cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Estimating a Large Travel Time Matrix Between Zip Codes in the United States: A Differential Sampling Approach.

Abstract Estimating a massive drive time matrix between locations is a practical but challenging task. The challenges include availability of reliable road network (including traffic) data, programming expertise, and access to high-performance computing resources. This research proposes a method for estimating a nationwide drive time matrix between ZIP code areas in the U.S.—a geographic unit at which many national datasets including health information are compiled and distributed. The method (1) does not rely on intensive efforts in data preparation or access to advanced computing resources, (2) uses algorithms of varying complexity and computational time to estimate drive times of different trip lengths, and (3) accounts for both interzonal and intrazonal drive times. The core design samples ZIP code pairs with various intensities according to trip lengths and derives the drive times via Google Maps API, and the Google times are then used to adjust and improve some primitive estimates of drive times with low computational costs. The result provides a valuable resource for researchers.
Steep increases in fentanyl-related mortality west of the Mississippi River: synthesizing recent evidence from county and state surveillance

ABSTRACT Background and Aims Overdose deaths from synthetic opioids (e.g., fentanyl), increased 10-fold in the United States from 2013-2018, despite 88% of deaths occurring east of the Mississippi River. Public health professionals have long feared that further spread of fentanyl could greatly exacerbate the opioid epidemic. We aimed to measure and characterize recent fentanyl deaths in jurisdictions west of the Mississippi River. Design Systematic search of states and counties in the Western U.S. for publicly available data on fentanyl-related deaths since the most recently published Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) statistics, which cover through December 2018. Longitudinal study using 2019 and 2020 mortality records to identify changes in fentanyl-involved mortality since most recent CDC statistics. Settings U.S. states west of the Mississippi River. Measurements Annual rate of fentanyl-involved deaths per 100,000 population. Proportion of fatal heroin-, stimulant, and prescription pill overdoses also involving fentanyl. Findings We identified nine jurisdictions with publicly available fentanyl death data through December 2019 or later - State of Arizona; Denver County, CO; Harris County, TX; Humboldt County, CA; King County, WA; Los Angeles County, CA; San Francisco County, CA; Siskiyou County, CA; Dallas-Fort Worth, TX metro area (Denton, Johnson, Parker, Tarrant counties. Fentanyl deaths increased in each jurisdiction. Their collective contribution to national synthetic narcotics mortality tripled from 2017 to 2019. First quarter 2020 data (available from all but San Francisco County) showed a 33% growth in fentanyl-mortality over 2019. Fentanyl-involvement in heroin, stimulant, and prescription pill deaths has grown substantially over time. Conclusions Fentanyl has spread westward, which could dramatically worsen the nation’s already severe opioid epidemic. Increasing standard-dose of naloxone, expanding Medicaid, improving coverage of addiction treatment, and public health educational campaigns should be prioritized.
Newer second-line glucose-lowering drugs versus thiazolidinediones on cirrhosis risk among older US adult patients with type 2 diabetes.

Abstract Aims Type 2 diabetes (T2D) accelerates progression of chronic liver disease to cirrhosis, yet the effects of most glucose-lowering drugs (GLDs) on cirrhosis risk in T2D are unknown. To address this gap, we compared cirrhosis risk following initiation of newer second-line GLDs vs. thiazolidinediones (TZDs), which improve histology in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Materials and methods Using the US Medicare Fee-for-Service database (2007–2015) and an active comparator, new-user design, we estimated crude incidence rates (IRs) and propensity-score adjusted hazard ratios (aHR) for incident cirrhosis, comparing newer GLDs (dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors (DPP4i), glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP1RA), and sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i)) vs. TZDs. Results Among 239,549 total initiators, we observed 318, 151, and Conclusions We observed mildly elevated cirrhosis risk with newer GLDs vs. TZD; however, uncertainty remains due to imprecise and statistically non-significant effect estimates.
Reliability of a Measure of Forward Flexibility and its Relation to Physical Dimensions of College Women

Abstract The reliability of the bend and reach test as a measure of spinal forward flexibility was investigated together with its relationship to selected body measurements of 100 freshman college women. Reliability coefficients on four consecutive trials and the best trial ranged from .86 to .98. Significant differences existed between the means of best trial and trials one and two, with nonsignificance between the means of best trial and trials three and four. Nonsignificant r's were obtained between flexibility scores and length of body segments. Nonsignificant t's were obtained between the means of flexibility scores of the extreme groups when these groups were determined by segmental relationships, trunk plus arm minus leg, and the ratio of trunk plus arm over leg.
Chapter VII Semiconductors at Low Temperatures

Publisher Summary The behavior of a semiconductor depends not only upon the charge carrier density, but also upon the mechanism of the scattering encountered by the carriers. In an ideal semiconductor, one would expect the scattering due to collisions between the carriers and the lattice phonons to vanish and the mobility thus to become very large as 0°K is approached. The basic properties of a semiconductor may be understood from the band structure—that is, by consideration of the arrangement of allowed and forbidden bands of electron energies. In a semiconductor or insulator, there is a forbidden gap between the highest band of completely occupied electronic energy levels and the empty band of allowed energy levels above. In most semiconductors, additional energy levels are present in the forbidden gap arising from the presence of impurities or crystal imperfections. There are a number of semiconductors with constant numbers of carriers, as deduced from the constancy of the Hall coefficient over a large range of temperatures down to very low temperatures, while the resistivity decreases with temperature as in a metal; lead sulfide with excess lead is such a semiconductor.
Towards a practical algorithm for large molecule calculations

