cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Utilization of radiotherapy and stereotactic body radiation therapy for renal cell cancer in the USA.

Aim This study evaluated national practice patterns of cT1N0M0 renal cell cancer, with a focus on stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) utilization. Methods The National Cancer Database was queried (2004-2013) for patients with newly-diagnosed cT1a/bN0M0 renal cell cancer that received definitive treatment. Temporal trends in utilization were tabulated. Results Altogether, 138,495 patients met inclusion criteria; 13,725 (9.9%) patients received ablative therapy, 57,924 (41.8%) partial nephrectomy, 67,168 (48.5%) radical nephrectomy and 308 (0.2%) external beam radiation therapy (EBRT). The proportion of EBRT that was SBRT increased substantially from 25% in 2004 to 95.4% in 2013, with a sharp inflection point from 2005 to 2006. Conclusion SBRT utilization has sharply risen over time; in most recent years, the vast majority of EBRT is delivered in the form of SBRT.
Oncolytic Viruses for Multiple Myeloma Therapy

Although recent treatment advances have improved outcomes for patients with multiple myeloma (MM), the disease frequently becomes refractory to current therapies. MM thus remains incurable for most patients and new therapies are urgently needed. Oncolytic viruses are a promising new class of therapeutics that provide tumor-targeted therapy by specifically infecting and replicating within cancerous cells. Oncolytic therapy yields results from both direct killing of malignant cells and induction of an anti-tumor immune response. In this review, we will describe oncolytic viruses that are being tested for MM therapy with a focus on those agents that have advanced into clinical trials.
Reactive Oxygen and Nitrogen Species: Interactions with Mitochondria and Pathophysiology

A small proportion of the oxygen used by the mitochondrial respiratory chain is partially reduced to superoxide, which is then further metabolized to hydrogen peroxide. In addition to reactive oxygen species (ROS), nitric oxide synthase (NOS) produces nitric oxide ( NO • ) which, at low concentrations, controls mitochondrial respiration and biogenesis. At higher concentrations, NO • reacts with superoxide to generate a family of reactive molecules known as the reactive nitrogen species (RNS). At low levels, ROS and NO • contribute to cell signaling and mitochondrial respiration and biogenesis. ROS and RNS cause DNA, lipid, and protein damage when uncontrolled and, at higher levels, contribute to bioenergetic failure in the cardiovascular and central nervous systems.
Beyond one-third faulty replicas in byzantine fault tolerant systems

Byzantine fault tolerant systems behave correctly when no more than f out of 3f + 1 replicas fail. When there are more than f failures, traditional BFT protocols make no guarantees whatsoever. Malicious replicas can make clients accept arbitrary results, and the system behavior is totally unspecified. However, there is a large spectrum between complete correctness and arbitrary failure that traditional BFT systems ignore. This paper argues that we can and should bound the system behavior beyond f failures. We present BFT2F, an extension to the well-known Castro-Liskov PBFT algorithm [6], to explore the design space beyond f failures. Specifically, BFT2F has the same liveness and consistency guarantees as PBFT when no more than f replicas fail; with more than f but no more than 2f failures, BFT2F prohibits malicious servers from making up operations that clients have never issued and restricts malicious servers to only certain kinds of consistency violations. Evaluations of a prototype implementation show that the additional guarantees of BFT2F come at the cost of only a slight performance degradation compared to PBFT.
PROGRESS IN PHOTOTHERMOELASTICITY

The essential developments in the field of photothermoelasticity over the past five years are summarized in a rather systematic manner. First, certain classical steady state thermoelastic plane stress and plane strain solutions are used to confirm the validity and accuracy of the photothermoelastic technique for two- and three-dimensional problems. Next, several steady state thermoelastic end effects problems are investigated photothermoelastically and a comparison with available theories is effected. Finally, the transient thermoelastic problem of a long, multiweb box beam under a thermal flux input is investigated in some detail. Here, the photothermoelastic results are used to establish the ranges of validity of assumptions employed in the various theoretical developments.
Exploring the Rotational Onboarding Programs for Early-Career Engineers in Practice

Background and purpose: Billions of dollars are spent helping new employees transition into the workforce every year. A type of onboarding process that is popular in the engineering practice is the rotational onboarding program where new engineering graduates spend time rotating through different departments within a company to gain knowledge of the departments and get acclimated to the company business. This practice is becoming increasingly popular as more than 50% of employers with more than 5000 employees have rotational onboarding training programs in the USA. Because studies on rotational onboarding programs in engineering practice are scarce, this paper aims to first explore current programs in the engineering sector by conducting a document analysis review of such programs to understand key factors and requirements for each program and also to understand the structure of the various companies and their business sector.
Pharmacotherapy for Treatment of Cognitive and Neuropsychiatric Symptoms After mTBI.

