cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
First Principles Calculations of the Effect of Stress in the I-V Characteristics of the CoSi 2 /Si Interface

We present ab initio-based electronic transport calculations on the effect of uniaxial and bi-axial stress on the CoSi 2 /n Si interface resistivity for the three main silicon crystallographic directions. For the [001] case, we identify two distinctive low and high bias conduction regimes for both compressive and tensile stress. In these regimes, the current is dominated by electronic transmission pathways near the Γ point for bias up to ~0.1V, while for higher bias it is dominated by transmission at the (±1/2, ±1/2) conduction band valleys of the Brillouin zone, which results in a contact resistivity decrease of up to 30% at 0.2V bias. This effect is less pronounced for the [110] direction, and negligible for the [111] case due to the symmetry of the Si conduction band valleys along these directions. This study provides insight into stress-based optimization pathways for contact resistivity reduction of silicide interfaces in next generation semiconductor devices.
Quantifying the polygenic contribution to variable expressivity in eleven rare genetic disorders

Rare genetic disorders (RGDs) often exhibit significant clinical variability among affected individuals, a disease characteristic termed variable expressivity. Recently, the aggregate effect of common variation, quantified as polygenic scores (PGSs), has emerged as an effective tool for predictions of disease risk and trait variation in the general population. Here, we measure the effect of PGSs on 11 RGDs including four sex-chromosome aneuploidies (47,XXX; 47,XXY; 47,XYY; 45,X) that affect height; two copy-number variant (CNV) disorders (16p11.2 deletions and duplications) and a Mendelian disease (melanocortin 4 receptor deficiency (MC4R)) that affect BMI; and two Mendelian diseases affecting cholesterol: familial hypercholesterolemia (FH; LDLR and APOB) and familial hypobetalipoproteinemia (FHBL; PCSK9 and APOB). Our results demonstrate that common, polygenic factors of relevant complex traits frequently contribute to variable expressivity of RGDs and that PGSs may be a useful metric for predicting clinical severity in affected individuals and for risk stratification. Rare genetic disorders (RGDs) often exhibit significant clinical variability among affected individuals. Here, Oetjens et al. systematically study the contribution of common genetic variation to variable expressivity of RGDs and find it is frequently influenced by polygenic factors identified in genome-wide association studies of relevant traits.
Extracorporeal life support to ventricular assist device: potential benefits of sternal-sparing approach.

Background: Advancements in left ventricular assist device (LVAD) technology have improved long-term survival for properly selected patients with advanced heart failure. However, the subset of patients in critical cardiogenic shock remain difficult to treat with persistently high patient morbidity and mortality. The goal of this study is to describe our institutional experience utilizing extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) as a bridge to LVAD for patients in cardiogenic shock comparing the less invasive complete sternal-sparing (CSS) surgical technique to median sternotomy. Methods: Data was collected as a single center retrospective review of patients implanted with a continuous-flow LVAD directly off ECMO from 2012 to 2018. Patients were stratified by LVAD surgical technique. The primary outcome was survival to discharge. Secondary outcomes included postoperative complications, resource utilization and survival at 6-months. Results: Of the 37 patients implanted directly off ECMO, 26 (70%) patients were implanted via median sternotomy and 11 (30%) patients by the CSS approach. Median time on ECMO support was 8 days (range, 2–29 days). Preoperative characteristics were similar between groups. Survival to discharge was 78% overall (73% vs . 91% CSS, P=0.391). The CSS cohort had fewer postoperative complications, including fewer transfusions (P=0.044) and trend towards less right ventricular (RV) failure (62% vs . 27% CSS, P=0.079). Both cohorts required similar median length of stay (LOS) in the intensive care unit (ICU) (11 vs . 12 days, P=0.695) and similar overall hospital LOS (34 vs . 22 days, P=0.242). Overall survival was 74% at six months (68% vs . 89% CSS, P=0.386). Conclusions: VA ECMO can be used effectively as a bridge-to-LVAD for patients in cardiogenic shock. The less invasive CSS approach demonstrates potential advantages to median sternotomy. Further study is needed to better understand the benefits of less invasive surgical techniques.
Valuing emotional control in social anxiety disorder: A multimethod study of emotion beliefs and emotion regulation.

This study examines relationships between emotion beliefs and emotion regulation strategy use among people with social anxiety disorder (SAD) and a psychologically healthy control group. Using experience-sampling methodology, we tested group differences in 2 types of emotion beliefs (emotion control values and emotion malleability beliefs) and whether emotion beliefs predicted trait and daily use of cognitive reappraisal and emotion suppression. People with SAD endorsed higher emotion control values and lower emotion malleability beliefs than did healthy controls. Across groups, emotion control values were positively associated with suppression (but unrelated to reappraisal), and emotion malleability beliefs were negatively associated with suppression and positively associated with reappraisal. We also addressed 2 exploratory questions related to measurement. First, we examined whether trait and state measures of emotion regulation strategies were related to emotion control values in different ways and found similar associations across measures. Second, we examined whether explicit and implicit measures of emotion control values were related to daily emotion regulation strategy use in different ways-and found that an implicit measure was unrelated to strategy use. Results are discussed in the context of growing research on metaemotions and the measurement of complex features of emotion regulation. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).
Nicotine Effects, Body Weight Concerns and Smoking: A Literature Review

