cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Luminescent Colloidal Silicon Suspensions from Porous Silicon

A procedure for generating colloidal suspensions of Si that exhibit luminescence, attributed to quantum confinement effects, is described. Samples of n- or p-type Si that have been electrochemically etched to form porous Si can be ultrasonically dispersed into methylene chloride, acetonitrile, methanol, toluene, or water solvents, forming a suspension of fine Si particles that luminesce. Transmission electron microscopy analyses show that the Si particles have irregular shapes, with diameters ranging from many micrometers to nanometers. Luminescent, composite polystyrene/Si films can be made by the addition of polystyrene to a toluene suspension of the Si nanoparticles and casting of the resulting solution onto a glass slide.
Oppenauer Oxidations Using 1-Methyl-4-Piperidone as the Hydride Acceptor

Abstract Oppenauer oxidation constitutes a mild, often selective, procedure for the conversion of alcohols to aldehydes or ketones.1 In many instances a ketone higher boiling than acetone must be used to facilitate the reaction. The excess ketone and the corresponding alcohol, owing to a relatively low volatility and high solubility in organic solvents, are frequently difficult to separate from the desired product. For example, cyclohexanone and cyclo-hexanol are commonly removed by steam distillation, a somewhat tedious procedure not amenable to certain sensitive compounds.
Symptomatic adhesions of the index interosseous-lumbrical tendons: A case report

A patient presented with activity-related pain in the distal radial palm. Surgical exploration revealed adhesion of the index lumbrical tendon to the metacarpophalangeal joint capsule and the tendon of the first dorsal interosseous. Symptoms were relieved by lysis of adhesions and immediate postoperative motion therapy.
Influence of collagen fiber architecture on calcific aortic valve disease progression

To understand the causes and progression of calcific aortic valve disease (CAVD), several in vitro models were studied using non-invasive imaging techniques. Explanted rat aortic valve leaflets were placed in culture medium to induce calcium nodule formation and valve interstitial cells (VICs) cultured from explanted rat valve leaflets were placed on collagen polyacrylamide (PAAM) gels of varying stiffness. The Second Harmonic Generation (SHG) signal and two-photon excited fluorescence (TPEF) generated by the collagen and calcium nodules, respectively, demonstrated that collagen fiber organization decreases with disease progression. Finally, using confocal fluorescence imaging, we found that average nodule size increases with substrate stiffness.
Longitudinal analysis of the relationship between PTSD symptom clusters, cigarette use, and physical health-related quality of life

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, particularly numbing and hyperarousal symptoms, are related to poor physical health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Tobacco dependence is also associated with poor HRQoL, and individuals with PTSD may smoke at higher rates than the general population. Our study aimed to examine the impact of quitting smoking and changes in PTSD symptoms over time on changes in physical HRQoL. The study used archival data from enrollees (N = 943) in a smoking cessation clinical trial for veterans with PTSD (VA Cooperative study #519). Two of the physical HRQoL domains were sensitive to changes in PTSD symptoms over time: General Health and Vitality. Our findings suggest that particular physical HRQoL domains may be subject to improvement if PTSD symptoms decrease over time.
Metastatic colorectal cancer: Therapeutic options

For the past several decades, the therapy for metastatic colorectal cancer had modest benefits because of the limited therapeutic options. Bolus 5-fluorouracil (5FU) and leucovorin (LV) were the standard of care in the United States until 2002, with a response rate of 25% and a median survival of 10 to 12 months. However, with the advent of new agents, namely oxaliplatin and irinotecan, there has been a dramatic change in the way we treat metastatic colorectal cancer. Based on many well-conducted large randomized trials, we have evidence that combination chemotherapy incorporating oxaliplatin or irinotecan with infusional 5FU/LV is superior to 5FU/LV, with doubling of overall survival (OS) to approximately 20 months. There remains some uncertainty as to the best first-line regimen. This might be irrelevant because studies have shown that OS is dependent on exposure to all the active agents, regardless of the time period of exposure. Bevacizumab, which uses anti-angiogenic strategies, has improved diseasefree survival (DFS) and OS when combined with standard chemotherapy and is a vital component of metastatic colorectal cancer therapy. However, there are no data supporting its use past progression. Cetuximab, an epithelial growth factor receptor inhibitor, is mainly used in irinotecan-refractory patients. In spite of all these advances, 5-year OS rates continue to be limited. Patients with curative resection of metastatic disease seem to have longer DFS and better 5-year OS rates. This should be a potential goal for responding patients with upfront unresectable, organ-limited disease.
Acquiring Responsive Practices: Preservice Teachers Learn to Conduct Interactive Read-Alouds

