cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Matrix metalloprotease selective peptide substrates cleavage within hydrogel matrices for cancer chemotherapy activation.

Abstract To utilize biologic mechanisms to elicit controlled release in response to disease, protease-sensitive devices have been created. Hydrogels were created with pendant peptide–drug complexes. For the matrix metalloproteases (MMPs) examined, a length of six amino acids greatly improved the specificity of the peptide ( k cat / K m ∼ 2.4 ± 0.1 × 10 4 M −1 s −1 ) over shorter sequences ( k cat / K m ∼ 4.4 ± 0.2 × 10 2 M −1 s −1 ). The peptides did not exhibit anti-proliferative effects upon cancer cells, and peptide–platinum complexes showed similar anti-proliferative effects upon the cancer cells compared to the free platinum drugs. Once the peptide–drug complex was incorporated into the hydrogels, the release was dependent upon the presence of MMP in the solution with approximately 35% of platinum released from hydrogels in the presence of MMP and only 10% without MMP in the week examined. The released drug exhibited the expected anti-proliferative activity over several days of incubation. The MMP selective drug delivery holds much potential for treatment of cancer and other diseases.
Human asthma phenotypes: from the clinic, to cytokines, and back again

A large body of experimental evidence supports the hypothesis that T-helper 2 (Th2) cytokines orchestrate allergic airway inflammation in animal models. However, human asthma is heterogeneous with respect to clinical features, cellular sources of inflammation, and response to common therapies. This disease heterogeneity has been investigated using sputum cytology as well as unbiased clustering approaches using cellular and clinical data. Important differences in cytokine-driven inflammation may underlie this heterogeneity, and studies in human subjects with asthma have begun to elucidate these molecular differences. This molecular heterogeneity may be assessed by existing biomarkers (induced sputum evaluation or exhaled nitric oxide testing) or may require novel biomarkers. Effective testing and application of emerging therapies that target Th2 cytokines will depend on accurate and easily obtained biomarkers of this molecular heterogeneity in asthma. Furthermore, whether other non-Th2 cytokine pathways underlie airway inflammation in specific subsets of patients with asthma is an unresolved question and an important goal of future research using both mouse models and human studies.
The Evolution of Rising Responsibility

A revolution of rising expectations has swept across the colonial world and doubled the count of national sovereignties. Men and women who fifteen years ago were students or revolutionaries, or both, are today in charge of their countries' governments-or have already given way to younger students and more effective revolutionaries. The aspirations that have risen so fast were well described in the Charter of the United Nations as "better standards of life in larger freedom." How the passions of our time have been aroused by passionate versions of that sober and balanced phrase! It is surely time, as Pope Paul VI has said, to "raise a dike" against the passions of men, for they threaten to swallow up in passionate indignities the natural dignity of individual men and women on the perverted theory that individuals belong to the state, rather than vice versa. Nationhood is heady stuff. Every nation and every national leader can be expected to overindulge once in a while. But continued overindulgence in nationalist emotion can lead to much senseless killing and to the death of common sense itself. The question about our world and the question about the UN in this International Cooperaltion Year (ICY) is this: Can we all graduate fast enough from the "revolution of rising expectations" to the "evolution of rising responsibility"?
Objectivity and the Scientist: Heisenberg Rethinks

Argument Objectivity has been constitutive of the modern scientific persona. Its significance has depended on its excision of standpoint, which has legitimated the scientist epistemically and sociopolitically at once. But if the nineteenth century reinforced those paired effects, the twentieth century brought questioning of both. The figure of Werner Heisenberg (1901–1976) puts the latter process on display. From the Kaiserreich to the Federal Republic of Germany, between quantum mechanics and interest group politics, his evolution shows an increasing openness to perspectival pluralism, together with an attempt to save some form of objectivity as discursive coherence. Heisenberg’s self-understanding and the reactions of his publics display the transmutation of the persona as objectivity was rethought. By the end of the day, speaking “as a scientist” would mean something different from what it had at the start.
Mechanics of Transformation‐Toughening in Brittle Materials

Particles which undergo a stress-induced martensitic transformation are known to toughen certain brittle materials. The enhanced toughness can be considered to originate from the residual strain fields which develop following transformation and tend to limit the crack opening. The increased toughness can estimated from the crack-tip stress-intensity change induced by the transformation of a volume of material near the crack tip. It is found that the initial zone, prior to crackgrowth, provides no change in stress intensity. As the crack grows, the zone (associated with a positive transformation strain) induces a stress-intensity reduction that rises to a maximum level after some crack propagation. The influence of particle-size distribution on the stress-intensity reduction is also discussed.
Summary of Workshop Discussions on Establishing Upper Limits for Amino Acids with Specific Attention to Available Data for the Essential Amino Acids Leucine and Tryptophan

