cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Soil – Machine Interaction: Simulation and Testing

Researchers at Caterpillar have been using Finite Element Analysis or Method (FEA or FEM), Mesh Free Models (MFM) and Discrete Element Models (DEM) extensively to model different earthmoving operations. Multi-body dynamics models using both flexible and rigid body have been used to model the machine dynamics. The proper soil and machine models along with the operator model can be coupled to numerically model an earthmoving operation. The soil – machine interaction phenomenon has been a challenging matter for many researchers. Different approaches, such as FEA, MFM and DEM are available nowadays to model the dynamic soil behavior; each of these approaches has its own limitations and applications. To apply FEA, MFM or DEM for analyzing earthmoving operations the model must reproduce the mechanical behavior of the granular material. In practice this macro level mechanical behavior is not achieved by modeling the exact physics of the microfabric structure but rather by approximating the macrophysics; that is using continuum mechanics or/and micromechanics, which uses length scales, that are larger than the physical grain size. Different numerical approaches developed by Caterpillar Inc. researchers will be presented and discussed.
Model Predictive Control under Intermittent Measurements due to Computational Constraints: Feasibility, Stability, and Robustness

We propose a continuous-time model predictive control (MPC) strategy in the presence of intermittent sampling due to limited computational power. Using hybrid systems tools, the proposed scheme explicitly models the (not necessarily periodic) computation events associated with prediction and optimization. When the terminal cost is a control Lyapunov function and the implicit MPC control law in the proposed setting is continuous, the closed-loop system can tolerate disturbances, unmodeled dynamics, and measurement noise, as well as errors due to asynchronous actuation and sporadic data losses. These findings apply to a wide range of linear systems, and are particularly important for the target application area of cyber-physical systems, where real-time safety constraints require robustness in the presence of computational limitations.
A Sliding Mode-Based Approach to Enhance Power Quality in Grid Connected wind Turbines

This paper proposes a sliding mode control (SMC) approach for DFIG-based wind turbines. The design combines a second order PID-Sliding Mode Control (PIDSMC) approach with a super twisting sliding mode disturbance observer (STSMDO) to ensure the continuous connectivity of the wind turbine to the grid under non ideal grid conditions. The proposed approach was successfully implemented to the rotor side converter (RSC) of a DFIG-based wind turbine. Its stability analysis was assessed using the Lyapunov approach. The performance of the PID-SMC approach was analyzed using realistic conditions. The obtained results were compared to those to those obtained with a standard PI controller. The main features of the proposed approach are its robustness to faults and ability to ensure DFIG's connectivity under non ideal grid conditions.
Mechanisms and Mind Sets: The Roles of Terminology and Patient Mind Set in Clinician Truth-Telling and Placebo Use

In her article “Telling the Truth about Pain: Informed Consent and the Role of Expectation in Pain Intensity,” Nada Gligorov argues that prescribing placebos to patients is ethical because clinicia...
Five Maneuvers to Facilitate Faster Robotic Mitral Valve Repair

Robotically assisted mitral valve reconstruction has become a cornerstone in the management of degenerative mitral valve regurgitation. High-volume centers report exceptional outcomes with minimal morbidity and mortality in select patient populations. As compared to conventional sternotomy, robotically assisted surgery has yielded comparable efficacy and safety, with potential benefits of improved cosmesis and a faster recovery period. Despite the potential benefits of a robotic approach, there has been a reluctance in widespread adoption due to concerns over increased operative and crossclamp times as compared to conventional sternotomy approaches. In light of this specific concern, we have identified opportunities to improve the efficiency of robotic mitral valve repair by application of 5 innovations and surgical strategies.
Chapter 6: Modularity and the

Much of economic theory has been guided by a methodology that, in its more enthusiastic moments, seems to glorify the irrelevance of empirical research on how people actually behave (see, e.g, Selten, 1998). In this light it is not surprising that with one or two important exceptions, economists' knowledge of or interest in experimental methods historically has been limited. In recent years, multidisciplinary participation in experiments using human subjects has begun to change this, and has been associated with an increased willingness to use these methods and consider the implications of what they show. As Selten's comments indicate, these results are now, in the area of strategic interaction, so broad and so consistent in their identification of deficiencies in the predictions of standard models that a number of theorists have found it desirable to rethink what explanatory or predictive claims are actually made for normative theory.
Prognostic factors of disability in relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis.