How people become addicted to cigarette smoking and remain addicted despite repeated attempts to quit requires piecing together a rather complex puzzle. The present review contextualizes the role of nicotine and smoking sensory stimulation on maintaining smoking, describes nicotine's effects on feeding behavior and body weight, and explores the impact of smoking outcome expectancies, including the belief that nicotine suppresses appetite and body weight, on the decision to smoke or vape (use of e-cigarettes). The analysis concludes with a review of rat models of human nicotine intake that attempt to isolate the effects of nicotine on appetite and weight gain. Animal research replicates with relative closeness phenomena observed in smokers, but the rat model falls short of replicating the long-term weight gain observed post-smoking cessation.
Chapter 8 – Power Reactors

Publisher Summary The first nuclear reactor was operated briefly by Enrico Fermi and his associates at the University of Chicago on December 2, 1942, less than 4 years after the discovery of nuclear fission. Under wartime pressure, reactor technology continued to develop rapidly, and only 1 year later a 3.8 thermal megawatt (MWt) research reactor began operation at Oak Ridge. At present, about 1000 land-based reactors have been built and operated in various parts of the world. These include reactors built for research, as well as production of power, radioisotopes, and plutonium. More than 200 vessels of the American and Russian navies have been powered by nuclear reactors. Great impetus to the development of a civilian reactor industry came from the first United Nations International Conference on the Peaceful Uses of Atomic Energy, which took place in Geneva in the fall of 1955. The health physicist, physician, engineer, or health officer concerned with the effects of reactors on the environment should possess a general understanding of those aspects of design that may affect the kind and quantity of radioactive effluents discharged to the environment under normal and abnormal conditions. It is also important to appreciate the basic methods used to prevent uncontrolled release of radioactivity to the environment and to understand the monitoring activities required to assure compliance with the applicable limitations on discharges of radioactive wastes. Contemporary reactors, with only a few exceptions, use either natural uranium or uranium in which the amount of isotope 235 has been enriched. The amount of 235U enrichment may vary from 0.7% to more than 90%, but the fuel in most civilian power reactors is enriched to about 3%. Plutonium can also be used as a fuel for reactors.
Symptomatic meningothelial hamartoma associated with nevus sebaceus

Abstract We describe the third reported case of a symptomatic meningothelial hamartoma associated with nevus sebaceus. A 2-year-old male presented with a congenital, painful, enlarging parietal scalp nodule arising adjacent to a nevus sebaceus, and associated with an ipsilateral capillary malformation in the distribution of the first branch of the fifth cranial nerve. Meningothelial hamartomas are rare and clinically lack any defining diagnostic features. On histology, the pseudoinfiltrative pattern and presence of anastomosing channels raise concern for vascular proliferations. The symptomatic nature of the nodule and the potential for intracranial extension warranted imaging workup. Histologic evaluation ultimately led to a diagnosis of meningothelial hamartoma. This case highlights the novelty and nuances in the work-up, management and treatment of a symptomatic meningothelial hamartoma when it presents in association with a nevus sebaceus and possible Sturge Weber Syndrome.
A Framework for Human-Autonomy Team Research

On a team, autonomy must be able to work alongside human counterparts and carry out the fundamentals of teamwork and taskwork. In this paper we refer to these machine teammates as autonomy. These Human-Autonomy Teams (HATs) need to be assembled to have the appropriate roles and responsibilities and to interact in an interdependent manner. One challenge in assembling an effective Human-Autonomy Team involves doing research on human-autonomy teaming that can provide input to autonomy development BEFORE the autonomy is developed. We propose here a five-step process to doing HAT research and provide four examples of the application of this process. The five steps involve 1) knowledge elicitation to determine the essential aspects of HAT in a given domain, 2) development of a synthetic task environment with Wizard of Oz capability, 3) development of measurement strategies, 4) human subject experimentation, and 5) translation to the developers of artificial intelligence and robots that will serve as teammates.
Introduction of Accelerating RF Cavities

The most basic way to accelerate charged particles in particle accelerators is to use an electric field stored in radio frequency resonators, which are cavity resonators or simply RF cavities. In a particle accelerator, the cavity must have beam holes and beam pipes that allow a particle beam to pass through it.
Current Trends in Telehealth Applications to Deliver Social Communication Interventions for Young Children with or at Risk for Autism Spectrum Disorder

Early, intensive, and high-quality interventions can often improve social communication outcomes for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Many children experience barriers to intervention, resulting in significant delays to intervention onset or missed opportunities for intervention altogether. With constant advances in technology, the field is experiencing a rapid increase in investigation of telehealth applications to intervention delivery. This article highlights the current trends in social communication intervention via telehealth used in early intervention practices for children with ASD over the past 5 years, including a brief review of studies (from 2014 to January 2020) and our team’s experiences in this area. Based on our experience and the 22 studies we identified in this area, we describe the current trends in telehealth applications used and how interventions were delivered. We also provide recommendations, limitations, and future directions on this topic. Telehealth offers innovative intervention delivery options by increasing intervention access, overcoming barriers such as geography and costs of service delivery for young children with ASD.
Stock Market Crashes, Firm Characteristics, and Stock Returns

