cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Percutaneous Versus Surgical Pulmonic Valve Implantation for Right Ventricular Outflow Tract Dysfunction.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE Percutaneous pulmonic valve implantation (PPVI) is an alternative treatment strategy to surgical pulmonic valve implantation (SPVI) for right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) dysfunction. This study sought to compare outcomes of both treatment strategies. METHODS The study population was extracted from the 2014 Nationwide Readmissions Database (NRD) using International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM) codes for PPVI and SPVI. Study outcomes included all-cause in-hospital mortality, length of index hospital stay (LOS), post-procedural bleeding, mechanical complications of heart valve prosthesis, vascular complications (VC), infective endocarditis (IE), total hospitalization charges, and 30-day readmission rates. RESULTS A total of 975 patient discharges (176 in PPVI and 799 in SPVI group) were identified (average age 25.7 years; 57.5% male). PPVI was associated with significantly shorter median LOS (1 versus 5 days, p < 0.01), lower risk of bleeding (4.6% versus 26.4%, p < 0.01), and lower total hospitalization charges ($169,551.7 versus $210,681.8, p = 0.02). There was no significant difference between both groups in terms of all-cause in-hospital mortality (0% versus 1.4%, p = 0.12), mechanical complications of heart valve prosthesis (1.7% versus 2.0%, p = 0.78), VC (2.3% versus 2.0%, p = 0.82), IE (1.7% versus 3.1%, p = 0.31), or 30-day readmission rates (4.4% versus 7.6%, p = 0.16). CONCLUSION Compared with SPVI, PPVI was associated with shorter LOS, lower bleeding, and lower total charges. There was no significant difference between the two strategies in terms of all-cause in-hospital mortality, mechanical complications of heart valve prosthesis, VC, IE, or 30-day readmission rates.
Artificial Neural Network Modeling to Predict the Moisture Removal Rate of a Desiccant Liquid Dehumidifier System

In this study, an artificial neural network model is developed in order to predict the moister removal rate by a desiccant liquid dehumidifier system. This last can be used for air conditioning; it consists mainly of a dehumidifier, a regenerator, and a liquid desiccant. Using a MATLAB® environment, the developed neural network model is based on the multilayer perceptron that includes an input layer, a hidden layer, and an output layer. The network input parameters are ambient air temperature, liquid desiccant temperature, air flow rate, liquid flow rate, air humidity ratio, and liquid concentration. The network output includes one variable which is the moister removal rate. The values predicted by the model are in a good agreement with the experimental data, with mean square error (MSE) of 0.0849 and correlation coefficient (R) of 0.985for all datasets. The used neural network provides a high accuracy optimization and reliability of the method to predict the performance of a liquid desiccant dehumidifier.
Process Simulations of Chemical Looping Combustion for Mixtures of Coal and Biomass Using an Iron Based Oxygen Carrier—Part I

Chemical-looping combustion (CLC) is a recent carbon capture technology that has shown great promise for almost pure CO2 separation and capture in combustion of fossil fuels in power generation plants. In this paper, several process simulations of chemical-looping combustion are conducted using ASPEN Plus. The entire CLC process is modeled and validated against the experimental data using a mixture of biomass and coal and pure biomass as fuels. The effect of fuel reactor temperature on gas concentrations (namely CO2, CO, CH4 and O2) in the fuel and air reactors, the conversion efficiency of carbonaceous gases, the char conversion efficiency, the carbon capture efficiency, and the energy output are investigated. It is found that increasing the fuel reactor temperature increases the CO2 concentration in the fuel reactor for the biomass/coal mixture and decreases the CO2 concentration for pure biomass in agreement with the experimental data. However, for the coal/biomass mixture and pure biomass, there is an increase in CO concentration in the fuel reactor. Poor oxygen transport capacity of the iron ore (Fe2O3) used as an oxygen carrier results in decrease in conversion efficiency for both types of fuels. However, both types of fuel showed an increase in carbon conversion efficiency since lesser amount of residual char made it past the fuel reactor as temperatures increased. Energy output for both fuels grew steadily with increase in fuel reactor temperature, but for pure biomass it stagnated between 760 and 800 °C and it peaked for biomass/coal mixture at 960 °C. Variations of gas concentrations in fuel and air reactors as well as energy output as a function of different mass fractions of coal and biomass are also obtained. The concentrations of CO2, CO, and CH4, and energy output all decrease with decreasing fraction of coal in the coal/biomass mixture.
Layer dependence of defect charge transition levels in two-dimensional materials

Point defects in two-dimensional (2D) materials hold great promise for optoelectronic and quantum technologies. Their properties depend sensitively on the dielectric environment and number of 2D layers, but this has remained a challenge to include in first-principles calculations on account of the high computational cost. Recent first-principles techniques facilitate efficient prediction of substrate effects on defect charge transition levels in 2D materials, replacing the substrate by a continuum dielectric model. Here, we show that analogous continuum treatment of defect-free layers in multilayer 2D materials accurately predicts defect energies compared to explicit multilayer calculations, but at a small fraction of the computational cost. Applications of this technique to one- to five-layer and bulk hexagonal boron nitride reveal that defect ionization energies systematically decrease with an increasing number of layers and for defects in inner layers due to increased dielectric screening. Our results highlight the dominant role of electrostatic screening in the effect of the environment and the feasibility of tuning defect levels in 2D materials using material thickness and defect location within the material.
MULTIDIMENSIONAL ONLINE MOTION PLANNING FOR A SPHERICAL ROBOT