Abstract Background : The clinical manifestation of multiple sclerosis (MS) is highly variable. Factors influencing phenotypic heterogeneity are not well known since most studies have relied on the Expanded Disability Status Scale which has modest inter/intra-rater reliability. We therefore sought to investigate other reliable and valid measures of impairment. Methods : We constructed a retrospective cohort of 2083 relapsing remitting MS patients using electronic health records to identify prognostic factors of Timed 25-Foot Walk (lower limb disability), Performance Scales Sum (perceived global disability), and Patient Health Questionnaire 9 (a depression tool). Patients had a clinical visit between 1/1/2008 and 5/29/2012, and at least one additional visit within approximately 3 years; the cohort consisted of 16,538 visits. The outcomes and predictors were extracted from the records. Longitudinal models were conducted, and sex- and race-specific differences were explored. Results : Walking speeds were slower in females, black patients, ever smokers, and Medicaid/Medicare beneficiaries. Higher body mass index (BMI), older age, longer disease duration, lower median income, and higher depression scores also predicted slower walking speeds. Older age, higher BMI, lower median income, higher depression scores, ever smokers and Medicaid/Medicare beneficiaries were associated with higher global disability. Those who were of younger age, higher BMI, lower median income, ever smoked, and on Medicaid had higher depressive scores. The effect of age and BMI on depressive scores were restricted to female and white patients, respectively. Conclusion : We identified multiple longitudinal predictors of disability in relapsing remitting patients. Modifiable factors (including smoking and BMI) and adverse socioeconomic conditions were independently, and negatively associated with walking speed, global disability, and depression.
Analysis of sheltering and evacuation strategies for a national capital region nuclear detonation scenario.

Development of an effective strategy for shelter and evacuation is among the most important planning tasks in preparation for response to a low yield, nuclear detonation in an urban area. Extensive studies have been performed and guidance published that highlight the key principles for saving lives following such an event. However, region-specific data are important in the planning process as well. This study examines some of the unique regional factors that impact planning for a 10 kT detonation in the National Capital Region. The work utilizes a single scenario to examine regional impacts as well as the shelter-evacuate decision alternatives at one exemplary point. For most Washington, DC neighborhoods, the excellent assessed shelter quality available make shelter-in-place or selective transit to a nearby shelter a compelling post-detonation strategy.
Cannabis use is associated with potentially heritable widespread changes in autism candidate gene DLGAP2 DNA methylation in sperm.

ABSTRACTParental cannabis use has been associated with adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes in offspring, but how such phenotypes are transmitted is largely unknown. Using reduced representation bis...
A Theoretically Grounded Exploration of Individual and Family Self-Management of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome in Adolescents.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is highly prevalent and increasingly diagnosed during adolescence. This study explored the context and processes of self-management among adolescents, and parents o...
Radiation Therapy for Cholangiocarcinoma

Cholangiocarcinoma (CC) is a rare disease representing only 3% of the primary gastrointestinal malignancies. CC is classified based on anatomical location (intrahepatic, perihilar, and extrahepatic) and surgery is the preferred definitive treatment, regardless of location. However, a minority of patients is able to undergo complete surgical resection, and thus, nonsurgical locoregional therapy is imperative for tumor control. With the significant evolution of external beam radiation therapy, higher doses can be more precisely delivered, with adequate sparing of surrounding normal tissues, which appear to be associated with improved outcomes. In this review, we discuss the role of radiation therapy for each anatomical subsite of CC including the postoperative setting, neoadjuvant setting prior to liver transplantation, as well as definitive treatment with dose-escalated radiation and stereotactic body radiation therapy. Although there has been substantial improvement in radiation therapy techniques, randomized data are limited given CC remains both a rare and heterogenous disease. A multidisciplinary approach to treatment is essential in order to achieve optimal outcomes, and further investigation into novel therapies remains ongoing.
MAISE: Construction of neural network interatomic models and evolutionary structure optimization

Abstract Module for ab initio structure evolution (MAISE) is an open-source package for materials modeling and prediction. The code’s main feature is an automated generation of neural network (NN) interatomic potentials for use in global structure searches. The systematic construction of Behler–Parrinello-type NN models approximating ab initio energy and forces relies on two approaches introduced in our recent studies. An evolutionary sampling scheme for generating reference structures improves the NNs’ mapping of regions visited in unconstrained searches, while a stratified training approach enables the creation of standardized NN models for multiple elements. A more flexible NN architecture proposed here expands the applicability of the stratified scheme for an arbitrary number of elements. The full workflow in the NN development is managed with a customizable ‘MAISE-NET’ wrapper written in Python. The global structure optimization capability in MAISE is based on an evolutionary algorithm applicable for nanoparticles, films, and bulk crystals. A multitribe extension of the algorithm allows for an efficient simultaneous optimization of nanoparticles in a given size range. Implemented structure analysis functions include fingerprinting with radial distribution functions and finding space groups with the SPGLIB tool. This work overviews MAISE’s available features, constructed models, and confirmed predictions. Program summary Program Title: MAISE CPC Library link to program files: https://doi.org/10.17632/vfzgt2gnsh.1 Licensing provisions: GNU General Public License v3.0 Programming language: C Nature of problem: Construction of NN interatomic potentials suitable for evolutionary structure searches, molecular dynamics, phonon calculations, and other applications presents a host of challenges ranging from sampling relevant parts of vast configuration spaces to tuning multitudes of NN parameters. Solution method: Evolutionary data generation and modular NN training algorithms featured in the open-source parallelized MAISE package enable automated development of NN models for multiple chemical species. Customizable MAISE-NET wrapper streamlines all stages of the iterative process. Unusual features: NN training stratification allows one to build libraries of reusable models from the bottom up, starting from elements and proceeding to multielement chemical systems. A multitribe evolutionary algorithm improves the efficiency of ground state structure searches by simultaneously optimizing nanoparticles of different sizes and periodically exchanging best motifs between the tribes.
Value Added Impact of Both Point-of-Care and Laboratory Lactic Acid Analysis When Emergently Evaluating Cancer Patients.

