cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Comparison of photodesorption yields from aluminum, stainless and Cu-plated beam tubes

Abstract Photon Stimulated Desorption (PSD) from the walls of beam ducts constitutes the most serious gas load in storage rings and therefore exerts a great influence on both beam quality and lifetime. With the exception of the SSC which plans to use a Cu-plated beam tube, all existing and proposed machines use either aluminum or stainless steel beam tubes. In order to develop techniques for producing surfaces with the lowest PSD, we have studied the above materials using dedicated beam line at the National Synchroton Light Source (NSLS). Three meter long tubes were exposed to white light beams having critical energy of 500 eV and the desorption yields were measured as a function of beam dose. Several treatments commonly used for cleaning surfaces (prebaked, baked, fired, chemically cleaned and dc glow discharged) were investigated, and their relative merits are discussed. The results from sample tube measurements are compared with those from the X-ray ring Al beam tube during operation. The agreement is found to be quite good. Glow discharge cleaned stainless steel exhibited the lowest desorption yield.
Non-linear flexural-flexural-torsional-extensional dynamics of beams—II. Response analysis

Abstract The importance of including the effects of non-linear inertia and curvature in the analysis of the motion of a beam with a constant distance between supports is assessed. For this, the non-linear response of clamped-clamped and clamped-pinned beams to a harmonic load of frequency near the undamped natural frequency of the beam is investigated by a perturbation method.
The paracholedochal vein: a feasible option as portal inflow in living donor liver transplantation

Extensive thrombosis of the portal and splenomesenteric veins combined with cavernous transformation of the portal vein (CTPV) has been considered to be a contraindication for living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) due to technical difficulties and perioperative risks. In recent years, several surgical innovations including cavoportal hemitransposition, renoportal anastomosis, and portal arterialization have been introduced to overcome diffuse portal vein thrombosis (PVT) and CTPV, but their outcomes were unsatisfactory with significant morbidity and mortality. Herein, we report two successful cases of adult LDLT in diffuse PVT with CTPV managed using the paracholedochal vein as portal inflow to the graft.
Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score has higher responsiveness and lower ceiling effect than Knee Society Function Score after total knee arthroplasty.

To compare the following subjective scoring instruments: the Knee Society Function (KS-F) Score and Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) in patients who underwent total knee arthroplasty (TKA) by assessing standard metrics related to the utility of each instrument, including responsiveness, ceiling effect, and distribution of scores. Patients undergoing TKA for osteoarthritis (n = 82) were evaluated pre-operatively and post-operatively at a median time of 1 year (range 0.7–3.6 years) using the KS-F score and KOOS. Responsiveness, the ability of a tool to measure change over time, was evaluated by computing the standardized response mean. Ceiling effects were determined by calculating the percentage of patients who attained the best-possible score. The KOOS scale had higher standardized response mean than KS-F scale in the majority of subsections (except sports and recreation). The KOOS had a lower ceiling effect in the majority of subsections (except pain) and was significantly lower on the symptoms and quality of life subscales (both p < 0.05). Scores were not normally distributed for either KS-F or KOOS scales. Since the KOOS scale had a higher responsiveness and a lower ceiling effect, it appears to be a superior outcome tool versus the KS-F scale when evaluating the outcomes of TKA patients. Diagnostic Study, Level I.
Multi-layer parallel decoding algorithm and vlsi architecture for quasi-cyclic LDPC codes

We propose a multi-layer parallel decoding algorithm and VLSI architecture for decoding of structured quasi-cyclic low-density parity-check codes. In the conventional layered decoding algorithm, the block-rows of the parity check matrix are processed sequentially, or layer after layer. The maximum number of rows that can be simultaneously processed by the conventional layered decoder is limited to the sub-matrix size. To remove this limitation and support layer-level parallelism, we extend the conventional layered decoding algorithm and architecture to enable simultaneously processing of multiple (K) layers of a parity check matrix, which will lead to a roughly K-fold throughput increase. As a case study, we have designed a double-layer parallel LDPC decoder for the IEEE 802.11n standard. The decoder was synthesized for a TSMC 45-nm CMOS technology. With a synthesis area of 0.81 mm2 and a maximum clock frequency of 815 MHz, the decoder achieves a maximum throughput of 3.0 Gbps at 15 iterations.
"No One Cares about This Community More Than Us": The Role of Listening, Participation, and Trust in a Small Urban District.

In this research, situated in a small urban district with a state-imposed school board, we analyze participation of community members during a three-year effort to improve schools. Through a qualitative analysis of forms of community engagement, this article offers a framework for understanding participation. We present two overlapping continua of participation by community stakeholders in school board meetings. One continuum focuses on who initiates participation, and a second represents the impact of participation. We conclude that decision making by boards is often complex, reflecting public and private moves that include and exclude stakeholders. Ultimately, participation on school boards involves listening, communication, and trust.
ELECTROPHORETIC TECHNIQUES FOR DETECTION OF GLYPTA FUMIFERANAE, AN ENDOPARASITOID OF WESTERN SPRUCE BUDWORM