Yang's divide-and-conquer method is reviewed and shown to be as accurate as the conventional Kohn-Sham method and to be a practical algorithm for large molecule calculations. The working mechanism of the method is thoroughly examined.
Using n-Grams to Identify Time Periods of Cultural Influence

An author's literary style is influenced by the cultural time period in which the author lives. The author's ideas, and the words chosen to express them, can help identify the cultural time period that most influenced the author. Ideas are expressed in language through sequences of words called n-grams. Over the past several years, Google has been engaged in digitizing millions of books. As part of this endeavor, Google has created a database of n-grams extracted from these digitized books and has made the database available to researchers online. This is the first time ever that such an extensive repository of cultural data has been made available. This study develops and tests an original method for utilizing Google's database to identify the cultural time period that most influenced the author of a published work. Several undisputed literary works are examined, from which sets of n-grams are extracted and compared against the Google database. The frequency and distribution of n-gram matches allow us to determine the cultural time period that most influenced the author. The method is also tested against several literary works having uncertain or disputed authorship and period of composition. The results suggest that the method developed provides a reasonable approximation of the time period of greatest cultural influence for each book. Unexpectedly, the results tend to support conclusions reached by another researcher with regard to prior literary influences on the Ern Malley Poems. In addition, they lend support to early 19th-century origins for authorship of Book of Mormon
Anxiety and depression in a primary care clinic: Comparison of Diagnostic Interview Schedule, General Health Questionnaire, and practitioner assessments.

• Over one half of all persons seen in a primary care clinic were identified as having anxiety or depressive disorder by the primary care provider, the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ), or the Diagnostic Interview Schedule (DIS). In only about 5% of all patients were findings positive on all three assessments concurrently. Both the GHQ and the practitioners identified over 30% of all patients as having a disorder, while about 8% had one or more of five DIS anxiety or depressive disorders (major depression, dysthymia, panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, or obsessive-compulsive disorder). Of the patients with DIS disorders 83% had positive GHQ scores, and 73% were identified by the practitioner as having a mental disorder.
Lipoteichoic Acids from Streptococcus sanguis

Two lipoteichoic acids, membrane (MLTA) and wall (WLTA), have been purified from Streptococcus sanguis by Sepharose and Ecteola-cellulose column chromatographies and concanavalin A-conjugated Sepharose affinity column chromatography. The teichoic acids were homogenous as judged by disc gel electrophoresis, column chromatography, and double diffusion tests. Both MLTA and WLTA consisted of glycerol, phosphate, glucose, and fatty acids in the ratios of 0.95:1:0.71:0.046 and 0.99:1:0.79:0.023, respectively. alpha-Glycerol-phosphate was obtained by the partial acid hydrolysis of the lipoteichoic acids suggesting that their backbone structure consists of the glycerol moieties linked by 1, 3-phosphodiester bonds. Both WLTA and MLTA form aggregates, perhaps due to micelle formation, in concentrated solution. The aggregate form of MLTA dissociates to a much greater extent than that of WLTA under similar conditions.
Novel contraceptive targets to inhibit ovulation: the prostaglandin E2 pathway.

BACKGROUND: Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) is an essential intrafollicular regulator of ovulation. In contrast with the one-gene one-protein concept for synthesis of peptide signaling molecules production and metabolism of bioactive PGE2 requires controlled expression of many proteins correct subcellular localization of enzymes coordinated PGE2 synthesis and metabolism and prostaglandin transport in and out of cells to facilitate PGE2 action and degradation. Elevated intrafollicular PGE2 is required for successful ovulation so disruption of PGE2 synthesis metabolism or transport may yield effective contraceptive strategies. METHODS: This review summarizes case reports and studies on ovulation inhibition in women and macaques treated with cyclooxygenase inhibitors published from 1987 to 2014. These findings are discussed in the context of studies describing levels of mRNA protein and activity of prostaglandin synthesis and metabolic enzymes as well as prostaglandin transporters in ovarian cells. RESULTS: The ovulatory surge of LH regulates the expression of each component of the PGE2 synthesis-metabolism-transport pathway within the ovulatory follicle. Data from primary ovarian cells and cancer cell lines suggest that enzymes and transporters can cooperate to optimize bioactive PGE2 levels. Elevated intrafollicular PGE2 mediates key ovulatory events including cumulus expansion follicle rupture and oocyte release. Inhibitors of the prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase 2 (PTGS2) enzyme (also known as cyclooxygenase-2 or COX2) reduce ovulation rates in women. Studies in macaques show that PTGS2 inhibitors can reduce the rates of cumulus expansion oocyte release follicle rupture oocyte nuclear maturation and fertilization. A PTGS2 inhibitor reduced pregnancy rates in breeding macaques when administered to simulate emergency contraception. However PTGS2 inhibition did not prevent pregnancy in monkeys when administered to simulate monthly contraceptive use. CONCLUSION: PTGS2 inhibitors alone may be suitable for use as emergency contraceptives. However drugs of this class are unlikely to be effective as monthly contraceptives. Inhibitors of additional PGE2 synthesis enzymes or modulation of PGE2 metabolism or transport also hold potential for reducing follicular PGE2 and preventing ovulation. Approaches which target multiple components of the PGE2 synthesis-metabolism-transport pathway may be required to effectively block ovulation and lead to the development of novel contraceptive options for women. Therapies which target PGE2 may also impact disorders of the uterus and could also have benefits for womens health in addition to contraception. (c) The Author 2015. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology. All rights reserved. For Permissions please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.
HLA-A and -B alleles and haplotypes in hemochromatosis probands with HFE C282Y homozygosity in central Alabama

