cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Analysis on Tube Burst in Boiler High-temperature Reheater of Supercritical Unit

The inducer of a 1900t boiler high-temperature reheater(TP347H) burst in supercritical unit of a power plant during 168 pre-operation,the site of burst was trumpet-shaped and the trumpet broke into two pieces form center.Some conclusions are achieved by some experiments such as: macro inspection,chemical constitution analysis and metallographic detection,etc.They are as follows: long-term and short-term over-temperature and foreign body obstruction are the reasons of bursting.And the mechanism of creep fracture and stress concentration fracture is long-term overtemperature.
The House Alarm

Campos et al. (2016) identify a role for CGRP neurons in the external lateral parabrachial nucleus in regulating meal size in response to vagal or hormonal stimuli. This area may also have a broader role as a "house alarm" that can alter ongoing behaviors in response to noxious visceral inputs.
Psychological testing of children.

An introduction to the nature of psychological tests used with children, the purposes they serve, the validity of the data they yield, and some of the ethical issues raised by their use.
Set Coverage Problems in a One-Pass Data Stream.

Finding a maximum coverage by k sets from a given collection (Max-k-Cover), finding a minimum number of sets with a required coverage (Partial-Cover) are both important combinatorial optimization problems. Various problems from data mining, machine learning, social network analysis, operational research, etc. can be generalized as a set coverage problem. The standard greedy algorithm is efficient as an in-memory algorithm. However, when we are facing very large-scale dataset or in an online environment, we seek a new algorithm which makes only one pass through the entire dataset. Previous one-pass algorithms for the Max-k-Cover problem cannot be extended to the Partial-Cover problem and do not enjoy the prefix-optimal property. In this paper, we propose a novel onepass streaming algorithm which produces a prefix-optimal ordering of sets, which can easily be used to solve the Max-k-Cover and the Partial-Cover problems. Our algorithm consumes space linear to the size of the universe of elements. The processing time for a set is linear to the size of this set. We also show with the aid of computer simulation that the approximation ratio of the Max-k-Cover problem is around 0.3. We conduct experiments on extensive datasets to compare our algorithm with existing one-pass algorithms on the Max-k-Cover problem, and with the standard greedy algorithm on the Partial-Cover problem. We demonstrate the efficiency and quality of our algorithm. Keyword: max-k-cover problem; one-pass stream; partial-cover problem
Durable complete responses in metastatic melanoma treated with interleukin-2 in combination with interferon alpha and chemotherapy.

Biochemotherapy, which uses recombinant interferon alpha (rIFN-alpha) and recombinant interleukin-2 (rIL-2) in combination with chemotherapy is a promising therapy for metastatic malignant melanoma. Various biochemotherapy regimens have produced overall objective response rates of > 50% and durable complete remission (CR) in approximately 10%-of treated patients. One such biochemotherapy regimen, consisting of sequential administration of cisplatin, vinblastine, and dacarbazine (CVD regimen) followed by rIFN-alpha and rIL-2, has produced a response rate of 60% and a CR rate of 20% in the most recent cohort of 62 patients treated at The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. The duration of partial responses with this and similar regimens typically averages 6 to 9 months; however, more than half of the CRs achieved with this regimen have been durable for 3+ to 5+ years. This has raised the possibility of long-term survival in approximately 10% of patients with metastatic melanoma. If confirmed, this will represent a significant advance in the treatment of metastatic melanoma.
Organic Printed Circuit Board Materials and Processes

This chapter contains sections titled: Introduction Common Issues for All PCB Layer Constructions PCB Process Flow Dielectric Materials Surface Finishes Advanced PCB Structures Specifications and Standards Key Terms This chapter contains sections titled: References Exercises ]]>
microPET imaging of myeloid-derived suppressor cells using 64Cu-labeled anti-CD11b antibody in different tumor models

1134 Objectives Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) play a critical role in tumor associated immune suppression. This study was to evaluate the role of 64Cu-labeled anti-CD11b antibody in characterizing the level and distribution of MDSCs in different tumor models. Methods Anti-mouse CD11b antibody was conjugated with p-SCN-Bn-DOTA and then labeled with 64Cu. The specific binding affinity of 64Cu-DOTA-anti-CD11b to myeloid cells was confirmed by cell binding assays. microPET imaging and biodistribution were evaluated in 3 different syngeneic tumor models including 4T1 mammary carcinoma, CMS4 sarcoma, and CT26 colon carcinoma. The population of CD11b+Gr-1+ cells in the main organs was evaluated by flow cytometry and staining. Results 32.9±3.4% of bone marrow cells were CD11b+Gr-1+ in normal BALB/c mice. Anti-CD11b Abs bound specifically to CD11b+ cells derived from the bone marrow. microPET imaging showed high uptake of 64Cu-DOTA-anti-CD11b in the bone marrow and spleen of normal mice. In tumor-bearing mice, the PET imaging of mice bearing CMS4 or CT26 tumors showed a distribution pattern similar to that of 64Cu-DOTA-anti-CD11b in normal mice. However, mice bearing 4T1 tumor displayed a markedly different distribution pattern; the uptake of tracer in the bone marrow was significantly reduced compared to the other groups of mice, with corresponding increase in the radioactivity in blood pool and liver. The weight of spleen from 4T1 tumor-bearing mice was also significantly greater than spleen from mice in other groups. H&E stained tissues showed pathological changes in the spleen, liver, and bone marrow of 4T1-bearing mice compared to other groups, which were characterized by increased infiltration of granulocytic CD11b+Gr-1+ MDSCs in these organs. The different distribution pattern of 64Cu-DOTA-anti-CD11b in 4T1 tumor-bearing mice could be attributed to redistribution of MDSCs in different organs at different stage of tumor progression. Conclusions 64Cu-DOTA-anti-CD11b antibody is a promising radiotracer for assessing the systems response to tumor growth.
Cultural Perspectives on Social Responsibility in Higher Education

