cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Novel approaches to diagnosis and treatment of Juvenile Myelomonocytic Leukemia.

Introduction: Juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia (JMML) is a clonal hematopoietic disorder of infancy/early childhood, resulting from oncogenic mutations in genes involved in the Ras pathway. As JMML...
Selective targeting of Scn8a prevents seizure development in a mouse model of mesial temporal lobe epilepsy

We previously found that genetic mutants with reduced expression or activity of Scn8a are resistant to induced seizures and that co-segregation of a mutant Scn8a allele can increase survival and seizure resistance of Scn1a mutant mice. In contrast, Scn8a expression is increased in the hippocampus following status epilepticus and amygdala kindling. These findings point to Scn8a as a promising therapeutic target for epilepsy and raise the possibility that aberrant overexpression of Scn8a in limbic structures may contribute to some epilepsies, including temporal lobe epilepsy. Using a small-hairpin-interfering RNA directed against the Scn8a gene, we selectively reduced Scn8a expression in the hippocampus of the intrahippocampal kainic acid (KA) mouse model of mesial temporal lobe epilepsy. We found that Scn8a knockdown prevented the development of spontaneous seizures in 9/10 mice, ameliorated KA-induced hyperactivity, and reduced reactive gliosis. These results support the potential of selectively targeting Scn8a for the treatment of refractory epilepsy.
Repressing for reputation: Leadership transitions, uncertainty, and the repression of domestic populations

When do leaders use repression? Leadership transitions disrupt the relationship between regime and citizens, introducing uncertainty about whether the state will use force to put down dissent. This...
Probabilistic optimization framework for inspection/repair planning of fatigue-critical details using dynamic Bayesian networks

Abstract Bridges, ships, and other civil and marine structures are subjected to fatigue damage due to repeated load fluctuations. Fatigue damage is likely to jeopardize the functionality and even structural safety of these structures. Therefore, inspections and timely repair actions are needed to ensure adequate structural performance throughout their lifetime. Nevertheless, inspection/repair actions involve additional life-cycle costs. Therefore, efficient planning of inspection and repair actions of fatigue-critical details are not only essential to ensure structural functionality and safety, but also important to control the total life-cycle cost. In this paper, a novel framework for optimizing inspection/repair planning is developed by using efficient Bayesian updating with dynamic Bayesian network. Specifically, inspection plans, including inspection schedules and inspection techniques, are optimized using pre-posterior analysis. Decisions of repair actions are made based on inspection results following an evidence-informed and cost-driven repair strategy. This strategy allows for time-dependent and adaptive repair actions considering fatigue damage development, available inspection results, and previous repair actions. Optimal inspection/repair plans with the lowest expected life-cycle cost are then obtained using both single- and multi-objective optimizations.
No Effect of Music on Anxiety and Pain During Transrectal Prostate Biopsies: A Randomized Trial

Objective To investigate the effect of ambient music on anxiety and pain in men undergoing prostate biopsies. Materials and Methods Between September 2015 and June 2016, men undergoing office transrectal prostate biopsy at our institution were randomly assigned to music (n = 85) or control (n = 97) groups. We examined clinical characteristics, pathologic variables, and baseline anxiety using the Trait Instrument of State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. Primary outcomes included anxiety assessed by State Instrument of STAI (STAI-S) and pain using a visual analog scale. Results There were no significant differences in baseline characteristics between the music and control groups, including median age, prostate-specific antigen, use of magnetic resonance imaging-guided biopsies, or Trait Instrument of State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. The majority (93%) of patients indicated they desired music in their prebiopsy survey. There were no significant differences in STAI-S (33.7 ± 8.9 vs 34.4 ± 9.9, P = .6), pain score (2.3 ± 2.1 vs 2.0 ± 2.1, P = .3), or vital signs between the music and control groups, respectively. There were also no differences in STAI-S, visual analog scale, or vital signs between groups when stratified by age, prostate-specific antigen, or number of previous biopsies. Men who received music were more likely to request music for future prostate biopsy, compared to men who did not (93% vs 83%, P = .07, respectively). Conclusion This randomized study showed no difference in anxiety or pain scores for patients who had ambient music during transrectal prostate biopsy. Future studies are needed to discern the influence of details including method of music delivery, music type, and utilization of adjunct relaxation tools.
Optical Manifestations of Berry’s Topological Phase: Classical and Quantum Aspects

Berry’s discovery of a topological phase in quantum mechanics has led to a unified view of many seemingly disconnected topological phenomena in physics, both at the quantum and classical levels.1 Here we review some recent optical manifestations of this Aharonov-Bohm-like phase. There are now four distinct manifestations of topological phases in optics. All these phases can be thought of as anholonomies. An anholonomy can arise whenever a system is processed through a sequence of changes such that it is returned to its original state; most of the variables characterizing the system obviously return to their original values, but surprisingly certain ones may not. An example is the phase anholonomy which an electron exhibits when it returns to its original state after encircling a solenoid in the Aharonov-Bohm effect. Another example is the age anholonomy which a travelling twin experiences relative to the nontravelling twin when he returns to the Earth after a rocket trip in the twin paradox. When light is cycled through a sequence of states such that it returns to its original state, it can also acquire anholonomies at both the classical and quantum levels.
The Vital Role(s) of School Librarians in Literacy Learning

An understanding of the scope and potential of the many roles of the school librarian in literacy learning suggests needed change. Schools need to rethink their traditional casting of librarians in the roles of “Book Warehouse Manager” and/or “Museum Curator.” School librarians need an understanding of literacy acquisition and difficulties, to become literacy educators. More work needs to be done on how school libraries and librarians do and can help children become literate.
Extracellular phospholipase A2.