Background We wanted to quantify HLA-A and -B allele and haplotype frequencies in Alabama hemochromatosis probands with HFE C282Y homozygosity and controls, and to compare results to those in other populations.
Condition assessment of concrete bridge decks using a fully autonomous robotic NDE platform

Condition assessment of concrete bridge decks using nondestructive evaluation (NDE) technologies concentrates on the assessment of corrosion, delamination and concrete quality. Various NDE technologies can be used for this purpose. To expedite the data collection and analysis process, a fully autonomous robotic system was developed that in a complementary way implements four NDE technologies and digital imaging. The NDE technologies include impact echo (IE), ground penetrating radar (GPR), ultrasonic surface waves (USW) and electrical resistivity (ER). The IE is used in detection and characterization of delamination. The GPR is used to identify bridge deck areas with likely deterioration and highly corrosive environment, to map all metallic objects and to measure the concrete cover. The USW provides information about the concrete quality through a measurement of concrete elastic modulus. Finally, the ER enables the assessment of a potential for corrosive environment. The application of the listed NDE technologies using a robotic platform allows data collection at far higher production rates than the manual collection using a group of technicians, and at a significantly reduced cost. Both the manual and robotic applications of NDE technologies are discussed.
Designing and implementing critical interaction factors for student engagement in distance learning

As instruction moves through a cycle of course delivery from traditional face-to-face instruction to web-based courses, one of the major challenges facing educators/trainers is student engagement. In order to help adult learners successfully transition from one environment to the other, instructional designers need to consider the three types of "interactions" outlined by Moore (student interaction with course content, student interaction with fellow students and student interaction with the instructor) when designing and implementing courses. We consider an additional factor that has an important bearing on these interactions student interaction with the interface/technology. This paper presents a process for course redesign and delivery based on research collected from graduate students currently enrolled at Northeastern Illinois University in Chicago as we explored the feasibility of converting face-to-face instructor-led courses to web-based courses.
Endoscopic biliary decompression aided by a different technique of percutaneous transhepatic access

1. Lebovics E, Heier SK, Rosenthal WS. Chronic pancreatitis and the sphincter of Oddi: which is the numerator and which the denominator? Am J Gastroenterol 1988;83:854-6. 2. Guelrud M. Papillary stenosis. Endoscopy 1988;20:193-202. 3. Toouli J. What is sphincter of Oddi dysfunction? Gut 1989;30:753-61. 4. Albert MB, Steinberg WM, Irani SK. Severe acute pancreatitis complicating sphincter of Oddi manometry. Gastrointest Endosc 1988;34:342-5. 5. King CE, Kalvaria I, Sninsky CA. Pancreatitis due to endoscopic biliary manometry: proceed with caution. Gastroenterology 1988;94:A227. 6. Cattau EL Jr, Johnson DA, Benjamin SB, Geenen JE, Hogan WJ. Sphincter of Oddi (SO) manometry: a survey of methodology, complications and clinical applications [Abstract). Gastrointest Endosc 1988;34:185. 7. Gregg JA. Function and dysfunction of the sphincter of Oddi. In: Jacobson 1M, ed. ERCP: diagnostic and therapeutic applications. New York: Elsevier Science Publishing Co., 1989:13970. 8. Geenen JE, Hogan WJ, Dodds WJ, Stewart ET, Arndorfer RC. Intraluminal pressure recordings from the human sphincter of Oddi. Gastroenterology 1980;78:317-24. 9. Carr-Locke DL, Gregg J A. Endoscopic manometry of pancreatic and biliary sphincter zones in man: basal results in healthy volunteers. Dig Dis Sci 1981;26:7-15. 10. Gregg JA. The intraductal secretin test: an adjunct to ERCP. Gastrointest Endosc 1982;28:199-203. 11. Summers RW, Johlin FC. The pathophysiology, evaluation and management of motility disorders of the biliary tract. Gastroenterol Clin North Am 1989;18:425-35. 12. Geenen JE, Hogan WJ, Dodds WJ, Toouli J, Venu RP. The efficacy of endoscopic sphincterotomy after cholecystectomy in patients with sphincter of Oddi dysfunction. N Engl J Med 1989;320:82-7.
From “What did I write?” to “Is this right?”: Intention, convention, and accountability in early literacy

