cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Pulse width and height modulation for multi-level resistance in bi-layer TaOx based RRAM

Mutli-level switching in resistive memory devices enables a wide range of computational paradigms, including neuromorphic and cognitive computing. To this end, we have developed a bi-layer tantalum oxide based resistive random access memory device using Hf as the oxygen exchange layer. Multiple, discrete resistance levels were achieved by modulating the RESET pulse width and height, ranging from 2 kΩ to several MΩ. For a fixed pulse height, OFF state resistance was found to increase gradually with the increase in the pulse width, whereas for a fixed pulse width, the increase in the pulse height resulted in drastic changes in resistance. Resistive switching in these devices transitioned from Schottky emission in the OFF state to tunneling based conduction in the ON state, based on I-V curve fitting and temperature dependent current measurements. These devices also demonstrated endurance of more than 108 cycles with a satisfactory Roff/Ron ratio and retention greater than 104 s.
Association of changes in mental health with weight loss during intensive lifestyle intervention: does the timing matter?

Author(s): Alhalel, N; Schueller, SM; O'Brien, MJ | Abstract: Objective:This study examined changes in mental health symptoms and weight during weight loss treatment. It was hypothesized that worsening mental health would negatively impact weight loss. Methods:Data were analyzed from a trial of 92 Hispanic women with overweight/obesity and prediabetes, who were randomized to receive intensive lifestyle intervention (ILI), metformin 1,700nmg daily, or standard care. Depression, anxiety and perceived stress were assessed at 0, 6 and 12nmonths. Six- and 12-month weight change was compared among participants whose symptom scores worsened on any mental health measure (W) vs. improved or remained stable on all three (I/S). Results:Among ILI participants, the 12-month difference in weight loss between I/S and W groups was statistically significant: -5.1nkg (Pn=n0.001). From baseline to 6nmonths, ILI participants in I/S and W groups experienced comparable weight loss. However, from 6 to 12nmonths, W participants regained weight, whereas I/S participants experienced continued weight loss. In the metformin and standard care arms, there was no weight difference between I/S and W groups. Conclusions:In ILI, 12-month improvement or stability in mental health was significantly associated with weight loss. Weight trajectories between I/S and W groups diverged at 6nmonths.
Detection of moving objects through turbulent media. Decomposition of Oscillatory vs Non-Oscillatory spatio-temporal vector fields

Abstract In this paper, we investigate how moving objects can be detected when images are impacted by atmospheric turbulence. We present a geometric spatio-temporal point of view to the problem and show that it is possible to distinguish movement due to the turbulence vs. moving objects. To perform this task, we propose an extension of 2D cartoon+texture decomposition algorithms to 3D vector fields. Our algorithm is based on curvelet spaces which permit to better characterize the movement flow geometry. We present experiments on real data which illustrate the efficiency of the proposed method.
The Interaction between Deep Convection and Easterly Wave Activity over Africa: Convective Transitions and Mechanisms

AbstractRecent work using observational data from the International Satellite Cloud Climatology Project (ISCCP) and reanalysis products suggests that African easterly waves (AEWs) form in associati...
The Role of Testosterone Therapy in the Setting of Prostate Cancer

The role of testosterone in the development of prostate cancer and the safety of testosterone therapy (TTh) after prostate cancer treatment, or in the setting of active surveillance, remains controversial. There are many concerns about using TTh in men, particularly those with a history of prostate cancer, ranging from a possible increased risk of cardiovascular disease to cancer progression or recurrence. With many prostate cancer patients living longer, and hypogonadism having significant morbidity, much care must go into the decision to treat. Here, we review the literature investigating the effects of testosterone on the prostate as well as the efficacy and safety of exogenous testosterone in men with a history of prostate cancer. The improvement in quality of life with TTh is well studied and understood, while the argument for significantly increased risk of cancer or other adverse effects is much less robust. Neither increased rates of prostate cancer, cancer recurrence, or cardiovascular risk have been well established. In men with high-risk prostate cancer, evidence in the setting of TTh is very limited, and TTh should be used with caution. The fears of TTh causing or worsening prostate cancer do not appear to be well supported by available data. Though more studies are needed to definitively determine the safety of TTh in men with prostate cancer, consideration should be given to treatment of hypogonadal men with a history of CaP.
The Effects of Chassis Flexibility on Roll Stiffness of a Winston Cup Race Car

