cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Modeling and control of aggregate thin film surface morphology using stochastic PDEs and a patterned deposition rate profile

This work focuses on modeling and control of aggregate thin film surface morphology for improved light trapping using a patterned deposition rate profile. The dynamics of the evolution of the thin film surface height profile are modeled by an Edwards-Wilkinson-type equation (a second-order stochastic partial differential equation) in two spatial dimensions. The thin film surface morphology is characterized in terms of aggregate surface roughness and surface slope. These variables are computed with respect to appropriate visible light-relevant characteristic length scales and defined as the root-mean-squares of height deviation and slope of aggregate surface height profiles, respectively. Analytical solutions of the expected aggregate surface roughness and surface slope are obtained by solving the Edwards-Wilkinson equation and are used in the controller design. The model parameters of the Edwards-Wilkinson equation can be estimated from kinetic Monte-Carlo simulations using a novel parameter estimation procedure. This parameter dependence on the deposition rate is used in the formulation of the predictive controller to predict the influence of the control action on the surface roughness and slope at the end of the growth process. The cost function of the controller involves penalties on both aggregate surface roughness and mean slope from set-point values as well as constraints on the magnitude and rate of change of the control action. The controller is applied to the two-dimensional Edwards-Wilkinson equation. Simulation results show that the proposed controller successfully regulates aggregate surface roughness and slope to set-point values at the end of the deposition that yield desired levels of thin film reflectance and transmittance levels.
Differences in stability among the human apolipoprotein E isoforms determined by the amino-terminal domain.

Denaturation by guanidine-HCl, urea, or heating was performed on the common isoforms of human apolipoprotein (apo) E (apoE2, apoE3, and apoE4) and their 22-kDa and 10-kDa fragments in order to investigate the effects of the cysteine/arginine interchanges at residues 112 and 158. Previous physical characterization of apoE3 established that apoE contains two domains, the 10-kDa carboxyl-terminal and 22-kDa amino-terminal domains, which unfold independently and exhibit large differences in stability. However, the physical properties of apoE2, apoE3, and apoE4 have not been compared before. Analysis by circular dichroism showed that the different isoforms have identical α-helical contents and guanidine-HCl denaturation confirmed that the two domains unfold independently in all three isoforms. However, guanidine-HCl, urea, and thermal denaturation showed differences in stability among the 22-kDa amino-terminal fragments of the apoE isoforms (apoE4 < apoE3 < apoE2). Furthermore, guanidine-HCl denaturation monit...
Effects of pup age, maternal age, and birth date on pre-weaning survival rates of Weddell seals in Erebus Bay, Antarctica

Identifying factors affecting juvenile survival is important to understanding the dynamics of populations and may also provide insights into life history theory and the selective forces shaping evolution. Quantifying the relative influence of the various potential selective forces for the post-birth, maternal dependency, and independent periods is difficult and often limits investigators to estimating a single juvenile survival rate for the first year of life, or from birth to recruitment. We examined survival of individually marked Weddell seal Leptonychotes weddellii pups during the maternal dependency period in Erebus Bay, Antarctica from 2005-2007. We used mark-recapture models to evaluate competing a priori hypotheses regarding variation in daily pre-weaning survival rates (ϕ) during the first 42 days of age. The a priori model receiving the most support from the data supported several of our predictions: ϕ increased with pup age and was higher for pups born later in the season and to older mothers. Increases in ϕ with increasing pup age may have been due to improved resilience to the environment, phenotypic selection against the frailest pups, or both. Maternal age was more important to ϕ than was maternal experience or age of primiparity, potentially indicating that age-related increases in body mass allow greater offspring provisioning, or age-related improvements in competitive abilities benefit offspring during the period of maternal care. Depending on the timing of birth and the age of the mother, ϕ 42 days ranged from 0.79 (SE = 0.05) to 0.98 (SE = 0.01). These exceptionally high pre-weaning survival rates contrast with estimates from other large terrestrial and marine mammal species where neonate survival is considerably lower and suggest that in species with similar life histories, pre-weaning survival probability may be buffered from both predators and environmental fluctuations during the period of maternal nutritional dependency. Climatic changes affecting stability of ice used for pupping substrate or extent of fast-ice buffering pupping colonies from predators have the potential to reduce pre-weaning survival and may have important implications for population growth rates.
Modeling Simultaneous Shrinkage and Heat and Mass Transfer of a Thin, Nonporous Film During Drying

Thin films of food products have long been dried commercially but the thin film drying process is not well understood. Modeling of a drying system is essential for understanding and improving it. A theoretical model for predicting the drying rate of thin films of nonporous foods was proposed, developed and evaluated. The model simultaneously considered shrinkage and heat and mass transfer within thin films dried on a surface with given boundary conditions. A finite element formulation of the model was used to develop numerical solutions of two governing equations. Starch was selected as a representative material for drying tests. Experimentally determined drying curves of modified corn, potato and rice starch films were compared to model predictions. The technique was useful in explaining the complex relationships of temperature, moisture and thickness profiles of drying films.
Resolution of enantiomeric lorazepam and its acyl and O-methyl derivatives and racemization kinetics of lorazepam enantiomers