When children enter public kindergartens in the current atmosphere of high-stakes testing, they often encounter an emphasis on correctness that casts doubt on the integrity of their personally invented messages, prompting them to ask not “What did I write?” but “Is this right?” This ethnographic case study examines early writing by 23 kindergarten children within the context of their free-writing time and their teacher's plan to restore intention to compensate for a mandated curriculum that overemphasized convention. Children's writing samples were analyzed before and after the teacher introduced peer sharing, a strategy aimed at reestablishing the children's communicative intent.
Temporary focal ischemia in the mouse: Technical aspects and patterns of Fluoro-Jade evident neurodegeneration

Animal models of cerebral infarction are crucial to understanding the mechanisms of neuronal survival following ischemic brain injury and to the development of therapeutic interventions for victims of all types of stroke. Rodents have been used extensively in such research. One rodent model of stroke utilizes either permanent or temporary occlusion of the middle cerebral artery (MCAO) to produce ischemia. Since the development of an endovascular method for this was published in 1989, MCAO has been applied commonly to the rat, and often paired with 2, 3, 5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) staining for stroke volume measurement. Meanwhile, advances in the ability to genetically alter mice have allowed exciting lines of research into ischemia. Because of technical demands and issues with survival, relatively few laboratories have investigated the MCAO method in the mouse. Our present work utilizes a mouse middle cerebral occlusion (MCAO) model of embolic stroke to study neuronal degeneration following temporary focal cerebral ischemia. C57Bl/6J mice were used to examine the exact effects of MCAO using Fluoro-Jade, a marker of neurodegeneration that allows observation of specific brain regions and cells destined to die. A time course of escalating neuronal degeneration from 10 min to 7 days following MCAO was established. Technical aspects of this popular method for transient focal ischemia as it applies to the mouse are discussed.
Study of CO2 Absorption and Desorption in a Packed Column

Carbon dioxide, a major greenhouse gas, may need to be removed from flue gas produced by combustion of fossil fuels in order to manage future climate changes. Although conventional wet scrubbing te...
Vitamin D for Health: A Global Perspective

It is now generally accepted that vitamin D deficiency is a worldwide health problem that affects not only musculoskeletal health but also a wide range of acute and chronic diseases. However, there remains cynicism about the lack of randomized controlled trials to support the association studies regarding the nonskeletal health benefits of vitamin D. This review was obtained by searching English-language studies published up to April 1, 2013, in PubMed, MEDLINE, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (search terms: vitamin D and supplementation) and focuses on recent challenges regarding the definition of vitamin D deficiency and how to achieve optimal serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations from dietary sources, supplements, and sun exposure. The effect of vitamin D on fetal programming epigenetics and gene regulation could potentially explain why vitamin D has been reported to have such wide-ranging health benefits throughout life. There is potentially a great upside to increasing the vitamin D status of children and adults worldwide for improving musculoskeletal health and reducing the risk of chronic illnesses, including some cancers, autoimmune diseases, infectious diseases, type 2 diabetes mellitus, neurocognitive disorders, and mortality.
Harmonic Analysis and Fractal Limit-Measures Induced by Representations of a Certain C*-Algebra

We describe a class of measurable subsets Ω in Rd such that L2(Ω) has an orthogonal basis of frequencies eλ(x) = ei2πλ · x(x ∈ Ω) indexed by λ ∈ Λ ⊂ Rd. We show that such spectral pairs (Ω, Λ) have a self-similarity which may be used to generate associated fractal measures μ (typically with Cantor set support). The Hilbert space L2(μ) does not have a total set of orthogonal frequencies; but a harmonic analysis of μ may be built instead from a natural representation of the Cuntz C*-algebra which is constructed from a pair of lattices supporting the given spectral pair (Ω, Λ). We show conversely that such a pair may be reconstructed from a certain Cuntz-representation given to act on L2(μ).
Analysis of the Fourier transform spectra of 12C17O2 and 12C17O18O: The ν2 (15 μm) region☆

Abstract The vibration-rotation spectra of the ν 2 fundamental of 12 C 17 O 2 and 12 C 17 O 18 O have been obtained by Fourier transform spectroscopy at 0.05 cm −1 resolution. The data were fitted by a least-squares routine to obtain a number of the molecular constants. The band center for 12 C 17 O 2 lies at 662.0716 cm −1 while that for 12 C 17 O 18 O is at 659.7057 cm −1 . The difference bands ν 1 - ν 2 have also been observed for the two molecular species.
Thermal design of the Wide Field/Planetary Camera

The Wide Field/Planetary Camera is an imaging system developed by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory for the NASA Hubble Space Telescope currently scheduled to be launched in December 1989 aboard the space shuttle. The temperature control design of the instrument utilizes multilayered insulation, electric resistance heaters, aluminum/ammonia heat pipes, thermoelectric coolers, temperature control coatings, and space radiators. A feedback control system maintains stable sensor temperatures. Thermal capacitance maintains stable optics and electronics temperatures during transient conditions. Schedule slips and launch delays have allowed extensive thermal testing of the instrument. Six instrument thermal vacuum tests and a spacecraft thermal vacuum test were performed. Several modifications have been made to the instrument to correct icing and contamination problems that have been discovered during thermal vacuum testing. This paper describes the thermal design, last instrument thermal vacuum test, results, and thermal model correlation.
Neuromuscular hamartoma of the sciatic nerve: Case report and review of the literature.