Objectives Cognitive and neuropsychiatric symptoms are extremely common following mild traumatic brain injury (TBI), also known as concussion. Although most patients will recovery rapidly, a significant minority go on to experience persistent symptoms. There are currently no FDA-approved medications for treatment of cognitive and neuropsychiatric problems in the context of mild TBI, yet a number of agents are prescribed "off-label" for these complaints. Rigorous trials are lacking, but there are a number of open-label studies, and some small randomized controlled trials that support the safety and possible efficacy of pharmacotherapies in this population. Clinical trials conducted in samples with more severe brain injuries can also serve as a guide. Methods Review of the literature. Results & conclusions There is the most support in the literature for the neurostimulant methylphenidate for treatment of mild TBI-related cognitive dysfunction, and the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, sertraline, for the treatment of postinjury depression. There is clearly a need for more well-designed studies to guide clinicians in selecting the appropriate medication and dose. Without clear guidance from the literature, a cautious approach of starting low and titrating slowly is recommended.
Rheological characterization of BCC and FCC structures in aqueous diblock copolymer liquid crystals

Low molecular weight, amphiphilic diblock copolymers in selective solvent exhibit complex phase behavior and macroscopic properties that affect the processing and application of these materials. The mechanical properties of the crystalline phases seen in concentrated solutions are dependent on nanoscale structure and sample history. The goal of this study is to characterize macroscopic properties and thermal history effects of lyotropic liquid crystals in aqueous diblock copolymer solutions. Rheological temperature ramps are used to characterize three aqueous concentrations of diblock copolymer [Brij-58®, C16H33(CH2CH2O)20OH]. Between these three samples the order-disorder transitions (ODTs) for BCC and FCC are accessible in addition to the order-order transition (OOT) between BCC and FCC. These transitions are distinguished using rheology. Frequency sweeps are performed across a range of temperatures and parameterized with a loglinear fit to the phase angle data to extract the crossover frequency. We find that a single frequency sweep does not distinguish BCC and FCC structures. By normalizing the temperature with respect to the ODT, we are able to use a series of frequency sweeps to distinguish characteristic trends in the response of BCC and FCC structures to thermal history.
Patient trajectories and risk factors for severe outcomes among persons hospitalized for COVID-19 in the Maryland/DC region

Abstract Background Risk factors for poor outcomes from COVID-19 are emerging among US cohorts, but patient trajectories during hospitalization ranging from mild-moderate, severe, and death and the factors associated with these outcomes have been underexplored. Methods We performed a cohort analysis of consecutive COVID-19 hospital admissions at 5 Johns Hopkins hospitals in the Baltimore/DC area between March 4 and April 24, 2020. Disease severity and outcomes were classified using the WHO COVID-19 disease severity ordinal scale. Cox proportional-hazards regressions were performed to assess relationships between demographics, clinical features and progression to severe disease or death. Results 832 COVID-19 patients were hospitalized; 633 (76.1%) were discharged, 113 (13.6%) died, and 85 (10.2%) remained hospitalized. Among those discharged, 518 (82%) had mild/moderate and 116 (18%) had severe illness. Mortality was statistically significantly associated with increasing age per 10 years (adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) 1.54; 95%CI 1.28-1.84), nursing home residence (aHR 2.13, 95%CI 1.41-3.23), Charlson comorbidity index (1.13; 95% CI 1.02-1.26), respiratory rate (aHR 1.13; 95%CI 1.09-1.17), D-dimer greater than 1mg/dL (aHR 2.79; 95% 1.53-5.09), and detectable troponin (aHR 2.79; 95%CI 1.53-5.09). In patients under 60, only male sex (aHR 1.7;95%CI 1.11-2.58), increasing body mass index (BMI) (aHR1.25 1.14-1.37), Charlson score (aHR 1.27; 1.1-1.46) and respiratory rate (aHR 1.16; 95%CI 1.13-1.2) were associated with severe illness or death. Conclusions A combination of demographic and clinical features on admission is strongly associated with progression to severe disease or death in a US cohort of COVID-19 patients. Younger patients have distinct risk factors for poor outcomes.
Finding the Sweet Spot: Parsing Tissue-Specific Contributions of Fructose Metabolism.

The abundance of dietary sweeteners and overconsumption of fructose are widely thought to promote metabolic disease. In this issue of Cell Metabolism, Andres-Hernando et al. (2020) identify the liver as the major site of fructose metabolism-mediated metabolic dysfunction and identify a surprising role for intestinal fructose metabolism in driving fructose intake.
Basics of practice management: managing many for the care of one

In today's changing health care landscape, it has become necessary that providers have a fundamental understanding of practice management as pertinent to the care they provide. The reproductive endocrinology and infertility (REI) practice is a uniquely complex setting with many component parts, necessitating frequent assessment and collaboration to provide safe, quality, and cost-effective care. In this review, we aim to describe the basics of medical practice management, divided into six sections: practice models; operations; patient safety; patient experience; employee recruitment; development, and satisfaction; and technology. These topics will be presented with a focus on the application of these principles to the REI practice.
Cannabidiol: Background and Literature Review of Potential Treatments