Introduction Cancer patients are immunosuppressed and may present to an emergency department with atypical symptoms. In the emergency setting, it is important ascertain rapidly if lactic acid levels are high, either due to sepsis or tumor lysis syndrome, to effectively manage symptoms. Therefore, it is critical to determine the blood lactic acid level to timely identify who is at risk of sepsis and provide early intervention. We have compared blood lactic acid concentrations (BLAC) in cancer patients obtained by point-of-care testing (POCT) and those measured by laboratory analysis in blood samples drawn within a short time of each other. Methods This was a retrospective study in cancer patients whose BLAC had been determined by POCT and laboratory analysis. Only those patients who had blood withdrawn for both testing methods within a 2-h timeframe were included in the study. Regressions were performed together with an analysis categorizing the BLAC from both testing methods. Results A total of 274 patients met the criteria for the study. The BLAC from POCT correlated well with the values from laboratory testing (R = 0.925). Categorization of BLAC showed that 88.32% of the patients had BLAC that directly matched between the two tests; 28 (10.22%) patients had a normal BLAC according to laboratory analysis but a high BLAC on POCT; and four (1.46%) patients had a high BLAC according laboratory analysis but normal BLAC on POCT. Conclusions There was a high correlation between POCT and laboratory analysis values of BLAC in cancer patients, with the results from both testing methods agreeing 96% of the time. This finding suggests that POCT would suffice in most cases. Importantly, in 2% of the cancer patients who presented emergently, BLAC determined by POCT and laboratory analysis did not agree. Therefore, in subsequent decision-making, we recommend that if sepsis is suspected and BLAC determined by POCT is normal, nucleic acids, proteins, circulating cells, and interleukin-3 levels should also be obtained by POCT to confirm sepsis and/or rule out tumor lysis syndrome in patients with cancer.
Associated motion, direction and (exchoative) aspect in Ethiopian Komo

Abstract Komo (Koman) of Ethiopia has an obligatory paradigm of deictic directional (dd) verb morphology that, among its functions, indicates direction of motion relative to a deictic reference point, associated motion and grammatical aspect when collocated with verb roots of different semantic classes. The semantic components of a motion event underlie the Komo dd system and the grammatical aspect of a predicate can be directly mapped to the bounded/unbounded path profile. The Associated Motion function contains a bounded path which entails arrival at or departure from a reference point and, as a result, imparts aspectual telicity to the predicate. The Direction function by contrast, contains an unbounded path that expresses motion towards a reference point and does not impart aspectual telicity. Further, some morphemes express exchoativity, or the ‘exiting’ of a state, a rare if unattested grammatical category.
All the News That’s Fit to Push: The New York Times Company and Transmedia Daily News

This feature article identifies three types of transmedia storyworlds—native, emergent, and feral—in the daily journalism work of The New York Times Company (NYT). In doing so, this case study of the NYT reevaluates how a transmedia storyworld is conceptualized, clarifies the relationship between storyworld and reference world in documentary storytelling, and illustrates the evolving transmedia journalism work of this organization. Through analysis of the NYT’s 1619 Project, New York taxi medallion economy, and COVID-19 coverage, the author defines native, emergent, and feral transmedia stories and how they can be understood across media industries.
Predicting in-hospital mortality after traumatic brain injury: External validation of CRASH-basic and IMPACT-core in the national trauma data bank.

Abstract Background Traumatic brain injury (TBI) prognostic prediction models offer value to individualized treatment planning, systematic outcome assessments and clinical research design but require continuous external validation to ensure generalizability to different settings. The Corticosteroid Randomization After Significant Head Injury (CRASH) and International Mission on Prognosis and Analysis on Clinical Trials in TBI (IMPACT) models are widely available but lack robust assessments of performance in a current national sample of patients. The purpose of this study is to assess the performance of the CRASH-Basic and IMPACT-Core models in predicting in-hospital mortality using a nationwide retrospective cohort from the National Trauma Data Bank (NTDB). Methods The 2016 NTDB was used to analyze an adult cohort with moderate-severe TBI (Glasgow Coma Scale [GCS] ≤ 12, head Abbreviated Injury Scale of 2–6). Observed in-hospital mortality or discharge to hospice was compared to the CRASH-Basic and IMPACT-Core models’ predicted probability of 14-day or 6-month mortality, respectively. Performance measures included discrimination (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve [AUC]) and calibration (calibration plots and Brier scores). Further sensitivity analysis included patients with GCS ≤ 14 and considered patients discharged to hospice to be alive at 14-days. Results A total of 26,228 patients were included in this study. Both models demonstrated good ability in differentiating between patients who died and those who survived, with IMPACT demonstrating a marginally greater AUC (0.863; 95% CI: 0.858 – 0.867) than CRASH (0.858; 0.854 – 0.863); p Conclusion Both CRASH-Basic and IMPACT-Core accurately predict in-hospital mortality following moderate-severe TBI, and IMPACT-Core performs well beyond its original GCS cut-off of 12, indicating potential utility for mild TBI (GCS 13–15). By demonstrating validity in the NTDB, these models appear generalizable to new data and offer value to current practice in diverse settings as well as to large-scale research design.Introduction
Bias correcting and extending the PM forecast by CMAQ up to 7 days using deep convolutional neural networks

