cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Nucleon Two-body Decays in SU(5)

Proton and neutron decay to meson and antilepton is studied in SU(5) as a function of the momentum of the antiquark produced; two different Higgs structures are considered. Branching ratios which are independent of the motion of the antiquark are displayed, as well as branching ratios which probe the antiquark's motion. The partial-rate predictions for Cabibbo-suppressed modes of the two different Higgs structures are compared. Tables of reduced partial rates are presented and their connection to the absolute partial rates is displayed. We expect the dominant part of the nucleon's width to result from two-body decay (including $\ensuremath{\eta}$, $\ensuremath{\rho}$, and $\ensuremath{\omega}$ production). We find that it varies by a factor of 3 depending upon how the motion of the antiquark at production is treated. Momentum suppression due to "spectator" recoil and muon phase space is also incorporated, and tables of absolute partial rates and proton and neutron lifetime are included.
Modeling of two-dimensional systems using cumulants

The problem of obtaining the ARMA parameters of a 2-D system using slices of the output cumulant is considered. It is shown that cumulant slices can be used to identify the AR part of the model only if the system is causal and the denominator is product separable. With these restrictions, a computationally feasible method of determining the order of the denominator polynomials and finding the denominator polynomial coefficients is obtained. Existing methods can then be used to produce the numerator polynomial coefficients. The method is then verified through simulations. >
In situ ordering of FEPT thin films by using AG/SI and AG/MN/sub 3/SI/AG/SI templates

In situ ordering of FePt thin films by sputtering onto Ag/Si and Ag/Mn/sub 3/Si/Ag/Si templates has been demonstrated. Due to the evolution from island-like to a continuous film structure as a function of Ag thickness, the ordering and orientation of the FePt films both change with Ag thickness. A continuous [002] Ag film results in a greater L1/sub 0/ phase formation with c-axis oriented both perpendicular to and in the film plane while the island-like Ag template results in less L1/sub 0/ phase formation, but a preferential c-axis orientation in the film plane. On the other hand, the FePt films deposited onto the Ag/Mn/sub 3/Si/Ag/Si template have their c axes aligned perpendicular to the film plane.
The effect of salt and phage concentrations on the binding sensitivity of magnetoelastic biosensors for Bacillus anthracis detection

This article presents an investigation of the effect of salt and phage concentrations on the binding affinity of magnetoelastic (ME) biosensors. The sensors were fabricated by immobilizing filamentous phage on the ME platform surface for the detection of Bacillus anthracis spores. In response to the binding of spores to the phage on the ME biosensor, a corresponding decrease occurs in resonance frequency. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was used to verify the structure of phage under different combinations of salt/phage concentration. The chemistry of the phage solution alters phage bundling characteristics and, hence, influences both the sensitivity and detection limit of the ME biosensors. The frequency responses of the sensors were measured to determine the effects of salt concentration on the sensors' performance. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to confirm and quantify the binding of spores to the sensor surface. This showed that 420 mM salt at a phage concentration of 1 x 10(11) vir/mL results in an optimal distribution of immobilized phages on the sensor surface, consequently promoting better binding of spores to the biosensor's surface. Additionally, the sensors immobilized with phage under this condition were exposed to B. anthracis spores in different concentrations ranging from 5 x 10(1) to 5 x 10(8) cfu/mL in a flowing system. The results showed that the sensitivity of this ME biosensor was 202 Hz/decade.
Comparison of Effects of L-Tryptophan and a Tryptophan Analog, D,L-β-(1-Naphthyl)alanine, on Processes Relating to Hepatic Protein Synthesis in Rats

Earlier studies reported that the admin istration of u-tryptophan increased polyribosomal ag gregation, protein synthesis and levels of cytoplasmic poly(A)mRNA in rat liver. This study was concerned with the effects of an L-tryptophan analog, D,L-AŸ-(l- naphthyl)alanine, in comparison with those of L-tryp tophan. Both D,L-AŸ-(l-naphthyl)alanineand L-trypto phan bound to the L-tryptophan receptor protein and increased poly(A)polymerase and nucleoside tri- phosphatase activities of hepatic nuclei. However, only L-tryptophan was associated with increases in the release of labeled nuclear RNA (in vitro), in protein synthesis, in polyribosomal aggregation and in glyco- sylation ((14C)glucosamine incorporation into proteins) of rat liver. These results indicate that although D,L-AŸ- ( 1-naphyl)alanine affected hepatic nuclei (binding and enzyme levels), it did not stimulate nucleocytoplasmic translocation of mRNA and concomitant protein syn thesis, as did L-tryptophan. J. Nutr. 120:1157-1162,
A process variation tolerant self-compensating FinFET based sense amplifier design

With the emerging nanoscale devices, SIA roadmap identifies FinFET as a candidate for post-planar end-of-roadmap CMOS device. Lithography related CD variations, fluctuations in dopant density, oxide thickness and parametric variations of devices are identified as a major challenge to the classical bulk type MOSFET in ITRS. Yield loss due to device and process variation has never been so critical to cause failure in circuits. Due to growth in size of embedded SRAMs as well as usage of sense amplifier based signaling techniques, process variation in sense amplifiers lead to significant loss of yield. In this paper, we present a FinFET based Process Variation Tolerant Sense Amplifier design, that exploits the backgate of FinFET devices for dynamic compensation against process variation. Results from statistical simulation show that the proposed dynamic compensation is highly effective in restoring yield at a level comparable to that of sense amplifiers without significant process variations.
Measurement of abdominal aortic aneurysms with three-dimensional ultrasound imaging: preliminary report.

