cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Germline Testing Data Validate Inferences of Mutational Status for Variants Detected From Tumor-Only Sequencing.

PURPOSEPathogenic germline variants (PGVs) in cancer susceptibility genes are usually identified through germline testing of DNA from blood or saliva: their detection can affect treatment options a...
Measuring Risk Information

We develop a measure of how information events impact investors' expectations of risk that is broadly applicable and simple to implement. We derive this measure from an option-pricing model where investors anticipate an announcement that simultaneously conveys information on the announcer's expected future cash flows and risk profile. We empirically implement the measure using firms' earnings announcements, showing that it closely aligns with our model's predictions and offers strong forecasting power for firms' risk profiles, costs of capital, and future investments. We further highlight pitfalls of using simple changes in option-implied volatilities to study information gleaned from earnings announcements. Finally, we apply our measure toward studying disclosure regulation, the efficacy of text-based proxies, and market-wide events, providing novel evidence on the transmission, measurement, and implications of risk information.
A generic hidden Markov model for multi-parent populations.

A common step in the analysis of multi-parent populations is genotype reconstruction: identifying the founder origin of haplotypes from dense marker data. This process often makes use of a probability model for the pattern of founder alleles along chromosomes, including the relative frequency of founder alleles and the probability of exchanges among them, which depend on a model for meiotic recombination and on the mating design for the population. While the precise experimental design used to generate the population may be used to derive a precise characterization of the model for exchanges among founder alleles, this can be tedious, particularly given the great variety of experimental designs that have been proposed. We describe an approximate model that can be applied for a variety of multi-parent populations. We have implemented the approach in the R/qtl2 software, and we illustrate its use in applications to publicly-available data on Diversity Outbred and Collaborative Cross mice.
Phase I-II Study of Sequential Therapy with Decitabine Followed By Clofarabine, Idarubicin, and Cytarabine (DAC-CIA regimen) in Relapsed/Refractory Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML)

Background: Patients (pts) with relapsed/refractory AML have dismal outcomes with currently available chemotherapy regimens. Preclinical and clinical evidence suggests that the use of hypomethylating agents such as decitabine prior to standard chemotherapy may be synergistic (Qin et al. Clin Can Res 2007; Scandura et al. Blood 2011; Clozel et al. Cancer Discov 2013). Methods: Pts aged ≥18 to 65 years with relapsed or refractory AML (up to salvage 2) were eligible. Prior therapy with hypomethylating agents was allowed. The chemotherapy regimen was as follows: | | Dose | Days | | ---------------------- | ----------- | -------------------------------------------------------- | | INDUCTION | | | | Decitabine | 20 mg/m2 IV | Days 1-5 | | Clofarabine | 15 mg/m2 IV | Days 6-9 (Dose level 1) Days 6-10 (Dose level 2) | | Idarubicin | 10 mg/m2 IV | Days 6-8 | | Cytarabine | 1 gm/m2 IV | Days 6-10 | | CONSOLIDATION | | | | Decitabine | 20 mg/m2 IV | Days 1-5 | | Clofarabine | 15 mg/m2 IV | Days 6-8 | | Idarubicin | 8 mg/m2 IV | Days 6-7 | | Cytarabine | 1 gm/m2 IV | Days 6-8 | Table Results: Eighteenpts (female, n=4) have been treated so far. Median age was 43 years (range 20-61). Majority of the pts (10/18, 56%) were in salvage 2. Four had a prior allogeneic stem cell transplant (SCT). Cytogenetics were diploid (n=4), complex (n=11), 11q abnormality (n=2), trisomy 8 (n=1). Five pts had a TP53 mutation and 3 pts had an NRAS mutation. Median number of cycles administered was 1 (range 1-2). Grade 3-4 non-hematological toxicity included grade 3 mucositis (DLT) in 2 pts during the induction cycle. Due to mucositis and prolonged cytopenias (prolonged cytopenias didn’t meet the DLT definition), dose level 2 was not pursued, and all patients were treated at dose level 1. Grade 3 transaminitis was seen in 4 pts. Fifteen pts had one or more infections. Six (33%) pts achieved CR, of whom 5 were able to proceed to SCT (one pt with CR opted not to pursue SCT). Median time to CR was 35 days. An additional 3 pts had a >50% decrease in bone marrow blast count (marrow response) and all three proceeded with SCT. All 4 patients with diploid cytogenetics achieved CR. Only 1/5 (20%) patients with mutated TP53 achieved a CR. Two patients have relapsed (one 3 months after SCT and the other after consolidation cycle 1). Six patients are alive (4 after stem cell transplant, 2 are receiving further salvage regimens after DAC-CIA failure). Median survival of the entire group is 7.2 months (see [figure 1][1]). Conclusions: The sequential treatment of decitabine followed by chemotherapy is safe and effective with a CR rate of 33% and with 8/18 patients able to proceed to an allogeneic SCT. The phase II part of the study is enrolling patients at this time. ![FIGURE 1][2] FIGURE 1 Disclosures Off Label Use: Decitabine and clofarabine are not approved for AML.. [1]: #F1 [2]: pending:yes
Lipids, Pharmaceutical and Cosmetic Use