As U.S. schools continue to grow more culturally and linguistically diverse, it is important for teacher–educator programs to include pedagogy that promotes engaging learning opportunities for all children. One way these learning opportunities can occur is through interactive read-alouds. Interactive read-alouds provide the teacher and child an opportunity to interact with the text and one another. This article examines how a teacher–educator emphasis on interactive read-alouds guides preservice teacher attention. The authors followed 20 preservice teachers during their first literacy methods course. Analysis of the data yielded two general themes. First, the larger teacher preparation, community-based context drew preservice teacher attention to culturally and linguistically responsive read-aloud practices. Second, preservice teachers tended to blend sociolinguistic awareness with pedagogy when discussing read-alouds.
Biomarcadores no troponínicos, complementarios, alternativos y presuntos, para el síndrome coronario agudo: nuevos recursos para los futuros instrumentos de cálculo del riesgo

Resumen En este articulo se revisan los biomarcadores no troponinicos con posibles sensibilidad y selectividad, que aportan una perspectiva diagnostica en el sindrome coronario agudo, y su posible uso en los algoritmos de estratificacion del riesgo. Dichos biomarcadores pueden ser utiles como analisis complementarios o alternativos a los de troponina cardiaca ( I o T) en el diagnostico precoz del sindrome coronario agudo, asi como para monitorizar su progresion y evaluar el pronostico. La informacion presentada en este articulo se basa en un analisis critico de una seleccion de la literatura biomedica disponible a traves de los motores de busqueda Scopus y MEDLINE-PubMed de la National Library of Medicine de Estados Unidos. La mayor parte de los articulos citados en este trabajo de revision y perspectiva, excepto unas pocas publicaciones historicas de referencia, se publico entre enero de 2000 y diciembre de 2013.
Marginal emission and variation across models: life-cycle assessment of a television

By evaluating two environmental aspects of televisions-lifecycle energy use and the impact of the lead in the cathode ray tube, we explore practical approaches to lifecycle assessment. Specifically, comparing the environmental impacts of different models is easier and more informative than trying to assess the environmental significance of the average impact in absolute terms. By examining the differences in energy use of similar models of televisions, we find that energy use among similar televisions varies widely. In addition, we introduce the concept of marginal emissions, and explore the application of this concept to the impact of lead from television cathode ray tube screens.
Field calibration of a broadband compact thermal infrared spectrometer for earth science

We present field results showing excellent performance for a compact earth observing thermal infrared (EOTIR) hyperspectral grating spectrometer using a combination of a Quantum Well Infrared Photodetector (QWIP) and grating based Dyson spectrometer. 12The Dyson design allows for a very compact and optically fast system (F/1.6). Cooling requirements are minimized due to the single monolithic prism-like grating design. The configuration has the potential to be the optimal sciencegrade imaging spectroscopy solution for lighter-than-air (LTA) vehicles and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) due to its small form factor and relatively low power requirements. The QWIP allows for optimum spatial and spectral uniformity and provides adequate responsivity to allow for near 100mK noise equivalent temperature difference (NEDT) operation across the EOTIR passband. These tests are in preparation for the deployment of the Hypserspectral Thermal Infrared Spectrometer (HyTES) which is currently being funded under NASA's instrument incubator program (IIP). Test results show NEDT, linearity as well as applicable earth science emissivity target results (silicates, water) measured in direct sunlight. A calibration is also performed to derive direct water temperature using a well calibrated transfer radiometer operating simultaneously.
Influence of pre-Andean crustal structure on Cenozoic thrust belt kinematics and shortening magnitude: Northwestern Argentina