The morning of the first day of the 8th Amino Acid Assessment Workshop was organized and co-sponsored by the International Council on Amino Acid Science (ICAAS) and the International Life Sciences Institute Research Foundation and was focused on the International Life Sciences Institute Research Foundation's approach to establishing upper limits of nutrients. The remainder of d 1 and all of d 2 were focused on the safety of leucine and tryptophan, with special emphasis on determining the upper level of the safe range of intake. It was recognized that some toxicological frameworks, mainly the key-events dose response framework, might be applicable to amino acids and provide appropriate assistance to regulators in establishing upper limits for amino acids as a group of nutrients used in dietary supplements. ICAAS-funded projects for determining the upper intake limits for the essential amino acid leucine provided the main pool of leucine data discussed at the workshop. The acute clinical study suggests 500 mg/(kg · d) as a possible upper limit for leucine in healthy humans, but the safety margin needed to widen this limit to the general population has not been determined. For tryptophan, the workshop participants found less ground for consensus. Older efficacy studies suggested that tryptophan at 8-15 g/d was well tolerated, but human research was abruptly terminated in the late 1980s and no new data are available. Animal results obtained in pigs and rodents were discussed and 2 possible strategies for applying those outcomes to humans were described.
Analytical approximation of the radiation confinement factor for the TE 0 mode of a double heterojunction laser

An analytical approximation is found for \Gamma_{0} , the TE 0 radiation confinement factor in symmetric heterostructures, by using a combination of its asymptotes in the limits of very thin active layers and thick active layers, respectively. The exact expression for \Gamma_{0} is calculated and compared to the approximation formula. It is found that for any light guiding planar double heterostructure (DH) configuration the approximation is at most -1.5 percent off with respect to the exact \Gamma_{0} value.
Reliability of Helicobacter pylori and CagA serological assays.

Background serological assays for Helicobacter pylori are commonly used without knowledge of reliability. This information is needed to define the ability of serological tests to determine either new cases of infection or loss of infection in longitudinal studies. We evaluated the reproducibility and the interrelationships of serological test results for H. pylori and cytotoxin-associated gene product A (CagA) enzyme-linked immunoassays within a subset of participants in a population-based study. Stored samples from 1,229 participants in the third U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were replicate serologically tested for H. pylori and CagA. Overall disagreement was 3.4% between duplicate tests for H. pylori (or 2.3% if equivocal results were disregarded). Six percent of samples positive on the first test had an immune serum ratio at least 30% lower on repeat testing. The odds ratio for H. pylori seropositivity on retesting was 2.8 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.8 to 4.5) when CagA serology was positive versus when it was negative. CagA antibody was found among 47.8% of H. pylori-equivocal and 7.0% of H. pylori-negative samples. CagA-positive yet H. pylori-negative samples were more likely to occur among Mexican Americans (odds ratio, 5.2; 95% CI = 2.4 to 11.4) and non-Hispanic blacks (odds ratio, 5.5; 95% CI = 2.3 to 13.0) than among non-Hispanic whites. Relying on repeated H. pylori serological tests over time to determine infection rates may result in misinterpretation due to limits in test reproducibility. CagA testing may have a role in verifying infection.
Vitamin E Combined With Selenium Inhibits Atherosclerosis in Hypercholesterolemic Rabbits Independently of Effects on Plasma Cholesterol Concentrations

Several antioxidants inhibit atherosclerosis. This study investigated the hypothesis that combining vitamin E, a lipophilic antioxidant, with vitamin C, a hydrophilic antioxidant, and/or selenium, a cofactor of peroxidases that detoxify lipid peroxides, would inhibit atherosclerosis more effectively than vitamin E alone. We also considered whether regional variation in inhibition of atherosclerosis by antioxidants would be associated with regional variation in aortic lipophilic antioxidants. Rabbits were fed an atherogenic diet (control) or an atherogenic diet supplemented with vitamin E, vitamins E and C, vitamin E+selenium, vitamins E and C+selenium, or probucol (positive control). Supplements were as follows: vitamin E, 146 IU/d; vitamin C, 791 mg/d; selenium, 22 microg/d; or probucol, 406 mg/d. Vitamin C did not influence atherosclerosis. After 22 weeks of treatment, rank order of aortic atherosclerosis was control>vitamin E (with or without vitamin C)>vitamin E+selenium (with or without vitamin C)>probucol. Antioxidant treatment reduced aortic cholesterol concentrations 21% to 56%, 29% to 86%, and 19% to 75% for the aortic arch, descending thoracic aorta, and abdominal aorta, respectively (P<0.025 to P<0.0003 by ANOVA), with slightly greatly reductions for areas of atherosclerotic lesions. Some treatments reduced plasma cholesterol concentrations, but none altered the distribution of cholesterol among lipoproteins. Corrected for differences in plasma cholesterol concentrations, aortic cholesterol concentrations were reduced up to 72% (P<0.02) by the antioxidant treatments, with equal reductions by vitamin E+selenium and by probucol. Aortic alpha-tocopherol standardized by aortic cholesterol as a measure of aortic lipids was lower in the abdominal aorta than in the aortic arch of rabbits not given alpha-tocopherol and increased relatively more in the abdominal aorta than in the aortic arch with alpha-tocopherol supplementation. The results of this study suggest that vitamin E+ selenium inhibited atherosclerosis as effectively as an equally hypocholesterolemic dose of probucol by a mechanism(s) that is in part independent of effects on plasma and lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations. The tendency for greater efficacy of antioxidant treatments in the abdominal aorta than aortic arch may relate to the lower concentrations of alpha-tocopherol in the abdominal aorta of unsupplemented rabbits.
Duodenogastric reflux in humans: Its relationship to fasting antroduodenal motility and gastric, pancreatic, and biliary secretion

