cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Viability and analysis of implementing only voltage-power droop for parallel inverter systems

In microgrids that are predominantly resistive, real and reactive power can be controlled by implementation of voltage and frequency droop laws respectively. However, the variable frequency displayed by such a system complicates analysis such that design approaches rely on approximations and linearized models. In this work, we present a modified form of droop control where only the voltage versus real power relationship is upheld and the frequency is held constant. Since the frequency is not explicitly controlled and the reactive power is not measured, the controller can be simplified. In such a setting, the only assumption we make is that all inverters have access to a common time-reference. Because fixed frequency operation is enforced by design, a variety of analytical tools can be leveraged to formulate a comprehensive analytical framework which facilitates a precise design methodology. In particular, closed-form expressions on the output current phase differences are obtained which yield practical selection guidelines on the voltage-power droop gains such that reactive flows between inverters are kept small. As a corollary, it is demonstrated that there are no reactive power flows in the presence of purely resistive loads. For the particular case of a single inverter, an almost exact solution describing the nonlinear dynamics of the inverter output voltage, current, and power are derived. Accompanying simulation results validate the analytical results and demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed control approach.
X-ray fluorescence microscopy reveals accumulation and secretion of discrete intracellular zinc pools in the lactating mouse mammary gland.

Background The mammary gland is responsible for the transfer of a tremendous amount of zinc (∼1–3 mg zinc/day) from maternal circulation into milk during lactation to support the growth and development of the offspring. When this process is compromised, severe zinc deficiency compromises neuronal development and immune function and increases infant morbidity and/or mortality. It remains unclear as to how the lactating mammary gland dynamically integrates zinc import from maternal circulation with the enormous amount of zinc that is secreted into milk. Methodology/Principal Findings Herein we utilized X-ray fluorescence microscopy (XFM) which allowed for the visualization and quantification of the process of zinc transfer through the mammary gland of the lactating mouse. Our data illustrate that a large amount of zinc first accumulates in the mammary gland during lactation. Interestingly, this zinc is not cytosolic, but accumulated in large, discrete sub-cellular compartments. These zinc pools were then redistributed to small intracellular vesicles destined for secretion in a prolactin-responsive manner. Confocal microscopy identified mitochondria and the Golgi apparatus as the sub-cellular compartments which accumulate zinc; however, zinc pools in the Golgi apparatus, but not mitochondria are redistributed to vesicles destined for secretion during lactation. Conclusions/Significance Our data directly implicate the Golgi apparatus in providing a large, mobilizable zinc storage pool to assist in providing for the tremendous amount of zinc that is secreted into milk. Interestingly, our study also provides compelling evidence that mitochondrial zinc pools expand in the mammary gland during lactation which we speculate may play a role in regulating mammary gland function.
Sequence and structure evolved separately in a ribosomal ubiquitin variant

Encoded by a multigene family, ubiquitin is expressed in the form of three precursor proteins, two of which are fusions to the ribosomal subunits S27a and L40. Ubiquitin assists in ribosome biogenesis and also functions as a post-translational modifier after its release from S27a or L40. However, several species do not conserve the ribosomal ubiquitin domains. We report here the solution structure of a distant variant of ubiquitin, found at the N-terminus of S27a in Giardia lamblia, referred to as GlUb(S27a). Despite the considerable evolutionary distance that separates ubiquitin from GlUb(S27a), the structure of GlUb(S27a) is largely identical to that of ubiquitin. The variant domain remains attached to S27a and is part of the assembled holoribosome. Thus, conservation of tertiary structure suggests a role of this variant as a chaperone, while conservation of the primary structure--necessary for ubiquitin's function as a post-translational modifier--is no longer required. Based on these observations, we propose a model to explain the origin of the widespread ubiquitin superfold in eukaryotes.
Making it Personal: Assessing the Impact of In-Class Exercises on Closing the Gender Gap in Political Ambition

There is evidence that some obstacles to women running for political office emerge early in the political development of women and girls. Lawless and Fox (2005) identify several reasons for lower political ambition among women relative to men. Among their explanations are that girls are less likely to be engaged in political conversations in their childhood homes than are boys, and women receive less encouragement to run for office by family members and friends. While it is unclear what interventions may help close the ambition gap, research suggests some avenues for change. We consider how to use the classroom as a place to encourage female college students to reflect on their own potential as candidates. We detail and test two ways in which instructors can offer students opportunities to learn about the ambition gap and to consider their own possible political future. On balance, our findings demonstrate that classroom exercises that expose students to women in political office, coupled with literature ...
Translocation t(12;22)(q13;q12.2-12.3) in a clear cell sarcoma of tendons and aponeuroses