Parasitoid-free western spruce budworms and western spruce budworm larvae containing the endoparasitoid Glypta fumiferanae (Vier.) (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) were assayed electrophoretically to identify isozyme bands diagnostic for the parasitoid. Bands characteristic of G. fumiferanae were observed with 4 of 15 enzymes tested. These were aconitase, esterase, leucine aminopeptidase and 6-phosphoglucose dehydrogenase. Presence of these isozyme bands is a reliable indication of parasitism by G. fumiferanae. The efficiency of electrophoresis as a tool for routine detection of parasitoids is discussed. ZUSAMMENFASSUNG Elektrophoretische Methoden zur Feststellung von Glypta fumiferanae, einem Endoparasitoiden von Choristoneura occidentalis Raupen von Choristoneura occidentalis ohne und mit dem Endoparasitoiden Glypta fumiferanae (Vier.) (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) wurden elektrophoretisch auf Isoenzymbander untersucht zum Nachweis des Parasitoiden. Fur G. fumiferanae typische Bander wurden in 4 der untersuchten 15 Enzymen beobachtet. Dies waren Aconitase, Esterase, Leucinaminopeptidase und 6-Phosphoglucose-dehydrogenase. Das Vorkommen dieser Isoenzymbander ist ein zuverlassiges Zeichen der Parasitierung durch G. fumiferanae. Die Brauchbarkeit der Elektrophorese als Mittel zum Routinenachweis von Parasitoiden wird diskutiert.
Solution of linear and nonlinear algebraic problems with sharp, guaranteed bounds

In this paper new methods for solving algebraic problems with high accuracy are described. They deliver bounds for the solution of the given problem with an automatic verification of the correctness. Examples of such problems are systems of linear equations, over- and underdetermined systems of linear equations, algebraic eigenvalue problems, nonlinear systems, polynomial zeros, evaluation of arithmetic expressions, linear, quadratic and convex programming and others. The new methods apply for these problems over the space of real numbers, complex numbers as well as real intervals and complex intervals.
The biosynthesis of N-arachidonoyl dopamine (NADA), a putative endocannabinoid and endovanilloid, via conjugation of arachidonic acid with dopamine

N-arachidonoyl dopamine (NADA) is an endogenous ligand that activates the cannabinoid type 1 receptor and the transient receptor potential vanilloid type 1 channel. Two potential biosynthetic pathways for NADA have been proposed, though no conclusive evidence exists for either. The first is the direct conjugation of arachidonic acid with dopamine and the other is via metabolism of a putative N-arachidonoyl tyrosine (NA-tyrosine). In the present study we investigated these biosynthetic mechanisms and report that NADA synthesis requires TH in dopaminergic terminals; however, NA-tyrosine, which we identify here as an endogenous lipid, is not an intermediate. We show that NADA biosynthesis primarily occurs through an enzyme-mediated conjugation of arachidonic acid with dopamine. While this conjugation likely involves a complex of enzymes, our data suggest a direct involvement of fatty acid amide hydrolase in NADA biosynthesis either as a rate-limiting enzyme that liberates arachidonic acid from AEA, or as a conjugation enzyme, or both.
Major salivary gland cancer

Major salivary gland cancers are rare, with many histologic types and subtypes. The tumor stage at presentation will dictate the need for imaging,FNA, and facial nerve monitoring. Immunohistochemistry has enhanced diagnosis. In addition, precise attention to surgical landmarks and technique will reduce complications. Tumor stage, histologic type, tumor grade,surgical margin, facial nerve dysfunction, perineural involvement, extra-parenchymal spread, and nodal metastasis are factors influencing the indication for neck dissection, postoperative radiation therapy, and survival rate.
On the requirement for calcium during the steroidogenic effect of ACTH.

The requirement for calcium during the steroidogenic effect of both ACTH and adenosine-3’,5’-cyclophosphate (cyclic-AMP) has been studied. Upon incubating rat adrenal sections, deletion of calcium from the incubation media decreased the steroidogenic effectiveness of both ACTH and cyclic-AMP by approximately 40-50%. Leucine incorporation into protein was diminished to a comparable degree, and there was a direct correlation between inhibition of steroidogenic responsiveness and inhibition of amino acid incorporation into protein. Whereas protein synthesis was inhibited by deleting calcium, incorporation of orotic acid into RNA was increased, and it would appear that the inhibitory effects of deleting calcium are not simply due to a generalized inhibition of cellular functions which require energy (ATP) production. The present results suggest that a major reason for the calcium requirement during ACTH and cyclic-AMP action is the maintenance of optimal adrenal protein synthesis, which in turn is thought to ...
Disruption of adaptive energy metabolism and elevated ribosomal p-S6K1 levels contribute to INCL pathogenesis: partial rescue by resveratrol

