cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Gendered Social Capital and Health Outcomes Among Older Adults in China

The gender dimension of social capital remains underinvestigated, particularly in the Eastern context. Goal: This chapter examines the relationship between social capital and health among a sample of older adults from China, particularly from a gender perspective. Method: Sample (N = 1,854) of older Chinese (60 years and over), 46.4% female, were obtained from Chinese General Social Survey (CGSS) 2005, a representative sample survey of China’s urban and rural households. Principal component analysis generated eight dimensions of social capital on which male and female elders were compared using t-tests. Treating physical and emotional health outcomes as continuous variables, multiple regressions tested relationship between social capital and health outcomes for male and female groups separately. Results: Significant differences were found on some dimensions of social capital by gender. Regressions indicated different associations between dimensions of social capital with health outcomes by gender. Implications: Accounting for gender may be important when developing interventions to maximize social capital in communities of China.
Resolution and Partial Characterization of the Digestive Proteinases from Larvae of the Black Carpet Beetle

Keratins are the major protein components of wool, hair, horn, and feathers. The relatively high cystine content (8–18%) and the resultant extensive crosslinking of the protein chains via disulfide bonds makes native keratin relatively insoluble and resistant to biological degradation (Waterhouse, 1958). Because of its chemical stability, few organisms have been shown to be able to digest keratin. A few microorganisms, including several strains of fungi in the genus Streptomyces, produce keratinolytic enzymes (Morihara et al., 1967). However, among higher organisms, only the insects, some 30 species of Lepidoptera in the family Tineidae and 15 species of Coleoptera in the family Dermestidae, have been shown to digest this protein (Waterhouse, 1958).
In the Shadow of Incompleteness: Hilbert and Gentzen

Godel’s incompleteness theorems had a dramatic impact on Hilbert’s foundational program. That is common lore. For some, e.g. von Neumann and Herbrand, they undermined the finitist consistency program; for others, e.g. Godel and Bernays, they left room for a fruitful development of proof theory. This paper aims for a nuanced and deepened understanding of how Godel’s results effected a transformation of proof theory between 1930 and 1934. The starting-point of this transformative period is Godel’s announcement of a restricted unprovability result in September of 1930; its end-point is the completion of Gentzen’s first consistency proof for elementary number theory in late 1934. Hilbert, surprisingly, is the initial link between starting-point and end-point. He addressed Godelian issues in two strikingly different papers, (1931a) and (1931b), without mentioning Godel. In (1931a) he takes on the challenge of the restricted unprovability result; in (1931b) he responds to the second incompleteness theorem concerning the unprovability of consistency for a system S in S. He does so by bringing in semantic considerations and by pursuing novel, but also highly problematic directions: he argues for the contentual correctness of a constructive (for him, finitist) theory that includes intuitionist number theory. Gentzen followed the new directions in late 1931, addressed methodological issues and metamathematical problems in ingenious ways, while building on ideas and techniques that had been introduced in proof theory. Most distinctive is Gentzen’s struggle with contentual correctness and its relation to consistency. That is reflected in a sequence of notes Gentzen wrote between late-1931 and late-1934, but it is also central in his classical paper (1936). The immediate lessons seem to be: (i) there is real continuity between Hilbert’s proof theory and Gentzen’s work, and (ii) there is deepened concern for interpreting intuitionist arithmetic (and thus understanding classical arithmetic) from a more strictly constructive perspective. Ironically, the latter concern deeply influenced Godel’s functional interpretation of intuitionist arithmetic.
Rudimentary uterine horn pregnancy. A case report on surviving twins delivered eight days apart.

Background Surviving twins were born to a woman with a unicornuate uterus having a noncommunicating rudimentary uterine horn; this was the first such case reported. Further, it is the first report on a multiple gestation with one twin delivered successfully by cesarean section and the second vaginally at a later date. Case The first twin in a unicornuate uterus was delivered via cesarean section at 28 2/7 weeks due to intractable preterm labor with breech presentation. The ipsilateral hypogastric and ovarian arteries were ligated intraoperatively to arrest myometrial hemorrhage. Continuing preterm contractions resulted in contralateral rudimentary uterine horn rupture eight days later, allowing successful vaginal delivery of the second twin. Conclusion Neonatal survival in rudimentary uterine horn pregnancies is poor, occurring in only 11% of cases during the past half century. The probability of attaining a favorable outcome is increased if aggressive antenatal management is instituted after establishing an early prenatal diagnosis. In the case of dual-chamber uterine anomalies, it is possible to effect surgical delivery of one fetus while maintaining a second preterm fetus in utero. This maneuver can decrease preterm morbidity for later-born siblings and enhance neonatal survival.
Minimum 20-Year Health-Related Quality of Life and Surgical Rates After the Treatment of Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis

Abstract Study Design Longitudinal cohort. Objectives To determine the patient-reported functional outcomes and need for related surgical procedures in a US cohort of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) patients with minimum 20-year follow-up. Summary of Background Data There is limited information regarding the long-term outcomes of scoliosis treatment in the US population. Methods A novel population of patients who underwent pediatric treatment for AIS with minimum 20-year follow-up was identified. Search of a single-center diagnostic registry generated 337 patients who fulfilled the inclusion criteria (AIS, curve magnitude >35°, and childhood treatment with bracing, surgery, or observation from 1975 to 1992). Any additional spine surgery as well as EQ5D, ODI, SRS 22, SAQ were determined. A total of 180 patients were included (mean of 30-year follow-up, range 20-37). Childhood treatment entailed bracing (41 patients), surgery (103 patients), and observation (36 patients). Results During the study period, only 1 of the 41 bracing patients underwent additional scoliosis-related spine surgery, whereas 5 of the 36 patients in the observation cohort underwent scoliosis surgery as adults. Seven of 103 childhood surgical patients required additional revision surgery as adults. Fifteen patients (4 braced, 7 fusion, and 4 observed) underwent chest wall surgery as adults. SRS scores were around 10% worse compared to population-based controls, with the exception of SRS mental health scores, which were similar to controls. Overall, 5.6% of patients were on disability, with no difference between operative and nonoperative groups. Conclusion We found a low rate of adult scoliosis surgery in the braced population, and a low rate of revision surgery at the 30-year follow-up in patients undergoing spine fusion for AIS between 1975 and 1992. No detected differences in patient-reported outcomes were found between the braced, surgical, and observed populations at a mean of 30 years' follow-up. Level of Evidence Level III, therapeutic.
Functional potential of bacterial strains in the premature infant gut microbiome is associated with gestational age

The gut microbiota of premature and full-term infants have many known differences, but the extent to which the degree of prematurity influences the structure and functional potential of the microbiome has not been deeply explored. Here, we used genome-resolved metagenomics to address how gestational age impacts the premature infant gut microbiome. We found that gestational age is associated with species richness, with more premature infants having lower species richness; this effect lasts until the fourth week of life. Novel Clostridium species and strains related to Streptococcus salivarius and Enterococcus faecalis colonize infants of different gestational ages, and the metabolic potential of these organisms can be distinguished. Thus, we conclude that the extent of prematurity, or directly linked factors, can be an important influence on the microbiome and its functions.
Team SAFE: A large-scale interprofessional simulation-based TeamSTEPPS® curriculum

Abstract Medical errors have been shown to be the third leading cause of death in the United States9 and poor communication is the root cause for more than two thirds of sentinel events.10 Several early Institute of Medicine (IOM) reports recommend interprofessional team training as a way to mitigate medical errors, with a 2003 report specifically recommending simulation as a valuable format for achieving this goal.1–3 In order to reduce medical errors and address the Quadruple Aim4 of healthcare, health professions students must graduate equipped with tools to help them support interprofessional team members in delivering safe, patient-centered care once in practice. Team SAFE (Simulation and Fearlessness Education), a longitudinal, simulation-based curriculum adapted from TeamSTEPPS® (a national, evidence-based patient safety and teamwork training framework) aids students in learning and practicing critical components of teamwork and patient safety in a low stakes environment. Our easily replicable curriculum is delivered in three phases using “flipped classroom” principles and experiential learning to help interprofessional students retain the material. Learners begin with knowledge and acquisition of team-based skills through interactive online pre-work, then apply these skills in the care and observation of care of simulated patients during the course of three cases, and finally, participate in a faculty-facilitated debriefing of each case. The curriculum includes an advanced component for senior students, with more clinically complex cases and nuanced teamwork scenarios to help reinforce the TeamSTEPPS® concepts as students finish their clinical training before beginning to practice in their respective fields. In 2016–2017, 554 students from medicine, nursing, occupational therapy, pharmacy, physician assistant and radiologic sciences completed this program. This Team SAFE curricular model is easily modifiable for different professions and levels of learners, requiring minimal faculty time and resources. Although reportedly forced outside of their comfort zones by participating in the interactive simulations, students comment that they learn effective teamwork skills that have the potential to enhance their leadership skills and improve patient safety.
The effect of crystal chemical composition on the color Doppler ultrasound twinkling artifact