The writers of the UNESCO document, Rethinking education: Towards a global common good? challenge educators to address their efforts to meet the current threats to sustainable life for all who share this planet. One way that higher education has been attempting to do this is through campus-community partnerships working to solve social problems locally or further afield. In this exploratory study, answers were sought to the question of why faculty members and administrators participate in these service partnerships, both in terms of what motivates them to do so and what they hope to accomplish, and how cultural context may influence their answers. Answers to these questions may have implications for faculty recruitment and support and for curriculum design and student preparation for serving the common good as well as for the larger vision of how institutions might fulfill their social responsibility. Using one-on-one semi-structured interviews in a number of different countries, some trends could be identified. Responding to a sense of duty was found across all cultural contexts as a primary motivator for faculty members and administrators, but how duty was interpreted and legitimized depended on their various religious and political grounds. Cultural context also influenced whether participants saw their impact as empowering their service partners or establishing social justice.
External Beam Radiation Therapy for Age Related Macular Degeneration: Two-Year Results

Age-related macular degeneration (ARMD) is the leading cause of blindness in people older than 65 and the second most common cause for patients aged 45–64 years (Ganley and Roberts 1983; Leibowitz et al. 1980a, Leibowitz et al. 1980b; Klein et al. 1992), There are approximately 200,000 new cases of ARMD each year, with over 100,000 people considered legally blind. The prevalence ranges from 0.1% in persons aged 43–54 years to 7.1% in those older than 75 (Klein et al. 1992; Mitchell et al. 1995; Vingerling et al. 1995).
Effect of Baseline Characteristics on the Pain Response to Pregabalin in Fibromyalgia Patients with Comorbid Depression.

Objective To evaluate the effect of baseline characteristics on the treatment response to pregabalin in fibromyalgia (FM) patients with depression. Design Post hoc analysis from a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, two-way crossover study of pregabalin (300 or 450 mg/day, twice daily). Subjects A total of 193 FM patients taking an antidepressant for comorbid depression. Methods The effect of patient baseline characteristics on the treatment response to pregabalin vs placebo was assessed for the primary efficacy end point (mean pain score on an 11-point numeric rating scale). Variables were analyzed using a linear mixed effects model with sequence, period, and treatment as fixed factors, and subject within sequence and within subject error as random factors. Results Pregabalin significantly improved mean pain scores vs placebo irrespective of age, duration of FM, number of prior FM medications, depression diagnosis, shorter-term depression (<10 years), prior or no prior opioid use, pain severity, anxiety severity, and sleep disruption severity (all P < 0.05). Compared with placebo, pregabalin did not significantly affect mean pain scores in patients with comorbid insomnia, irritable bowel syndrome, or gastroesophageal reflux disease; severe FM; a diagnosis of depression before FM, longer-term depression (≥ 10 years), more severe depression, or who were taking a high dose of antidepressant. Conclusions Pregabalin significantly improved mean pain scores when compared with placebo for the majority of baseline characteristics assessed in FM patients taking an antidepressant for comorbid depression.
Immunomodulatory Role of PPAR-γ in Alveolar Macrophages

The lung is constantly exposed to inhaled pathogens and toxins yet totally dependent on the integrity of a delicate alveolar-capillary interface for its function. Much of the balance between protection and collateral damage rests on the alveolar macrophage, which not only phagocytoses inhaled particles but also modulates the activity of both innate and acquired immune systems to limit unnecessary or exuberant inflammation. In its resting state, the alveolar macrophage secretes anti-inflammatory mediators while limiting antigen presentation to the adaptive immune system. The alveolar macrophage's state of activation is regulated by a variety of factors, including the activity of the nuclear receptor peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR-gamma). Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma agonists reduce the ability of inflammatory stimuli to activate the alveolar macrophage while simultaneously stimulating phagocytosis of both opsonized and unopsonized particles, via the Fcgamma and CD36 receptors, respectively. All known endogenous PPAR-gamma ligands are fatty acid derivatives, and macrophage-specific knockout of the enzyme that converts esterified fatty acids to free fatty acids results in severe lung inflammation. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma expression is reduced in alveolar macrophages from patients with pulmonary sarcoidosis and alveolar proteinosis, suggesting that the deficiency may play a role in pathogenesis of these diseases. In summary, these observations point to PPAR-gamma in the context of the alveolar macrophage as a crucial factor in limiting excessive and possibly injurious inflammation in the lung.
Why sex is important: Background for helping patients with their sexual lives