Abstract With rising levels of air-pollution, air-quality forecasting has become integral to the dissemination of human health advisories and the preparation of mitigation strategies. To achieve more accurate forecasts, researchers around the globe are developing mathematical modeling techniques to obtain more accurate forecasts. In this study, we explore the capabilities of a deep neural network (DNN) model in conjunction with conventional, more reliable chemical transport models i) to improve the performance of the chemical transport model (e.g., CMAQ) and; ii) to extend the forecast period to seven days. Using a generalized deep convolutional neural network (CNN) model, we forecast air pollutants such as PM2.5, PM10, and NO2 up to seven days in advance. The CNN model bias-corrects hourly concentrations of air pollutants from the CMAQ model on the first-day and forecasts the remaining six days. Our results show improved performance of the average yearly index of agreement (IOA) from the CMAQ to the CNN model by 13% for PM2.5, 22% for PM10, and 43% for NO2 for the first-day bias correction; and the seventh-day forecast of NO2 by the CNN model was more accurate than the first-day forecast of the CMAQ model. The forecasts for PM2.5 and PM10, however, are reliable only up to two days in advance. The trained model is also capable of forecasting pollutants at stations not included in the training. The increase in the average yearly IOA at such stations is 13% for PM2.5, 22% for PM10, and 40% for NO2. Although the CNN model enhances the performance of the CMAQ model, it can be further improved by adding remote sensing data.
Crossing symmetry in the planar limit

Crossing symmetry asserts that particles are indistinguishable from antiparticles traveling back in time. In quantum field theory, this statement translates to the long-standing conjecture that probabilities for observing the two scenarios in a scattering experiment are described by one and the same function. Why could we expect it to be true? In this work we examine this question in a simplified setup and take steps towards illuminating a possible physical interpretation of crossing symmetry. To be more concrete, we consider planar scattering amplitudes involving any number of particles with arbitrary spins and masses to all loop orders in perturbation theory. We show that by deformations of the external momenta one can smoothly interpolate between pairs of crossing channels without encountering singularities or violating mass-shell conditions and momentum conservation. The analytic continuation can be realized using two types of moves. The first one makes use of an $iϵ$ prescription for avoiding singularities near the physical kinematics and allows us to adjust the momenta of the external particles relative to one another within their light cones. The second, more violent, step involves a rotation of subsets of particle momenta via their complexified light cones from the future to the past and vice versa. We show that any singularity along such a deformation would have to correspond to two beams of particles scattering off each other. For planar Feynman diagrams, these kinds of singularities are absent because of the particular flow of energies through their propagators. We prescribe a five-step sequence of such moves that combined together proves crossing symmetry for planar scattering amplitudes in perturbation theory, paving a way towards settling this question for more general scattering processes in quantum field theories.
Monitoring Lactating and Non-lactating Cow Udder Infection Dynamics Using Individual Cow Somatic Cell Counts

It is clear that the non-lactating period is an extremely important time for occurrence of new intramammary infections, particularly with environmental pathogens. A low-cost method of monitoring this period, using somatic cell count (SCC) measurement immediately before and after the non-lactating period, would be very useful and would obviate the need for costly bacteriology.
Insufficient Capacity, Growth in Population, Employment, and Car Use

Traffic demand has spread in post-World War II metropolitan America as a result of changing patterns of where people live and work, and how they travel.
Executing the New Curriculum

In September 1992, Columbia Business School’s new MBA program commenced for 518 new full-time MBA students. Selected from an applicant pool of 2,651, up 10 percent from fall 1991 (2,407), in part because of publicity about the new core curriculum, 30 percent were women, 23 percent minority, and the average age was unchanged at 27 years. Domestic U.S. applications, 1,457, were up 5 percent, but the 1,194 international applications represented a 17 percent increase.1
Assay of the antibiotic activity of serum.