Predictable handling of a racecar may be achieved by tailoring chassis stiffness so that roll stiffness between sprung and unsprung masses are due almost entirely to the suspension. In this work, the effects of overall chassis flexibility on roll stiffness and wheel camber response, will be determined using a finite element model (FEM) of a Winston Cup racecar chassis and suspension. The FEM of the chassis/suspension is built from an assembly of beam and shell elements using geometry measured from a typical Winston cup race configuration. Care has been taken to model internal constraints between degrees-of-freedom (DOF) at suspension to chassis connections, e.g. at ball and pin joints and internal releases. To validate the model, the change in wheel loads due to an applied jacking force that rolls the chassis agrees closely with measured data. The roll stiffness predicted from finite element models of the front and rear suspension compared closely to those calculated using a rigidbody kinematics model. To study the effects of chassis flexibility on roll, torsional stiffness is increased by adding strategic members to the chassis structure. Results from the finite element analysis indicate that the effective roll stiffness of the front suspension interacting with the chassis, increased by 7.3 % over a baseline chassis when the chassis torsional stiffness was increased by 130% over a baseline chassis stiffness of 9934 ft-lb/deg. As the chassis stiffness is increased further above this value, the front roll stiffness changed very little. From these results, the minimum torsional stiffness required so that the effective roll stiffness of the front suspension is within 3 % from the roll stiffness with a rigid chassis, is about 23100 ft-lb/deg.
Neo-Mercantilist or Enhanced Mobilization Strategies

In this chapter I examine what I call “enhanced mobilization” (EM) strategies for economic development. While this strategy has been relatively rarely practiced in the last century, in my view it has been the highest-performing strategy in terms of permitting a country to catch up with other countries that are more advanced. I use the term enhanced mobilization instead of two other names that may be more familiar, i.e., “export promotion” and “neo-mercantilism.” I prefer not to use these latter terms because the first term fails to fully capture the overall idea, and the second term carries some historic baggage that could be a distraction.
Emotions and Science Teaching: Present Research and Future Agendas

Many educators and researchers point out that affective issues are important in teaching; however, little has been done to incorporate affective concerns in a systematic way in research on teaching. As Norman (1981) pointed out two decades ago, most cognitive theorists preferred to ignore the affective domain and concentrate instead on developing information-processing models of purely cognitive systems. Such an approach has been most obvious in the investigation of teacher cognition and teacher beliefs (e.g., Clark & Peterson, 1986; Kagan, 1992a, 1992b; Nespor, 1987; Richardson, 1996). The emphasis on teacher beliefs has been on teachers’ views and perspectives often without any discussion of the relevance of those beliefs to teacher emotions. For the most part, this area of research still avoids addressing how teacher beliefs interact with teacher emotions and attitudes or what the role of teacher emotions is in understanding teaching and learning. Yet, conducting research on emotions in education or on the emotions of teachers, more specifically, presents several challenges. First, emotions are very fluid and much more complex and difficult to describe than cognition (Boler, 1999; Janack, 2000; McLeod, 1989; Simon, 1982; Zembylas, 2002a, 2002b). Second, one of the reasons for the neglect of investigating emotion in teaching may be due in part to the domination of cognitive psychology over educational research, and the difficulty in capturing the emotional components of teaching for research purposes. Finally, there is the legacy of dualism, which has opposed reason to emotion, and accorded reason the high status inscribed in Western thinking. Embedded in Western thought is the assumption that emotions threaten the disembodied, detached, and neutral knower; consequently, as it is suggested, emotions do not offer any valid knowledge. This view has placed emotions in an inferior role and made much more difficult the legitimation of research on teacher emotion. This uneasy relation between emotion and reason provides the social and historical context from which many current views on emotions continue to emerge (Schutz & DeCuir, 2002). These issues assert that we are convinced about the importance of emotions in education only at a general abstract level (Beck & Kosnik, 1995). One can imagine, then, what happens in science education when educators in general have a hard time accepting emotions as a legitimate subject of research. After all, in schools, science is portrayed as rational and non-emotional (Alsop, 2001; Zembylas, 2002a). What is the place of emotion in teaching and learning science? Why should one pay attention to the way teachers feel about science and science teaching?
Screening, population and sequential follow-up studies by echocardiography

Echocardiography is very useful for screening or population studies because of several characteristics unique to the technique which meet the requirements for such studies. These include: 1. The noninvasive nature of the technique, with resulting freedom from discomfort or risk to subjects examined. 2. The direct anatomic and physiologic data obtained from ultrasound imaging, providing specific, quantitative cardiovascular information. 3. The relatively low cost of studies compared to other investigations providing comparable information. 4. The high degree of reproducibility of findings by different examiners in the same subject and on repeated studies in the same individual. 5. The availability of reasonably well established criteria for findings in normal individuals and the relatively narrow range of normal values.
Mixed Lymphocyte Interaction: Disquisitions on a Popular Unknown

Publisher Summary This chapter examines the mixed lymphocyte interaction. The immuno-proliferative behavior of lymphocytes is similar in the GVH reaction and in the MLI. The stimulatory factors are antigens of the major H loci in man, the mouse, and the rat. The cells that respond are thymus-derived lymphocytes of the circulating lymphocyte pool. The proliferative reactivity of the cells depends on the genetic and immunologic status of the donors. Cells from immunologically tolerant animals do not respond to the H isoantigens to which the donors have been made tolerant, but are responsive to third party H antigen systems and cells from F 1 animals are nonresponsive to parental strain leucocytes and cells from neonatally thymectomized animals display only a limited proliferative response and cells from specifically immunized animals display an altered response profile when confronted with Fi cells bearing the specific immunizing antigens. It is found that thymectomy in the adult does not eliminate the production of MLI reactive cells.
The Tubular Variant of Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma of the Bartholin’s Gland