A number of studies have investigated the causes and impact of stock market crashes. The October 19, 1987 crash and the crashes that took place during the 1997-98 global emerging markets crisis and as a result of the burst of the high-tech bubble in 2000 have received considerable attention. These studies mainly focus on the factors leading to a crash and the volatility and co-movements of markets during and after the crash. How a stock market crash affects individual stocks and if stocks with different financial characteristics are affected differently in a crash is an issue that has not received sufficient attention. In this paper, we define a stock market crash as a one-day event when the stock market index drops by more than 5-percent. There are eight such crashes that have taken place during the January 1, 1968-December 31, 2007 period. We use the event study methodology and the linear multivariate regression analysis technique with stock returns on the crash day as the dependent variable. The explanatory variables include the CAPM beta, size, market-to-book ratio, an illiquidity measure for the stock, and several debt, cash-flow, profitability, and liquidity ratios representing various financial characteristics of the firm. The volatility of each stock prior to the crash event is also included as an explanatory variable in the regressions. To capture the momentum and reversal effects, we also use the cumulative returns of stocks 30-days, 252-days, and 504-days prior to the event date as explanatory variables. To study if stocks from different industries are affected differently during crashes, we use four industry dummy variables. We use a large sample of common stocks of domestic U.S. firms, excluding utilities and financial firms, to study the determinants of stock returns in each crash. We obtain the stock returns data from the Center for Research in Security Price (CRSP) database and the firm financial statements data from the Research Insight database. We find that stocks with higher betas, larger capitalization, more liquidity, more volatility and higher returns prior to the event date lose more value in stock market crashes. We find certain firm characteristics to be significant determinants of stock performance in some crashes. We also find that certain industries were affected more than the others in certain crashes.
Pushing beyond boundaries as a pre-tenure rural sociologist who is not from around here

In her 2020 Agriculture, Food and Human Values Society (AFHVS) presidential address, Molly Anderson outlined three ways to push beyond boundaries imposed on us and by us to work towards addressing global food system and societal problems. In this response essay, I draw on my experiences and my perspectives as a pre-tenure rural sociologist who is not from around here to highlight how I attempt to push beyond boundaries in my own work and to discuss challenges associated with the feasibility of some of Molly’s call. I also build on Molly’s call for boundary work including a broadening of international collaborations through increased engagement in cross-national comparative research, pivoting from interacting with global social movements to interacting with key stakeholders, and deepening of anti-discrimination work through the use of an intersectionality lens. Arguing that Molly’s call for action is bold but needed, I close my essay with a set of questions that I hope can contribute to larger discussions on how we can help one another push beyond boundaries to work towards more fair and sustainable food systems.
Surgical anatomy of the vagus nerves

From the perspective of operative surgery of the upper gastrointestinal tract, the important aspects of vagal anatomy are relationships and distribution in the cervical and upper mediastinal regions and at and below the diaphragmatic hiatus. Central vagal anatomy, therefore, will not be dealt with in any detail. The importance of the cervical anatomy of the vagus relates to the need to protect the vagus and its laryngeal branches during surgery on the upper oesophagus. A thorough knowledge of vagal anatomy at the hiatus is essential for the performance of various types of vagotomy.
Neurologic Injury and Mechanical Ventilation

Patients with many different types of neurologic injury may develop respiratory system failure for a variety of reasons. In addition, the potential complications of respiratory system failure, including hypoxemia and acidosis, may cause significant additional injury to patients with neurologic disease. Mechanical ventilation (MV) is a supportive therapy that can be used to prevent these systemic complications of respiratory system failure in patients with and without neurologic injury.
Self-reconfigurable control for dual-quaternion/dual-vector systems

In this paper we suggest self-reconfigurable control for dual-quaternion systems with unknown control direction. The technique is based on the creation of multiple equilibrium surfaces for the system in the extended state space. We describe the mathematical tools of dual quaternions and technique required to design such system. Examples are presented to illustrate the proposed method.
Analysis of VHMS-Hosting Ignimbrites Erupted at Bathyal Water Depths (Ordovican Bald Mountain Sequence, Northern Maine)