Various lipids have been implicated in signal transduction and as precursors of lipid mediators, among them arachidonic acid (Dennis et al., 1991). Production of the prostaglandins, thromboxanes, and prostacyclins via the cyclooxygenase pathway, as well as the production of the leukotrienes and lipoxins via the lipoxygenase pathway, all depend on the availability of free arachidonic acids. As illustrated in Figure 1, control of the production of free arachidonic acid is believed to involve an as yet undefined membrane receptor event (Dennis, 1989). Presumably this event involves the activation of a phospholipase, either directly or through mediators. Presumably this phospholipase is membrane associated or becomes so after translocation (Channon and Leslie, 1990). Because the bulk of cellular arachidonic acid is found esterified in the sn-2position of membrane phospholipids, a phospholipase A2 is the simplest and most logical enzyme
Progress of coating stress compensation of silicon mirrors for Lynx x-ray telescope mission concept using thermal oxide patterning method

A thermal oxide patterning method has proven to be effective for correcting coating-stress-induced distortion on flat silicon wafers. We report progress on developing this method for correcting curved silicon mirrors distorted by front-side iridium coatings. Owing to the difference in geometry, a finite element model has been established to calculate the appropriate duty cycle maps in thermal oxide hexagon patterns used for compensation. In addition, a photolithographic process, along with three-dimensional printed equipment, has been developed for creating patterns precisely on the back side of curved mirrors. The developed method has been used to recover the original surface shape of two silicon mirrors which are 100-mm long, 0.5-mm thick, having 312-mm radius of curvature, and 30 deg in azimuthal span (Wolter-I geometry). These mirrors’ front sides are sputter-coated by 20-nm iridium layers with ∼-70 N / m integrated stress. Measurement results show that the developed method can mitigate coating-induced distortion by a factor of ∼5 in RMS height and ∼4 in RMS slope error, corresponding to ∼0.5 arc sec RMS slope error. Residual errors after correction are dominated by mid-frequency ripples created during the annealing process, which will be resolved in the future. The presented method is precise and inexpensive and a potential candidate for resolving the coating stress issue for Lynx optics in the future.
Smoothed particle hydrodynamics simulation of granular system under cyclic compressions

Abstract The response of two-dimensional frictionless granular material to isotropic cyclic compression is simulated using an improved version of the Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH) method, which includes realistic constitutive model for deformation of individual grains. The study reveals the evolution of mean coordination number and global pressure over cycles. The probability distribution function (PDF) of contact forces for different compression cycles is also reported. The global pressure at maximum compression shows downward trend for packing fractions below a certain value. The structural rearrangement that can give rise to such stress relaxation is studied by mapping relative particle mobilities and quantifying dynamic heterogeneity using a four-point susceptibility measure. The four-point susceptibility measure reveals length and time scales that can characterize the dynamics of driven system. Meso-scale structural rearrangement is studied using Falk-Langer measure of affine and non-affine deformation. The affine and non-affine deformations drop to a stable value and oscillates around it, which suggest that the structure is driving towards a more stable configuration. A negative correlation is found between the local packing fraction and the non-affine squared displacement. Finally, a complex network analysis is employed to better understand the structural rearrangement at meso-scale. The average degree and average clustering coefficient obtained from the complex network analysis show peaks at maximum compressions, but the peak values increase with cycles. The degree per particle is found to be positively correlated with local packing fraction and negatively correlated with the non-affine squared deformation. An enrichment of three-cycle population is seen, suggesting it as the most preferred conformation for particles at the meso-scale.
Zebrafish studies identify serotonin receptors mediating antiepileptic activity in Dravet syndrome

Dravet syndrome is a life-threatening early-onset epilepsy not well controlled by antiepileptic drugs. Drugs that modulate serotonin (5-HT) signalling, including clemizole, locaserin, trazodone and fenfluramine, have recently emerged as potential treatment options for Dravet syndrome. To investigate the serotonin receptors that could moderate this antiepileptic activity, we designed and synthesized 28 novel analogues of clemizole, obtained receptor binding affinity profiles, and performed in vivo screening in a scn1lab mutant zebrafish (Danio rerio) model which recapitulates critical clinical features of Dravet syndrome. We discovered three clemizole analogues with 5-HT receptor binding that exert powerful antiepileptic activity. Based on structure-activity relationships and medicinal chemistry-based analysis, we then screened an additional set of known 5-HT receptor specific drug candidates. Integrating our in vitro and in vivo data implicates 5-HT2B receptors as a critical mediator in the mechanism of seizure suppression observed in Dravet syndrome patients treated with 5-HT modulating drugs.
Ignoring Quantitative Reasoning: The Initial Estimates of the Size of the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill of 2010 and the Failure of Science in Properly Shaping the Policy Response