Cytogenetic analysis of a short-term culture from a clear cell sarcoma revealed a complex karyotype with the mainline of 49,XY,t(7;18)(p11.2;q21.3), +der(7)t(7;18)(p11.2;q21.3), +8, +der (8;17)(q10;q10),t(12;22)(q13;q12.2-12.3),add(13)(p13). An apparently identical translocation t(12;22) has been described recently in four clear cell sarcomas, indicating that this constitutes a primary cytogenetic change specific for this type of tumor. In our case, the breakpoint on chromosome 22 could be assigned to band 22q12.2 or 22q12.3. Together with the present case, trisomy or tetrasomy 8 has been found in six of nine clear cell sarcomas, suggesting that, as in Ewing's sarcoma and myxoid liposarcoma, trisomy/tetrasomy 8 represents a nonrandom secondary aberration. We conclude that the finding of the specific translocation t(12;22) may prove to be an important marker in the differential diagnosis of clear cell sarcoma from some other soft tissue sarcomas and malignant melanoma.
Breeding behavior for tuber protein in Solanum tuberosum and Tuberosum-phureja hybrids

True protein content among tubers within a plant of Solanum tuberosum cv. Oneida was found to be negatively correlated with tuber size. A similar study of S. phureja genotype 148-17 revealed no correlation. Tuber protein was determined for 250 genotypes in each of four hybrid potato populations in a factorial mating design with four potato cultivars as stylar parents mated to four groups of pollen parents (4x cultivars, 4x high protein selections, 2x S. phureja, 2x high protein S. phureja). The hybrid population derived from the 4x high protein selections was significantly higher in protein content than the other populations. High estimates of general combining ability for tuber protein content were found for both stylar and pollen parents. Poor photoperiodic adaptation to growing conditions in northern latitudes was a possible explanation for the variable protein phenotypes typical of S. phureja and the lack of transmission of the high protein character in phureja to 4x-2x hybrids. Although protein content was negatively correlated with total yield, high protein segregates with good yield potential were identified in all four populations.
A randomized library approach to identifying functional lox site domains for the Cre recombinase

The bacteriophage P1 Cre/loxP site-specific recombination system is a useful tool in a number of genetic engineering processes. The Cre recombinase has been shown to act on DNA sequences that vary considerably from that of its bacteriophage recognition sequence, loxP. However, little is known about the sequence requirements for functional lox-like sequences. In this study, we have implemented a randomized library approach to identify the sequence characteristics of functional lox site domains. We created a randomized spacer library and a randomized arm library, and then tested them for recombination in vivo and in vitro. Results from the spacer library show that, while there is great plasticity, identity between spacer pairs is the most important factor influencing function, especially in in vitro reactions. The presence of one completely randomized arm in a functional loxP recombination reaction revealed that only three wild-type loxP arms are necessary for successful recombination in Cre-expressing bacteria, and that there are nucleotide preferences at the first three and last three positions of the randomized arm for the most efficiently recombined sequences. Finally, we found that in vitro Cre recombination reactions are much more stringent for evaluating which sequences can support efficient recombination compared to the 294-CRE system.
Some qualitative aspects of spleen cell transfer studies on Plasmodium berghei-infected rats.

SYNOPSIS. Adoptive immunity to Plasmodium berghei was transferred by intraperitoneal injections into rats, never before exposed to this parasite, of either 2 × 107 or 2 × 108, but not of 2 × 106, spleen cells from syngenic rats which had recovered from a primary P. berghei infection. When the spleen cells from the latter animals were kept at 47 C for 45 min they remained alive, but no longer were able to transfer protection. The capacity to transfer adoptive immunity was not found in spleen cells from adult rats capable of age immunity. On the other hand, this capacity was found in spleen cells from rats that had suffered a very transient parasitemia (> 1% peak parasitemia).
Light emitting diode-based algal photobioreactor with external gas exchange

Abstract Regeneration of atmosphere is an essential component in a long-term manned mission in space. A compact and reliable photobioreactor (PBR) system with an efficient gas transfer module is required for this purpose. Light emitting diodes (LEDs) provide an ideal light source for a small and maintenance-free PBR. Lack of gravity in space prevents the use of sparging, one of the most efficient gas exchange processes. As an alternative gas transfer device, a hollow fiber gas exchanger was selected and examined for possible future application. An LED-based PBR with a hollow fiber external gas exchanger supported high-density algal cultures comparable to a PBR with internal sparging (>2×10 9 cells/ml, or over 6% v/v). The growth kinetics in both types of PBRs were found to be identical and the oxygen production rate was about the same when the effect of the dark volume in the external hollow fiber gas exchanger was taken into account. To quantitatively describe the effect of non-illuminated volume inside a hollow fiber gas exchange unit, two parameters were introduced: ϵ, which was the ratio of illuminated volume to dark volume in the entire PBR system, and Φ, defined as the ratio of the specific dark respiration rate to the maximum specific oxygen production rate. The decrease in net oxygen production in a PBR with an external gas exchanger was quantitatively predicted by a simple model using these two parameters.
Permafrost oxygen isotope ratios and chronology of three cores from Antarctica

Permafrost core sediments, associated with the last intrusion of the Ross Ice Shelf in the New Harbor region, were deposited in marine (0–85 m deep) as well as freshwater environments (100–125 m). Oxygen isotope ratio measurements on these cores provide palaeoclimatic information and show that the extension of the Ross Ice Shelf predates 150,000 yr BP, whereas the radiocarbon date of its retreat is about 5,800 yr b.p.
Racemization of Isovaline by γ-Radiation. Cosmological Implications