The authors report two examples of the tubular variant of adenoid cystic carcinoma of the Bartholin's gland. Each occurred in young women (both aged 34 years) and presented with a painful indurated mass, clinically thought to be of inflammatory nature. On microscopic examination, the most distinctive feature was the haphazard proliferation of bland-appearing tubular structures often lined by two cell layers. A thin, periodic acid-Schiff-positive basement membrane immunoreactive for collagen IV surrounded the tubules, but hyaline globules were virtually absent. The inner cell layer was strongly and diffusely cytokeratin positive, whereas epithelial membrane antigen reactivity was seen only along the luminal borders. Focal positivity for S100 protein identified the peripheral myoepithelial cells, which were confirmed by electron microscopy. Focal perineural invasion was seen. The histologic, ultrastructural, and immunohistochemical features of these tumors are similar to those of the tubular variant of adenoid cystic carcinoma arising in major and minor salivary glands. In one of the cases, which was followed for 6 years, the tumor metastasized, despite the low histologic grade, and the patient died. Similarities and differences between the tubular, cribriform, and solid variants and other vulvar tumors are discussed.
Bayes Quantile Estimation and Threshold Selection for the Generalized Pareto Family

There is always a trade off between computational and statistical efficiency. The phenomenal recent advances in computing have shifted the advantage toward Bayesian methods of estimation. We propose an interactive program for analyzing observations above a high threshold. The first phase of the analysis is the “identification” phase. Using parameter estimators which are not too efficient but easy to compute, we perform many iterations to find the empirical optimal combination choice of threshold and choice of monotone increasing function transformation. We review existing methods of estimation. The second phase is the “estimation” phase. We examine the use of Bayes estimators for this phase. We also suggest a method of finding confidence regions.
Formative Research for an Innovative Smartphone Application to Improve Distribution of Healthy Foods to Corner Stores in Baltimore City

We sought to collect information about the operations of wholesalers and store owner perceptions of smartphones to plan for and create a smartphone application that will facilitate the distribution of healthy foods to corner stores. In-depth interviews were conducted with wholesalers, corner store owners, distributors, and food environment experts in Baltimore City, Maryland, which included providing feedback for a mockup of the app. Store owners that were comfortable with smartphones liked the idea of the app because it was economically practical, culturally suitable, simple and easy to use, and provided a large variety of items at a fair or low price. We found that barriers to uptake among corner store owners would be high delivery costs, no foreign language capability, and a complicated user interface. This work will inform future projects that will utilize mHealth technology to improve distribution of healthier foods in food deserts.
Tracking the sexual behavior-specific effects of a foster family treatment program for children with serious sexual behavior problems.

Few treatment programs exist for very young children with serious sexual behavior problems. Fewer still have produced data relating to their effectiveness, and the sparse data that have emerged have focused on global social adjustment or improvement rather than on sexual behavior- specific changes. This study tracked both frequency of problem sexual behaviors and care giver estimates of the propensity to re-offend of six initial clients referred to a treatment-intensive foster care program for sexually reactive children and pre-adolescent sexual offenders. A simple pre-post (basepoint-treatment) design was used, and in-treatment data gathered over a two-year interval are presented. Initial results indicate that the problem sexual behaviors of most of these youthful clients were effectively and immediately suppressed in the context of their treatment intensive foster placements, but that the program's impact on the clients' propensity to re-offend given the opportunity—a crude measure of treatment internalization—was much less immediate, less pronounced, and less predictable across clients. Recommendations based on these data are offered concerning the viability of foster care intervention for sexualized and offending children, as well as optimal durations for such treatments. The strengths and weaknesses of the novel progress tracking method are discussed.
Probe of the Stereochemically Determining Step in Squarate Ester Cascades. Proof that Helical Equilibration within the Octatetraene Intermediate Is Responsible and Definition of Steric Control Elements

The stereoselectivity associated with the coaddition of a chiral and an achiral cycloalkenyl anion to a squarate ester has been examined. The selective formation of polycyclic ketones is observed in all cases, although dual protonation at both of the available enolate sites in their penultimate cyclooctatrienyl dianion precursors was sometimes noted. Proof that the stereoselection was the result of interconversion between a pair of helical octatetraene intermediates, with resultant erosion of original stereogenicity, was established by isolation of diastereomeric monoadducts and separate submission of these hydroxy cyclobutenones to the original reaction conditions. The final stages of the cascade proceed via the lower energy transition state option where nonbonded steric effects are skirted as much as possible. These features are coordinated with subsequent stereocontrolled trans/annular aldol reactions during the quenching process. The adherence to these mechanistic guidelines is so all-encompassing tha...
Outpatient Cardiac Palliative Care Reduces Healthcare Utilization