SUMMARY Therapy for sexual problems is not solely based on findings from scientific studies; much of it has to do with intuitive knowledge that comes from personal and clinical experience. The author suggests that an ideal way to begin education about helping with patients’ sexual identity, sexual function and relational concerns is to consider why sex is important. Answering this question illuminates the subtle roles sexual behaviour play in our lives. These roles are explained by providing clinically based responses to twelve questions: How are adults nurtured in sexual relationships? How is psychological intimacy created? What is learnt over time through sex? What accounts for the pleasures of sex? Why is sex important? Why is sexual experience unstable? What is a couple’s sexual equilibrium? What is sensuality? Is a life of sexual pleasure possible? What is sexual health? What are the sources of distress about sex? How do these concepts facilitate therapy?
Experience Report: Application of Falsification Methods on the UxAS System

In this report, we present our experiences in applying falsification methods over the Unmanned Systems Autonomy Services (UxAS) system. UxAS is a collection of software modules that enables complex mission planning for multiple vehicles. To test the system, we utilized the tool S-TaLiRo to generate mission scenarios for both UxAS and the underlying vehicle simulators, with the goal of finding behaviors which do not meet system specifications.
Neutrophil elastase and cathepsin G: structure, function, and biological control.

Human neutrophils utilize a variety of destructive enzymes during the process of phagocytosis. These include proteinases, phosphatases, glycosidases, nucleases, and oxidases. The major enzymes have been determined to be elastase, cathepsin G, myeloperoxidase, and lysozyme (1), while minor proteins include collagenase, lactoferrin, alkaline phosphatase, and a myriad of other proteins.
Rating scales for alcohol and nicotine addictions.

Alcohol and tobacco are among the leading causes of preventable deaths and are frequently used in combination. Because of the exceptional morbidity and mortality associated with the use of these substances, it is important to maximize opportunities for the detection of maladaptive use and subsequent intervention whenever a healthcare point of contact is made. This chapter provides a brief description of the health impact of these substances, as well as concise descriptions of helpful alcohol- and tobacco-related screening and assessment tools. The tools that are highlighted were chosen because of their excellent psychometric properties, but also for their high clinical utility and free availability for ease of use in a busy practice setting.
Maintaining Relationship Quality During the Transition to Parenthood: The Need for Next Generation Interventions

The transition to parenthood is difficult for couples to navigate, making it a critical time to intervene. Unrealistic media portrayals contribute to inaccurate expectations exacerbating the difficult transition. Given the increased engagement with video content on social networking and video-sharing websites, a brief video intervention could normalize the challenges couples commonly face, combat unrealistic media portrayals and provide targeted recommendations. Brief video interventions can reach a wide audience and influence beliefs, attitudes and intentions to act. This paper provides a rationale on the need for a brief intervention for couples transitioning to parenthood and describes our own approach to doing so based on principles of attachment theory.
Investigating the role of DCE-MRI, over T2 and DWI, in accurate PI-RADS v2 assessment of clinically significant peripheral zone prostate lesions as defined at radical prostatectomy.

PI-RADS v2 dictates that dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) imaging be used to further classify peripheral zone (PZ) cases that receive a diffusion-weighted imaging equivocal score of three (DWI3), a positive DCE resulting in an increase in overall assessment score to a four, indicative of clinically significant prostate cancer (csPCa). However, the accuracy of DCE in predicting csPCa in DWI3 PZ cases is unknown. This study sought to determine the frequency with which DCE changes the PI-RADS v2 DWI3 assessment category, and to determine the overall accuracy of DCE-MRI in equivocal PZ DWI3 lesions. This is a retrospective study of patients with pathologically proven PCa who underwent prostate mpMRI at 3T and subsequent radical prostatectomy. PI-RADS v2 assessment categories were determined by a radiologist, aware of a diagnosis of PCa, but blinded to final pathology. csPCa was defined as a Gleason score ≥ 7 or extra prostatic extension at pathology review. Performance characteristics and diagnostic accuracy of DCE in assigning a csPCa assessment in PZ lesions were calculated. A total of 271 men with mean age of 59 ± 6 years mean PSA 6.7 ng/mL were included. csPCa was found in 212/271 (78.2%) cases at pathology, 209 of which were localized in the PZ. DCE was necessary to further classify (45/209) of patients who received a score of DWI3. DCE was positive in 29/45 cases, increasing the final PI-RADS v2 assessment category to a category 4, with 16/45 having a negative DCE. When compared with final pathology, DCE was correct in increasing the assessment category in 68.9% ± 7% (31/45) of DWI3 cases. DCE increases the accuracy of detection of csPCa in the majority of PZ lesions that receive an equivocal PI-RADS v2 assessment category using DWI.
Field-testing polyethylene passive samplers for the detection of neutral polyfluorinated alkyl substances in air and water