Crystalline samples of D- and L-isovaline were irradiated in a 3000-Ci /sup 60/Co ..gamma..-ray source with radiation doses selected to cause significant but not complete radiolysis. Each sample was quantitatively divided and converted to the appropriate derivatives to be examined by gas chromatography for racemization and degradation. The % racemization accompanying the irradiation is roughly comparable with that noted for the common ..cap alpha..-amino acids and for D- and L-leucine. Thus the isovaline in the Murchison meteorite has received a total dose of 5.3 x 10/sup 8/ rads, some 60% of the radiation dose which caused 4.8% racemization of crystalline isovaline; so the phenomenon of radioracemization nevertheless, in principle, makes the question of the primordial enantiomorphic composition of amino acids in meteorites an indeterminate one. 1 table.
Superoxide-dependent reduction of nitroxides by thiols

Abstract It was found that superoxide can reduce certain nitroxide free radicals to their corresponding hydroxylamines in the presence of most sulfhydryl-containing compounds. The stoichiometry of the reaction was found to be three nitroxides reduced per superoxide. Evidence is presented indicating that superoxide directly reacts with a nitroxide to yield a N-hydroxy-N-hydroperoxyl compound. This product rapidly decomposes, giving a hydroxylamine and an oxidized sulfhydryl compound, which is postulated to be a sulfenyl hydroperoxide. It is proposed that this sulfenyl hydroperoxide reduces two additional nitroxyl free radicals to account for the unusual stoichiometry.
Witt's Theorem for Symplectic Modular Forms

Let L denote a free Z -module of rank 2 n and Φ an alternating bilinear mapping from L × L into the rational integers Z . Writing α · β for Φ(α, β), where α, β ∈ L , we have We shall assume that Φ is non-singular and unimodular (see Bourbaki [1]). L is now a ( symplectic ) lattice .
SELF-ASSEMBLED QUANTUM DOTS : FIVE YEARS LATER

Abstract Self-assembled quantum dots (QDs) have been grown with good reproducibility by molecular beam epitaxy with up to five well-resolved zero-dimensional interband transitions measured by state-filling spectroscopy. The intersublevel energy spacing is shown to be readily tunable by adjusting the temperature of the substrate during the growth of the QDs and/or of the cap layer, or with post-growth annealing. The uniformity of InAs/GaAs QDs is optimized by studying the growth parameters affecting the equilibrium shape such as the amount of strain material deposited and the annealing time following the InAs deposition allowing the QDs ensemble to evolve. Such uniform QDs are also obtained for samples with multiple stacked layers. This allows us to study the effects of charged carriers, of tunneling between coupled QDs, of electrical injection, and of lasing in QDs with well-resolved excited states having adjustable intersublevel energy spacing.
Abstract 1124: Characterization of a PTEN C2 loop mutation in a human breast cancer cell line

PTEN is a major tumor suppressor gene inactivated in over 30% of human cancer. It encodes a lipid phosphatase with specificity towards phosphatidylinositol (3,4,5) triphosphate (PIP3). PTEN phosphatase activity is crucial to its ability to control cell size, proliferation, motility and survival. The role of PTEN in human breast cancer is well-established. Although the frequency of PTEN mutation in human breast cancer is low (5-10%), a significant fraction of advanced breast cancer has reduced PTEN expression. Furthermore, germ line mutation in PTEN gene constitutes the genetic basis of Cowden9s Disease (CD) Syndrome. CD is a harmatoma syndrome with patients displaying aberrant overgrowth of multiple tissue types. Individuals are at a greater risk of developing malignancy of the breast, colon, skin and thyroid. Our laboratory has identified a unique mutation in the C2 loop of PTEN from a human metastatic breast carcinoma cell line, MDA-MB-453. A G to A change substitutes the glutamate (GAG) at codon 307 (E307) to a lysine (AAA). The PTEN C2 loop (aa282-312) is a region on the cytosolic side of the C2 membrane-binding domain. Mono-ubiquitination at K289 within the C2 loop has been shown to promote nuclear translocation. More importantly, unlike the wild-type protein, the E307K mutant is almost undetectable in the nuclear compartment of MDA-MB-453. Biochemically, PTEN E307K mutant displayed similar phosphatase activity towards soluble lipid substrates. More importantly, PTEN E307K displays a striking ability to form an affinity complex with the p53 tumor suppressor. Consistent with this finding, the expression of E307K exerts chemoprotective effect against cisplatinum induced cell death. Based on this preliminary data, we hypothesize that the negatively-charged glutamate residues of PTEN C2 loop play regulatory roles in nuclear translocation and p53-binding. Mutating those residues to lysine creates cryptic ubiquitination sites that subvert the natural ubiquitination at K289, and thus impedes nuclear translocation. Funding: DOD - DAMD17-03-1-0682 (AMC); NCI - RO1CA095063 (AMC), T32CA078207 (GS); Midwest Athletes against Childhood Cancer (AMC); Advancing Healthy Wisconsin Funds (AMC) Acknowledgement: Dr. Xuejun Jiang (Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, NY) and Dr. Zhen-Qiang Pan (Mount Sinai School of Medicine, NY) for providing the NEDD4-1 and ubiquitination reagents Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 1124.
Quantitative Capillary Electrophoresis/Ion Spray Tandem Mass Spectrometry Determination of EDTA in Human Plasma and Urine