Purpose The American Heart Association and American Stroke Association have put forth statement recommending early and continuous access to palliative care for patients with heart disease. There is a national shortage of palliative care providers, and often outpatient palliative care clinics are not profitable to institutions with billing alone. However, early integration of palliative care has been proven to improve the quality of life of patients with advanced heart failure. Other studies have suggested that general palliative care has cost savings to hospital systems. Methods A cardiac specific outpatient palliative care clinic was opened at a major academic medical center in the United States. In the first 6 months (N=104) patients were referred to the clinic for goals of care and symptom management. Patients were seen by a palliative care physician and registered nurse and screened for quality of life with the FACIT-Pal, HADS anxiety and depression screening, and Fried Frailty Assessment to guide clinical interventions. Patients were tracked 90 days prior to their initial outpatient palliative care clinic visit and 90 days post visit to assess hospital utilization and total cost of care in the university hospital system. Results Total hospitalizations reduced 30% (91 prior to palliative care compared to 64 post). 30-day readmission dropped by 11%. 36% (N=33) of pre-intervention hospitalizations were 30-day readmissions compared to 25% (N=16) in the post intervention time period. Total per-patient hospital system health expenditures were $121,549 pre-palliative intervention and reduced to $60,857 post-palliative intervention. This represents a total reduction in health spending of $5,886,599.51 in the post palliative care time period. Average per hospital stay cost dropped by 27% from $133,571 to $97,943. A paired T-test shows this is a statistically significant reduction in per hospital stay charges (p=0.03). Conclusion Outpatient palliative care is known to improve quality of life in patients with advanced heart disease. Integration of outpatient cardiac palliative care reduces hospitalizations, 30-day readmission, total healthcare expenditures, and reduces cost of hospitalizations. Therefore, cardiac palliative care clinics are high value entities for patients and healthcare systems and teams should consider subsidizing the cost of palliative care clinic development.
CHAPTER 23 – Spinocerebellar Ataxia Type 2

This chapter focuses on Spinocerebellar Ataxia type 2 ( SCA2 ) genes. SCA2 was first described clinically as a distinct genetic entity in a large, homogeneous population of patients with dominantly inherited cerebellar ataxia from the Holguin province of Cuba. In this founder population, ataxic gait and other cerebellar findings are universal, and many patients have slow saccadic eye movements. Tendon reflexes are usually brisk during the first years of life, but absent several years later. SCA2 is also particularly common in India. Analysis of a large number of SCA2 pedigrees has indicated a wide range of phenotypic manifestations that make SCA2 indistinguishable from other SCAs in the individual patient, although some findings such as slow saccades, peripheral neuropathy, and dementia are particularly common in SCA2. Identification of the SCA2 gene has led to a definition of the phenotype that includes not only the typical ataxia phenotype, but also rarer parkinsonian phenotypes that may at times be indistinguishable from idiopathic Parkinson's disease.
Gene drive escape from resistance depends on mechanism and ecology

Abstract Gene drives can potentially be used to suppress pest populations, and the advent of CRISPR technology has made it feasible to engineer them in many species, especially insects. What remains largely unknown for implementations is whether anti-drive resistance will evolve to block the population suppression. An especially serious threat to some kinds of drive is mutations in the CRISPR cleavage sequence that block the action of CRISPR, but designs have been proposed to avoid this type of resistance. Various types of resistance at loci away from the cleavage site remain a possibility, which is the focus here. It is known that modest-effect suppression drives can essentially ‘outrun’ unlinked resistance even when that resistance is present from the start. We demonstrate here how the risk of evolving (unlinked) resistance can be further reduced without compromising overall suppression by introducing multiple suppression drives or by designing drives with specific ecological effects. However, we show that even modest-effect suppression drives remain vulnerable to the evolution of extreme levels of inbreeding, which halt the spread of the drive without actually interfering with its mechanism. The landscape of resistance evolution against suppression drives is therefore complex, but avenues exist for enhancing gene drive success.
Geographic Differences in Rates of Primary Total Knee Arthroplasty In Young and Older Adults: A Comparison of Three U.S. States.

Objective Rates of total knee arthroplasty (TKA) among Medicare beneficiaries (adults age 65 and older) vary across the United States, with higher rates in the Midwest and West than in the South. It is not known if similar variation is present among younger patients, or if findings in Medicare reflect selective postponement of TKA in some regions. Methods Data on all primary TKA performed in adults age 20 or older in three states (Iowa, Utah, and Florida) in 2016 were obtained from state inpatient databases. Rates of TKA were computed based on population census data. Age-, sex-, and race-standardized rates were compared between Iowa and Florida and between Utah and Florida among adults age 20 to 64 years and adults age 65 and older. Results There were 10074, 8954, and 43908 primary TKA in Iowa, Utah, and Florida, respectively. Standardized rates were higher in Iowa and Utah than in Florida both among adults age 20 to 64 (Iowa:Florida rate ratio1.89 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.79, 1.99); Utah:Florida rate ratio 2.31 (95% CI 2.18, 2.45)) and among those age 65 or older (Iowa:Florida rate ratio 1.41 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.35, 1.47); Utah:Florida rate ratio 1.77 (95% CI 1.70, 1.85)). Results were similar in sensitivity analyses limited to white patients, urban residents, and those with a diagnosis of knee osteoarthritis. Conclusion TKA rates were higher in Iowa and Utah than in Florida among both younger adults and those age 65 and older, indicating geographic differences are not specific to elderly patients.
Producing pipeline-quality biomethane via anaerobic digestion of sludge amended with corn stover biochar with in-situ CO2 removal