Abstract Enantiomeric pairs of lorazepam (LZ) and its 3-O-acyl, 1-N-acyl-3-O-acyl, and 3-O-methyl ether derivatives were resolved on high-performance liquid chromatography columns packed with six different chiral stationary phases (CSPs). Resolution was achieved, with several mobile phases of different solvent compositions and with varying chromatographic resolutions, on at least five of the six CSPs tested. Resolved enantiomers of LZ underwent racemization, whereas enantiomers of 3-O-acyl and 3-O-methyl derivatives were stable. Racemization half-lives of LZ enantiomers were determined by monitoring changes in ellipticity as a function of time. Stability of LZ enantiomers vary substantially depending on the solvents used.
Serial expression analysis of breast tumors during neoadjuvant chemotherapy reveals changes in cell cycle and immune pathways associated with recurrence and response

The molecular biology involving neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) response is poorly understood. To elucidate the impact of NAC on the breast cancer transcriptome and its association with clinical outcome, we analyzed gene expression data derived from serial tumor samples of patients with breast cancer who received NAC in the I-SPY 1 TRIAL. Expression data were collected before treatment (T1), 24–96 hours after initiation of chemotherapy (T2) and at surgery (TS). Expression levels between T1 and T2 (T1 vs. T2; n = 36) and between T1 and TS (T1 vs. TS; n = 39) were compared. Subtype was assigned using the PAM50 gene signature. Differences in early gene expression changes (T2 − T1) between responders and nonresponders, as defined by residual cancer burden, were evaluated. Cox proportional hazards modeling was used to identify genes in residual tumors associated with recurrence-free survival (RFS). Pathway analysis was performed with Ingenuity software. When we compared expression profiles at T1 vs. T2 and at T1 vs. TS, we detected significantly altered expression of 150 and 59 transcripts, respectively. We observed notable downregulation of proliferation and immune-related genes at T2. Lower concordance in subtype assignment was observed between T1 and TS (62 %) than between T1 and T2 (75 %). Analysis of early gene expression changes (T2 − T1) revealed that decreased expression of cell cycle inhibitors was associated with poor response. Increased interferon signaling (TS − T1) and high expression of cell proliferation genes in residual tumors (TS) were associated with reduced RFS. Serial gene expression analysis revealed candidate immune and proliferation pathways associated with response and recurrence. Larger studies incorporating the approach described here are warranted to identify predictive and prognostic biomarkers in the NAC setting for specific targeted therapies. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00033397 . Registered 9 Apr 2002.
Characterizing Interfraction Variations and Their Dosimetric Effects in Prostate Cancer Radiotherapy

Purpose To quantitatively characterize the interfraction variations and their dosimetric effects in radiotherapy for prostate cancer. Methods and Materials A total of 486 daily computed tomography (CT) sets acquired for 20 prostate cancer patients treated with daily CT-guided repositioning using a linear accelerator and CT-on-rail combination were analyzed. The prostate, rectum, and bladder, delineated on each daily CT data set, were compared with those from the planning CT scan. Several quantities, including Dice's coefficient and the maximal overlapping rate, were used to characterize the interfraction variations. The delivered dose was reconstructed by applying the original plan to the daily CT scan with consideration of proper repositioning. Results The mean prostate Dice's coefficient and maximal overlapping rate after bony registration was 69.7% ± 13.8% (standard deviation) and 85.6% ± 7.8% (standard deviation), respectively. The daily delivered dose distributions were generally inferior to the planned dose distribution for target coverage and/or normal structure sparing. For example, for approximately 5% of the treatment fractions, the prostate volume receiving 100% of the prescription dose decreased dramatically (15–20%) compared with its planned value. The magnitudes of the interfraction variations and their dosimetric effects indicated that, statistically, current standard repositioning using prostate alignment might be adequate for two-thirds of the fractions, but for the rest of the fractions, better on-line correction strategies, such as on-line replanning, are needed. Conclusion Different adaptive correction schemes for prostatic interfraction changes can be used according to the anatomic changes, as quantified by the organ displacement and deformation parameters. On-line replanning is needed for approximately one-third of the treatment fractions.
Synthesis and properties of N3 and CN delivery compounds and related precursors for nitride and ceramic fabrication