A quantitative method has been developed for the determination of EDTA in human plasma and urine. The samples are prepared with automated anion-exchange solid-phase extraction using 100 μL of human plasma. The extracts are analyzed by capillary electrophoresis/mass spectrometry using selected reaction monitoring in the negative ion mode. Large-volume injections (10% of the CE capillary volume) are used to improve the concentration level of detection via field-amplified sample injection. The first reported validation of a CE/MS/MS technique was carried out for this method. Using a 13C stable-label isotope for the internal standard, the lower level of detection and lower level of quantitation were determined to be 7.3 and 14.6 ng/mL EDTA in human plasma, respectively. The injection precision had a relative standard deviation (RSD) of 6.1%. The intra-assay precision was less than 15% RSD. The intra-assay accuracy was less than ±12% bias from the nominal concentration. The interassay precision was less than 1...
A stereodynamic tripodal ligand with three different coordinating arms: synthesis and zinc(II), copper(I) complexation study.

A tetradentate tripodal ligand containing a chiral center and three different coordinating arms was designed and synthesized. Its complexation properties with ZnII and CuI were studied by NMR and optical spectroscopy. NMR experiments demonstrated the formation of two diastereomers, indicating the stabilization of the central tertiary amine configuration by metal coordination. The inversion of pyramidalization of the central tertiary amine of the ligand was found to be highly dependent upon metal ion, solvent, and temperature. Dynamic NMR measurements were used to estimate the energy of activation required for nitrogen atom inversion. Finally, absorption and circular dichroism measurements confirmed the expectation that metal complexes of the ligand gave rise to circular dichroism but that such spectra were not characterized by exciton-coupling, in contrast to previously described ligands containing two identical arms with strong chromophores. Chirality 2011. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Articulating creative practice: teleological and stochastic strategies in a case study of an artist and an engineering team developing similar technologies

We describe teleological and stochastic patterns in creative strategy using a case from our comparative, multiple-case study of the work practices of artists and engineers separately developing similar technologies.
Stable low-recombination n-Si/TiO 2 hole-blocking interface and its effect on silicon heterojunction photovoltaics

TiO 2 deposited on (100) crystalline silicon at near room temperature results in a hole-blocking, electron-transparent heterojunction. In this paper, we show that this interface can have a minority carrier recombination velocity on the order of 100 cm/s, which is stable for over 5 months in air. Second, we model the effect of such interfaces to replace the diffused n+/n (back surface field) layer at the cathode of p+/n and double heterojunction crystalline silicon solar cells. Simulations show that using TiO 2 /n-Si with the measured values of interface recombination velocity as a replacement for the n+/n diffusion at the cathode contact would yield power conversion efficiencies greater than 23%.
High optical quality multicarat single crystal diamond produced by chemical vapor deposition

Finding ways to routinely and reliably produce larger near-colorless and colorless single-crystal diamond needed for a variety of applications in science and technology is a major challenge. Microwave plasma assisted chemical vapor deposition (MPCVD) techniques have been refined to produce large, high-purity single crystal diamond anvils. Specifically multicarat single crystal diamond has been produced at high growth rate without annealing (around 50 µm/h) with low impurities content. UV–visible absorption, Raman/photoluminescence spectroscopy, cathodoluminescence, and confocal Raman imaging are used to characterize the diamond. The measurements show that the material has high optical quality and clarity without layers. The large intensity ratio of the second-order Raman peak to the fluorescence background is essential for high-pressure optical windows. The origin of the residual color is also examined. The picture on the right shows a 2.4 carat single-crystal CVD diamond compared with 0.25 carat CVD diamond. Left images: Example of the evolution of CVD diamond single crystal starting with crystal 13.5 carat block to the 2.3 carat cut gem anvil.
Fc receptor-bearing lymphoid cells in the chicken. II. Relative increase of Fc(IgG) receptor bearing cells in obese strain chickens

An EA rosette technique is used to study ontological development and organ distribution of Fc(IgG) receptor-bearing lymphoid cells in normal CS White Leghorn chickens, and in OS chickens with spontaneous autoimmune thyroiditis. During the embryonic period, no difference was seen between CS and OS in the tissue distribution of cells with Fc receptors. At the time of hatching and subsequently, the OS chickens possessed relatively more Fc receptor-bearing lymphoid cells than did CS chickens. The increase of Fc receptor-bearing lymphoid cells was most prominent among spleen cells. No difference in the affinity of Fc receptors between lymphocytes of the OS and CS chickens was demonstrated. The possible role of Fc receptor-carrying cells in the development of autoimmune thyroiditis is discussed.
Photoinduced electron and energy transfer processes in supported multilayers: Energy delocalization and antennae effects