The initial estimate of the flow rate of now liberated crude oil following the explosion and sinking of the Deepwater Horizon oil platform turned out to be a factor of 50 times lower than the physical reality. This initial estimate, provided by the corporate owner of the oil platform, British Petroleum (BP), was a leak rate of 1,000 barrels per day (bpd). This number was not based on any scientific approach and was never put into context, for the media or the public, of whether this was a big or small number (i.e., how many bpd is equivalent to filling a bathtub for 24 h) and was simply accepted as the physical reality. As a consequence, the initial response to the disaster would plan for a scope that was much smaller than what ultimately unfolded. Furthermore, since 1,000 bpd turns out to be a small number, the initial strategy was based on the belief that the leak could be patched and therefore a fix was manageable. Here we show that (a) simple physical reasoning at the time of the occurrence would have lead to initial estimates that were close to the final estimate (determined 2 months after the initial incident) of about 50,000 bpd; (b) there was an unnecessarily slow time evolution to involve the scientific community to gather relevant data that would vastly improve the estimate and; (c) this slow evolution in unmasking the physical reality of the situation prevented a more robust governmental response to the problem. Even though the government, through National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), revised the leak rate to 5,000 bpd one week after the disaster, another month would elapse before it was officially recognized that the leak rate was essentially 10 times higher.
Flexible, Conformal Phased Arrays with Dynamic Array Shape Self-Calibration

Flexible and conformal phased arrays enable a broad range of novel applications. One of the major challenges for such systems is that they experience a change in their behavior when bent or deformed. A self-calibrating flexible phased array can overcome this by estimating the relative position change of its elements as they undergo local deformations. In this work, we demonstrate a dynamically flexible and conformal 8-element phased array based on a custom CMOS transceiver unit. Beam-steering is demonstrated with the flexible array flat and with the array conformed to convex and concave bend radii of ±120 mm. In addition, we propose and test a shape calibration method that uses only the coupling between elements, using the flexible phase array.
Takes Two to Tango: Choreography of the Coadsorption of CTAB and Hexanol at the Oil-Water Interface.

Mixed surfactant systems at the oil–water interface play a vital role in applications ranging widely from drug delivery to oil-spill remediation. Synergistic mixtures are superior emulsifiers and m...
Haploidentical Transplant for Myelofibrosis: A Single Institution Experience

Background Myelofibrosis (MF) is a chronic hematologic malignancy with poor prognosis for which the only curative therapy is allogeneic stem cell transplant (alloHSCT). It is suggested that eligible patients with Intermediate-2 and high-risk disease proceed to transplant. Frequency of transplant for MF is increasing, given the advent of reduced intensity conditioning regimens and earlier identification of high-risk disease with mutation testing. Patients with MF are at high risk of regimen related toxicities and poor transplant outcomes due to increased risk of prolonged engraftment and graft failure. These concerns may contribute to a greater reluctance to embrace alternative donor source allografts such as haploidentical (haplo) donors. Herein, we report a case series of patients with MF undergoing alloHSCT. Methods A retrospective analysis was performed on all patients having received a haploidentical HSCT at our institution. Results Three patients were identified as having received haplo HSCT for MF. All received a bone marrow graft. Median age was 57 (range 46-61). One patient had primary MF, one post-PV MF, and one post-ET MF. Risk category at time of transplant by DIPSS was Intermediate -2 in two patients, and high in one. Two of the three patients had a major ABO mismatch. All patients and donors were positive for CMV IgG. Mean cell dose was 2.07 × 10^6 CD34+/kg recipient body weight (range 1.65 × 10^6 to 3.19 × 10^6). All patients received busulfan/fludarabine/melphalan conditioning (one myeloablative dosing, two reduced intensity). Post-transplant cyclophosphamide on days +3 and +4, tacrolimus, and mycophenolate mofetil were used for GvHD prophylaxis in all cases. Median time to neutrophil engraftment was Day +22 (range 20-24), median time to platelet engraftment was 67 days (range 37 - > 70). All patients had complete donor chimerisms at Day +30. Recovery of marrow cellularity was delayed in all patients. All patients had CMV reactivation by PCR, one patient had CMV esophagitis. Infectious complications were common, including BK virus, C. difficile colitis, invasive pulmonary aspergillosis, and klebsiella bacteremia Two patients developed chronic GvHD; one with cGVH of eyes & mouth not requiring systemic therapy, one with cGVH of upper GI tract/mouth. All patients are currently off immunosuppression. All patients are alive at a median follow up of 1.5 years post-transplant (range 456-656 days). Discussion Our case series using a haploidentical donor source and busulfan/fludarabine/melphalan conditioning along with post-transplant cyclophosphamide for patients with MF demonstrates outcomes at least comparable to conventional donor source transplants for MF. While infectious complications and slightly prolonged engraftment were noted in the early transplant period, these can be overcome with aggressive supportive care.
Power’s influence on boundary-crossings between counselor educators and counselor education students