Granulometric analysis of ignimbrites that enclose the Ordovician Bald Mountain volcanic-hosted massive sulfide (VHMS) deposit in northern Maine indicates that fine-ash poor ( 1.45 km water depth. The footwall ignimbrite is a poorly sorted and nonstratified mixture of pumice lapilli and medium to coarse ash, in units tens of meters to 150 m thick separated by basalt lava flows. It is dominantly nonwelded and has blocky pumices indicating that hydroclastic fragmentation followed magmatic fragmentation. The footwall ignimbrite is interpreted as the product of a steady, high-discharge, volatile-rich phreatomagmatic explosive eruption. Like the footwall ignimbrite, the hangingwall ignimbrite is a fine-ash poor mixture of pumice and medium to coarse ash, but it occurs as thinner nonstratified units 1-150 m thick separated by well-sorted and stratified lapilli tuff and tuff. The hangingwall ignimbrite contains abundant compacted pumice that may record welding, and lacks blocky pumices or other evidence of hydroclastic fragmentation entirely. The hangingwall ignimbrite is interpreted as the product of an unsteady eruption, where lower volatile content (relative to the footwall ignimbrite) produced a lower eruption column, leading to minimal interaction with ambient water in a purely magmatic eruption. We speculate that fine-ash-poor ignimbrites may be typical of very deepwater (bathyal marine) explosive eruptions, where hydrostatic pressures may be sufficient to suppress magmatic vesiculation and reduce the violence of the eruptions, thereby dramatically decreasing the production of bubble wall shards.
Vaccination with collagen‐pulsed dendritic cells prevents the onset and reduces the disease severity in the mouse model of spontaneous polychondritis

Immature dendritic cells (iDCs) have a tolerogenic potential due to low expression of important co-stimulatory cell surface molecules required for antigen presentation and induction of an effective immune response. We report here that injection of iDCs pulsed with chick type II collagen (CII) delayed the onset significantly and suppressed the severity of spontaneous polychondritis (SP) in the human leucocyte antigen (HLA)-DQ6alphabeta8alphabeta transgenic mouse model. Bone marrow-derived iDCs were pulsed in vitro with CII and transferred into 6-week-old HLA-DQ6alphabeta8alphabeta transgenic mice. Mice receiving CII-pulsed iDCs did not display any clinical signs of disease until 5.5 months of age, indicating the ability of the DC vaccine to delay significantly the onset of SP. Control groups receiving unpulsed iDCs or phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) developed polyarthritis at 3.5 months, as we have reported previously. The severity and incidence of disease was reduced in mice injected with CII-pulsed iDCs. Proinflammatory cytokines were in low to undetectable levels in the serum and tissue in the CII-pulsed iDC mice, correlating with the protection. This is the first evidence of iDC therapy controlling SP and suggests that iDC vaccination may provide a tool to reducing clinical manifestations in human inflammatory autoimmune disease such as relapsing polychondritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
Molecular discrimination of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma from actinic keratosis and normal skin

Actinic keratosis is widely believed to be a neoplastic lesion and a precursor to invasive squamous cell carcinoma. However, there has been some debate as to whether actinic keratosis is in fact actually squamous cell carcinoma and should be treated as such. As the clinical management and prognosis of patients is widely held to be different for each of these lesions, our goal was to identify unique gene signatures using DNA microarrays to discriminate among normal skin, actinic keratosis, and squamous cell carcinoma, and examine the molecular pathways of carcinogenesis involved in the progression from normal skin to squamous cell carcinoma. Formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded blocks of skin: five normal skins (pooled), six actinic keratoses, and six squamous cell carcinomas were retrieved. The RNA was extracted and amplified. The labeled targets were hybridized to the Affymetrix human U133plus2.0 array and the acquisition and initial quantification of array images were performed using the GCOS (Affymetrix). The subsequent data analyses were performed using DNA-Chip Analyzer and Partek Genomic Suite 6.4. Significant differential gene expression (>2 fold change, P<0.05) was seen with 382 differentially expressed genes between squamous cell carcinoma and normal skin, 423 differentially expressed genes between actinic keratosis and normal skin, and 9 differentially expressed genes between actinic keratosis and squamous cell carcinoma. The differentially expressed genes offer the possibility of using DNA microarrays as a molecular diagnostic tool to distinguish between normal skin, actinic keratosis, and squamous cell carcinoma. In addition, the differentially expressed genes and their molecular pathways could be potentially used as prognostic markers or targets for future therapeutic innovations.
Science–Practice Gap

The science–practice gap refers to the discrepancy between the research evidence for clinical interventions and assessment methods, on the one hand, and their routine use in clinical practice, on the other. The sources of this gap are manifold, and include attitudinal differences between scientists and practitioners, cognitive impediments toward grasping the necessity of research evidence to evaluate treatment outcome, misconceptions regarding evidence-based practice, and pragmatic challenges to the implementation of clinical interventions in real-world settings. Efforts to disseminate evidence-based treatments may help to narrow the science–practice gap. Keywords: practice in clinical psychology; psychotherapies; placebo effect
Rhodopsin is the major in situ substrate of protein kinase C in rod outer segments of photoreceptors.

