heteroderid cysts have been extracted from soil using a wide array of equipment and procedures, ranging from automated continuous elutriation methods to collection of cysts separated from soil by flotation in water-filled buckets or flasks (20). Construction of equipment for automated methods used by large commercial and public-sector nematology laboratories is prohibitively expensive for small laboratories that process relatively few samples. However, simple flotation procedures often have low uniformity among repetitions and also produce extracts containing cysts amongst large amounts of organic debris (9). Some flotation procedures are more efficient after field soils have been air dried for time periods as long as 3 months (12), causing it to be difficult to attain higher levels of precision in a timely manner. Likewise, flotation procedures are generally less efficient for extracting new cysts than lessdense older cysts, which contain a higher proportion of air (2). Although cysts can be separated from the debris using densitygradient procedures combined with centrifugation, those procedures often rely upon the availability of a centrifuge and they often reduce the hatching efficiency of eggs that are subsequently released from cysts (17,18), making density-gradient separations undesirable when eggs or juveniles are intended to be used as inoculum. The cereal cyst nematode Heterodera avenae occurs in at least
The Preservation Management Handbook: A 21st-Century Guide for Libraries, Archives, and Museums

As anyone who works in the archives or library knows, the field of preservation is a complex and often specialized one. Different types of materials face different threats, and each type requires s...
Interaction of glissile dislocations with perfect and truncated stacking-fault tetrahedra in irradiated metals

Abstract Mechanisms for the collapse and absorption of truncated stacking-fault tetrahedra (SFTs) by approaching dislocations are proposed. Both self-energy and elastic interaction energy in a straight dislocation-SFT system are calculated analytically. Although an isolated perfect or truncated SFT is in many cases more stable than a perfect dislocation loop or Frank sessile loop, it can become metastable under the influence of strain fields of surrounding dislocations. Interaction between incident dislocations and SFTs can cause instability of the perfect SFT relative to a truncated SFT, Frank sessile loop and perfect dislocation loop. In general, the interaction between a single SFT and a single dislocation is found to be not large enough for thermal activations to overcome the elastic barriers between a metastable truncated SFT and a stable unfaulted loop. Pinning through core reactions and dislocation pile-ups in certain glide systems approaching the SFT are shown to lower the activation barriers cons...
A prospective study of thyroid function, bone loss, and fractures in older men: The MrOS study.

Excess thyroid hormone is associated with increased bone loss and fracture risk in older women, but few data exist for men. We sought to determine if thyroid function is independently associated with bone loss and fracture risk in older men. Data were analyzed from the Osteoporotic Fractures in Men (MrOS) study, a cohort of community-dwelling U.S. men aged 65 years and older. Using a case-cohort design, fasting baseline serum archived at -80°C was assayed for thyroid-stimulating hormone (thyrotropin) (TSH) and free thyroxine (FT4) in 397 men with confirmed nonspine fracture, including 157 hip fractures, and 1420 randomly selected men without fracture. TSH and FT4 were analyzed as continuous variables and as thyroid function categories (subclinical hyperthyroid, euthyroid, and subclinical hypothyroid). Hip dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) (Hologic QDR4500) was measured at baseline and after a mean follow-up of 4.6 years. Incident nonspine fractures were centrally adjudicated. Bone loss was evaluated with multivariate regression methods and fractures risk was evaluated using hazard models that accounted for the case-cohort sampling, adjusted for age, clinic-site, body mass index (BMI), race, physical activity, corticosteroid use, smoking, alcohol intake, and thyroid medication use. In fully adjusted analyses, TSH was not associated with risk of nonspine fracture (relative hazard [RH] 0.92 per SD decrease in TSH; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.74-1.14), but was significantly associated with risk of hip fracture (RH 1.31; 95% CI, 1.01-1.71), which persisted among normal range TSH values (RH 1.21; 95% CI, 1.00-1.47). There was no association between TSH or FT4 and bone loss, and fracture risk did not differ significantly by thyroid function category. We conclude that although neither TSH nor FT4 are associated with bone loss, lower serum TSH may be associated with an increased risk of hip fractures in older men.
Use of a Nonionic Surfactant to Inhibit Precipitation of Anionic Surfactants by Calcium

Precipitation of anionic surfactants by calcium ions has always been a major concern in formulations using anionic surfactants in hard water. In our previous work, it was found that the precipitation reaction was delayed when a mixture of anionic surfactants (sodium dodecyl sulfate and sodium octylbenzene sulfonate) was used at a certain mole ratio that would give the minimum in the difference in the supersaturation ratios between the two precipitating surfactants. In this work, the addition of nonylphenol ethoxylate (NP(EO)10) as a nonionic surfactant is shown to delay the onset of precipitation for a longer time. The zeta potential of precipitates reveals that the NP(EO)10 is able to slow down the precipitate growth by adsorbing onto the precipitate crystals and this results in larger mean particle size.