Abstract Objective: Accurate measurements of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) are required for surgical planning and monitoring over time. We have examined the feasibility of using a three-dimensional (3-D) ultrasound imaging system to derive quantitative measurements of interest from AAAs. Methods: A normal aorta, a small AAA, and an AAA repaired with an endovascular stent graft were scanned with a 3-D ultrasound imaging system. For each case, a 3-D surface reconstruction was generated from manual outlines of a sequence of two-dimensional ultrasound images, registered in 3-D space with a magnetic tracking system. The surfaces were resampled in planes perpendicular to the vessel center axis to calculate cross-sectional area and maximum diameter as a function of distance along the length of the aorta. Results: Cross-sectional area and maximum diameter were plotted along the length of the aneurysmal aortas from the renal arteries to the aortic bifurcation. The overall maximum diameter was found for both aneurysms. For the small AAA, the distances of the aneurysm from the renal arteries and the bifurcation were measured. For the repaired AAA, the location of the stent graft relative to the renal arteries was measured. Conclusions: 3-D surface reconstructions from ultrasound images show promise for quantitatively characterizing the geometry of AAAs both before surgery and after endovascular repair. (J Vasc Surg 2001;33:700-7.)
Food dependence in rats selectively bred for low versus high saccharin intake. Implications for “food addiction”

The ‘‘food addiction’’ concept implies that proneness to drug dependence and to food dependence should covary. The latter was studied in low- (LoS) and high- (HiS) saccharin-consuming rats, who differ in drug self-administration (HiS > LoS) and withdrawal (LoS > HiS). Sugary food intake in the first 1–2 h was higher in HiS than LoS rats. Sugar intake predicted startle during abstinence only among LoS rats. These results may suggest bingeing-proneness in HiS rats and withdrawal-proneness among LoS rats. However, intake escalation and somatic withdrawal did not differ between lines. Further study with selectively bred rats, with attention to definitions and measures, is warranted.
Policy-Driven Service Composition with Information Flow Control

Ensuring secure information flow is a critical task for service composition in multi-domain systems. Research in security-aware service composition provides some preliminary solutions to this problem, but there are still issues to be addressed. In this paper, we develop a service composition mechanism specifically focusing on the secure information flow control issues. We first introduce a general model for information flow control in service chains, considering the transformation factors of services and security classes of data resources in a service chain. Then, we develop general rules to guide service composition satisfying secure information flow requirements. Finally, to achieve efficient service composition, we develop a three-phase protocol to allow rapid filtering of candidate compositions that are unlikely to satisfy the information flow constraints and thorough evaluation of highly promising candidates. Our approach can achieve effective and efficient service composition considering secure information flow.
Phenomenological characterization of bacteriorhodopsin–D85N photocycle

An operational characterization of the molecular photocycle of a genetic variant of bacteriorhodopsin, BR–D85N, is presented. Steady-state bleach spectra and pump–probe absorbance data are obtained with thick hydrated films that contain BR–D85N embedded in a gelatin host. Simple two- and three-state models are used to analyze the photocycle dynamics and to extract relevant information such as pure-state absorption spectra, photochemical-transition quantum efficiencies, and thermal lifetimes of dominant states that appear in the photocycle, the knowledge of which should facilitate the analysis and the design of optical applications based on this photochromic medium. The remarkable characteristics of this material and their implications from the viewpoint of optical data storage and processing are discussed.
Educational Reform, Values, and Gifted Students:

Six major educational reforms are currently being proposed or are currently being implemented in the United States. These reforms-search for excellence, cooperative learning, middle schools, master...
Exchangeable Zinc Pool Masses and Turnover Are Maintained in Healthy Men with Low Zinc Intakes

Previous studies suggest that rapidly exchanging zinc pools (EZP), thought to supply the zinc required by tissues, are smaller and turn over more rapidly in individuals with lower zinc intakes. We studied the effects of low dietary zinc (4.6 mg/d) on EZP mass and turnover in seven healthy men confined during a 20-wk clinical study. Supplements of 9.1 mg zinc were given during the 5-wk baseline and repletion periods, and placebos were given during a 10-wk zinc-restriction period. Stable 70Zn tracers were administered intravenously at the end of baseline, 3 and 10 wk after the start of zinc restriction and at the end of repletion. Multiple plasma samples were collected over an 8-d period after tracer administration. 70Zn:66Zn ratios were measured using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, and tracer-tracee data were analyzed by compartmental modeling. Activities of the zinc-dependent enzymes, alkaline phosphatase and 5'nucleotidase, were unchanged during the study. There were no significant changes in EZP masses or kinetic parameters. A three-compartment model indicated that the masses of plasma zinc and total EZP averaged 3.25 +/- 0.58 and 147.8 +/- 33.2 mg, respectively, at the four time points studied. Plasma zinc mass turned over at an average of 5.3 times per hour. There was an 11% reduction (P = 0.06) in plasma zinc flux 3 wk after the start of the low zinc diet period, but it returned to baseline values after 10 wk of zinc restriction. The results suggest that total EZP mass is maintained when dietary zinc is reduced to 4.6 mg/d over a 10-wk period.
Genetic Services, Economics, and Eugenics