Abstract A number of surfactant trans-stilbene derivatives having the general structure: (nSmA), have been synthesized and investigated in supported Langmuir-Blodgett assemblies. Layers of pure nSmA or mixtures with fatty acids show “H” aggregate characteristics including relatively low oscillator strengths for the lowest excited singlet state. Consequently these exhibit relatively low ability, individually, to donate excitation energy or transfer electrons over long ranges. Mixtures of these stilbenes, layered together to form mixed films, also show “H” aggregate characteristics but give evidence for delocalization or “supramolecular” behavior in which the chromophore can effectively span the width of an entire monolayer and result in efficient energy and electron transfer processes over distances spanning several monolayers. The extension to “H” aggregated and diluted (monomer) diphenylbutadiene and diphenylhexatriene layers results in assemblies in which vectorial energy transfer and redox processes occur. The stilbene-mixtures have also been used as a “medium” interposed between layers containing potential donors and acceptors for studies of both electron transfer and energy transfer. One of the molecules used as an energy transfer and electron transfer quencher is the cobalt(III) complex of 8S1A. Although this molecule undergoes photochemical intramolecular-electron transfer-induced fragmentation in solution and microheterogeneous media, it shows net photostability in the films but serves as a highly effective trap. In the photoinduced electron transfer studies the fluorescence of a cyanine dye is examined with a remote ferrocene incorporated into an adjacent layer at a hydrophobic site. The cyanine dye fluorescence is weakly quenched by the ferrocene donor when separated by fatty acid “spacers”; the quenching is approximately doubled when the fatty acid is replaced by the stilbene mixture.
Re-imagining the 21st Century School Library: From Storage Space to Active Learning Space

As libraries adjust to the needs of the 21st century, there needs to be a different way of thinking in regards to its design. School libraries have traditionally been designed as large rooms for the storage of materials for research and pleasure reading. As more and more districts focus their attention on digital acquisitions, the need for storage and shelves will naturally diminish while the need for space in which students experiment, create and explore will increase. This article focuses on the shifting nature of school libraries and how renovating existing spaces and the design of news ones must also evolve to accommodate the changing roles of libraries and librarians in schools.
Unexpected behavior of heavy-ion fusion cross sections at extreme sub-barrier energies.

The excitation function for fusion evaporation in the $\text{ }{\text{ }}^{60}\text{Ni}+\text{ }{\text{ }}^{89}\text{Y}$ system was measured over a range in cross section covering 6 orders of magnitude. The cross section exhibits an abrupt decrease at extreme sub-barrier energies. This behavior, which is also present in a few other systems found in the literature, cannot be reproduced with present models, including those based on a coupled-channels approach. Possible causes are discussed, including a dependence on the intrinsic structure of the participants.
Methanotrophs and copper

Methanotrophs, cells that consume methane (CH4) as their sole source of carbon and energy, play key roles in the global carbon cycle, including controlling anthropogenic and natural emissions of CH4, the second-most important greenhouse gas after carbon dioxide. These cells have also been widely used for bioremediation of chlorinated solvents, and help sustain diverse microbial communities as well as higher organisms through the conversion of CH4 to complex organic compounds (e.g. in deep ocean and subterranean environments with substantial CH4 fluxes). It has been well-known for over 30 years that copper (Cu) plays a key role in the physiology and activity of methanotrophs, but it is only recently that we have begun to understand how these cells collect Cu, the role Cu plays in CH4 oxidation by the particulate CH4 monooxygenase, the effect of Cu on the proteome, and how Cu affects the ability of methanotrophs to oxidize different substrates. Here we summarize the current state of knowledge of the phylogeny, environmental distribution, and potential applications of methanotrophs for regional and global issues, as well as the role of Cu in regulating gene expression and proteome in these cells, its effects on enzymatic and whole-cell activity, and the novel Cu uptake system used by methanotrophs.
Wind power bidding in electricity markets with high wind penetration

Abstract Objective The optimal day-ahead bidding strategy is studied for a wind power producer operating in an electricity market with high wind penetration. Methods A generalized electricity market is studied with minimal assumptions about the structure of the production, bidding, or consumption of electricity. Two electricity imbalance pricing schemes are investigated, the one price and the two price scheme. A stochastic market model is created to capture the price effects of wind power production and consumption. A bidding algorithm called SCOPES (Supply Curve One Price Estimation Strategy) is developed for the one price system. A bidding algorithm called MIMICS (Multivariate Interdependence Minimizing Imbalance Cost Strategy) is developed for the two price system. Results Both bidding strategies are shown to have advantages over the assumed “default” bidding strategy, the point forecast. Conclusion The success of these strategies even in the case of high deviation penalties in a one price system and the implicit deviation penalties of the two price system has substantial implications for power producers and system operators in electricity markets with a high level of wind penetration. Practice implications From an electricity market design perspective, the results indicate that further penalties or regulations may be needed to reduce system imbalance.
Carbenicillin plus Cefamandole III the Treatment of Infections in Patients with Cancer