We consider three related problems of robot movement in arbitrary dimensions: coverage, search, and navigation. For each problem, a spherical robot is asked to accomplish a motion-related task in an unknown environment whose geometry is learned by the robot during navigation. The robot is assumed to have tactile and global positioning sensors. We view these problems from the perspective of (non-linear) competitiveness as defined by Gabriely and Rimon. We first show that in 3 dimensions and higher, there is no upper bound on competitiveness: every online algorithm can do arbitrarily badly compared to the optimal. We then modify the problems by assuming a fixed clearance parameter. We are able to give optimally competitive algorithms under this assumption. We show that these modified problems have polynomial competitiveness in the optimal path length, of degree equal to the dimension.
Identification of potential causative agents of the CO2-mediated bloater defect in low salt cucumber fermentation.

Abstract Development of bloater defect in cucumber fermentations is the result of carbon dioxide (CO2) production by the indigenous microbiota. The amounts of CO2 needed to cause bloater defect in cucumber fermentations brined with low salt and potential microbial contributors of the gas were identified. The carbonation of acidified cucumbers showed that 28.68 ± 6.04 mM (12%) or higher dissolved CO2 induces bloater defect. The microbiome and biochemistry of cucumber fermentations (n = 9) brined with 25 mM calcium chloride (CaCl2) and 345 mM sodium chloride (NaCl) or 1.06 M NaCl were monitored on day 0, 2, 3, 5, 8, 15 and 21 using culture dependent and independent microbiological techniques and High-Performance Liquid Chromatography. Changes in pH, CO2 concentrations and the incidence of bloater defect were also followed. The enumeration of Enterobacteriaceae on Violet Red Bile Glucose agar plates detected a cell density of 5.2 ± 0.7 log CFU/g on day 2, which declined to undetectable levels by day 8. A metagenomic analysis identified Leuconostocaceae in all fermentations at 10 to 62%. The presence of both bacterial families in fermentations brined with CaCl2 and NaCl coincided with a bloater index of 24.0 ± 10.3 to 58.8 ± 23.9. The prevalence of Lactobacillaceae in a cucumber fermentation brined with NaCl with a bloater index of 41.7 on day 5 suggests a contribution to bloater defect. This study identifies the utilization of sugars and malic acid by the cucumber indigenous Lactobacillaceae, Leuconostocaceae and Enterobacteriaceae as potential contributors to CO2 production during cucumber fermentation and the consequent bloater defect.
85965 Biomechanical analysis of vertebral body polymethylmethacrylate cement augmentation performed using two different techniques

ABSTRACT IMPACT: This study will answer key questions that spine surgeons have regarding techniques used in cement augmentation of vertebral compression fractures and will ultimately advance patient care for such injuries. OBJECTIVES/GOALS: The objective of this study is to determine if a difference exists in load-bearing characteristics and load-to-fracture between injecting cement anteriorly prior to screw placement versus cement augmentation via fenestrated pedicle screws. We also expect differences in load-to-failure characteristics between different cement volumes. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: This study will be performed in a bioengineering laboratory that has access to a Materials Testing System (MTS). Eight cadaveric specimens will be selected from our stock after pre-screening via CT for inclusion and exclusion criteria. The levels T8-L1 will be dissected from the vertebral column along with any soft tissue structures. The vertebral bodies will be potted in an epoxy mold. From each spine, there are 2 groups of three. One vertebral body from each spine will serve as an internal control, one will be augmented with cement via a cannula and then instrumented with a non-fenestrated screw and the third will be instrumented will a fenestrated screw and then augmented with cement. After appropriate curing time, repeat CT imaging will be completed. The specimens will then be loaded to failure and the results analyzed. RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: We hypothesize that we will see a better anterior spread with the cannula/non-fenestrated screw method as compared to the fenestrated screw. The reason being is that we would expect the fenestrated screw to experience more cement extruding from the fenestration rather than being directed anteriorly. We believe a better anterior spread of the cement will lead to a greater load-bearing capacity for the vertebral body. We also believe that a difference will exist in load-to-failure testing with the two volumes being tested, though we cannot predict to what a degree this difference will be impactful as there have been few studies prior looking at this. DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE OF FINDINGS: This study is significant because it will aid in determining the optimal technique to implement in the setting of vertebral compression fractures. This will lead to improved patient care as well as a greater understanding of the instrumentation used in such procedures. The results will lay the groundwork for future research on this procedure.
Characteristics of vehicles driven by teens and adults killed in crashes, 2013-2017.