Abstract This study presents a novel process for producing pipeline-quality biomethane by anaerobic digestion (AD) of sludge with in-situ biogas cleanup and upgrading using corn stover biochar. The biochar has high surface area (105 m2/g), high ash content (45.2% dry weight) and high concentrations of potassium, calcium and magnesium (14.2% K2O, 3.9% CaO and 4.2% MgO of the ash content, respectively). The biochar-amended digesters produced near pipeline-quality biomethane (>90% CH4 and
A new ensemble diversity measure applied to thinning ensembles

We introduce a new way of describing the diversity of an ensemble of classifiers, the Percentage Correct Diversity Measure, and compare it against existing methods. We then introduce two new methods for removing classifiers from an ensemble based on diversity calculations. Empirical results for twelve datasets from the UC Irvine repository show that diversity is generally modeled by our measure and ensembles can be made smaller without loss in accuracy.
Mass Yield Distributions in the Reaction of Xe 136 Ions with U 238

Yields of 156 nuclides were measured radiochemically to delineate the mass distribution in the reaction of 605-MeV $^{84}\mathrm{Kr}$ with thick $^{238}\mathrm{U}$ targets. The yields are consistent with decomposition of the mass distribution into five components: transfer products (700\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}120 mb), "quasi-Kr" products centered at $A\ensuremath{\approx}85$ (470\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}70 mb) and the products from symmetric fission of their complements (420\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}60 mb), products from low-energy fission of $Z\ensuremath{\approx}92$ nuclides (200\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}40 mb), products from complete fusion-fission (55\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}15 mb), and unexplained neutron-deficient yields at $A\ensuremath{\approx}195$ (\ensuremath{\sim}40 mb).
“Tired with all these, for restful death I cry”. Autoeroticism and Decadence in Shakespeare’s Sonnets 62–75

Scholars have noted, but scarcely, the autoerotic thematic at work in Shakespeare’s Sonnets. Curiously, most attention to masturbation and other manifestations of autoeroticism have come from the Procreation Sonnets. Rarely have scholars pushed the sodomitic envelope beyond homoeroticism or Shakespeare’s affection for the Dark Lady. Critics have, of course, used the three major sonnet sequences (viz. the Procreation, Young Man, and Dark Lady sequences) to forward discussion of sexuality, but they also frequently look at individual sonnets out of their sequence context to explore their theses. This essay identifies a heretofore unseen mini-sequence in the Sonnets, and, through a close analysis of this mini-sequence, begins to fill the autoerotic lacuna. Following Duncan-Jones’s defense of the stability of the sequence in the poems, the present essay contends that sonnets 62–75 constitute an economy of autoeroticism situated in the fin de siecle motif of decadence and decay.
Chemopreventive potential of silibinin on early urethane-induced lung lesions in A/J mice

AACR Annual Meeting-- Apr 12-16, 2008; San Diego, CA 3062 Lung cancer, the leading cause of cancer mortality, is a complex malignancy developing from multiple pre-neoplastic pathways. Recent efforts to control the incidence as well as the progression of early lesions of lung cancer have mainly focused on effective chemoprevention strategies. Silibinin, a flavonoid isolated from Silybum marianum, has cancer chemopreventive effects in a wide range of cancers including lung cancer. In the present study, we examined the efficacy of dietary silibinin on urethane-induced microscopic pulmonary adenomas in A/J mice and associated biological and molecular events including tumor growth, cell proliferation [proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and Cyclin D1], apoptosis [terminal deoxunucleotidyl transferase mediated dUTP-nick-end labeling (TUNEL)], macrophage infiltration (F4/80) and macrophage activation state (arginase I/M2 and iNOS/M1) as mechanistic biomarkers. Male A/J mice (6 wks of age) were divided into 5 groups. Mice in all groups were injected with urethane (1 mg/g body weight) and fed AIN 76A diet for 6 wks. Thereafter, mice in groups 2-5 were fed diet containing 0.33% or 1% silibinin (wt/wt) for 48 hrs (groups 2 and 3) or 96 hrs (groups 4 and 5), respectively. These silibinin doses were based on earlier studies showing its strong efficacy against various cancers in mouse models without causing any toxicity. After sacrifice, lungs were formalin fixed and paraffin embedded. Serial sections were prepared, stained with HE P <0.01) in group 5 (1% Sb for 96 hrs) mice compared to group 1 (urethane alone) mice. Silibinin also significantly reduced the number of PCNA- (27%; P <0.01) and cyclin D1-(24%; P <0.05) positive cells in group 5 mice (1% Sb for 96 hrs) compared to group 1 (urethane alone). This inhibitory effect was modest in other silibinin groups (group 2 to 4). 1% silibinin treatment for 96 hrs also reduced the number of lung macrophages (27%; P <0.05), but has no significant effect was observed on macrophage activation as determined by arginase I (M2) and iNOS (M1) staining. No significant changes were observed in the number of apoptotic cells in any group (2-5) as compared to urethane alone (group 1), suggesting that silibinin does not induce apoptosis in these treatment doses and time periods. Together, our findings suggest that dietary silibinin treatment reduces the pulmonary microadenomas by inhibiting their proliferation and by reducing the number of infiltrating macrophages. Dietary silibinin may be useful in preventing the development of preneoplastic pulmonary lesions.
The Development of an Abbreviated Version of the Mathematics Anxiety Rating Scale