Lipid nutritional supplements have been in use before the term nutraceutical was coined. Products such as fish oils, shark cartilege, shark liver oil, and vitamins have been in the market since the beginning of the twentieth century. Some of the health claims of these products lacked strict scientific documentation in the past, and their curative properties were mostly anecdotal. However there is a better understanding of the biological properties of lipids and their application has extended to pharmaceuticals and cosmetics fields, such as disease prevention and treatment, excipients and coadjuvants, trans-dermal carriers and skin emolliency agents. This has led to the development of bioactive cosmetic and pharmaceutical products whose name is coined as cosmeceutical. Keywords: lipids; cosmetics; pharmaceuticals; cosmeceuticals; nutraceuticals
Measuring the Intensity of Competition in the Japanese Beef Market

A residual demand model for beef exports to Japan is specified and estimated. The objective is to estimate the extent of market power. It is assumed that each exporting country faces a downward-sloping residual demand curve, which reflects the market demand minus the supplies of competitors, and that exporters maximize profit through their output decisions. The analysis is disaggregated by beef cut and form to capture the variation by beef market segments. The results indicate that the highest markup of price over marginal cost belongs to U.S. frozen ribs, the only indication of market power by U.S. exporters. Canada is found to have limited market power, whereas Australia and New Zealand enjoy some market power, including five chilled beef categories.
Crawfish Bottom: Recovering a Lost Kentucky Community

Reviewed Medium: book Authors: Douglas A. Boyd Year: 2011 Pages: 240 Publisher: University Press of Kentucky ISBN: 978-0-8131-3408-6 (hard cover).
Waiting to be Cinderella’d?: Attitudes on Class Differences Among Women

This article explores the way in which college students construct attitudes about class differences among women. Social work student researchers interviewed 30 college students at a Midwestern public university and asked them to tell stories about women in two different social class positions. The results revealed that social class differences are constructed based on factors related to family of origin, personality, structural inequities, personal choices and relationships, as well as other intersecting experiences. In addition, participant stories highlighted gendered attitudes towards women in poverty. Implications for social science teaching, practice, and research are discussed.
Interpreting “Percent Black”: An Analysis of Race and Violent Crime in Washington D.C.

Abstract Time series analysis is employed to assess the relationship between “percent Black” and violent crime in Washington D.C. over a 40-year period. Race-disaggregated violent crime arrest data are also examined. It is concluded that while there is some indication of a positive relationship between violent crime and “percent Black” over time, that relationship is not robust when disaggregated by race and crime type and may be limited to Black robbery offending. Further, it appears that “percent Black” may be serving as a proxy for other social problems. An exploration of possible correlates of racial disparity in violent arrests suggests that they are associated with a variety of factors, including social problems and their disparities.
Formal Communication within School Psychology: A 1990-1994 Journal Citation Analysis.

Citation analysis methods are discussed, particularly as a means of assisting researchers in clarifying formal communication patterns among journals within school psychology. The present study expa...
PETFAB: user-considerate FORTRAN 77 program for the generation and statistical evaluation of fabric diagrams

Abstract PETFAB is an easy-to-use FORTRAN 77 program which provides a comprehensive structural geologic fabric analysis package for use by geologists and students with little or no computer experience. User-selected options include a plot of data points on an equal-area stereonet, determination of data distribution and preferred orientation, calculation of statistical significance of fit, and contour diagrams using both fixed and variable counting areas. Creation of data files is simplified by use of an interactive utility loading program, LOADFAB. Output is generated on a lineprinter and optionally on a CALCOMP plotter.
Elective coronary angiography and percutaneous coronary intervention during uninterrupted warfarin therapy.

The management of patients anticoagulated with warfarin and referred for coronary angiography presents a substantial challenge to the physician who must minimize risks of periprocedural hemorrhage and thromboembolism. The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility and safety of performing diagnostic coronary angiography and percutaneous coronary intervention during uninterrupted warfarin therapy. Patients treated with warfarin were prospectively identified and enrolled in the study. Nineteen diagnostic cardiac catheterizations and six percutaneous coronary interventions were performed in 23 patients. The mean international normalized ratio was 2.4 ± 0.5 (range, 1.8–3.5). Hemostasis was achieved with AngioSeal following 21 procedures and with Perclose following 4 procedures. No patient experienced a predefined endpoint. Specifically, no patient experienced procedure-related myocardial infarction, major or minor bleeding. We conclude that cardiac catheterization and percutaneous coronary intervention may be considered in the setting of uninterrupted warfarin therapy. Catheter Cardiovasc Interv 2003;60:180–184. © 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Social support measurement

Validation de plusieurs instruments psychometriques permettant d'evaluer le support social: l'Arizona Social Support Interview Schedule, l'Inventory of Socially Supportive Behaviors, le Perceived Social Support from Family and Friends, le Social Relationship Scale, le Social Support Network Interview, le Social Support Questionnaire, et le Social Support Vignettes
Different length peptides bind to HLA-Aw68 similarly at their ends but bulge out in the middle.

