cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Investigating the non-ideal behavior of the Amptek A111 charge sensitive preamplifier & discriminator board—3He proportional counter combination used in common safeguards neutron coincidence counters

Abstract Neutron coincidence counting is a well-established technique used for the nondestructive quantification of special nuclear material during international safeguards inspections. The neutron counters are commonly designed with an annular body, centered about an inner well or cavity into which a measurement item is placed, and the moderating annulus is populated with 3He tubes connected to a varying number of preamplifiers. The Canberra Industries JAB-01 preamplifier/amplifier/discriminator board is employed within the company’s neutron coincidence counters, built for use by the International Atomic Energy Agency. Non-ideal behavior of these boards was identified during a detector characterization, using list mode data acquisition, of a Canberra Industries JCC-71 Neutron Coincidence Collar implementing four JAB-01 boards. List mode data acquisition and analysis reveals features that have commonly been overlooked by historic timing gate selection while using shift register data acquisition methods, which are routinely adopted in international safeguards. It has been shown that double pulsing effects are not fully captured within the predelay setting; therefore, they may influence the response of the system within the standard operating regime. We set out to identify and correct for double pulsing in our post analysis of neutron pulse trains, while isolating this behavior to the relevant system. To understand and potentially address these concerns, the responses of two different JAB-01 board systems – the JCC-71 Neutron Coincidence Collar and a modified JCC-51 Active Well Neutron Coincidence Counter – are compared with the responses of an AnTech Inc. N2071 Neutron Coincidence Collar that also uses an amplifier built on the Amptek A111 Charge Sensitive Preamplifier & Discriminator chip, and a JCC-71 that employs custom preamplifiers designed at Oak Ridge National Laboratory.
Limits to biocontrol: the effects of urbanization and elevation on Bruchidius villosus and Exapion fuscirostre-two biological control agents of Cytisus scoparius

Both invasive species and their biological control agents face barriers to expansion, which provide opportunities to limit invasions or may enable target invasive species to exist in enemy-free space. A better understanding of the various barriers to the spread of insects introduced to control invasive plants will allow for more targeted release programs and potentially shorter lag times from introduction to management. In the Pacific Northwest of the United States, two seed eating beetles (Exapion fuscirostre and Bruchidius villosus) have been introduced to control the invasive plant Cytisus scoparius. These biological controls are predicted to be effective only at high rates of seed destruction, so any factors that limit their colonization or population sizes may allow C. scoparius populations to grow, leading to ecological and economic harm. In this study, we investigate relative impacts of biological control agents in relation to two barriers to insect movement: urbanization and elevation. We find that the impacts of B. villosus are not different between urban and rural sites, but that relative impacts of both biological control agents decrease with increasing elevation, a pattern consistent across 2 years of measurements. Cytisus scoparius populations experience substantial seed destruction in urban settings, strongly suggesting successful population control. The low seed destruction at high elevation sites could indicate that biological control agents are ineffective there, and that C. scoparius may exist in enemy-reduced space.
Engineering CD5-Targeted Chimeric Antigen Receptors and Edited T Cells for the Treatment of T-Cell Leukemia

Abstract Remission reinduction poses a great challenge in treating relapsed T-cell malignancies. These patients have poor outcomes when treated with chemotherapy alone. Treatment of relapsed B-cell malignancies using chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy has had great success. However, the same approach will be difficult to apply to the treatment of T-cell malignancies due to the lack of T-lymphoblast specific antigens. Therefore, T cells modified with anti-T cell CARs target themselves, potentially resulting in fratricide of CAR T cells and killing of normal T cells. We have been investigating mechanistic approaches to evade fratricide-based limitations of CAR therapy for T-cell leukemias. Since the majority of T-cell leukemias express CD5, we hypothesized that if CD5 expression was knocked down/out in effector T cells, the issue of fratricide would be eliminated. We used CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing to knock out CD5 expression in CD5-positive T cells, resulting in CD5-negative T cells that were used as CAR-expressing effector cells. In order to target CD5, CARs were generated using two structurally different antigen recognition sequences - a traditional immunoglobulin-based single chain variable fragment (scFv) and a lamprey-derived variable lymphocyte receptor (VLR). We have previously shown this VLR can be used as an alternative for CAR-based antigen recognition. Here, we compare non-CRISPR T cells to CD5-edited T cells when modified with either a CD5-VLR-CAR or CD5-scFv-CAR. Our in vitro studies show both CARs yield comparable T-cell activation in non-CRISPR T cells and that CD5-edited CAR-modified T cells have a substantial reduction in self-activation. Furthermore, CD5-edited CAR-modified cells become activated in the presence of CD5-positive target cells to a greater degree than do non-CRISPR CAR-modified T cells (p Download : Download high-res image (86KB) Download : Download full-size image Figure . Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Biological effects of urban air pollution. IV. Effects of acute smog episodes on respiration of guinea pigs.