The infantile neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis (INCL) is a devastating neurodegenerative lysosomal storage disease. Despite our knowledge that palmitoyl-protein thioesterase-1 (PPT1)-deficiency causes INCL, the molecular mechanism(s) of neurodegeneration and the drastically reduced lifespan of these patients remain poorly understood. Consequently, an effective treatment for this disease is currently unavailable. We previously reported that oxidative stress-mediated abnormality in mitochondria activates caspases-9 pathway of apoptosis in INCL fibroblasts and in neurons of Ppt1-knockout (Ppt1-KO) mice, which mimic INCL. Since mitochondria play critical roles in maintaining cellular energy homeostasis, we hypothesized that oxidative stress-mediated disruption of energy metabolism and homeostasis may contribute to INCL pathogenesis. We report here that, in cultured INCL fibroblasts and in the brain tissues of Ppt1-KO mice, the NAD(+)/NADH ratio, the levels of phosphorylated-AMPK (p-AMPK), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPARγ) coactivator-1α (PGC-1α) and Silent Information Regulator T1 (SIRT1) are markedly down-regulated. This suggested an abnormality in AMPK/SIRT1/PGC-1α signaling pathway of energy metabolism. Moreover, we found that, in INCL fibroblasts and in the Ppt1-KO mice, phosphorylated-S6K-1 (p-S6K1) levels, which inversely correlate with lifespan, are markedly elevated. Most importantly, resveratrol (RSV), an antioxidant polyphenol, elevated the NAD(+)/NADH ratio, levels of ATP, p-AMPK, PGC-1α and SIRT1 while decreasing the level of p-S6K1 in both INCL fibroblasts and in Ppt1-KO mice, which showed a modest increase in lifespan. Our results show that disruption of adaptive energy metabolism and increased levels of p-S6K1 are contributing factors in INCL pathogenesis and provide the proof of principle that small molecules such as RSV, which alleviate these abnormalities, may have therapeutic potential.
Robots, Models, and Automation

Low-cost, mass-produced industrial robots could free human workers from the tedium of the assembly line. Such robots may be possible within the next decade.
Four Holarctic Plant Bugs (Hemiptera: Miridae) Associated with Carex utriculata (Cyperaceae) in Montane Grasslands of Valles Caldera, New Mexico: Southernmost U.S. Records and Notes on Seasonality

Abstract. Four Holarctic mirids—Cyrtorhinus caricis (Fallen) (Orthotylinae), Teratocoris caricis Kirkaldy (Mirinae), Tytthus pubescens (Knight), and Tytthus pygmaeus (Zetterstedt) (Phylinae)—are associated with Northwest Territory sedge, Carex utriculata, in Valles Caldera National Preserve in north-central New Mexico. Records of these plant bugs are the first for New Mexico and southernmost in the United States. The species are univoltine and overwinter as eggs, with those of C. caricis and Teratocoris caricis hatching in early to mid-May; eggs of the delphacid predators Tytthus pubescens and T. pygmaeus might hatch later. A syntopic delphacid, Nothodelphax venusta (Beamer), probably serves as prey of Tytthus species, as well as C. caricis, a facultative predator of Delphacidae. The four Holarctic mirids are considered relictual in the Jemez Mountains (Southern Rocky Mountains Ecoregion) rather than post-Pleistocene colonists. Color photographs of the adult dorsal habitus of a male and female of C. caric...
Dynamic MCP-1 mRNA response of human aortic endothelial cells (HAEC) to step changes in laminar shear stress

Our aim is to study the hemodynamic alteration of monocyte recruitment and adhesion in model blood vessel systems, focusing on the hemodynamic effects of the recruitment factor monocyte chemotactic protein one, MCP-1, gene expression in HAEC. Preconditioning with low shear stress, LS, elevates MCP-1 gene activity and eliminates any transient peak in activity upon switching to high shear stress, HS, without affecting HS-induced gene down-regulation. These data suggest an interaction between the pathways mediating the long term response to LS and the transient cellular response to HS onset.
Off-Topic Detection in Conversational Telephone Speech

In a context where information retrieval is extended to spoken "documents" including conversations, it will be important to provide users with the ability to seek informational content, rather than socially motivated small talk that appears in many conversational sources. In this paper we present a preliminary study aimed at automatically identifying "irrelevance" in the domain of telephone conversations. We apply a standard machine learning algorithm to build a classifier that detects off-topic sections with better-than-chance accuracy and that begins to provide insight into the relative importance of features for identifying utterances as on topic or not.
Dynamic bandwidth provisioning using Markov chain based RSVP for unmanned ground networks

An unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) network operates as an intermittently connected system, distributed over large geographic areas. The cooperative nature of a UGV network requires that bandwidth be allocated depending on necessity between individual UGV nodes. In this paper, we study the problem of dynamic bandwidth provisioning in a UGV network. Specifically, we integrate the use of a basic statistical model, known as the Markov chain with a widely known network reservation protocol known as the Resource Reservation Protocol (RSVP). The Markov chain is used to estimate future traffic demand along a path based on channel conditions. The Markov chain results are used as input to the RSVP which then allocates the required bandwidth along the path. Using a wireless network simulation platform called Qualnet, we show that the integrated Markov chain and RSVP algorithm provides higher bandwidth guarantees and better overall quality of service (QoS) when compared solely with using RSVP in wireless communication networks.
Involving Low-Income Parents and Parents of Color in College Readiness Activities: An Exploratory Study:

This article describes an exploratory and descriptive study that examined the parental involvement beliefs, attitudes, and activities of 22 high schoaol counselors who work in high-poverty and high-minority schools. More specifically, this study examined school counselors' beliefs and activities about involving parents in the college admission process. The results indicated that the participants believe that working with parents about college opportunities is a major part of their job. A majority of the participants also reported that they spend "some time" conferencing with parents about college admissions and a majority reported that they "never" organize parent volunteer activities. Implications for school counselor practice and future research are discussed.
P‐100: High Definition AC PDPs with Front Address Structures