Cannabidiol, commonly abbreviated CBD, is one of the hundreds of compounds present in the flowering cannabis plant, along with its more well-known structural isomer, Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol or THC. CBD can be extracted from the plant and utilized in many forms, from topical oils to smokable flowers. Recently, availability, interest in and use of CBD across the nation have grown exponentially, with internet searches for CBD increasing 160% between 2017 and 2018 and 14% of Americans citing current CBD use. Users of this compound endorse numerous perceived benefits, including anxiolysis, analgesia and much more. Most users claim to employ CBD to treat specific medical conditions spanning from autoimmune, to psychiatric, to musculoskeletal. Evidence supports some of these reported effects in recent studies, as CBD has demonstrated anticonvulsant, antipsychotic and antinociceptive properties, among others. However, the implications of these findings are still in their infancy. As of June 2018, one FDA-approved pure CBD product for seizure treatment, Epidiolex®, is available for prescription use and many more are in various stages of testing. However, numerous safety and legal concerns remain regarding off-label and over-the-counter CBD usage. Physicians and other health care professionals are likely to encounter CBD use by their patients. As usage continues to grow, so does the duty of care providers to understand its role and serve as a source of evidence-based information for their community on this relevant health topic.
Reactivation of Pulmonary Tuberculosis During Treatment of Chronic Myelomonocytic Leukemia.

A 76-year-old woman from a tuberculosis (TB) endemic region with chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML) on Azacitidine presented with a non-productive cough. A CT scan of the chest revealed a lobulated opacity in the right upper lobe and antibiotic therapy was initiated for a potential bacterial pneumonia. However, a high suspicion for pulmonary TB remained given her nation of origin, immunosuppression, and imaging findings. Three sputum and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) acid-fast bacilli (AFB) smears with PCR testing for Mycobacterium tuberculosis were negative, as were examinations for other potential fungal or bacterial etiologies of the patient's symptoms and imaging findings. While awaiting final TB culture results from BAL, her CMML underwent a transformation to acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Given the urgent need for initiation of chemotherapy, empiric treatment for TB was commenced while awaiting the final TB culture. Within 48-hours of initiating therapy for TB, the patient's fevers subsided. One week after discharge our team was notified of a positive M. tuberculosis culture from BAL. We suspect that our patient had a latent TB infection which reactivated due to her CMML. This case highlights the importance of maintaining a high clinical suspicion for TB in high-risk patients, even in the case of initially negative laboratory examinations. Further, it demonstrates the importance of screening and treating latent TB in patients with leukemias.
ProCount: Weighted Projected Model Counting with Graded Project-Join Trees

Recent work in weighted model counting proposed a unifying framework for dynamic-programming algorithms. The core of this framework is a project-join tree: an execution plan that specifies how Boolean variables are eliminated. We adapt this framework to compute exact literal-weighted projected model counts of propositional formulas in conjunctive normal form. Our key conceptual contribution is to define gradedness on project-join trees, a novel condition requiring irrelevant variables to be eliminated before relevant variables. We prove that building graded project-join trees can be reduced to building standard project-join trees and that graded project-join trees can be used to compute projected model counts. The resulting tool ProCount is competitive with the state-of-the-art tools \(\texttt {D4}_{\texttt {P}}\), projMC, and reSSAT, achieving the shortest solving time on 131 benchmarks of 390 benchmarks solved by at least one tool, from 849 benchmarks in total.
An efficient markerless deletion system suitable for the industrial strains of Streptomyces.

The genus Streptomyces is intensively studied due to its excellent ability to produce secondary metabolites with diverse bioactivities. In particular, adequate precursors of secondary metabolites as well as sophisticated post modification systems make some high-yield industrialstrains of Streptomyces the promising chassis for the heterologous production of natural products. However, lack of efficient genetic tools for the manipulation of industrial strains, especially the episomal vector independent tools suitable for large DNA fragment deletion, makes it difficult to remold the metabolic pathways and streamline the genomes in these strains. In this respect, we developed an efficient deletion system independent of the episomal vector for large DNA fragment deletion. Based on this system, four large segments of DNA, ranging in length from 10 kb to 200 kb, were knocked out successfully from three industrial Streptomyces strains without any marker left. Notably, compared to the classical deletion system used in Streptomyces, this deletion system takes about 25% less time in our cases. This work provides a very effective tool for further genetic engineering of the industrial Streptomyces.
The Streptococcus pyogenes Genome Sequencing Project

Advances in genome analysis have allowed unprecedented progress to be made in understanding the complete gene structure and organization of a pathogenic organism as evidenced by recent reports of the entire DNA sequence of organisms such as Haemophilus influenzae and Mycoplasma pneumoniae (4, 5). In this communication, we report on the progress to determine the complete nucleotide sequence of an M1 strain of Streptococcus pyogenes. Strain SF370 is a well characterized M1 strain that was originally isolated from a wound infection and possesses the same RFLP pattern found in strains associated with severe invasive disease. As a prelude to genomic sequencing, the nucleotide sequence of the SF370 emm gene was determined and found to be identical to that of Lancefield strain T1/19/8. This strain is lysogenic for a speC-containing, but not a speA-containing bacteriophage. The complete sequence of the T12 bacteriophage containing the speA gene has recently been determined and is reported elsewhere (6). No other extrachromosomal elements were known to exist in this strain, although sequencing has revealed that additional temperate phages or defective phages are probably present. A physical map of SF370 has been constructed utilizing three different restriction enzymes (SmaI, SfiI, and SgrAI), and its genome size has been estimated to be 1920 kb, with thirty six genes identified to date on the genetic map (7).
Impetuses for first and third year law student information seeking behavior and plagiarism