Abstract Duodenogastric reflux may have pathophysiologic importance, but its mechanism is poorly understood. We propose that duodenogastric reflux and periodic changes in motor and secretory activity of the upper gut during fasting may be related. Therefore we determined the relationships between duodenogastric reflux and interdigestive motor-secretory cycles in a group of 6 healthy individuals, on each of whom we performed three 7-h studies in random order on separate days. In all studies gastric intubation and antral pressure recordings were performed. However, in design 1 we used a slow duodenal perfusion rate of [ 14 C]PEG in saline (0.25 ml/min) while in design 3 we used a fast perfusion rate (3.0 ml/min). Duodenal pressures were also recorded during these designs. In design 2 no transpyloric tubes were present. Our study shows that, in humans, fasting duodenogastric reflux of bile and pancreatic juice is cyclic and closely related to the interdigestive migrating motor complex. Reflux is highest during late phase II (when secretory activity is also on the rise) and lowest after phase III. One of the important functions of the migrating motor complex in humans may be to clear the stomach of refluxed duodenal secretions.
Late preterm birth: more and better data needed.

Dr Gyamfi-Bannerman and her colleagues report data that illustrate the problem of late preterm birth and point the way to an answer. We in obstetrics have a problem with the indications for choosing preterm birth over continuing complicated pregnancies 34 weeks. Our neonatal colleagues wonder why we didn’t continue pregnancies complicated by placenta previa, oligohydramnios, or preterm premature rupture of membranes for another week when the nonstress test was reassuring. Largely unaware of the problem of stillbirth, they ask, “Why not wait ‘til 36 weeks? Why now?” We can rightfully point to the declining rate of stillbirth as evidence that we are saving fetal lives by choosing iatrogenic birth over prolongation of pregnancy, but with rare exceptions, we lack data to support decisions for indicated late preterm birth for specific indications and gestational ages. Gyamfi-Bannerman et al present carefully analyzed data from 2 well-maintained databases that clearly state the problem. Among almost 2700 late preterm births, one-third were iatrogenic. Of these, more than half lacked an evidence-based indication. Reasons listed for indicated late preterm birth in stable patients without supporting literature were chronic hypertension, mild preeclampsia, gestational hypertension, oligohydramnios, fetal growth restriction with normal testing, and prior uterine incisions other than for low transverse cesarean birth. Infants born to women with these indications were more likely to suffer morbidity related to their age at birth, morbidity that might in some cases be acceptable, but without more data, we cannot quantify and compare the risks. Will studies like this one give us the answer? I don’t think so. We need better data than what these authors describe and a new attitude about how to interpret these data. Specifically, instead of retrospective ascertainment from the obstetrical record of the indications for iatrogenic late preterm birth, we need a prospectively planned collection of information about the reasons for choosing delivery, with data fields prospectively defined and confirmed by direct query when memories are fresh. As an American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology editor, I’ve become attuned to 2 kinds of “prospectively collected” datasets, both of which are really after-the-fact and thus
Human Behavior and Challenges of Anonymizing WLAN Traces

With the wide spread deployment of wireless LANs (WLANs), it is becoming necessary to conduct analysis of libraries of measurements taken from such operational networks. The availability of these trace libraries can be quite useful to provide realistic models of network load and user mobility, among others. To maintain user privacy, techniques of trace anonymization may be used to hide information. In this paper, we propose to study the fundamental trade off between the utility of WLAN traces and its privacy. The study provides several realistic case studies in which privacy attacks may be conducted, and questions the efficacy of existing anonymization techniques. Our initial quantitative analysis to estimate mobile users' k-anonymity in WLAN traces shows surprisingly unique usage patterns, which may compromise anonymity. The main contribution of this paper is to articulate the compelling challenges facing anonymization of wireless networks traces and to shed some light on the answer to a most intriguing question: Just how private are wireless network traces?
Scholarship in teaching and best evidence medical education: synergy for teaching and learning

Medical education has lagged behind research and clinical care in developing a value system and social construct that promotes and stimulates the open discussion of the state of the art in teaching among teachers. The recent development of best evidence medical education (BEME) in Europe and the renewed attention to the concept of scholarship in North America provide a conceptual and strategic approach for enhancing the educational enterprise in the health professions. The similarities and differences between BEME and an approach to Scholarship in Teaching developed by a subcommittee of the Group on Educational Affairs of the Association of American Medical Colleges is examined. Combining these two approaches to medical teaching can maximize the potential for advancing the science and art of medical education.
Identifying Formal and Informal Influence inTechnology Adoption with Network Externalities