At that time, all-time high levels for L. A. were: oxidants--0.9 ppM; CO--72 ppM; hydrocarbons--40 ppM; NO/sub x/--3.1 ppM. First Alert levels were: 0.5, 100, and 3.0 ppM for oxidant, CO, and NO/sub x/, respectively. Respiratory function (expiratory resistance) in animals already housed in exposed or filtered chambers when levels reached 40% of alert stage was measured. Expiratory flow resistance was significantly increased when oxidants reached 0.3 ppM or when others reached 40% alert. Low temperature and high humidity increased resistance. Old animals breathing filtered or ambient air and young animals breathing ambient air had increased resistance with oxidant alert and 25% alert for CO and hydrocarbons; young animals with filtered air did not (CO and small hydrocarbons were not filtered, so old animals may be affected by these). There was individual difference in sensitivity, as some died from smog with severe pulmonary abnormality.
Electric power production in a microbial fuel cell using Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, synthetic wastewater as substrate, carbon cloth and graphite as electrodes, and methylene blue as mediator. Laboratory scale

Microbial fuel cells (MFC) are an alternative for electric power production based on the oxidation of organic matter, for that reason waste waters are been considered as source of organic matter which can be transformed by microorganisms with the capacity of generating electric power. Therefore, the use of this technology, allows fulfilling two objectives, electricity production and pollutant reduction. In this work, a two-chamber MFC was assembled and operated in discontinuous mode to evaluate the parameters of electricity production and COD reduction in a synthetic waste water (with an invariant nutritional composition), using Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains. Carbon cloth and graphite were employed as electrodes, and methylene blue as a mediator. The initial pH values of the synthetic wastewater used as a substrate were variated in the tests. According to the operating conditions described above, a maximum average value of 464 mV was obtained for the voltage in open circuit and a potential density of 3.98 mW/m 2 , using Escherichia coli with a pH value of 6.5, a mediator, and with graphite as the material for electrodes. Additionally, a significant decrease in chemical oxygen demand (COD) was achieved with 11.53% for E. coli being the highest one. Lastly, microbial quantification was done, obtaining a lower growth time also for Escherichia coli .
An Iterative Design Process to Develop a Randomized Feasibility Study and Inform Recruitment of Minority Women After Stillbirth

Yearly, approximately 25,000 US women experience stillbirth and African American women have a 2.2 fold increased risk of stillbirth compared with white women. After stillbirth, women are subject to a sevenfold increased risk of post-traumatic stress compared with women after a live-birth. This paper presents findings from phase one of a National Institutes of Health funded, two-phase feasibility study to examine an online yoga intervention to reduce symptoms of post-traumatic stress in mothers after stillbirth. An iterative design was used to (1) inform the development of the online yoga intervention and (2) inform recruitment strategies to enroll minority women into phase two. Ten mothers (N = 5 stillbirth moms with no yoga experience, N = 5 nonstillbirth moms with yoga experience) participated in a series of online yoga videos (N = 30) and were assessed for self-compassion (SC) and emotional regulation (ER) before and after each video. An independent group of five minority women who had experienced stillbirth were interviewed about cultural barriers to recruitment and perceptions/opinions of yoga. A mean was calculated for SC and ER scores for each video at pre- and post-time points. The percent change of the mean difference between pre-post SC and ER scores were used to select videos for phase two. Videos with a negative change score or that had a 0% change on SC or ER were not used. A combination of deductive and inductive coding was used to organize the interview data, generate categories, and develop themes. Five of the 30 tested yoga videos were not used. An additional 12 videos were developed, filmed, and used in the prescription for phase two. Topics from interview findings included perceived benefits/barriers of and interest in yoga, preferred yoga environment, suggested recruitment methods, content of recruitment material, and recommended incentives. Online yoga may be beneficial for improving emotional regulation and self-compassion, but further testing is needed. Additionally, minority women express interest in online yoga but suggest that researchers apply culturally specific strategies regarding methods, content of material, and incentives to recruit minority women into a study.
Cost comparison of surgical management of nonsagittal synostosis: traditional open versus endoscope-assisted techniques.

OBJECTIVE Management of craniosynostosis at an early age is important for mitigating the risk of abnormal cranial development, but treatment can result in significant expenses. Previous research has shown that endoscope-assisted craniectomy (EAC) is less costly than open cranial vault remodeling (CVR) for patients with sagittal synostosis. The aim of this study was to strengthen the existing body of healthcare cost research by elucidating the charges associated with open and endoscopic treatment for patients with nonsagittal synostosis. METHODS The authors performed a retrospective analysis of data obtained in 41 patients who underwent open CVR and 38 who underwent EAC with postoperative helmet therapy for nonsagittal, single-suture craniosynostosis (metopic, coronal, and lambdoid) between 2008 and 2018. All patients were < 1 year of age at the time of surgery and had a minimum 1 year of follow-up. Inpatient charges, physician fees, helmet charges, and outpatient clinic visits in the 1st year were analyzed. RESULTS The mean ages of the children treated with EAC and open CVR were 3.5 months and 8.7 months, respectively. Patients undergoing EAC with postoperative helmet therapy required more outpatient clinic visits in the 1st year than patients undergoing CVR (4 vs 2; p < 0.001). Overall, 13% of patients in the EAC group required 1 helmet, 30% required 2 helmets, 40% required 3 helmets, and 13% required 4 or more helmets; the mean total helmeting charges were $10,072. The total charges of treatment, including inpatient charges, physician fees, outpatient clinic visit costs, and helmet charges, were significantly lower for the EAC group than they were for the open CVR group ($50,840 vs $95,588; p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS Despite the additional charges for postoperative helmet therapy and the more frequent outpatient visits, EAC is significantly less expensive than open CVR for patients with metopic, coronal, and lambdoid craniosynostosis. In conjunction with the existing literature on clinical outcomes and perioperative resource utilization, these data support EAC as a cost-minimizing treatment for eligible patients with nonsagittal synostosis.
¿Favorecen a las candidatas las listas abiertas o cerradas?: comparaciones entre Lima y las provincias en el Perú

