cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Mask-RCNN Baseline for Probabilistic Object Detection.

The Probabilistic Object Detection Challenge evaluates object detection methods using a new evaluation measure, Probability-based Detection Quality (PDQ), on a new synthetic image dataset. We present our submission to the challenge, a fine-tuned version of Mask-RCNN with some additional post-processing. Our method, submitted under username pammirato, is currently second on the leaderboard with a score of 21.432, while also achieving the highest spatial quality and average overall quality of detections. We hope this method can provide some insight into how detectors designed for mean average precision (mAP) evaluation behave under PDQ, as well as a strong baseline for future work.
RON tyrosine kinase: a potential target for colorectal cancer therapy

2692 INTRODUCTION: Recepteur d’Origine Nantais (RON) is a receptor tyrosine kinase that plays a role in tumorigenesis and invasion. Recent data demonstrates that human colon cancers have a 60% rate of RON overexpression. The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of RON silencing on tumor growth, invasion, downstream signal transduction, apoptosis and metastasis in a well characterized human colon cancer cell line, HCT116. METHODS: siRNA techniques targeting RON were used to stably transfect green fluorescent protein labeled HCT116 (which has a high level of RON expression) with a pSuper.retro vector (HCT116 siRNA RON). An empty vector transfection was used to generate a control cell line (HCT116 pSR). In vitro assessment of the 2 cell lines in regards to RON level, cell growth and motility was conducted by Western blot, colony formation and wound healing assays, respectively. Apoptosis was measured by PARP cleavage assay. In vivo growth was assessed by xenograft growth curves in BALB/c nude mice. Metastatic ability was assessed by microsurgical orthotopic implantation of tumor xenograft and fluorescence imaging in BALB/c nude mice. Four weeks post implantation, animals were sacrificed and tissues were procured for histological evaluation. RESULTS: HCT116 siRNA RON demonstrated decreased RON levels as compared to HCT116 pSR on Western blot analysis. The siRNA transfectants also demonstrated decreased colony formation and wound healing abilities as compared to control cells. Downstream activation of AKT was decreased in the siRNA RON cells as well on Western analysis with phosphoantibody. Increased apoptosis in siRNA RON cells was demonstrated by PARP cleavage assays. In vivo xenograft growth curves demonstrated growth inhibition in siRNA RON cells. In vivo orthotopic implantation and fluorescence imaging at 4 weeks post implantation demonstrated decreased peritoneal and distant metastasis. At necropsy 8 of 8 (100%) of the pSR vector control animals had distant metastases to either the liver or the lungs compared to 2 of 9 (22%) animals implanted with the RON siRNA xenografts. The burden of metastases was also higher in the pSR control cell lines. On average, there were 2 lung metastases in the RON siRNA animals with lung metastases and a mean of 14 lung metastases in animals with the pSR control vector. CONCLUSIONS: Decreased expression of RON in HCT116 via siRNA transfection resulted in decreased colony formation, cell motility and increased apoptosis as demonstrated by in vitro assays. Furthermore, in vivo assays demonstrated decreased xenograft growth and metastatic ability in an orthotopic model using cells with siRNA RON. These data suggest that RON may be a novel target for molecularly based therapies in patients with advanced colorectal malignancy.
Hydromechanical modelling to evaluate impact of fault structure on CO2 migration in stacked storage system

Abstract Faulting processes produce a complex fault damage zone (FDZ) having permeability variations over several orders of magnitude within a very short distance. In this study we use an example normal fault system from a depleted oil field in southern Louisiana with multiple stacked sand beds along the fault structure. Geostatistical techniques are used to introduce heterogeneities of several orders of magnitude over very short distances that honor the across- and along-fault architecture of the system. A total of 15 cases are simulated to account for the impact of a fragmented core, an intact core and a naturally fractured core on inter-sand leakage rates. The presented results show the complex nature of CO2 migration within the fault structure, where an interplay between overcoming the fault core’s high capillary entry pressure and stress propagation in the vertical direction dictates the leakage direction and rates. It is observed that hydromechanical evolution of fracture flow properties may result in significant leakage from the storage zone. In one case with small caprock thickness, a loss of 18% of the total injected mass is observed. The results presented highlight some unique features of representative fault related leakage in stacked sand systems and thus will be beneficial for storage integrity analysis in these systems.
Polarized monolithic white semipolar (20–21) InGaN light-emitting diodes grown on high quality (20–21) GaN/sapphire templates and its application to visible light communication

Abstract We demonstrate efficient, polarized and monolithic white semipolar (20–21) InGaN light-emitting diodes (LEDs) grown on high crystal quality 4-inch (20–21) GaN/sapphire template. Materials growth by metal-organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) and characterization by atom probe tomography (APT) were carried out. The fabricated regular 0.1 mm2 size LEDs show a high electrical performance with an output power of 3.9 mW at 100 mA, an emission spectrum with two peaks located at 445 nm and 565 nm, a CIE point of (0.37, 0.42) and a polarization ratio of 0.30, which make them promising candidates for backlighting in liquid crystal displays (LCDs) application. Moreover, the fabricated square phosphor-free white μLED with size ranging from 20 to 60 μm, exhibit a high 3 dB modulation bandwidth of 660 MHz in the visible light communication (VLC) system, which benefits from the shorter carrier lifetime grown on the semipolar (20–21) plane. To our best knowledge, this is the first demonstration of monolithic white semipolar μLEDs in the VLC application, which can overcome the limitation of the slow frequency response of yellow phosphors converted commercial white LEDs. These results demonstrate the huge potentials to produce high efficiency monolithic white semipolar InGaN LEDs on cost-effective large area sapphire substrates.
Participatory Budgeting for Environmental Justice

Corrective measures and remediation efforts aimed at alleviating the conditions of environmental injustice usually depend on federal or state funding. However, such resources could disappear, leavi...
Computational Thinking Education: Who Let the Dog Out?