Abstract Phorbol ester treatment of 32P-labeled retinas results in a light-dependent alteration in the phosphorylation state of rhodopsin. Previously we reported that phorbol myristate acetate causes an increase in the phosphorylation state of rhodopsin in retinas exposed to a brief flash of light, with the greatest increase in phosphorylation observed at lower (< or = 10%) bleach levels (Newton, A. C., and Williams, D. S. (1991) J. Biol. Chem. 266, 17725-17728). Here we show that phorbol myristate acetate causes a decrease in the phosphorylation of rhodopsin after exposure to levels of illumination that result in maximal bleaching of the visual receptor. In contrast, no rhodopsin phosphorylation is detected in control or phorbol ester-treated retinas in the dark. Partial proteolysis revealed that phorbol esters alter the phosphorylation of the carboxyl-terminal domain of rhodopsin. Rhodopsin is the major protein whose phosphorylation state is affected significantly by phorbol esters in situ, although a number of rod outer segment cytosolic and membrane proteins are phosphorylated by protein kinase C in vitro. Our data indicate that a major target of protein kinase C in rod outer segments is rhodopsin.
Differences in Metacognitive Regulation in Introductory Biology Students: When Prompts Are Not Enough

Strong metacognition skills are associated with learning outcomes and student performance. Metacognition includes metacognitive knowledge-our awareness of our thinking-and metacognitive regulation-how we control our thinking to facilitate learning. In this study, we targeted metacognitive regulation by guiding students through self-evaluation assignments following the first and second exams in a large introductory biology course (n = 245). We coded these assignments for evidence of three key metacognitive-regulation skills: monitoring, evaluating, and planning. We found that nearly all students were willing to take a different approach to studying but showed varying abilities to monitor, evaluate, and plan their learning strategies. Although many students were able to outline a study plan for the second exam that could effectively address issues they identified in preparing for the first exam, only half reported that they followed their plans. Our data suggest that prompting students to use metacognitive-regulation skills is effective for some students, but others need help with metacognitive knowledge to execute the learning strategies they select. Using these results, we propose a continuum of metacognitive regulation in introductory biology students. By refining this model through further study, we aim to more effectively target metacognitive development in undergraduate biology students.
BioInsights: Extracting personal data from “Still” wearable motion sensors

During recent years a large variety of wearable devices have become commercially available. As these devices are in close contact with the body, they have the potential to capture sensitive and unexpected personal data even when the wearer is not moving. This work demonstrates that wearable motion sensors such as accelerometers and gyroscopes embedded in head-mounted and wrist-worn wearable devices can be used to identify the wearer (among 12 participants) and his/her body posture (among 3 positions) from only 10 seconds of “still” motion data. Instead of focusing on large and apparent motions such as steps or gait, the proposed methods amplify and analyze very subtle body motions associated with the beating of the heart. Our findings have the potential to increase the value of pervasive wearable motion sensors but also raise important privacy concerns that need to be considered.
Ultrafast liquid chromatography/ultraviolet and liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometric analysis.

Optimal liquid chromatography/mass spectrometric [LC/MS(/MS)] analysis depends on both the LC selectivity and the electrospray efficiency. Here, we outline a simple and comprehensive LC/MS/MS strategy for the rapid analysis of a wide range of pharmaceutical compounds. To achieve ultrafast LC separation with little sacrifice in peak capacity, one needs to start with a column that provides a good peak capacity at short gradient run times; secondly, it is important to use high flow rates to achieve a good gradient peak capacity. Following this strategy, it was possible to baseline-resolve a mixture (containing acidic, neutral, and basic pharmaceutical analytes) in seconds. By coupling the selectivity provided by fast LC separation with the specificity of MS/MS detection, it is possible to separate and identify a wide range of analytes in 1-min gradient analyses. Also, the impact of mobile phase pH on both the chromatographic selectivity and the MS/MS sensitivity is demonstrated.
Gas-Phase Kinetics and Mechanism of the Reactions of Protonated Hydrazine with Carbonyl Compounds. Gas-Phase Hydrazone Formation: Kinetics and Mechanism

The gas-phase reactions of protonated hydrazine (hydrazinium) with organic compounds were studied in a selected ion flow tube-chemical ionization mass spectrometer (SIFT-CIMS) at 0.5 Torr pressure and approximately 300 K and with hybrid density functional calculations. Carbonyl and other polar organic compounds react to form adducts, e.g., N(2)H(5)(+)(CH(3)CH(2)CHO). In the presence of neutral hydrazine, aldehyde adducts react further to form protonated hydrazones, e.g., CH(3)CH(2)CH[double bond]HNNH(2)(+) from propanal. Using deuterated hydrazine (N(2)D(4)) and butanal, we demonstrate that the gas-phase ion chemistry of hydrazinium and carbonyls operates by the same mechanisms postulated for the reactions in solution. Calculations provide insight into specific steps and transition states in the reaction mechanism and aid in understanding the likely reaction process upon chemical or translational activation. For most carbonyls, rate coefficients for adduct formation approach the predicted maximum collisional rate coefficients, k approximately 10(-9) cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1). Formaldehyde is an exception (k approximately 2 x 10(-11) cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1)) due to the shorter lifetime of its collision complex. Following adduct formation, the process of hydrazone formation may be rate limiting at thermal energies. The combination of fast reaction rates and unique chemistry shows that protonated hydrazine can serve as a useful chemical-ionization reagent for quantifying atmospheric carbonyl compounds via CIMS. Mechanistic studies provide information that will aid in optimizing reaction conditions for this application.
The influence of prior strain upon precipitation in a high-purity 6061 aluminum alloy☆