The color Doppler ultrasound twinkling artifact, or localized areas of rapid color shifts, has been used to aid in the diagnosis of kidney stones. Gallstones and some atherosclerotic plaques have also been shown to twinkle, suggesting that crystals, regardless of chemical composition, may harbor the stable microbubbles that are hypothesized to cause twinkling. Here, uric acid, cholesterol, and calcium phosphate crystals, which are often present in sites of pathological biomineralization, were grown in the lab using previously developed techniques and imaged with the Verasonics® research ultrasound system using Philips/ATL P4-2 and Verasonics L22-14 transducers. The magnitude of the Doppler signals was quantified and compared amongst the three crystal chemical compositions. Preliminary results show that all three crystal types displayed twinkling with the strongest magnitude appearing in the cholesterol crystals. These results suggest that twinkling is very sensitive in the presence of crystals regardless of the chemical composition. Future work will explore the use of histotripsy to mechanically fractionate crystals as a novel treatment for pathological biomineralization.The color Doppler ultrasound twinkling artifact, or localized areas of rapid color shifts, has been used to aid in the diagnosis of kidney stones. Gallstones and some atherosclerotic plaques have also been shown to twinkle, suggesting that crystals, regardless of chemical composition, may harbor the stable microbubbles that are hypothesized to cause twinkling. Here, uric acid, cholesterol, and calcium phosphate crystals, which are often present in sites of pathological biomineralization, were grown in the lab using previously developed techniques and imaged with the Verasonics® research ultrasound system using Philips/ATL P4-2 and Verasonics L22-14 transducers. The magnitude of the Doppler signals was quantified and compared amongst the three crystal chemical compositions. Preliminary results show that all three crystal types displayed twinkling with the strongest magnitude appearing in the cholesterol crystals. These results suggest that twinkling is very sensitive in the presence of crystals regardless ...
Ultrafast inorganic scintillator-based front imager for Gigahertz Hard X-ray imaging

State-of-the art X-ray imaging cameras using silicon sensors for X-ray detection have demonstrated a frame-rate of 10 MHz and excellent performance for X-ray energies below 20 keV. We proposed a pixelated ultrafast inorganic scintillator-based front imager for GHz hard X-ray imaging. The proposed imager is featured with a total absorption for hard X-ray photons, and provides sub-ns scintillation pulse width crucial for X-ray bunches of a few ns spacing foreseen at the proposed MaRIE facility. We measured temporal response of a dozen ultrafast and fast inorganic scintillators at the 10-ID-B site of the Advanced Photon Source (APS) of ANL. Crystal’s response to hybrid X-ray beam of 30 keV, consisting of singlet bunches of 50 ps width and septuplet bunches of 27 ps width with 2.83 ns bunch spacing, was measured. Ultrafast inorganic scintillators, such as BaF_2:Y and ZnO:Ga, show clearly resolved X-ray bunches for septuplets, as well as no degradation of amplitude for continuous eight septuplets, providing a proof of principle for the ultrafast inorganic scintillator-based total absorption front imager for the proposed MaRIE project.
Design of a 65-69 GHz 1000:1 FMCW PLL in 65nm CMOS Technology

Frequency Modulated Continuous Wave (FMCW) radar systems have found extensive applications in the field of automotive radar and imaging. A fully integrated 65-69 GHz FMCW characteristic frequency synthesizer is presented in this work. The proposed phase locked-loop (PLL) features a 1000:1 frequency division ratio and a novel idea for a source follower buffer based LC voltage controlled oscillator. To achieve a highly linear transfer characteristic, an optimal frequency division topology is implemented. The overall system achieves a range resolution of 7.5 cm and exhibits a closed loop phase noise of -98.5 dBc/Hz at a 1MHz offset frequency. An initial locking period of 1.67 µs is achieved by the system while exhibiting a linear VCO output characteristic over the desired frequency range.
Ion channel depolarization increases repulsions between positive S4 charges to drive activation

The positively charged residues, arginine and lysine, of the S4 segments of voltage-sensitive ion channels repel each other with Coulomb forces inversely proportional to the mean channel dielectric permittivity e. Dipole moments induced at rest potential in the branched sidechains of leucine, isoleucine and valine lend high values of e to the channel. High e keeps electrostatic forces small at rest, leaving the channel in a compact conformation closed to ion conduction. On membrane depolarization beyond threshold, the repulsive forces between positive S4 charges increase greatly on a sharp decrease in e due to the collapse of induced dipoles, causing an expansion of the S4 segments, which drives the channel into activation. Model calculations based on α helical S4 geometry, neglecting the small number of negative charges, provide estimates of electrostatic energy for different values of open-channel e and numbers of positive S4 charges. When the Shaker K+ channel is depolarized, the repulsion energy in each S4 segment increases from about 0.2 kcal/mol to about 120 kJ/mol (30 kcal/mol). The S4 expansions lengthen and widen the pore domain, expanding the hydrogen bonds of its α helices, thus providing sites for permeant ions. Ion percolation via these sites produces the stochastic ion currents observed in activated channels. The model proposed, Channel Activation by Electrostatic Repulsion (CAbER), explains observed features of voltage-sensitive channel behavior and offers predictions that can be tested by experiment.
The T or L Incision in Resection of Tumors of the Pelvis

For tumors of the pelvis, a midline incision is commonly used, starting from above the umbilicus and continuing around the umbilicus down to the pubic symphysis. The incision is deepened through the subcutaneous fat, and the linea alba is incised on the entire length of the incision to the pubic symphysis. The linea alba is found exactly at the midline more easily close to the umbilicus. The peritoneum also is incised, but this can be done only for the upper portions of the incision, starting from the superior end and then around the umbilicus down to the junction of the middle and lower third of the infraumbilical portion of the midline incision. The reason for stopping the incision at this point is because the peritoneum at that level is splayed around the urinary bladder, so it cannot be divided straight all the way to the pubic symphysis.
Selective Expression of the Immunoregulatory Lectin, Galectin-1, in Precursor B Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemias (ALLs) with MLL Rearrangements