Today, Computational Thinking is seen as an important competency and the fourth skill that every child should process. Several significant attempts have been made to increase a student's exposure to Computational Thinking at the K-12 level, however the process is complex and requires systematic planning and comprehensive curriculum. In this paper, we describe the STEPP-UP program that aims to introduce middle schoolers to Computational Thinking via Scratch and Java coding sessions. A comprehensive curriculum and hands-on activities are applied to introduce Computational Thinking for a total of 41 students for a period of five semesters from Fall 2017 until Fall 2019. To assess the learning objectives, we used three methods of evaluation; design-scenarios, paper-assessments, and learner-documentation. Findings indicate that the students have increased knowledge of Computational Thinking and its applications for problem solving.
Chapter 5 – Neurotrophic Factors

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses several classes of nervous system growth factors focusing on neurotrophic factors. In the peripheral nervous system (PNS), neurotrophic factors are survival factors for several classes of neurons. The availability of limited quantities of nerve growth factor (NGF) in a target-derived manner is essential for the survival of sympathetic neurons of the paravertebral ganglia, and for 70 to 80% of sensory neurons (nociceptors) in the dorsal root ganglia. In addition to regulating neuronal survival and function, neurotrophins modulate neuronal differentiation and synapse function during PNS development. Neurotrophins modulate several neuronal systems in the CNS. During development, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is required for the survival of vestibular neurons and neurotrophin-3 (NT-3) is required for the survival of most cochlear neurons. After injury, several neurotrophins protect injured or degenerating adult nervous system neurons and axons. NGF influences the survival and/or growth of several neuronal populations in the injured adult nervous system. It prevents the degeneration of basal forebrain cholinergic neurons after injury and as a result of normal aging in rats and primates. Other class of nervous system growth factors such as fibroblast growth factors, insulin and the insulin-like growth factors, and glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor are also presented.
Immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome after chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy for lymphoma: predictive biomarkers and clinical outcomes.

BACKGROUND CD19-directed chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy (CAR-T) has emerged as effective for relapsed/refractory large B-cell lymphoma (R/R LBCL). The neurologic toxicity seen with CAR-T, referred to as immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome (ICANS), is poorly understood. To better elucidate the clinical characteristics, treatment outcomes, and correlative biomarkers of ICANS, we review here a single-center analysis of ICANS after CAR T-cell therapy in R/R LBCL. METHODS Patients (n = 45) with R/R LBCL treated with axicabtagene ciloleucel (axi-cel) were identified. Data regarding treatment course, clinical outcomes, and correlative studies were collected. Patients were monitored and graded for ICANS via CARTOX-10 scoring and Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) v4.03 criteria, respectively. RESULTS Twenty-five (56%) patients developed ICANS, 18 (72%) of whom had severe (CTCAE grades 3-4) ICANS. Median time to development of ICANS was 5 days (range, 3-11). Elevated pre-infusion (day 0 [D0]) fibrinogen (517 vs 403 mg/dL, upper limit of normal [ULN] 438 mg/dL, P = 0.01) and D0 lactate dehydrogenase (618 vs 506 units/L, ULN 618 units/L, P = 0.04) were associated with ICANS. A larger drop in fibrinogen was associated with ICANS (393 vs 200, P < 0.01). Development of ICANS of any grade had no effect on complete remission (CR), progression-free survival (PFS), or overall survival (OS). Duration and total dose of steroid treatment administered for ICANS did not influence CR, PFS, or OS. CONCLUSIONS ICANS after CAR-T with axi-cel for R/R LBCL was seen in about half of patients, the majority of which were high grade. Contrary to previous reports, neither development of ICANS nor its treatment were associated with inferior CR, PFS, or OS. The novel finding of high D0 fibrinogen level can identify patients at higher risk for ICANS.
Contribution of gut microbiota in the pathogenesis of migraine headache

Abstract Migraine is a recurrent and commonly disabling condition characterized by unilateral or bilateral severe headache. This painful recurrence of migraine affects an estimated 36 million Americans, imposing significant health and financial burden. Migraine occurs more often in females than males. Susceptibility is multifactorial with genetic, hormonal, and environmental factors all playing an important role. The physiopathology of migraine is quite complex and not fully understood. Many different neuropeptides, neurotransmitters, and brain pathways have been implicated to play a role in migraine. Migraine headache is associated with number of neurologic and psychiatric disorders. Moreover, an increasing number of gastrointestinal (GI) disorders have been linked to the occurrence of migraine, suggesting that gut microbiota might play a pivotal role in migraine through the gut-brain axis (GBA). Here, I discuss the importance of lifestyle for the maintenance of healthy gut microbiota, which may help with migraine management, and offer potential promising treatment strategies.
Matching Methods for Confounder Adjustment: An Addition to the Epidemiologist's Toolbox.