Abstract Introduction: Teen drivers experience higher crash risk than their experienced adult counterparts. Legislative and community outreach methods have attempted to reduce this risk; results have been mixed. The increasing presence of vehicle safety features across the fleet has driven fatality numbers down in the past decades, but the disparity between young drivers and others remains. Method: We merged Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) data on fatal crashes with vehicle characteristic data from the Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI). The analysis compared the vehicle type, size, age, and the presence of select safety features in vehicles driven by teens (ages 15–17 years) and adult drivers (ages 35–50 years) who were killed in crashes from 2013 to 2017. Results were compared with a similar analysis conducted on data from 2007 to 2012. Results: Teen drivers were more likely than their adult counterparts to be killed while driving older, smaller vehicles that were less likely to have the option to be equipped with side airbags. Discussion: Teenage drivers remain more likely to be killed while driving older, smaller vehicles than adult drivers. Parents and guardians are mainly responsible for teen vehicle choice, and should keep vehicle size, weight, and safety features in mind when placing their teen in a vehicle. Practical Application: These findings can help guide safer vehicle choice for new teen drivers.
Correction: Sugasini et al. Efficient Enrichment of Retinal DHA with Dietary Lysophosphatidylcholine-DHA: Potential Application for Retinopathies. Nutrients 2020, 12, 3114

The authors wish to make the following corrections to their recently published paper [...].
The Politics of Interpretation: Ideology, Professionalism, and the Study of Literature

While affirming the profound importance of political analysis, Hogan is critical of prevalent doctrines. Specifically, Hogan examines and criticizes several influential post-structuralist positions, advocating logical analysis and empirical enquiry, guided by Kantian ethics, in their stead.
Self-Regulation and Regulatory Flexibility: Why Firms May be Reluctant to Signal Green

Corporate self-regulation is a crucial non-market strategy, and has generally been understood as a response to regulatory threats. However, self-regulation can also influence the nature of regulatory threats, especially when firms have private information about their costs of abatement. We study a setting where regulation can potentially be preempted, providing a public good for the whole industry, but where regulators have flexibility in how they enforce regulatory policies, which can provide benefits to particular firms. Strategic management must balance these concerns. We show that firm self-regulatory actions may alter both the form and likelihood of regulation. As a result, firm decisions shape rather than simply respond to the regulatory threat. We characterize when firms are willing to signal their type through substantial self-regulation, and when they prefer to stay in step with the rest of the industry through modest levels of self-regulation.
EXAFS Studies of Glassy Ni66B33: A Multi-Shell Modeling of the Ni-Ni Distribution

The formation of transition metal-metalloid (TM100−xMx) glassy alloys by rapid quenching from the melt is usually confined to a limited composition range of about 15≤x≤25 at .%. However, glassy alloys of the type TM-M substantially removed from the 80:20 atomic ratio have been prepared. Takaheshi et al. [1] have found noncrystalline X-ray diffraction patterns in Ni-R samples at 18.5 and at 40 at .% B. Inoue et al. [2] have reported on metallic glasses in the Ni-B and Co-B systems containing 33–43 at .% B and 35–41 at .% B, respectively. More interestingly, amorphous Ni66B33 crystallized homogenously to a single Ni2B phase of known crystal structure (that of Al2Cu), in which there is only one nonequivalent Ni site [3]. The existence of the Ni66B33 composition in both the crystalline and glassy phases makes it an attractive model system for quantitative EXAFS investigation of the local atomic environment in metal-metalloid glasses.
Effects of overhead work involving different heights and distances on neck and shoulder muscle activity.

BACKGROUND Although overhead work is closely related to musculoskeletal disorders, it is difficult to avoid these postures in daily working conditions. In industrial tasks that require elevated arm postures above shoulder height, flexibility in the location of the task is necessary. OBJECTIVE This study investigated the sternocleidomastoid, upper trapezius, lower trapezius, and anterior deltoid, serratus anterior muscle activities during overhead work involving four different height and distance locations performed by healthy adult participants. METHODS Eighteen young male right-hand-dominant workers were recruited. The right upper trapezius, lower trapezius, serratus anterior, anterior deltoid, and sternocleidomastoid muscle activities were measured under for overhead work condition (Location 1: overhead work with a height of 10 cm above the head of each subject and distance of 15 cm, Location 2: overhead work with a height of 10 cm above the head of each subject and distance of 30 cm, Location 3: overhead work with a height of 20 cm above the head of each subject and distance of 15 cm, Location 4: overhead work with a height of 20 cm above the head of each subject and distance of 30 cm). RESULTS In Location 3, there was significantly higher neck extension range of motion compared to Location 1, Location 2 and Location 4. In Location 1, the activities of the upper trapezius, lower trapezius, serratus anterior, anterior deltoid, and sternocleidomastoid muscles were significantly lower than those in Location 3 (p<0.05). In Location 2, the activities of the upper trapezius, lower trapezius, serratus anterior, anterior deltoid, and sternocleidomastoid muscles were significantly lower than those in Location 4 (p<0.05). In Location 1, there were significantly lower upper trapezius, lower trapezius, serratus anterior, and anterior deltoid muscle activities than in Location 2 (p<0.05). In Location 3, there were significantly lower upper trapezius, lower trapezius, serratus anterior, and anterior deltoid muscle activities than in Location 4 (p<0.05). In Location 1, there was significantly higher sternocleidomastoid muscle activity than in Location 2 (p<0.05). Finally, In Location 3, there was significantly higher sternocleidomastoid muscle activity than in Location 4 (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS Overhead workers should engage in work that involves a low height and near distance. Height appears to be a stronger risk factor than distance in overhead work.
Low-rank modeling of local k-space neighborhoods: from phase and support constraints to structured sparsity