Translocations of the mixed lineage leukemia ( MLL ) gene on chromosome 11q23 are found in over 70% of infant leukemias and associated with a poor prognosis. MLL translocations generate a new chimeric gene, in which N-terminal portion of MLL is fused to C-terminal sequence from multiple different partners. Given the variety of MLL fusion partners, molecular techniques such as FISH or Southern blotting are not able to detect all genetic abnormalities involving MLL. In addition, results from these time-consuming techniques are not always available at initial diagnosis. To identify molecular markers of MLL translocation that might be used in rapid diagnostic assays, we first compared the transcriptional profiles of primary precursor B cell acute lymphoblastic leukemias (ALLs) with and without MLL translocations. Galectin-1 (Gal1) transcripts were significantly more abundant in MLL-rearranged ALLs (MLL-ALL) from two extensive and independent datasets. Consistent with these findings, Gal1 protein was significantly more abundant in MLL-ALL cell lines than in non-MLL ALL lines by western blotting. These observations were of interest because Gal1 is a secreted immunoregulatory glycan-binding protein that induces the apoptosis of cytotoxic T cells and T helper1 cells and fosters an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. To assess the diagnostic utility of Gal1 expression in identifying the MLL-ALL subtype, we performed Gal1 immunostaining on a large series of primary ALLs with known MLL status. All 10 MLL-rearranged precursor-B ALLs had abundant Gal1 expression (10/10, 100%); in marked contrast, only 1 of 38 pre-B ALLs without a cytogenetically detectable MLL translocation expressed Gal1 (3%), p Gal1 is specifically overexpressed in MLL-ALLs compared to non-MLL ALLs; Gal1 overexpression is likely driven by the altered histone methyltransferase activity of the MLL fusion protein complex; and 3) Gal1 is a promising diagnostic marker in these MLL-ALLs.
Impact of an Engineering Mentorship Program on African-American Male High School Students' Perceptions and Self-Efficacy

The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of an engineering mentorship program on African-American male high school students’ perceptions of engineering as a viable career choice. In this study, indicators included students’ perceptions of engineering, their self-efficacy in the area of mathematics, and their self-efficacy in the area of science. Using an independent t-test to determine a difference of statistical significance, inferential statistics were provided to answer the following research questions: (a) Is there a significant difference in perceptions of engineering for students who participated in the NCETE/NSBE mentorship program when compared with non-mentored students?, (b) Is there a significant difference in self-efficacy in the area of mathematics for students who participated in the NCETE/NSBE mentorship when compared with non-mentored students?, and (c) Is there a significant difference in selfefficacy in the area of science for students who participated in Cameron D. Denson is a Postdoctoral Research Associate at the National Center for Engineering and Technology Education at Utah State University. He can be reached at cameron.denson@aggiemail.usu.edu. Roger B. Hill is a Professor and Department Head of the Workforce Education, Leadership and Social Foundations at the University of Georgia. He can be reached at rbhill@uga.edu. 100 JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL TEACHER EDUCATION the NCETE/NSBE mentorship when compared with nonmentored students?
Chapter 7 – Arithmetic Operations

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the techniques that need to handle integer and floating-point arithmetic in a microcontroller. The user converts integers from one representation to another and writes subroutines to do this conversion. The floating-point representations of numbers with a fractional part and the algorithms used to add and multiply floating-point numbers were discussed together with the problems of rounding and conversion. Floating-point representations can be extended to handle negative numbers by putting the significand in, say, a two's-complement representation or a signed-magnitude representation. The exponent can also be represented in any of the various ways that include the representation of negative numbers. Floating-point algorithms must have existence for addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. To add or subtract two floating-point numbers, one of the representations has to be adjusted so that the exponents are equal before the significands are added or subtracted. For accuracy, this unnormalization is always done to the number with the smaller exponent. The chapter also discusses fuzzy logic. Fuzzy logic provides for set definitions that have fuzzy boundaries rather than the crisp boundaries of Boolean logic. A Boolean variable is either true or false, whereas in fuzzy logic, a linguistic variable has a value that is a degree of confidence between 0 and 1.
Effect of computed tomography perfusion post-processing algorithms on optimal threshold selection for final infarct volume prediction.

In acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients, eligibility for endovascular intervention is commonly determined through computed tomography perfusion (CTP) analysis by quantifying ischemic tissue using p...
A temperature-dependent model for tensile strength characteristic curve of unsaturated soils

Abstract Tensile strength is a key parameter controlling the formation of desiccation cracks in soils. Desiccation cracks are triggered in unsaturated soils due to drying imposed by natural processes or engineering applications mainly involving elevated temperatures. However, there is no closed-form model in the literature to capture the effect of temperature on tensile strength. This study presents a temperature-dependent model for the tensile strength characteristic curve (TSCC) of unsaturated soils. The model employs the suction stress characteristic curve (SSCC) to represent the uniaxial tensile strength of unsaturated soils at different water contents and temperatures. The model incorporates the effects of temperature into adsorptive and capillary suction stress components. The temperature-dependent adsorptive suction stress is obtained by accounting for thermal induced changes in suction stress at dry state through the Hamaker constant and the density of water. The temperature-dependent form of capillary suction stress is derived by employing temperature-dependent forms of surface tension, contact angle and enthalpy of immersion. Upon comparison, results from the proposed TSCC exhibited a very good agreement against laboratory-measured tensile strength data for two clayey soils tested at different temperatures ranging from 20 to 60 °C. The presented model can improve the analysis of desiccation cracking in unsaturated soils.
Imaging Immunometabolism in Atherosclerosis.

Over the past decade, there has been a growing recognition of the links between intra-cellular metabolism and immune cell activation, i.e., immunometabolism, and its consequences in atherogenesis. However, the majority of immunometabolic investigations have been conducted in cultured cells through pharmacologic and/or genetic manipulations of selected immunologic or metabolic pathways, limiting their extrapolation to the complex microenvironment of plaques. In vivo metabolic imaging is ideally situated to address this gap and to determine the clinical implications of immunometabolic alterations for diagnosis and management of patients. Indeed, 18F-FDG has been widely used in clinical studies with promising results for risk stratification of atherosclerosis and monitoring the response to therapeutic interventions, though the biological basis of its uptake in plaques has been evolving. Herein, we describe recent advances in understanding of immunometabolism of atherosclerosis with an emphasis on macrophages, and we review promising metabolic imaging approaches using 18F-FDG and other PET radiotracers.
Abstract P031: Endothelial Microparticles In Pediatric Obesity

Introduction: Endothelial activation represents one of the earliest signs of the atherosclerotic process. Microparticles (MPs) in plasma, particularly endothelial MPs (EMPs) are reproducible biomar...
Evaluation of NLDAS-2 and Downscaled Air Temperature data in Florida

A broad spectrum of model-derived weather datasets are available in the US. Because each product integrates atmospheric conditions with different model processes, each produces different statistica...
The Evolution of Business Education among Negroes

Business education, as it is today, is largely a product of the past. The ways in which young people in America have prepared for business vocations in earlier periods and the beginnings and development of business education among Negroes are both basic considerations in an attempt to understand the present status and problems of business education among Negroes.
A COMPREHENSIVE CALIFORNIA FIELD STUDY OF THE INFLUENCE OF PREHARVEST APPLICATIONS OF GIBBERELLIC ACID ON THE RIND QUALITY OF VALENCIA ORANGES

Gibberellic acid (GA3) applications to Valencia orange (Citrus sinensis [L.] Osbeck) trees in California, performed in August or September when the target crops of young fruit were present, reduced the severity of rind crease upon maturation of the fruit. The same treatments delayed aging and softening of the rind, as demonstrated by puncture resistance measurements. In some cases, a greener rind color was associated with GA3 treatments. There were no undesirable influences an juice quality and fruit production. As regards the delay in rind softening, GA3 treatments were more efficient when applied in August than in September. Otherwise, there were no clear differences in the responses to August and September applications of GA3. The study led to the registration of GA3 for preharvest use on Valencia orange trees in California.
Characteristics of Property-Liability Insurance Acquisition Targets

This study analyzes the impact of diversification and focus strategies on firms targeted for acquisitions. Based on a sample of acquisitions of property-liability insurers from 1993 to 1997, the study centers on two major questions: (1) whether the diversification or focus decision of the acquirer has an impact on the motivations underlying the selection of a target firm with specific operational and capitalization traits, and (2) whether the target firms are systematically altered on the basis of the diversification or focus aspect of the acquisition. The study finds support for the hypothesis that acquirers select firms with the financial and operational characteristics to meet the diversification or focus needs of the acquirer. The study does not find support for the hypothesis that acquirers systematically alter the capitalization or operational characteristics of a target firm on the basis of the diversification or focus aspect of the acquisition. By controlling for potential self-selection bias and by implementing a definition of diversification and focus that controls for relatedness of the lines of business of the acquirers and targets, the paper is able to extend prior literature in the area. Additionally, the ability to track the financial and operational changes of the target firm following the acquisition allows for a more detailed test of the hypotheses than is possible in multi-industry samples.
Elastic-plastic fracture mechanics for two-dimensional stable crack growth and instability problems