Abstract One of the drawbacks of the “tube dilution” method for the assay of antibiotics in human serum has been illustrated by utilizing serum-sensitive and serum-resistant strains of Escherichia coli. In the case of serum-sensitive strains, it was found that fresh serum alone may account for the same degree of inhibition and thus yield minimal inhibitory concentrations identical to those obtained with serum combined with antibiotics, that is, “simulated” serum assay specimens. This fallacy of the method is discussed with regard to those instances in which laboratories were merely to utilize the patient's own coliform organism as the test organism, or with respect to the assay of, for example, polymyxins, in which inadvertently a R(ough) and therefore, serum-sensitive strain of E. coli were to be used as the indicator organism. It is recommended that serum-resistant laboratory strains of Staphylococcus aureus or E. coli of known antibiotic susceptibility be employed as the test organisms proper in order to circumvent the inherent bactericidal activity of serum.
Expression and loop libraries for high-performance code synthesis

To simultaneously provide rapid application development and high performance, developers of scientific and multimedia applications often mix languages, using scripting languages to glue together high-performance components written in compiled languages. While this can be a useful development strategy, it distances application developers from the optimization process while adding complexity to the development tool chain. Recently, we introduced the Synthetic Programming Environment (SPE) for Python, a library for generating and executing machine instructions at run-time. The SPE is an effective platform for optimizing serial and parallel applications without relying on intermediate languages. In this paper, we use the SPE to develop two code generation libraries, one for scalar and vector (SIMD) expression evaluation and another for parallel and high-performance loop generation. Using these libraries, we implement two high performance kernels and demonstrate how to achieve high levels of performance by providing the appropriate abstractions to users. Our results show that scripting languages can be used to generate high-performance code and suggest that providing optimizations as user-level libraries is an effective strategy for managing the complexity of high-performance applications.
How Voters Decide: How the Dynamic Information Board Works

The dynamic information board is the most reasonable way to track information processing during a political campaign. The dynamic board allows the experimenter to establish any number of experimental conditions and randomly assign subjects to those conditions. The system used in these experiments can be employed to study both a primary and a general election campaign cycle. Further, the number of candidates can be varied, as can the amount of time available, along with other attributes of the campaign. Information was presented to the subject on a computer screen, and the subject used a mouse to make selections from whatever is currently available on the screen. The order in which information was presented varied randomly according to the relative likelihood of any particular piece of information becoming available at different points in the campaign. These probabilities were based on the data from the 1988 presidential election campaign summarized in Figure 3.1. There are four distinct areas on the main screen. The central area (see Figure 3.2 for an example) contains the six information boxes, which continuously move down the screen, with the box at the bottom disappearing, and a new information box appearing at the top of the stack. This is the area that subjects click on in order to learn more details about issues, candidate personalities, polls, endorsements, candidate backgrounds, and any other information the experimenter makes available.
Van Hove excitons and high-Tc superconductivity VIIIA : valence bond density waves

Abstract It has recently been shown that an important role of correlation effects is to renormalize the band structure to be more ‘Hubbard-like’ at half-filling, driving a Mott transition. Using this insight, the density wave (DW)-superconductivity competition in the high- T c oxides is reexamined. It is found that both the low-temperature orthorhombic (LTO) and the low-temperature tetragonal (LTT) transitions in La 2− x Ba x CuO 4 (LBCO) and related compounds are driven by the strong nesting of the van Hove singularity - the LTT as a static and the LTO a dynamic Jahn-Teller effect. A mean-field theory of the LTO phase is presented, in terms of a coherent superposition of charge DWs or a ‘valence bond density wave’. The resulting DW-superconductivity phase diagram strongly resembles that found in LBCO. Connections of the present model to the magnetic pseudogap and to one-dimensionality are discussed.
Alkaloids of the Papaveraceae V. Muramine and berberine from Argemone squarrosa

Argemone squarrosa Greene (subsp. squarrosa ) from several locations in central New Mexico was found to contain mainly muramine and berberine, but no allocryptopine. This is in contrast to an earlier literature finding that the same species from southern Colorado contained allocryptopine as the major, if not only, alkaloid. Muramine is now available for the first time in quantities sufficient for pharmacological testing.
Intracervical sonographic-pathologic correlation: preliminary results.

Objective. To determine whether current-generation endoluminal ultrasonic transducer technology could visualize dysplastic and malignant cervical lesions. Methods. Inclusion criteria for patients enlisted in the study were abnormal Papanicolaou test results, an abnormality seen at colposcopy, and consent for a cone biopsy. In addition, we included 4 women who were undergoing hysterectomy but had no evidence of cervical abnormalities at the time of surgery, for a total of 28 women. We used a 20-MHz annular array intravascular transducer. We correlated all sonographic and pathologic results with regard to being normal or abnormal using the Pearson product moment correlation coefficient, and we evaluated interobserver variation by having 5 blinded sonologists interpret each examination and calculating κ statistics. Results. We performed intracervical sonography on 24 women with abnormal Papanicolaou test results and on 4 women without abnormalities. Nineteen of the 24 women with proven disease had abnormal sonographic images. Five women with pathologically proven cervical intraepithelial neoplasia I had normal sonographic images. Lesions ranged in size from 0.3 to 7 mm. Two carcinomas (5 and 7 mm diameter), multiple nabothian cysts, cervicitis, and 2 giant cell foreign body reactions were visible on sonography. The correlation coefficient for abnormal sonographic and pathologic findings was 0.87 (P < .005). We obtained a κ value of 0.75 for interobserver variation. Conclusions. Intracervical sonography was able to visualize dysplastic lesions and carcinomas as hypoechoic defects with surrounding echogenic areas of glandular cervical mucosa. Lesions were shown with sufficient resolution and interobserver variation to suggest that the technique may be clinically applicable, particularly for planning surgical therapy. However, design of a transducer that can be easily sterilized between examinations, similar to current endovaginal probes, would be neces
Opening the door to comparative plant biology