WE report here the determination and refinement to 1.9 A resolution by X-ray cryo-crystallography the structure of HLA-Aw68. The averaged image from the collection of bound, endogenous peptides clearly shows the atomic structure at the first three and last two amino acids in the peptides but no connected electron density in between. This suggests that bound peptides, held at both ends, take alternative pathways and could be of different lengths by bulging out in the middle. Peptides eluted from HLA-Aw68 include peptides of 9, 10 and 11 amino acids, a direct indication of the length heterogeneity of tightly bound peptides. Peptide sequencing shows relatively conserved 'anchor' residues at position 2 and the carboxy-terminal residue. Conserved binding sites for the peptide N and C termini at the ends of the class I major histocompatibility complex binding groove are apparently dominant in producing the long half-lives of peptide binding and the peptide-dependent stabilization of the class I molecule's structure.
Predicting microstructural evolution in fusion reactor environments: experimental imperatives and opportunities

Abstract The experimental and theoretical basis for predicting microstructural evolution in structural alloys in fusion reactor environments is reviewed. Semi-empirical models are found to be broadly consistent with observed data trends. However, there is insufficient understanding and independent verification to assign a high reliability to model-based extrapolations; additional progress will require new experimentally-based insights, as well as improved models. Three classes of possible experimental initiatives are described. The first seeks to identify and quantify important mechanisms and model parameters, and the second is intended to test integral models of the interacting evolutions leading to rapid void swelling. Particular emphasis is placed on a third category of experiments based on isotopic and spectral tailoring in high flux fission reactors. It is shown that it is possible to carry out both single variables experiments and high exposure irradiations (≳ l00dpa) of alloys with a combination of...
Water Erosion Prediction Project (WEPP) Technology for Assessment of Runoff, Soil Loss and Sediment Yield Potential

The Water Erosion Prediction Project (WEPP) model is a process-based, distributed parameter, continuous simulation computer program for estimation of runoff, soil loss and sediment yield from fields and small watersheds. In addition to having large databases for application to a multitude of U.S. soils, climates and management systems, WEPP also has a variety of user interfaces that make use of the model very easy. For many users, very simple and rapid erosion estimates can be made with web-based versions of WEPP, accessible through the National Soil Erosion Research Laboratory's (NSERL) web servers. For more detailed and focused conservation planning or erosion inventories, there is a stand-alone Windows interface as well as an Arc-View GIS extension (GeoWEPP). Erosion science technology within the current WEPP model is being extracted and ported into a new combined wind and water erosion process model being developed under the Object Modeling System (OMS) in cooperation with USDA scientists in Fort Collins, Colorado, Manhattan, Kansas, and at other locations in the United States.
Development of the hot isostatic press manufacturing process for monolithic nuclear fuel

The United States Department of Energy, Office of the National uclear Security Administration established the Global Threat eduction Initiative (GTRI) program in the Office of Defense Nuclear onproliferation to reduce and protect vulnerable nuclear and adiological material located at civilian sites worldwide by providng support for countries’ own national programs. An important omponent of the GTRI important is the need to convert research eactors from the use of highly -enriched uranium (HEU) to lownriched uranium (LEU), with less that 20% uranium enrichment. hese efforts result in permanent threat reduction by minimizing nd, to the extent possible, eliminating the need for HEU in civilian pplications. Dispersion fuels made from LEU are inadequate for many highower test reactors (Clark et al., 2006). To achieve the needed oading for high-power test reactors, monolithic U–Mo alloy fuels ave been proposed (Clark et al., 2006), posing the challenge of onding an aluminum cladding to the monolithic fuel foils by proesses other than the roll bonding traditionally used for dispersion uels (Clark et al., 2005, 2006). Clark et al. (2003) proposed that the fuel foils should be prouced by a hot rolling process, followed by bonding the cladding to he fuel foils. To bond the cladding, these authors investigated sevral manufacturing processes, such as: high temperature rolling, ransient liquid phase bonding, diffusion bonding via hot isostatic ressing (HIP), and friction bonding. Of these processes, the HIP onding process produced the most consistent results (Robinson t al., 2009; Clark et al., 2005) and was chosen as the preferred manfacturing method, even though HIPping requires that the material s held under vacuum or reduced atmosphere to prevent the foration of an oxide layer on the material surface.
Controversies in Clostridium difficile testing

Recent reports of two nosocomial outbreaks of Clostridium difficile-associated disease caused by toxin A-deficient strains emphasize that these strains can cause disease. Laboratories using an assay that detects only toxin A as their primary diagnostic test risk misdiagnosis of cases or outbreaks in the institutions they serve. Repeat testing can account for a significant portion of a laboratory's C. difficile testing workload. Published data are available to support laboratory rules for rejection of repeat stool specimens within 7 days of an initial specimen. There are also substantial published data to support laboratory rejection of formed stools sent to the laboratory for C. difficile testing.
Decay of the rotary echoes for the spin of a nitrogen-vacancy center in diamond