An elastic-plastic fracture mechanics methodology for treating two-dimensional stable crack growth and instability problems is described. The paper draws on "generation-phase" analyses in which the experimentally observedapplied-load (or displacement) stable crack growth behavior is reproduced in a finite-element model. In these calculations a number of candidate stable crack growth parameters are calculated for the material tested. The quality of the predictions that can be made with these parameters is tested with "application-phase" analyses. Here, the finite-element model is used to predict stable crack growth and instability for a different geometry, with a previously evaluated parameter serving as the criterion for stable growth. These analyses are applied to and compared with measurements of crack growth and instability in center-cracked panels and compact tension specimens of the 2219-T87 aluminum alloy and the A533-B grade of steel. The work shows that the crack growth parameters (COA) c , J c , dJ c /da, and the linear elastic fracture mechanics (LEFM)-R, which sample large portions of the elastic-plastic strain field, vary monotonically with stable crack extension. However, the parameters (CTOA) c , R, G o , and F c , which reflect the state of the crack tip process zone, are essentially independent of the amount of stable growth when the mode of fracture does not change. Useful, stable growth criteria can therefore be evaluated from the crack tip state at the onset of crack extension and do not have to be continuously measured during stable crack growth. The possibility of making accurate predictions for the extent of stable crack growth and the load level at instability is demonstrated using only the value of J c at the onset of crack extension.
Pemetrexed in the treatment of relapsed/refractory primary central nervous system lymphoma

BACKGROUND: Despite initial treatment with high-dose methotrexate-based regimens, many patients with primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) relapse and die from their disease. No standard of care exists at progression or relapse, but chemotherapy and in some cases radiation are usually used. Pemetrexed is a multitargeted antifolate, similar to methotrexate, but with a broader spectrum of activity. Because methotrexate is an integral part of PCSNL treatment, the authors assessed the antitumor activity and safety of pemetrexed in recurrent PCNSL. METHODS: Patients with relapsed/refractory PCNSL were enrolled in this trial. Treatment consisted of pemetrexed 900 mg/m2 given every 3 weeks with low-dose dexamethasone, folate, and B12 supplementation. Each cycle was 6 weeks, and follow-up imaging was done before each new cycle. Treatment was continued until complete remission, progression, or toxicity. RESULTS: Eleven patients were treated, with a median age of 69.8 years and Karnofsky performance status of 70%; 10 of 11 patients had failed prior high-dose methotrexate. The median number of pemetrexed cycles given was 5, with an associated overall response rate of 55% and disease control rate of 91%. The 6-month progression-free survival (PFS) was 45%, median PFS was 5.7 months, and median overall survival was 10.1 months. Toxicities were primarily hematologic and infectious. CONCLUSIONS: Pemetrexed has single-agent activity in relapsed/refractory PCNSL. Toxicities were seen likely because of the higher than standard dose used. Further investigation of this agent or other multitargeted antifolates in PCNSL is warranted to determine optimal dose and efficacy in a more homogeneous population. Cancer 2012. © 2011 American Cancer Society.
Chemotherapy-Induced Apoptosis

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on the current state of knowledge regarding the mechanisms by which programmed cell death (PCD) is triggered by cancer chemotherapeutic agents and discusses a series of outstanding questions that require further investigation if the recent observations are to be translated into more successful cancer chemotherapy. PCD generally affects individual cells responding to identifiable physiological or pharmacological signals. It is now clear that many physiologically normal cell deaths, in addition to those associated with development; occur as a result of similar biochemical changes. These biochemical changes are usually associated with a series of stereotypic morphological changes that have been given the name apoptosis. Apoptosis typically begins with cellular shrinkage and condensation of the chromatin. This process of compaction is quickly followed by the disaggregation of the cell into a number of membrane-enclosed “apoptotic bodies,” many of which contain nuclear fragments. When apoptosis occurs in vivo, these apoptotic bodies are efficiently ingested by neighboring cells, an observation that might explain why PCD typically occurs without provoking an inflammatory reaction. To understand and eventually exploit the ability of chemotherapeutic agents to induce PCD, it is essential to have the ability to accurately recognize this mode of cell death. Based on certain criteria, a wide variety of cancer chemotherapeutic agents have been shown to induce PCD in various tumor cell lines in vitro. In vivo observation of chemotherapy-induced Apoptosis establish that cancer chemotherapeutic agents can induce PCD in tissue culture, much less attention has been paid to the question of whether cells die by a similar process when neoplasms undergo chemotherapy-induced regression in animals or people.
Computer assisted determination of planar magnetron phase velocity

A computer-assisted determination of electromagnetic wave phase velocity in a planar magnetron is described. The numerical analysis is reliable for design applications where the lowest-order TEM (transverse electromagnetic) mode closely approximates the fields in the anode slots. Coaxial slow-wave structures with comparable outer- and inner-conductor radii may also be analyzed successfully with this numerical procedure. >
Cooperative control of multiple untethered magnetic microrobots using a single magnetic field source

This paper presents a novel method of actuation for multiple untethered microrobots with a global magnetic field generated by a single conical permanent magnet. The microrobots in our experiments were chrome-steel spheres with a diameter size of 500 μm and cubical neodymium magnets of 250 μm and 500 μm in size. These robots can perform cooperative planar motions compatible with micromanipulation tasks such as grasping. The cooperative grasping behavior is produced by the magnetic field gradient controlled by the 5 DOF position of the conical permanent magnet with respect to the robots' workspace. The microrobots are also capable of swarming motion with a leader and formation following behavior. Simulation and experimental results are offered to validate the potential of this method for automation at the micro-scale.
Shot-noise suppression at two-dimensional hopping