8-inch High Definition (corresponding to 50″ Full HD (1080p)) AC Plasma Display Panels with front address structures are developed. These structures show high luminous efficacy without increasing address voltages even if the cells are high definition.
Effect of Viscosity on Low Density Foaming of Poly(Ethylene-Co-Octene) Resins:

Foaming of low density poly(ethylene-co-octene) resins by injection molding is the result of various reactions occurring during the process. This includes simultaneous decomposition of the chemical blowing agent and cross-linking of the polymer matrix during curing in the mold, followed by foaming after mold opening. Dynamic rheology as well as elongational viscosity were investigated for compounds prepared from resins with different melt indices and various cross-linking agent levels, and these results were linked to the morphology and density of the corresponding foams. Rheological requirements were finally defined quantitatively for this set of conditions.
Effects of Cessation of Breastfeeding in HIV-1–Exposed, Uninfected Children in Malawi

Optimizing the survival of HIV-uninfected infants born to HIV-infected mothers (ie, HIV-exposed infants) is a major challenge in sub-Saharan Africa, where prevalence of HIV infection remains high among reproductive-age women [1]. The detrimental effects of early weaning to prevent HIV transmission have been shown in multiple studies from Malawi, Uganda, and Botswana [2–5]. In these studies, the risk of severe gastroenteritis and mortality associated with gastroenteritis were higher among HIV-exposed but uninfected infants who were weaned early (at 4–6 months of age), compared with those who breastfed (BF) for longer periods. Additional adverse effects of nonbreastfeeding (NBF) or early weaning among HIV-uninfected African children include acute malnutrition, such as marasmus and kwashiorkor [5], and growth faltering [6, 7]. Infants who stopped BF also did not show increases in HIV-free survival (ie, both remaining alive and free of HIV infection) [8, 9]. How to balance the risks and benefits of BF of HIV-uninfected children of HIV-infected mothers in resource-constrained settings of sub-Saharan Africa where BF alternatives are not safe has been extensively discussed [10–12]. The recent World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations on infant feeding and HIV emphasize infant HIV-free survival [13]. Despite the evidence that NBF increases infant morbidity and mortality in resource-constrained settings, our understanding of the timing of these adverse events is limited. For clinical management and program planning, it will be valuable to know immediate and long-term effects of weaning whenever this practice is initiated. We hypothesize that cessation of BF to prevent transmission of HIV leads to early acute morbidity that occurs during the process of weaning or immediately after weaning. However, infant mortality associated with weaning is a late effect and occurs after the weaning process is completed. The aim of this study was to determine, among HIV-exposed, uninfected Malawian infants, morbidity rates in short follow-up intervals (∼3 months) that encompass weaning and to assess cumulative rates of mortality over time. These infants were originally enrolled in the extended antiretroviral Post-exposure Prophylaxis of Infants in Malawi (PEPI-Malawi) trial.
Characterization of polymorphic microsatellites for the invasive grass Microstegium vimineum (Poaceae).

PREMISE OF THE STUDY Microsatellite markers were developed for the invasive plant Microstegium vimineum (Poaceae) to assess its population structure and to facilitate tracking of invasion expansion. METHODS AND RESULTS Using 454 sequencing, 11 polymorphic and six monomorphic microsatellite primer sets were developed for M. vimineum. The primer sets were tested on individuals sampled from six populations in the United States and China. The polymorphic primers amplified di-, tri-, and tetranucleotide repeats with three to 10 alleles per locus. CONCLUSIONS These markers will be useful for a variety of applications including tracking of invasion dynamics and population genetics studies.
Synthesis and characterization of a novel isosorbide and biphenyl derived mesogenic monomer

This paper describes the synthesis and characterization of a novel mesogenic monomer derived from isosorbide and biphenyl materials. This material exhibits smectic mesophases at high temperatures and shows a high thermal stability. These characteristics make this monomer an ideal candidate for polymerization to form high performance mesogenic polymers and potential applications as a biocompatible polymer due to its sugar based building block.
Second-Order Analysis of Piecewise Linear Functions with Applications to Optimization and Stability

This paper is devoted to second-order variational analysis of a rather broad class of extended-real-valued piecewise liner functions and their applications to various issues of optimization and stability. Based on our recent explicit calculations of the second-order subdifferential for such functions, we establish relationships between nondegeneracy and second-order qualification for fully amenable compositions involving piecewise linear functions. We then provide a second-order characterization of full stable local minimizers in composite optimization and constrained minimax problems.
Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of FeAl Compacts Prepared by Pulse Current Sintering of Mechanically Alloyed Powders

Fe-35-50at%AI powder mixtures as starting materials of iron and aluminum elemental powders were milled in a planetary ball mill in argon atmosphere. The structure of powders milled for above 360ks may be FeAl intermetallics with B2 structure in disordered state. The powders were consolidated using pulse current sintering in vacuum at 1273 K. With increasing aluminum content, tensile strength of the compacts decreased linearly and the values were no less than those obtained in the previous studies. This result is attributed to a high degree of refinement of the microstructure for FeAI compacts prepared by pulse current sintering method of mechanically alloyed powders.
A bactericidin for Bacillus subtilis in mammalian saliva.