Propensity score weighting and outcome regression are popular ways to adjust for observed confounders in epidemiological research. Here, we provide an introduction to matching methods, which serve the same purpose but can offer advantages in robustness and performance. A key difference between matching and weighting methods is that matching methods do not directly rely on the propensity score and so are less sensitive to its misspecification or to the presence of extreme values. Matching methods offer many options for customization, which allow a researcher to incorporate substantive knowledge and carefully manage bias/variance trade-offs in estimating the effects of nonrandomized exposures. We review these options and their implications, providing guidance for their use, and comparison with weighting methods. Because of their potential advantages over other methods, matching methods should have their place in an epidemiologist's methodological toolbox.
Fatigue Management Strategies for the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy

Operation of the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy entails a great deal of night-time work, with the potential for both acute and chronic sleep loss, as well as circadian rhythm dysynchrony. Such fatigue can result in performance decrements, with an increased risk of operator error. The NASA Dryden Flight Research Center manages this fatigue risk by means of a layered approach, to include: 1) Education and Training 2) Work Schedule Scoring 3) Obtained Sleep Metrics 4) Workplace and Operational Mitigations and 5) Incident or Accident Investigation. Specifically, quantitative estimation of the work schedule score, as well as the obtained sleep metric, allows Supervisors and Managers to better manage the risk of fatigue within the context of mission requirements.
Brief of Professors of Civil Procedure and Federal Practice as Amici Curiae in Support of Respondents in Ashcroft v. Iqbal

The decision of the Supreme Court in Bell Atlantic Corp. v. Twombly caused confusion among lower courts, the practicing bar and the academy regarding the current status of pleading standards under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 8(a)(2). The Court appears poised to respond to that confusion in Ashcroft v. Iqbal, a case that raises the question of heightened pleading standards in the specific context of a high government official's assertion of a qualified immunity defense. This amicus brief offers the Court an opportunity to reaffirm its commitment to Rule 8(a)(2)'s short and plain statement standard and to the rulemaking process established under the Rules Enabling Act, without at the same time repudiating its opinion in Bell Atlantic. The brief also discusses the relationship between pleading standards and the qualified immunity defense, and attempts to demonstrate that assertion of that defense should not alter the long-established short and plain standards of Rule 8(a)(2).
DG2VHDL: A Tool to Facilitate the High Level Synthesisof Parallel Processing Array Architectures

We present DG2VHDL, a design tool which can automatically translate abstract algorithmic descriptions, known as Dependence Graphs, to synthesizable VHDL models and testbenches representative of distributed memory and control processor arrays, known as Signal Flow Graphs. This translation facilitates the rapid exploration of the large space of available parallel architectures for a given problem and frees the designer from having to code and test separately, using a Hardware Description Language, every candidate architecture under consideration. It is shown that the quality and scalability of the automatically generated VHDL models is near optimal, in the sense that the time required to synthesize them as well as the area of the resulting hardware grows at the lowest possible rate with the problem size. This makes possible the high level synthesis of processor arrays for large size real world problems, such as the computation of the Discrete Wavelet Transform and the estimation of Higher Order Statistics, that are presented as case studies.
Ultra-Stable Cavity-Stabilized Lasers with Subhertz Linewidth

Many of the most interesting new applications for optical sources will depend essentially on the well-advertised properties of the laser, namely coherence and short wavelength relative to laboratory dimensions. Attractive measurement possibilities include improved tests of cherished principles in physics such as Lorentz invariance [1] and the absence of preferred-frame or “one-way” effects in the propagation of light [2]. The implications of any observed non-null result would be so profound that it is essential to explore each new avenue when the advance of technology allows a possibility of dramatic improvement.
Water intoxication associated with oxytocin administration during saline-induced abortion

Four cases of water intoxication in connection with oxytocin administration during saline-induced abortions are described. The mechanism of water intoxication is discussed in regard to these cases. Oxytocin administration during midtrimester-induced abortions is advocated only if it can be carried out under careful observations of an alert nursing staff, aware of the symptoms of water intoxication and instructed to watch the diuresis and report such early signs of the syndrome as asthenia, muscular irritability, or headaches. The oxytocin should be given only in Ringers lactate or, alternately, in Ringers lactate and a 5 per cent dextrose and water solutions. The urinary output should be monitored and the oxytocin administration discontinued and the serum electrolytes checked if the urinary output decreases. The oxytocin should not be administered in excess of 36 hours. If the patient has not aborted by then the oxytocin should be discontinued for 10 to 12 hours in order to perform electrolyte determinations and correct any electrolyte imbalance.
Effects of tree morphometry on net snow cover radiation on forest floor for varying vegetation densities