We have used Monte Carlo simulation to calculate the shot-noise intensity ${S}_{I}(\ensuremath{\omega})$ at (two-dimensional) hopping using two models: a slanted lattice of localized sites with equal energies and a set of localized sites with random positions and energies. For wide samples we have found a similar dependence of the Fano factor $F\ensuremath{\equiv}{S}_{I}(0)/2\mathrm{eI}$ on the sample length L: $F\ensuremath{\propto}{L}^{\ensuremath{-}\ensuremath{\alpha}}$ where $\ensuremath{\alpha}=0.85\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.02$ and $\ensuremath{\alpha}=0.85\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.07$ in uniform and random models, respectively. Moreover, at least for the uniform model, all the data for F as the function of sample length L and width W may be presented via a single function of the ratio ${W/L}^{\ensuremath{\beta}},$ with $\ensuremath{\beta}=2\ensuremath{\alpha}\ensuremath{-}1\ensuremath{\approx}0.7.$ This relation has been interpreted using a simple scaling theory.
More than Mere Weather: James's Talks to Students about Life.

William James addressed the last 3 lectures in Talks to Teachers on Psychology and to Students on Some of Life's Ideals (1899/1958) specifically to students. The first of these lectures, "The Gospel of Relaxation," encouraged students to be both relaxed and active. The second, "On a Certain Blindness in Human Beings," promoted awareness of and empathy for the diversity of individual human interest. The last lecture, "What Makes Life Significant," argued that neither ideals nor passion alone gave life meaning but that the 2 in confluence yield significance. In all, James shared insights suggesting how students might improve their lives.
Can Public Schools Buy Better-Qualified Teachers?

Since the early 1980s, real teacher salaries in U.S. public schools have increased considerably faster than salaries of other Americans with similar levels of education and training. Providing an important impetus for this development were claims that increased salaries would allow the recruitment of better-qualified teachers. This analysis, which uses panel data on new teachers in 188 public school districts that changed their salaries between 1987–88 and 1993–94, investigates whether a school district can, by unilaterally increasing teacher salaries, improve the quality of the teachers it hires, as indicated by their having graduated from selective colleges and majored in the specific subject matter they teach. For nonunion school districts, the author finds a positive, statistically significant relationship between a given district's teacher salaries and that district's probability of hiring well-qualified teachers. Several tests indicate that this relationship is not found in unionized school districts.
Structure of the PTEN-like Region of Auxilin, a Detector of Clathrin-Coated Vesicle Budding

Auxilin, a J-domain containing protein, recruits the Hsc70 uncoating ATPase to newly budded clathrin-coated vesicles. The timing of auxilin arrival determines that uncoating will commence only after the clathrin lattice has fully assembled and after membrane fission is complete. Auxilin has a region resembling PTEN, a PI3P phosphatase. We have determined the crystal structure of this region of bovine auxilin 1; it indeed resembles PTEN closely. A change in the structure of the P loop accounts for the lack of phosphatase activity. Inclusion of phosphatidylinositol phosphates substantially enhances liposome binding by wild-type auxilin, but not by various mutants bearing changes in loops of the C2 domain. Nearly all these mutations also prevent recruitment of auxilin to newly budded coated vesicles. We propose a specific geometry for auxilin association with a membrane bilayer and discuss implications of this model for the mechanism by which auxilin detects separation of a vesicle from its parent membrane.
A Model of the Distribution of Federal Expenditures among States

Abstract This study explores factors associated with the allocation of federal expenditures by states and examines the relation of the level of these expenditures to the level of income of each state. The allocation of federal expenditures is functionally oriented toward the objectives for which various government programs are established. The geographical distribution of federal expenditures, therefore, historically was considered to be a problem incidental to government activity. Because of this, relatively little attention has been given to the question of why some states receive more federal funds than others.1 In addition, the implications of the pattern of allocation on income distribution among states have not been investigated intensively.
Purification of α-l-fucosidase from various sources by affinity chromatography

Abstract An affinity column for α- l -fucosidases was constructed by linking p -aminophenyl 1-thio-α- l -fucopyranoside to Sepharose 4B through linkers of succinyl 3,3′-diamino-dipropylamine. Excellent purification of α- l -fucosidase from rat epididymis, Clostridium perfringens and Limulus polyphemus (horse shoecrab) could be effected in one step with good yield. An affinity column purification step can be introduced at any point in published purification procedures. The purified enzyme is essentially free of other glycosidases and proteolytic enzymes. The column material is stable and can be reused for at least two years.
Direct numerical simulations in solid mechanics for understanding the macroscale effects of microscale material variability