We study dynamics of the electron spin of a nitrogen-vacancy (NV) center subjected to a strong driving field with periodically reversed direction (train of rotary echoes). We use analytical and numerical tools to analyze in detail the form and time scales of decay of the rotary echo train by modeling the decohering spin environment as a random magnetic field. We demonstrate that the problem can be exactly mapped onto a model of spin 1 coupled to a single bosonic mode with imaginary frequency. This mapping allows comprehensive analytical investigation beyond the standard Bloch-Redfield-type approaches. We explore the decay of the rotary echo train under assumption of strong driving and identify the most important regimes of the decay. The analytical results are compared with the direct numerical simulations to confirm quantitative accuracy of our study. We present the results for realistic environment of substitutional nitrogen atoms (P1 centers) and provide a simplified but accurate description for the decay of the rotary echo train of the NV center's spin. The approach presented here can also be used to study decoherence and longitudinal relaxation of other spin systems under conditions of strong driving.
Role of lymphocyte surface determinants in lymph node homing.

Abstract Thoracic duct lymphocytes briefly incubated in vitro with trypsin and then infused into syngeneic rats are unable to migrate into lymph nodes. Trypsin-treated lymphocytes incubated at 37 °C in the absence of enzyme for 12 hr recovered their lymph node homing properties. In vitro recovery did not occur if the cells were cultured at 17 °C. Evidence was obtained that trypsin cleaved sialyglycoproteins from the surface of lymphocytes and that these determinants reappeared after the cells were maintained at 37 °C for 24 hr. Puromycin added to cultures of normal lymphocytes for 3 hr before infusion markedly reduced the recovery of donor cells in lymph nodes. The results suggest that surface determinants of recirculating lymphocytes essential for homing into lymph nodes may be rapidly turned over.
Inactivation of bovine kidney cytosolic protamine kinase by the catalytic subunit of protein phosphatase 2A.

Abstract Incubation of highly purified preparations of the bovine kidney cytosolic protamine kinase in the presence of near homogeneous preparations of the catalytic subunit of protein phosphatase 2A (PrP2A c ) from bovine kidney resulted in time-dependent inactivation of the protamine kinase. By contrast, incubation of bovine kidney cytosolic casein kinase II with PrP2A c had no effect on the activity of this casein kinase II. In the presence of 10 mM sodium fluoride, 10 mM inorganic orthophosphate, 1 mM pyrophosphate or 0.1 mM ATP, the inactivation of the protamine kinase by PrP2A c was completely inhibited. Half-maximal inhibition by ATP occurred at about 20 μM. The rate of inactivation of the protamine kinase by PrP2A c was unaffected by Mg 2+ , Mn 2+ , Ca 2+ , EDTA or EGTA at 1 mM. The results strongly indicate that the activity of the cytosolic protamine kinase is regulated by phosphorylation/dephosphorylation.
Qualitative study of suicidality and help-seeking behaviors in African American adolescents.

This qualitative study explores adolescents’ perceptions of help-seeking behaviors in the context of a hypothetical suicide crisis. Cauce and colleague’s (2002, Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 70, 44–55) model was used to examine help-seeking behaviors in 3 domains: problem recognition, decision to seek help, and selection of helpers. Forty-two church-going African American adolescents participated in 1 of 6 focus groups that discussed ways to help a hypothetically suicidal student in a vignette. Findings suggest that although the majority of youth had been exposed to a suicidal peer (76%), they were unsure of the seriousness of suicide as a problem in the African American community. The findings suggest that youth were less comfortable with formal interventions in school, religious institutions or traditional mental health settings. However, youth were open to community-based programs that could be located in school, church or community settings if helpers were: young adults, empathic listeners, non-judgmental, maintained confidentiality, and viewed as “natural helpers”. Implications for developing church-based suicide interventions are discussed.
Ultrafast modelocked diode lasers for coherent communications and signal processing

Optical frequency combs generated from semiconductor modelocked lasers are used to realize a broad range of optical communication and signal processing functions. This presentation will discuss recent results on the stabilization of optical frequency combs and their use in dense WDM coherent communication architectures and in photonic arbitrary waveform generation.
Consequences of Truth-in-Sentencing The Mississippi Case

Like many other states, in the mid-1990s Mississippi responded to growing public fear of crime and mounting dissatisfaction with its criminal justice system by implementing a series of ‘get tough’ measures designed to control crime. Perhaps the primary vehicle for reform has been the enactment of ‘truth-in sentencing’ legislation. Truth-in-sentencing (TIS) does not imply a specific correctional policy, but covers a variety of reforms designed to improve the delivery of proportionate punishments and promote stability and predictability in administering criminal justice. In 1995 Mississippi implemented a TIS law which mandated that felons sentenced to prison must serve at least 85 percent of their sentence. Mississippi’s TIS law is unique compared to those passed in other states in that the 85 percent requirement applies to all groups of offenders, including non-violent offenders. The comprehensive nature of Mississippi’s TIS law has had a dramatic impact on the state’s criminal justice system - particularl...
Correction at Cabrini-Green: A Sociospatial Exercise of Power