The simple azido and cyano compounds Cl2AsN3, Br2AsN3, (C6H5)SiH2N3, (C6H5)SiH2CN and p-(tolyl)SiH2CN have been prepared for the first time by metathesis reactions involving the corresponding halides and NaN3, LiN3 and LiCN. These compounds represent a highly reactive and efficient family of delivery reagents for the preparation of N3 and CN molecular precursors to bulk ceramics and nitride thin films. They are isolated as low volatility liquids and characterized by spectroscopic methods and chemical analysis. Ab initio simulations were used to elucidate the structural and vibrational properties of the simpler, fully inorganic Cl2AsN3 and Br2AsN3 species. This theoretical treatment was extended to include the hypothetical H2AsN3 and HClAsN3 derivatives which are particularly desirable as single-source low-temperature AsN sources for the formation of highly sought after, metastable GaAs1−xNx materials for solar cell applications. The practical utility of the title molecules is also demonstrated by synthesizing several representative compounds of B, Be, Ga and Al, which are of interest for the development of open frameworks, optoelectronic nitrides and refractory BCN hybrids. The cyanide derivatives (C6H5)SiH2CN and p-(tolyl)SiH2CN react readily with Be and B halides to yield crystalline Be(CN)2 and amorphous BCN. The latter is crystallized upon heating to form graphite-like polymorphs with homogeneous nanoscale morphologies. The azide derivatives Cl2AsN3, Br2AsN3 and (C6H5)SiH2N3 react readily with GaBr3, GaCl3 and BBr3 to produce high yields of the previously reported Br2GaN3, Cl2GaN3 and Br2BN3, respectively. The latter is shown to possess a trimeric molecular structure in which the α-nitrogen of the azide group bridges the boron atoms to form cyclohexane-like B3N3 rings. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A code reuse interface for non-programmer middle school students

We describe a code reuse tool for use in the Looking Glass IDE, the successor to Storytelling Alice [17], which enables middle school students with little to no programming experience to reuse functionality they find in programs written by others. Users (1) record a feature to reuse, (2) find code responsible for the feature, (3) abstract the code into a reusable Actionscript by describing object "roles," and (4) integrate the Actionscript into another program. An exploratory study with middle school students indicates they can successfully reuse code. Further, 36 of the 47 users appropriated new programming constructs through the process of reuse.
Filtering Efficiency of N95- and R95-Type Facepiece Respirators, Dust-Mist Facepiece Respirators, and Surgical Masks Operating in Unipolarly Ionized Indoor Air Environments

The emission of unipolar air ions in the vicinity of a filtering facepiece respirator has been recently shown to considerably enhance its respiratory protection efficiency. The effect is driven by the electric repelling forces that develop between the unipolarly charged mask and the aerosol particles, thus creating a shield for the incoming particles and consequently decreasing the penetration efficiency through the filter. The manikin-based preliminary evaluation of this concept has been performed with a very limited number of variables. In this study, four types of half-mask facepiece filtering devices (N95, R95, and dust-mist respirators, as well as surgical masks), operating at two different breathing flow rates, were tested with unipolar air ion emitters exhibiting different emission rates and polarities. The particle penetration efficiency through the facepiece filter was determined in a room-size indoor test chamber by a real-time particle size selective aerosol monitoring performed inside and outside of the mask, which was face-sealed onto a manikin. Three commercially available ionic air purifiers were utilized as air ion emitters. For the targeted particle size range of ~0.04 – 1.3 µm, a 12- minute air ionization in the vicinity of a manikin enhanced the respiratory mask performance by a factor ranging from 1.61 to 3,250, depending on the respirator type, breathing flow rate, and the ion emission rate. The effect was achieved primarily within the first 3 minutes.
Effect of Soybean Meal Treatment and Dietary Carbohydrate on Plasma Protein Levels and Body Composition of Chicks

Abstract The levels of plasma proteins are related to the quality and quantity of dietary protein and in cases of protein malnutrition these levels decline (Flodin, 1953). Erwin (1960) reported alterations in the electrophoretic pattern of specific serum protein fractions occurred when different proteins were fed to rats. In addition to the protein in the diet, Chang and Varnell (1966) reported that the type of dietary carbohydrate also influenced the serum protein in rats. The present investigation was conducted to study the effect of autoclaving soybean meal and dietary carbohydrate on plasma protein concentrations and body composition in the chick. MATERIALS AND METHODS Crossbred chicks (Hubbard×White Mountain) were raised from day of age to 3 weeks on 4 different diets containing either unheated or autoclaved hexane-extracted soybean meal as the sole protein source, in combination with either glucose or corn starch. Composition of the basal diet and the soybean meal treatments…
The micromaser as a problem in “Quantum chaology”

The comparison between semiclassical and quantum descriptions of the micromaser is obviously far from complete. At this point, we do not have an explanation for the reported results. When we started this work, we merely wanted to convince ourselves once more that spin-1/2 systems are not good candidates to study the quantum-classical correspondence in situations exhibiting classical dynamic instabilities. Clearly, our results force us to revise at least temporarily this view, and open up more questions than they answer. Are they accidental or generic ? Can we recover more than just the average quantum mechanical average energy? What is the physical origin of the agreement, and in particular, what is the role of dissipation? What are its implications?
Identification of survivin, an inhibitor of apoptosis, in canine urinary bladder transitional cell carcinoma