The primary purpose of this study was to develop an abbreviated version of the Math Anxiety Rating Scale (MARS). The result was an internally consistant and reliable 25-item scale.
Constraints on Photometric Calibration from Observations of High-Redshift Type Ia Supernovae

The good match of the type Ia supernova (SNIa) Hubble Diagram to the prediction of a not-unreasonable cosmological world model shows that measurements of standard stars and their comparison with point sources down to m=25 mag is good to better than +/-0.5 mag over an 11 mag range. It also shows that the true spectral energy distribution (SED) shapes of standard stars are known to better than +/-0.5 mag over an octave in wavelength. On the other hand, the SNIa argument for an accelerating Universe assumes that the magnitude system is good to much better than ~0.1 mag over the 11 mag range, and that SED shapes are known to much better than ~10 percent over an octave in wavelength. There is no independent empirical evidence for these plausible assumptions.
Arsenic cycling in hydrocarbon plumes: secondary effects of natural attenuation

Monitored natural attenuation is widely applied as a remediation strategy at hydrocarbon spill sites. Natural attenuation relies on biodegradation of hydrocarbons coupled with reduction of electron acceptors, including solid phase ferric iron (Fe(III)). Because arsenic (As) adsorbs to Fe-hydroxides, a potential secondary effect of natural attenuation of hydrocarbons coupled with Fe(III) reduction is a release of naturally occurring As to groundwater. At a crude-oil-contaminated aquifer near Bemidji, Minnesota, anaerobic biodegradation of hydrocarbons coupled to Fe(III) reduction has been well documented. We collected groundwater samples at the site annually from 2009 to 2013 to examine if As is released to groundwater and, if so, to document relationships between As and Fe inside and outside of the dissolved hydrocarbon plume. Arsenic concentrations in groundwater in the plume reached 230 µg/L, whereas groundwater outside the plume contained less than 5 µg/L As. Combined with previous data from the Bemidji site, our results suggest that (1) naturally occurring As is associated with Fe-hydroxides present in the glacially derived aquifer sediments; (2) introduction of hydrocarbons results in reduction of Fe-hydroxides, releasing As and Fe to groundwater; (3) at the leading edge of the plume, As and Fe are removed from groundwater and retained on sediments; and (4) downgradient from the plume, patterns of As and Fe in groundwater are similar to background. We develop a conceptual model of secondary As release due to natural attenuation of hydrocarbons that can be applied to other sites where an influx of biodegradable organic carbon promotes Fe(III) reduction.
Commuter Students With Disabilities

This chapter provides information and resources for higher education professionals to better serve and support students who commute or live off campus and who may also have a disability.
W-FETI: Global Domain Decomposition preconditioning done right

An effective, efficient and robust algebraic global preconditioner for the FETI-2λ Domain Decomposition Method (DDM) is proposed. The new preconditioner is based on the Woodbury matrix identity, termed as W-FETI, and is inspired by the observation that under certain circumstances the discrete Diritch-to-Newmann (DtN) operators of the domains are rank deficient. Numerical examples showcase the excellent convergence and scalability properties of W-FETI.
Metal-oxide semiconductor field-effect transistors using Schottky barrier drains

1.2 /spl mu/m p-channel MOSFETs with a TiSi/sub 2/-Si barrier drain and a p/sup +/ implanted source have been fabricated. Parasitic drain-to-n-well-to-p/sup +/-source bipolar transistor measurements showed no current gain since the Schottky-barrier-drain (SBDR) does not inject minority carriers (holes) to the n-well base. The SBDR could be useful for preventing latch-up in integrated CMOS RF amplifiers.
Elastic energy anisotropy effects on antiphase boundaries

Abstract The effect of elastic energy on the anisotropy of antiphase boundary (APB) interfacial energy has been studied theoretically. The model used, a generalization of one developed by Kikuchi and Cahn, treats composition and atomic ordering as local variables defined on each of the atomic planes parallel to the APB. The equilibrium APB structure is found as the set of planar variables that minimizes the free energy. A strain energy term involving an orientation-dependent stiffness parameter and a phenomenological law giving lattice constant as a function of local composition and order parameter is included in the definition of the free energy. Elastic effects in APBs in B2 ordered FeAl alloys with 0.2 – 0.3 atomic fraction Al were investigated. It was found that, despite the high elastic anisotropy of FeAl alloys, elastic effects would not result in any substantial anisotropy in APB interfacial energy. This is because in FeAl alloys the variation in lattice constant due to order parameter variation at the APB is almost completely cancelled out by the variation in lattice constant due to compositional variation. In a hypothetical model with physically reasonable parameters, APB energies were found to vary by up to 9% with orientation, purely as a result of elastic effects. It was concluded that elastically induced APB anisotropy would be observable in alloys such as FeSi in which lattice constant variations due to order parameter variation are cooperative with those due to compositional variation.
Aluminum interaction with phosphoinositide-associated signal transduction