espanolEste articulo analiza el prolongado debate existente en la bibliografia sobre los meritos relativos para la eleccion de mujeres a traves de listas abiertas y cerradas; describe los muy distintos sistemas empleados en las elecciones congresales y municipales en el Peru; y examina las disparidades existentes entre Lima y las provincias del pais desde una perspectiva de genero. Una serie de comparaciones empiricas demuestran que el tipo de listas no reviste mayor importancia en la capital, pero que las listas cerradas favorecen mucho mas a candidatas mujeres en provincias, donde el contexto socioeconomico y la cultura politica alientan menos a las mujeres EnglishThis article reviews the longstanding debate in the literature on electoral systems regarding the relative merits of open and closed lists for the election of women, describes the very different systems used in congressional and municipal elections in Peru, and examines gendered disparities between Lima and the provinces. A series of empirical com-parisons demonstrates that the type of list is not of great importance in the capital, but that female candidates fare better under closed lists in the provinces, where the socioeconomic context and political culture are less supportive of women.
Is an American Story Better? A Comparison of the Effectiveness of Domestic versus Foreigner Narratives in the Context of Chinese Air Pollution

Narrative messages are a useful tool in communicating health prevention. This study examines differences in the persuasiveness of narratives when they are ethnicity-incongruent or ethnicity-congrue...
Social Work and Obesity: License to Oppress

Social work is a profession based on social justice and anti-oppressive action. Social workers in direct practice in most states must possess a master’s level graduate degree and have completed internship/practicum placements hours. This higher education and professional development prerequisites within graduate curriculums must begin to include increased acceptance and understanding of diversity and social justice through expanded lenses and move beyond current frameworks of diversity. For example, one such area of diversity that has become an increasing proportion of higher education students are students who identify as obese or “fat,” and are experiencing oppression and stigma in their everyday life. The authors used a grounded approach to analyze 100 accredited graduate social work programs’ curriculum throughout the United States, with the goal of understanding how the topic of obesity and weight-based oppression were integrated into learning curriculums of diversity, social justice, and cultural humility. The authors will discuss “fat culture” and stigma associated with an obese identity, as well as systems that are inherently oppressive to people who are of larger size. The findings revealed evidence of professional disregard for this population in practice, as well as overarching disregard for body size as a dimension of diversity and inclusion on an institutional level. The authors will reflect on these findings and discuss implications for practice, knowledge, and professional and educational pedagogy.
Suffering and Symptoms At the End of Life in ICU Patients Undergoing Renal Replacement Therapy.

Background:We know little about the end-of-life suffering and symptoms of intensive care unit (ICU) decedents in general and those who undergo renal replacement therapy (RRT) in particular.Objectiv...
Human Papillomavirus Vaccination and Pap Smear Rates Among Burmese Refugee Girls in a Healthcare System in Omaha, Nebraska

While human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccinations and Pap smear screenings are known to improve the survival rates and incidence of cervical cancer, refugee populations have traditionally been disadvantaged within this arena. Due to past and recent political issues in Myanmar, Burmese refugee women in Nebraska may be at particular risk due to their increasing numbers. This study examined 65 female Burmese refugees who were candidates for HPV vaccinations and 106 female Burmese refugees who could have received Pap smear screenings between 2010 and 2020. Of the 65 patients aged 11–26, 49.2% initiated the HPV vaccine series and 30.8% completed the series. In patients aged 13–17, 86.4% initiated the vaccine series and 54.6% completed the series. Of the 106 patients over 18 years of age, 32.1% had a Pap smear within the last 3 years. The need to improve HPV vaccine and Pap smear rates in refugee populations is clear. While focusing on the designated refugee exam may have improved HPV vaccine rates, it is important to examine gaps in knowledge with regards to attitudes surrounding HPV vaccines and Pap smears within the Burmese refugee population.
Additive manufacturing of strong silica sand structures enabled by polyethyleneimine binder.