Survivin, an inhibitor of apoptosis, is overexpressed in human invasive transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) of the urinary bladder. Survivin expression in canine TCC has not been defi ned. This study was designed to compare survivin expression between canine TCC and normal urinary bladder tissue. Reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and immunohistochemistry (IHC) were per- formed on fresh-frozen and formalin-fi xed tissues, respectively. All TCC tissues ( n = 6) and 11/22 normal tissues assessed by PCR were positive for survivin. This difference was not signifi cant ( P = 0.06). With regard to IHC, 28/41 TCC samples were positive for nuclear survivin, whereas 0/46 normal tissues had nuclear immunoreactivity ( P < 0.001). Cytoplasmic immunoreactivity did not signifi cantly differ between TCC (7/41) and normal tissues (17/46) ( P = 0.07). We conclude that nuclear survivin is present in canine TCC, but not in normal bladder urothelium. Future studies will evaluate the role of nuclear survivin in TCC development and as a potential therapeutic target.
Multivariate Randomization Tests for Small-n Behavioral Research: A Web-Based Application

Behavioral research involving statistical analyses of small group data is frequently compromised by conventional parametric statistical procedures. As an alternative, we have developed and deployed several web-based applications that allow behavioral researchers to easily input data on-line and to calculate levels of significance for small-n studies. Previously, our web-based applications were restricted to parametric and randomization tests involving only one dependent variable. We now have expanded our algorithms such that multivariate analyses may be conducted on sample sizes as small as 6 while employing several dependent measures. This paper provides details for on-line input and interpretation of randomized multivariate statistical tests for small-n studies. Also, to test the power and reliability of our applications, we have compared our multivariate randomization algorithms against a traditional multivariate statistic with two dependent variables. Using Monte Carlo methods, we have assessed the statistical advantages and accuracy of applied multivariate analyses when calculated in both randomized and traditional/parametric formats. Specifically, we have compared probability values for both traditional and randomized MANOVA models by way of Hotelling's T 2 and the Randomized multivariate/composite z scores. We discuss the reliability problems associated with using traditional multivariate statistics with small-n studies, and we describe the statistical advantages and some limitations of using our on-line, small-n, multivariate randomization tests.
Developmental Changes in Young Children's Spatial Memory and Language in Relation to Landmarks

Two experiments investigated how young children and adults understand whether objects are by a landmark and remember their locations. Three- and 4-year-old children and adults were asked to judge whether several blocks were by a landmark. The blocks were arranged so that their absolute and relative distances from the landmark varied. Later, the blocks were removed, and participants were asked to place them in their original locations. All ages relied on relative distance between objects and a landmark when making by judgments; however, older children and adults showed systematic judgments. Relative distance also affected block placement, and systematicity increased across development. Children's understanding of the relative nature of by and their ability to remember locations precisely increased during the preschool years, indicating developmental changes in the adaptive combination of location cues for spatial language and memory.
One-dimensional deterministic transport in neurons measured by dispersion-relation phase spectroscopy

We studied the active transport of intracellular components along neuron processes using a new method developed in our laboratory: dispersion-relation phase spectroscopy. This method is able to quantitatively map spatially the heterogeneous dynamics of the concentration field of the cargos at submicron resolution without the need for tracking individual components. The results in terms of density correlation function reveal that the decay rate is linear in wavenumber, which is consistent with a narrow Lorentzian distribution of cargo velocity.
Resolution of Inflammation in Murine Autoimmune Arthritis Is Disrupted by Cyclooxygenase-2 Inhibition and Restored by Prostaglandin E2-Mediated Lipoxin A4 Production

Acute inflammation follows defined phases of induction, inflammation and resolution, and resolution occurs by an active process that requires cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) activity. This study aims to address whether this paradigm extends to recognized model of chronic inflammation. We demonstrated that murine collagen-induced arthritis follows a similar sequential course. Interestingly, COX-2 and its metabolite, the presumably proinflammatory PGE2, are present in the joints during resolution, and blocking COX-2 activity and PGE2 production within this period perpetuated, instead of attenuated, inflammation. Repletion with PGE2 analogs restored homeostasis, and this function is mediated by the proresolving lipoxygenase metabolite, lipoxin A4, a potent stop signal. Thus, the study provided in vivo evidence for a natural, endogenous link between the cyclooxygenase–lipoxygenase pathways and showed that PGE2 serves as a feedback inhibitor essential for limiting chronic inflammation in autoimmune arthritis. These findings may explain the enigma regarding why COX-2 inhibitors are palliative rather than curative in humans, because blocking resolution may mitigate the benefit of preventing induction.
Salts affect the interaction of ZnO or CuO nanoparticles with wheat