What are the aims of genetic services? Do any of these aims deserve to be labeled "eugenics"? Answers to these strenuously debated questions depend not just on the facts about genetic testing and screening but also on what is understood by "eugenics," a term with multiple and contested meanings. This paper explores the impact of efforts to label genetic services "eugenics" and argues that attempts to protect against the charge have seriously distorted discussion about their purpose(s). Following Ruth Chadwick, I argue that the existence of genetic services presupposes that genetic disease is undesirable and that means should be offered to reduce it. I further argue that the economic cost of such disease is one reason why governments and health care providers deem such services worthwhile. The important question is not whether such cost considerations constitute "eugenics," but whether they foster practices that are undesirable and, if so, what to do about them The wielding of the term "eugenics" as a weapon in a war over the expansion of genetic services, conjoined with efforts to dissociate such services from the abortion controversy, has produced a rhetoric about the aims of these services that is increasingly divorced from reality. Candor about these aims is a sine qua non of any useful debate over the legitimacy of the methods used to advance them.
The Eyelid Sign: A Clue to Bed Bug Bites

In pediatric patients, determining the culprit insect in arthropod assaults can be challenging. The patient's history may be vague, the causative insect may not be readily associated with the bites, and the clinical appearance of bites can be variable. Six pediatric patients from the Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center dermatology offices with bed bug bites were identified. All had bites involving the face, trunk, and extremities. Five patients demonstrated papules on one upper eyelid associated with erythema and edema. One patient had papules on both upper eyelids. When an arthropod assault is suspected, the "eyelid sign," i.e., bites involving the upper eyelid associated with erythema and edema, may point to bed bugs.
Emergency Neurological Life Support: Traumatic Brain Injury

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) was chosen as an Emergency Neurological Life Support topic due to its frequency, the impact of early intervention on outcomes for patients with TBI, and the need for an organized approach to the care of such patients within the emergency setting. This protocol was designed to enumerate the practice steps that should be considered within the first critical hour of neurological injury.
Could tyrosine and tryptophan serve multiple roles in biological redox processes

Single-step electron tunnelling reactions can transport charges over distances of 15–20 Ain proteins. Longer-range transfer requires multi-step tunnelling processes along redox chains, often referred to as hopping. Long-range hopping via oxidized radicals of tryptophan and tyrosine, which has been identified in several natural enzymes, has been demonstrated in artificial constructs of the blue copper protein azurin. Tryptophan and tyrosine serve as hopping way stations in high-potential charge transport processes. It may be no coincidence that these two residues occur with greater-than-average frequency in O2- and H2O2-reactive enzymes. We suggest that appropriately placed tyrosine and/or tryptophan residues prevent damage from high-potential reactive intermediates by reduction followed by transfer of the oxidizing equivalent to less harmful sites or out of the protein altogether.
Effects on Quantum Physics of the Local Availability of Mathematics and Space Time Dependent Scaling Factors for Number Systems

The work is based on two premises: local availability of mathematics to an observer at any space time location, and the observation that number systems, as structures satisfying axioms for the number type being considered, can be scaled by arbitrary, positive real numbers. Local availability leads to the assignment of mathematical universes, $V_{x},$ to each point, $x,$ of space time. $V_{x}$ contains all the mathematics that an observer, $O_{x},$ at $x,$ can know. Each $V_{x}$ contains many types of mathematical systems. These include the different types of numbers (natural numbers, integers, rationals, and real and complex numbers), Hilbert spaces, algebras, and many other types of systems. Space time dependent scaling of number systems is used to define representations, in $V_{x}$, of real and complex number systems in $V_{y}$. The representations are scaled by a factor $r_{y,x}$ relative to the systems in $V_{x}.$ For $y$ a neighbor point of $x,$ $r_{y,x}$ is the exponential of the scalar product of a gauge field, $\vec{A}(x),$ and the vector from $x$ to $y.$ For $y$ distant from $x,$ $r_{y,x}$ is a path integral from $x$ to $y.$ Some consequences of the two premises will be examined. Number scaling has no effect on general comparisons of numbers obtained as computations or as experimental outputs. The effect is limited to mathematical expressions that include space or space time integrals or derivatives. The effect of $\vec{A}$ on wave packets and canonical momenta in quantum theory, and some properties of $\vec{A}$ in gauge theories, is described.
Scalable routing protocols for mobile ad hoc networks