Binder Jet Additive Manufacturing (BJAM) is a versatile AM technique that can form parts from a variety of powdered materials including metals, ceramics, and polymers. BJAM utilizes inkjet printing to selectively bind these powder particles together to form complex geometries. Adoption of BJAM has been limited due to its inability to form strong green parts using conventional binders. We report the discovery of a versatile polyethyleneimine (PEI) binder for silica sand that doubled the flexural strength of parts to 6.28 MPa compared with that of the conventional binder, making it stronger than unreinforced concrete (~4.5 MPa) in flexural loading. Furthermore, we demonstrate that PEI in the printed parts can be reacted with ethyl cyanoacrylate through a secondary infiltration, resulting in an increase in flexural strength to 52.7 MPa. The strong printed parts coupled with the ability for sacrificial washout presents potential to revolutionize AM in various applications including construction and tooling. The limited strength of green parts have been a major hurdle in the Binder Jet Additive Manufacturing. Here the authors apply polyethyleneimine binder to print silica sand structures with double the flexural strength of green parts and 8-fold increase in the strength upon reactive infiltration.
Modified toluidine blue O stain for Pneumocystis carinii: further evaluation of some technical factors.

A modified toluidine blue O (TBO) stain for Pneumocystis carinii cysts was evaluated with regard to the influence of (i) the age and extent of use of the sulfation reagent, (ii) the source of TBO, (iii) the TBO content of the staining solution, and (iv) the amount of TBO present in the alcohol wash solutions. All TBOs evaluated, except for a new TBO obtained from Roboz Surgical Instrument Co., Inc., Washington, D.C., produced satisfactory results. Each lot of TBO should be quality controlled before use to ensure that the P. carinii cysts stain lavender against a blue background. We have ourselves decided to use only certified TBO with a high dye content. As extensively used sulfation reagent provided less satisfactory results than did either freshly prepared or 1-week-old unused sulfation reagent, we have decided to prepare fresh sulfation reagent at least weekly and to discard used sulfation reagent after 10 slides have been processed.
A new approach to the diagnosis of tobacco addiction.

The DSM-IV diagnosis of tobacco dependence lacks empirical support and can usefully be replaced by reports of recurrent and periodic compulsion to use tobacco.
End of the “American Century”

At the start of the post WWII era, the United States led the world to establish a political and economic order for freer trade, military cooperation, and economic development in low income countrie...
Rotational Evolution of Hot Stars Due to Mass Loss and Magnetic Fields

To obtain estimates of magnetic field strengths in hot stars, we have computed the evolution of rigidly rotating 15 and 30 solar mass stars, including the effects of magnetically-coupled, line-driven mass loss. Using mean rotational velocities derived from observations of main sequence stars of these masses to specify the initial state, we followed the variations in time of the surface rotation rate due to internal changes and wind-related braking. The initial magnetic field strength was varied until the calculated rotational velocity at the onset of the blue supergiant phase was in reasonable agreement with the mean value derived from observations. We find that, for both models, the computed rotational velocity decrease in the presence of a magnetic field of even modest strength (100 gauss) exceeds the limits set by observations.
Design and performance of rRNA targeted oligonucleotide probes for in situ detection and phylogenetic identification of microorganisms inhabiting acid mine drainage environments

At Iron Mountain, CA, there is an extreme occurrence of acid mine drainage (AMD). This is a result of past mining activity that has exposed a sulfide ore body to weathering and microbial activity. This study presents seven new oligonucleotide probes for the detection of microorganisms at this AMD site by fluorescent in situ hybridization. In the design of these probes we have accounted for a large body of 16S rRNA sequence data recently compiled by us. This was obtained by PCR and cloning directly from environmental DNA and was mostly represented by novel sequences. The probes were developed to include detection of novel and uncultivated organisms. This includes detection for the Thermoplasmales group, a new group of Leptospirillum, the genus Sulfobacillus, the Acidiphilium genus, Acidimicrobium and relatives, and for organisms within the delta Proteobacteria. These probes have been used to examine the abundance and distribution of organisms, including novel and uncultivated taxa, and to clarify their potential contributions to AMD production at the site. We anticipate that these probes will be useful tools for exploration of the microbiology of other natural acidic environments and bioleaching systems.
Low Central Nervous System Serotonergic Activity Is Traitlike and Correlates with Impulsive Behavior

: We have used nonhuman primates to examine developmental and behavioral correlates of CNS serotonergic activity, as measured by concentrations of the serotonin metabolite 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). These studies show that interindividual differences in CNS serotonin turnover rate exhibit traitlike qualities and are stable across time and settings, with interindividual differences in CSF 5-HIAA concentrations showing positive correlations across repeated sampling. Primates with low CNS serotonergic activity exhibit behaviors indicative of impaired impulse control, unrestrained aggression, social isolation, and low social dominance. Maternal and paternal genetic influences play major roles in producing low CNS serotonin functioning, beginning early in life. These genetic influences on serotonin functioning are further influenced by early rearing experiences, particularly parental deprivation.
Design issues of a rate 8/10 matched-spectral-null trellis code chip for partial response channels