Foucault developed theories on the exercise of power so that they might be applied to geographically and historically specific instances, In this paper I analyze the processes of power recently in operation on the black population of the Cabrini-Green housing development in Chicago. Previously excluded from the larger urban matrix, the residents have been subject to a variety of forces—Involving discipline, discursive containment, physical repression, and deterrence —as attempts have been made to ‘reclaim’ the area and regulate the sociospatial control of bodies. Issues of visibility, knowledge, and situation are paramount both in the processes of power involved in ‘rehabilitating’ Cabrini-Green and in the residents' resistance to such outside intervention.
Calf Mortality in Virginia Dairy Herd Improvement Herds

Information concerning heifer calf mortality and dairy herd management practices was obtained by survey of 407 Virginia Dairy Herd Improvement herds. Dairy producers, with the assistance of Dairy Herd Improvement supervisors, accounted for mortality of all heifer calves born from October 1, 1978 to March 31, 1979. Calf mortality was compared among herd sizes, fat and milk production, cow and calf housing systems, calving locations, and calf feeding practices. Average herd size was 82 cows with 87% of herds containing fewer than 120 cows. Mortality at birth and from birth through 3 mo of age averaged 1.2 and 6.5%. Mortality at birth was correlated .10 with herd size. Losses from birth through 3 mo of age were correlated .10 with age at weaning and -.16 with rolling yearly average milk and fat production. Relationship of mortality with other herd characteristics or management practices was negligible.
Vitamin D Deficiency in Cystic Fibrosis

Cystic Fibrosis is the most common inherited genetic respiratory disorder in the Western World. Hypovitaminosis D is almost universal in CF patients, likely due to a combination of inadequate absorption, impaired metabolism, and lack of sun exposure. Inadequate levels are associated with the high prevalence of bone disease or osteoporosis in CF patients, which is associated with increased morbidity including fractures, kyphosis, and worsening pulmonary status. Treatment goals include regular monitoring 25 hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) levels with aggressive treatment for those with levels <75 nmol/L (<30 ng/mL). More research is needed to determine optimal supplementation goals and strategies.
Postlexical contraction of nonhigh vowels in Spanish

Abstract Although at the lexical level (in the citation form of words) Spanish has only high glides, mid vowels may also become nonsyllabic by a postlexical process of syllable contraction. In this paper we report on an experiment designed to study the contraction of sequences of nonhigh vowels in Castilian Spanish. Traditional phonological descriptions of this Spanish dialect state that in sequences of equal height such as /eo/, /oe/, the first of the two vowels undergoes greater shortening, becoming nonsyllabic. In sequences of different height, such as /ae/, /ea/, on the other hand, the higher of the two vowels becomes nonsyllabic. Our results offer only partial support for these hypotheses. In agreement with other recent studies, we find the realization of these sequences to be very variable. In particular, we discuss two seemingly opposite tendencies present in our data and elsewhere for the elimination of mid glides. One is their deletion: /ea/ [ a] [a]. The other one is their raising to high glides: /ea/ [ a] [ja].
Iteration of the number-theoretic function f(2n) = n, f(2n + 1) = 3n + 2

It is a long-standing conjecture that, under iteration of the number-theoretic function, f(2n)=n,f(2n + 1) = 3n + 2 every integer m has an iterate fk(m) = 1. Since virtually nothing is known about the question, save that it seems to be true for m up to the millions, it may be of interest to know that almost every m has an iterate fk(m) <m, a result proved in the present report.
Systems pharmacology: bridging systems biology and pharmacokinetics-pharmacodynamics (PKPD) in drug discovery and development.

Mechanistic PKPD models are now advocated not only by academic and industrial researchers, but also by regulators. A recent development in this area is based on the growing realisation that innovation could be dramatically catalysed by creating synergy at the interface between Systems Biology and PKPD, two disciplines which until now have largely existed in ‘parallel universes’ with a limited track record of impactful collaboration. This has led to the emergence of systems pharmacology. Broadly speaking, this is the quantitative analysis of the dynamic interactions between drug(s) and a biological system to understand the behaviour of the system as a whole, as opposed to the behaviour of its individual constituents; thus, it has become the interface between PKPD and systems biology. It applies the concepts of Systems Engineering, Systems Biology, and PKPD to the study of complex biological systems through iteration between computational and/or mathematical modelling and experimentation. Application of systems pharmacology can now impact across all stages of drug research and development, ranging from very early discovery programs to large-scale Phase 3/4 patient studies, and has the potential to become an integral component of a new ‘enhanced quantitative drug discovery and development’ (EQD3) R&D paradigm.
Fatigue Behavior, Bridging Stresses, and Fatigue Reliability in Silicon Nitride Ceramics