[1] Using a forest radiation model, this paper explores the effects of tree morphometric parameters and shape on net snow cover radiation on the forest floor. Results show that tree shape, height and crown size and density have significant effects on the amount of radiation on forest floor and its variation with vegetation density. In clear sky conditions, where net radiation frequently shows a nonmonotonic decreasing then increasing trend with increasing vegetation density, a smaller radiation minimum is obtained for taller trees, larger and denser crowns, and cylindrical-shaped crowns. The obtained radiation minimum is also expressed at a smaller vegetation density for these tree configurations. In contrast, trees with smaller crown dimensions show propensity for a monotonically decreasing trend in net radiation with increasing vegetation density. The sensitivity to tree morphometric parameters, especially tree height and crown width and density, on forest floor radiation are however relatively modest for interspersed cloudy conditions. The results will facilitate identification of forest management strategies to minimize or maximize net radiation in snow-dominated forested watersheds and will allow intercomparison of snowmelt rates between forests with different vegetation densities and morphological characteristics. Citation: Seyednasrollah, B., and M. Kumar (2013), Effects of tree morphometry on net snow cover radiation on forest floor for varying vegetation densities, J. Geophys. Res. Atmos., 118, doi:10.1002/2012JD019378.
Bis[[(1R,1″R)‐3,3″‐[(1R,2R)‐1,2‐cyclohexanediylbis[(nitrilo‐κN)methylidyne]]bis[2′‐phenyl[1,1′‐binaphthalen]‐2‐olato‐κO]](2‐)]di‐μ‐oxodi‐titanium and Bis[[(1S,1″S)‐3,3″‐[(1S,2S)‐1,2‐cyclohexanediylbis[(nitrilo‐κN)methylidyne]]bis[2′‐phenyl[1,1′‐binaphthalen]‐2‐olato‐κO]](2‐)]di‐μ‐oxodi‐titanium

[357208-47-0, R,R isomer] InChI = 1S/2C60H46N2O2.2O.2Ti/c2*63-59-45(35-43-23-9-13-27-49(43)57(59)55-47-25-11-7-21-41(47)31-33-51(55)39-17-3-1-4-18-39)37-61-53-29-15-16-30-54(53)62-38-46-36-44-24-10-14-28-50(44)58(60(46)64)56-48-26-12-8-22-42(48)32-34-52(56)40-19-5-2-6-20-40;;;;/h2*1-14,17-28,31-38,53-54,63-64H,15-16,29-30H2;;;;/q;;;;2*+2/p-4/b2*61-37+,62-38+;;;;/t2*53-,54-;;;;/m11..../s1 InChIKey = ZJQFHYONTWBEDD-LBGZGEJGSA-J [393573-36-9, S,S isomer] InChI = 1S/2C60H46N2O2.2O.2Ti/c2*63-59-45(35-43-23-9-13-27-49(43)57(59)55-47-25-11-7-21-41(47)31-33-51(55)39-17-3-1-4-18-39)37-61-53-29-15-16-30-54(53)62-38-46-36-44-24-10-14-28-50(44)58(60(46)64)56-48-26-12-8-22-42(48)32-34-52(56)40-19-5-2-6-20-40;;;;/h2*1-14,17-28,31-38,53-54,63-64H,15-16,29-30H2;;;;/q;;;;2*+2/p-4/b2*61-37+,62-38+;;;;/t2*53-,54-;;;;/m00..../s1 InChIKey = ZJQFHYONTWBEDD-ZWCSAJONSA-J (catalyst used for asymmetric oxidation of sulfides, 1,3-dithiolanes, 1,3-dithianes, 1,3-oxathiolanes, and 1,3-oxathianes in conjunction with hydrogen peroxide–urea complex) Alternate Names: (R,R)- or (S,S)-di-μ-oxo Ti(salen) catalyst. Physical Data: yellow solid;1 molecular weight: 1777.74; specific rotation of (R,R)-di-μ-oxo complex: = −372 ° (c 0.030, CHCl3).2 Solubility: soluble in methylene chloride, chloroform, and methanol.1, 2 Preparative Methods: prepared by the reaction of the corresponding monomeric dichloro-Ti(salen) complex with water in methylene chloride in the presence of triethylamine as a base.1 The preparation of dichloro-Ti(salen) complex is reported.2 Handling, Storage, and Precautions: as information regarding this complex stability is unavailable, use immediately after preparation. Reactions should be run on anhydrous conditions, including methanol. Consult MSDS regarding safety information on all chemicals involved in the preparation and use of this complex
Diurnal cycles and work-rest scheduling in unusual environments.

The extension of man's working environment and its control have lead to a new consideration of his “normal“ neuro-physiological and psychological rhythms. There are some fifty such patterns of fluc...
CHILD syndrome caused by deficiency of 3beta-hydroxysteroid-delta8, delta7-isomerase.

CHILD (congenital hemidysplasia, ichthyosis, and limb defects) syndrome is a rare, usually sporadic disorder associated with unilateral distribution of ichthyosiform skin lesions, limb defects, punctate calcifications of cartilaginous structures, and visceral anomalies. CHILD syndrome shares some manifestations with X-linked dominant Conradi-Hunermann syndrome (CDPX2), although the skeletal defects and skin lesions in CDPX2 are bilateral and asymmetric. Because CDPX2 patients have abnormal 8-dehydrosterol metabolism caused by mutations in 3beta-hydroxysteroid-delta8,delta7-isomerase, we measured plasma sterols in a patient with CHILD syndrome and found levels of 8-dehydrocholesterol and 8(9)-cholestenol increased to the same degree as in CDPX2 patients. Subsequently, we identified a nonsense mutation in exon 3 of the patient's 3beta-hydroxysteroid-delta8,delta7-isomerase gene. We speculate that at least some cases of CHILD syndrome are allelic with CDPX2 caused by 3beta-hydroxysteroid-delta8,delta7-isomerase deficiency.
Outside of social movements: Dilemmas of indigenous handicrafts vendors in Guatemala