Low-rank modeling of local k-space neighborhoods (LORAKS) is a recent novel framework for constrained MRI reconstruction. LORAKS relies on embedding MRI data into carefully-constructed matrices, which will have low-rank structure when the MRI image has sparse support or slowly-varying phase. Low-rank matrix representation allows MRI images to be reconstructed from undersampled data using modern low-rank matrix techniques, and enables data acquisition strategies that are incompatible with more traditional representations. This paper reviews LORAKS, and describes extensions that allow LORAKS to additionally impose structured transform-domain sparsity constraints (e.g., structured sparsity of the image derivatives or wavelet coefficients).
An integral mean value theorem for regulated functions

An elementary but useful mean value theorem for integrals asserts that if \(f\) is a non-negative integrable function on \([a,b]\) and \(g\) is continuous there, then there is a \(\theta\in(a,b)\) such that \[g(\theta)\int^b_af(t)dt=\int^b_ag(t)f(t)dt.\] It does not seem to have been observed that this result has an equally useful extension to regulated \(g\), i.e, \(g\) which have right and left limits at each point.
Observational evidence for thin AGN disks

Observational evidence for thin AGN disks include their spectrum and spectral features, polarization, inclination and X‐ray line and continuum reflection features.These are discussed, in a critical way, in an attempt to find the ones that are the least model dependent. The optical and ultraviolet continuum of AGNs can be explainedin various different ways, one of which is thermal emission by geometrically thin accretion disks. The continuum emission of such disks is not yet understood well enough to clearly distinguish this from other continuum emitting processes. This is also the case for several spectral features, including absorption and emission edges, proposed to be clear disk‐emission signatures. The sign and the strength of such edges are model dependent and relativistic broadening and shifting makes them hard to detect. Polarization observations at ultraviolet wavelengths, are more promising. In particular, the presence or absence of the predicted Lyman edge polarization feature may be used as a decisive test for thin, bare AGN disks. Other good model independent tests are several inclination related line and continuum correlations, in big AGN samples. The illumination of thin AGN disks by a central X‐ray source gives rise to several detectable X‐ray features. Present modeling of these effects lacks a complete treatment of the temperature and ionization structure of the disk atmosphere. It is shown that the electron temperature near the surface of the disk can much exceed the disk equilibrium temperature, which causes deviations from LTE. Such effect must be incorporated into realistic disk models.
A CloudSat–CALIPSO View of Cloud and Precipitation Properties across Cold Fronts over the Global Oceans

The distribution of cloud and precipitation properties across oceanic extratropical cyclone cold fronts is examined using four years of combined CloudSat radar and CALIPSO lidar retrievals. The global annual mean cloud and precipitation distributions show that low-level clouds are ubiquitous in the post frontal zone while higher-level cloud frequency and precipitation peak in the warm sector along the surface front. Increases in temperature and moisture within the cold front region are associated with larger high-level but lower mid-/low level cloud frequencies and precipitation decreases in the cold sector. This behavior seems to be related to a shift from stratiform to convective clouds and precipitation. Stronger ascent in the warm conveyor belt tends to enhance cloudiness and precipitation across the cold front. A strong temperature contrast between the warm and cold sectors also encourages greater post-cold-frontal cloud occurrence. While the seasonal contrasts in environmental temperature, moisture, and ascent strength are enough to explain most of the variations in cloud and precipitation across cold fronts in both hemispheres, they do not fully explain the differences between Northern and Southern Hemisphere cold fronts. These differences are better explained when the impact of the contrast in temperature across the cold front is also considered. In addition, these large-scale parameters do not explain the relatively large frequency in springtime post frontal precipitation.
Cost-sensitive intrusion responses for mobile ad hoc networks

This paper addresses how to perform cost-sensitive responses to routing attacks on Mobile Ad Hoc Networks (MANET). There have been numerous research efforts on securing MANET protocols using cryptography or intrusion detection techniques. However, few writings have addressed MANET intrusion response. Most research on automated response for wired networks focuses on how to select the best response action to improve the security posture and availability of the system in a cost effective manner. We borrow this cost sensitive concept and develop a cost model for MANET. Two indices, Topology Dependency Index (TDI) and Attack Damage Index (ADI), are developed to reflect the response cost and attack damage, respectively. TDI measures the positional relationship between nodes and the attacker and ADI represents the routing damage caused by the attacker. Response cost, routing damage brought by the isolation response, can be calculated from TDI. Comparing TDI with ADI helps the response agents ("RA") to perform Adaptive Isolation while maintaining good network throughput. The simulation results show that launching adaptive isolations according to the comparison of TDI and ADI gives better network throughput than direct isolation. Therefore, the main contribution of our solution is to keep network connectivity when launching isolation responses and to do so such that good quality of network routing services is maintained.
Tracking and Vertexing at a High Energy Linear Collider

The relative merits and disadvantages of various alternatives for vertexing and central tracking detectors for the Linear Collider detector are presented. Research and development prospects for the various alternatives are also discussed, as well as a preliminary study of the prospects for forward (cos(theta) > 0.9) tracking.
Postural limits of stability in premanifest and manifest Huntington's disease.