In this poster presentation, I describe an ongoing ethnographic study that is examining how first and third year law students’ age, comprehension of plagiarism, and previous exposure to information literacy training affects the information sources law students select, and their choice of whether or not to give appropriate attribution to utilized information sources. Although law student information seeking behavior has previously been analyzed, past research did not examine the above-mentioned factors and how these factors affected law student information seeking behavior and potential plagiaristic behavior.
Cocaine-induced endocannabinoid release modulates behavioral and neurochemical sensitization in mice

The endocannabinoid system has been implicated in the development of synaptic plasticity induced by several drugs abused by humans, including cocaine. However, there remains some debate about the involvement of cannabinoid receptors/ligands in cocaine-induced plasticity and corresponding behavioral actions. Here, we show that a single cocaine injection in Swiss-Webster mice produces behavioral and neurochemical alterations that are under the control of the endocannabinoid system. This plasticity may be the initial basis for changes in brain processes leading from recreational use of cocaine to its abuse and ultimately to dependence. Locomotor activity was monitored with photobeam cell detectors, and accumbens shell/core microdialysate dopamine levels were monitored by high-performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection. Development of single-trial cocaine-induced behavioral sensitization, measured as increased distance traveled in sensitized mice compared to control mice, was paralleled by a larger stimulation of extracellular dopamine levels in the core but not the shell of the nucleus accumbens. Both the behavioral and neurochemical effects were reversed by CB1 receptor blockade produced by rimonabant pre-treatments. Further, both behavioral and neurochemical cocaine sensitization were facilitated by pharmacological blockade of endocannabinoid metabolism, achieved by inhibiting the fatty acid amide hydrolase enzyme. In conclusion, our results suggest that a single unconditioned exposure to cocaine produces sensitization through neuronal alterations that require regionally specific release of endocannabinoids. Further, the present results suggest that endocannabinoids play a primary role from the earliest stage of cocaine use, mediating the inception of long-term brain-adaptive responses, shaping central pathways and likely increasing vulnerability to stimulant abuse disorders.
Least privilege and more [computer security]

With new methods for enforcing security policies comes the opportunity to formulate application-specific policies. But leveraging that flexibility might prove a difficult problem, not only in practice, but also in theory.
A new design for efficient dielectrophoretic separation of cells in a microdevice

Effectiveness of a continuous biological cell separation device can be improved significantly by increasing the distance among different types of cells. To achieve this, most of the recent dielectrophoresis based continuous separation devices implement differential forces on cells either along the transverse direction or the vertical direction with respect to the bulk fluid flow motion. However, interparticle distance can be increased further by implementing forces along both transverse and vertical planes. In this article, a design for a microfluidic platform has been proposed where a new electrode configuration is identified to implement symmetric forces in both vertical and transverse directions. A numerical model, which considers presence of particles in the electric field and flow field, shows a much higher interparticle distance between red blood cells and plasmodium falciparum infected red blood cells in such a device than that in a conventional separation device. This configuration also reduces the possibility of particle trapping on the electrodes, which is a major bottleneck of dielectrophoresis.
Flat Modules and Homological Dimensions

A right R-module P R is called flat if P ⊗ R — is an exact functor on \( {}_R\mathfrak{M} \), the category of left R-modules. Specifically, this requires that, if A → B is injective in \( {}_R\mathfrak{M} \), then P ⊗ R A → P ⊗ R B is injective also. Projective modules are flat, but flat modules enjoy an important property not shared by projective modules: they are closed w.r.t. direct limits. In particular, a module is flat if all f.g. submodules are flat. Over ℤ, the flat modules are just the torsion-free abelian groups.
TOXICITY OF TRIPROPIONIN IN RATS FED A VITAMIN B12-DEFICIENT DIET.

SummaryWhen tripropionin is added to the diet of rats on a diet deficient in Vit. B12 and possibly other factors, there is a fatal toxicity which is not as marked when the diet is supplemented with Vit. B12.
Low Density Lipoprotein Receptor-related Protein 1 (LRP1) Forms a Signaling Complex with Platelet-derived Growth Factor Receptor-β in Endosomes and Regulates Activation of the MAPK Pathway