Exposure to nanoparticles (NPs) that release metals with potential phytotoxicity could pose problems in agriculture. The authors of the present study used growth in a model growth matrix, sand, to examine the influence of 5 mmol/kg of Na, K, or Ca (added as Cl salts) and root exudates on transformation and changes to the bioactivity of copper(II) oxide (CuO) and zinc oxide (ZnO) NPs on wheat. These salt levels are found in saline agricultural soils. After 14 d of seedling growth, particles with crystallinity typical of CuO or ZnO remained in the aqueous fraction from the sand; particles had negative surface charges that differed with NP type and salt, but salt did not alter particle agglomeration. Reduction in shoot and root elongation and lateral root induction by ZnO NPs were mitigated by all salts. However, whereas Na and K promoted Zn loading into shoots, Ca reduced loading, suggesting that competition with Zn ions for uptake occurred. With CuO NPs, plant growth and loading was modified equally by all salts, consistent with major interaction with the plant with CuO rather than Cu ions. Thus, for both NPs, loading into plant tissues was not solely dependent on ion solubility. These findings indicated that salts in agricultural soils could modify the phytotoxicity of NPs. Environ Toxicol Chem 2015;34:2116–2125. © 2015 SETAC
A Study of Tests of Kinesthesis

Abstract Twenty-one tests of kinesthesis were administered to 15 college varsity men and 15 college men who had never lettered in high school or college varsity sports. Test reliabilities, validities, and interrelationships were first determined. “t” ratios were computed to determine the statistical significance of the obtained differences between varsity and non-varsity men. Fifteen of the tests have reliability coefficients which would recommend them as useful testing instruments. There was a kinesthetic difference in favor of the varsity men.
Genetic Control of Schistosomiasis: A Mathematical Model

Genetic manipulation of the intermediate host snails of human-infecting schistosomes has recently attracted interest as a potential method for control of schistosomiasis (Richards, 1970; Woodruff, 1978, 1985). Here I develop a simple mathematical model to illustrate the principles underlying this form of genetic control and to serve as a springboard for a discussion of the effectiveness of this approach.
GELSTATS: A Computer Program for Population Genetics Analyses Using VNTR Multilocus Probe Data

GELSTATS, a computer program for population genetics analyses utilizing genetic markers revealed with variable number tandem repeat (VNTR) multilocus probes, is described and made available (both as C++ source code and as an executable DOS program). The program calculates several population genetics parameters, including: (i) individual and population band numbers; (ii) population bands exhibiting complete linkage (redundant examples of such bands can be removed in subsequent analyses); (iii) similarity (fraction of bands shared) between individuals and average similarity within and between designated groups; (iv) estimated probability that two individuals chosen at random will have identical band profiles; (v) heterozygosity estimates for designated groups; and (vi) Fst estimates. Nonparametric permutation methods are used to assess the significance of differences in both within- and between-group similarity. A jackknife test for heterozygosity differences between groups is also computed. Examples of GELSTATS analyses illustrate some features of the program.
Affecting relations: introducing affect theory to archival discourse

An engagement with affect theory is a significant way in which dimensions of social justice for the archival field can be elucidated, fleshed out, and ultimately confronted. Affect theory provides tools for undertaking substantive analyses of power and its abuses in order to better perform, more critically understand, and challenge and reconceptualize archival functions and concerns in support of social justice principles and goals. In this paper, I provide an introduction for the archival field to affect theory, arguing that the contributions of Ann Cvetkovich, Sara Ahmed and Lauren Berlant can critically expose, complicate and further work toward social justice in three areas of archival concern. First, drawing on Cvetkovich’s work, I argue that affective value should be surfaced and explicitly applied as an appraisal criterion. Second, extending Ahmed’s work on pain and witnessing to the archival realm and building on arguments that archivists are witnesses (Punzalan in Community archives: the shaping of memory, Facet, London, 187–219, 2009; Caswell in Archiving the unspeakable: Silence, memory and the photographic record in Cambodia. University of Wisconsin Press, Madison, 2014a), I argue that archivists are deeply implicated in webs of affective relations. Such relations require the archival field to expand its ethical orientation to address considerations of emotional justice. Finally, I build out of Berlant’s work to call out, define and analyze a different kind of archival relation, an affective investment in and attachment to damaging neoliberalist ideologies that shape the conditions of contemporary archival work.
Tissue constructs: platforms for basic research and drug discovery

The functions, form and mechanical properties of cells are inextricably linked to their extracellular environment. Cells from solid tissues change fundamentally when, isolated from this environment, they are cultured on rigid two-dimensional substrata. These changes limit the significance of mechanical measurements on cells in two-dimensional culture and motivate the development of constructs with cells embedded in three-dimensional matrices that mimic the natural tissue. While measurements of cell mechanics are difficult in natural tissues, they have proven effective in engineered tissue constructs, especially constructs that emphasize specific cell types and their functions, e.g. engineered heart tissues. Tissue constructs developed as models of disease also have been useful as platforms for drug discovery. Underlying the use of tissue constructs as platforms for basic research and drug discovery is integration of multiscale biomaterials measurement and computational modelling to dissect the distinguishable mechanical responses separately of cells and extracellular matrix from measurements on tissue constructs and to quantify the effects of drug treatment on these responses. These methods and their application are the main subjects of this review.
Ion-Exclusion High-Performance Liquid Chromatography of Aliphatic Organic Acids Using a Surfactant-Modified C18 Column