The retroarc fold-and-thrust belt of the Central Andes exhibits major along-strike variations in its pre-Cenozoic tectonic configuration. These variations have been proposed to explain the considerable southward decrease in the observed magnitude of Cenozoic shortening. Regional mapping, a cross section, and U-Pb and (U-Th)/He age dating of apatite and zircon presented here build upon the preexisting geological framework for the region. At the latitude of the regional transect (24–25°S), results demonstrate that the thrust belt propagated in an overall eastward direction in three distinct pulses during Cenozoic time. Each eastward jump in the deformation front was apparently followed by local westward deformation migration, likely reflecting a subcritically tapered orogenic wedge. The first eastward jump was at ca. 40 Ma, when deformation and exhumation were restricted to the western margin of the Eastern Cordillera and eastern margin of the Puna Plateau. At 12–10 Ma, the thrust front jumped ∼75 km toward the east to bypass the central portion of a horst block of the Cretaceous Salta rift system, followed by initiation of new faults in a subsystem that propagated toward the west into this preexisting structural high. During Pliocene time, deformation again migrated >100 km eastward to a Cretaceous synrift depocenter in the Santa Barbara Ranges. The sporadic foreland-ward propagation documented here may be common in basement-involved thrust systems where inherited weaknesses due to previous crustal deformation are preferentially reactivated during later shortening. The minimum estimate for the magnitude of shortening at this latitude is ∼142 km, which is moderate in magnitude compared to the 250–350 km of shortening accommodated in the retroarc thrust belt of southern Bolivia to the north. This work supports previous hypotheses that the magnitude of shortening decreases significantly along strike away from a maximum in southern Bolivia, largely as a result of the distribution of pre-Cenozoic basins that are able to accommodate a large magnitude of thin-skinned shortening. A major implication is that variations in the pre-orogenic upper-crustal architecture can influence the behavior of the continental lithosphere during later orogenesis, a result that challenges geodynamic models that neglect upper-plate heterogeneities.
Test for the cumulant approximation in the critical region

Abstract A cumulant approximation in wide use is tested, in the critical region, against a straightforward product-average decomposition approximation previously used in conjunction with a new integral representation for the Ising model. It is found that for the calculation of the transition temperature, the cumulant approximation is significantly inferior to the product-average approximation.
Heat Transfer for Slab-on-Grade Floors With Prescribed Heat Flux

A general solution of soil temperature distribution is developed for slab-on-grade floor with known heat flux distribution along the floor. The Interzone Temperature Profile Estimation (ITPE) technique is applied to determine the steady-state variation of temperature within the ground. A water table at constant temperature is assumed to exist at a given depth below the soil surface. As a first application of the general solution, the optimum thermal insulation distribution is obtained for a slab-on-grade floor and various desired level of heat flux at the slab floor. A second application of the developed solution presents a diagnostic method to determine the amount of the thermal insulation at the building foundation measured data for heat flux at the surface of the slab-on-grade floor. A parametric analysis is conducted to determine the effects of heat flux profiles and water table depths on the required insulation distribution along the foundation surface.
Considerations in Designing Survey Studies and Follow-up Systems for Special Education Service Programs:

The improvement and modification of special education programs should be based, in part, on data about the postschool outcomes of students who were in the programs. For schools and districts, this requires an established, school-based follow-up system that incorporates both the tracking of students and the application of postschool follow-up study procedures. This paper examines considerations for designing a postschool follow-up system in special education. It focuses on survey research techniques, which are widely used in the investigation of the postschool adjustment of former students with disabilities. Specific considerations and applications of survey methodology, particularly as they relate to students with disabilities, include, (a) identifying needed information; (b) mode of data collection; (c) questionnaire construction (wording and format, pretesting, reliability, and validity); (d) sample design; (e) contacting the sample; (f) response rates; (g) reporting survey procedures; and (h) tracking ...
Developments in MALDI Mass Spectrometry: The Quest for the Perfect Matrix

Abstract The topic of matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) mass spectrometry has received much attention over the past several years and with the award of the Nobel Prize to Tanaka based on his landmark paper in 1988, has received even more recent attention. This review focuses on the search for an ideal matrix and generally covers the period from the mid 1990's to the present. There have been a number of excellent and comprehensive reviews on MALDI ion formation and a brief summary of some of the most important conclusions is given here. With respect to the applications of MALDI, the present review focuses primarily on polymer analysis, although in this area too, excellent reviews have been published that include consideration of the MALDI method. Although we make some mention of other uses of MALDI (e.g., to proteins and peptides) and other biological applications, we emphasize the polymer uses in the present review.
Molecular biology: The ends justify the means