Fluorotelomer alcohols (FTOHs), perfluorooctane-sulfonamidoethanols (FOSEs), perfluorooctane-sulfonamides (FOSAs), and other poly- and perfluorinated alkyl substances (PFASs) are common and ubiquitous byproducts of industrial telomerization processes. They can degrade into various perfluorinated carboxylic acids, which are persistent organic contaminants of concern. We assessed the use of polyethylene (PE) passive samplers as a sampling tool for neutral PFAS precursors during field-deployments in air and water. A wide range of neutral PFASs was detected in polyethylene sheets exposed in wastewater treatment effluents in August 2017. Equilibration times for most neutral PFASs were on the order of 1 to 2 wk. Based on known sampling rates, the partitioning constants between polyethylene and water, KPEw , were derived. Log KPEw values were mostly in the range of 3 to 4.5, with the greatest values for 8:2 FTOH, 10:2 FTOH, and n-ethyl-FOSE. To test the utility of polyethylene for gas-phase compounds, parallel active and passive sampling was performed in ambient air in Providence (RI, USA) in April 2016. Most PFASs equilibrated within 2 to 7 d. The greatest concentrations in polyethylene samplers were detected for MeFOSE and EtFOSE. Polyethylene/air partitioning constants, log KPEa , were approximately 7 to 8 for the FTOHs, and approached 9 for n-methyl-FOSA and n-methyl-FOSE. Polyethylene sheets showed promise as a passive sampling approach for neutral PFASs in air and water. Environ Toxicol Chem 2018;37:3002-3010. © 2018 SETAC.
No Sex Differences in Cognitive Ability in Young Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Inconsistent findings regarding sex differences in cognition have been found in people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This study evaluated sex differences in cognitive-developmental functioning in a large clinical sample of young children diagnosed with ASD. The sample included children 18–68 months of age who received the Mullen Scales of Early Learning (MSEL) through Autism Treatment Network (ATN) sites from 2007 to 2013 (N = 1587, 16.7% female). In this large clinically referred sample of young children with ASD in the United States, no significant differences were found between the sexes for the MSEL Early Learning Composite (ELC) standard score, domain T Scores or age equivalents. These findings persisted when examining different age ranges, cognitive levels and domain profiles.
Attitudes and Preferences Regarding the Use of Rapid Self-Testing for Sexually Transmitted Infections and HIV in San Diego Area Men Who Have Sex With Men.

Background Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) increase the risk of HIV transmission and are present at high rates among men who have sex with men (MSM). Adherence to HIV/STI testing guidelines is low in the United States. Testing programs that utilize rapid self-administered HIV/STI tests improve testing rates, though multiple factors influence their uptake. Methods MSM were recruited at an HIV/STI testing and treatment program in 2014 and provided consent, demographics, risk behaviors, HIV/STI test preferences, and perceived testing barriers via an online questionnaire. Comparisons of testing preferences and barriers were made based on age, risk group, and HIV serostatus using the Fisher exact test. Results HIV testing preferences included rapid oral test (71.1%), home test location (78.5%), electronic delivery of HIV-negative test results (76.4%), and direct provider notification for HIV-positive test results (70%), with respondents age >45 years being significantly more likely to prefer home testing (P = .033). STI testing preferences included self-collection of specimens (73.2%), home test location (61%), electronic delivery of negative STI test results (76.4%), and direct provider notification for positive STI test results (56.6%) with no significant differences between age, HIV serostatus, or risk groups. The most frequently reported HIV and STI testing barrier was lack of known prior HIV/STI exposure (57.3% for HIV, 62.9% for STI) with respondents age <45 years more frequently citing inconvenience as a barrier to testing (HIV: 50.9% vs 17.4%, P = .010; STI: 58.3% vs 31.8%, P = .070). Conclusions Although additional research is needed, increasing resources directed specifically toward home testing has the potential to translate into improved uptake of rapid HIV/STI testing. Efforts to improve convenience in testing programs must be balanced with the need for continued educational outreach.
Metalation of Pyrrole

Metalation reactions of pyrrole and indolizine are reviewed. While the use of pyrrole-based materials in the Suzuki reaction is increasingly popular, several examples of other palladium-catalyzed reactions, such as Negishi, Stille, Sonogashira, and Heck couplings, are included. In addition to these palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions, direct proton abstraction, directed metalation, and halogen–metal exchange are discussed. Applications of these reactions to synthesis of pyrrole natural products and other interesting materials such as BODIPY dyes are summarized.
Rural Preservice Model for Promoting Interdisciplinary/Transdisciplinary and Related Service Cooperation.