Firms introducing network technologies (whose benefits depend on who installs the technology) need to understand which user characteristics confer the greatest network benefits on other potential adopters. To examine which adopter characteristics matter, I use the introduction of a video-messaging technology in an investment bank. I use data on its 2,118 employees, their adoption decisions and their 2.4 million subsequent calls. The video-messaging technology can also be used to watch TV. Exogenous shocks to the benefits of watching TV are used to identify the causal (network) externality of one individual user's adoption on others' adoption decisions. I allow this network externality to vary in size with a variety of measures of informal and formal influence. I find that adoption by either managers or workers in boundary spanner positions has a large impact on the adoption decisions of employees who wish to communicate with them. Adoption by ordinary workers has a negligible impact. This suggests that firms should target those who derive their informal influence from occupying key boundary-spanning positions in communication networks, in addition to those with sources of formal influence, when launching a new network technology.
Lymphocyte Infusion for Delayed Extramedullary Relapse of Acute Leukemia Following Bone Marrow Transplantation

We report a case of extramedullary relapse of acute myelogenous leukemia twelve years after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation. Due to the localized nature of the relapse, we were able to eliminate a majority of the tumor burden, utilizing local irradiation. Destined with eventual systemic leukemia relapse, further therapy utilizing donor lymphocytes was given at a time of minimal disease burden. The patient remains in a state of complete remission.
Solid-state bilayer formation from a dialkyl-substituted lariat ether that forms stable vesicles in aqueous suspension

Previously established aggregate formation by alkyl-substituted crown ethers is considered with respect to the solid state structure of N,N′-didodecyldiaza-18-crown-6 (7), which was determined as its NaI complex (7ċNaIċH2O). The complex forms a bilayer structure that was used as a benchmark for understanding the formation of aggregates and their inclusion volumes. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Erasure Insertion for Coded DUSTM-FHSS Systems without A Priori Knowledge

In this paper, we consider coded frequency-hopping spread spectrum (FHSS) systems with differential unitary space-time modulation (DUSTM). We investigate the erasure insertion (EI) techniques for improving the decoding error probability, especially in presence of strong partial-band interference (PBI). Conditional likelihood functions are derived for the decision-feedback demodulation and used for EI. The two proposed erasure rules do not require knowledge of the distribution of the noise plus interference power, in contrast to their counterparts in [14]. Instead of assuming the unknown parameters involved in decision-feedback demodulation and EI to be known, a joint estimation-demodulation scheme based on the adaptive recursive least square (RLS) algorithm is proposed. The sensitivity of the proposed EI rules to mismatched thresholds is studied by simulation. Numerical results show that EI can improve the decoding error probability significantly in presence of PBI, even when the required parameters have to be estimated and suboptimal thresholds are used.
Specific Cross-talk between Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor and Integrin αvβ5 Promotes Carcinoma Cell Invasion and Metastasis

Tyrosine kinase receptors and integrins play essential roles in tumor cell invasion and metastasis. Previously, we showed that epidermal growth factor (EGF) stimulation of pancreatic carcinoma cells led to invasion and metastasis that was blocked by antagonists of integrin alpha(v)beta(5). Here, we show that EGF stimulates metastasis of carcinoma cells via a Src-dependent phosphorylation of p130 CAS leading to activation of Rap1, a small GTPase involved in integrin activation. Specifically, EGF receptor (EGFR)-induced Src activity leads to phosphorylation of a region within the CAS substrate domain, which is essential for Rap1 and alpha(v)beta(5) activation. This pathway induces alpha(v)beta(5)-mediated invasion and metastasis in vivo yet does not influence primary tumor growth or activation of other integrins on these cells. These findings show cross-talk between a tyrosine kinase receptor and an integrin involved in carcinoma cell invasion and metastasis and may explain in part how inhibitors of EGFR affect malignant disease.
Mathematics Preparation and Professional Development of Deaf Education Teachers

With the world increasingly dependent on mathematics and problem-solving skills, the poor mathematics performance of deaf and hard of hearing students is cause for concern. The present article focuses on the mathematics competency of teachers of deaf and hard of hearing students as a factor in this poor performance. As part of a larger study (Pagliaro, 1996, 1998a), deaf education teachers provided data on their postsecondary education and their professional development activities related to mathematics. Administrators were also questioned to investigate the schools' contribution to these activities. Results reveal an insufficient level of mathematics preparation among deaf education teachers, especially at the high school level. Few hold degrees in a mathematics-related field, and only a moderate number seek professional development in this discipline. Recommendations for improving the mathematics competencies of deaf education teachers are provided, with the objective of improving student performance.
Geometry dependent tunnel FET performance - dilemma of electrostatics vs. quantum confinement