The combination of carbenicillin plus cefamandole was administered to 88 patients with cancer during 116 evaluable episodes of fever. The overall response rate to carbenicillin plus cefamandole for the 116 episodes was 57%. There were 60 documented infections, of which 60% responded to this combination of antibiotics. The response rate was only 43% in patients with pneumonia. The etiologic agent was identified during 38 infections, of which 74% responded to carbenicillin plus cefamandole. Responses occurred less frequently in patients with neutropenia than in those without neutropenia and less frequently in patients whose infection was caused by organisms resistant to both antibiotics than in those with infection caused by organisms sensitive to one or both of the drugs. No side effects could be attributed to the antibiotic regimen.
Wideband Microwave Filters Using Ferromagnetic Resonance Tuning in Flip-Chip YIG-GaAs Layer Structures

In this paper the most recent advances on ferromagnetic resonance (FMR)-based wideband microwave band-stop and band-pass filters using flip-chip yttrium iron garnet (YIG)/gadolinium gallium garnet (GGG)- gallium arsenide (GaAs) layer structures are reported. Specifically, simultaneous enhancement in tunable bandwidths and peak absorption levels by utilizing the meander microstrip line with step-impedance low-pass filter design together with inhomogeneous magnetic field has been accomplished. For example, an ferromagnetic resonance absorption frequency tuning range of 5 to 21 GHz, an absorption level of -35.5 dB and a corresponding 3 dB absorption bandwidth as large as 1.70 GHz, centered at 20.3 GHz, have been accomplished with the band-stop filter. For the band-pass filter large tuning ranges for the center frequency (5.90-17.80 GHz), the pass-band bandwidth (1.27-2.08 GHz) as well as the two guarding stop-bandwidths (0.45-1.70 GHz), and an out-of-band rejection of -33.5 dB were demonstrated. A good agreement between the simulation and experimental results has been achieved. Finally, some desirable measurement data on the microwave power capability and the magnetic tuning speed of the filters has also been obtained.
PHYSICAL, CHEMICAL, AND BIOLOGICAL STUDIES ON THE VIRUS OF VESICULAR STOMATITIS OF HORSES : COMPARISON WITH THE VIRUS OF FOOT-AND-MOUTH DISEASE.

A taxonomic study of the virus of vesicular stomatitis is presented along with evidence additional to that already reported(1) to show the similarity of this virus to that of foot-and-mouth disease. The connection of the two is discussed and the deduction drawn that their generic relationship is close. On the contrary, the differences between these two viruses and the herpetic are sufficiently marked to indicate a lack of generic connection among the three. The results of a comparative study on the effects of particular wave-lengths and energies of monochromatic ultra-violet light on the virus and on Staphylococcus aureus reveal that the adsorption of specific energies by the two is parallel. Since the adsorption of specific energies is an index of chemical character, these experiments suggest that the virus is similar in character and chemical constitution to bacterial protoplasm.
Voltage reduction techniques for portable systems

Supply voltage scaling to 1 V and below is the key to low-power system design. Threshold voltage reduction enables aggressive supply scaling but increases leakage power. Emerging technologies such as MTCMOS and variable threshold bulk/SOI will be essential in controlling leakage while achieving high performance levels at low supply voltages. Power can also be reduced by adaptively varying the supply voltage in applications where the computational workload varies with time. Aggressive voltage and power level scaling requires efficient DC-DC conversion circuitry and in some cases, it is necessary to embed this function in the processor.
1‐[3‐(Diphenylphosphino)‐propanoyl]‐2,5‐pyrrolidindione

[170278-50-9] C19H18NO4P (MW 355.32) InChI = 1S/C19H18NO4P/c21-17-11-12-18(22)20(17)24-19(23)13-14-25(15-7-3-1-4-8-15)16-9-5-2-6-10-16/h1-10H,11-14H2 InChIKey = QRRPSWGREIRROT-UHFFFAOYSA-N (reagent for the conversion of azides into the corresponding diazo compounds1) Alternate Name: N-succinimidyl 3-(diphenylphosphino)propionate (DPPS). Physical Data: mp 101–103 °C. Solubility: soluble in most organic solvents. Form Supplied in: white solid. Analysis of Reagent Purity: >98% (HPLC). Preparative Method: prepared by the coupling of 3-(diphenylphosphino)propionic acid and N-hydroxysuccinimide with DCC or DIC.1-3 Purification: purified over silica gel flash column chromatography eluting with 30% EtOAc in hexanes.
Interpretation of the noise temperature of the positive column of a gas discharge

Abstract The so-called thermal noise of the positive column of a gas discharge is here interpreted as diffusion noise. It is shown that the noise temperature Tn is equal to the electron temperature Te if the Einstein relation D = μkTe/q holds. If the Einstein relation is invalid and D > μkTe/q then Tn > Te; this explains the anomalously high noise temperatures that were recently reported.
Direct extraction of the chirp parameter and higher order frequency chirp of ultrafast pulses via modulation-based mode-locked pulse characterization

We present experimental results of direct extraction of chirp parameter made possible by temporal phase retrieval measurements of ultrafast pulses. Results for a multi-spatial-mode mode-locked semiconductor laser at various bias points are presented. The comparison with the normally used root-mean-square (r.m.s.) chirp parameter reveals that the correlation of the r.m.s. chirp parameter with the actual pulse chirp is limited, especially for complex pulse shapes that may involve non-Gaussian spectral profiles and higher order chirps. The measurement methods and results are important in studying both the semiconductor laser mode-locking dynamics and the application of such ultrafast pulses.
Detecting Sarcasm from Paralinguistic Cues: Anatomic and Cognitive Correlates in Neurodegenerative Disease