In this Perspective, [Bennetzen][1] takes a close look at the two draft sequences of the rice genome ([ Yu et al .][2], [ Goff et al .][3]) and discusses revelations about gene number and organization. [1]: http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/296/5565/60 [2]: http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/short/296/5565/79 [3]: http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/short/296/5565/92
Effects of dexamethasone and indomethacin on estrogen-induced uterine growth.

Certain aspects of estrogen-induced uterine growth are reminiscent of an inflammatory response. Dexamethasone (DEX) and indomethacin (IND), two anti-inflammatory agents that interfere with arachidonic acid metabolism, were examined with respect to their effects on several growth-associated responses of the uterus to estrogen. Ovariectomized rats were given a s.c. injection of either DEX (2 mg) or IND (8 mg) immediately prior to receiving a s.c. injection of estradiol (10 micrograms). At 4 hr, DEX inhibited estrogen-stimulated uterine wet weight and ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) activity by 100% and 48%, respectively. At 24 hr, 3H-leucine incorporation into protein was inhibited 44% and 3H-thymidine incorporation into DNA was depressed 83%. Estrogen-stimulated increases in uterine protein/DNA ratio and epithelial microvilli density at 24 hr were not inhibited by DEX. IND inhibited estrogen-stimulated wet weight by 64% and 3H-thymidine incorporation into DNA by 42%, yet did not inhibit the increases in ODC activity, 3H-leucine incorporation into protein or protein/DNA ratio. These results suggest that the inflammation-like component of estrogen-induced uterine growth is mediated, at least in part, by arachidonic acid metabolites and is directed primarily toward stimulating cell division, and not cell growth.
Adenoma and carcinoma of the thyroid

Presented is the pathology of thyroid carcinomas and adenomas in 300 consecutive autopsies on patients aged 20 years and older. Eight thyroids contained primary carcinomas (incidence of 2.7%): Two which metastasized and killed the patients, were diagnosed clinically; 3 first were observed grossly at autopsy and 3 were found only on microscopic examination. Nine thyroids contained adenomas (incidence of 3.0%). The diagnostic criteria for adenomas are reviewed and the low incidence of adenomas relative to carcinomas is compared to previous studies. The malignant potential of thyroid adenoma is considered and 2 cases of “killing” cancer of the thyroid are summarized. The authors conclude that, while some carcinomas appear to arise de novo, others arise from adenomas. Because of the low incidence of adenomas relative to carcinomas and the apparent rise of some carcinomas in adenomas, the authors suggest that all true adenomas be considered as potentially malignant and be subjected to very careful gross and detailed microscopic examination.
Angle-Resolved Raman Imaging of Interlayer Rotations and Interactions in Twisted Bilayer Graphene

Few-layer graphene is a prototypical layered material, whose properties are determined by the relative orientations and interactions between layers. Exciting electrical and optical phenomena have been observed for the special case of Bernal-stacked few-layer graphene, but structure–property correlations in graphene which deviates from this structure are not well understood. Here, we combine two direct imaging techniques, dark-field transmission electron microscopy (DF-TEM) and widefield Raman imaging, to establish a robust, one-to-one correlation between twist angle and Raman intensity in twisted bilayer graphene (tBLG). The Raman G band intensity is strongly enhanced due to a previously unreported singularity in the joint density of states of tBLG, whose energy is exclusively a function of twist angle and whose optical transition strength is governed by interlayer interactions, enabling direct optical imaging of these parameters. Furthermore, our findings suggest future potential for novel optical and op...
Kinetic and thermodynamic preferences in aryl vs benzylic C-H bond activation with cationic Pt(II) complexes

Anhydrous cationic Pt(II) complexes [(NN)Pt(CH3)(CF3CD2OD)]+ (1, NN = ArNC(Me)−C(Me)NAr), which are obtained by reaction of (NN)Pt(CH3)2 with B(C6F5)3 in CF3CD2OD, activate C−H bonds of benzene and methylbenzenes, with enhanced reactivity compared to the previously prepared equilibrium mixtures with the (thermodynamically favored) aquo complexes. For methylbenzenes (toluene, p-xylene, mesitylene), activation at the aromatic and benzylic positions are kinetically competitive, but the product of the latter is strongly favored thermodynamically. This unusual trend is attributed to formation of η3-benzyl structures, which can be observed spectroscopically for 1,4-diethylbenzene activation.
Reverse temperature dependence of tuna hemoglobin oxygenation.