In addition to its endocytic function, the low density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 1 (LRP1) also contributes to cell signaling events. In the current study, the potential of LRP1 to modulate the platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) signaling pathway was investigated. PDGF is a key regulator of cell migration and proliferation and mediates the tyrosine phosphorylation of LRP1 within its cytoplasmic domain. In WI-38 fibroblasts, PDGF-mediated LRP1 tyrosine phosphorylation occurred at 37 °C but not at 4 °C, where endocytosis is minimized. Furthermore, blockade of endocytosis with the dynamin inhibitor, dynasore, also prevented PDGF-mediated LRP1 tyrosine phosphorylation. Immunofluorescence studies revealed co-localization of LRP1 with the PDGF receptor after PDGF treatment within endosomal compartments, whereas surface biotinylation experiments confirmed that phosphorylated LRP1 primarily originates from intracellular compartments. Together, the data reveal the association of these two receptors in endosomal compartments where they form a signaling complex. To study the contribution of LRP1 to PDGF signaling, we used mouse embryonic fibroblasts genetically deficient in LRP1 and identified phenotypic changes in these cell lines in response to PDGF stimulation by performing phospho-site profiling. Of 38 phosphorylated proteins analyzed, 8 were significantly different in LRP1 deficient fibroblasts and were restored when LRP1 was expressed back in these cells. Importantly, the results revealed that LRP1 expression is necessary for PDGF-mediated activation of ERK. Overall, the studies reveal that LRP1 associates with the PDGF receptor in endosomal compartments and modulates its signaling properties affecting the MAPK and Akt/phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase pathways.
Studies on the action of pectin in depressing the growth of chicks

Abstract 1. Citrus pectin (40 g/kg diet) significantly depressed weight gain and food utilisation when fed to young chicks. This effect was not associated with pathological manifestations or signs of deficiency. 2. Feeding pectin at 40 g/kg diet did not affect the retention of energy, nitrogen, lipids or calcium, but decreased serum and liver total cholesterol and altered the glucose tolerance of chicks by retarding clearance of ingested glucose from blood. 3. Supplementation of the pectin‐containing diet with penicillin (70 mg/ kg), with selected essential elements and vitamins, or increasing the energy density of the diet had no ameliorating effect on the depressed growth. 4. Pair‐feeding showed that pectin depressed food intake, reduced carcase lipid content and increased carcase moisture content.
Population dynamics and management of Amazon tidal floodplain forests: links to the past, present and future.

Abstract Although tidal floodplain forests represent the oldest commercial logging frontier in the Amazon, tree demography analyses are lacking. Consequently, the accurate evaluation of impacts of past use and the development of ecologically sound forest management has lagged. To address that gap, we combine matrix model methods with data from interviews with tidal floodplain smallholders regarding land use and ecological knowledge. Here we examine the population dynamics of 8 common tidal floodplain species and explore the link between species population ecology and past, present, and future timber use. Despite the generally high timber stocks due to the dominance of Mora paraensis , these tidal floodplain forests offer challenges to management similar to those seen in tropical forests elsewhere, including low recruitment and species-specific tree growth rates, population densities and size distributions. Furthermore, species population ecology and survey results indicate that the long legacy of forest use in the tidal floodplain forests will influence the future of forest use and management, negatively impacting some species (e.g., Virola surinamensis ) while likely benefiting others (e.g., M. paraensis ). The observed diameter distributions of species least harvested in the past (e.g., M. paraensis , Licania heteromorpha ) follow those derived from stable stage distributions. For other historically harvested species (e.g., Carapa guianensis , V. surinamensis ), a larger number of harvest-sized trees for most species would be expected under unlogged conditions, a result corroborated by survey results indicating that maximum log size of long-used timber species has decreased over the past decades. While timber extraction in the Amazon Estuary has endured for centuries, our results suggest long-term timber use does not necessarily entail sustainability; a long history of timber harvesting can also indicate a gradual process of resource depletion as preferred species are sequentially exhausted. If current practices are left unchanged, the prospects for long-term management are likely to decrease further as the densities of preferred high-value species ( C. guianensis , V. surinamensis , P. filipes ) fall to levels that make management economically unattractive.
Metabolic Changes During Gonadotropin-releasing Hormone Agonist Therapy for Prostate Cancer: Differences From the Classic Metabolic Syndrome

BACKGROUND In men with prostate cancer, gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonists increase fat mass, decrease insulin sensitivity, and increase triglycerides, features that are shared with metabolic syndrome. To the authors’ knowledge, however, less is known regarding the effects of GnRH agonists on other attributes of the metabolic syndrome.
Understanding the Mentoring Process between Adolescents and Adults

The popularity of mentoring programs for disadvantaged youth is on the rise, but little is known about the processes that underpin successful mentoring relationships. In-depth semistructured interviews were conducted with adolescent and adult pairs who had been in a continuous mentoring relationship for a minimum of 1 year. Using relational theories as the guiding framework, this study examined four relational processes, which are detailed in this article: authenticity, empathy, collaboration, and companionship.
Thin film coatings of (Ca0.6, Mg0.4)Zr4(PO4)6 on Si3N4 and SiC