Silicon nitride ceramics doped with rare-earth oxides exhibit excellent hardness, toughness, and strength at elevated temperatures making them attractive materials for replacing cemented carbides in a variety of manufacturing applications such as cutting and rolling tools. One recent example is the application of rolling of high strength alloy wires from steels and nickel-based super-alloys where cemented carbide rolls suffer wear and thermal fatigue cracking, leading to a degradation of wire quality. [1] Furthermore, it has been shown that under moderate loading silicon nitride rolls can give >10 times longer life and improved wire surface quality. [1] However, it has also been shown that the rolls can suffer fatigue failure at higher loadings, for example when rolling wires with high deformation resistance such as the super alloy wire Nicrofer S7020. [1–2] Accordingly the aim of this study is the develop a design tool for predicting the fatigue failure of silicon nitride ceramics. The silicon nitrides with favorable mechanical properties have microstructures with elongated β-phase grains and a glassy intergranular film. The weak film encourages intergranular fracture allowing the formation of grain bridges across the crack wake which helps to reduce the stress intensity felt at the crack tip, Ktip . [3]Copyright © 2011 by ASME
Beam test results from the SPAKEBAB electromagnetic calorimeter

Abstract We present the results of beam tests with high energy (6–150 GeV) electrons and muons of a new type of electromagnetic calorimeter, consisting of very thin interleaved lead and scintillator plates and read out by means of a large number of wavelength shifting fibers. A crucial feature of this detector is the absence of physical boundaries between the readout towers. We have measured the effects of crosstalk between cells that results from this feature and more common calorimeter properties such as the energy and position resolutions, signal linearity, signal uniformity and light yield. The results are among the very best ever obtained for sampling calorimeters.
Pleiotropic actions of estrogen: a mitochondrial matter

Estrogen provides many beneficial effects early in life by regulating normal tissue development and several physiological functions. While estrogen replacement therapy (ERT) in women was expected to reduce the health risks associated with the age-related decline in estrogen levels during menopause, ERT also resulted in increased progression to other types of diseases. Hence, distinguishing the signaling pathways that regulate the beneficial and detrimental effects of estrogen is important for developing interventions that selectively harness the hormone's beneficial effects, while minimizing its side effects. Estrogen can minimize mitochondrial dysfunction, which is thought to contribute to aging phenotypes. Decline in estrogen levels during menopause may lead to progressive mitochondrial dysfunction and may permanently alter cellular response, including that of estrogen (i.e., ERT). This review discusses the interplay between estrogen and mitochondrial function during the aging process and suggests a potential role of mitochondria in influencing the pleiotropic action of estrogen.
Neutral networks: a combinatorial perspective

The existence of neutral networks in genotype-phenotype maps has provided significant insight in theoretical investigations of evolutionary change and combinatorial optimization. In this paper we w...
An Examination of a Multicomponent Diffusion Couple

New expressions relating the interdiffusion flux of a component to its own concentration gradient in a multicomponent diffusion couple have been derived and applied to a diffusion couple investigated in the Cu-Ni-Zn system. From these relations, effective interdiffusion coefficients were determined at selected sections in the diffusion zone directly from the locations of the sections relative to the Matano plane. The Cu-Ni-Zn couple was analyzed for interdiffusion fluxes and interdiffusion coefficients with the aid of “MultiDiFlux” program developed for the analysis of interdiffusion in multicomponent systems. The couple was examined for zero-flux plane development, interdiffusion against activity gradients, and diffusion path representation. Diffusion path slopes at selected sections in the diffusion zone were related to the interdiffusion coefficients; slopes at path ends were determined from eigenvectors evaluated from limiting ratios of interdiffusion fluxes. Expressions for internal consistency among the concentration profiles or flux profiles of the individual components were also developed in terms of the terminal alloy compositions and applied to the Cu-Ni-Zn couple in the diffusion zone.
Surface wettability of human hair. I: Effect of deposition of polymers and surfactants

Monitoring the wetting force exerted on a single fiber while the fiber is slowly and continuously immersed in a liquid and then withdrawn can provide several kinds of information about the physicochemical heterogeneity of the fiber surface. This method for scanning the fiber surface with an appropriate liquid has been found useful for studying the distribution of materials deposited on the surface of human hair to improve hair assembly properties, such as cationic polymers used in hair conditioners. It is shown how wetting force vs. immersion depth curves can reflect not only the average distribution of the material on the surface, but also the degree of uniformity of the deposit; further, wetting force curves for multiple immersions of the same treated fiber indicate the ease of desorption of the surface material. The results for the systems studied, which include mildly oxidized hair and smooth nylon fibers for comparison, show how the relation between the critical surface tension of the fiber and the surface tension of the treating solution influences distribution and substantivity. Finally, data on the difference between advancing and receding wettability indicate how this hysteresis is related to the nature of the surface and to surface coverage by treating agents.
Entanglement Coupling in Porcine Stomach Mucin