Background Huntington's disease (HD) is associated with neuronal death in basal ganglia circuits important for postural control. Despite evidence of postural instability associated with HD, postural control at the limits of stability has not been investigated in this disease. Objective To use computerized dynamic posturography to measure postural control at the limits of stability during the premanifest and manifest stages of HD. Methods Patients with manifest HD, premanifest gene carriers, and matched controls stood on mechanically locked force plates while viewing a computer screen. The participant's estimated center of gravity was represented on the screen as a cursor along with eight target icons arranged in a circular pattern at the theoretical edge of limits of stability. On each trial, one of the eight targets was highlighted and the participant was instructed to control the cursor by rapidly shifting his/her weight in the direction of the target. Measures included reaction time, movement velocity, endpoint excursion, maximum excursion, and directional control. Results Analysis of variance revealed significant impairment on endpoint excursion, maximum excursion, and directional control (p≤0.001) in the Huntington's disease group, but not in the premanifest gene carrier group as compared to controls. No differences were found on reaction time or movement velocity measures. Group signal to noise ratios also were examined for the measures. Conclusions HD patients, but not premanifest gene carriers, showed impaired postural control at the limits of stability. Impaired performance in HD patients has potential functional consequences including increased risk of falling during weight-shifting activities.
Reproductive biology of Carcharhinus acronotus in the coastal waters of South Carolina

The reproductive biology of blacknose sharks Carcharhinus acronotus in the western North Atlantic Ocean was studied by examining specimens collected in the coastal waters of South Carolina. Males begin the maturation process between 875 and 910 mm fork length (L F ), as indicated by the presence of functional claspers and siphon sacs. The presence of vitellogenic oocytes and developing oviducal glands and uteri indicated that females begin to mature at c. 870 mm L F . Length at which 50% of the population reached maturity was 896 and 964 mm L F , equivalent to 4.3 and 4.5 years, for males and females, respectively. Gonado-somatic indices suggested that spermatogenesis and vitellogenesis began after December. Mating took place during the end of May and the beginning of June. Fertilization occurred during late June and early July, suggesting that female blacknose sharks were capable of sperm storage. Based on the timing of fertilization and occurrence of females carrying near-term pups in late May and early June, the gestation period for blacknose sharks was c. 11 months. Female blacknose sharks reproduced biennially based on the absence of vitellogenic oocytes in near-term females and there being no indication of vitellogenesis in postpartum females. Male blacknose sharks were capable of reproducing annually as indicated by turgid genital ducts, which were observed in all mature males collected during late May and early June.
From H2+ to the multidimensional potential of the intermolecular interaction Ar·HBr: A canonical approach

A proof-of-concept for the accurate generation of multidimensional intermolecular interaction potentials is demonstrated. The basis for evaluating this application is the available very accurate 3-D morphed potential of Ar·HBr. Starting from the well-defined potential of the simplest molecule, the diatomic H2+, a recently developed 1-D canonical potential is used with selected 2-D polyatomic data to generate the adiabatic intermolecular interaction potential in Ar·HBr, with HBr in the vibrational ground state. This represents the first application of canonical transformations to a higher vibrationally dimensional molecular system, in this case, Ar·HBr. Results indicate intrinsic bonding characteristics inherent to both systems.
Global Imbalances and Petrodollars

Oil exporters have run large current account surpluses. We explore oil exporters’ role in the global imbalances debate. Current account dynamics are estimated for oil-exporting countries and the rest of the world. We find that fiscal policy has a much stronger effect on the current account of oil exporters than on current accounts of other countries. The current account adjustment of oil-exporting countries is also faster. Fiscal policy of oil exporters can have a significant and speedy impact on global imbalances. The impact via the adjustment of exchange rates might not be effective.
Derivatives of S-α- and -β-d-hexopyranosyl thiophosphates

Abstract Di-tert-butyl esters of the tetra-O-acetyl and tetra-O-benzyl derivatives or S-α- and -β-D-glucopyranosyl thiophosphates were prepared by reaction of di-tert-butyl triethylammonium phosphorothioate with tetra-O-acetyl- or tetra-O-benzyl-hexopyranosyl halides.
Political Advertising and Persuasion in the 2004 and 2008 Presidential Elections

The 2008 presidential election was historic in many respects. The campaign included the first African American major-party candidate, and neither candidate was an incumbent president or vice presid...
Instrument for Producing Standardized Skin Abrasions

An instrument is described which will produce a standardized skin abrasion in the Draize test for skin irritants. The same degree of abrasion without bleeding can be produced on each application.
Conditions for stable growth of epitaxial GaP layers by molten salt electrodeposition