Abstract The effects of deformation temperature, the amount of strain at this temperature, and the subsequent aging temperature on the precipitation hardening behavior of a high-purity 6061 aluminum alloy have been examined. The influences of prior strain are minimal if, after deforming at 298 K, aging is carried out within a temperature regime where zone formation predominates, e.g. , 348 K. In contrast, if aging is performed at higher temperatures, e.g. , 398 K and 448 K, pre-strain actually enhances the nucleation and early growth stages of semi-coherent intermediate phase precipitation. While variations in the amount of deformation at low temperature, i.e. , 298 K, do not appear to influence the subsequent aging response, increases in the deformation temperature, e.g. , to 448 K, can be quite detrimental. These results are shown to be consistent with our present knowledge of the factors controlling the steady state nucleation rate of intermediate phase precipitates. It appears that the most important effect of prior deformation lies in its ability to increase this nucleation rate by decreasing the volume strain energy change contribution to the Gibbs free energy necessary for the formation of a critical nucleus.
Covalent Modification at Cys151 Dissociates the Electrophile Sensor Keap1 from the Ubiquitin Ligase CUL3

The regulation of cellular stress responses to electrophiles and oxidants is mediated by the transcription factor NF-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), which, in turn, is regulated by CUL-E3 (CUL3) ligase-mediated ubiquitylation. The Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (Keap1) serves as an adapter between CUL3 and Nrf2. We used the model electrophile N-iodoacetyl- N-biotinylhexylenediamine (IAB) to define the relationship among the adduction of Keap1 cysteine residues, structure, and function. Exposure of Keap1 to IAB in vitro was accompanied by progressive loss of protein secondary structure, as monitored by CD spectroscopy and a loss of the ability to associate with recombinant CUL3. Dissociation of Keap1 from CUL3 in vitro was dependent upon C151 in Keap1. A quantitative mass spectrometry-based kinetic analysis of adduction in HEK293 cells expressing FLAG-Keap1 revealed that Cys151 was one of the most reactive residues in vivo and that it was required for IAB-mediated dissociation of the Keap1-CUL3 interaction. These results demonstrate that Cys151 adduction confers a critical alkylation sensor function upon Keap1, making Keap1 unique among BTB CUL3 adapter proteins.
Recurrent hypoglycemia does not impair the cortisol response to adrenocorticotropin infusion in healthy humans

Abstract Previous studies have shown that hypoglycemia may reduce counterregulatory responses to subsequent hypoglycemia in healthy subjects and in patients with diabetes. The effect of hypoglycemia on the hormonal response to a nonhypoglycemic stimulus is uncertain. To test the hypothesis that the cortisol response to corticotropin (ACTH) infusion is independent of antecedent hypoglycemia, 10 healthy subjects received a standard ACTH infusion (0.25 mg Cosyntropin [Organon, West Orange, NJ] intravenously over 240 minutes) at 8:00 am on day 1 and day 3 and a hypoglycemic insulin clamp study (1 mU/kg/min) at 8:00 am on day 2. During the hypoglycemic clamp, plasma glucose decreased from 5.0 mmol/L to 2.8 mmol/L for two periods of 120 minutes (mean glucose, 2.9 ± 0.03 and 2.8 ± 0.02 mmol/L, respectively) separated by a 60-minute interval of euglycemia (mean glucose, 4.7 ± 0.01 mmol/L). Seven subjects also had paired control studies in random order during which a 330-minute euglycemic clamp (mean glucose, 5.0 ± 0.11 mmol/L) instead of a hypoglycemic clamp was performed on day 2. Basal ACTH (4.6 ± 0.7 v 2.6 ± 0.4 pmol/L, P
Sunlight and iron(III)-induced photochemical production of dissolved gaseous mercury in freshwater.

Mechanistic understanding of sunlight-induced natural processes for production of dissolved gaseous mercury (DGM) in freshwaters has remained limited, and few direct field tests of the mechanistic hypotheses are available. We exposed ferric iron salt-spiked fresh surface lake water (Whitefish Bay, Lake Superior, MI) in Teflon bottles and pond water (Oak Ridge, TN) in quartz bottles to sunlight in the field to infer if sunlight and Fe(III)-induced photochemical production of DGM could mechanistically contribute partly to natural photochemical production of DGM in freshwaters. We found that exposure of freshwater spiked with fresh Fe(III) (∼5 or 10 μM) to sunlight led to repeatable, significantly larger increases in DGM production (e.g., 380% in 1 h, 420% in 2 h, and 470% in 4 h for Whitefish Bay water) than exposure without the spike (e.g., 200% in 6 h). DGM increased with increasing exposure time and then often appeared to approach a steady state in the tests. Higher Fe(III) spike levels resulted in the s...
Collective Higgs production in high-energy heavy-ion collisions