A genomic analysis of yeast reveals that individual genes produce a rich complexity of RNA molecules with differing start and end sequences. The variation in these transcripts reflects the diversity of gene-regulation mechanisms. See Letter p.127 The expression of eukaryotic genomes is a complicated matter, a long way from the old picture of a series of distinct protein-coding genes separated by less-important tracts of DNA. Lars Steinmetz and colleagues have used a novel technique termed TIF-Seq to demonstrate that the yeast genome containing around 6,000 protein-coding genes produces more than 1.88 million unique transcript isoforms (TIFs), defined as unique combinations of start (5′) and end (3′) RNA sequences. This work demonstrates that the complexity of overlapping transcript isoforms has been greatly underestimated previously.
Behavioral approaches to toothbrushing programs for handicapped adults

Various behavioral management programs and principles have been used in teaching independent living skills such as toothbrushing to developmentally disabled individuals.1–5 Dental professionals are not generally familiar with these programs, as some have been conducted in educational or residential settings by professionals such as special educators, psychologists, activity coordinators, and direct care staff. Many programs using these techniques have viewed the act of toothbrushing as a single process that everyone must accomplish in a similar manner. Few programs have taken into account the varying needs and handicapping conditions of individuals with developmental disabilities. This paper will review various behavioral approaches and their application to toothbrushing programs for persons with disabilities.
Use of dual-energy computed tomography for the evaluation of calcinosis in patients with systemic sclerosis

We examined the usefulness of dual-energy computed tomography (DECT) in the evaluation of symptomatic systemic sclerosis (SSc)-related calcinosis of the hands. We performed DECT scan of the hands in 16 patients with symptomatic SSc-calcinosis to better characterize the calcinosis, their locations within the soft tissues, and exclude monosodium urate (MSU) crystal deposition. We also compared their computed tomography (CT) images to plain radiographs of one hand. Pertinent clinical information from this cohort was collected. Sixteen SSc patients underwent DECT and plain X-ray imaging of the hands. Five of the 16 SSc patients in our cohort had overlap disease, either rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and/or myopathy. Calcinosis symptoms included painful deposits (88 %), soft tissue swelling (66 %), and recurrent infections (44 %) from these deposits. On DECT, calcinosis deposits had the same color and density as the bone and no MSU was found. However, their CT images showed better details of the calcinosis locations in the soft tissues as well as the bone destruction, especially if there was overlying bulky deposits or flexion contractures. These deposits were most commonly found in the subcutaneous fat pads of the fingertips, along tendon and muscle groups, or within the carpal tunnel. DECT did not confirm MSU in our cohort with calcinosis. However, CT imaging was superior to plain radiographs in locating these deposits within the soft tissues and may be a useful tool to study SSc-calcinosis affecting the hands, particularly in the setting of progressive hand deformities.
Designing robot grippers: optimal edge contacts for part alignment

Although parallel-jaw grippers play a vital role in automated manufacturing, gripper surfaces are still designed by trial-and-error. This paper presents an algorithmic approach to designing gripper jaws that mechanically align parts in the vertical (gravitational) plane. We consider optimal edge contacts, based on modular trapezoidal segments that maximize contact between the gripper and the part at its desired final orientation. Given the n-sided 2D projection of an extruded convex polygonal part, mechanical properties such as friction and center of mass, and initial and desired final orientations, we present an O(n3 log n) numerical algorithm to design optimal gripper jaws. We also present an O(n log n) algorithm to compute tolerance classes for these jaws, and report on an online implemented version of the algorithm and physical experiments with the jaws it designed. This paper extends earlier results that generated optimal point contacts [M. T. Zhang and K. Goldberg, “Gripper point contacts for part alignment,” IEEE Trans. Robot. Autom.18(6), 902–910 (2002)].
A double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot study of quetiapine for depressed adolescents with bipolar disorder