Summary form only given. The real-time application of trellis coding to partial response channels is described for a rate 8/10 matched-spectral-null (MSN) trellis code on the (1-D) partial response channel. The architectural and design issues of an experimental chip that implements the functions of encoding, decoding, and Viterbi detection are discussed. Two novel techniques in the design of the Viterbi detector are introduced. Modulo normalization of the path metrics, and area-efficient pipelining for the add-compare-select units. Both techniques are effective in producing a regular structure and reducing the number of required interconnections. Area-efficient realization is achieved with little speed degradation. The circuit and layout were designed using LAGER CAD tool. The chip was fabricated in 1.2 mu m CMOS. >
Intermediate Levels of Bacillus subtilis CodY Activity Are Required for Derepression of the Branched-Chain Amino Acid Permease, BraB

The global transcriptional regulator, CodY, binds strongly to the regulatory region of the braB gene, which encodes a Bacillus subtilis branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) permease. However, under conditions that maximize CodY activity, braB expression was similar in wild-type and codY null mutant cells. Nonetheless, expression from the braB promoter was significantly elevated in cells containing partially active mutant versions of CodY or in wild-type cells under growth conditions leading to intermediate levels of CodY activity. This novel pattern of regulation was shown to be due to two opposing mechanisms, negative and positive, by which CodY affects braB expression. A strong CodY-binding site located downstream of the transcription start point conferred negative regulation by direct interaction with CodY. Additionally, sequences upstream and downstream of the promoter were required for repression by a second pleiotropic B. subtilis regulator, ScoC, whose own expression is repressed by CodY. ScoC-mediated repression of braB in codY null mutants cells was as efficient as direct, CodY-mediated repression in wild-type cells under conditions of high CodY activity. However, under conditions of reduced CodY activity, CodY-mediated repression was relieved to a greater extent than ScoC-mediated repression was increased, leading to elevated braB expression. We conclude that restricting increased expression of braB to conditions of moderate nutrient limitation is the raison d'etre of the feed-forward regulatory loop formed by CodY and ScoC at the braB promoter. The increase in BraB expression only at intermediate activities of CodY may facilitate the uptake of BCAA when they are not in excess but prevent unneeded BraB synthesis when other BCAA transporters are active.
Correlates and Consequences of Suicidal Cognitions and Behaviors in Children Ages 3 to 7 Years

Objective Despite research documenting the existence of depression and other psychiatric disorders in early childhood, little is known about the nature and consequences of suicidal cognitions and behaviors (SI) in young children ages 3 to 7 years. The identification of trajectories of SI across childhood is a critical step toward preventing childhood suicide. Method Participants were 306 children enrolled in a prospective longitudinal investigation of young children and their families. Children and their families completed a baseline assessment between ages 3 and 7 years, and at least 1 follow-up assessment (ages 7 – 12 years). Child psychopathology, suicidal thoughts, plans, and behaviors were assessed via parent and trained interviewer report before age 9, and also with self-report after age 9. Data on maternal history of psychopathology, as well as maternal and family history of suicide attempts, were also obtained through parent report. Results Controlling for a range of clinical and demographic variables, early-childhood SI (as defined as suicidal thoughts, behavior, or any expression of plans/attempts occurring before age 7) and suicidal themes in play were concurrently associated with childhood attention-deficit/hyperactivity (ADHD) and oppositional defiant/conduct disorders (ODD/CD). Early-childhood SI also predicted school-age depression and ODD/CD; however, these findings were no longer significant after controlling for the same diagnoses at the childhood baseline. Longitudinal analysis indicated that early-childhood SI was a robust predictor of school-age SI, even after accounting for psychiatric disorders at both time points. Conclusion Extending current research, these findings demonstrate that early-childhood SI confers significant risk for continuation into school-age SI and is concurrently associated with ADHD and ODD/CD. Although the meaning of early-childhood SI remains unclear, results suggest that it is a clinically important phenomenon that should be carefully assessed and taken seriously as a marker of risk for ongoing suicidal ideation/behavior. These findings suggest that early screening for SI in childhood is indicated in clinical settings, particularly in children less than 7 years of age with depression and externalizing disorders.
Muscarinic Modulation of Spike Backpropagation in the Apical Dendrites of Hippocampal CA1 Pyramidal Neurons

In CA1 pyramidal neurons of hippocampus, action potentials initiated near the soma backpropagate over the dendrites in an activity-dependent manner (Jaffe et al. 1992; Regehr and Tank 1992; Callaway and Ross 1995; Spruston et al. 1995). This backpropagation is thought to be important in regulating some forms of synaptic plasticity (Kullman et al. 1992; Magee and Johnston, 1997; Markram et al. 1997). Using dendritic patch recording and high-speed calcium imaging, we examined a number of factors that could affect dendritic spike propagation. The clearest result was obtained from the muscarinic agonist carbachol (CCh), which made all spikes in a train propagate almost equally into the dendrites, increasing the magnitude and spatial extent of the [Ca2+]i change resulting from the spikes (Tsubokawa and Ross, 1997).
Hamiltonian QR-algorithm for the Solving Algebraic Riccati Equation and Hessenberg Hamiltonian Matrices