Abstract A fundamental challenge for the quantification of uncertainty in solid mechanics is understanding how microscale material variability is manifested at the macroscale. In an era of petascale computing and future exascale computing, it is now possible to perform direct numerical simulations (DNS) in solid mechanics where the microstructure is modeled directly in a macroscale structure. Using this DNS capability, we investigate the macroscale response of polycrystalline microstructures and the accuracy of homogenization theory for upscaling the microscale response. Using a massively parallel finite-element code, we perform an ensemble of direct numerical simulations in which polycrystalline microstructures are embedded throughout a macroscale structure. The largest simulations model approximately 420 thousand grains within an I-beam. The inherently random DNS results are compared with corresponding simulations based on the deterministic governing equations and material properties obtained from homogenization theory. Evidence is sought for both surface effects and other higher-order effects as predicted by homogenization theory for macroscale structures containing finite microstructures.
Thin film detector response to the passage of accelerated heavy ions

Abstract The response of a thin film detector (TFD) to the passage of heavy-mass ions (16O, 35, 37Cl, 40Ar, 79, 81Br, 127I) as a function of incident energy, velocity and energy loss is reported. Over the range of energies studied a basic dependence of the TFD response on the atomic number and velocity of the transiting heavy ion is observed. The sensitivity of the TFD response to atomic number appears to increase with higher velocities. The observed trends are consistent with those expected on the basis of transiting light-mass ion response studies. Useful applications of this novel detector to heavy-ion reaction studies now appear to be feasible.
Optimal Body Temperature in Transitional Extremely Low Birth Weight Infants Using Heart Rate and Temperature as Indicators

ABSTRACT Objective To explore body temperature in relationship to heart rate in extremely low birth weight (ELBW) infants during their first 12 hours to help identify the ideal set point for incubator control of body temperature. Design Within subject, multiple-case design. Setting A tertiary neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) in North Carolina. Participants Ten infants born at fewer than 29 weeks gestation and weighing 400 to 1,000 g. Methods Heart rate and abdominal body temperature were measured at 1-minute intervals for 12 hours. Heart rates were considered normal if they were between the 25th and 75th percentile for each infant. Results Abdominal temperatures were low throughout the 12-hour study period (mean 35.17-36.68 °C). Seven of 10 infants had significant correlations between abdominal temperature and heart rate. Heart rates above the 75th percentile were associated with low and high abdominal temperatures; heart rates less than the 25th percentile were associated with very low abdominal temperatures. The extent to which abdominal temperature was abnormally low was related to the extent to which the heart rate trended away from normal in 6 of the 10 infants. Optimal temperature control point that maximized normal heart rate observations for each infant was between 36.8 °C and 37 °C. Conclusions Hypothermia was associated with abnormal heart rates in transitional ELBW infants. We suggest nurses set incubator servo between 36.8 °C and 36.9 °C to optimally control body temperature for ELBW infants.
Multiple Effects of Protein Kinase C Activators on Na + Currents in Mouse Neuroblastoma Cells

The effects of externally applied different protein kinase C (PKC) activators on Na+ currents in mouse neuroblastoma cells were studied using the perforated-patch (nystatin-based) whole cell voltage clamp technique. Two diacylglycerol-like compounds, OAG (1-oleoyl-2-acetyl-sn-glycerol), and DOG (1-2-dioctanoyl-rac-glycerol) attenuated Na+ currents without affecting the time course of activation or inactivation. The reduction in Na+ current amplitude caused by OAG or DOG was dependent on membrane potential, being more intense at positive voltages. The steady-state activation curve was also unaffected by these substances. However, both OAG and DOG shifted the steady-state inactivation curve of Na+ currents to more hyperpolarized voltages. Surprisingly, phorbol esters did not affect Na+ currents. Cis-unsaturated fatty acids (linoleic, linolenic, and arachidonic) attenuated Na+ currents without modifying the steady-state activation. As with DOG and OAG, cis-unsaturated fatty acids also shifted the steady-state inactivation curve to more negative voltages. Interestingly, inward currents were more effectively attenuated by cis-fatty acids than outward currents. Oleic acid, also a cis-unsaturated fatty acid, enhanced Na+ currents. This enhancement was not accompanied by changes in kinetic or steady-state properties of currents. Enhancement of Na+ currents caused by oleate was voltage dependent, being stronger at negative voltages. The inhibitory or stimulatory effects caused by all PKC activators on Na+ currents were completely prevented by pretreating cells with PKC inhibitors (calphostin C, H7, staurosporine or polymyxin B). By themselves, PKC inhibitors did not affect membrane currents. Trans-unsaturated or saturated fatty acids, which do not activate PKC's, did not modify Na+ currents. Taken together, the experimental results suggest that PKC activation modulates the behavior of Na+ channels by at least three distinct mechanisms. Because qualitatively different results were obtained with different PKC activators, it is not clear how Na+ currents would respond to activation of PKC under physiological conditions.
Reconstruction of steps on the Si(111) 2×1 surface

The structure of steps on cleaved silicon (111) surfaces is studied by scanning tunneling microscopy. Predominantly [21\ifmmode\bar\else\textasciimacron\fi{}1\ifmmode\bar\else\textasciimacron\fi{}] oriented steps are observed. Ordered regions of individual steps have unit periodicity along the step edge. A \ensuremath{\pi}-bonded reconstruction of the step edge is deduced from the images.