Ion exclusion chromatography (IELC) of short chain aliphatic carboxylic acids is normally done using a cation exchange column under standard HPLC conditions but not in the ultra-HPLC (UHPLC) mode. A novel IELC method for the separation of this class of carboxylic acids by either HPLC or UHPLC utilizing a C18 column dynamically modified with sodium dodecyl sulfate has been developed. The sample capacity is estimated to be near 10 mM for a 20 µL injection or 0.2 µmol using a 150 × 4.6 mm column. The optimum mobile phase determined for three standard mixtures of organic acids is 1.84 mM sulfuric acid at pH 2.43 and a flow rate of 0.6 mL/min. Under optimized conditions, a HPLC separation of four aliphatic carboxylic acids such as tartaric, malonic, lactic and acetic can be achieved in under 4 min and in <2 min in the UHPLC mode at 2.1 mL/min. A variety of fruit juice and soft drink samples are analyzed. Stability of the column as measured by the retention order of maleic and fumaric acid is estimated to be ∼4,000 column volumes using HPLC and 600 by UHPLC. Reproducible chromatograms are achieved over at least a 2-month period. This study shows that the utility of a C18 column can be easily extended when needed to IELC under either standard or UHPLC conditions.
Fecundity Characteristics of the Greenbug Biotypes C and E Cultured on Different Host Plants

Greenbug, Schizaphis graminum (Rondani), clones were collected in fields from eight localities in the central United States. Two clones collected from sorghum, Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench, and one clone obtained from the Agronomy Greenhouse, North Dakota State University, Fargo, N. Dak. (initially isolated on barley in 1968) were identified as biotype C. Six other clones collected from sorghum fields were identified as biotype E. All clones were cultured in the laboratory on barley, Hordeum vulgare L.; oats, Avena sativa L.; ‘Piper’ sudangrass, Sorghum sudanensis Bailey; and Kentucky bluegrass, Poa pratensis L., as standard diets. All clones were tested for fecundity during 10-d experiments in two chambers with automatically controlled 14:10 (L:D) photoperiod at 24 ± 1°C and 25% relative humidity. Fecundity of biotypes C and E was determined on the same host plants and on corn, Zea mays L., susceptible sorghum, biotype-C-resistant ‘IS-809’ sorghum, and biotype-C-resistant ‘Amigo’ wheat. Clones of the same biotype from different localities did not show differences in fecundity on the same host plants after being previously cultured on the same host plants. Biotype C showed greater fecundity on Kentucky bluegrass and on ‘Piper’ sudangrass after culturing on barley. Biotype E had greater fecundity on oat and ‘Piper’ sudangrass after culturing on barley. On corn, greenbugs did not survive longer than a week. All greenbugs grew slowly on ‘Amigo’ wheat and ‘IS-809’ sorghum. Greenbugs had higher fecundity on ‘IS-809’ sorghum than on ‘Amigo’ wheat.
POSITIVE IMPACT OF CONTINUOUS FLOW LEFT VENTRICULAR ASSIST DEVICE (LVAD) IMPLANTATION ON GLYCEMIC CONTROL IN DIABETIC PATIENTS WITH ADVANCED SYSTOLIC HEART FAILURE

Restoration of hemodynamics and metabolism after left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation has been hypothesized to favorably affect the clinical course of diabetes. Several studies have sought to characterize this relationship; however, all have fewer than 50 patients. This was a
The Evolving Structure of the Private Equity and Venture Capital Industry

The private equity industry is young and evolving. The jury is still out on what fraction of equity investments should be in permanent capital / publicly-traded form versus limited-life capital / private form. The traditional fee and carry model will eventually embrace significantly reduced GP compensation for certain types of private investments. The jury is also out on how the pioneering founders of great private equity franchises will effect leadership and ownership succession. Regulations have impeded the masses from earning premium returns as liquidity providers by investing in private equity, and product innovations and pressure on regulatory regimes will inevitably change this.
Security is about control: insights from cybernetics

Cybernetic closed loop regulators are used to model socio-technical systems in adversarial contexts. Cybernetic principles regarding these idealized control loops are applied to show how the incompleteness of system models enables system exploitation. We consider abstractions as a case study of model incompleteness, and we characterize the ways that attackers and defenders interact in such a formalism. We end by arguing that the science of security is most like a military science, whose foundations are analytical and generative rather than normative.
Opinions on Intermediate Intensive Reading Teaching Skills of TCFL

To improve the quality of classroom teaching for intermediate intensive reading as well as enlivening the classroom atmosphere.Teachers may analyses the corresponding application of teaching techniques of TCFL intermediate intensive reading from three aspects: treatment of new words,treatment of the new grammar,and the explanation of the text.For example: to apply formula or interview which precipitate more features of intermediate intensive reading.It also can promote efficiency of teaching for intermediate intensive reading.
Instability in Distributed Mobility Management: Revisiting Configuration Management in 3G/4G Mobile Networks