Concerning molecular and cellular mechanisms of aluminum toxicity, recent studies support the hypothesis that interactions of aluminum ions with elements of signal transduction pathways are apparently primary events in cells. In the case of the phosphoinositide-associated signalling pathway of neuroblastoma cells, guanine nucleotide-binding proteins (G proteins) and a phosphatidylinositol-4,5-diphosphate (PIP2)-specific phospholipase C are probable interaction sites for inhibitory actions of aluminum ions. Following interiorization of aluminum by the cell, metal interactions decrease the accumulation of inositol phosphates, especially that of inositol-1,4,5-triphosphate (IP3), concomitant with derangements of intracellular Ca2+ homeostasis. In the presence of high concentrations of Ca2+, formation of IP3 is also diminished in aluminum-pretreated cells, presumably involving a process not requiring Mg2+-dependent G proteins. At higher aluminum doses, metal-induced changes in the lipid milieu of the membrane-bound phospholipase may play a role. These types of primary interactions of aluminum ions with elements of cellular communication channels are probably crucial in the manifestation of the multifacetted aluminum toxicity syndrome. If present as a phosphate-like fluoroaluminate, a stimulatory role of aluminum ions is displayed in G protein-coupled transmembrane signalling.
Jets in pp collisions: Radiation zeroes and the electric charges of colored quarks

Abstract Measurements involving more than one photon (e.g., γγ → hadrons, e+e- → q q γ) can determine the electric charge of colored quarks rather than the color-averaged value measured, for example, by the R-value in e+e- → hadrons. We draw attention to the fact that this measurement of the absolute quark charges can be performed in hadron collisions via the process qq → qqγ. The charge signature is dramatic due to the appearance of radiation zeroes whose position depends on the values of the electric charges. This can be exploited to perform such measurements with a detector lacking γ/π0 separation capability. Such experiments also study the interface of color and electromagnetic amplitudes and can further elucidate the QCD origin of jets.
Modern technology-based education: instructor's profile

In 2006 the International Journal on Advanced Technology for Learning (ATL), InterLabs Research Institute (IRI) at Bradley University (Peoria, IL, USA), and the leaders of the Annual International Conferences on Computers and Advanced Technology in Education (CATE Conference) and Web-Based Education (WBE Conference) organized and managed a world survey of experts in the area of Technology-Based Education (TBE). The goal of the survey was to identify a profile of a modern instructor for TBE -- this area includes but is not limited to information and communication technology (ICT) based education, computer-based education (CBE), stored (like CDs, DVDs, video- and audio cassettes) media-based education, WBE, Internet2-based education, interactive TV-based education, open broadcast TV-based education, mobile TBE education. The selected components of instructor's profile include but are not limited to (1) ownership of technology, (2) self-reported skills regarding various information, computer, software, communication, and collaboration technologies, (3) technologies used in TBE and hours spent per week on technology-related activities, and (4) use of main technologies for WBE such as learning management systems (LMS), repositories of learning objects (RLO), digital libraries (DL), open courseware (OCW), etc. The feedback from a total of 92 experts, who represent 61 institutions (colleges, universities, and training institutions) from 26 countries all over the world, is summarized below.
Finite‐element analysis of fluid flow and heat transfer for staggered bundles of cylinders in cross flow

The two-dimensional Navier-Stokes equations and the energy equation governing steady laminar incompressible flow are solved by a penalty finite-element model for flow across finite depth, five-row deep, staggered bundles of cylinders. Pitch to diameter ratios of 1·5 and 2·0 are considered for cylinders in equilateral triangular and square arrangements. Reynolds numbers studied range from 100 to 400, and a Prandtl number of 0·7 is used. Velocity vector fields, streamline patterns, vorticity, pressure and temperature contours, local and average Nusselt numbers, pressure and shear stress distributions around the cylinder walls and drag coefficients are presented. The results obtained agree well with available experimental and numerical data.
PULMONARY FUNCTION IN LARYNGOTRACHEOBRONCHIAL PAPILLOMATOSIS

A 13 year old female(S) presented with asthma-like wheeze followed 2 months later by easy fatigability, orthopnea with paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea, weight loss and hoarseness. Upper airway obstruction was suspected when the forced expiratory volume (FEV) tracings showed a “hump” and no flow recorded despite active expiratory efforts. Good attempts at inspiration resulted in an inspiratory capacity of 28% of predicted normal. Chest roentgenograms showed overaeration followed 3 mos. later by the appearance of multiple nodular densities throughout both lower lobes, middle lobe and lingula, and cavitation. The lateral view of the neck showed nodular densities obstructing about 50% of the airway. Endoscopy revealed large papillomas on the anterior half of the left vocal cord, trachea and main bronchi. Spirometry disclosed severe restrictive and obstructive pattern, intrapulmonary gas maldistribution and transit time of 3.25 to 6 seconds. Maximum expiratory flow volumes were all reduced. Diffusing capacity was decreased. Mechanics, ventilation and lung volumes were significantly changed after removal of the papillomas and the FEV curve became smooth. In the past 6 years, S experienced more respiratory obstruction every 2 to 8 months coinciding with enlargement of the papillomas. Repeated removal of the papillomas and chemotherapy have caused subjective relief but no significant change in serial lung function. Supported in part by NIH grant #RR-75
Pharmacology of the molluscan cardioexcitatory neuropeptide FMRFamide