The growing interest in mobile ad hoc network techniques has resulted in many routing protocol proposals. Scalability issues in ad hoc networks are attracting increasing attention these days. We survey the routing protocols that address scalability. The routing protocols included in the survey fall into three categories: flat routing protocols; hierarchical routing approaches; GPS augmented geographical routing schemes. The article compares the scalability properties and operational features of the protocols and discusses challenges in future routing protocol designs.
Different ocean and climate factors control the marine survival of wild and hatchery Atlantic salmon Salmo salar in the north‐east Atlantic Ocean

The influence of climate and ocean conditions on the marine survival of 1SW Irish Atlantic salmon Salmo salar was explored. Generalized additive models (GAM) explained c. 85% of the observed variations in survival and provided an insight into the mechanisms involved. A positive phase of the North Atlantic oscillation (NAO) and increasing sea surface temperatures (SST) were linked to a decrease in S. salar survival. The NAO in the winter before the smolts migration contributed to c. 70% of the deviance in marine survival of wild fish. The abundance of the copepod Calanus finmarchicus in the north-east Atlantic Ocean explained a further 25% of these variations in wild S. salar survival. By contrast, hatchery populations seem to be controlled by additional processes involving coastal SST. The marine recruitment of hatchery S. salar was largely explained (70% of the deviance) by SST close to the Irish coast in the spring before the year of the smolts migration. This study constitutes the first description of the processes controlling marine recruitment for these populations.
Smoking in the home and children’s health

Objectives: We estimate for young children the annual excess health service use, healthcare expenditures, and disability bed days for respiratory conditions associated with exposure to smoking in the home in the United States. Methods: Health service use, healthcare expenditures and disability bed days data come from the 1999 and 2001 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS). Reported smoking in the home comes from the linked National Health Interview Survey, from which the MEPS sample is drawn. Multivariate statistical analysis controls for potential confounding factors. The sample is 2759 children aged 0–4. Results: Smoking in the home is associated with an increase in the probability of emergency department visits for respiratory conditions by five percentage points and the probability of inpatient use for these conditions by three percentage points. There is no relation between indoor smoking by adults and either ambulatory visits or prescription drug expenditures. Overall, indoor smoking is associated with $117 in additional healthcare expenditures for respiratory conditions for each exposed child aged 0–4. Indoor smoking is also associated with an eight percentage point increase in the probability of having a bed day because of respiratory illness for children aged 1–4. Conclusions: Despite the significant progress made in tobacco control, many children are still exposed to secondhand smoke in their home. Reducing exposure to smoking in the home would probably reduce healthcare expenditures for respiratory conditions and improve children’s health.
Physical and chemical characterization of two- and three-stranded adenine-thymine and adenine-uracil homopolymer complexes.

Abstract The DNA homopolymers dA and dT have been prepared enzymically using Escherichia coli DNA polymerase, and their properties have been studied. Mixtures of dT § polymer with dA or rA polymers reacted rapidly to form the homopolymer pairs dA:dT and rA:dT. These complexes resembled the RNA pair rA:rU in being two-stranded helical structures containing complementary base pairs; however, the three homopolymer pairs differ in thermal stability. The homopolymer pair dA:rU is not stable under any conditions of temperature and salt concentration tested; mixtures of dA with rU contain three-stranded dA:rU+ 2 as the only helical complex. The other AT and AU homopolymer pairs can also form three-stranded complexes containing an additional equivalent of either dT or rU polymer under certain conditions.
Heavy-ion-induced breakdown in ultra-thin gate oxides and high-k dielectrics

Presents experimental results on single-event-induced breakdown in sub-5-nm plasma-enhanced SiO/sub 2/, nitrided SiO/sub 2/, Al/sub 2/O/sub 3/, HfO/sub 2/, and Zr/sub 0.4/Si/sub 1.6/O/sub 4/ dielectrics typical of current and future-generation commercial gate oxides. These advanced oxides are found to be quite resistant to ion-induced breakdown. Radiation-induced soft breakdown was observed in some films with 342 MeV Au (LET=80 MeV/mg/cm/sup 2/) but not 340 MeV I (LET=60 MeV/mg/cm/sup 2/). The critical voltage to hard breakdown was found to scale with the square root of the physical oxide thickness, not with the energy stored on the gate capacitance. Alternative dielectrics with equivalent oxide thickness substantially below their physical thickness were found to exhibit significantly higher voltage to hard breakdown than SiO/sub 2/ counterparts. All of the samples reached ion-induced hard breakdown at applied voltages well above typical operating power-supply voltages; these findings bode well for the use of advanced commercial integrated circuits in space systems.
A Semantic Framework for Content-Based Access Controls

Social networking sites provide role-or group-based access controls to help users specify their privacy settings. However, information posted on these sites is often intentionally or unintentionally leaked and has caused harm or distress to users. In this paper, we investigate possible improvements to existing implementations by introducing content-based access control policies using Linked Data. Users are able to specify the type of content in the form of tags or keywords in order to indicate which information they wish to protect from certain roles (for example employment), groups or individuals. Providing all possible keywords matching a specific topic may be too time consuming and prone to error for users. Hence using Linked Data we enrich the provided keywords by identifying other meaningful and related concepts. This paper presents the implementation and challenges of developing such a semantic framework. We have qualitatively evaluated this framework using 23 participants. Feedback from participants suggests that such a framework will help ease privacy concerns while posting and sharing social network content.
Ratification of the Constitution: The Great Debate as Portrayed in American Government Textbooks