Background Neuromuscular hamartomas are rare benign tumors with mature skeletal elements mixed with mature neural elements. They present typically as solitary lesions in childhood and have been reported to be associated with cranial nerves or large peripheral nerves such as the brachial plexus, median nerve, and sciatic nerve. To date, eight cases of sciatic nerve neuromuscular hamartomas have been reported. We present a case along with an outline for the natural history of the disease with a review of the literature of the reported cases dating back to 1895. Case description An 11-year-old boy presented with progressive right lower extremity pain and atrophy. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a large right sciatic nerve mass, and electromyography demonstrated evidence of ongoing denervation and reinnervation. Initial computed tomography-guided biopsy was unrevealing and subsequent open biopsy was consistent with neuromuscular choristoma. Conclusion Neuromuscular choristomas represent a rare disease. Symptoms of foot deformity, leg size discrepancy, and pain merit a complete work-up including spinal and peripheral nerve etiologies.
Processing Factors Influencing Splitting and Other Quality Characteristics of Canned Kidney Beans

Single factor changes from a standard canning process indicated that significant reductions in splitting resulted from higher soak Ca concentrations, higher soak temperatures, higher brine Ca concentrations, and shorter cooking times. Splitting in canned kidney beans was markedly reduced by soaking beans before cooking at temperatures of 66–71°C in solutions containing 150–350 ppm CaCl2. Treatments giving lower gain in weight during soaking led to less splitting. Lower splitting was associated with lower drained weight and firmer cooked beans.
Janus kinase 2 is involved in stromal cell–derived factor-1α–induced tyrosine phosphorylation of focal adhesion proteins and migration of hematopoietic progenitor cells

Stromal cell–derived factor-1 (SDF-1), the ligand for the CXCR4 receptor, is a highly efficacious chemoattractant for CD34+hematopoietic progenitor cells. However, the SDF-1/CXCR4 signaling pathways that regulate hematopoiesis are still not well defined. This study reports that SDF-1α can stimulate the tyrosine phosphorylation of Janus kinase 2 (JAK2) and other members of the JAK/signal transduction and activation of transcription (STAT) family, including JAK1, tyrosine kinase 2, STAT2, and STAT4 in the human progenitor cell line, CTS. SDF-1α stimulation of these cells also enhanced the association of JAK2 with phosphatidylinositol 3 (PI3)-kinase. This enhanced association was abolished by pretreatment of cells with AG490, a specific JAK2 inhibitor. Furthermore, pretreatment of CTS cells with AG490 significantly inhibited SDF-1α–induced PI3-kinase activity, and inhibition of JAK2 with AG490 ablated the SDF-1α–induced tyrosine phosphorylation of multiple focal adhesion proteins (including focal adhesion kinase, related adhesion focal tyrosine kinase, paxillin, CrkII, CrkL, and p130Cas). Chemotaxis assays showed that inhibition of JAK2 diminished SDF-1α–induced migration in both CTS cells and CD34+ human bone marrow progenitor cells. Hence, these results suggest that JAK2 is required for CXCR4 receptor-mediated signaling that regulates cytoskeletal proteins and cell migration through PI3-kinase pathways in hematopoietic progenitor cells.
The World Wide Web as a public relations medium: the use of research, planning, and evaluation in web site development

Abstract The World Wide Web is viewed as a desirable medium for public relations by many organizations. Given the evolving nature of the Web and the mixed findings about commercial successes of Web sites, little is known about the managerial aspects of Web site research, planning, and evaluation. This study found that, in many cases, Web site planning is done by trial and error based on subjective knowledge and intuition, with little or no formal research and evaluation . Interviews with persons responsible for making Web site decisions for organizations revealed that competition and the desire to establish an Internet presence were the driving forces in deciding to develop a Web site. Very little research about present effectiveness is done, but there is a strong belief that Web site communication will be increasingly important in the future. Candace White is assistant professor of public relations in the School of Journalism at The University of Tennessee in Knoxville. Niranjan Raman works for The Burke Institute in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Single Molecule Studies of a 2,7-Bis-(Phenylethenyl)fluorenone: Implications for Green-Emission Bands in Fluorene-Based OLEDs

The color purity of blue polyfluorene fluorescence emission is often adversely contaminated by green emission bands. The origin of this green emission has been attributed to various factors including on-chain oxidation of fluorene leading to monomeric fluorenone emission and inter/intra-chain interaction between segments of fluorenone units leading to excimer formation on the polyfluorene backbone. We report here emission properties at the bulk and single molecule level of a molecular fluorene derivative and compare them to those of its oxidative fluorenone derivative. Whereas the bulk fluorescence emission of 2,7-bis(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenylethenyl)-9,9-diethyl-9H-fluorene (OFPV) exhibits a blue to blue-green emission at about 480 nm, 2,7-bis(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenylethenyl)-9,9-diethyl-9H-fluorenone (OFOPV) shows red luminescence with a peak centered at about 630 nm. However, the peak position for OFOPV shifts to higher energies (∼540 nm) upon dilution or dispersion in polymer matrices like PMMA or Zeonex. Single molecule measurements of OFOPV show fluorescence spectra dominated by peaks around 540 nm, with a small minority at longer wavelengths that are attributed to emission from dimers or higher aggregates. This distribution indicates that monomeric emission of OFOPV is green, consistent with green emission bands seen in polyfluorenes.
Efficacy of agar media for enumerating two Saccharomyces species in sucrose syrups

Experiments were carried out to determine the suitability of acidified and antibiotic-supplemented agars for supporting colony formation by cells ofSaccharomyces cerevisiae andSaccharomyces rouxii. Yeasts had been suspended in sucrose syrups buffered at pH 3.0, 5.0 and 7.0, and stored at 4 and 21°C for periods of time ranging to 10 weeks. TheSaccharomyces species were recovered in equal numbers, regardless of the type of enumeration agar. Sucrose, at concentrations up to 60%, protected cells against inactivation during storage, and survival was greater at 21° than at 4°C.
Gene therapy for immunodeficiency.