Abstract 1. 1. FMRFamide (phenylalanyl-methionyl-arginyl-phenylalanine amide) has positive inotropic and chronotropic actions on the isolated heart of the clam Mercenaria mercenaria. In addition, it causes a sustained contraction of the radula protractor muscle of the whelk Busycon contrarium. 2. 2. The action of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) is similar to that of FMRFamide on the Mercenaria heart, and the two dose-response curves are parallel. But 5-HT cardioexcitation is blocked by methysergide: that of FMRFamide is not. 3. 3. Acetylcholine (ACh) also contracts the radula protractor; but the effect is qualitatively different from that of FMRFamide and the dose-response curves are not parallel. Benzoquinonium blocks ACh contractures, but not those of FMRFamide. 4. 4. A number of amino acid derivatives and peptides were screened for biological activity on these two muscles; most were inactive (⩽ 10−5M). In particular, analogs without the C-terminal phenylalanyl residue, or even without the amide were inactive. However, analogs with an N-acylated amino terminal residue, or with an acyl group substituted for the N-terminal residue, or even lacking one or two N-terminal residues were effective. Several peptides with biological actions in mammals were tested, but all were inactive (⩽ 10−5M).
OPRM1 SNP (A118G): involvement in disease development, treatment response, and animal models.

Endogenous opioids acting at μ-opioid receptors mediate many biological functions. Pharmacological intervention at these receptors has greatly aided in the treatment of acute and chronic pain, in addition to other uses. However, the development of tolerance and dependence has made it difficult to adequately prescribe these therapeutics. A common single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP), A118G, in the μ-opioid receptor gene can affect opioid function and, consequently, has been suggested to contribute to individual variability in pain management and drug addiction. Investigation into the role of A118G in human disease and treatment response has generated a large number of association studies across various disease states as well as physiological responses. However, characterizing the functional consequences of this SNP and establishing if it causes or contributes to disease phenotypes have been significant challenges. In this manuscript, we will review a number of association studies as well as investigations of the functional impact of this gene variant. In addition, we will describe a novel mouse model that was generated to recapitulate this SNP in mice. Evaluation of models that incorporate known human genetic variants into a tractable system, like the mouse, will facilitate the understanding of discrete contributions of SNPs to human disease.
Methodology for quantum logic gate construction

We present a general method to construct fault-tolerant quantum logic gates with a simple primitive, which is an analog of quantum teleportation. The technique extends previous results based on traditional quantum teleportation [Gottesman and Chuang, Nature (London) 402, 390 (1999)] and leads to straightforward and systematic construction of many fault-tolerant encoded operations, including the $\ensuremath{\pi}/8$ and Toffoli gates. The technique can also be applied to the construction of remote quantum operations that cannot be directly performed.
Aids in establishing design criteria for satellite-borne optical systems.

Nomograph construction for earth pointing cameras, evaluating imaging system effectiveness as ground resolution and scale factor, plotting system performance characteristics
Impedance change as an alternate measure of resonant frequency shift of piezoelectric-excited millimeter-sized cantilever (PEMC) sensors

We establish that monitoring impedance at a fixed frequency near the initial resonant frequency of piezoelectric-excited millimeter-sized cantilever (PEMC) sensors is superior than using resonant frequency or impedance measurements at resonance for monitoring sensor response. Density change experiments were conducted and the three monitoring approaches were compared with respect to the obtained signal, noise level and signal-to-noise ratio. Monitoring impedance at fixed frequency approach exhibited a significantly larger response and superior signal-to-noise ratio than resonant frequency or impedance at resonant frequency monitoring approaches. The impedance approach is simpler compared to the conventional resonant frequency monitoring method and is effective for applications that require simultaneous monitoring of multiple sensors.
Unexpected doxorubicin-induced cardiomyopathy in sisters

We report the details of two unexpected cases of doxorubicin (DOX)-induced cardiac toxicity in two sisters receiving adjuvant breast cancer therapy. One at age 38 developed a cardiomyopathy resulting in cardiac transplantation 6.5 years after receiving a relatively low total dose of DOX, i.e., 280 mg/m2. The second at age 60 also developed a severe cardiomyopathy (i.e., a ventricular ejection fraction of 22%) 6 years after receiving a total dose of DOX of only 158 mg/m2. Twelve single nucleotide polymorphisms previously associated with doxorubicin cardiotoxicity were assessed by pyrosequencing. None of the genotypes associated with an increased risk of doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity were identified in these two patients.