In spite of federal and state encouragement for interdisciplinary/interagency collaboration, the human factor remains critical to effective teaming. Informal networking between related service pers...
E-011 Predictors of clinical outcome after treatment of intracranial aneurysms with the pipeline embolization device (PED)

Introduction Flow-diverting stents have revolutionized the endovascular treatment of intracranial aneurysms. The purpose of this study is to identify predictors of adverse outcomes associated with the pipeline embolization device (PED). Materials and methods A retrospective analysis was performed of all patients treated with PED at a single high-volume center from January 2014 to September of 2018. Clinical outcomes, neurological morbidity/mortality and additional variables were analyzed. Results 204 aneurysms in 170 patients were treated with PED. Mean length of follow up was 11 months. 181 aneurysms (89%) were located in the anterior circulation, 23 (11%) were found in the posterior circulation. The majority of the aneurysms were saccular (82%), followed by fusiform (11%), blister (4%) and dissecting pseudoaneurysms (3%). Mean aneurysm size was 8.2 + 5.7 mm with 145 (71%) small aneurysms ( Conclusions The PED has a satisfactory safety profile in experienced hands, both on- and off-label. Nevertheless, a poor clinical baseline and a wider neck independently predict an increased risk of neurological morbidity/mortality. Disclosures A. Griffin: None. E. Hauck: None.
Chapter Two: Government Transparency and Accountability

A series of amendments to Florida’s Constitution require transparency and accountability – or “sunshine” if you will – in the operations of Florida’s state and local governments. These amendments, combined with some Florida Statutes applying the concepts found in these constitutional amendments, commonly are called Florida’s Sunshine Law. Florida’s Supreme Court notes that Florida’s Sunshine Law was enacted in the public interest to protect the public from ‘closed door’ politics and, as such, the law must be broadly construed to effect its remedial and protective purpose. This excerpt from my forthcoming law school casebook explores the application and major issues in Florida's Sunshine Laws.
Class III obesity rather than metabolic syndrome impacts clinical outcomes of acute pancreatitis: A propensity score weighted analysis

Abstract Objectives The incidence rates of acute pancreatitis (AP) and the prevalence of class III obesity, and metabolic syndrome (MetS) are increasing in the US. Since class III obesity was associated with adverse clinical outcomes of AP, we sought to understand if the presence of metabolic comorbidities collectively recognized, as MetS were associated with worse clinical outcomes and increased health-care utilization. Methods The Nationwide Readmissions Database (NRD) (2010–2014) was reviewed to identify all adult subjects with a principal discharge diagnosis of AP. Inpatient mortality, severe AP (SAP), and 30-day readmissions were the primary outcomes analyzed. Propensity score weighted analyses were used to compare AP subjects with and without MetS and were further stratified by class III obesity status. Results MetS was associated with 12.91% (139,165/1,078,183) of all admissions with AP. Propensity score weighted analyses showed that MetS was associated with an increased proportion of SAP (OR 1.21, 95% CI 1.17, 1.25), but decreased mortality (OR 0.62, 95% CI 0.54, 0.70) and 30-day readmissions (OR 0.86, 95% CI 0.83, 0.89). Propensity score weighted analyses also revealed that class III obesity was independently associated with increased mortality in AP subjects with (OR 1.92, 95% CI 1.41, 2.61) and without MetS (OR 1.55, 95% CI 1.26, 1.92), and increased SAP in subjects with and without MetS. Conclusions Class III obesity appears to be the primary factor associated with adverse clinical outcomes in subjects with MetS admitted with AP. This has significant implications for patient management and future research targeting AP.
Nutritional Considerations and Strategies to Facilitate Injury Recovery and Rehabilitation

Nutritional interventions are not commonly a standard of care in rehabilitation interventions. A nutritional approach has the potential to be a low-cost, high-volume strategy that complements the existing standard of care. In this commentary, our aim is to provide an evidence-based, practical guide for athletes with injuries treated surgically or conservatively, along with healing and rehabilitation considerations. Injuries are a normal and expected part of exercise participation. Regardless of severity, an injury typically results in the athlete's short- or long-term removal from participation. Nutritional interventions may augment the recovery process and support optimal healing; therefore, incorporating nutritional strategies is important at each stage of the healing process. Preoperative nutrition and nutritional demands during rehabilitation are key factors to consider. The physiological response to wounds, immobilization, and traumatic brain injuries may be improved by optimizing macronutrient composition, caloric consumption, and nutrient timing and using select dietary supplements. Previous research supports practical nutrition recommendations to reduce surgical complications, minimize deficits after immobilization, and maximize the chance of safe return to play. These recommendations include identifying the individual's caloric requirements to ensure that energy needs are being met. A higher protein intake, with special attention to evenly distributed consumption throughout the day, will help to minimize loss of muscle and strength during immobilization. Dietary-supplement strategies may be useful when navigating the challenges of appropriate caloric intake and timing and a reduced appetite. The rehabilitation process also requires a strong nutritional plan to enhance recovery from injury. Athletic trainers, physical therapists, and other health care professionals should provide basic nutritional recommendations during rehabilitation, discuss the timing of meals with respect to therapy, and refer the patient to a registered dietitian if warranted. Because nutrition plays an essential role in injury recovery and rehabilitation, nutritional interventions should become a component of standard-of-care practice after injury. In this article, we address best practices for implementing nutritional strategies among patients with athletic injuries.
Process Variation Model and Analysis for Domain Wall-Magnetic Tunnel Junction Logic