The conditions necessary for stable growth of epitaxial GaP layers by molten salt electrodeposition on silicon and GaP substrates were studied. The usefulness of silicon as a substrate material was limited by a thermal expansion mismatch with GaP and by its reactivity with the melt. Smooth, coherent GaP layers were grown on GaP substrates at growth rates up to 23 μm/h (20 mA/cm2) at 800°C.
The Role and Regulation of Human Th17 Cells in Tumor Immunity

T helper 17 (Th17) cells play critical roles in the pathogenesis of inflammatory and autoimmune diseases, as well as in host protection against pathogens. The contribution of Th17 cells to human tumor immunity, however, remains largely unknown. Since their identification in 2005, Th17 cells have been extensively studied in mouse tumor models and human cancer patients. Although accumulating data suggest the importance of Th17 cells to tumor immunity, conclusions regarding the functional role of Th17 cells remain controversial. In this review, we summarize current knowledge regarding the regulation and functional role of Th17 cells in human cancers. In particular, we emphasize several recently identified characteristics of Th17 cells, including plasticity, their relationship with regulatory T cells, and Th17 cell heterogeneity in the tumor microenvironment. Improved understanding of these issues is critical to elucidating the role of Th17 cells in antitumor immunity and for the design of novel therapeutic approaches specifically targeting Th17 cells.
The flip side of DNA methylation

Gregory L. Verdine Department of Chemistry Harvard University Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138 DNA methylation has come of age. For more than 40 years, it has been known that eukaryotes tag their DNA by the covalent addition of a methyl group to cytosine residues; however, until very recently, the functional significance of this modification has remained on a precariously specula- tive footing. A series of discoveries over the last few years has thrust DNA methylation firmly into the mainstream of biology and medicine, thereby invigorating the field with afirmlyestablished sense of mission. Fragile X syndrome, the leading cause of inherited mental retardation, has been traced to expansion and abnormal methylation of a triplet repeat, through which transcription of the FMR-7 gene becomes silenced (Trottier et al., 1993). Aberrant promoter methylation of tumor suppressor genes has now emerged as an epigenetic inactivation pathway contribut- ing to tumorigenesis; evidence increasingly supports the notion that ectopic methylation may play a broad role in gene inactivation and mutation in mammals (reviewed by Bestor and Coxon, 1993). Much excitement has revolved around the roleof DNA methylation in genomic imprinting, a phenomenon in which parental alleles of the same gene are expressed at unequal dosages (Barlow, 1993). Abnor- rnal expression of imprinted loci is now implicated in sev- eral human disorders (Ogawa et al., 1993; Rainier et al., 1993; Davies, 1992), and more instances seem likely to be discovered. The entire field of DNA methylation, with its foundations resting largelyon the strength of correlative clata, took both a collective breath of relief and a bold step forward with the direct demonstration of Li et al. (1992) that the DNA MTase gene is essential for development in mice. A molecular mechanism for spatiotemporal coupling of DNA replication and methylation has been suggested by the finding that DNA MTase interacts directly with the replication apparatus (Leonhardt et al., 1992). Just as these advances represent the dawning of a new era in the biology of DNA methylation, so does remarkable progress in the alter ego of this scientific problem-its chemistry-also foretell a bright future. A turning point in the chemistry of DNA methylation is ushered in by the cocrystal structure of a DNA methyltransferase bound co- valently to DNA, which is reported by Klimasauskas et al. (1994 [this issue of CeIj). More generally speaking, this
Health Literacy: A Survey of the Issues and Solutions

Health literacy has been recognized as a pressing issue in providing good health care and holding down health care costs. This article presents various definitions of health literacy, enumerates the statistics and demographics of this significant global issue, provides a survey of the literature with links to the most authoritative Internet resources, and discusses the role the medical library community must take to address the subject of health literacy, especially as it relates to health care professionals. Selected fundamental online resources and literature on this vital topic are reviewed, with links to relevant sources.
Human Embryonic Stem Cell-Derived Oligodendrocyte Progenitor Cell Transplants Improve Recovery after Cervical Spinal Cord Injury

Evidence that cell transplants can improve recovery outcomes in spinal cord injury (SCI) models substantiates treatment strategies involving cell replacement for humans with SCI. Most pre-clinical studies of cell replacement in SCI examine thoracic injury models. However, as most human injuries occur at the cervical level, it is critical to assess potential treatments in cervical injury models and examine their effectiveness using at-level histological and functional measures. To directly address cervical SCI, we used a C5 midline contusion injury model and assessed the efficacy of a candidate therapeutic for thoracic SCI in this cervical model. The contusion generates reproducible, bilateral movement and histological deficits, although a number of injury parameters such as acute severity of injury, affected gray-to-white matter ratio, extent of endogenous remyelination, and at-level locomotion deficits do not correspond with these parameters in thoracic SCI. On the basis of reported benefits in thoracic SCI, we transplanted human embryonic stem cell (hESC)-derived oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs) into this cervical model. hESC-derived OPC transplants attenuated lesion pathogenesis and improved recovery of forelimb function. Histological effects of transplantation included robust white and gray matter sparing at the injury epicenter and, in particular, preservation of motor neurons that correlated with movement recovery. These findings further our understanding of the histopathology and functional outcomes of cervical SCI, define potential therapeutic targets, and support the use of these cells as a treatment for cervical SCI.
Influence of Sea Surface Temperature Anomalies on the Precipitation Regimes over the Southwest United States