In Antigua, Guatemala, Maya handicrafts vendors work in a tourism marketplace that brings together multiple ethnolinguistic groups and international visitors. In this article I discuss the interrelationship between occupation and social movements to examine the essentialized identities propagated by the Maya Movement and Ladino racism. I argue that making a living helps shape the interrelated processes of economic and political mobilization. I use work and local political contexts, in particular, to illustrate why vendors do not embrace established social movements.
Simultaneous measurement of TPNH formation and respiration following fertilization of the sea urchin egg

Abstract The preceding paper showed that an early metabolic change following fertilization of the sea urchin egg was the conversion of part of the cell's DPN into TPNHand TPNH ( Epel, 1964 ). The earliness and rapidity of this conversion version suggested that this reaction might be involved in the activation of the post-fertilization metabolism. Another metabolic change which occurs after fertilization is a large increase in respiratory rate (reviewed by Rothschild, 1957 ). This increase undoubtedly reflects the post-fertilization activation of DNA synthesis (e.g., Nemer, 1962 ), protein synthesis ( Hultin, 1961 ; Wilt and Hultin, 1962 ; Nemer, 1963 ), ion transport ( Monroy-Oddo and Esposito, 1951 ), and other reactions associated with cell division and early differentiation. This paper reports on the simultaneous measurements of the post-fertilization TPNH formation and increase in respiratory rate. Besides the importance of knowing the temporal sequence of these two changes, such measurements should also indicate whether TPN-TPNH formation is directly involved with metabolic activation, or is a secondary consequence of it.
Presenting Two Brief Versions of the Scientist Practitioner Inventory

In the interest of advancing theory and research on the Boulder model of training in psychology and as an aid to career counseling for specialty choice in psychology, Leong and Zachar (1991) developed the Scientist Practitioner Inventory, which measures interests in activities associated with the role of academic-scientist in psychology and activities associated with the role of clinical-practitioner in psychology. The present article reports the refinement of the SPI into two brief versions. Brief Version A (SPI-18) is an 18-item inventory aimed at efficiency in measurement. Brief Version B (SPI-20) is a 20- item inventory aimed at purity of measurement. Factorial structure of both versions are investigated. Evidence for internal consistency, test-retest reliability, and concurrent validity is demonstrated.
Buoyancy-Driven Circulation in an Ocean Basin with Isopycnals Intersecting the Sloping Boundary

Abstract The dynamics that govern the spreading of a convectively formed water mass in an ocean with sloping boundaries are examined using an isopycnal model that permits the interface between the layers to intersect the sloping boundaries. The simulations presented here use a two-layer configuration to demonstrate some of the pronounced differences in a baroclinically forced flow between the response in a basin with a flat bottom and vertical walls and a more realistic basin bounded by a sloping bottom. Each layer has a directly forced signal that propagates away from the forcing along the potential vorticity (PV) contours of that layer. Paired, opposed boundary currents are generated by refracted topographic Rossby waves, rather than Kelvin waves. It is impossible to decompose the flow into globally independent baroclinic and barotropic modes; topography causes the barotropic (i.e., depth averaged) response to buoyancy forcing to be just as strong as the baroclinic response. Because layer PV contours di...
A near-resonance solution to the bloch equations and its application to RF pulse design

Abstract A near-resonance expansion of the solution to the Bloch equations in the presence of a radiofrequency (RF) pulse is presented in this paper. The first-order approximation explicitly demonstrates the nonlinear nature of the Bloch equations and precisely relates the excitation profile with the RF pulse when the flip angle is less than π/2. As an application of this solution, we present a procedure for designing RF pulses to generate symmetric excitation profiles with arbitrary shapes for new encoding approaches such as wavelet encoding.
Transition metal complexes of 2-amino-3,5-dihalopyridines: Syntheses, structures and magnetic properties of (3,5-diCAPH)2CuX4 and (3,5-diBAPH)2CuX4

A family of bis(2-amino-3,5-dihalopyridinium)tetrahalocuprate(II) compounds has been synthesized, including (3,5-diCAPH)2CuCl4 (1), (3,5-diCAPH)2CuBr4 (2), (3,5-diBAPH)2CuCl4 (3), and (3,5-diBAPH)2CuBr4 (4) [3,5-diCAPH = 2-amino-3,5-dichloropyridinium; 3,5-diBAPH = 2-amino-3,5-dibromopyridinium]. These complexes have been analyzed through single crystal X-ray diffraction and temperature dependent magnetic susceptibility. Compound 1 crystallizes in the P-1 space group and the tetrachlorocuprate ion is best described as possessing a distorted square planar geometry. Compounds 2-4 are structurally similar and crystallized in the P21/n, P21/c, and P21/n space groups respectively. The tetrahalocuprate ions are best described as distorted tetrahedra. All four compounds show antiferromagnetic interactions and were fit to the uniform chain Heisenberg model with resulting 2J/kB values of -11.71(2) K, -2.21(1) K, -12.43 (2) K, and -1.36(1) K, respectively. The exchange values correlate well with the two-halide exchange pathway parameters. The unusual observation that the chloride complexes show stronger magnetic exchange than the bromide complexes provides strong support that the exchange can be strongly dependent upon the Cu-X⋯X angles and Cu-X⋯X-Cu torsion angles.
Synthesis and spectroscopic properties of a soluble semiconducting porphyrin polymer