The domain wall-magnetic tunnel junction (DW-MTJ) is a spintronic device that enables efficient logic circuit design because of its low energy consumption, small size, and non-volatility. Furthermore, the DW-MTJ is one of the few spintronic devices for which a direct cascading mechanism is experimentally demonstrated without any extra buffers; this enables potential design and fabrication of a large-scale DW-MTJ logic system. However, DW-MTJ logic relies on the conversion between electrical signals and magnetic states which is sensitive to process imperfection. Therefore, it is important to analyze the robustness of such DW-MTJ devices to anticipate the system reliability before fabrication. Here we propose a new DW-MTJ model that integrates the impacts of process variation to enable the analysis and optimization of DW-MTJ logic. This will allow circuit and device design that enhances the robustness of DW-MTJ logic and advances the development of energy-efficient spintronic computing systems.
Translating Neurobehavioral Toxicity Across Species From Zebrafish to Rats to Humans: Implications for Risk Assessment

There is a spectrum of approaches to neurotoxicological science from high-throughput in vitro cell-based assays, through a variety of experimental animal models to human epidemiological and clinical studies. Each level of analysis has its own advantages and limitations. Experimental animal models give essential information for neurobehavioral toxicology, providing cause-and-effect information regarding risks of neurobehavioral dysfunction caused by toxicant exposure. Human epidemiological and clinical studies give the closest information to characterizing human risk, but without randomized treatment of subjects to different toxicant doses can only give information about association between toxicant exposure and neurobehavioral impairment. In vitro methods give much needed high throughput information concerning a great many chemicals and mixtures but cannot provide information about toxicant impacts on behavioral function. Crucial to the utility of experimental animal model studies is cross-species translation. This is vital for both risk assessment and mechanistic determination. Interspecies extrapolation is important to characterize from experimental animal models to humans and between different experimental animal models. This article reviews the empirical literature concerning extrapolation of neurobehavioral toxicology from established rat models to humans and from zebrafish a newer experimental model to rats. The functions covered include locomotor activity, emotion, and cognition and the neurotoxicants covered include pesticides, metals, drugs of abuse, flame retardants and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. With more complete understanding of the strengths and limitations of interspecies translation, we can better use animal models to protect humans from neurobehavioral toxicity.
Preliminary Analysis of Network Fragility and Resilience in Large Electric Grids

This paper introduces and compares two frameworks for evaluating and quantifying the network fragility and resilience of large, high-voltage transmission grids, with example applications given for validating synthetic test case datasets. The first framework uses an all-terminal reliability metric based on graph-theoretic probabilistic connectivity analysis, allowing for a more precise determination of the distribution and edge cases of fragility. The other network resilience framework considered here analyzes maximal load delivery capability, as evaluated by a linearized optimal power flow analysis that allows load shedding. This analysis is performed under multiple component outage conditions, along the full spectrum from ordinary operation to complete non-availability of the extra-high voltage grid. The range of results indicates grid performance under three types of outage sets: planned outages, random outages, and targeted outages. Example results for the North-Central area of the 2000-bus synthetic Texas test case show the application of the two methods.
Progress in the Management of Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors.

Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PNETs) are a heterogeneous and orphan group of neoplasms that vary in their histology, clinical features, prognosis, and management. The treatment of PNETs is high...
The EGFR/ErbB3 Pathway Acts as a Compensatory Survival Mechanism upon c-Met Inhibition in Human c-Met+ Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Background c-Met, a high-affinity receptor for Hepatocyte Growth Factor (HGF), plays a critical role in tumor growth, invasion, and metastasis. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients with activated HGF/c-Met signaling have a significantly worse prognosis. Targeted therapies using c-Met tyrosine kinase inhibitors are currently in clinical trials for HCC, although receptor tyrosine kinase inhibition in other cancers has demonstrated early success. Unfortunately, therapeutic effect is frequently not durable due to acquired resistance.
Tritium analysis at TFTR

The tritium analytical system at TFRR is used to determine the purity of tritium bearing gas streams in order to provide inventory and accountability measurements. The system includes a quadrupole mass spectrometer and beta scintillator originally configured at Monsanto Mound Research Laboratory in the late 1970`s and early 1980`s. The system was commissioned and tested between 1991 and 1992 and is used daily for analysis of calibration standards, incoming tritium shipments, gases evolved from uranium storage beds and measurement of gases returned to gas holding tanks. The low resolution mass spectrometer is enhanced by the use of a metal getter pump to aid in resolving the mass 3 and 4 species. The beta scintillator complements the analysis as it detects tritium bearing species that often are not easily detected by mass spectrometry such as condensable species or hydrocarbons containing tritium. The instruments are controlled by a personal computer with customized software written with a graphical programming system designed for data acquisition and control. A discussion of the instrumentation, control systems, system parameters, procedural methods, algorithms, and operational issues will be presented. Measurements of gas holding tanks and tritiated water waste streams using ion chamber instrumentation are discussed elsewhere.
Images of the Arab World and Middle East, Debates About Development and Regional Integration