Precursory signals in sea surface temperature anomalies (SSTAs) associated with summer precipitation over the Southwest (SW) United States are examined using data from 1900 to 1996. Two patterns of SSTAs are found to influence summer and winter precipitation evolution. One pattern shows positive anomalies extending from the central Pacific to the west coast of the Americas during winter. Warm SSTAs over the equatorial central Pacific in winter are associated with wet conditions in the SW and dry conditions over the Pacific Northwest. The following summer, SSTAs in the central Pacific diminish, but positive SSTAs remain over the tropical eastern Pacific and in the vicinity of Central America. Warm SSTs are conducive to enhanced rising motion and convection. A compensating downward branch is found over the SW favoring dry conditions over that area. Negative SSTAs have the opposite effect. This mode is similar to the SSTA pattern discussed by Higgins et al. When this mode is active, a wet (dry) SW winter is followed by a dry (wet) summer. In addition to SSTAs over the central and eastern Pacific, another controlling factor is the SSTA over the North Pacific. Negative (positive) SSTAs over the North Pacific persist from winter to summer and favor positive (negative) rainfall anomalies over the SW. When this mode is active, a wet (dry) SW persists from winter to summer. The authors conclude that SW rainfall evolution from winter to the following summer is modulated by both SSTAs over the equatorial Pacific and over the North Pacific. SSTAs in the equatorial Pacific alone are not sufficient to explain the observed summer rainfall variability over the southwest United States.
Some characteristics of oogenesis in the female Turkish hamster subjected to modified environments

The hibernating female Turkish hamster (Mesocricetus brandti) was utilized for a study of possible in vivo effects of cold on oocyte maturation. Such a physiologic model offered an opportunity to analyze the ability of oocytes exposed to prolonged periods of reduced core temperature and/or light to subsequently mature to Metaphase II. Detailed observations of core temperatures, torpor/arousal, serum estradiol, and ovarian histology were made. An average incidence of 37.7% binuclearity was found in the germinal vesicle, metaphase I and II occytes of this species. Maturation to Metaphase II of total chromosome complements did not vary significantly in the experimental groups compared with the control, but aneuploidy was detected in the oocytes of animals exposed to reduced temperature or light. An effect of in vivo reduced core temperatures on oocyte chromosome complements validates many of the published in vitro studies with temperature reduction. The model presents an excellent physiologic system for perturbing and analyzing many aspects of mammalian oocyte development.
Application of the Hubbard model to Cp*2Yb(bipy), a model system for strong exchange coupling in lanthanide systems

Application of the Hubbard model to Cp* 2 Yb(bipy), a model system for strong exchange coupling in lanthanide systems Wayne W. Lukens*, Nicola Magnani, and Corwin H. Booth Chemical Sciences Division Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Berkeley, CA, 94720 KEYWORDS: single molecule magnet, Hubbard model, lanthanide, exchange coupling, magnetism ABSTRACT: Exchange coupling is quantified in lanthanide (Ln) single molecule magnets (SMMs) containing a bridging N 23- radical ligand and between [Cp* 2 Yb] + and bipy R- in Cp* 2 Yb(bipy) where Cp* is pentamethylcyclopentadienyl and bipy is 2,2’-bipyridyl. In the case of these lanthanide SMMs, the magnitude of exchange coupling between the Ln ion and the bridging N 23- , 2J, is very similar to the barrier to magnetic relaxation, U eff . A molecular version of the Hubbard model is applied to systems in which unpaired electrons on magnetic metal ions have direct overlap with unpaired electrons residing on ligands. The Hubbard model explicitly addresses electron correlation, which is essential for understanding the magnetic behavior of these complexes. This model is applied quantitatively to Cp* 2 Yb(bipy) to explain its very strong exchange coupling, 2J = -0.11 eV (-920 cm -1 ). The model is also used to explain the presence of strong exchange coupling in Ln SMMs in which the lanthanide spins are coupled via bridging N 23- radical ligands. The results suggest that increasing the magnetic coupling in lanthanide clusters could lead to an increase in the blocking temperatures of exchange-coupled lanthanide SMMs suggesting routes to the rational design of future lanthanide SMMs.
Specific infection of central nervous system white matter by a variant of gross murine leukemia virus

Exposure of neonatal Balb.B mice to a variant of Gross murine leukemia virus, termed WB91-GV, resulted in selective white matter infection within the central nervous system. Viral antigens were detected in brain sections of animals inoculated by either intracerebral or intraperitoneal routes, but were only seen in mice exposed within the first day after birth. This distinct tropism was confirmed by virus replication and gp70 expression in isolated glial cultures in vitro. Analysis of gp70 expression in highly enriched glial subpopulations indicated that oligodendrocytes and perhaps a subset of astrocytes were the targets of this infection.
Plasma Gonadotropins, Prolactin, Gonadal Steroids, and Genital Swelling during the Menstrual Cycle of Lowland Gorillas*