Conditions are given for the reduction of a given Hamiltonian matrix to the Hamiltonian Hessenberg form.
Technology transfer strategy: review of successful research centres in the USA and Taiwan

Transferring technology from government-funded research centres to technological partners can generate both opportunities and losses for research and development investment. Formulating an appropriate technology transfer strategy is a challenging task for the technology transfer offices. All the way through technology transfer process, technological collaborations can occur all the time. Therefore, it is difficult to define specific transfer strategy for each customised technology. This research paper intends to review the academic research in the areas of technology transfer strategy and build up the basic factors that a strategist in transferring technology should concern in planning transferring technology to their technology partners. In this paper, technology transfer strategies of leading government-funded research institutes in the USA and Taiwan are reviewed.
The fact book at work and play: Strategies for use

A description of one institutional researcher's use of a fact book with some practical advice on how to make the fact book meet a variety of institutional needs and the needs of a variety of users.
Improving patient adherence: a three-factor model to guide practice

Abstract Patient nonadherence is widespread and costly. This paper provides a brief narrative review of research on (non)adherence and validates a clinically useful three-factor heuristic model to guide practitioners as they work with patients to improve adherence. This model is based on the most stable findings from meta-analyses and large-scale empirical studies, reflects the realities of medical practice and offers recommendations for assessing and enhancing patient adherence, particularly in chronic disease management. The model comprises three important clinical actions: (1) insuring that patients have the right information and know how to adhere – including listening to patients’ concerns, encouraging their participation and partnership in decision-making, building trust and empathy, and enhancing recall; (2) helping patients believe in their treatment and become motivated to commit to it – that is, addressing the cognitive, social, cultural normative and contextual factors that affect patients’ bel...
A family of phosphohydrolases from bovine intestinal mucosa: 5′-nucleotidase

Abstract Bovine intestinal 5′-nucleotidase has been partially purified and characterized for comparison with two other phosphohydrolases from the same tissue, alkaline phosphatase and 5′-nucleotide phosphodiesterase, which are closely related structurally and mechanistically. Kinetic studies with a variety of nucleotides and phosphonate analogs show that, although 5′-nucleotidase is a monoesterase like alkaline phosphatase, it more closely resembles 5′-nucleotide phosphodiesterase in its high affinity and specificity for nucleotide binding. 5′-Nucleotidase is bound very strongly by an affinity column containing a bound phosphonate analog of ADP but is not bound by an affinity column containing a nonnucleotide phosphonate which selectively binds alkaline phosphatase. 5′-Nucleotidase is strongly bound by immobilized antibodies prepared against 5′-nucleotide phosphodiesterase, and is less strongly bound by immobilized antibodies prepared against alkaline phosphatase. We conclude that 5′-nucleotidase is structurally more similar to 5′-nucleotide phosphodiesterase than to another monoesterase, alkaline phosphatase.
Multiple overlapping online auction market

Online auction bidders are sensitive to the information revealed from other overlapping auctions as well as the auction they are bidding on. As the Internet Technology enables signaling of auction information across multiple overlapping auctions, it affects overall bidder behavior, more specifically, their entry and bidding strategies. In this paper, we take an approach of entropy to capture essential information regarding the mixture of heterogeneous bidder strategies. While prior research demonstrated the influence of surrounding market forces on various aspects of bidder behavior, we develop a concise yet more integrated proxy that contains comprehensive information about these aspects. We find that entropy state of an auction is endogenous to the overlap of multiple auctions. Given that an auctioneer has limited control over entry and bidding activities of bidders, identification of unique strategic pattern based on entropy state provides an effective estimate of the market revenue. A set of overlapping online auctions is viewed as an entity.Entropy is used to quantify information on the mixture of bidder strategy.Entropy state is endogenous to various forms of market condition.The state can serve as an initial screening tool for market revenue estimation.
Microfabrication by X‐ray‐induced polymerization above the lower critical solution temperature

A polymer synthesis method is presented in which chain growth driven by exothermic reaction stimulates a gradual chain collapse. The globular precipitates in such systems can be restrained from coalescing by polymerizing in a quiescent environment. Time-resolved small-angle scattering study of the methacrylic acid polymerization kinetics in a quiescent system above its lower critical solution temperature (LCST) in water reveals the following features of this method: (a) growing oligomers remain as rigid chains until a critical chain length is reached, at which they undergo chain collapse, (b) radius of gyration increases linearly with time until a critical conversion is reached, and (c) radius of gyration remains constant after the critical conversion, even while conversion is gradually increasing. Following this self-stabilizing growth mechanism, we show that nanoparticles can be directly synthesized by polymerizing N-isopropylacrylamide above its LCST in water. The average size of nanoparticles obtained from a polymer–solvent system is expected to be the maximum extent of reaction spread at that monomer concentration. This hypothesis was then verified by polymerizing N-isopropylacrylamide above their LCST in water, but by initiating the reaction with X-rays shielded by a mask. The microfabricated patterns conform well to the size and shape of the mask used confirming that the growing chains do not propagate beyond the exposed regions as long as the reaction temperature is maintained above the LCST. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 102: 429–425, 2006
The best laid plans …: Class and nation in socialist society and culture