Counselor educators (CEs) hold legitimate power over counselor education students (CESs). It would be helpful for CEs to understand how power differentials influence boundary-crossing perceptions w...
The Digital Divide in Formal Educational Settings: The Past, Present, and Future Relevance

The Digital Divide has been a topic under investigation since the mid-1990s both within and outside the USA. The Digital Divide historically has referred to a social inequity between those individuals who have access to information and communication technology (ICT) and those that do not. In recent years, the notion of the Digital Divide has expanded to include other dimensions beyond access, such as use, knowledge, skills, and dispositions of ICT resources. The Digital Divide manifests itself on a number of dividing factors, such as socioeconomic status, gender, age, culture, geographic location, and more. As formal educational programs are often perceived to be the instrument to correct this social inequity, studying the structure of the Digital Divide in the context of formal educational settings is important to ensure programs are narrowing as opposed to widening the ICT gaps. This chapter presents the Levels of the Digital Divide in Schools presented by Hohlfeld, Ritzhaupt, Barron, and Kemker (2008) as a conceptual framework to characterize the evolving phenomenon. The conceptual framework organizes the Digital Divide into three layers in school settings: (1) access to ICT resources, (2) use of technology by teachers and students, and (3) creation of ICT artifacts to empower students. Recent research literature is thoroughly examined in light of this conceptual framework, and viable solutions are presented using formal educational programs at each level of the model.
The neutron star mass distribution

In recent years, the number of pulsars with secure mass measurements has increased to a level that allows us to probe the underlying neutron star (NS) mass distribution in detail. We critically review the radio pulsar mass measurements. For the first time, we are able to analyze a sizable population of NSs with a flexible modeling approach that can effectively accommodate a skewed underlying distribution and asymmetric measurement errors. We find that NSs that have evolved through different evolutionary paths reflect distinctive signatures through dissimilar distribution peak and mass cutoff values. NSs in double NS and NS-white dwarf (WD) systems show consistent respective peaks at 1.33 M and 1.55 M, suggesting significant mass accretion (Δm 0.22 M) has occurred during the spin-up phase. The width of the mass distribution implied by double NS systems is indicative of a tight initial mass function while the inferred mass range is significantly wider for NSs that have gone through recycling. We find a mass cutoff at 2.1 M for NSs with WD companions, which establishes a firm lower bound for the maximum NS mass. This rules out the majority of strange quark and soft equation of state models as viable configurations for NS matter. The lack of truncation close to the maximum mass cutoff along with the skewed nature of the inferred mass distribution both enforce the suggestion that the 2.1 M limit is set by evolutionary constraints rather than nuclear physics or general relativity, and the existence of rare supermassive NSs is possible. © 2013. The American Astronomical Society. All rights reserved..
Efficient Hardware Implementations for Elliptic Curve Cryptography over Curve448

In this paper, we present different implementations of point multiplication over Curve448. Curve448 has recently been recommended by NIST to provide 224-bit security over elliptic curve cryptography. Although implementing high-security cryptosystems should be considered due to recent improvements in cryptanalysis, hardware implementation of Curve488 has been investigated in a few studies. Hence, in this study, we propose three variable-base-point FPGA-based Curve448 implementations, i.e., lightweight, area-time efficient, and high-performance architectures, which aim to be used for different applications. Synthesized on a Xilinx Zynq 7020 FPGA, our proposed high-performance design increases 12% throughput with executing 1,219 point multiplication per second and increases 40% efficiency in terms of required clock cycles\(\times \)utilized area compared to the best previous work. Furthermore, the proposed lightweight architecture works 250 MHz and saves 96% of resources with the same performance. Additionally, our area-time efficient design considers a trade-off between time and required resources, which shows a 48% efficiency improvement with 52% fewer resources. Finally, effective side-channel countermeasures are added to our proposed designs, which also outperform previous works.
Biomechanics of the Distal Radioulnar Joint During In Vivo Forearm Pronosupination.