Abstract In heavy-ion collisions involving the formation of high-energy-density forms of nuclear matter (QGP) the rapid change of the scalar matter density 〈ΨΨ〉 leads to colective and often subthreshold Higgs production. We calculate the rapidly spectra of such Higgs particles qualitatively in the Bjorken collision scenario and, for comparison, in the model of a spherically expanding fireball and consider various options for experiments.
Novel approach to direct surface parameter estimation using structured light

The projection of structured light is a technique frequently used in computer vision to determine surface structure of scene objects. In this paper, higher level features are extracted from the images and used for a direct estimation of second-order object surface models. The algorithm is based upon a predictor-corrector approach which utilizes an initial estimate for the surface parameters, followed by iterative parameter refinement. A predicted passive image is generated using the current surface parameter estimates and significant features are extracted and compared with those in the true passive image. The extimated surface parameters are corrected based upon feature disparities. The algorithm is well-suited for a particular vision task involving recognition of cylindrical drums. In computer simulations and laboratory experiments, the algorithm was found to converge quickly and to yield accurate results.
Vicious Cycle: Presidential Decision Making in the American Political Economy. By Constantine J. Spiliotes. College Station: Texas A&M University Press, 2002. 232p. $39.95

Of all the major issues on the American policy agenda, the media and the public arguably assign the most responsibility to presidents for the condition of the economy. It is entirely another question whether or not presidents can, in meaningful ways, directly affect markets in a system of separated institutions sharing power, and with the presence of a powerful and independent decision-making body (the Federal Reserve Board). Yet given the responsibility (blame or credit) assigned to presidents for the macroeconomy, it is important for scholars to understand their activities and efforts on the economy. In this latest book from the emerging presidency series edited by James Pfiffner, Constantine Spiliotes dives into this vital matter by developing and testing a theoretical framework of presidential decision making on the economy.
Resurrection of the successor parties and democratization in East-Central Europe

Abstract The political re-emergence of post-communist successor parties in several nations of East-Central Europe raises the theoretical question of their role in the ongoing democratization process. This paper examines the electoral revival of successor parties in Poland, Hungary, and eastern Germany, in contrast first to the failure of the new competing social democratic parties in these nations, and then to the failure of the successor parties in the Czech and Slovak republics. Through an analysis of the reasons for successful adaptation, the successor parties are found to fulfill several positive roles in democratization under stressful circumstances.
New Insights Into the Performance and Optimization of Galloping Flow Energy Harvesters

This paper presents a generalized formulation, analysis, and optimization of energy harvesters subjected to galloping and base excitations. The harvester consists of a cantilever beam with a bluff body attached at the free end. A nondimensional lumped-parameter model which accounts for the combined loading and different electro-mechanical transduction mechanisms is presented. The aerodynamic loading is modeled using the quasi-steady assumption with polynomial approximation. A nonlinear analysis is carried out and an approximate analytical solution is obtained. A dimensional analysis is performed to identify the important parameters that affect the system’s response. It is shown that the response curves of the harvester can be generated in terms of only three dimensionless loading parameters. These curves can serve as a complete design guide for scaling and optimizing the performance of galloping-based harvesters. As a special case study, a harvester subjected to only galloping excitations is analyzed. It is shown that, for a given shape of the bluff body and under quasi-steady flow conditions, the harvester’s dimensionless response can be described by a single universal curve irrespective to the geometric, mechanical, and electrical design parameters of the harvester. The universal curve is utilized to obtain the optimal harvesting circuit design parameters, that minimize the cut-in wind speed and maximize the output power, and predict the harvester’s total conversion efficiency.Copyright © 2014 by ASME
Auditory brain-stem, middle- and long-latency evoked potentials in mild cognitive impairment

Abstract Objective Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is a selective episodic memory deficit in the elderly with a high risk of Alzheimer's disease. The amplitudes of a long-latency auditory evoked potential (P50) are larger in MCI compared to age-matched controls. We tested whether increased P50 amplitudes in MCI were accompanied by changes of middle-latency potentials occurring around 50ms and/or auditory brain-stem potentials. Methods Auditory evoked potentials were recorded from age-matched controls ( n =16) and MCI ( n =17) in a passive listening paradigm at two stimulus presentation rates (2/s, 1/1.5s). A subset of subjects also received stimuli at a rate of 1/3s. Results Relative to controls, MCI subjects had larger long-latency P50 amplitudes at all stimulus rates. Significant group differences in N100 amplitude were dependent on stimulus rate. Amplitudes of the middle-latency components (Pa, Nb, P1 peaking at approximately 30, 40, and 50ms, respectively) did not differ between groups, but a slow wave between 30 and 49ms on which the middle-latency components arose was significantly increased in MCI. ABR Wave V latency and amplitude did not differ significantly between groups. Conclusions The increase of long-latency P50 amplitudes in MCI reflects changes of a middle-latency slow wave, but not of transient middle-latency components. There was no evidence of group difference at the brain-stem level. Significance Increased slow wave occurring as early as 50ms may reflect neurophysiological consequences of neuropathology in MCI.
Bad for Business?: Entrepreneurs and Democracy in the Arab World