Mobility support is critical to offering seamless data service to mobile devices in 3G/4G cellular networks. To accommodate policy requests by users and carriers, micro-mobility management scheme among cells (i.e., handoff) is designated to be configurable. Each cell and mobile device can configure or even customize its own handoff procedure. In this paper, we examine the handoff misconfiguration issues in 3G/4G networks. We show that they may incur handoff instability in the form of persistent loops, where the device oscillates between cells even without radio-link and location changes. Such instability is mainly triggered by uncoordinated parameter configurations and inconsistent decision logic in the hand- off procedure. It can degrade user data performance, incur excessive signaling overhead, and violate network's expected handoff goals. We derive the instability conditions, and validate them on two major US mobile carrier networks. We further design a soft- ware tool for automatic loop detection, and run it over operational networks. We discuss possible fixes to such uncoordinated configurations among devices and cells.
Meta-analysis of the literature: Guideline development for prostate cancer treatment

AbstractMedical interventions are identified to be in need of practice guidelines based on several criteria, including uncertainty of therapeutic benefit, economic impact, variation in practice patterns and lack of objective data for new developments. Treatment of localized adenocarcinoma of the prostate meets these criteria and has been identified as an issue in need of practice guideline development. The American Urological Association began working toward establishing prostate cancer treatment guidelines in 1989. An explicit method based on collection of scientific data was adopted, which requires complete review of the literature and analysis of the evidence collected. An update on the progress toward this data analysis and guideline document is presented.
The Beginning Phase

Social conditions at the first meeting of the group can best be understood by reference to the developmental scale. Psychotic clients, with rare exceptions, range from early infancy through childhood in the level of their emotional life. The client’s reaction to the therapist varies with the level of emotional life. The significance of the therapist corresponds to that of the mother or adult along the developmental scale. For clients in early infancy the therapist has not yet attained dominant emotional significance. For clients in late infancy the therapist has dominant emotional significance which he may use to encourage relationships with other authorities and with peers. For clients at the childhood level the reaction to the therapist is in the process of becoming more limited and realistic. No matter what the level of the psychotic client, the therapist has an emotional significance that vastly surpasses that of members of the group. The pattern of interaction in the beginning will be what has been described as vertical; it will be between two levels of social status. There will be little communication between members. Even messages that are transmitted from member to member will usually be detoured through the therapist.
The Full Financial Toolkit of Partial Second Moments

Traditional, two-tailed measurements of risk-adjusted performance, particularly the Sharpe ratio, give dangerous guidance during bear markets because they implicitly assume that returns are normally distributed and because they effectively treat upside and downside volatility as equal constituents of risk.1 The danger in assuming symmetry in the distribution of returns is neither new nor mysterious. Many of the architects of modern portfolio theory nevertheless adopted this statistical shortcut in grudging acceptance of that era’s computational limitations.2 Harry Markowitz’s theoretical call “for calculating the covariances of every security” initially posed a “monumental” barrier to practical implementation: under the constraints on computing power during the 1960s, “[c]alculating a single portfolio could eat up tens of thousands of dollars in computer time.”3
An Improved Algorithm for Selecting Ground Motions to Match a Conditional Spectrum

ABSTRACTThis paper describes an algorithm to efficiently select ground motions from a database while matching a target mean, variance, and correlations of response spectral values at a range of periods. The approach improves an earlier algorithm by Jayaram et al. [2011]. Key steps in the process are to screen a ground motion database for suitable motions, statistically simulate response spectra from a target distribution, find motions whose spectra match each statistically simulated response spectrum, and then perform an optimization to further improve the consistency of the selected motions with the target distribution. These steps are discussed in detail, and the computational expense of the algorithm is evaluated. A brief example selection exercise is performed, to illustrate the type of results that can be obtained. Source code for the algorithm has been provided, along with metadata for several popular databases of recorded and simulated ground motions, which should facilitate a variety of explorator...
Comprehensive Essentiality Analysis of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis Genome via Saturating Transposon Mutagenesis.