Summary1. Sera and saliva from humans and guinea pigs possessed very low or undetectable amounts of the bactericidin for B. subtilis. 2. Rabbit saliva possessed 1/4-1/2 the rabbit serum level. 3. The serum of the rat contained high levels of this bactericidin, whereas rat saliva demonstrated no activity. The non-dialyzable portion of the bactericidal system was lacking in the saliva; the cofactor was present.
PET neuroimaging studies of [(18)F]CABS13 in a double transgenic mouse model of Alzheimer's disease and nonhuman primates.

Fluorine-18 labeled 2-fluoro-8-hydroxyquinoline ([18F]CABS13) is a promising positron emission tomography (PET) radiopharmaceutical based on a metal chelator developed to probe the “metal hypothesis of Alzheimer’s disease”. Herein, a practical radiosynthesis of [18F]CABS13 was achieved by radiofluorination followed by deprotection of an O-benzyloxymethyl group. Automated production and formulation of [18F]CABS13 resulted in 19 ± 5% uncorrected radiochemical yield, relative to starting [18F]fluoride, with ≥95% chemical and radiochemical purities, and high specific activity (>2.5 Ci/μmol) within 80 min. Temporal PET neuroimaging studies were carried out in female transgenic B6C3-Tg(APPswe,PSEN 1dE9)85Dbo/J (APP/PS1) and age-matched wild-type (WT) B6C3F1/J control mice at 3, 7, and 10 months of age. [18F]CABS13 showed an overall higher uptake and retention of radioactivity in the central nervous system of APP/PS1 mice versus WT mice with increasing age. However, PET/magnetic resonance imaging in normal nonhu...
Design of planar waveguides by an inverse scattering method

The propagation of light in an inhomogeneous planar optical waveguide (Fig. 1) under the weakly guiding approximation is governed by the scalar Helmholtz differential equation.1 By proper nondimensionalization and introduction of the well-known normalized frequency parameter of the waveguide V, one can rewrite the Helmholtz differential equation as a Schrodinger-type equation2:
Changes of Ascending Aortic Dilatation Following Aortic Valve Replacement

[Objective] To study the changes in diameter of dilated ascending aorta following aortic valve replacement (AVR). [Methods] Fifty-one patients with aortic valve lesion concomitant with ascending aortic dilatation (diameter range from 35 mm to 55 mm) after aortic valve replacement were followed-up. We excluded patients with Marfan's syndrome, ascending aorta dissection, ascending aorta replacement, operation of coronary arterial bypass graft, prosthetic valve dysfunction. Diameter of ascending aorta was measured by echocardiography pre and post AVR at the proximal ascending aorta 2 cm above the sinotubular junction at the early systole. The pre-operation diameter of ascending aorta was taken as baseline. Patients were divided according to its baseline aortic diameter into diameter 40 mm group and diameter ≥40 mm group, furthermore, the patients were also divided according to echocardiographic findings into bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) group and tricuspid aortic valve (TAV) group. Ascending aortic diameters were compared between diameter 40 mm group and diameter ≥40 mm group, BAV group and TAV group, respectively, to clarify ascending aortic diameter change tendency following AVR alone. [Result] There were no aortic complication and aortic dissection occurrence during the follow-up interval of 1 to 9.8 years. Three patients died during the follow-up period, which was irrelevant to ascending aortic dilatation, two patients died from cerebral hemorrhage related to anticoagulation therapy, one patient died from heart failure. The aortic diameter change rates were (-0.2 ± 1.4) mm/year and (-0.18 ± 0.98) mm/year in aortic diameter 40 mm group and ≥40 mm group, respectively. There was no significant difference between the two groups. The ascending aortic diameter change rates were (0.8 ± 1.6) mm/year in BAV group, and (-0.3 ± 1.5) mm/year in TAV group. The ascending aortic diameter of patients in BAV group enlarged continuously following AVR. [Conclusion] Aortic valve replacement alone may be reasonable in patients with TAV lesion accompanying ascending aortic dilatation (diameter range from 35 mm to 55 mm), however, ascending aortic diameter will increase continuously following AVR in patients with BAV.
Model-Driven Performance Evaluation of Web Application Portals

Emerging trends and challenges. The advent of web-based applications, such as shopping, social networking, photos, videos, music, gaming, and chat, are increasing the popularity and accessibility of the Internet. There is also growing focus on application integration platforms, such as Sun’s Java Composite Application Platform Suite, Facebook’s Application Platform, and Oracle’s Application Development Framework, where a single portal can provide many services. These integrated web sites are referred in this paper as web application portals, which are Internet sites that provide multiple services to users. For example, users of social networking sites, such as Facebook (www.facebook.com) and MySpace (www.myspace.com), upload recent photos and videos, exchange messages and chat with each other, and play online games with friends.
Crime, Search, and Ex‐offenders’ Accessibility to Labor Markets

Rehabilitation for ex‐offenders has positive (e.g. more production) and negative (e.g. more crime) effects on society. We investigate the effect of rehabilitation on criminal behavior and the labor market using a search model. In the case where ex‐offenders cannot join the labor market, promoting rehabilitation for them may reduce crime. In such a case, the equilibrium allocation may be inefficient. Moreover, under the Hosios condition, equilibrium labor market tightness is lower than the efficient outcome because of crime, as the crime option raises the value of unemployed workers. Because this option works as a negative externality on matched firms, equilibrium tightness is lower than the optimal level.
Evaluation of an educational program for dialysis patients.