A semiconducting porphyrin polymer that is solution processable and soluble in organic solvents has been synthesized, and its spectroscopic and electrochemical properties have been investigated. The polymer consists of diarylporphyrin units that are linked at meso-positions by aminophenyl groups, thus making the porphyrin rings an integral part of the polymer backbone. Hexyl chains on two of the aryl groups impart solubility. The porphyrin units interact only weakly in the ground electronic state. Excitation produces a local excited state that rapidly evolves into a state with charge-transfer character (CT) involving the amino nitrogen and the porphyrin macrocycle. Singlet excitation energy is transferred between porphyrin units in the chain with a time constant of ca. 210 ps. The final CT state has a lifetime of several nanoseconds, and the first oxidation of the polymer occurs at ca. 0.58 V vs. SCE. These properties make the polymer a suitable potential excited state electron donor to a variety of fullerenes or other acceptor species, suggesting that the polymer may find use in organic photovoltaics, sensors, and similar applications.
Effects of Voids at Three‐Grain Junctions on Sintering and Creep Damage

An analysis of the growth and shrinkage rates of ellipsoidal voids on three-grain junctions is presented. The predicted rates are compared with those for cylindrical pores on the same interfaces. It is demonstrated that the sintering of ellipsoidal pores occurs more rapidly, by virtue of the increased surface curvature. The formation of such pores by the Rayleigh instability mechanism thus appears to constitute an important step in final stage sintering. Conversely, under creep loading, cylindrical voids grow at a faster rate, suggesting that creep damage develops more slowly when discrete ellipsoidal voids are maintained on three-grain junctions.
MOBILE ELEMENTS INSERTED IN THE DISTANT PAST HAVE TAKEN ON IMPORTANT FUNCTIONS

Current evidence on the long-term evolutionary effect of insertion of sequence elements is reviewed. There are three criteria for inclusion of an example: (i) the element was inserted far in the past and thus the event is not a transient mutation; (ii) the element is a member of a large group of similar sequences; (iii) the element now serves a useful function. There are 21 examples from Drosophila, sea urchin, human and mouse genomes that meet these criteria. Taken together, these examples show that the insertion of sequence elements in the genome has been a significant source of regulatory variation in evolution.
Derivation of the “switch function” in the Mead–Larson–Doi theory

The “switch function” is rigorously derived from first principles and is shown to be a fundamental and essential feature of any constraint release model for Doi–Edwards-type molecular models that invoke the concept of a discrete slip-link tube with separate descriptions of orientation and stretch. The switch function self-consistently apportions the fraction of Kuhn bond orientation relaxation attributed to tube stretch and orientation such that the same net fraction of Kuhn bond orientational relaxation per constraint release event occurs independent of the level of tube stretch, provided the chain obeys Gaussian statistics. The switch function is derived for the particular case of the Mead–Larson–Doi (MLD) model, with constraint release-driven tube shortening quantified by \(\frac{1}{2}(\lambda -1)\). The MLD switch function is generalized to account for arbitrary non-Gaussian, levels of finite tube stretch. The MLD model tube-shortening process is also impacted by non-Gaussian, finite extensibility, effects and is generalized utilizing a second-moment Kuhn–Grun analysis. It is shown by performing a fourth-moment analysis of the Kuhn bond orientation that the same switch function derived by analyzing the second moment also applies to the fourth moment in the small stretch Gaussian limit.
Infinite-range interactions and Lorentz covariance

Long-range interactions, such as electromagnetism and gravitation, lead to exchanges of angular momentum and other observables which may persist indefinitely after scattering. These exchanges modify the Lorentz transformation properties of observables associated with the particles coming out of a scattering event. In particular, if the scattering occurs in the presence of a momentum-analyzing magnet of strength $e{a}^{\ensuremath{-}2}$, one can expect failures of covariance in spin and momentum of order ${(\frac{{r}_{\mathrm{cl}}}{a})}^{2}{\ensuremath{\beta}}^{\ensuremath{-}3}$, where ${r}_{\mathrm{cl}}$ is the classical electron radius and $\ensuremath{\beta}$ is the relative velocity of the scattering particles. Without the external field we find linear momentum, helicity, and charge transform properly but total angular momentum (probably not directly measurable) does not. This last result is connected with the infrared catastrophe.
No disgust recognition deficit in obsessive–compulsive disorder

Abstract Background: Patients with basal ganglia abnormalities misclassify facial expressions of disgust as expressions of anger when asked to identify the emotion depicted in photographs of individuals displaying different emotions. Sprengelmeyer, Young, Pundt et al. (1997) reported a similar disgust recognition deficit in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)—an anxiety disorder associated with basal ganglia abnormality. Methods: In the present experiment, we attempted to replicate Sprengelmeyer, Young, Pundt et al.'s (1997) findings. Results: We failed to replicate Sprengelmeyer, Young, Pundt et al.'s finding of disgust recognition deficits in OCD patients relative to healthy control subjects. One patient with especially severe OCD did, however, exhibit impairment by misclassifying disgust expressions as anger expressions. Discussion: These data do not confirm the presence of disgust recognition deficits in individuals with OCD. In light of the deficits exhibited by one subject with severe OCD, disgust recognition deficits may be confined to an unidentified subset of people with OCD.
Investigation of laser modulation by modifying the internal reflection barrier