Objective: To conduct a pilot study comparing the effects of quetiapine and placebo for the treatment of depressive episodes in adolescents with bipolar I disorder. Method: Thirty-two adolescents (ages 12–18 years) with a depressive episode associated with bipolar I disorder were randomized to eight weeks of double-blind treatment with quetiapine, 300–600 mg/day, or placebo. This two-site study was conducted from March 2006 through August 2007. The primary efficacy measure was change in Children’s Depression Rating Scale–Revised Version (CDRS-R) scores from baseline to endpoint. Secondary efficacy measures included change in CDRS-R scores over the eight-week study period (PROC MIXED), changes from baseline to endpoint in Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A), Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS), and Clinical Global Impression–Bipolar Version Severity (CGI-BP-S) scores, as well as response and remission rates. Safety and tolerability were assessed weekly. Results: There was no statistically significant treatment group difference in change in CDRS-R scores from baseline to endpoint (p = 0.89, effect size =−0.05, 95% confidence interval: −0.77–0.68), nor in the average rate of change over the eight weeks of the study (p = 0.95). Additionally, there were no statistically significant differences in response (placebo =67% versus quetiapine = 71%) or remission (placebo = 40% versus quetiapine = 35%) rates, or change in HAM-A, YMRS, or CGI-BP-S scores (all p > 0.7) between treatment groups. Dizziness was more commonly reported in the quetiapine (41%) than in the placebo (7%) group (Fisher’s exact test, p = 0.04). Conclusions: The results suggest that quetiapine monotherapy is no more effective than placebo for the treatment of depression in adolescents with bipolar disorder. However, limitations of the study, including the high placebo response rate, may have contributed to our findings and should be considered in the design of future investigations of pharmacological interventions for this population.
Exploring the effects of on-chip thermal variation on high-performance multicore architectures

Inherent temperature variation among cores in a multicore architecture can be caused by a number of factors including process variation, cooling and packaging imperfections, and even placement of the chip in the module. Current dynamic thermal management techniques assume identical heating profiles for homogeneous multicore architectures. Our experimental results indicate that inherent thermal variation is very common in existing multicores. While most multicore chips accommodate multiple thermal sensors, the dynamic power/thermal management schemes are oblivious of the inherent heating tendencies. Hence, in the case of variation, the chip faces repetitive hotspots running on such cores. In this article, we propose a technique that leverages the on-chip sensor infrastructure as well as the capabilities of power/thermal management to effectively reduce the heating and minimize local hotspots. This technique can be used in existing multicore chips as long as the thermal sensor data can be made transparent to the power/thermal management at the software layer. According to our experimental analysis on test-chips, 5°C peak temperature reduction can be achieved with no performance degradation, hence the inherent energy efficiency of the chip can be improved without any performance or cost penalty.
The role of iron in the pathogenesis of experimental allergic encephalomyelitis and multiple sclerosis.

: Multiple sclerosis (MS) and its animal model, experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE), are autoimmune disorders resulting in demyelination in the central nervous system (CNS). Pathologically, the blood-brain barrier becomes damaged, macrophages and T cells enter into the CNS, oligodendrocytes and myelin are destroyed, astrocytes and microglia undergo gliosis, and axons become transected. Data from several biochemical and pharmacological studies indicate that free radicals participate in the pathogenesis of EAE, and iron has been implicated as the catalyst leading to their formation. The primary focus of this article is the examination of the role of iron in the pathogenesis of MS and EAE. Particular attention will be paid to the role and distribution of iron and proteins involved with iron metabolism (e.g., transferrin, ferritin, heme oxygenase-1, etc.) in normal and disease states of myelin. Furthermore, therapeutic interventions aimed at iron, iron-binding proteins, and substrates or products of iron-catalyzed reactions leading to free radical production will be discussed.
Evaluation of multicast routing algorithms for real-time communication on high-speed networks