Thin film coatings of (Ca0.6, Mg0.4)Zr4(PO4)6 (CMZP) on Si3N4, and SiC substrates, including porous SiC used in ceramic filters, were investigated using sol-gel and dip coating techniques. The coating thickness, ranging from 1 to 5 μm, was found to vary with the selected precursors and their concentrations in the solution. When applied to Si3N4 and SiC, CMZP coatings exhibit good thermal shock resistance and greatly improved alkali corrosion resistance. For porous silicon carbide, homogeneous, crack-free coatings were formed on both the outer surface and the interior sections of the pore walls. The CMZP coatings on Si3N4 and SiC exhibit good thermal shock resistance. The CMZP coating greatly improved the alkali corrosion resistance of Si3N4 and SiC.
Carbon dioxide and water fluxes from switchgrass managed for bioenergy production

Abstract Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) is an important bioenergy crop with the potential to provide a reliable supply of renewable energy while also sequestering C in the soil. The purpose of this study was to quantify CO2 fluxes during the establishment and early production years of a young switchgrass stand in the northeastern USA. Switchgrass was sown in June 2004 and daily CO2 fluxes were measured for four years. Gross primary productivity (GPP) varied little among years, but ecosystem respiration (Re) decreased over time. The switchgrass generally began to take up CO2 in mid-May and continued until early-October, and was a net sink during a 98-day period from late-May through early-September. The rest of the year experienced a net loss of CO2 to the atmosphere. Harvested biomass increased each year and was not related to GPP. The switchgrass field was a net CO2 sink for the first three years, but became a source the final year due to increased removal of C as harvested biomass. This study suggests that in addition to their primary function as a source of renewable energy, switchgrass bioenergy crops in the northeastern USA can sequester CO2 for at least the first few years following establishment.
Reviving Shelved Projects for Internships in Archaeology

Between 1992 and 1994, archaeologists investigated a number of households and workshops on Virginius Island, a former industrial community on the Shenandoah River within Harpers Ferry National Historical Park, at Harpers Ferry, West Virginia. For a variety of reasons, the project was derailed in its final stages, and the results of the research were never fully reported. The data and analyses sat more or less in their raw form, quickly becoming artifacts themselves. Several years later I was given the opportunity to complete the record of these investigations as a professional internship, bringing me into contact with a federally-controlled agency for the production of public history, which had in its past obliterated a local history. Harpers Ferry National Historical Park (HFNHP) focuses its attention on the story of John Brown and the American Civil War. This period remains the focus of public history at Harpers Ferry, and by simulating this historic setting the park has severed the modern, living regio...
Generalised Algebraic Continued Fractions related to Definite Integrals

The present paper is a continuation of the work initiated in [ l ]-[ 5 ]. In [ 5 ] I gave an expansion of the form for the second order C.F. associated with where U 8 , V 8 , W 8 satisfy a fourth-order recurrence relation, there being a similar expansion for third order C.F.'s. I shall now give simple expressions for U 8 , V 8 , W 8 (or related forms) in terms of χ2s(Z 1 ), χ2s (Z 2 ), ω 2s (Z 1 ), ω 2s (Z 2 ), where and show that there is a remarkable relation between the recurrence formula for the first order C.F. and that satisfied by U 3 , V 3 , W 3 . The generalised form of these results will be stated and proved.
Generalized yield surface representations in the elasto-plastic three-dimensional analysis of frames

Abstract The yield surface equations for three-dimensional frames subjected to combined actions of an axial force, shear forces, bending moments, warping moment, and a torque are derived based on two different approaches: (i) continuum-based description in terms of stress components and (ii) stress resultants. For the former approach, the well-known von Mises model for the stress components of any material point on the cross-section is utilized. Based on the latter approach, two approximated forms for yield surface equations, semi-quadratic and linear, are suggested as reasonable (upper and lower) bounds for two representative cases; i.e., rectangular and wide flange sections. The one-step, fully implicit method of backward Euler is adopted to facilitate the implementation algorithms for the consistent material tangent stiffness and stress updating. The validity of the proposed equations has been clearly demonstrated by a number of numerical simulations for planar and spatial structures.
Magnetic Rotation in Sputtered Cobalt Films

The effect of heat treatment on magnetic rotation in sputtered cobalt films. The films were prepared in a special depositing chamber, the main feature of which was an arrangement for keeping the films cool during the process of sputtering.Magnetic rotation measurements were made over the wavelength range .6μ to 2.3μ on such cathodically sputtered cobalt films before and after heating for a number of hours at about 300°C in low pressure palladium-pure hydrogen. The result of this heat treatment was to increase several-fold the rotations at 2μ for both the Faraday (transmission) and Kerr (reflection) effects, while towards the visible the change was small.Conclusions drawn from this are based on the assumption that heat treatment coalesces the granules of which the film is composed into larger units. Then since the magnetic rotation is seen to depend on the size and character of the particles, it should be regarded in this case as a molar rather than molecular or atomic property, the effects being determined by conducting electrons even for wavelengths as short as 1μ.Experiments on a nickel film and on colloidal iron yielded results in agreement with this conclusion.
Odor-Taste Convergence in the Nucleus of the Solitary Tract of the Awake Freely Licking Rat