We present data from small angle neutron scattering (SANS) on the polyelectrolyte side chain liquid crystalline phases of porcine stomach mucin. There is a polydomain nematic phase at concentrations above the point of brush overlap. Also, the proteoglycans were seen to orient under the influence of a magnetic field at concentrations below which the brushes do not extensively overlap. The field can be used to investigate the nature of the entanglement coupling between the molecules. The structure factor peak scales as c1/3 across the complete concentration range, implying liquidlike behavior (0.4−680 mg/mL). The rheological data present evidence for shear thinning with four regimes: dilute, semidilute, entangled polydomain liquid crystalline, and entangled liquid crystalline. The length and cross-sectional radius of the polymeric brushes could be measured with SANS. Static light scattering and SANS provide evidence for the changes in osmotic compressibility between dilute, semidilute, and entangled brush ...
Fast similarity join for multi-dimensional data

The efficient processing of multidimensional similarity joins is important for a large class of applications. The dimensionality of the data for these applications ranges from low to high. Most existing methods have focused on the execution of high-dimensional joins over large amounts of disk-based data. The increasing sizes of main memory available on current computers, and the need for efficient processing of spatial joins suggest that spatial joins for a large class of problems can be processed in main memory. In this paper, we develop two new in-memory spatial join algorithms, the Grid-join and EGO*-join, and study their performance. Through evaluation, we explore the domain of applicability of each approach and provide recommendations for the choice of a join algorithm depending upon the dimensionality of the data as well as the expected selectivity of the join. We show that the two new proposed join techniques substantially outperform the state-of-the-art join algorithm, the EGO-join.
Using “Exceptional” Children's Literature to Promote Character Education in Elementary Social Studies Classrooms

This article presents ways in which elementary teachers can use children's literature premised on characters with exceptionalities to foster tolerance, understanding, respect, and an appreciation for diversity.
Choreographing a life: Reflections on curriculum design, consciousness, and possibility

This essay leads readers through a reflective process for curriculum planning, which differs from traditional planning in the kinds of questions raised. Instead of asking what students should know and be able to do or whether they are learning, much more difficult queries are posed: What do I believe in, and why? Am I living what I believe? Are these values embodied in the curriculum I teach? What kind of world am I creating/supporting in the decisions I have made? Whose interests are being served in this world—who gains and who loses?
An HIV-infected man with odynophagia and rash.

Diagnosis: Scurvy. The patient's serum ascorbic acid level was 0.1 mg/dL (normal range, 0.4-1.5 mg/dL). The punch biopsy of the skin of the right lower leg (figures 1 and 2) revealed minimal hyperkeratosis and thin epidermis (figure 3). There was extravasated blood in superficial dermis, admixed with karyorrhectic debris. Some of the dermal capillaries showed mild leukocytoclastic changes. There was no hair follicle in the specimen. Scurvy was diagnosed, and the patient was treated with high doses of ascorbic acid for 1 week. The leg edema and purpura quickly resolved during treatment (figure 4). Endoscopy of the upper gastrointestinal tract disclosed esophagitis with strictures, which were dilated. The pancytopenia was secondary to alcohol abuse, liver disease, and HIV infection. Scurvy is an uncommon disorder in developed countries. It is typically associated with malnutrition, alcoholism, severe gastroesophageal reflux, or/and advanced age [1-4]. Ascorbic acid deficiency leads to defective collagen formation. Histopathologic examination reveals RBC extravasation into the dermis, with a perivascular and perifollicular distribution; there may be sparse superficial perivascular infiltrate of inflammatory cells. Follicular hyperkeratosis with coiled, fragmented, cork-
Comparative Raman studies of cytochrome b562 and cytochrome c

Resonance Raman spectra (excited at 413.1 nm) and excitation profiles (Q-band region) of cytochrome b562 and cytochrome c were obtained with a sensitive vidicon multichannel Raman spectrometer.7 Comparison of the spectra reveals that two Raman lines at 690 and 700 cm−1 in cytochrome c may be assigned to CS stretch of the thioether bridges, which are absent in cytochrome b562. Four sets of doublet between 320 and 430 cm−1 are unique in cytochrome c among various hemoproteins may indicate the existence of two subtly distinct heme structures alternating in the ground state of cytochrome c. This unique spectral feature was not observed in heme octapeptide (reduced form in 0.25 M N-acetyl-methionine) which also contains the covalent thioether linkages. In addition, we compare the excitation profiles of a depolarized porphyrin ring mode at ∼ 750 cm−1 among cytochrome c, cytochrome b562 and Ni etioporphyrin. The effect of a Jahn-Teller distortion observed in the 750 cm−1 profile of Ni etioporphyrin19 is shown to be absent in cytochrome c. The 750 cm−1 profiles in the Q-band region are interpreted in terms of Herzberg-Teller (B) and nonadiabatic (D) contributions with or without an origin shift.
Proton inclusive cross sections from 720 MeV α-nucleus reactions