The well-known problem of penetration through an internally reflecting barrier is treated as it relates to the extraction of a laser beam from an internally reflecting cavity. A quantity d logT/d logn which relates the fractional change of transmittance to the fractional change of refractive index is defined and is shown to be large for large barrier spacing. It is suggested that this strong dependence of transmittance on the value of n may be used in studying and controlling laser beams.
On-Line Multicast Scheduling with Bounded Congestion in Fat-Tree Data Center Networks

Multicast benefits numerous data center applications that require group communication by eliminating sending unnecessary duplicated packets in the network, thus significantly reduces network traffic and improves application throughput. Meanwhile, most data center networks (DCNs) today adopt a multi-rooted tree structure called fat-tree, which utilizes rich path multiplicity to deliver high bisection bandwidth. However, without an efficient flow scheduling algorithm that appropriately routes multicast flows to achieve traffic load balance, heavy congestion may occur throughout the network, which prevents full utilization of such high degree of link parallelism and causes unpredictable network performance. Hence, in this paper we study multicast flow scheduling in fat-tree DCNs, where multicast flow requests arrive one by one without a priori knowledge of future traffic. To address the drastic traffic fluctuation in data centers, we consider a very general traffic model called hose traffic model, where the only assumption is that the total bandwidth demand of traffic that enters (leaves) an ingress (egress) link of each server at any time is bounded by the capacity of its network interface card. We present a low-complexity on-line multicast flow scheduling algorithm for fat-tree DCNs. The algorithm can achieve bounded congestion and efficient bandwidth utilization under any arbitrary sequence of multicast flow requests that satisfy the hose model. We also derive the bound on congestion that the algorithm can achieve in a fat-tree DCN. Finally, we evaluate the algorithm by an event-driven DCN simulator under various types of traffic patterns, and show that the algorithm achieves superior performance in terms of network throughput and evenness of traffic load distribution.
Nanostructure matrix interactions in methacrylate composites

Abstract A self assembled nanostructure with –OH functionality having the chemical formula [(DMSO)(MeOH)Cu2(benzene-1,3-dicarboxylate-5-OH)2]12 has been incorporated into two polymeric systems. This nanoparticle is rhombihexahedral in shape and possesses 24 hydroxyl groups on the surface. Its incorporation into poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) gives rise to a hydrogel in which an increase in the glass transition and degree of crosslinking is observed. The nanocomposites are optically transparent and show enhanced interfacial interaction between the two components. An opposite effect is observed upon the inclusion of the nanoparticle in poly(methyl methacrylate) via in situ ultrasonic polymerization. In this study the thermal, dielectric and mechanical data are used to characterize these novel nanocomposites.
Measurement of the rate of copper(II) exchange for 64Cu complexes of bifunctional chelators

Abstract Measurement of the rate of loss of 64 Cu from the chelators used in the preparation of 64 Cu-labeled proteins is critical to the development of effective 64 Cu-labeled radiopharmaceuticals. Typically, however, this assessment has been made indirectly, by comparison of the relative uptake of the labeled proteins in the liver, or under non-physiological conditions such as hot 5 M HCl. In the present study, we measured the rate of loss of 64 Cu from a series of chelators (DOTA, TETA, and NOTA) that are commonly used to label proteins as a function of [Cu 2+ ] (1, 2, and 5 μM) and pH (7.5, 6.0. and 5.0). We found that 64 Cu-NOTA is somewhat more kinetically stable than 64 Cu-TETA and that both 64 Cu-NOTA and 64 Cu-TETA are much more kinetically stable than 64 Cu-DOTA. Furthermore, the rate of loss of 64 Cu from Cu-DOTA increased with higher [Cu 2+ ] and pH while the rate of loss of 64 Cu from Cu-TETA and Cu-NOTA was minimally dependent on [Cu 2+ ] and pH. These results suggest that NOTA is preferable to TETA and DOTA for the preparation of 64 Cu-labeled proteins.
The Shape of the First Collapsed Objects

In the early seventies, there was a conjecture (based on the Zel'dovich approximate solution) that the first collapse of a self-gravitating dustlike medium (appropriate approximation for nonbaryonic dark matter) results in the formation of a ``pancake'' object that is a thin surface. Recent works cast doubt on the Zel'dovich conjecture, suggesting that the first collapse might be pointlike or filamentlike rather than pancakelike. Our $N$-body simulations show first pancake collapse. We can reject with 97% confidence the Bayesian prior that the other kinds of collapse are more or equally probable.
Epidemiology and genetics of allergic rhinitis and asthma

The science of understanding the familial constellation of asthma and allergic rhinitis until only recently focused on twin studies and anecdotal observation. At the beginning of my academic career in the early 1980s, I was assigned to review the results of twin data that had been accumulated in a family asthma project under the direction of Robert G. Townley at Creighton University. Over the next year, we struggled with the mountain of data, and eventually published a report in The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. This experience imprinted a permanent interest in this topic. Within the past five years, the field of asthma and allergic diseases has seen an incredible expansion of the knowledge about the genetics of these common clinical processes, while epidemiological studies point to nearly doubled rates for asthma over the past 15 years, and increasing incidences of other allergic diseases. The race to find the gene(s) responsible for allowing these diseases to develop takes on greater medical and societal importance every day. To review the most recent information regarding these important issues, at both the research and clinical levels, this current issue of Clinical Reviews in Allergy and Immunology starts with an up-to-date review of the genetic methods used to analyze complex human diseases. This leads to what information is known about asthma as a genetic disease. Asthma is then examined as a clinical entity, covering its presentation in infants and children, and then in young and older adults, focusing on asthma in less-traditional, and often, less-recognized times of clini-
Determination of phenol in the presence of sulfite (sulfur dioxide) by the 4-aminoantipyrine spectro-photometric method