Nagengast, Carole. Reluctant Socialists, Rural Entrepreneurs: Class, Culture, and the Polish State. Boulder, Colorado: Westview Press, 1991. xvi + 239 pp. including appendices and references. $45.00 cloth. Verdery, Katherine. National Ideology Under Socialism: Identity and Cultural Politics in Ceausescu's Romania. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1991. xvi + 406 pp. including notes, bibliography, and index. $39.95 cloth.
Optical and spectral characteristics of an insertion device used both as a wiggler and an undulator

Abstract For experiments using the energy region below 4 keV the LBL/EXXON insertion device on Beam Line VI-2 at the Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Laboratory (SSRL) can be reconfigured to work as a source of undulator radiation. For example, with a K of 0.94 rather than its normal value of 5–8 the fourth harmonic of the undulator coincides with the Ar K absorption edge at 3.2 keV. Because the total power is relatively low, carbon foils protecting the beryllium window can be removed. Thus there is a net gain the flux at the Ar edge over that obtainable in wiggler mode with carbon absorbers in place. In addition the beam transmitted by the monochromator has a lower harmonic content and improved energy resolution.
Inheritance of Fertility in Cattle Inseminated Artificially

Abstract Higher conception rates were obtained in both virgin heifers and cows when the following estrus characteristics were present at insemination: good standing heat, presence of heat mucus, intense red color of the internal portion of the vagina, easy cervical passage with a pipette, good uterine contractions, normal ovaries and follicles, and soft follicles. Precise determination of these estrus characteristics was difficult, and heritability estimates ranged from 0 to 0.24. Consequently, an improvement in fertility by selection of these characteristics would be uncertain. Heritability and repeatability estimates of nonreturn rates after first insemination in virgin heifers in herds with low fertility were 0.17 and 0.23, respectively, and nearly zero in herds with good fertility. Thus, the use of nonreturns to first insemination for virgin heifers in herds with low fertility appears to be more valuable for fertility improvement through selection, because 1) these data can be obtained very easily and 2) this measurement determines the fertility complex better than other traits evaluated.
Soft x-ray photoemission of clean and sulfur-covered polar ZnO surfaces: A view of the stabilization of polar oxide surfaces

The two polar surfaces of ZnO were investigated by soft x-ray photoemission spectroscopy. Surface components due to variation in the Madelung energy were identified in photoemission core-level spectra. Sulfur adsorption was used to passivate the surfaces in order to enable separation of the bulk from the surface components. For the ZnO(0001)-Zn surface the observed photoemission peaks were consistent with a Zn-deficient surface, exhibiting a high density of O-terminated step edges. The ZnO(000--1)-O surface is very reactive toward hydrogen adsorption and only above 650 K a hydrogen free surface was observed. For hydrogen-free and small hydrogen coverage an electrostatic shift of the Fermi-level toward the band-gap center was observed. This indicates an incomplete compensation of the internal electrostatic potential by surface oxygen vacancies or charged adsorbates. Coadsorption of sulfur lowered the desorption temperature for hydrogen indicating the possibility to tune the chemical properties of these polar surfaces by dopants.
Non-Rutherford 4He cross sections for ion beam analysis

Abstract Increasing use of 4 He analysis beams with energies between 2 and 10 MeV for depth profiling and backscattering analysis of thin films and near-surface materials requires accurate measured values of non-Rutherford cross sections for scattering of 4 He by the lighter elements. Cross sections for scattering of 4 He through large angles deviate from Rutherford at 4 He laboratory energy ∼ 2.2 MeV for target nuclei 12 C and 16 O; deviations for target atomic numbers Z = 20 and 40 occur at 4 He energies of about 5 and 10 MeV, respectively. We review the experimental cross section data currently available for large angle scattering of 4 He from the light elements (4 ≤ Z ≤ 20) for incident 4 He laboratory energies 1.5–10 MeV. For each target element, we indicate energy regions with smooth cross section variation suitable for use for simple backscattering analysis as well as strong narrow resonances that may be used for depth profiling light elements in heavy-element matrices.
Agmon’s condition for incompressible elasticity: A formulation of Mielke–Sprenger type

Agmon’s Condition for incompressible elasticity is recast in a tractable variational form analogous to that developed by Mielke and Sprenger for the compressible case. “A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence will stop.” – Henry Adams, The Education of Henry Adams, 1918.
Matrix Infrared Spectra and Density Functional Calculations of Three Al, N, O Isomers