Background Ulnar variance (UV) and center of rotation (COR) location at the level of the distal radioulnar joint (DRUJ) change with forearm rotation. Nevertheless, these parameters have not been assessed dynamically during active in vivo pronosupination. This assessment could help us to improve our diagnosis and treatment strategies. Questions/purposes We sought to (1) mathematically model the UV change, and (2) determine the dynamic COR's location during active pronosupination. Methods We used biplanar videoradiography to study DRUJ during in vivo pronation and supination in nine healthy subjects. UV was defined as the proximal-distal distance of ulnar fovea with respect to the radial sigmoid notch, and COR was calculated using helical axis of motion parameters. The continuous change of UV was evaluated using a generalized linear regression model. Results A second-degree polynomial with R 2 of 0.85 was able to model the UV changes. Maximum negative UV occurred at 38.0 degrees supination and maximum positive UV occurred at maximum pronation. At maximum pronation, the COR was located 0.5 ± 1.8 mm ulnarly and 0.6 ± 0.8 mm volarly from the center of the ulnar fovea, while at maximum supination, the COR was located 0.2 ± 0.6 mm radially and 2.0 ± 0.5 mm volarly. Conclusion Changes in UV and volar translation of the COR are nonlinear at the DRUJ during pronosupination. Clinical Relevance Understanding the dynamic nature of UV as a function of pronosupination can help guide accurate evaluation and treatment of wrist pathology where the UV is an important consideration. The dynamic behavior of COR might be useful in designing DRUJ replacement implants to match the anatomical motion.
Reconfigurable plasma-dielectric hybrid photonic crystal as a platform for electromagnetic wave manipulation and computing

The introduction of 3D printing has enabled fabrication of photonic crystal devices with complex crystal structures that would be challenging to construct using other fabrication methods. In this paper, we construct and characterize a photonic crystal consisting of two 4 × 8 × 8 cubic lattices composed of spherical silicon nitride elements straddling a layer of 8 plasma discharge tubes, creating a 3D hybrid plasma photonic crystal device. Integrating under-dense gaseous plasma elements provides a unique coupling dynamic between the dielectric spheres and the cylindrical plasma discharges, creating a monolithic hybrid photonic crystal with solid state and reconfigurable elements. The device has resonant modes that have attenuation peaks that are either switchable, tunable in amplitude, or tunable in frequency with variations in plasma density. The response of these bands seen with varying plasma density is confirmed through simulations when effects due to the heating of the photonic crystal from the gaseous plasma elements are accounted for in the experiments. We discuss how this reconfigurable device may be used and expanded upon for applications in photonic artificial neural networks and optical computing systems.
Variability in CKD Biomarker Studies: Soluble Urokinase Plasminogen Activator Receptor (suPAR) and Kidney Disease Progression in the Chronic Kidney Disease in Children (CKiD) Study.

Rationale & Objective Biomarker studies are important for generating mechanistic insight and providing clinically useful predictors of chronic kidney disease (CKD) progression. However, variability across studies can often muddy the evidence waters. Here we evaluated real-world variability in biomarker studies using two published studies, independently conducted, of the novel plasma marker soluble urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) for predicting CKD progression in children with CKD. Study Design A comparison of 2 prospective cohort studies. Setting & Participants 541 children from the Chronic Kidney Disease in Children (CKiD) study, median age 12 years, median glomerular filtration rate (GFR) of 54mL/min/1.73m2. Outcome The first occurrence of either a 50% decline in GFR from baseline or incident end-stage kidney disease. Analytical Approach The suPAR plasma marker was measured using the Quantikine ELISA immunoassay in the first study and Meso Scale Discovery (MSD) platform in the second. The analytical approaches varied. We used suPAR data from the 2 assays and mimicked each analytical approach in an overlapping subset. Results We found that switching assays had the greatest impact on inferences, resulting in a 38% to 66% change in the magnitude of the effect estimates. Covariate and modeling choices resulted in an additional 8% to 40% variability in the effect estimate. The cumulative variability led to different inferences despite using a similar sample of CKiD participants and addressing the same question. Limitations The estimated variability does not represent optimal repeatability but instead illustrates real-world variability that may be present in the CKD biomarker literature. Conclusions Our results highlight the importance of validation, avoiding conclusions based on P value thresholds, and providing comparable metrics. Further transparency of data and equal weighting of negative and positive findings in explorations of novel biomarkers will allow investigators to more quickly weed out less promising biomarkers.
Don’t Believe Everything About Science Online: Revisiting the Fake Pacific Northwest Tree Octopus in an Introductory Biology College Course

Evaluating the veracity and reliability of online media in science is an integral part of developing critical skills in science. Moreover, first year biology courses provide an avenue for students to acquire these skills for academic success. This study evaluated whether students (n = 90) exposed to an apparently credible website were able to distinguish whether a species existed as part of two short online activities. Surprisingly, a high number of students (90%) did not question the species in the initial activity and assumed it was real. However, most as part of the second assessment did report it was false (92.2%). Some students failed to recognize the species as fake and thought the species was real (7.8%), even after watching a parody or satirical video on YouTube. All students agreed that critical thinking in science is important and the majority of students gave positive feedback on the activity. Potential explanations for students’ inability to adequately assess information include students completing the assignment quickly and lack of further research. This activity is recommended to expose first year biology majors to critical thinking skills and accurate assessment of online information in science.
Is There a `Credit ChannelA for Monetary Policy?