Un programme d'education en matiere de nutrition par cassettes est etabli chez 35 malades sous hemodialyse
Beyond graphene: The amazing world of layered transition metal dichalcogenides

G an atom thick of carbon semimetal, has attracted a great deal of attention due to its new properties and promising applications which might have impact in new electronic devices, novel composite materials, innovative sensors, etc. However, graphene it is not alone, there is also hexagonal boron nitride (H-BN) a layered insulator which can be combined with graphene to form new hetero layer materials. Moreover, there are flat layered structures made out of transition metal dichacogenides (TMD) such as MoS2, WS2, MoSe2, WSe2, NbS2, NbSe2, WTe2, etc., which can behave as semiconductors or metals depending on the atoms involved. Interestingly, one monolayer of a semiconducting TMD exhibits a direct band gap which vanishes when adding another layer, thus producing an indirect band gap bilayer material. Since monolayer semiconducting TMD, with trigonal prismatic structure, do not possess center of inversion, exhibit valley polarization effects which envisage their application in non-linear optics and in a new field called valley-tronics. In this talk, theoretical and experimental efforts to shed light on the comportment of TMDs will be provided. First, the main synthesis methods of monolayer TMDs such as exfoliation, chemical vapor transport and chemical vapor deposition will be studied along with their main challenges. Second, the role of defects and doping of TMDs will be analyzed, and finally, first principles calculations to understand their optoelectronic behavior and Raman scattering will be also explained.
Effect of silica on the non-linear electrical property of polymer composites

The electrostatic discharge (ESD) control in semiconductor devices is a very important task during the manufacturing stage or for final users. Utilizing polymer based varistors has great advantages in process temperature and dimensional control over the conventional oxide non-linear conductors as a protection mean for electronic device from ESD transient. [5,8] In this paper, the effect of nano-fumed silica on the non-linear electrical property of polymer-metal composites was investigated. We have found that the concentration of silica as an insulating filler plays an important role on the evolution of non-linear IN characteristics of the polymer composite. Furthermore, a polymer composite did not show its non-linear IN characteristics until enough insulative phases were provided within the polymer composite.
Binding and Cytotoxicity of HPMA Copolymer Conjugates to Lymphocytes Mediated by Receptor-Binding Epitopes

Purpose. Studies on the recognition of epitopes presented on a template peptide showed the potential of nonapeptide-related sequences to act as biorecognition sites for the B-cell CD21 receptor. This study was intended to evaluate the capability of three epitope sequences to mediate specific cell binding and to enhance the cytotoxicity of HPMA copolymer conjugates.
Development of an efficient structure-based drug discovery platform for BACE1 Inhibitors for the treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease

BACE1 (Beta-site Amyloid precursor protein (APP) Cleaving Enzyme 1) is a promising therapeutic target for Alzheimer’s disease (AD). However, efficient expression, purification and crystallization s...
Abstract P265: Adenosine 2A Receptor Activation Regulates Expression of Scavenger Receptors CD36 and LOX-1 in Human Macrophages and Aortic Endothelial Cells

Objectives of the study. A variety of scavenger receptors (SR) have been linked to lipid accumulation in the vasculature. Among these, CD36 and LOX-1 are proposed to play a prominent role in atherosclerosis. Adenosine is a potent cellular signaling molecule with anti-atherogenic properties. Our previous work has shown that agonists specific for the adenosine A 2A receptor (A 2A R) enhance cholesterol efflux, preventing macrophage foam cell transformation. Here we report additional atheroprotective effects of A 2A R activation through changes in SR expression. Methods. Primary human aortic endothelial cells (HAECs) and THP-1 human macrophages were incubated in the presence of oxLDL (20 μg/ml) and: a) growth media b) DMSO vehicle c) the A 2A R agonist CGS-21680 (1 μM) d) the A 2A R antagonist ZM-241385 (10 μM, 1h) + CGS-21680 (1 μM) (n=5). SR expression was evaluated by real-time PCR. PCR results were confirmed by immunofluorescence analysis with CD36 and LOX-1-specific primary antibodies, followed by incubation with FITC conjugated secondary antibodies. Results. CGS-21680 downregulated CD36 and LOX-1 expression vs. untreated HAEC (67.89±9.55% and 49.00±2.55%, respectively, n=6, P Summary. A 2A R activation is a promising therapeutic approach to prevent lipid overload in arterial vasculature. Our data support an anti-atherogenic role for the A 2A R in both cholesterol influx and efflux pathways. Several new agents that target the A 2A R are in development and they may hold promise as treatment for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.
MRI of Sports Injuries in the Leg

Accurate diagnosis of muscle and bone injuries in the leg may not be possible based on clinical history and physical examination alone. This monograph reviews the evidence supporting the diagnostic roles of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in athletes with leg injuries. Data on the minor complementary roles of sonography in these patients is also examined. MRI can distinguish among the various types of injury that occur in the leg. In addition, combined with clinical data, specific MRI findings can guide management and help predict the expected time for return to play. In athletic leg injuries, MRI provides information that contributes to specific diagnosis, guides treatment decision making, and helps prognosticate recovery times.
Characterization of a New Protein Family Associated With the Silica Deposition Vesicle Membrane Enables Genetic Manipulation of Diatom Silica