Abstract At a pH around 7.5 with 0.05 M NaPi, the shape of the oxygen equilibrium curve of hemoglobin from the bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus) is temperature dependent. The affinity at low saturation increases, and that at high saturation decreases on cooling from 20°C to 10°C. The equilibrium curves at the two temperatures therefore cross over. This behavior is physiologically advantageous to a warm-bodied fish. It may be explained in terms of the two-state model by supposing that the allosteric constant L increases markedly on cooling the solutions.
The elusive flypaper effect

Abstract The flypaper effect is the common empirical result that lump-sum intergovernmental grants stimulate more local government spending than increases in private income which are theoretically equivalent. In this paper, four of the best-known explanations of the flypaper effect are tested, using data from Michigan school districts. None of these explanations are confirmed by the data. The cause of the flypaper effect is likely to be much more deeply rooted in the nature of local decision-making than is currently recognized.
Proton T1 for solid H2 in a-Si:H

Abstract Proton spin-lattice relaxation times T 1 (H 2 ) are reported for solid n-H 2 in plasma-deposited a-Si:H. T 1 (H 2 ) has been measured for the dipolar Pake doublet NMR component (corresponding to 0-H 2 molecules frozen out into m j = 0 states) between 1.6 and 13 K in an unannealed sample and between 1.6 and 5 K in a sample annealed at 500°C. In both samples below 3 K T 1 (H 2 ) is about the same as the T 1 (H) observed for the lattice-bound protons. At warmer temperatures T 1 (H 2 ) is 30 to 50% smaller than T 1 (H). The 175 kHz doublet H 2 cannot rapidly exchange spin energy with the narrower line-width lattice H and the two systems relax independently. The temperature variations of T 1 (H 2 ) and T 1 (H) are compared with the predictions of phonon-Raman relaxation models.
Evaluation of Adhesive Joints of Two Different Materials

In a test-fixture that the authors were using, steel tabs adhesively bonded to an aluminum panel debonded before the design load on the real test panel was fully applied. Therefore, studying behavior of adhesive joints for joining dissimilar materials was deemed to be necessary. To determine the failure load responsible for debonding of adhesive joints of two dissimilar materials, stress distributions in adhesive joints as obtained by a nonlinear finite element model of the test-fixture were studied under a gradually increasing compression-shear load. It was observed that in-plane stresses were responsible for the debonding of the steel tabs. To achieve a better understanding of adhesive joints of dissimilar materials, finite element models of adhesive lap joints and Asymmetric Double Cantilever Beam (ADCB) were studied, under loadings similar to the loading faced by the test-fixture. The analysis was performed using ABAQUS, a commercially available software, and the cohesive zone modeling was used to study the debonding growth.Copyright © 2012 by ASME
Positron probes of the Ge(1 0 0) surface: The effects of surface reconstructions and electron–positron correlations on positron trapping and annihilation characteristics

Abstract Positron annihilation induced Auger electron spectroscopy (PAES) has been applied to study the Ge(1 0 0) surface. The high-resolution PAES spectrum from the Ge(1 0 0) surface displays several strong Auger peaks corresponding to M 4,5 N 1 N 2,3 , M 2,3 M 4,5 M 4,5 , M 2,3 M 4,5 V and M 1 M 4,5 M 4,5 Auger transitions. The integrated peak intensities of Auger transitions are used to obtain experimental annihilation probabilities for the Ge 3d and 3p core level electrons. These experimental results are analyzed by performing calculations of positron surface states and annihilation characteristics of surface trapped positrons with relevant Ge core-level electrons for the non-reconstructed and reconstructed Ge(1 0 0)-p(2 × 1), Ge(1 0 0)-p(2 × 2) and Ge(1 0 0)-c(4 × 2) surfaces. It is found that the positron surface state wave function extends into the Ge lattice in the regions where atoms are displaced from their ideal terminated positions due to reconstructions. Estimates of the positron binding energy and the positron annihilation characteristics reveal their sensitivity to the specific atomic structure of the topmost layers of Ge(1 0 0). A comparison with PAES data reveals an agreement with theoretical core annihilation probabilities for the Auger transitions considered.
Complex energy spectra in reggeon quantum mechanics with cubic plus generalized quartic interactions

Abstract We investigate the energy eigenvalue spectra in reggeon quantum mechanics when the hamiltonian contains (non-hermitian) cubic, symmetric quartic and asymmetric quartic interactions. We describe two new methods for finding eigenvalues numerically. When the asymmetric quartic coupling is zero, the energy eigenvalues cross the vacuum state sequentially as predicted by Bronzan as long as r ≲0.7. For r ⩾0.7 the energy eigenvalues above the ground state pinch together pairwise above the energy axis, leaving the ground state to oscillate about the vacuum. The addition of an asymmetric quartic term appears to dilute the effects produced by increasing the cubic coupling strength. Quantitative graphs of the functional dependence of the eigenvalues on the parameter are given. An alternative derivation of Bronzan's formula for vanishing eigenvalues is given in the appendix.
Oral immunogenicity of a plant-made, subunit, tuberculosis vaccine.