Multicast (MC) routing algorithms capable of satisfying the QoS requirements of real-time applications will be essential for future high-speed networks. We compare the performance of all of the important MC routing algorithms when applied to networks with asymmetric link loads. Each algorithm is judged based on the quality of the MC tree it generates and its efficiency in managing the network resources. Simulation results over random networks show that unconstrained algorithms are not capable of fulfilling the QoS requirements of real-time applications in wide-area networks. One algorithm, reverse path multicasting, is not suitable for asymmetric networks irrespective of the requirements of the application. The three constrained Steiner tree (CST) heuristics reported to date are also studied. Simulations show that all three heuristics behave similarly and that they can manage the network efficiently and construct low cost MC trees that satisfy the QoS requirements of real-time traffic. The execution times of the CST heuristics depend on the MC group size, but they are always larger than those of the unconstrained algorithms.
Qwest Communications: A Case Study Of Fraud And Greed

This case study examines the unethical and illegal activities that occurred at Qwest Communications. Headquartered in Denver, Colorado, top level managers at Qwest fraudulently manipulated the firm’s financial reports in order to artificially inflate Qwest’s revenue and profit levels. Former Qwest CEO, Joseph Nacchio, was charged and convicted of insider trading by selling Qwest stock during the time period when the fraud occurred within the company. In March 2008, Joseph Nacchio’s conviction was overturned by a federal appeals court.
The Historical Context of Noncontingent Reinforcement as a Behavioral Treatment

Noncontingent Reinforcement (NCR) emerged as a behavioral treatment in the early 1990s. In this paper we describe the historical context leading to the development and use of NCR as treatment. Ther...
Negative-Reactivity Measurements

Negative-reactivity measurements are frequently made by the rod-drop and source-jerk techniques. Analysis of the data from such experiments by the usual methods requires measurement of the flux-time curve during a transient. Two alternative methods of obtaining negative reactivities are presented. Neither of the methods require measurement of a flux transient. Experimental results using these methods are given. (auth)
Sites of superoxide anion production detected by lucigenin in calf pulmonary artery smooth muscle

Sources of superoxide anion (O2-.) production in calf pulmonary artery smooth muscle homogenate and subcellular fractions were examined in this study by measurement of the chemiluminescence produced by the reaction of O2-. with 50 microM lucigenin, because recent evidence suggests that endogenously produced reactive O2 species appear to mediate certain vascular responses. In the homogenate fraction, an NADH (0.1 mM)-dependent oxidoreductase activity was the major detected source of chemiluminescence. NADPH (0.1 mM) produced only 3% of the O2-. observed with NADH. Quantitation of certain other potential sources of O2-. (under optimized conditions), including xanthine oxidase (0.1 mM hypoxanthine), mitochondria (5 mM succinate + 30 microM antimycin), cyclooxygenase/lipoxygenase (1 microM arachidonic acid + 0.1 mM NADPH), or autooxidation (0.1 mg/ml superoxide dismutase), resulted in the detection of minimal amounts (< 3% of NADH) of chemiluminescence. Estimation of mitochondrial O2-. production from tissue respiration rates suggests that lucigenin is a poor detector of intramitochondrial O2-.. These observations were confirmed by examination of chemiluminescence produced by subcellular fractions, where the major activity detected was an NADH oxidoreductase, which fractionated in a manner closely matching the activity of the microsomal marker enzyme rotenone-insensitive NADH-cytochrome c reductase. Because this NADH oxidoreductase appears to be a major vascular smooth muscle-derived source of O2-. production, this system has the potential to be an important endogenous source for the generation of vasoactive reactive O2 species.
Decomposition Reactions and Toughening in NiAl-Cu Alloys

In the NiAl-Cu3 Al pseudobinary section of the Ni-Al-Cu ternary system, the structural similarity of the binary phases yields a miscibility gap between NiAl (B2 structure with ao≃0.2880 nm) and Cu3 Al (bcc structure above 567° C with ao≃0.2946 nm). Due to the extensive mutual solubility, alloys can be solution-treated as single-phase NiAl and then aged at temperatures within the miscibility gap to investigate possible decomposition reactions. Several NiAl-Cu alloys (containing up to 30 at% Cu) were solution-treated at 1000° C, water-quenched, and then aged at either 475° C or 525° C. The decomposition of the supersaturated NiAl was characterized using XRD and SEM. A modulated microstructure was observed for an initial aging of 24 hours, and is consistent with the presence of a conditional spinodal between the NiAl and the Cu3Al. Long term aging resulted in the formation of equilibrium fcc Cu-rich precipitates. In comparison with the brittle nature of the as-quenched samples, the initial aging treatment yields samples which exhibit extensive slip development during hardness testing. Analysis of the deformation/fracture zone produced with a diamond cone indenter suggests that the ductile phase produced by the aging treatment, yielding an in-situ composite, enhances the resistance of NiAl to both crack initiation and propagation.
In Case You Missed It: Screening for Iron Deficiency with ZPP