Diatoms are known for their intricate, silicified cell walls (frustules). Silica polymerization occurs in a compartment called the silica deposition vesicle (SDV) and it was proposed that the cytoskeleton influences silica patterning through the SDV membrane (silicalemma) via interactions with transmembrane proteins. In this work we identify a family of proteins associated with the silicalemma, named SAPs for Silicalemma Associated Proteins. The T. pseudonana SAPs (TpSAPs) are characterized by their motif organization; each contains a transmembrane domain, serine rich region and a conserved cytoplasmic domain. Fluorescent tagging demonstrated that two of the TpSAPs were localized to the silicalemma and that the intralumenal region of TpSAP3 remained embedded in the silica while the cytoplasmic region was cleaved. Knockdown lines of TpSAP1 and 3 displayed malformed valves; which confirmed their roles in frustule morphogenesis. This study provides the first demonstration of altering silica structure through manipulation of a single gene.
Environmental Protection in the United States Pulp, Paper, and Paperboard Industry: An Overview of Regulation of Wastewater Under the U.S. Clean Water Act

The pulp, paper, and paperboard industry in the United States is the larqest industrial user of water with half of the facilities discharging wastewater directly to our Nation's waters. The major pollutants of concern have historically been the conventional pollutants: biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5), total suspended solids (TSS), and pH. Biological treatment systems are currently employed to reduce these pollutants. Sludges generated by these treatment systems have been categorized as nonhazardous and are generally landfilled. Under the Clean Water Act, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has promulgated all the reguired regulations for this industry. The national regulations are applied to individual pulp and paper mills through permits issued by EPA Regional or State staff. Permit limits can be written that are more restrictive than the national regulations to protect local water guality. In its current projects concerning the pulp and paper industry, EPA is focusing on the reduction of toxic pollutants. The Agency is conducting a joint EPA/industry program to study dioxin discharges at bleached kraft mills. The Agency will also undertake a comprehensive review of the pulp and paper regulations in 1988.
DUALITY OF FLUCTUATIONS, FIELDS, AND MORE

Much of the contemporary literature on duality is an attempt to eliminate the concept. That is, it consists of efforts to account for phenomena without introducing the wave-particle duality.
Heat Exchanger Performance Prediction by Electrical Analogy

Analysis of temperature performance for heat exchangers, in steady-state operation with given fluid-flow rates and heat-transfer coefficients, is greatly facilitated by means of several resistance concepts applied to the thermal circuit. Herein the entire overall process of thermal-energy transfer is regarded as represented by a system of resistances; whereby further analogy application to electrical simulation computers is greatly facilitated.
Staging of Multiple Myeloma

Multiple myeloma is a heterogeneous disease characterized by proliferation of neoplastic clonal plasma cells and a range of clinical manifestations including skeletal destruction, hypercalcemia, anemia, renal failure, immune suppression, and hyperviscosity syndrome [1]. Outcome of patients with myeloma is very variable with survival ranging from a few months to several years depending on the biology of the disease as well as the health status of the patient, which in turn may be largely affected by disease burden.
Nighttime Sleep and Daytime Sleepiness Improved With Pimavanserin During Treatment of Parkinson's Disease Psychosis.

Introduction Impaired nocturnal sleep and excessive daytime sleepiness are common problems for patients with Parkinson's disease, and patients with Parkinson's disease with sleep dysfunction are 5 times more likely to experience psychotic symptoms. Pimavanserin, a 5-HT2A inverse agonist approved to treat Parkinson's disease psychosis, may improve sleep quality in patients with Parkinson's disease experiencing sleep disturbances. Methods Scales for Outcomes in Parkinson's Disease nighttime sleep (SCOPA-NS) and SCOPA-daytime sleepiness (DS) data obtained during 2 double-blind placebo-controlled studies of pimavanserin in persons with Parkinson's disease psychosis were evaluated. Data from the placebo and pimavanserin 34 mg groups in the 2 studies were pooled to provide further information on the effect of pimavanserin 34 mg on sleep. Additional analyses on the pooled study data were performed on participants with significantly impaired nighttime sleep and daytime sleepiness, defined as SCOPA-NS ≥7 and SCOPA-DS ≥5, respectively. Results In the pooled analysis, treatment effects, expressed as least squares mean reductions in SCOPA-NS at week 6, were -1.4 for pimavanserin 34 mg and -0.5 for placebo. At week 6, the decrease from baseline in SCOPA-DS for the pimavanserin 34 mg group was -1.7 and -1.2 for the placebo group (P = 0.108). When evaluating participants with impaired nighttime sleep and daytime sleepiness at baseline, the SCOPA-NS score change was -4.4 for the pimavanserin 34 mg group and -2.3 for the placebo group (P = 0.002), whereas the SCOPA-DS change was -2.9 and -1.9 for the pimavanserin 34 mg and placebo groups (P = 0.120), respectively. Conclusion The data from the trials suggest that nighttime sleep improved with administration of pimavanserin, a novel 5-HT2A receptor inverse agonist/antagonist.
Mitochondrial polymorphisms contribute to aging phenotypes in MNX mouse models