Flavor is produced by the integration of taste, olfaction, texture, and temperature, currently thought to occur in the cortex. However, previous work has shown that brainstem taste-related nuclei also respond to multisensory inputs. Here, we test the hypothesis that taste and olfaction interact in the nucleus of the solitary tract (NTS; the first neural relay in the central gustatory pathway) in awake, freely licking rats. Electrophysiological recordings of taste and taste + odor responses were conducted in an experimental chamber following surgical electrode implantation and recovery. Tastants (0.1 m NaCl, 0.1 m sucrose, 0.01 m citric acid, and 0.0001 m quinine) were delivered for five consecutive licks interspersed with five licks of artificial saliva rinse delivered on a VR5 schedule. Odorants were n-amyl acetate (banana), acetic acid (vinegar), octanoic acid (rancid), and phenylethyl alcohol (floral). For each cell, metric space analyses were used to quantify the information conveyed by spike count, by the rate envelope, and by individual spike timing. Results revealed diverse effects of odorants on taste-response magnitude and latency across cells. Importantly, NTS cells were more competent at discriminating taste + odor stimuli versus tastants presented alone for all taste qualities using both rate and temporal coding. The strong interaction of odorants and tastants at the NTS underscores its role as the initial node in the neural circuit that controls food identification and ingestion.
Development of high spectral resolution CdZnTe pixel detectors for astronomical hard X-ray telescopes

Abstract Cadmium zinc telluride detectors (CdZnTe) offer the possibility of achieving excellent spectral and spatial resolution for compact hard X-ray sensors operated without cryogenics. These characteristics make these detectors ideal for several astrophysical applications, including focal plane sensors for multilayer hard X-ray telescopes, and in the image plane of coded-aperture imagers. We are developing a CdZnTe pixel detector and low-noise VLSI readout for use at the focal plane of the balloon-borne High Energy Focusing Telescope (HEFT). In particular, we have concentrated on achieving excellent spectral resolution in a device with 600 μm pixels. Here we report results from the testing of our fully functional prototype hybrid detector. The detector (an 8×7×2 mm 3 single crystal of CdZnTe with an 8×8 pattern of platinum contacts on one side and a monolithic contact on the other) is indium bump-bonded to our 64-channel readout chip, which contains a charge-sensitive preamplifier, shaping amplifier, and combination peak stretcher/discriminator for each pixel. In this paper, we present results taken at room temperature, demonstrating a low-energy threshold near 5 keV and electronic noise of 1.5 keV FWHM at 60 keV. Subsequent testing of this detector at −10°C, reported in Cook et al. [Proc. SPIE 3769 (1999) 92], achieved 670 eV FWHM resolution at 60 keV, with electronic noise of 340 eV.
Training minimal artificial neural network architectures for subsoil object detection

We cast the training of minimal artificial neural network architectures as a problem of global optimization, and study the simulated annealing (SA) global optimization heuristic under a 'best-so-far' model. Our testbed consists of separated-aperature radar data for subsoil mine detection. In previous analyses, we have found that the traditional SA 'cooling' paradigm can be suboptimal for small instances of combinatorial global optimizations. Here, we demonstrate that traditional cooling is also suboptimal for training minimal neural networks for mine detection. Related issues include (i) how to find minimal network architectures; (ii) considering tradeoffs between minimality and trainability; (iii) the question of whether multistart/parallel implementations of SA can be superior to a single long SA run; and (iv) adaptive annealing strategies based on the best-so-far objective.© (1995) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Series-elastic actuation prototype for rough terrain hopping

In this paper, we describe development and modeling of a prototype hopping robot. The objective of our work is to create a test platform to verify control theory for fast, legged locomotion with limited sensor knowledge of upcoming, rough-terrain characteristics. Resulting running gaits aim to maximize the magnitude of unanticipated height variation, Δh, for which the hopper prototype can maintain reasonable control authority of the next apex state (and subsequent foothold). Toward quantifying controllability, we identify and quantify the range of states that our actuation strategy allows us to reach at the next apex height. We present the simplified model we use to calculate these reachable regions and provide corresponding system identification results, to justify the modeling assumptions used. This paper provides the following contributions to the field of practical robotics. First, we quantify the effectiveness of a real-world series-elastic actuation (SEA) strategy in allowing for simultaneous foothold planning and mitigation of perturbations. Second, we report on the deployment of a proof-of-concept, legged robot prototype being developed to test theoretical stance-phase control strategies.
Intelligence and brain myelination: A hypothesis

Many observations concerning intelligence could be explained if much variance in intelligence reflects myelination differences. More intelligent brains show faster nerve conduction, less glucose utilization in positron emission tomography, faster reaction times, faster inspection times, faster speeds in general, greater circumference and volume, smaller standard deviation in reaction times, greater variability in EEG measures, shorter white matter T2 relaxation times, and higher gray-white matter contrast with magnetic resonance imaging. Also explainable are peculiarities of the increased reaction times and standard deviations with number of choices and complexity, reaction time skewness, the shorter latencies in evoked potentials, shorter latencies to the P300 wave, the high glial to neuron ratio in Einstein's brain, less glucose utilization per unit volume in large brains, certain results related to lipids, essential fatty acids, and cholesterol in adults and premature babies, and the survival of genes for lower intelligence. Children's improved performance with maturation might result from myelination. The slowing of response times with age, the decline in intelligence, and increased T1 relaxation times could be explained. Differential myelination in the mouse brain might be able to explain the heterosis observed for myelination, brain size, caudal nerve conduction velocity, and maze performance observed.
Volcano hazards program in the United States