Since the early 1990s, primary immunodeficiency (ID) disorders have played a major role in the development of human gene therapy. Adenosine deaminase (ADA) deficiency was the first disease to be treated with a gene therapy approach in humans, and was also the first condition for which therapeutic gene transfer into the hematopoietic stem cell has been attempted in the clinical arena. A series of encouraging results obtained in chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) pateints have followed these pioneer experiments and preceded the very recent and exciting reports of successful genetic correction procedures performed in patients affected with the X-linked form of severe combined immunodeficiency (XSCID). The technical progress made in the field of gene transfer in recent years is mostly responsible for these clinical advances, and will be critical for future development of gene therapy approaches for other forms of IDs.
Readaptation to prismatic rotations of visual space as a function of lesion laterality and extratemporal EEG spike activity after temporal lobectomy

Abstract An attempt was made to analyze lateral differences in visuospatial functioning after unilateral temporal lobectomy by quantifying the contact and travel components of a visoumotor readaptation to rotated visual space. Although no differences emerged as a function of lesion laterality, the presence of extratemporal EEG spike foci was associated with an elongated contact component under most conditions other than the more difficult positions utilized. Selectively longer contact durations were present at these difficult rotations in patients with extratemporal EEG spike activity after right as compared with left temporal lobectomy. The results were discussed in terms of current theories of cerebral function in man.
Long-Term Intravesical Oxybutynin Chloride Therapy in Children with Myelodysplasia

AbstractPurpose: We evaluated the clinical use of long-term intravesical oxybutynin chloride in the treatment of neurogenic bladder dysfunction in children with myelodysplasia who could not tolerate oral anticholinergics.Materials and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the records of all patients recommended for intravesical oxybutynin chloride therapy. A total of 12 girls and 18 boys 1 to 17 years old was recruited for study. Oxybutynin chloride (5 mg.) was instilled 2 times daily and pretreatment cystograms were compared to followup urodynamic studies. Duration of therapy was 2 to 26 months (mean 13, median 12).Results: Mean total capacity plus or minus standard deviation increased from 209 plus/minus 103 to 282 plus/minus 148 ml. (p less than 0.01), mean safe capacity increased from 157 plus/minus 105 to 234 plus/minus 147 ml. (p less than 0.01) and mean age adjusted safe capacity increased from 76 plus/minus 36 to 115 plus/minus 62 percent. Of the 29 patients who were incontinent 3 (10 percent) achi...
An unconditional stable general operator splitting method for transistor level transient analysis

In this paper, we introduce a general operator splitting method for transient simulation of VLSI circuits. The proposed approach generates special partitions of the circuits and alternates the explicit and implicit integrations between the partitions. We prove that the method is unconditionally stable independent of the step size. The splitting scheme greatly reduces the nonzero fill-ins generated in direct methods like LU decomposition. Orders of magnitude speedup over Berkeley SPICE3 is observed for sets of circuits.
Noma in children with severe combined immunodeficiency.

Three Native American children with severe combined immunodeficiency developed noma, a necrotizing gingivostomatitis not previously reported in this country. The similarity between the clinical findings and those observed in monkeys with simian AIDS prompted us to evaluate our patients and their families for human retroviral infection. Antibodies to HTLV-I or HTLV-III/LAV proteins were not identified in patients nor in their family members. Standard bacterial and viral cultures similarly falled to identify a suspect pathogen.
Alcohol consumption and breast cancer oestrogen and progesterone receptor status

We examined the role of alcohol on the risk of breast cancer by the joint oestrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PR) status of the tumour using data from two case-control studies conducted in Los Angeles County, USA. Eligible premenopausal patients were 733 women aged ≤ 40 years and first diagnosed from 1 July 1983 to 1 January 1989. Eligible postmenopausal patients were 1169 women aged 55–64 years and first diagnosed from 1 March 1987 to 31 December 89. Patients were identified by the University of Southern California Cancer Surveillance Program. Neighbourhood controls were individually matched to patients by parity (premenopausal patients) and birth date (± 3 years). ER and PR status were obtained from medical records for 424 premenopausal and 760 postmenopausal patients. The analyses included 714 premenopausal and 1091 postmenopausal control subjects. Alcohol use was generally not associated with premenopausal risk of breast cancer, regardless of hormone-receptor status. Among the postmenopausal women, those who consumed, on average, ≥ 27 g of alcohol/d experienced an odds ratio (OR) of 1.76 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.14–2.71] for ER-positive/PR-positive breast cancer relative to women who reported no alcohol consumption. Alcohol use was less clearly associated with risk of other receptor types among postmenopausal women. These data suggest that alcohol may preferentially increase risk of ER-positive/PR-positive breast cancer in postmenopausal women. © 1999 Cancer Research Campaign
β2-Microglobulin stimulates osteoclast formation