Many inbred strains of mice develop spontaneous tumors as they age. Recent awareness of the impacts of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) on cancer and aging has inspired developing a mitochondrial-nuclear exchange (MNX) mouse model in which nuclear DNA is paired with mitochondrial genomes from other strains of mouse. MNX mice exhibit mtDNA influences on tumorigenicity and metastasis upon mating with transgenic mice. However, we also wanted to investigate spontaneous tumor phenotypes as MNX mice age. Utilizing FVB/NJ, C57BL/6J, C3H/HeN, and BALB/cJ wild-type inbred strains, previously documented phenotypes were observed as expected in MNX mice with the same nuclear background. However, aging nuclear matched MNX mice exhibited decreased occurrence of mammary tumors in C3H/HeN mice containing C57BL/6J mitochondria compared to wild-type C3H/HeN mice. Although aging tumor phenotypes appear to be driven by nuclear genes, evidence suggesting that some differences are modified by the mitochondrial genome is presented.
Synthesis, Crystal Structure, and Elastic Properties of Novel Tungsten Nitrides.

The new compounds, hexagonal-W2N3 and rhombohedral-W2N3 are synthesized by solid state reaction of Na2WO4 and BN (5 GPa, 880—1770 K).
Name of the Year 2017

The twelfth annual Name of the Year vote was held at the American Name Society meeting in Salt Lake City, Utah, on January 5, 2018.For 2017, we had 38 total nominees, beating 2015’s previous record...
Opportunistic spectrum allocation for max-min rate in NC-OFDMA

We envision a scenario for opportunistic spectrum access among multiple point-to-point links when the available spectrum is not contiguous due to the presence of external interference sources. Non-contiguous Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (NC-OFDM) is a promising technique to utilize such disjoint frequency bands in an efficient manner. In this paper we study the problem of fair spectrum allocation across multiple NC-OFDM-enabled, point-to-point cognitive radio links under certain practical considerations that arise from such noncontiguous access. When using NC-OFDM, the channels allocated to a cognitive radio link are spread across several disjoint frequency bands leading to a large spectrum span for that link. Increased spectrum span requires higher sampling rates, leading to increased power consumption in the ADC/DAC of the transmit/receive nodes. In this context, this paper proposes a framework for spectrum allocation that maximizes the minimum rate achieved by the cognitive radio links, under a constraint on the maximum permissible spectrum span. For constant transmit powers and orthogonal spectrum allocation, such an optimization is an integer linear program and can be solved efficiently. There exists a clear trade-off between the max-min rate achieved and the maximum permissible spectrum span. The spectrum allocation obtained from the proposed optimization framework is shown to be close to the trade-off boundary, thus showing the effectiveness of the proposed technique. We find that it is possible to limit the spectrum span without incurring a significant penalty on the max-min rate under different interference environments. We also discuss an experimental evaluation of the techniques developed here using the ORBIT radio-network testbed that consists of multiple Universal Software Radio Peripherals (USRPs).
A high-throughput bioanalytical assay to support pharmacokinetic interaction study of oxycodone and diazepam in Sprague Dawley rats

Benzodiazepines potentiate respiratory depression when combined with an opioid leading the U.S Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to recommend updating the labels of these products with a boxed warning for respiratory depression with co-use. Potential respiratory depression upon co-administration of opioids with some psychotropic drugs is not well understood. The FDA is currently investigating various psychotropic drug interactions with the commonly used opioid, oxycodone, in a rat model assessing respiratory depression. Pharmacokinetic and/or pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) interaction between oxycodone and diazepam was evaluated in a positive control arm of these experiments. Understanding the systemic exposure of these drugs alone and in combination exposures was used to identify PK/PD interactions. The authors developed a simple, high throughput liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometric (LC-MS/MS) assay for the simultaneous determination of oxycodone and diazepam in rat plasma. Sample preparation was performed in 96-well protein precipitation plates using acetonitrile. Processed samples were analyzed using a C18 column with a gradient mobile phase composed of 2 mM aqueous ammonium formate with 0.1% formic acid and acetonitrile. A Thermo TSQ Quantum Ultra AM triple quadrupole mass spectrometer with multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode was used to acquire data. The method was validated for selectivity, specificity, linearity, precision and accuracy, dilution integrity and stability. The validated LC-MS/MS assay was utilized for quantifying oxycodone and diazepam in concomitantly treated Sprague Dawley (SD) rats.
A study of the data augmentation strategy for stochastic differential equations

Multivariate stochastic differential equations (SDEs) are commonly used in many applications. Statistical inference based on discretely observed data requires estimating the transition density, whi...
Occupational Stress Testing in the Real World

The role of emotional stress in the etiology of numerous chronic diseases has been clearly established (Hoiberg, 1982). Coronary heart disease, in particular, has the most profound accumulation of literature supporting the causal effect of emotional stress upon atherosclerotic changes, as well as signs and symptoms in the form of angina pectoris hypertension and coronary vasospasm (Eliot, 1979; Eliot and Sime, 1980). Numerous other studies have shown a relationship between emotional stress (measured in several different ways) with hypertension, irritable bowel syndrome (including ulcers and colitis), and Raynaud’s syndrome (Ford, 1982). Further evidence of the pathological consequences of emotional stress stems from the literature showing that quite a number of functional disorders are treated successfully with a variety of stress management interventions including biofeedback, progressive relaxation, and autogenic training.