Tunneling field-effect transistors (TFETs) are attracting a lot of interest because of their potential to reduce power dissipation in logic applications [1–3]. Performance of TFETs is expected to improve with increasing electrostatic control as provided by ultra-thin body (UTB) based single-gate (SG), double-gate (DG), and nanowire based gate-all-around (GAA) structures, respectively (Fig. 1) [4]. Increasing geometrical confinement, however, could also lead to significant quantum confinement effects [4, 5], especially in III–V materials, which is detrimental to TFET performance. A previous study compared the operation of InAs based SG, DG, and GAA TFETs using quantum transport simulations [4]. Because of the use of the tight-binding model for the device structure in [4], however, the important tradeoff between electrostatics vs. quantum confinement in different geometries could not be clearly distinguished. In this work, we use detailed analytical calculations to compare the operation of SG, DG, and GAA TFETs in InAs (Fig. 1), and examine the competing effects of electrostatics vs. quantum confinement. We demonstrate an important tradeoff between the superior electrostatic control vs. current injection efficiency in TFETs with increasing lateral confinement, which will be an essential consideration for future TFET design.
Uses, Gratifications, and Beyond: Toward a Model of Motivated Media Exposure and Its Effects on Risk Perception

Thisstudyproposesatheoreticalmodelpostulatingtheimpactofaudiencemotivationonrisk perception. Drawing from uses and gratifications theory and differential impact hypothesis, the model consists of 5 major propositions. First, an overarching proposition postulating the capacity of audience motivation to serve as a mental frame on media exposure is proposed. Surveillance motivation is postulated to influence social risk perception, whereas enjoyment motivation is postulated to influence personal risk perception to a greater extent. Moreover, the model predicts that mixed motivation of surveillance and enjoyment will result in similar degrees of both social and personal risk perceptions. Lastly, the effect of personal salience on the proposed influences is presented. Theoretical and practical implications of the model are discussed.
Molecular Detection of Antifungal Resistance

The increasing need for clinically relevant antifungal susceptibility assays is driven by three recent developments in medical mycology: (i) the increasing incidence of fungal infection due to immunosuppression (associated with AIDS, organ and tissue transplantation, and aggressive treatments for cancer and autoimmune disease), (ii) the expanding number of antifungals with both shared and distinct mechanisms of action, and (iii) the recognition of wide variation in susceptibility due to both intrinsic and acquired antifungal resistance. With respect to disease-causing fungi, some of these conditions apply, but clearly in limited and specific ways. First, for most fungal pathogens and antifungals, the development of resistance during treatment is rare. Second, relatively few studies have directly examined the clinical relevance of antifungal susceptibility data. The majority of these mutations involve a single Cyp51A residue, G54, although at least four additional residues have also been implicated. The currently known mutations associated with azole resistance in Candida albicans Erg11 and Aspergillus fumigatus Cyp51A are dispersed over 1.2 kbp of primary sequence. Echinocandins (caspofungin, micafungin, and anidulafungin) are the most recently introduced class of antifungals but are highly promising due to their mechanism-based selective toxicity. A great deal has been learned in recent years regarding molecular mechanisms of antifungal resistance, particularly in the yeasts C. albicans and C. glabrata and the mold A. fumigatus. In addition, simple and cost-effective approaches to measuring RNA expression and sequencing DNA are required.
PROBLEM FAMILIES AND THE CIRCUMPLEX MODEL: OBSERVATIONAL ASSESSMENT USING THE CLINICAL RATING SCALE (CRS)

The validity, reliability, and curvilinearity of the Clinical Rating Scale (CRS) from the Circumplex Model were evaluated and the ability of the scale to discriminate between proble/clinical families and nonclinical families was tested on family cohesion, family adaptability, and family communication. Two groups of problem families were compared with two control groups. The study tested the main curvilinear hypothesis of the Circumplex Model that nonclinical families will have more Balanced system types than problem/clinical families. Conversely, problem/clinical families will have more Extreme system types than nonclinical families. Using the CRS, this hypothesis was strongly supported. Family satisfaction was used as a measure to investigate group differences further. As hypothesized, the two control groups had high levels of satisfaction, and the two problem family groups had significantly lower levels of family satisfaction. Overall, the CRS discriminated well between problem families who had more Extreme types on cohesion and adaptability and lower on communication and satisfaction than control families. Investigating different family structures (single-parent, blended, and traditional two-parent families) confirmed these findings. The study provided strong support for the curvilinear hypothesis that problem families are more frequently Extreme on both ends of the family cohesion and adaptability dimensions. It also revealed that the CRS has excellent validity and reliability.
IgY-Antibodies, Future Prospects

In the past two decades, biomedicai research has been confronted with a growing public interest in the welfare of animals used in research. The resulting discussion has encouraged the search for ways to refine, reduce or even replace animal experiments. This also applies to the production of mono- and polyclonal antibodies in animals. These antibodies are important tools in bio-medical research, e.g. they are essential components of diagnostic methods for quantitative and qualitative determi-nations of a wide variety of biological molecules. Polyclonal antibodies are produced in rabbits and other rodents like mice, rats and guinea-pigs or in farm animals such as horses, sheep and goats. The production of polyclonal antibodies involves two stressful procedures, firstly the immunisation pro-cedure with several injections and secondly the harvesting of the antibodies which involves bleeding of the animals.
Exact and heuristic approaches for the cycle hub location problem