This paper argues that the terms `money view' and `credit view' are not always well defined in theoretical and empirical debates over the transmission mechanism of monetary policy. Recent models of information and incentive problems in financial markets suggest the usefulness of decomposing the transmission mechanism into two parts: one related to effects of policy-induced changes on the overall level of real costs of funds, and one related to `financial accelerator' effects stemming from impacts of policy actions on the financial positions of borrowers or intermediaries. The results presented here support the idea that the spending decisions of a significant group of borrowers are influenced by their balance sheet condition. Whether a bank-lending channel is operative is less clear, however. More micro evidence at the level of individual borrower-lender transactions is needed to resolve this question.
Sphere Impact Induced Damage in Ceramics: I. Armor‐Grade SiC and TiB2

Armor-grade SiC and TiB 2 cylinders (25.4 mm x 25.4 mm) were impacted with WC-6Co spheres (6.35 mm diameter) at velocities between 50 m/s and 500 m/s. The recovered cylinders were subsequently sectioned and metallographically-prepared to reveal the dominant sub-surface damage types and change in damage severity as a function of impact velocity. In general, both ceramics exhibited radial, ring, Hertzian cone, and lateral cracks which increased in number and length as the impact velocity increased. Furthermore, both ceramics exhibited a comminuted region directly beneath the impact center which appeared to be wholly contained between the set of Hertzian cone cracks which formed first. The comminuted region consisted of a high density of microcracks located at grain boundaries. The observed effect of impact velocity on the resulting damage and differences in damage between these two armor-grade ceramics will be presented.
Factor Loading Matrix

A factor loading matrix is a matrix of coefficients (or weights) for a set of linear equations relating p observed variables to m factors. The rows of the matrix correspond to the observed variables and the columns correspond to the factors. The term “factor loading matrix” is also used to refer to the matrix that contains the correlations between the variables and factors. Keywords: factor loading matrix; factor pattern; primary factor pattern; loading; oblique-rotated pattern loading; oblique-rotated structure loading
Human T-Cell Lymphoma With Suppressor Effects on the Mixed Lymphocyte Reaction (MLR). I. Morphological and Cytogenetic Analysis

The aggressive clinical course and the distinctive histologic, cytochemical, and cytogenetic features of an adult non-Sezary T-cell lymphoma with suppressor activity have been investigated. Morphological and ultrastructural analysis of neoplastic cells from peripheral blood and involved lymph nodes revealed cells with convoluted nuclei, prominent cytoplasmic azurophilic granules, well developed Golgi apparatus, short strands of endoplasmic reticulum, and moderate numbers of ribosomes and mitochondria. Cytochemical reactions showed acid phosphatase (ACP) positivity in virtually all of the neoplastic cells; and a substantial percentage of the cells, the tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (T-ACP) isoenzyme was observed. Granular naphthyl acetate esterase (A-EST) reactivity was not present. The histological and cytochemical features of these neoplastic suppressor cells were compared with those recently described for the suppressor T-cell fraction isolated from normal peripheral blood T-cell by Fc gamma- rosette formation. The aneuploid clone had 47 chromosomes with multiple complex abnormalities, including a 14q + chromosome formed by the tandem translocation of two no. 14 chromosomes and translocations involving the long arms of no. 2 and no. 9 at band 9q34. These latter changes are particularly common in T-cell disorders. The extensive analysis of this histologic, cytochemical, and cytogenetic features of this adult T-cell suppressor lymphoma should help to clarify the criteria for distinguishing among the subsets of T-cell neoplasms with definable immunologic function.
Screening requests for distributed generation interconnections

Distributed generation (DG) connected to the distribution system is becoming more common as a planning option to meet load demand and to satisfy end user needs. It is also becoming common to comply with regulatory requirements and legislative mandates. The screening of DG interconnection requests for compatibility with the power system is often required to be done in a short time period compared to normal distribution planning decisions. This paper describes a quick-turnaround DG screening process that has been implemented in a software applet which may be used to expedite the screening process. Design features of the applet are described.
ISOLATION OF MUTANTS AFFECTING TRYPTOPHANASE PRODUCTION IN ESCHERICHIA COLI.

Gartner, Theodore K. (University of California, Davis), and Monica Riley. Isolation of mutants affecting tryptophanase production in Escherichia coli. J. Bacteriol. 89:313–318. 1965.—Mutants of Escherichia coli K-12 were isolated which appear to have suffered an alteration in the regulation system governing tryptophanase synthesis. A novel selection method was used to isolate tryptophanase mutants from tryptophan synthetase deletion mutants. Mutants were obtained which exhibited the following phenotypes either singly or in combination with others: constitutivity and inducibility at 13 C (wild type is not inducible at 13 C), constitutivity and hyperinducibility at 37 C. Mutation to constitutivity at 13 C seems to require two mutational changes of the wild type. Other mutants, presumably structural gene mutations, were isolated which lack tryptophanase activity under all conditions tested.
A Linear-Quadratic Game Approach to Estimation and Smoothing