Every year, thousands of political and social science instructors use upto-date, innovative, and prestigious textbooks to explain the theoretical foundations of the United States Constitution. These foundations can be confusing. How, for example, does one explain the seemingly contradictory political ideas of liberty and equality, rugged individualism and commonwealth, private property rights and faith in community, government by the best and government by the people, republican democracy and participatory democracy (Burns, Peltason, Cronin 1989: 559)? One way of explaining these ideas is to explore the "great debate" by Federalists and Antifederalists over the ratification of the Constitution. Both camps presented arguments that have had profound and lasting effects upon American government. Although Federalist ideas were ensconced in the Constitution, Antifederalist ideas have also been important. As Ralph Ketcham (1986: 20) noted, ". .. Anti-federal ideas have also surfaced again and again in various guises among later generations of Americans. Those ideas, as well as the enticing prospects held out by Publius, are a vital element in the American political tradition and are properly viewed as the philosophy of the Constitution." While textbooks are not the sole source of learning, they can be the primary source of information for students. Often this exposure provides their first impetus for critical thinking about complicated issues. It is appropriate then to ask how useful American government textbooks are in providing an understanding of the ratification debate over the Constitution. To fully appreciate this debate, students must understand not only what was being asserted by the proConstitution forces led by the Federalists but also what was being denied by them, namely, the arguments of the Antifederalists. Do American government textbooks cover this clash of ideas adequately? Content analysis of textbook descriptions of the ratification debate can provide some clues.
Co-integration of resonant tunneling and double heterojunction bipolar transistors on InP

The authors report the first co-integration of resonant tunneling and heterojunction bipolar transistors. Both transistors are produced from a single epitaxial growth by metalorganic molecular beam epitaxy, on InP substrates. The fabrication process yields 9- mu m/sup 2/-emitter resonant tunneling bipolar transistors (RTBTs) operating at room temperature with peak-to-valley current ratios (PVRs) in the common-emitter transistor configuration, exceeding 70, at a resonant peak current density of 10 kA/cm/sup 2/, and a differential current gain at resonance of 19. The breakdown voltage of the In/sub 0.53/Ga/sub 0.47/As-InP base/collector junction, V/sub CBO/, is 4.2 V, which is sufficient for logic function demonstrations. Co-integrated 9- mu m/sup 2/-emitter double heterojunction bipolar transistors (DHBTs) with low collector/emitter offset voltage, 200 mV, and DC current gain as high as 32 are also obtained. On-wafer S-parameter measurements of the current gain cutoff frequency (f/sub T/) and the maximum frequency of oscillation (f/sub max/) yielded f/sub T/ and f/sub max/ values of 11 and 21 GHz for the RTBT and 59 and 43 GHz for the HBT, respectively. >
Yawning: Relation to Sleeping and Stretching in Humans

The temporal relations among yawning, sleeping, and stretching were investigated by having undergraduate college students record the occurrences of these behaviors during a one-week period. Yawning was most frequent during the hour before sleeping and after waking. In contrast, stretching was common only during the hour after waking. Concurrent yawning and stretching were common but stretching was accompanied more often by yawning than vice-versa. The temporal proximity of yawning to sleep and waking times is probably the basis for yawning as a paralinguistic signal for drowsiness. The role of contagious yawning in synchronizing the behavior and physiological state of a group is considered.
Surface winds, divergence, and vorticity in stratocumulus regions using QuikSCAT and reanalysis winds

[1] High spatial resolution QuikSCAT data are used to examine surface winds, divergence, and vorticity over oceanic regions during the boreal summer. These analyses are compared to those from earlier observational studies, as well as ECMWF and NCEP reanalysis products. QuikSCAT analyses generally confirm the results from early studies and the reanalyses, but add important details to our view of the surface circulation in Atlantic and East Pacific regions.
The Role of Marsh-Derived Macrodetritus to the Food Webs of Juvenile Chinook Salmon in a Large Altered Estuary

The goal of this study was to determine the food web pathways supporting juvenile Chinook (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) salmon in the Columbia River estuary through multiple stable isotope analysis (δ13C, δ15N, δ34S). Using this method, we distinguished the role of various organic matter sources in Chinook food webs and interpreted the dynamics of their use both spatially and temporally within the estuary. Our results indicate that subyearling Chinook are associated with fluvial, anthropogenic, estuarine, and marine organic matter sources, with hatchery food and vascular plant detritus being the most dominant sources in juvenile Chinook food webs. Although freshwater phytoplankton is involved in many food web pathways to subyearling Chinook, increased phytoplankton production from the impounded river has not replaced the loss of autochthonous marsh production to fish. Our results indicate that large-scale ecosystem alteration may have decreased the availability and quality of food webs in the estuary and potentially diminished the ability of the Columbia to support Chinook salmon.
Targeting Epigenetic Mechanisms for Chronic Pain: A Valid Approach for the Development of Novel Therapeutics