Laser-ablated aluminum atoms have been reacted with NO, 15NO, and 15N18O during condensation in excess argon using a variety of concentrations and laser energies/cm2. Four of the five major product absorptions with higher laser energy were also observed with lower laser energy. The isotopic frequency ratios characterize different normal modes, and these are uniquely matched to the stretching modes of triplet AlON (1282.1, 566.7 cm-1) and triplet AlNO (1644.3, 510.2 cm-1) by density functional theory (DFT) isotopic frequency calculations. The fifth band (1079.5 cm-1) is due to a terminal Al−O stretching mode that is consistent with triplet NAlO based on DFT isotopic frequency calculations. The total product yield depended on laser energy; both AlON and AlNO addition products were produced with lower energy, but the insertion product NAlO required higher energy. Anions were favored with lower laser energy, and a weak 1380.6 cm-1 band is assigned to AlNO- in accord with DFT isotopic frequency calculations.
Cardiovascular responses of rabbits to ESB: Effects of anesthetization, stimulus frequency and pulse-train duration☆

Abstract Chronically prepared rabbits received short (1.0 sec) or long (10 sec) pulse-trains of electrical stimulation in septal region or hypothalamus. One sec trains of 50-, 100-, and 200-pulse pairs per sec (p.p.p.s.) elicited equivalent cardiovascular responses (i.e., an increase in mean systemic arterial blood pressure accompanied by bradycardia) provided current-intensity was increased as pulse-frequency was decreased; whereas, cardiovascular responses were attenuated or abolished by 12–25 p.p.p.s. stimulation. Anesthetization (25 mg/kg sodium pentobarbital) attenuated cardiovascular responses to stimulation and converted the pressor increase elicited by the 1.0 sec pulse-train into a depressor response. In contrast to the single cardiovascular pattern elicited by the 1.0 sec train at all electrode sites, several cardiovascular patterns were obtained by stimulating different sites in unanesthetized rabbits with a 10 sec train. The differences in result following stimulation with 1.0 and 10 sec pulse-trains were discussed in terms of (a) higher current-intensity required to elicit cardiovascular responses with a 1.0 sec train, and (b) possible modulation of baroreceptor responses occurring during the longer train.
A Microprocessor-Based Statistical Analysis Subsystem

This paper describes a microprocessor-based subsystem which was developed to provide a statistical description of the diameter of an arbitrary length of wire during the drawina or insulation process. The instrument, built around a 4-bit Intel microprocessor, computes the mean and standard deviation of 1000 data samples over a length of wire determined by the setting on a Binary-Coded Decimal (BCD) thumbwheel switch. The sample period may be varied from 2 milliseconds to 10 seconds. The statistical quantities are output on analog channels as well as digital displays. In addition to the statistical computation, the instrument has the option of playing back the data at arbitrary speeds and generatinq histograms of the data samples. The techniques described in this paper can be inexpensively implemented to provide a statistical description of many laboratory or production processes with a minimum of operator intervention.
High degree of single nucleotide polymorphisms in California Culex pipiens (Diptera: Culicidae) sensu lato.

Resolution of systematic relationships among members of the Culex pipiens (L.) complex has important implications for public health as well as for studies on the evolution of sibling species. Currently held views contend that in California considerable genetic introgression occurs between Cx. pipiens and Cx. quinquefasciatus Say, and as such, these taxa behave as if they are a single species. Development of high throughput SNP genotyping tools for the analysis of Cx. pipiens complex population structure is therefore desirable. As a first step toward this goal, we sequenced 12 gene fragments from specimens collected in Marin and Fresno counties. On average, we found a higher single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) density than any other mosquito species reported thus far. Coding regions contained significantly higher GC content (median 54.7%) than noncoding regions (42.4%; Wilcoxon rank sum test, P = 5.29 × 10−5). Differences in SNP allele frequencies observed between mosquitoes from Marin and Fresno counties indicated significant genetic divergence and suggest that SNP markers will be useful for future detailed population genetic studies of this group. The high density of SNPs highlights the difficulty in identifying species within the complex and may be associated with the large degree of phenotypic variation observed in this group of mosquitoes.
Diazepines. V. The reaction of homophthalic anhydride with hydrazines

The reaction of homophthalic anhydride with hydrazine and a number of substituted hydrazines has been investigated. Only in the case of the reaction of homophthalic anhydride and 1,2-dimethylhydrazine has a diazepine been isolated. The previously reported (2) diazepine from homophthalic anhydride and hydrazine appears to be a product resulting from the reaction of twomolec of homophthalic anhydride with one mole of hydrazine.
Semiclassical stochastic description of the two-photon laser

We consider the problem of two-photon transitions between atomic levels having the same parity. The semiclassical theory is developed from Maxwell's equations and the resulting transcendental equations for the pulse envelope solved exactly. They lead to an unstable pulse envelope if the higher-order processes are included. We then treat the laser as a birth/death process, deriving a Markovian (macroscopic) master equation for the probability function, which may be solved exactly in the steady state. By a suitable truncation procedure, this equation predicts a stable steady-state envelope, and is consistent with the microscopic quantum theory when virtual processes are neglected. A comparison is made between the macroscopic (master equation) approach and the microscopic quantum theory at the level of the moment equations. We find that, in the high-gain limit, the fluctuations predicted by the two theories are the same.