In this paper, we present solution algorithms for the cycle hub location problem (CHLP), which seeks to locate p hub facilities that are connected by means of a cycle, and to assign non-hub nodes to hubs so as to minimize the total cost of routing flows through the network. This problem is useful in modeling applications in transportation and telecommunications systems, where large setup costs on the links and reliability requirements make cycle topologies a prominent network architecture. We present a branch-and-cut algorithm that uses a flow-based formulation and two families of mixed-dicut inequalities as a lower bounding procedure at nodes of the enumeration tree. We also introduce a metaheuristic based on greedy randomized adaptive search procedure to obtain initial upper bounds for the exact algorithm and to obtain feasible solutions for large-scale instances of the CHLP. Numerical results on a set of benchmark instances with up to 100 nodes and 8 hubs confirm the efficiency of the proposed solution algorithms.
Generation of Terahertz Radiation From a Poled Polymer

We report the generation of terahertz radiation via optical rectification from a poled polymer using femtosecond optical pulses. We have measured the refractive index and power absorption in the terahertz frequency range. The corresponding difference frequency mixing coherence length in the poled polymer (1 mm at 1 THz) is ∼20 times greater than that of LiNbO3 (50 μm at 1 THz). The observed far‐infrared electric field radiated from a 16 μm thick polymer sample is only 4 times smaller than that from a 1 mm thick y‐cut LiNbO3 crystal. We discuss conversion efficiencies for thicker polymer samples.
Mediation and Justice: What Standards Govern?

Analysis posits that the most compelling account of the mediation process supports, as its governing values, voluntariness, inalienability of welfare interests, publicity of outcomes, right to treatment as an equal, informed decision-making, and toleration of conflicting fundamental values. As such, mediation constitutes an example Rawls' "pure procedural justice": there are no criteria independent of these governing values, such as a projected jury verdict or judge's decision, that can be applied to assess whether parties reached the "right" result. Rather, any result they reach through mediation is fair. In this significant sense, a "just" outcome is whatever the parties, via mediation, mutually adopt.
Genetic characterization of the complete genome of an Aleutian mink disease virus isolated in north China

The genome of a highly pathogenic strain of Aleutian disease mink virus (AMDV-BJ) isolated from a domestic farm in North China has been determined and compared with other strains. Alignment analysis of the major structural protein VP2 revealed that AMDV-BJ is unique among 17 other AMDV strains. Compared with the nonpathogenic strain ADV-G, the 3′ end Y-shaped hairpin was highly conserved, while a 4-base deletion in the 5′ U-shaped terminal palindrome resulted in a different unpaired “bubble” group near the NS1-binding region of the 5′ end hairpin which may affect replication efficiency in vivo. We also performed a protein analysis of the NS1, NS2, and new-confirmed NS3 of AMDV-BJ with some related AMDV DNA sequence published, providing information on evolution of AMDV genes. This study shows a useful method to obtain the full-length genome of AMDV and some other parvoviruses.
Anisotropic nanoparticles as shape-directing catalysts for the chemical etching of silicon.

Anisotropic Au nanoparticles have been used to create a library of complex features on silicon surfaces. The technique provides control over feature size, shape, and depth. Moreover, a detailed study of the etching rate as a function of the nanoparticle surface facet interfaced with the silicon substrate suggested that the etching is highly dependent upon the facet surface energy. Specifically, the etching rate for Au nanocubes with {100}-terminated facets was ∼1.5 times higher than that for triangular nanoprisms with {111} facets. Furthermore, this work gives fundamental insight into the mechanism of metal-catalyzed chemical etching.
SYMPATRIC HOST RACE FORMATION AND SPECIATION IN FRUGIVOROUS FLIES OF THE GENUS RHAGOLETIS (DIPTERA, TEPHRITIDAE).

The origin and evolution of species and host racesl in certain phytophagous insect groups have long been a source of disagreement among evolutionary biologists. The rapid establishment of new host races by some stenophagous insects on introduced plants, as well as various other aspects of their biology and distribution, has led several biologists to suggest that new host races and species may arise sympatrically (Brues, 1924; Thorpe, 1930; Smith, 1941; Haldane, 1959; Alexander and Bigelow, 1960; Bush, 1966). Others regard geographic isolation as a prerequisite for speciation in all groups of sexually reproducing animals (for examples see Mayr, 1963). The difficulty in resolving whether either one or the other, or both, modes of speciation may occur in these insects stems directly from the paucity of detailed studies of wild stenophagous insects. Our information on these insects has been derived primarily from studies made over the past hundred years on a few economically important plant pests. One such group that has received particular attention is the Holarctic and Neotropical genus Rhagoletis whose larvae feed within the developing fruits of many plant species such as cherries, blueberries, apples, currants, rose hips, walnuts, and tomatoes. The objective of this paper is to point out how the biological attributes of these flies may have permitted new forms to arise rapidly in the absence of geographical barriers to gene flow.
Light-induced changes in magnetism in a coordination polymer heterostructure, Rb0.24Co[Fe(CN)6]0.74@K0.10Co[Cr(CN)6]0.70·nH2O and the role of the shell thickness on the properties of both core and shell.