Plasma LH, FSH, PRL, 17β-estradiol, progesterone, and testosterone were measured during four menstrual cycles in three gorillas, and their relationship to genital swelling (labial tumescence) was assessed as a contribution to the comparative perspective on primate reproductive physiology. Cycle length varied considerably (23–48 days), but the length of the luteal phase was relatively constant (11–13 days). All cycles exhibited a midcycle LH peak (25.9–48.1 mIU/ml) and a luteal phase elevation in progesterone (10.8–12.2 ng/ml), suggesting normal ovulatory function. FSH increased at midcycle but not as consistently as LH. PRL showed no rhythmicity. 17β-Estradiol showed a midcycle elevation (200–500 pg/ml) that preceded the LH peak and a luteal phase elevation that approximated the time course of progesterone. Progesterone was barely detectable during the follicular phase (<0.5 ng/ml), rose on the day of the LH peak (n = 2) or a day later (n = 2), peaked 6–7 days after the LH peak, and decreased to low level...
Fighting the war on indecency: Mediating TV, internet, and videogame usage among achieving and underachieving gifted children

This investigation explores the level, type, and extent of household mediation of television, the Internet, and videogames employed by parents of achieving and underachieving, intellectually gifted children in light of the recently declared “war on indecency.” It examines various child‐rearing practices and perceptions as well as salient child‐oriented attributes and their contribution to how the industry ratings and content‐blocking technologies are adopted into household mediation strategies. How much intervention occurs, what form it takes, and which electronic media are targeted for parental mediation were found to be largely contingent on the child's academic ability, age, and gender. Patterns of media consumption were also found to be significantly different among academically average, underachieving, and achieving gifted children.
Chemotherapeutic options for cisplatin-ineligible patients with advanced carcinoma of the urothelium

Advanced urothelial carcinoma is an aggressive form of cancer associated with a high mortality rate. Cisplatin-based chemotherapy regimens have improved survival of patients with this disease. A significant number of patients with urothelial carcinoma have impaired renal or cardiac function, poor performance status, or other comorbidities that preclude the use of cisplatin-based therapy. This review discusses alternative treatment regimens that have been evaluated to identify effective and less toxic therapeutic strategies for cisplatin-ineligible patients, as well as ongoing clinical trials that focus on this patient population.
Double-resonance spectroscopy of autoionizing states of N2 near the ionization threshold.

Double-resonance spectroscopy of ${\mathrm{N}}_{2}$ via the $^{1}\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Pi}}_{\mathrm{g}}$, v'=5 level has enabled the definitive assignment of a number of intense and heretofore unidentified bands observed in the single-photon spectrum in the region between the $^{2}\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Sigma}}_{\mathrm{g}}^{+}$ ${\mathit{v}}^{+}$=0 and 1 ionization thresholds. The results resolve several long-standing controversies concerning the assignment of Rydberg states of low principal quantum number that converge to the ${\mathit{A}}^{2}$${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Pi}}}_{\mathit{u}}$ and ${\mathit{B}}^{2}$${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Sigma}}}_{\mathit{u}}^{+}$ states of the ion and indicate that significant revisions of previous assignments are necessary. The spectra are discussed in the context of the entire manifold of states in this region, which includes high vibrational levels of the b' $^{1}\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Sigma}}_{\mathit{u}}^{+}$ valence state as well as Rydberg states that converge to the ${\mathit{X}}^{2}$${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Sigma}}}_{\mathit{g}}^{+}$, $^{2}\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Pi}}_{\mathrm{u}}$, and ${\mathit{B}}^{2}$${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Sigma}}}_{\mathit{u}}^{+}$ states of the ion.
Photolysis of nitroaromatics in aquatic systems. I. 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene

Abstract Photolysis of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) occurs rapidly in pure and natural waters irradiated with sunlight, with half-lives of less than a half-hour in some natural waters. Experiments to study the TNT photolysis products and to obtain evidence for complexation of TNT with natural substances are discussed.
Preparation and reactions of V2O5 supported on TiO2(110)

Abstract Submonolayer to multi-layer quantities of vanadia in the +5 oxidation state were successfully prepared on TiO 2 (1 1 0) by codosing VOCl 3 and water vapor. This vanadia selectively oxidizes methanol to formaldehyde with concomitant reduction of the vanadium cation to V 3+ . Reoxidation to V 5+ is easily accomplished by reaction with dioxygen.
Extraction of a weak co-channel interfering communication signal using complex Independent Component Analysis

Independent Component Analysis (ICA) algorithms taking advantage of the potential non-circular property of complex signals have been recently derived and shown to lead to improved performances. We investigate the performance of three ICA approaches to extract a weak co-channel interfering communications signal from a television broadcast signal over varied interference-to-noise ratios: complex maximization of non-Gaussianity by Novey et al., RobustICA by Zarzoso et al., and complex fixed-point algorithm by Douglas. Findings show improved performance and sensitivity to the prewhitening step as the number of sensors increases.