For decades, identifying the regions of a bacterial chromosome that are necessary for viability has relied on mapping integration sites in libraries of random transposon mutants to find loci that are unable to sustain insertion. To date, these studies have analyzed subsaturated libraries, necessitating the application of statistical methods to estimate the likelihood that a gap in transposon coverage is the result of biological selection and not the stochasticity of insertion. As a result, the essentiality of many genomic features, particularly small ones, could not be reliably assessed. We sought to overcome this limitation by creating a completely saturated transposon library in Mycobacterium tuberculosis In assessing the composition of this highly saturated library by deep sequencing, we discovered that a previously unknown sequence bias of the Himar1 element rendered approximately 9% of potential TA dinucleotide insertion sites less permissible for insertion. We used a hidden Markov model of essentiality that accounted for this unanticipated bias, allowing us to confidently evaluate the essentiality of features that contained as few as 2 TA sites, including open reading frames (ORF), experimentally identified noncoding RNAs, methylation sites, and promoters. In addition, several essential regions that did not correspond to known features were identified, suggesting uncharacterized functions that are necessary for growth. This work provides an authoritative catalog of essential regions of the M. tuberculosis genome and a statistical framework for applying saturating mutagenesis to other bacteria. Importance Sequencing of transposon-insertion mutant libraries has become a widely used tool for probing the functions of genes under various conditions. The Himar1 transposon is generally believed to insert with equal probabilities at all TA dinucleotides, and therefore its absence in a mutant library is taken to indicate biological selection against the corresponding mutant. Through sequencing of a saturated Himar1 library, we found evidence that TA dinucleotides are not equally permissive for insertion. The insertion bias was observed in multiple prokaryotes and influences the statistical interpretation of transposon insertion (TnSeq) data and characterization of essential genomic regions. Using these insights, we analyzed a fully saturated TnSeq library for M. tuberculosis, enabling us to generate a comprehensive catalog of in vitro essentiality, including ORFs smaller than those found in any previous study, small (noncoding) RNAs (sRNAs), promoters, and other genomic features.
Outcomes in Subcutaneous Panniculitis-Like T-Cell Lymphoma (STCL)

Abstract Subcutanous panniculitis–like T cell lymphoma (STCL) is a rare clinical entity which simulates panniculitis and can present with an aggressive clinical course. STCL is divided two major subgroups (αβ-STCL and γδ-STCL), according the T cell receptor expression on the malignant T cells. γδ-STCL is often associated with a more aggressive course and poor prognosis with an 11% 5-yr survival in a retrospective study of 20 cases, only 6 of which were confirmed by TCRδ -1 staining. 1 We report our results from 10 patients with STCL, 2 BetaF1+ (αβ-STCL), 8 γδ-STCL. The median age at presentation was 43 (25–63); 7 of 10 were female. Immunohistochemical studies and TCR gene rearrangements (TCRR) were performed on all patients. Cytotoxic T-cell markers were expressed in all pts (TIA-1 in 8 of 10 and Granzyme B in 5). Six were CD8+ and 3 were CD3+CD4−CD8−. CD56 expression was detected in 3. All demonstrated clonal TCRR. All pts presented with skin nodules or ulcerations, and 3 had visceral involvement (blood/bone marrow in 2, liver in 1). Three patients (2αβ-STCL and γδ-STCL) were treated initially with denileukin diftitox; one each with αβ- and γδ- disease had PR on therapy and have been maintained without PD. Seven patients were treated with cytotoxic chemotherapy regimens. Four of 7 achieved a remission after EPOCH (2), denileukin diftitox-CHOP (1) or pentostatin/cyclophosphamide followed by alemtuzumab ( 1 ). Four pts (1 with refractory ab-STCL, 2 with refractory gd-STCL, and 1 with γδ-STCL in first CR after denileukin diftitox-CHOP) underwent allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell (HSCT) from matched-related donors. Two patients are alive 6 and 13 months after HSCT with no evidence of disease; 1 patient died in CR from infectious complications of HSCT, and 1 relapsed 6 mo after HSCT and died from PD. At a median follow up of 3 yrs from diagnosis, 8 pts (80%) are alive, including the 2 pts with αβ-STCL and 6 of 8 pts with γδ-STCL. In summary, while γδ-STCL is reported in retrospective studies to have a poor prognosis, we demonstrate that aggressive therapies along with the incorporation of novel T-cell directed agents such as denileukin diftitox and alemtuzumab into treatment regimens and the use of allogeneic HSCT as a potentially curative therapy are promising approaches for these patients.
Toxins that Trash Translation

Culviner and Laub (2018) use RNA-seq and ribosome profiling to determine how MazF inhibits translation in E. coli. Challenging an earlier model, they argue that MazF cleaves mRNA and blocks ribosome biogenesis but does not generate specialized ribosomes that preferentially translate leaderless transcripts.
Conditional components for simulation of vector random fields

Conditional component random fields (CC) based on Cholesky decomposition of the multivariate spectra are introduced in this study to develop a new method for conditional simulation of vector attributes in environmental and geological phenomena. The CC are independent random fields with covariance models obtained from projections and conditioning in the frequency domain. The approach is to simulate one attribute in the physical space and use the results to estimate the other attributes in the frequency domain. Then, a CC for the next attribute is simulated and projected on the other attributes. In general, any attribute is built as the sum of inverse Fourier transform of the orthogonal projection of previous simulated CC plus a last CC simulated in the physical space. This simulation approach continues in this fashion for several attributes and the order of them may be changed for different realizations. This method allows for data conditioning and simulation. A simplified version for intrinsically correlated random fields allows for an approach that avoids the frequency domain.