Dialysis-related amyloidosis is a complication of long-term chronic kidney disease (CKD) resulting in deposition of β 2 -microglobulin (β 2 M) amyloid in osteoarticular tissue. Clinical manifestations include destructive arthropathy, bone cysts, and fractures. Since osteolytic lesions are prominent findings around the β 2 M deposits, we sought evidence whether β 2 M causes bone destruction by directly stimulating osteoclast activity and if this was mediated by local cytokine production. A dose-dependent increase in the number of tartrate-resistant alkaline phosphatase-positive multinucleated cells was found in cultured mouse marrow cells treated with β 2 M. Osteoprotegerin was unable to block this osteoclastogenic effect of β 2 M. Osteoblasts or stromal cells were not necessary to induce this osteoclastogenesis, as formation was induced by incubating β 2 M with colony-forming unit granulocyte macrophages (the earliest identified precursor of osteoclasts) or the murine RAW 264.7 monocytic cell line. β 2 M Upregulated tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and IL-1 expression in a dose-dependent manner; however, a TNF-α-neutralizing antibody blocked β 2 M-induced osteoclast formation. These results show that β 2 M stimulates osteoclastogenesis, supporting its direct role in causing bone destruction in patients with CKD.
Remote analysis of biological invasion and biogeochemical change

We used airborne imaging spectroscopy and photon transport modeling to determine how biological invasion altered the chemistry of forest canopies across a Hawaiian montane rain forest landscape. The nitrogen-fixing tree Myrica faya doubled canopy nitrogen concentrations and water content as it replaced native forest, whereas the understory herb Hedychium gardnerianum reduced nitrogen concentrations in the forest overstory and substantially increased aboveground water content. This remote sensing approach indicates the geographic extent, intensity, and biogeochemical impacts of two distinct invaders; its wider application could enhance the role of remote sensing in ecosystem analysis and management.
A Generalized Index of Dissimilarity

The index of dissimilarity can be interpreted as the ratio of the number that must be moved from cells of excess to cells of deficit to achieve even distribution. This interpretation is used to generalize the index in two directions. First, the index is made applicable to more than two groups at a time. Second, an index and a test of significance are made available for explorations of cells of a two-way contingency table. DISSIM is the name of a computer program which provides these calculations for contingency tables.
Network measurement of the VMTP request-response protocol in the V distributed system

Communication systems are undergoing a change in use from stream to request-response or transaction communication. In addition, communication systems are becoming increasingly based on high-speed, low delay, low error rate channels. These changes call for a new generation of networks, network interfaces, and transport protocol design. The performance characteristics of request-response protocols on these high-performance networks should guide the design of this new generation, yet relatively little data of this nature is available.In this paper, we present some preliminary measurements of network traffic for a cluster of workstations connected by Ethernet running the V distributed operating system. We claim that this system, with its use of a high-speed local area network and a request-response transport protocol tuned for RPC, provides some indication of the performance characteristics for systems in the next generation of communication systems. In particular, these measurements provide an indication of network traffic patterns, usage characteristics for request-response protocols, and the behavior of the request-response protocol itself. These measurements suggest in general that a key design focus must be on minimizing network latency and that a request-response protocol is well-suited for this goal. This focus has implications for protocol design and implementation as well as for the design of networks and network interfaces.
Abstract A64: Peripheral blood monocytes predict survival in pancreatic cancer.

Background: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a deadly malignancy with a 5-year survival of Methods: PDAC tumor specimens (n=11) and normal pancreas (n=10) were subjected to flow cytometry and RT-PCR. Flow cytometry was performed on the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and bone marrow mononuclear cells (BMMC) of PDAC patients (n=13) and compared to healthy controls (n=11). For the survival analysis, 483 patients with PDAC underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy between 1997 and 2011 at a single institution. We excluded 110 patients with pre-operative leukocytosis (WBC>11,000 cell/ul) or who died within 30 days of surgery. We stratified the remaining 373 patients into 3 groups based on the prevalence of monocytes in peripheral blood leukocytes using their pre-operative CBC: low( Results: PDAC tumors are infiltrated by CCR2+ cells of monocyte lineage (CD45+, CD11b+, HLA-DR+, CD115+, CD14+) [37.9% ±1.6% of CD45+ cells], and these tumors expressed significantly more CCL2 relative to normal pancreas[p Conclusion: IM are recruited from the bone marrow to the tumor microenvironment in PDAC through the CCL2/CCR2 chemokine axis, and the prevalence of peripheral blood monocytes correlates with decreased patient survival. Developing effective intervention strategies to thwart monocyte recruitment may hold significant promise in this disease. Citation Format: Dominic E. Sanford, Brian A. Belt, Roheena Z. Panni, Jonathan B. Mitchem, David G. Denardo, S. Peter Goedegebuure, David C. Linehan. Peripheral blood monocytes predict survival in pancreatic cancer. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Tumor Immunology: Multidisciplinary Science Driving Basic and Clinical Advances; Dec 2-5, 2012; Miami, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(1 Suppl):Abstract nr A64.
A Comparative Analysis of Energy Costs of Photovoltaic, Solar Thermal, and Wind Electricity Generation Technologies