Dr Russell has disclosed no financial relationship relevant to this commentary. This commentary does not contain a discussion of an unapproved/investigative use of a commercial product/device. Iron deficiency is a common finding during early development as normal growth acceleration can often outpace total body iron stores and iron intake and absorption. Although a CBC and ferritin are routinely used in many pediatric practices to identify iron deficiency anemia (IDA), they have limited utility as a screening tool in identifying a deficiency in iron prior to the development of anemia. Although iron deficiency is commonly associated with IDA, the larger-view rationale for iron therapy is to promote normal neurodevelopment. Hence, identifying an inexpensive screening instrument that is …
Construction of Reference Standard Plasmids of Real-time Fluorescence Quantitative PCR for Detecting Hantaan Virus S Segment

[Objective] To explore the method of preparation for hantavirus S segment standard piasmids of real-time PCR and used to detect hantavirus RNA. [Methods] Analysis of S gene rearrangement sequence of 76-118 stains. Obtain a couple of primer and fluorescent probe from the primer expression software . The standard recombinant piasmids was gained from the positive piasmids, then RT-PCR, agarose gel electrophoresis, gel extraction, T-A clone, sequence, piasmids nimiprep, and quantify. RNA was extracted from the acute patient, then RT-PCR. The PCR product was detect by real-time PCR with the standard piasmids all together. [Results] Steady standard piasmids were gained with this method, and quality control in early detection was taken successfully. With the method of real-time PCR, the acute patients can be detected quickly and precisely. [Conclusion] The fluorescence levels were increased incisively after real-time quantitative PCR amplification, which indicated that S segment was cloned successfully. This method is suitable for hantavirus RNA detect and it is a good way to detect hantavirus in the early stage of patient, and NP is the ideal antibody for HFRS early diagnosis.
Existing State and Development Brief Exploration on Chinese New Poems

Dilemma of China's new poem development rest on the reader's comprehension and theoretical circle's assessing standard,with contrast,the new poem reveal own features that literature should integrate the vacancy and offers a broad development space.
Abstract 2577: Aurora kinase inhibitors require PUMA to induce apoptosis and preferentially kill KRAS-mutant colon cancer cells

Aurora kinases play a key role in mitosis and are frequently overexpressed in a variety of tumor cells. Inhibition of aurora kinases results in mitotic arrest and death of cancer cells, and has been explored as an anti-cancer strategy. However, how aurora inhibition kills cancer cells is poorly understood. In this study, we found that inhibition of aurora kinases by siRNA or small-molecule inhibitors led to induction of p53-upregulated modulator of apoptosis (PUMA), a BH3-only BCL-2 family protein, in colorectal cancer cells irrespective of p53 status. Deficiency in PUMA increased polyploidy and abrogated mitochondria-mediated apoptosis induced by aurora kinase inhibitors. In response to aurora kinase inhibition, PUMA was directly activated by p65 through the canonical NF-kB pathway following AKT inhibition. Interestingly, aurora kinase inhibitors were found to preferentially kill KRAS-mutant colon cancer cells, which is associated with enhanced induction of PUMA and another BH3-only protein NOXA. Furthermore, PUMA was necessary for the chemo-sensitization and in vivo anti-tumor effects of aurora kinase inhibitors in colon cancer cells. These results suggest that PUMA induction mediates the apoptotic response to mitotic arrest imposed by aurora kinase inhibition, and may be a useful indicator for the anti-cancer activity of aurora kinase inhibitors. Citation Format: Jing Sun, Kyle Knickelbein, Kan He, Dongshi Chen, Jian Yu, Lin Zhang. Aurora kinase inhibitors require PUMA to induce apoptosis and preferentially kill KRAS-mutant colon cancer cells. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 106th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2015 Apr 18-22; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(15 Suppl):Abstract nr 2577. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2015-2577
Changes in Female Drosophila Sleep following Mating Are Mediated by SPSN-SAG Neurons