Abstract Transgenic plants are a novel way to produce and deliver oral vaccines. Arabidopsis thaliana material shown previously to express the tuberculosis (TB) antigen ESAT-6 fused to the B subunit of Escherichia coli heat-labile enterotoxin (LTB) was fed to mice and the resulting immune response investigated. The plant-made LTB-ESAT-6 fusion protein induced antigen-specific responses from CD4+ cells and increased IFN-γ production, indicating a Th1 response. In addition, a Th2 response was induced in the Peyer's patch. This is the first report of an orally delivered, subunit, tuberculosis vaccine priming an antigen-specific, Th1 response.
Pulmonary hemorrhage and exogenous surfactant therapy: A metaanalysis

A metaanalysis of surfactant clinical trials was carried out to assess whether ornot an association exists between exogenous surfactant therapy and pulmonary hemorrhage. Trials that reported the pulmonary hemorrhage occurrence (group 1) and those that did not (group 2) were analyzed. Thirty-three treatment strategies were tested in 29 publications from 1980 through 1992. Eleven of these were group 1 trials, which reported a 3% overall incidence of pulmonary hemorrhage. The rates were significantly higher in both the treated and the control groups of natural surfactant trials than in synthetic surfactant trails (5.87% and 5.36% in the natural surfactant trials vs 2.51% and 1.04% in the synthetic surfactant trials, respectively). The pooled estimate of relative risk for pulmonary hemorrhage with any surfactant therapy was 1.47 (95% confidence interval 1.05, 2.07; p p
Force measurement on microspheres in an optical standing wave

We have measured the optical forces on isolated particles trapped in an optical lattice generated by the interference of two coherent laser beams. Two independent methods are employed here that are based on the equipartition theorem and hydrodynamic drag. The optical force on a particle in an optical lattice depends strongly on the ratio of the particle diameter to the period of the lattice. Based on the observed size dependence, we developed an approach that allows tunable, size-dependent force selection of a subset of particles from an ensemble containing mixed particles.
The corneal expression of antimicrobial peptides during experimental fungal keratitis.

Purpose/Aim of Study: To investigate the expression of endogenous antimicrobial peptides within the murine cornea during the onset and progression of posttraumatic keratomycosis caused by Candida albicans.Materials and Methods: Scarified corneas of BALB/c mice were topically inoculated with C. albicans and monitored for one week. A murine gene microarray compared the relative expression of 36 antimicrobial peptide genes in infected corneas to controls. Real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) determined gene expression levels for murine cathelicidin and β-defensins in normal corneas, scarified corneas, and C. albicans-infected corneas. Immunofluorescent staining localized the expression of cathelicidin in corneal sections.Results: Traumatized eyes exposed to C. albicans developed progressive corneal inflammation, with a fungal inoculum of 106 colony-forming units (CFU) bringing about significantly (P < 0.05) more severe corneal inflammatory disease than a 105 CFU inoculum. Camp, ...
Stereopsis and binocular vision after surgery for unilateral infantile cataract.

Abstract Purpose: To assess the prevalence and level of binocular function in children with unilateral congenital or very early infantile cataract. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the charts of all patients with unilateral congenital or very early infantile cataract who underwent operation before 4 months of age, at the W. K. Kellogg Eye Center/University of Michigan Hospitals, from 1985 to 1995. Amblyopia was treated with a reduced patching schedule consisting of 1 hour per day per month of age for the first 6 months of life, in an attempt to improve binocular function by allowing more hours of binocular interaction during the presumed critical period for development of binocular cortical pathways. Results: Thirteen patients met the inclusion criteria. Seven patients had persistent hyperplastic primary vitreous (PHPV) cataract and 6 had non-PHPV cataract. Overall, visual acuity of 20/80 or better developed in 69% of patients; 100% of eyes with non-PHPV cataract achieved visual acuity of 20/60 or better. Stereopsis of 400 arc seconds or better was detectable in 62% of patients, including 3 with PHPV cataract and 3 who required strabismus surgery in the first year of life. Three children had better than 150 arc seconds of stereopsis. The incidence of large-angle strabismus was 54%. Conclusions: Binocular cooperation, including gross and fine stereopsis, can develop in children with unilateral aphakia as a result of early removal of infantile cataracts. A less-strenuous patching schedule than has been historically advocated may foster this process, while restoring and maintaining good central visual acuity in patients with excellent compliance with contact lens and occlusion regimens. (J AAPOS 1999;3:109-13)