Global installed capacity of renewable energy technologies is growing rapidly. The ability of renewable technologies to enable a rapid transition to a low carbon energy system is highly dependent on the energy that must be “consumed” during their life-cycle. This paper presents the results of meta-analyses of life-cycle assessments (LCA) of energy costs of three renewable technologies: solar photovoltaic (PV), concentrating solar power (CSP), and wind. The paper presents these findings as energetic analogies with financial cost parameters for assessing energy technologies: overnight capital cost, operating costs and levelized cost of electricity (LCOE). The findings suggest that wind energy has the lowest energy costs, followed by CSP and then PV.
Dispersion relations and the nucleon polarizability.

Recent experimental results on the proton and neutron polarizabilities are examined from the point of view of backward dispersion relations. Results are found to be in reasonable agreement with the measured values. A rigorous relationship between the nucleon and pion polarizabilities is derived and shown to be in excellent agreement with several models.
ULTRASONIC AND THERMAL BEHAVIOR OF Nb-25% Zr IN STRONG MAGNETIC FIELDS

Abstract An absorption edge for ultrasonic shear waves has been observed at the upper critical field of Nb-25% Zr. The temperature variation of the field at which this edge occurs has been compared with several theoretical models.
Double Central Canal in Spinal Cord of Rat

WHILE studying the morphology of thiamine pyrophosphatase (TPPase)-positive Golgi complex in the central nervous system, it was observed that two central canals (Figs. 1 and 2) were present in the mid-thoracic region of the rat spinal cord.
Semigroup expansions using the derived category, kernel, and Malcev products

Three new classes of expansions are defined in this paper. More precisely, three different expansions are associated to each semigroup variety V. It is shown that several previously defined expansions can be viewed as specific examples of these constructions, or slight variants there of. This method is then used to “smooth” an already existing expansion to one which is guaranteed to be functorial and is maximal in a sense that will be made precise. Perhaps more importantly, this method of construction provides a large resource of expansions to be used as needed in the future.
A hierarchical atomistic/lattice simulation approach for the prediction of adsorption thermodynamics of benzene in silicalite

A lattice model is presented for predicting the adsorption thermodynamics of benzene in silicalite. The parameters for the lattice model are obtained from a detailed atomistic representation of benzene and the silicalite structure. The parameters describe the free energies in the various adsorption sites due to interactions between a benzene molecule and the zeolite, as well as interactions between neighboring benzene adsorbates. The development of the more coarse-grained lattice model from the full atomistic model is presented in detail, noting the approximations involved. The lattice model reproduces the adsorption isotherms calculated previously from atomistic grand canonical Monte Carlo simulations, which were in good agreement with experiment, but the lattice model is over an order of magnitude more efficient computationally. Calculations were performed for the silicalite structure with Pnma symmetry (the so-called ORTHO structure) and with P2[sub 1]2[sub 1]2[sub 1] symmetry (PARA). The model accounts for the step seen in the experimental isotherms; this feature is ascribable to a transformation of the silicalite structure from the ORTHO form to the PARA form at a benzene occupancy of about four molecules per unit cell. 29 refs., 7 figs., 2 tabs.
EFFECTS OF THEOPHYLLINE ON PNEUMOGRAM ABNORMALITIES IN INFANTS WITH VARYING PRESENTATIONS

Pneumograms before and after theophylline (T) were obtained in 48 infants who comprised 5 groups: 1) asymptomatic low birthweight infants (A-LBW,n=8); 2)LBW infants with symptomatic apnea (S-LBW, n= 15); 3) infants with histories of "near-miss for sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)" (S-NM,n=7); 4) full term infants with spells of apnea, bradycardia or cyanosis in the nursery (S-FT,n=12); 5) asymptomatic infants with a family history of SIDS (A=FH,n=6). Initial pneumograms showed one or more of the following during sleep: 1) prolonged (>15 sec.) apnea; 2) % periodic breathing (PB) high for age; 3) # episodes PB/100 min. high for age; 4) time spent in apnea ≥6 sec. (A6/D%) high for age. Post-T pneumograms were obtained after at least 48 hrs. of therapy (peak serum level x±SD= 10.0 ± 2.7 mcg/ml). Comparisons were made by t test, paired t test and Chi square. S-LBW had the most abnormal pre-T pneumograms with % PB and # PB/100 min. significantly higher than in S-NM and S-FT. Pneumograms improved in all patients after T with elimination of prolonged apnea in all but one (p<0.04) and significant reductions in % PB, # PB/100 min. and A6/D% (p<0.001). S-LBW also had the most abnormal post-T pneumograms with # PB/100 min. and A6/D% significantly higher (p<0.05) than in A-LBW and S-NM. S-LBW pneumograms were significantly less likely to normalize after T than were those of A-LBW, S-NM and A-FH (40% vs 100%, p<0.05 for each). Thus, T reduces pneumogram abnormalities in all infants, but the degree of improvement appears to depend on clinical factors such as prematurity and presence of symptoms.