Recently, the United Nations Development Programme Regional Bureau of Arab States (UNDP RBAS) and the World Bank produced thoroughly researched and clearly written reports addressing development and regional integration in the Arab/Middle East North Africa (MENA) region. Both reports were written for a broad, non-specialist audience and have garnered significant public attention. Both the UNDP RBAS and World Bank reports call for increased regional integration amongst Arab or MENA states but for different reasons - the UNDP RBAS report for purposes of norm building based on Arab identity and the World Bank report to gain economic growth from trade liberalization. In this paper, I examine how each report's definition of development relates to its reasoning for increased regional integration. The UNDP RBAS employs a human development/development as freedom approach and the World Bank considers economic growth paramount for development; this difference is exemplary of the current tension between competing development paradigms. I also draw out each reports understanding of law and describe the legal framework implicit in each report's prescriptions. By outlining the legal framework behind each report, I point out inconsistencies, tensions and ambiguities within each report and note the similarities between the two.
Review of the Global Governance of Knowledge: Patent Offices and Their Clients, by Peter Drahos

THE GLOBAL GOVERNANCE OF KNOWLEDGE: PATENT OFFICES AND THEIR CLIENTS covers the results of an in-depth, interview-based study of 45 patent offices, their operations and policies, and how they fit into the larger global patent network. Drahos includes a diverse cross section of large, small, emerging economy and other kinds of offices, tying them together in a novel and eye-opening construct that sheds important new light on a system which may, by Drahos’s account, be anything but benign. Drahos provides a timely account of the origins of the global patent machine in operation today, tracing the history and development of individual patent offices with the enduring remnants of colonization providing a constant echo. He intertwines these strands in a narrative that describes a system divorced, in some cases, from the public and societal interest that justifies it. What emerges is a troubling picture of a global regime that exists to facilitate MNC collection of private taxes in the form of patent rents, populated by patent office employees who in many cases lack a clear concept of the larger societal ramifications of their actions. Drahos provocative enquiry is an intriguing and enlightening explanation of “why our [patent] world is the way it is” and what we might do to change it. The book is thought-provoking, well-researched, engaging, and highly recommended.
Abstract 969: TGF-beta cross-talks with the EGF receptor family to promote proliferation of pancreatic cancer cells with dysfunctional RB

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a lethal malignancy, associated with a high frequency of KRAS mutations (95%) and loss of negative growth constraints, due, in part, to frequent CDKN2A (85%), TP53 (75%) and SMAD4 (55%) mutations. PDACs also overexpress all three TGF-β isoforms, and high levels of TGF-βs correlates with decreased survival. Recently, we showed that in human PDAC and in murine PDAC (mPDAC) arising in biologically aggressive, oncogenic Kras-driven genetically engineered mouse models (GEMMs), proliferating pancreatic cancer cells (PCCs) often exhibit abundant phosphorylated Smad2 and RB indicating that in these PCCs, canonical TGF-β signaling pathways are active, whereas RB is inactive. Using PCCs derived from a GEMM that expresses oncogenic Kras, but lacks RB (KRC cells), we showed that TGF-β1 activates canonical and non-canonical (MEK, Src, PI3K) pathways, and enhances growth in 3-dimensional (3D) culture. This mitogenic effect is abrogated by type I TGF-β receptor (TβRI) kinase inhibition with SB505124, combined inhibition by MEK/Src or MEK/PI3K, or re-expression of wild-type, but not mutant RB. Thus, loss of RB function enables TGF-β to directly enhance PCC growth. Given that the EGF receptor (EGFR) family can activate these non-canonical pathways and that TGF-β cross-talks with EGFR, we investigated the role of EGFR family members in mediating the mitogenic effects of TGF-β on RB-deficient PCCs. In 3D culture, TGF-β1-enhanced proliferation was inhibited by targeting EGFR with erlotinib and completely suppressed by EGFR/HER2 inhibition with lapatinib. Moreover, lentiviral-mediated silencing of HER2 markedly attenuated TGF-β1-stimulated KRC growth, and this inhibitory effect was potentiated by erlotinib. Thus, TGF-β19s mitogenic effects are mediated, in part, through transactivation of EGFR/HER2, raising the possibility that concomitant use of TβRI inhibitors and lapatinib to inhibit EGFR/HER2 and may represent a novel therapeutic approach in PDAC. Citation Format: Jesse Gore, Samantha L. Deitz, Julie L. Wilson, Murray Korc. TGF-beta cross-talks with the EGF receptor family to promote proliferation of pancreatic cancer cells with dysfunctional RB. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 969. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-969
Foucault in Cyberspace: Surveillance, Sovereignty, and Hard-Wired Censors