An estimator and smoother for a linear time varying system, over a finite time interval, are developed from a linear quadratic (LQ) game approach. The exogenous inputs composed of the measurement and process noise, and the initial state, are assumed to be finite energy signals whose statistics are unknown. The measure of performance is in the form of a disturbance attenuation function and the optimal estimator (smoother) bounds the attenuation function from above. The disturbance attenuation function is converted to a performance measure for a zero-sum LQ game and the exogenous inputs and the estimator are viewed as players in the game; the exogenous inputs attempt to worsen the estimate while the estimator tries to provide the most accurate estimate. The optimal estimator (smoother), restricted to a class of functions dependent on the measurement alone, is found to be unbiased and linear in structure. With a few mild assumptions, the results are extended to a linear time-invariant system on an infinite horizon, and the optimal estimator obtained is shown to satisfy an upper bound on the H ? norm.
Knowledge and Politics in Plato's Theaetetus

1. Knowledge, politics, and midwifery 2. The prologue 3. Socratic midwifery 4. The delivery 5. The assessment - part 1 6. The digression 7. The assessment - part II 8. False opinion 9. True opinion and logos 10. The wisdom of the midwife.
Cytokine production and antitumor effect of a nonreplicating, noncytopathic recombinant vaccinia virus expressing interleukin-12

Background. Cancer gene therapy with interleukin-12 (IL-12) has generated much interest because of the potent antitumor effects of this cytokine. The purpose of this study was to construct a nonreplicating, noncytopathic recombinant vaccinia virus ( i recVV) encoding murine IL-12 ( i vKT0327mIL-12) and to assess its biologic activity and antitumor effects. Methods. ivKT0327mIL-12 was constructed by inserting the genes encoding mIL-12 into the VV genome by homologous recombination. Psoralen and long-wave ultraviolet light were used to render the virus incapable of replication or cell lysis. Cytokine production was assessed by infecting tumor cell lines and measuring mIL-12 in the culture supernatants by using a bioassay. C57BL/6 mice were injected subcutaneously in a randomized, blinded fashion with 5×10 5 MCA 101 fibrosarcoma cells or 5×10 5 PAN 02 pancreatic tumor cells infected in vitro with either i vKT0327mIL-12 or i vKT033, a control i recVV containing no cytokine genes. Emergence of tumor and tumor size were measured. Results. Tumor cells infected with i vKT0327mIL-12 produced large amounts of biologically active mIL-12 (up to 793 ng/10 6 cells/24 hr) but continued to proliferate in vitro with no cytopathic effect. Mice injected with MCA 101 infected with i vKT0327 mIL-12 had significantly delayed tumor emergence (p i vKT033-infected MCA 101. Tumor growth was also significantly smaller in a similar experiment with PAN 02 (p Conclusions. Tumor cells infected with i recVV encoding mIL-12 express high levels of biologically active mIL-12 in vitro and exhibit delayed tumor establishment, significant tumor growth inhibition, or both, in vivo.
Racial and Gender Discrimination, Early Life Factors, and Chronic Physical Health Conditions in Midlife

Abstract Purpose Most studies of perceived discrimination have been cross-sectional and focused primarily on mental rather than physical health conditions. We examined the associations of perceived racial and gender discrimination reported in adulthood with early life factors and self-reported physician diagnosis of chronic physical health conditions. Methods We used data from a racially diverse birth cohort of U.S. women ( n = 168; average age, 41 years) with prospectively collected early life data (e.g., parental socioeconomic factors) and adult reported data on perceived discrimination, physical health conditions, and relevant risk factors. We performed modified robust Poisson regression owing to the high prevalence of the outcomes. Results Fifty percent of participants reported racial and 39% reported gender discrimination. Early life factors did not have strong associations with perceived discrimination. In adjusted regression models, participants reporting at least three experiences of gender or racial discrimination had a 38% increased risk of having at least one physical health condition (relative risk, 1.38; 95% confidence interval, 1.01–1.87). Using standardized regression coefficients, the magnitude of the association of having physical health condition(s) was larger for perceived discrimination than for being overweight or obese. Conclusion Our results suggest a substantial chronic disease burden associated with perceived discrimination, which may exceed the impact of established risk factors for poor physical health.
Organizational Bankruptcy: The Consequences of Failure on Director Human and Social Capital

We develop a model to explore the changes in human and social capital for directors on the board of a failed firm subsequent to organizational bankruptcy. With arguments rooted in signaling theory (Spence, 1973), we propose a negative relationship between bankruptcy and new director appointments, in addition to a negative relationship between bankruptcy and the prestige of directorships. We then develop propositions on how board tenure, board size, initial social capital, and frequency of bankruptcies in an industry moderate the negative relationship between organizational failure with human and social capital.
Understanding Blood Gas Interpretation