Chronic pain is a multifaceted and complex condition. Broadly classified into somatic, visceral, or neuropathic pain, it is poorly managed despite its prevalence. Current drugs used for the treatment of chronic pain are limited by tolerance with long-term use, abuse potential, and multiple adverse side effects. The persistent nature of pain suggests that epigenetic machinery may be a critical factor driving chronic pain. In this review, we discuss the latest insights into epigenetic processes, including DNA methylation, histone modifications, and microRNAs, and we describe their involvement in the pathophysiology of chronic pain and whether epigenetic modifications could be applied as future therapeutic targets for chronic pain. We provide evidence from experimental models and translational research in human tissue that have enhanced our understanding of epigenetic processes mediating nociception, and we then speculate on the potential future use of more specific and selective agents that target epigenetic mechanisms to attenuate pain.
Self-assembled InN micro-mushrooms by upside-down pendeoepitaxy

Abstract Self-assembly of hexagonal InN micro-mushrooms on Si (111) substrates by molecular beam epitaxy is reported. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) reveals hexagonal mushroom caps with smooth top surfaces and a step-like morphology at the bottom surface. A detailed growth study along with SEM measurements reveals that an upside-down pendeoepitaxy mechanism underlies the formation of these structures. Cryogenic temperature photoluminescence measurements on the InN disks show a dominant band-to-acceptor recombination peak at 0.68 eV. Cross-section annular bright field (ABF-) scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) reveals that the growth of these structures occurs along the [ 000 1 ¯ ] crystallographic orientation (N-face). Plan-view high angle annular dark field (HAADF) STEM in the center of the micro-disks reveals a hexagonal lattice indicative of stacking faults. However, at the outskirt of the micro-disk, surprisingly, a honeycomb lattice is observed in plan view STEM indicating a perfect freestanding Wurtzite InN disk that is free of stacking faults. This result opens a pathway for realizing strain-free, freestanding InN substrates.
Parasocial Compensation Hypothesis Predictors of Using Parasocial Relationships to Compensate for Real-Life Interaction

In America, socializing with friends has become a functional alternative to watching television. Such a drastic change in how we spend free time demands a closer look at media effects. The study at...
Nurses for the future.

The IOM recommends boosting the proportion of U.S. nurses holding at least a bachelor's degree from 50% to 80% by 2020. With many nurses reaching retirement age even as demand for advanced-practice nurses expands, nursing-education patterns must change.
Batch-wise assembly and zoning of a tilted calc-alkaline batholith: Field relations, timing, and compositional variation

The Wooley Creek batholith is a tilted, zoned, calc-alkaline plutonic complex in the Klamath Mountains, northern California, USA. It consists of three main compositional-temporal zones. The lower zone consists of gabbro through tonalite. Textural heterogeneities on the scale of tens to hundreds of meters combined with bulk-rock data suggest that it was assembled from numerous magma batches that did not interact extensively with one another despite the lack of sharp contacts and identical ages of two lower zone samples (U-Pb [zircon] chemical abrasion–isotope dilution–thermal ionization mass spectrometry ages of 158.99 ± 0.17 and 159.22 ± 0.10 Ma). The upper zone is slightly younger, with 3 samples yielding ages from 158.25 ± 0.46 to 158.21 ± 0.17 Ma, and is upwardly zoned from tonalite to granite. This zoning can be explained by crystal-liquid separation and is related to upward increases in the proportions of interstitial K-feldspar and quartz. Porphyritic dacitic to rhyodacitic roof dikes have compositions coincident with evolved samples of the upper zone. These data indicate that the upper zone was an eruptible mush that crystallized from a nearly homogeneous parental magma that evolved primarily by upward percolation of interstitial melt. The central zone is a recharge area with variably disrupted synplutonic dikes and swarms of mafic enclaves. Central zone ages (159.01 ± 0.20 to 158.30 ± 0.16 Ma) are similar to both lower and upper zones crystallization ages. In the main part of the Wooley Creek batholith, age data constrain magmatism to a short period of time (
The evolving role of bone marrow transplantation in the treatment of chronic myelogenous leukemia.

Chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) is a clonal disorder resulting from a neoplastic transformation of a pluripotent stem cell. Background information on the molecular biology of the Philadelphia chromosome is given. Bone marrow transplantation is discussed, including the influences of specific types of donors and the particular stage of disease.
Stochastic Dislocation Dynamics under Creep Conditions in Metals

A stochastic model is proposed to study dislocation dynamics in metallic single crystals. A Langevin type thermal fluctuation is taken into account for the model to maintain thermal equilibrium. This approach works as Brownian motion of segmental dislocations. Additionally, a new model for implementing the cross slip mechanism in FCC metals is developed based on results obtained by atomistic simulations. This new model is capable of simulating realistic thermal processes such as thermally activated dislocation motion during easy glide or cross slip during cold working of metals.
Cover crops have neutral effects on predator communities and biological control services in annual cellulosic bioenergy cropping systems

Abstract Maize stover is beginning to be used as a cellulosic biofuel feedstock in the Midwestern United States; however, there are concerns that stover removal could result in increased soil erosion and loss of soil organic matter. Use of a winter cover crop following maize harvest has the potential to mitigate these impacts and may have additional benefits by providing continuous living cover in annual crop habitats leading to changes in insect predator communities and increased biocontrol services. However, cover crops may also be harvested in cellulosic biofuel systems, adding a disturbance event that may negatively affect biocontrol. We contrasted insect predator communities and their impacts in four potential bioenergy cropping systems in Michigan and Wisconsin (USA) during the 2013 and 2014 growing seasons. Two annual maize systems were harvested for grain and stover; one maize system included a cereal rye/Austrian winter pea cover crop. Two perennial systems, switchgrass and a mixed prairie grasses and forbs, were harvested in the fall for biomass. Predatory insect abundance and diversity were lower in both annual cropping systems than in the perennial cropping systems and the inclusion of the cover crop did not significantly alter these responses. Similarly, removal of sentinel insect egg prey was also lower in the annual versus perennial cropping systems, with no significant influence of cover crop. We also explored the potential for cover crops to harbor prey populations in the spring that might encourage oviposition by mobile predators and potentially lead to local population sources or sinks of predators depending on the timing and effect of cover crop harvest. We found that existing predator communities in the cover crop treatments effectively suppressed aphid population growth, limiting their attractiveness to mobile predators. While we found no significant positive or negative impacts of this cover crop system on biocontrol services, bioenergy cover cropping systems could be managed to increase multiple ecosystem services by altering cover crop identity, or timing of planting and harvest.
Abstract C91: Understanding practices, perceptions, and likelihood of recommending the HPV vaccine among doctors in rural eastern North Carolina

Background: Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine completion rates in the U.S. are low. Provider recommendation is the most important predictor of vaccine initiation and completion. We sought to understand current practices, perceptions, and likelihood of recommending HPV vaccines among doctors in rural eastern North Carolina. Methods: We distributed a brief 12-item survey to 90 practicing physicians and residents across two community health clinics in eastern North Carolina in March 2015 (44% response rate). The survey asked questions about the likelihood of recommending vaccines to girls and boys of varying ages, comfort in STI discussions, and reasons for not recommending HPV vaccines. Results: Doctors are significantly more likely (p Conclusion: Results provide a better understanding about specific practices and perceptions regarding HPV vaccines among doctors that may influence their recommendation practices. Our data suggests a need for provider training regarding HPV vaccine recommendation and patient-provider STI communication strategies. Citation Format: Shawna O9Rorke, Essie torres, Alice Richman. Understanding practices, perceptions, and likelihood of recommending the HPV vaccine among doctors in rural eastern North Carolina. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Ninth AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2016 Sep 25-28; Fort Lauderdale, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2017;26(2 Suppl):Abstract nr C91.
Inflation in an external four-form gauge field

We consider the possibility that the Universe, viewed as a three-brane, originated in a region of strong external field strength due to a four-form gauge field in the bulk. It is shown that in a scenario of this kind inflation is generic for a wide range of initial conditions. This is true even for small field inflation with a simple quadratic inflaton potential, as well as for Higgs potentials with the initial field well away from the local maximum, not necessarily starting from rest. The power spectrum, spectral index, and $r$ parameter help to constrain parameters in this scenario, and $rl0.1$ favors Higgs potentials.
Experiments with calculated therapeutic and toxic doses of digitalis: VI. Comparative effects of toxic doses of digitalis and of prolonged deprivation of oxygen on the electrocardiogram, heart, and brain

Abstract Histologic changes were observed in the myocardiums of animals which were subjected to prolonged systemic deprivation of oxygen over periods of three or more days. An endeavor was made to keep the concentration of oxygen near 4 to 5 per cent. One animal, which died one and a half hours after the inhalation of low percentages of oxygen, did not show any evidence of anatomic changes in the myocardium. The myocardial lesions produced by deprivation of oxygen resembled those found in the heart after the administration of toxic doses of digitalis. They were focal in distribution and were most prominent in the papillary muscle and in the left ventricular wall. The following is a summary of the prominent changes in the RS-T segment and the T wave after prolonged systemic deprivation of oxygen: (1) decrease or increase in the height of the T waves in one or more leads, (2) simple inversion of the T waves in one or more leads, (3) depression of the RS-T segment in one or more leads, (4) cove-plane, negative T2 and T3, and (5) negative T1 and positive T3. The electrocardiographic changes, as a rule, disappeared when atmospheric air was introduced into the chamber. Cellular changes were observed in the central nervous system after prolonged deprivation of oxygen. The changes were similar to those described by others after anoxia and to those observed after the administration of toxic doses of digitalis. Old animals were more sensitive to deprivation of oxygen than young ones.
Abstract 192: Targeting stearoyl CoA desaturase 1 (SCD1) in hepatobilliary carcinoma