Particles of formula Rb0.24Co[Fe(CN)6]0.74@K0.10Co[Cr(CN)6]0.70·nH2O with a light-responsive rubidium cobalt hexacyanoferrate (RbCoFe) core and a magnetic potassium cobalt hexacyanochromate (KCoCr) shell have been prepared and exhibit light-induced changes in the magnetization of the normally light-insensitive KCoCr shell, a new property resulting from the synergy between the core and shell of a coordination polymer heterostructure. A single batch of 135 ± 12 nm RbCoFe particles are used as seeds to generate three different core@shell samples, with KCoCr shell thicknesses of approximately 11, 23 and 37 nm, to probe the influence of the shell thickness over the particles’ morphology and structural and magnetic properties. Synchrotron powder X-ray diffraction reveals that structural changes in the shell accompany the charge transfer induced spin transition (CTIST) of the core, giving direct evidence that the photomagnetic response of the shell is magnetomechanical in origin. The depth to which the KCoCr she...
Robust adaptive Lasso for variable selection

ABSTRACTThe adaptive least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (Lasso) and least absolute deviation (LAD)-Lasso are two attractive shrinkage methods for simultaneous variable selection and regression parameter estimation. While the adaptive Lasso is efficient for small magnitude errors, LAD-Lasso is robust against heavy-tailed errors and severe outliers. In this article, we consider a data-driven convex combination of these two modern procedures to produce a robust adaptive Lasso, which not only enjoys the oracle properties, but synthesizes the advantages of the adaptive Lasso and LAD-Lasso. It fully adapts to different error structures including the infinite variance case and automatically chooses the optimal weight to achieve both robustness and high efficiency. Extensive simulation studies demonstrate a good finite sample performance of the robust adaptive Lasso. Two data sets are analyzed to illustrate the practical use of the procedure.
Bordeaux mixture as a Control for Leafhoppers

Tests conducted with home-made Bordeaux: Mixture, 4–4–50 formula and also with three proprietary preparations of this compound, indicate that these spray materials are toxic to the nymphs of at least one common and injurious cicadellid, namely: Empoasca mali Le B. They also are apparently toxic to the nymphs of three other species of leafhoppers, namely: Empoa rosae Linn, Erythroneura comes Say, and E. tricincta Fitch. The young nymphs are more susceptible to the action of the Bordeaux than the older ones, while the adults, although they are repelled from plants sprayed with this preparation, are not affected when forced to feed from treated leaves. Bordeaux mixture should therefore be classed as a specific insecticide for certain species of leafhoppers.
Vertex Arboricity and Vertex Degrees

The vertex arboricity of a graph G, denoted a(G), is the minimum number of subsets into which V(G) can be partitioned so that each subset induces an acyclic graph. We first give a vertex degree condition to guarantee $$a(G) \le k$$a(G)≤k, which is best possible in the same sense as Chvatal's well-known hamiltonian degree condition. We then explore comparably strong degree conditions for $$a(G) \ge k$$a(G)źk, and show that any such condition has intrinsic complexity which grows superpolynomially with the order of G.
The newborn at risk for serious infections

Early discharge of suitable newborns is rapidly becoming a hospital standard. One concern is that truncated hospital observation of the infant during the first days of life, even with home visits or early clinical appointments, would allow early signs of a serious infection to go unnoticed, which could lead to a missed chance for early therapy and could imperil the child's favorable recovery. An analysis of available data for early onset neonatal bacterial sepsis and neonatal herpes virus infection shows that this new practice should not unduly place newborns at risk of treatable infections, however, so long as conventional risk factors are appreciated and reasonable, nationally sanctioned discharge criteria are followed.
Gender Roles and Stereotypes about Science Careers Help Explain Women and Men’s Science Pursuits

Diverse perspectives in science promote innovation and creativity, and represent the needs of a diverse populace. However, many science fields lack gender diversity. Although fewer women than men pursue careers in physical science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (pSTEM), more women than men pursue careers in behavioral science. The current work measured the relationship between first-year college students’ stereotypes about science professions and course completion in science fields over the next 3 years. pSTEM careers were more associated with self-direction and self-promotion (i.e., agency) than with working with and for the betterment of others (i.e., communion). On the flip side, behavioral science careers were associated with communion to a greater degree than with agency. Women completed a lower proportion of pSTEM courses than did men, but this gender disparity disappeared when women perceived high opportunity for communion in pSTEM. Men pursued behavioral science courses to a lesser degree than did women; this disparity did not exist when men perceived ample opportunity for agency in behavioral science. These results suggest highlighting the communal nature of pSTEM and the agentic nature of behavioral science in pre-college settings may promote greater gender diversity across science fields.
Scalable Production Method for Graphene Oxide Water Vapor Separation Membranes