While sarcasm can be conveyed solely through contextual cues such as counterfactual or echoic statements, face-to-face sarcastic speech may be characterized by specific paralinguistic features that alert the listener to interpret the utterance as ironic or critical, even in the absence of contextual information. We investigated the neuroanatomy underlying failure to understand sarcasm from dynamic vocal and facial paralinguistic cues. Ninety subjects (20 frontotemporal dementia, 11 semantic dementia [SemD], 4 progressive non-fluent aphasia, 27 Alzheimer's disease, 6 corticobasal degeneration, 9 progressive supranuclear palsy, 13 healthy older controls) were tested using the Social Inference - Minimal subtest of The Awareness of Social Inference Test (TASIT). Subjects watched brief videos depicting sincere or sarcastic communication and answered yes-no questions about the speaker's intended meaning. All groups interpreted Sincere (SIN) items normally, and only the SemD group was impaired on the Simple Sarcasm (SSR) condition. Patients failing the SSR performed more poorly on dynamic emotion recognition tasks and had more neuropsychiatric disturbances, but had better verbal and visuospatial working memory than patients who comprehended sarcasm. Voxel-based morphometry analysis of SSR scores in SPM5 demonstrated that poorer sarcasm comprehension was predicted by smaller volume in bilateral posterior parahippocampi (PHc), temporal poles, and R medial frontal pole (pFWE<0.05). This study provides lesion data suggesting that the PHc may be involved in recognizing a paralinguistic speech profile as abnormal, leading to interpretive processing by the temporal poles and right medial frontal pole that identifies the social context as sarcastic, and recognizes the speaker's paradoxical intentions.
Revascularization in systolic heart failure: a difficult decision.

Clinicians frequently face difficult decisions regarding coronary revascularization in patients with left ventricular systolic dysfunction and heart failure. Their ability to balance the potential, although somewhat uncertain, benefits of revascularization with the greater-than-usual periprocedural risks in this population is complicated by the lack of completed randomized trials and the limitations of the existing scientific literature.1 In this issue, Tarakji et al2 report on 765 consecutive patients with ejection fraction ≤35% and heart failure who underwent positron emission tomography (PET), including fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) imaging. From a propensity analysis matching 153 patients who underwent early intervention with 153 patients who did not, they conclude that “early intervention may be associated with improved survival regardless of the degree of viability.” Article p 230 Compared with the existing literature, this study has a number of noteworthy strengths. The number of patients reported here is noticeably larger than in previous studies. In 1 meta-analysis,3 the largest number of previously reported PET patients in a single study was 161. A more recent PET series4 reported on 261 patients. The 765 patients reported by Tarakji et al constitute a far larger group. The authors carefully compared the 230 patients who underwent intervention with the 535 who did not and identified important differences in both clinical characteristics and PET/FDG image findings between these 2 groups. They included patients who did not undergo revascularization and those who died undergoing revascularization, groups that frequently have been excluded from prior reports. The authors acquired 3 separate PET images: A resting rubidium-82 perfusion image, a dipyridamole stress rubidium-82 perfusion image, and an FDG metabolic image after an oral glucose load. This approach allows comprehensive assessment of both stress-induced ischemia and viability, which is an advantage compared with most previous studies. However, it may be difficult to compare the …
Automated concept-level information extraction to reduce the need for custom software and rules development.

Objective Despite at least 40 years of promising empirical performance, very few clinical natural language processing (NLP) or information extraction systems currently contribute to medical science or care. The authors address this gap by reducing the need for custom software and rules development with a graphical user interface-driven, highly generalizable approach to concept-level retrieval. Materials and methods A ‘learn by example’ approach combines features derived from open-source NLP pipelines with open-source machine learning classifiers to automatically and iteratively evaluate top-performing configurations. The Fourth i2b2/VA Shared Task Challenge's concept extraction task provided the data sets and metrics used to evaluate performance. Results Top F-measure scores for each of the tasks were medical problems (0.83), treatments (0.82), and tests (0.83). Recall lagged precision in all experiments. Precision was near or above 0.90 in all tasks. Discussion With no customization for the tasks and less than 5 min of end-user time to configure and launch each experiment, the average F-measure was 0.83, one point behind the mean F-measure of the 22 entrants in the competition. Strong precision scores indicate the potential of applying the approach for more specific clinical information extraction tasks. There was not one best configuration, supporting an iterative approach to model creation. Conclusion Acceptable levels of performance can be achieved using fully automated and generalizable approaches to concept-level information extraction. The described implementation and related documentation is available for download.
Numerical solution of the optimal periodic control problem using differential flatness