Abstract The interference of sulfite (sulfur dioxide) with the 4-aminoantipyrine (4-AAP) spectrophotometric method for phenol is discussed for procedures without distillation, and with distillation in the absence and presence of copper(II) sulfate. Sulfite represses the color development in all these procedures. Without chloroform extraction, the maximum tolerable amounts of sulfite in the procedures without distillation, distillation without copper(II) sulfate, and distillation with copper(II) sulfate are 15, 10, and 20 mg/100 ml, respectively. For the extraction method, the limits are 4.0, 4.0, and 10 mg/ 100 ml, respectively. Copprer(II) sulfate catalyzes the air-oxidation of sulfite. Phenol can be determined in the presence of large amounts of sulfite by treating with sulfide to form polythionates and thiosulfate; excess of sulfide is removed with copper(II) sulfate, sulfuric acid is added, the phenol is distilled, and the 4-AAP method is applied. Improvements are made in the overall accuracy of the 4-AAP method.
Comparison of instantaneous crystallization and metastable models in phase change memory cells

Phase change memory (PCM) is a possible competitor for future generation non-volatile storage class memory due to its fast writing speed and aggressively scaled packing density [1]. In PCM cells current is confined through narrow conductive paths to create high current densities in a chalcogenide material (Ge 2 Sb 2 Te5 or GST is most commonly used). The resulting heat allows the material to switch between crystalline (set) and amorphous (reset) states, changing the cell's resistance by ∼10–104 times [2] depending on the cell dimensions. Less energy is required for melting smaller regions, therefore aggressive cell scaling results in reduced power and increased packing density. The properties of GST change by orders of magnitude as a function of temperature, and thus understanding its thermal dependency is crucial to accurately model phase change memory cell operation.
Catadioptric lens development for DUV and VUV projection optics

According to the International Technology Roadmap for Semiconductors (ITRS), the 65nm technology node is forecast to appear in 2007. In this paper, we propose two specifications for the projection optics at 65nm nodes. The one is over 1.0 numerical aperture (NA) at 193nm lithography by liquid immersion. The other is 0.85 NA at 157nm lithography. Since it almost impossible for traditional dioptric optics to realize these specifications, catadioptric is supposedly the leading optics for an extreme optical lithography, like 65nm node. Described in the paper are feasibility study for catadioptric optics, and our assembly strategy. Emphasis is placed on our selection methodology among a variety of catadioptric configurations.
Quantum de Finetti Theorem under Fully-One-Way Adaptive Measurements

We prove a version of the quantum de Finetti theorem: permutation-invariant quantum states are well approximated as a probabilistic mixture of multifold product states. The approximation is measured by distinguishability under measurements that are implementable by fully-one-way local operations and classical communication (LOCC). Our result strengthens Brand\~ao and Harrow's de Finetti theorem where a kind of partially-one-way LOCC measurements was used for measuring the approximation, with essentially the same error bound. As main applications, we show (i) a quasipolynomial-time algorithm which detects multipartite entanglement with an amount larger than an arbitrarily small constant (measured with a variant of the relative entropy of entanglement), and (ii) a proof that in quantum Merlin-Arthur proof systems, polynomially many provers are not more powerful than a single prover when the verifier is restricted to one-way LOCC operations.
Analysis of the Role of 5′ Promoter Elements and 3′ Flanking Sequences on the Expression of a Baculovirus Polyhedron Envelope Protein Gene

The polyhedron envelope protein gene of the Orgyia pseudotsugata multinucleocapsid nuclear polyhedrosis virus (OpMNPV) is the third in a series of five open reading frames (ORFs 1-5) oriented in the same direction. Individual mRNAs initiate at conserved late gene promoter/mRNA start site (A/GTAAG) sequences located upstream of each ORF and the mRNAs co-terminate after the fifth ORF. To examine the influence of transcription from upstream promoter elements and the presence of an extensive 3' flanking sequence on the expression of the polyhedron envelope protein gene, the region was cloned into a phagemid vector and a BamHi site was inserted downstream of the ATG by site-directed mutagenesis and used for the insertion of a chloroamphenicol acetyl transferase (CAT) reporter gene. A set of clones were constructed in which individual or combinations of the late promoter elements from OFs 1, 2, and 3 were destroyed by site-directed mutagenesis. These plasmid constructs were transfected into Lymantria dispar cells infected with OpMNPV and cell extracts were assayed for CAT activity. Inactivation of the late promoter element immediately 5' of the polyhedron envelope protein gene led to a 96% decrease in CAT expression. Destruction of the ORF 2 late promoter element, or both the ORF 1 and ORF 2 late promoter elements, or deletion of the entire region containing ORFs 1 and 2 resulted in a 17 to 35% increase in CAT expression. In contrast, inactivation of the ORF 1 promoter alone resulted in no increase in CAT expression. Deletions of 3' flanking sequences of the polyhedron envelope protein gene caused major reduction in both CAT activity and steady-state levels of CAT mRNA.