Abstract Proton inclusive cross sections have been measured from 30°–150° (lab) for outgoing energies up to 500 MeV from the bombardment of 720 MeV α-particles on Al and Ta. An exhaustive survey of applicable models indicates that the intranuclear cascade and knock-out models provide the best description of the data. Single scattering mechanisms seem to be important, and there is some indirect evidence that high nuclear density effects occur.
Identification and Purification of Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Atrial-Like Cardiomyocytes Based on Sarcolipin Expression

The use of human stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes to study atrial biology and disease has been restricted by the lack of a reliable method for stem cell-derived atrial cell labeling and purification. The goal of this study was to generate an atrial-specific reporter construct to identify and purify human stem cell-derived atrial-like cardiomyocytes. We have created a bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) reporter construct in which fluorescence is driven by expression of the atrial-specific gene sarcolipin (SLN). When purified using flow cytometry, cells with high fluorescence specifically express atrial genes and display functional calcium handling and electrophysiological properties consistent with atrial cardiomyocytes. Our data indicate that SLN can be used as a marker to successfully monitor and isolate hiPSC-derived atrial-like cardiomyocytes. These purified cells may find many applications, including in the study of atrial-specific pathologies and chamber-specific lineage development.
Effect of perioperative blood transfusion on recurrence and survival in 232 primary high-grade extremity sarcoma patients.

Background: Allogeneic blood transfusion (BT) has been implicated as an unfavorable factor influencing cancer recurrence and overall survival. Methods: To investigate this, 232 consecutive localized, high-grade extremity soft tissue sarcoma (STS) patients admitted between January 1, 1983, and December 31, 1989, were analyzed from our prospective database by univariable and Cox multivariable statistical methods. Results: Twenty-eight patients developed a local recurrence (LR). Factors found significantly unfavorable for the rate of developing an LR by uni- and multivariable tests were age >60 years and positive microscopic margin. Eighty-nine patients developed a distant metastasis (DM) and 72 patients died of their tumor. Median follow-up of survivors was 48 months. Unfavorable factors for DM and tumor mortality (TM) by univariable analysis included large size, deep tumor (that involved or was below the superficial fascia), positive microscopic margin, invasion of a vital structure, operative blood loss, duration of operation, and perioperative BT (whole blood or packed cells -24 to +48 h of curative operation). Multivariable analysis found large size, deep tumor, and positive margin significant independent unfavorable factors for DM and TM. The effect of BT was not a significant independent prognosticator for LR, DM, or TM by multivariable analysis (p=0.26, 0.56, 0.08, respectively), The only factor that was found to be significant in a multivariable analysis of factors contributing to postmetastasis survival was time <6 months until metastasis (p=0.008). BT had no significant impact on postmetastasis survival (p=0.42). There was a significant association between BT and deep, large tumors. As the size of deep tumors increased from <5, ≥5<10, ≥10<15, or≥15 cm, the amount transfused was 15, 16, 49, and 68% (p<0.00001). Also, BT was significantly (p<0.005) associated with low hematocrit at initial diagnosis, blood loss during surgery, and the length of the surgical procedure. Conclusions: These data emphasize the importance of size, depth, and margin on distant recurrence and death for localized high-grade extremity STS. In the absence of a randomized trial, the impact of allogeneic blood transfusion would appear to be due to its strong association with large size and deep tumor invasion. This study also highlights the importance of a multivariable analysis and long-term follow-up to better define this controversial question.
The natural course of microalbuminuria among African Americans with type 2 diabetes: a 3-year study.

Background The natural course of microalbuminuria in African Americans (AA) with type 2 diabetes is not well established.
Delay tolerant network for autonomous robotic vehicle charging and hazard detection

Autonomous robotic vehicles are getting increasingly popular. Uses for these vehicles include operations in remote areas where access to a structured network such as 3G, 4G, 5G, or Wi-Fi may be unavailable, making reliable communication an issue. Limited battery power of these vehicles is another issue that impairs their ability to perform autonomous duties for extended time periods. We propose a new delay-tolerant-network (DTN) topology that allows the vehicles seamlessly communicate with each other and additional nodes, and a novel autonomous charging system utilizing our network to solve the problem of limited battery power for extended autonomous duties. We designed a cost-effective, heterogeneous, ad-hoc DTN to carry and relay information between robotic vehicles, charging stations and additional nodes, where nodes can collect and store data from each other to relay to additional nodes. Furthermore, we developed an automated charging process, where autonomous robotic vehicles collect, share, and store information about the charging stations they have encountered using our DTN network. When the vehicles need charging, they use the data stored in their memory to autonomously navigate to the charging stations and connect with them using image detection to charge their batteries, eliminating any need for outside intervention. To demonstrate the autonomous charging process, we prototyped two autonomous robotic vehicles controlled by smartphones. These smartphones run a custom Android application we developed to perform wireless communication over DTN using the ZigBee protocol. The vehicles navigate autonomously using GPS and on board ultrasonic distance sensors, and precisely connect to charging stations by using the smartphone camera to detect specific patterns. Additionally, we built a prototype charging station that also acts as a gateway between our DTN and the Internet.