Membranes for selective water vapor separation were assembled from graphene oxide suspension using techniques compatible with high volume industrial production. The large-diameter graphene oxide flake suspensions were synthesized from graphite materials via relatively efficient chemical oxidation steps with attention paid to maintaining flake size and achieving high graphene oxide concentrations. Graphene oxide membranes produced using scalable casting methods exhibited water vapor flux and water/nitrogen selectivity performance meeting or exceeding that of membranes produced using vacuum-assisted laboratory techniques. (PNNL-SA-117497)
Skew-Symmetric Invariant Theory*

Publisher Summary This chapter presents two skew-symmetric analogs of the straightening formula and defines the notion of a skew-invariant form and state-skew analogs of the first and second fundamental theorems of the invariant theory. It is assumed that the noncommutative polynomial ring is P over an arbitrary field k, where 1 ≤ i ≤ m and 1 ≤ j ≤ n. In the ring P, the ideal J is assumed to be generated by all elements (xi ∥ uj) (xk ∥ ue) + (xk ∥ ue) (xi ∥ uj)) and (xi ∥ uj)2 = 0. The quotient ring PJ is denoted S (xi, uj and is called the ring of skew products (xi ∥ uj). This is the skew-straightening formula.
Research on Dynamic Modeling and Analysis of the Coupled Planetary Gear and Rotor System

The modeling and dynamics of the coupled planetary gear and rotor system is studied. The dynamic model of planetary gear system connected with the input shaft and output shaft is established. A concept of micro-relative displacement is introduced to describe the relative motion between each part of the planetary gear system, thus the positive semidefinite gear system is transformed into positive definite system. Considering the time-varying characteristic of gear mesh stiffness, the incremental harmonic balance method is adopted to analyze the response of the coupled rotor and planetary gear system. The analysis results are compared with that of the single planetary gear system. It shows that the nonlinear response behaviors of the planetary gear-rotor system are significantly different from the single planetary gear set, so the influence of rotors on both ends cannot be ignored, especially when the rotors are large.
Obesity and neurocognitive recovery after sports-related concussion in athletes: a matched cohort study

ABSTRACTObjectives: Sports-related concussions (SRCs) are a significant public health concern in athletes. Data exist suggesting a link between obesity and decreased neurocognitive function, yet the effect of body mass index (BMI) on neurocognitive function and recovery after a SRC is unknown. The goal of our study was to discern the effect of BMI on recovery after SRC.Methods: This study was a retrospective observational cohort study. Between 2013 and 2014, 7,606 athletes between the ages of 13–20 years valid baseline neurocognitive testing performed at multiple regional concussion centers sustained a concussion. Out of these athletes, 711 normal weight athletes and 711 obese athletes were matched by age, gender, number of previous concussions, and sport. The proportions of athletes returning to baseline within two weeks between the groups were defined by using 80% confidence reliable change index (RCI) criteria and were compared using Fisher’s Exact Test. Kaplan-Meier survival curve analysis with log-ra...
Introduction: The Importance of the SARS Outbreak

On 21 February 2003, Liu Jianlun, a 64-year-old physician and medical professor from Guangdong Province in the People’s Republic of China, checked into the Metropole Hotel in Hong Kong, Special Administrative Region of China. Dr Liu had traveled to Hong Kong to attend a wedding. The hotel assigned him a room on the ninth floor, Room 911. Before his journey to Hong Kong for the wedding, Dr Liu had been treating patients in Guangdong Province who were suffering from a mysterious respiratory illness. By the time Dr Liu arrived in his room on the ninth floor of the Metropole Hotel, he had started to feel unwell. Dr Liu was feeling feverish and had begun to cough.
A Reevaluation of the Fundamental Physical Constants

This paper is a progress report on our current efforts to revise and update the comprehensive review of the fundamental physical constants by Taylor, Parker, and Langenberg (1), including their set of best or recommended values. That such an updating is necessary just two years after their review appeared is due to the extraordinary amount of new experimental and theoretical work which has since been completed. Here, we very briefly summarize the experimental and theoretical evidence, with emphasis on the new results which have become available within the last two years, and discuss various treatments of the data. However, no new set of recommended constants is given since such a set will necessarily require the inclusion of the new data which has become available at this Conference.
External Barriers: Societal Attitudes

This chapter focuses on the general societal perception of women being “less” (less confident, less competent, less likely to stay the course) and the undermining tactics reinforcing such beliefs within the workplace.
Ancilla-aided recovery of quantum super-sensitivity diminished by decoherence

The quantum super-sensitivity of phase estimation in two-photon interferometery is diminished by decoherence. We show that this quantum advantage can be restored by employing an ancillary optical mode.
Observaciones finales: Migraciones culturales entre España y Rusia. Perspectivas Trasnacionales

This concluding essay interprets the other articles in the current issue of the journal by first providing an overview and comparison of older and more recent historiographical assessments of Spain and Russia. The article then briefly surveys the many parallels that existed between the two countries, which eased the transmission of ideas from one to the other. It identifies the main themes of these cultural exchanges as a utopian fascination with Russia on the part of Spaniards, and ideas about governance or rebellion that went in both directions depending on the time period. The article suggests that awareness of these cross-cultural ties is crucial for a deeper and more balanced understanding of the histories of Russia, Spain, and Europe as a whole.