Background: The paucity of effective therapeutic agents for hepatocellular cancer (HCC) underscores the critical need for more effective therapeutic strategies. Recent studies indicate lipid biosynthesis and desaturation is required for HCC survival. Targeting these may prove beneficial because such changes contribute to therapeutic resistance. Stearoyl CoA desaturase (SCD1), a key mediator of fatty acid (FA) biosynthesis and rate-limiting in conversion of saturated fatty acids (SFAs) to mono-unsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs), is upregulated in HCC and many other cancers. As such, we therapeutically targeted a novel lipogenic tumor survival mechanism mediated by SCD1 as a means to combat the chemoresistance associated with HCC. In so doing, we evaluated a novel lead SCD1 inhibitor in HCC. Methods: Paraffin embedded patient HCC tissues were examined for SCD1 expression. Using combined computational and synthetic chemistry approaches, we synthesized four novel specific SCD1 inhibitors with SSI-4 being the lead SCD1 inhibitor. HCC cell lines were examined using proliferation assays for response to SSI-4. IC50 concentrations for blocking SCD1 enzyme activity was determined. Blood half-life and bioavailability of single dose SSI-4 was determined. Mechanisms of action of SCD1 were examined that included Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. In vivo, antitumor activity was determined using HCC patient derived xenograft (PDX) mouse models. Results: We identified elevated SCD1 mRNA and protein in HCCs tissues. SSI-4 dose-dependently inhibits cell proliferation in HCC cell lines with specificity demonstrated by oleic acid (MUFA) co-culture. Single dose oral gavage SSI-4 demonstrated a half-life of ~4 hours and excellent oral bioavailability. SSI-4 was well tolerated with long-term daily dosing. SSI-4 treatment of HCC cells and tumors led to endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress followed by apoptotic cell death. Single agent SSI-4 demonstrated antitumor activity in HCC PDX mouse models with suppression of ER stress regulated proteins. Conclusions: Targeting a novel lipid metabolic pathway in HCC may provide effective therapy for aggressive HCC. Citation Format: John Alton Copland, Laura A. Marlow, Ilah Bok, James L. Miller, Matsuda Akiko, Yan W. Asmann, Vivekananda Sarangi, Steven R. Alberts, Kabir Mody, Lewis R. Roberts, Mark J. Truty, Tushar C. Patel. Targeting stearoyl CoA desaturase 1 (SCD1) in hepatobilliary carcinoma [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2017; 2017 Apr 1-5; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 192. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2017-192
Anesthetic management for intestinal transplantation: A decade of experience.

Background Intestinal transplantation (ITx) is the definitive therapy for patients suffering from intestinal failure. Previous published reports suggest that these cases should be managed peri-operatively with the same intensive monitors and techniques as in liver transplantation. Methods We retrospectively reviewed the anesthetic management of sixty-seven isolated intestinal, intestinal-pancreas and intestinal-kidney transplants over the previous decade (2005-2015) in our tertiary care institution. Results Patients were typically managed with a single arterial line, a single central venous catheter and rarely intensive modalities such as a pulmonary artery catheter, a transesophageal echocardiography, a second arterial catheter or central venous catheter, a rapid infusion system, a cell salvage device or viscoelastic testing. Significant hemodynamic derangements were rare and the rate of post reperfusion syndrome (PRS) was 8.96%. Our fluid administration type and volume and transfusion type and volume were similar to previous reports in which more intensive anesthetic management was employed. Conclusion We demonstrate that intestinal transplantation can safely occur without utilizing the intensive resources requisite for a liver transplant. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Quasinormal modes of black holes in scalar-tensor theories with nonminimal derivative couplings

We study the quasinormal modes of asymptotically anti--de Sitter black holes in a class of shift-symmetric Horndeski theories where a gravitational scalar is derivatively coupled to the Einstein tensor. The spacetime differs from exact Schwarzschild--anti--de Sitter, resulting in a different effective potential for the quasinormal modes and a different spectrum. We numerically compute this spectrum for a massless test scalar coupled both minimally to the metric, and nonminimally to the gravitational scalar. We find interesting differences from the Schwarzschild--anti--de Sitter black hole found in general relativity.
The learning center

INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND The concept of the instructional materials center is a relatively new arrival upon the school scene and opinion is divided on the services it should offer, its personnel, and its place in the schools. The basic service idea of the instructional materials center (IMC) is to efficiently and effectively organize materials of all types so that they are readily available to students and faculty. The primary function of the IMC was assumed to be the facilitation of learning by the students. This is a fundamental change from the concept of facilitating teaching by the teachers which the old library and audiovisual center were set up to do. Because of this fundamental change it was necessary to explore new avenues of approach without relying too heavily on the already existing services. That is to say, the improvement of existing services might actually slow down desirable change rather than aid it. For example, the computerization of a retrieval system for books or films might make them more readily available to the teachers and students. But perhaps a better method might be to provide the client with printouts of certain passages in books or to electronically transmit films or videotapes to teachers and students. The term Instructional Materials Center is open to question,