Abstract Blood gases are the most common and one of the most important laboratory values performed in the neonatal intensive care unit. Because of technological advances including surfactant and high-frequency ventilation, the need for immediate responses to rapidly changing clinical conditions is of utmost importance. An arterial or capillary blood gas is a clinical tool for determining an infant's pulmonary and metabolic status. An infant can easily be overventilated, underventilated, or metabolically unstable, which can affect their long-term outcome. Therefore, nurses need to have a basic understanding of acid-base physiology and accurate interpretation skills to be a competent and skilled neonatal intensive care unit nurse. This article presents a brief review of blood gas interpretation.
A bacterial ortholog of class II lysyl-tRNA synthetase activates lysine

Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases produce aminoacyl-tRNAs, essential substrates for accurate protein synthesis. Beyond their central role in translation some of these enzymes or their orthologs are recruited for alternative functions, not always related to their primary cellular role. We investigate here the enzymatic properties of GenX (also called PoxA and YjeA), an ortholog of bacterial class II lysyl-tRNA synthetase. GenX is present in most Gram-negative bacteria and is homologous to the catalytic core of lysyl-tRNA synthetase, but it lacks the amino terminal anticodon binding domain of the latter enzyme. We show that, in agreement with its well-conserved lysine binding site, GenX can activate in vitro l-lysine and lysine analogs, but does not acylate tRNA(Lys) or other cellular RNAs.
In vivo NMR, biochemical, and histologic evaluation of alcohol‐induced fatty liver in rat and a comparison with CCl4 hepatotoxicity

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and spectroscopy (MRS) were used to follow the time course of ethanol-induced fatty liver in a group of 10 rats fed a diet containing 12% alcohol (ethanol) over a 5-week period. The MR data consisted of T1-weighted images, in vivo1H spectra, and in vivoT1, relaxation measurements. Changes in short TR images as a result of fatty accumulation were noted only as a slight increase in liver intensity relative to surrounding muscle. A poorly correlated (r = 0.54) increase in water T1 with time was observed. No statistically significant changes in lipid T1 were found. MRS derived lipid content was compared with biochemically derived total lipids and histology. MRS determined liver lipids were found to increase linearly with time (r = 0.91). Biochemically derived lipid content also increased with prolonged exposure to ethanol (r = 0.96). The averages of MRS derived lipid content agreed well with the average changes in biochemically determined total lipid concentration. Histologic examination revealed slight to moderate changes in fatty accumulation with significant variation in the group at the end of the study. On an individual basis the MRS and histologic evaluation were highly correlated (r = 0.94). © 1991 Academic Press, Inc.
An inverse Sturm-Liouville problem with a fractional derivative

In this paper, we numerically investigate an inverse problem of recovering the potential term in a fractional Sturm-Liouville problem from one spectrum. The qualitative behaviors of the eigenvalues and eigenfunctions are discussed, and numerical reconstructions of the potential with a Newton method from finite spectral data are presented. Surprisingly, it allows very satisfactory reconstructions for both smooth and discontinuous potentials, provided that the order @a@?(1,2) of fractional derivative is sufficiently away from 2.
The mouse as a model of experimental autoimmune uveoretinitis (EAU).

An EAU model has been developed in the mouse using the retinal soluble antigen (SAg), and the interphotoreceptor retinoid-binding protein (IRBP). Immunogenetic studies indicate that sensitivity to disease is H-2 dependent, but some data suggest that non-MHC genes may also contribute to the regulation of EAU. IRBP was a more potent uveitogen than SAg. Ability to mount lymphocyte and antibody responses was exhibited both by EAU-susceptible and by EAU-resistant strains, and could not be used as a predictive parameter. Dependence of disease induction on variables of immunization was studied in B10.A mice (I-Ak) immunized with IRBP. Use of Bordetella pertussis as additional adjuvant was a prerequisite for successful disease induction. Use of purified pertussis toxin (PTX), rather than a suspension of pertussis bacteria, allowed reduction of the immunization protocol to a single dose of IRBP in CFA. Severity and incidence of disease, as well as its clinical course, were directly affected by the dose of antigen and PTX, and could be controlled by varying their respective doses. A spectrum of disease, from hyperacute to chronic, could be obtained. The chronic type of EAU tended to relapse, with lesions reappearing after a brief period of essential quiescence. The special advantages of the murine EAU model for the study of ocular autoimmunity are discussed.
Vocal characteristics of normal speakers and stutterers during choral reading

It is well known that stutterers experience significant decrements in their stuttering when they read or speak in unison with another person. Recently, Wingate suggested that the act of choral read...
Motivation, investment, and identity in English language development: A longitudinal case study

Abstract Drawing on Norton's (2010) conceptualization of motivation as investment, this longitudinal case study investigates how a Korean international graduate student's motivation affected her English language improvement and learning strategies. In the study, the researcher not only analyzed a series of regular face-to-face interviews with the participant conducted over 12 months, but also considered how the participant, her teachers, and her friends evaluated her oral English. Specifically, the study explored how the participant's investment helped her gain legitimate peripheral participation in academic and non-academic settings. This study interpreted these processes to present the participant's experiences, and to show how her identity was socially constructed across time and place.