This is an essay about law in cyberspace. I focus on three interdependent phenomena: a set of political and legal assumptions that I call the jurisprudence of digital libertarianism, a separate but related set of beliefs about the state's supposed inability to regulate the Internet, and a preference for technological solutions to hard legal issues on-line. I make the familiar criticism that digital libertarianism is inadequate because of its blindness towards the effects of private power, and the less familiar claim that digital libertarianism is also surprisingly blind to the state's own power in cyberspace. In fact, I argue that the conceptual structure and jurisprudential assumptions of digital libertarianism lead its practitioners to ignore the ways in which the state can often use privatized enforcement and state-backed technologies to evade some of the supposed practical (and constitutional) restraints on the exercise of legal power over the Net. Finally, I argue that technological solutions which provide the keys to the first two phenomena are neither as neutral nor as benign as they are currently perceived to be. Some of my illustrations will come from the current Administration proposals for Internet copyright regulation, others from the Communications Decency Act (3) and the cryptography debate. In the process, I make opportunistic and unsystematic use of the late Michel Foucault's work to criticise some the jurisprudential orthodoxy of the Net.
Spatially tracking (13) C-labelled substrate (bicarbonate) accumulation in microbial communities using laser ablation isotope ratio mass spectrometry.

Summary Microbial mats are characterized by extensive metabolic interactions, rapidly changing internal geochemical gradients, and prevalent microenvironments within tightly constrained physical structures. We present laser ablation isotope ratio mass spectrometry (LA-IRMS) as a culture-independent, spatially specific technology for tracking the accumulation of 13C-labelled substrate into heterogeneous microbial mat communities. This study demonstrates the novel LA-IRMS approach by tracking labeled bicarbonate incorporation into a cyanobacteria-dominated microbial mat system. The spatial resolution of 50 μm was sufficient for distinguishing different mat strata and the approach effectively identified regions of greatest label incorporation. Sample preparation for LA-IRMS is straightforward and the spatial selectivity of LA-IRMS minimizes the volume of mat consumed, leaving material for complimentary analyses. We present analysis of DNA extracted from a sample post-ablation and suggest pigments, lipids or other biomarkers could similarly be extracted following ablation. LA-IRMS is well positioned to spatially resolve the accumulation of any 13C-labelled substrate provided to a mat, making this a versatile tool for studying carbon transfer and interspecies exchanges within the limited spatial confines of such systems.
Corporate ethics: an end to the rhetorical interpretations of an endemic corruption

Purpose – Crime, fraud, and corruption, are all nouns that pertain to the act of deception that depicts an intention to increase an opportunity in one's favor in an unlawful manner that pertains to an organization's interest and goals. Such offenses are numerous and quite costly and are now a commonplace criminal behavior within corporations. Motivations and purposes for corruption may be subjective but the legality of corruption is not. Thus, the rhetorical interpretations of corruption may be analyzed through two distinctive paradigms, the social behavioral science paradigm and the legality paradigm. This paper seeks to address this issue.Design/methodology/approach – Court cases were analyzed, 70 major American corporations, in addition to a study of the largest industrial firms focused upon a two‐year period.Findings – Based on the above samples, it was found that corporate corruptions are extremely common, but taboo to admit. The limitations to this study are accessibility, participants, and whistle‐...
Beitrag zur Analyse der Stiekstoffverbindmlgen im Meerwasser

Es wird die Anwendbarkeit einiger colorimetrischer Methoden zur Bestimmung von Ammoniak, Amino- und Nitrat-Stickstoff im Meerwasser untersucht.
The effect of normal stiffness on the shear resistance of rock

The Effect of Normal Stiffness on the Shear Resistance of Rock This paper presents the theory and design of a shear machine whose normal stiffness could be varied by four orders of magnitude. Experimental techniques, testing procedures, and special equipment designed by the Bureau of Mines for determining the effect of normal stiffness on the shear stress-normal displacement behavior of intact and prepared joint surfaces of both hard (granite) and soft (sandstone) rock under constant shear displacement rate are described. Experimental results are presented which show that the effect of increasing the normal stiffness on either intact rock or fractured surfaces is to provide increased normal confinement. Increased normal confinement results in an increased shear strength for rock. Engineering significance of this result is discussed.
Outpatient Management of Superficial Venous Insufficiency at a Naval Medical Facility

Superficial venous insufficiency is common in a young, working population. It can result in disability and lost time from work because of chronic pain, inflammation, and/or ulceration. We reviewed our experience in the management of 104 patients with superficial venous insufficiency secondary to saphenofemoral and/or perforator venous incompetence. The main treatment objective was to control venous insufficiency in a manner that would allow a rapid return to duty. The technique involved ligation of the incompetent saphenofemoral junction and/or perforating veins (i.e., point ligation) under local anesthesia. Patients returned to normal duty status the day after treatment. Six weeks later any persistent disease was controlled with compression sclerotherapy. Significant morbidity included postoperative wound complications in 4% and thrombophlebitis in 14%. Objectives of treatment, with excellent functional and cosmetic results, were achieved. True recurrence was noted in 8% of patients, whereas new disease developed in only 4%; the total recurrence rate was 12%. This mode of therapy is ideally suited to outpatient management. This study demonstrates the excellent control of venous dysfunction that is achievable with the use of selective therapy based on proximal venous ligation and staged sclerotherapy.