Abstract Volcano monitoring and volcanic-hazards studies have received greatly increased attention in the United States in the past few years. Before 1980, the Volcanic Hazards Program was primarily focused on the active volcanoes of Kilauea and Mauna Loa, Hawaii, which have been monitored continuously since 1912 by the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory. After the reawakening and catastrophic eruption of Mount St. Helens in 1980, the program was substantially expanded as the government and general public became aware of the potential for eruptions and associated hazards within the conterminous United States. Integrated components of the expanded program include: volcanic-hazards assessment; volcano monitoring; fundamental research; and, in concert with federal, state, and local authorities, emergency-response planning. In 1980 the David A. Johnston Cascades Volcano Observatory was established in Vancouver, Washington, to systematically monitor the continuing activity of Mount St. Helens, and to acquire baseline data for monitoring the other, presently quiescent, but potentially dangerous Cascade volcanoes in the Pacific Northwest. Since June 1980, all of the eruptions of Mount St. Helens have been predicted successfully on the basis of seismic and geodetic monitoring. The largest volcanic eruptions, but the least probable statistically, that pose a threat to western conterminous United States are those from the large Pleistocene-Holocene volcanic systems, such as Long Valley caldera (California) and Yellowstone caldera (Wyoming), which are underlain by large magma chambers still potentially capable of producing catastrophic caldera-forming eruptions. In order to become better prepared for possible future hazards associated with such historically unpecedented events, detailed studies of these, and similar, large volcanic systems should be intensified to gain better insight into caldera-forming processes and to recognize, if possible, the precursors of caldera-forming eruptions.
Independent and symmetric seizures from parasagittal cortex: Is this a feature of profound hypoglycemia?

Two patients presented with severe hypoglycemia and parasagittal homotopic cerebral hemisphere injury. Days after the initial insult, bilateral, independent, periodic lateralized epileptiform discharges and frequent seizures emerged from the affected homotopic cerebral cortices in both patients. We speculate that synaptic rescaling and increased spontaneous discharges in isolated cerebral cortex may cause epileptogenesis in severe hypoglycemia. Bilateral but temporally independent parasagittal seizures could be a feature of severe hypoglycemia.
Performance of Processor-Memory Interconnections for Multiprocessors

A class of interconnection networks based on some existing permutation networks is described with applications to processor to memory communication in multiprocessing systems. These networks, termed delta networks, allow a direct link between any processor to any memory module. The delta networks and full crossbars are analyzed with respect to their effective bandwidth and cost. The analysis shows that delta networks have a far better performance per cost than crossbars in large multiprocessing systems.
Induction of hepatic heme oxygenase activity by bromobenzene.

Abstract Hepatic heme oxygenase, an enzyme which converts heme to carbon monoxide and bile pigment in vitro , is inducible by heme but also by large “toxic” doses of such nonheme substances as hormones, endotoxin, and heavy metal ions. When we gave rats a single hepatotoxic dose of allyl alcohol, ethionine, acetaminophen, furosemide, or endotoxin, hepatic heme oxygenase activity rose modestly (two- to fivefold) after 20 h. In contrast, administration of bromobenzene (5 mmol/kg) induced heme oxygenase in the liver an average of 15-fold after 20 h but was without effect on the enzyme in the kidney or spleen. The change in heme oxygenase was accompanied by a loss in cytochrome P -450 concentration and, in rats labeled with 5-δ-amino[ 14 C]levulinic acid, an increased rate of degradation of hepatic [ 14 C]heme to 14 CO. Induction of heme oxygenase by bromobenzene was blocked by cycloheximide, an inhibitor of protein synthesis, but not by actinomycin D, an inhibitor of RNA synthesis. This suggests that bromobenzene stimulates de novo enzyme synthesis at the step of translation. Subtoxic doses of bromobenzene (less than 1 mmol/kg) gave proportionately greater induction of heme oxygenase. Furthermore, induction of the enzyme remained unaffected when bromobenzene hepatotoxicity was blocked by pretreatment of rats with SKF-525A, 3-methylcholanthrene, or cysteine (which supplements liver sulfhydryl content), or when hepatotoxicity was enhanced by pretreatment with phenobarbital or with diethylmaleate (which depletes hepatic glutathione). These data suggest that with induction of heme oxygenase by bromobenzene, neither liver cell necrosis nor alteration in hepatic sulfhydryl metabolism is indispensible. The latter characteristic differs from induction of the enzyme by metal ions in which depletion of sulfhydryl-containing constituents has been thought to be essential. We conclude that bromobenzene is a novel inducer of heme oxygenase activity in the liver, differing from other nonheme substances in potency and specificity for the liver, and in utilizing mechanism(s) which require neither production of hepatotoxicity, depletion of hepatic glutathione, nor sensitivity to actinomycin D.