Why do business communities in some developing countries support democratization whereas business communities in other developing countries continue to support authoritarian rule? In an effort to a...
Classical conditioning of the hindlimb flexion reflex in the acute spinal cat

Acute spinal cats were prepared by partial decerebration and spinal section using ether. Animals were given training (hindlimb flexor muscle reflex response) in a classical conditioning situation using shocks to thigh and paw of hindlimb as the CS and UCS. The conditioning group, given paired CS-UCS training, showed significant increase in response amplitude over conditioning trials relative to a control group given the same number and kind of stimuli unpaired.
SU-FF-T-413: The Deviation of Leaf Position in DIMRT

Purpose: To analysis the deviation of leaf position on fraction size and on dose rate in dynamic IMRT (DIMRT). Methods and materials: The shape of target, which is similar to 60° wedge profile, was drawn at 11.5cm depth in phantom on the Eclipse system. The field size is set as 11.3*16.0 cm2 and energy used is 6 MV. The constraint of optimization of target is kept the same, using single portal, for different fraction sizes which varied from 500cGy/fx to 5cGy/fx. The treatment file is transferred to LINAC for beam‐on at Varian 21EX. The MLC log file is analyzed using MLC dynalogfile viewer 6.2.0. We varied the dose rate during beam‐on for the same treatment file to take the leaf deviation data. Results: Dose rate 300MU/min is using in clinical treatment. It is the least error for dynamic leaf for the biggest fraction size with single portal. The quantity, field width multiplied dose rate then divided by MU, is used to evaluate the average speed of dynamic leaf. The evaluated average speed is 89.2 (cm/min) and 121.1 (cm/min) for 10cGy/fx and 5cGy/fx respectively and the larger speed caused the large average deviation around 0.4mm and 0.6mm respectively. The maximum deviation is 1.0mm and has 37.7% in deviation histogram for the smallest fraction size, 5cGy/fx. For the same fraction size, 5cGy/fx, the dose rate affected the leaf deviation too. A larger dose rate has larger average leaf speed and a large deviation too. Our data showed the average speed is 242.2 (cm/min) and the average deviation is 0.9mm for dose rate 600MU/min. With this dose rate, the maximum deviation is 2.5mm and has 14.3% in deviation histogram. Conclusion: The positions accuracy is better for lower dose rate even with a large dose fraction.
Centriole assembly in CHO cells expressing Plk4/SAS6/SAS4 is similar to centriogenesis in ciliated epithelial cells

Centriole assembly is initiated by Plk4, a Polo-like kinase 4, which causes the recruitment of downstream regulators, such as SAS6 and SAS4, to a nascent centriole. Simultaneous expression of Plk4, SAS6 and SAS4 in CHO cells resulted in the formation of massive fibrogranular aggregates of various sizes and shapes. These aggregates were surrounded by dense particles of about 70 nm in diameter, similar to the centriolar satellite that has been observed around the centrosome in normal cycling cells. Within the fibrillar material, ring-like structures appeared and eventually differentiated into centrioles by association with short microtubule bundles. Centrioles were also assembled around a parent centriole in a cluster, a configuration that has been described as a "flower structure" formation [Kleylein-Sohn et al.,2007]. This pattern of centriole duplication is reminiscent of the arrangement of new centrioles induced in normal ciliated trachea/oviduct cells by the centriole-dependent pathway, which was reported several decades ago [Sorokin,1968; Anderson and Brenner,1971; Dirksen,1971]. Prior to the production of hundreds of centrioles, these differentiating epithelial cells were also shown to induce a dense filamentous material similar to that detected in transfected CHO cells. These results suggest a common mechanism of centriole assembly regulated by Plk4 in both transfected cycling cells and normal ciliated epithelial cells undergoing differentiation. Cell Motil. Cytoskeleton 2009. (c) 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Altering Stochastic Noise in Gene Expression for HIV Therapy

HIV's ability to enter a transcriptionally dormant state and establish a reservoir of latently infected cells is the major barrier to eradicating HIV from infected patients. Significant efforts are aimed at reactivating latent HIV and purging the reservoir through targeting of molecular mechanisms implicated in the establishment of latency. These efforts to perturb the latent reservoir have faced substantial challenges. Our previous studies implicated stochastic noise (i.e. fluctuations) in an HIV transcriptional positive-feedback circuit as crucial for the establishment of HIV latency and predicted that perturbing noise would alter HIV latency (Weinberger et al. Cell 2005; Dar et al. PNAS 2012). Here, we demonstrate that manipulation of stochastic noise in HIV gene expression radically perturbs HIV latency. Screening a library of small-molecule drug compounds identified over 50 compounds that modulate noise in the HIV promoter without changing the promoter's mean expression level. Strikingly, the noise-modulating compounds synergize with conventional transcriptional activators and surpass current best-in-class reactivation cocktails, while maintaining greater cell viability. Thus, noise-modulating compounds may present an approach to perturb the stability of the latent state. More generally, stochastic noise may represent a new unexplored axis for drug discovery that allows enhanced control over cell-fate specification decisions, metastasis, and pathogen persistence phenotypes.