Optimal periodic control (OPC) is of interest in many engineering applications. In practice, the numerical solution of the OPC problem has been found to be quite challenging. In this note, we present a method which uses differential flatness for the solution of OPC problems. The OPC problem is reformulated using the flatness of the underlying dynamical system to eliminate the differential equations and the periodicity constraints, resulting in simpler and generally more efficient computation. The effect of point-wise constraints and the analytical computation of the Jacobian matrix are also discussed. The approach is demonstrated using two examples.
Wave equation based interpolation on volumetric cardiac electrical potentials

Like any measurement involving discrete spatial sampling, mapping of the electrical activity in the heart requires interpolation to estimate the values of electric potential between and around measured values. Interpolation is never perfect but can often perform better using application specific approaches than with general purpose methods and cardiac mapping has motivated a number of such customized interpolation techniques. Wave equation based (WEB) interpolation is one such specialized interpolation technique that has been shown to preserve sharp gradients on surface mapping data within electrograms recording from the heart surface, but has not been applied to volumetric data. The special strength of WEB interpolation is the preservation of sharp spatial gradients and we propose that WEB interpolation will also provide accurate unbiased interpolation of volumetric interpolation over sharp gradients in volumetric cardiac mapping data. We applied WEB interpolation in conjunction with linear and volumetric Laplacian interpolation methods and compared them to the same methods in their non-WEB forms. The basis for comparison were extracellular potentials from a high resolution simulation of cardiac activation. The results for the voltage gradients using the WEB methods were more than 2.6 times more accurate than the non-WEB methods at a very slight cost in accuracy in the regions of low spatial gradient. These results demonstrate that WEB approaches capture intrinsic features in the context of cardiac mapping and can augment and improve the accuracy of other interpolation techniques.
Measuring the gravitational constant with a cryogenic torsion pendulum

Concluding results from an extensive program to measure the gravitational constant G will be presented. Data were obtained from y2000 to 2006 using a torsion pendulum in the 'dynamic' ("time-of-swing") mode, operating at temperatures ~2.7 K. Six torsion fibers of three types were used with torsional oscillation amplitudes between 0.3 and 7.4 radians: BeCu as-drawn, BeCu heat treated, and Al5056 as-drawn. A metrology scale factor is hidden until data and metrology analysis are complete, to minimize danger of experimenter bias. Some evidence for both amplitude and fiber material dependence is found which is expected to limit our uncertainty to about 50 ppm. A final G value will be reported at CPEM2008.
Physiological response of the human pancreas to enteral and parenteral feeding.

Purpose of ReviewNormal digestive physiology is a highly orchestrated process, integrating the mechanical breakdown of food, the secretion of digestive juices, the control of motility, and the efficient absorption of nutrients. As enteral and parenteral feeding techniques bypass many of these contro
Diffusion in Irradiated AgZn Alloys using Defect-Concentration Dependent Migration Energies

Concentration dependent migration and reaction migration energies, calculated with the molecular dynamics code DYNAMD using Embedded Atom Method Potentials, were inserted into the appropriate diffusion and rate coefficients. The time and space evolution of the concentration of interstitials, vacancies, Zn impurity, interstitial-inpurity, aid vacancy-impurity complexes was calculated for an irradiated AgZn alloy in the framework of the approach presented in Johnson and Lam. A significant effect on defect segregation and profiles was found.
MODELING LIFETIME NURSING HOME USE UNDER ASSUMPTIONS OF BETTER HEALTH

OBJECTIVES There is evidence of notable improvement in active life expectancy among older Americans. Little is known, however, about the effect of better health on lifetime nursing home use. The purpose of this study was to address this gap in our knowledge. METHODS Discrete-time hazard models of nursing home admission and discharge were developed using data from the 1982, 1984, and 1989 National Long Term Care Surveys and the 1984-1990 Longitudinal Study of Aging. Microsimulation techniques were used to incorporate monthly functional status information into the models that predict nursing home use and to generate lifetime nursing home histories for a cohort of older men and women under various assumptions of improved morbidity. RESULTS Improved health increased total life expectancy and the absolute amount of time spent in both the community and in nursing homes. Better health did not change the proportion of life older persons spent in nursing homes or the percentage of the cohort who entered nursing homes. DISCUSSION If morbidity improves there will be an increase in the use of nursing homes. However, for the majority of older persons, better health will be associated with more independent living throughout the life span.
Inflammatory signaling induced bone loss.

Abstract A broad spectrum of inflammatory disorders have the capacity to target the skeleton and to de-regulate the processes of physiological bone remodeling. This review will focus on the systemic inflammatory rheumatologic disorders, which target articular and peri-articular bone tissues. Many of these disorders also affect extra-articular tissues and organs, and in addition, have the capacity to produce systemic bone loss and increased risk of osteoporotic fractures. Attention will focus on rheumatoid arthritis (RA), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and the seronegative spondyloarthropathies (SpAs), which include ankylosing spondylitis (AS), reactive arthritis (formerly designated as Reiter's syndrome), the arthritis of inflammatory bowel disease, juvenile onset spondyloarthropathy and psoriatic arthritis. The discussion will principally focus on RA, which is a prototypical model of an inflammatory disorder that de-regulates bone remodeling, but also will review the other forms of inflammatory joint disease to highlight the differential effects of inflammation on bone remodeling in these conditions. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled “Muscle Bone Interactions”.