Female Drosophila melanogaster, like many other organisms, exhibit different behavioral repertoires after mating with a male. These postmating responses (PMRs) include increased egg production and laying, increased rejection behavior (avoiding further male advances), decreased longevity, altered gustation and decreased sleep. Sex Peptide (SP), a protein transferred from the male during copulation, is largely responsible for many of these behavioral responses, and acts through a specific circuit to induce rejection behavior and alter dietary preference. However, less is known about the mechanisms and neurons that influence sleep in mated females. In this study, we investigated postmating changes in female sleep across strains and ages and on different media, and report that these changes are robust and relatively consistent under a variety of conditions. We find that female sleep is reduced by male-derived SP acting through the canonical sex peptide receptor (SPR) within the same neurons responsible for altering other PMRs. This circuit includes the SPSN-SAG neurons, whose silencing by DREADD induces postmating behaviors including sleep. Our data are consistent with the idea that mating status is communicated to the central brain through a common circuit that diverges in higher brain centers to modify a collection of postmating sensorimotor processes.
The San Juan Triangle of Colorado: Mountains of Minerals

Edited by D. Kile, G. Staebler with D. Bunk, T. Hughes and S. Liebetrau. Twenty contributors; 29 illustrators. MINERAL Monograph Series No. 15. Lithographie LLC, P.O. Box 11613, Denver, Colorado 80211, U.S.A., 2011, 96 p. US $30 + $4.95 shipping, soft cover, ISBN 978–0–9836323–0–6. On an
Short-term photovoltaic power forecasting using Artificial Neural Networks and an Analog Ensemble

Abstract A methodology based on Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) and an Analog Ensemble (AnEn) is presented to generate 72 h deterministic and probabilistic forecasts of power generated by photovoltaic (PV) power plants using input from a numerical weather prediction model and computed astronomical variables. ANN and AnEn are used individually and in combination to generate forecasts for three solar power plants located in Italy. The computational scalability of the proposed solution is tested using synthetic data simulating 4450 PV power stations. The National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) Yellowstone supercomputer is employed to test the parallel implementation of the proposed solution, ranging from one node (32 cores) to 4450 nodes (141,140 cores). Results show that a combined AnEn + ANN solution yields best results, and that the proposed solution is well suited for massive scale computation.
Understanding Conflicting Interests of a Government and a Tobacco Manufacturer: A Game-Theoretic Approach

Rice is the staple food of nearly half of the population of the world, most of whom live in developing countries. Ensuring a domestic supply of rice from outside sources is difficult for developing countries as less than 5% of the total world’s production is available for international trade. Hence, in order to ensure domestic food security, e.g., food availability and access, governments provide subsidies in agriculture. In many occasions, public money used for the subsidy goes toward promoting undesirable crops like tobacco. Although the strategic interaction between governments and manufacturers is critical, it has not been studied in the literature. This study fills this gap by considering a game between a government (of a developing country) and a tobacco manufacturer in which the government decides on a mix of subsidies and the tobacco manufacturer decides on declaring a purchasing price of tobacco. We provide a numerical study to show that controlling the output harvest price is more effective in reaching the desired end result for both the government and the tobacco manufacturer. A subsidy in fertilizer results in the measurable increase in the government spending but does not have significant effect in reaching the production target. The fertilizer subsidy should be provided only when the output price is too high to be affordable for the population.
Outcomes and prognostic variables of radiofrequency zygapophyseal joint neurotomy in Utah workers' compensation patients.

PURPOSE The prevalence of radiofrequency zygapophyseal joint neurotomy (RFN) has increased substantially across the past decade. Limited research exists that has examined pre-procedure predictors of RFN outcomes, particularly within workers' compensation populations. The purpose of this study was to determine if pre-procedure biopsychosocial variables are predictive of outcomes in a cohort of compensated Utah patients who have undergone RFN. PATIENTS AND METHODS This was a retrospective cohort study consisting of a review of pre-procedure medical records and a telephone outcome survey. The sample consisted of 101 compensated workers from Utah who had undergone RFN. Fifty-six patients (55%) responded to the outcome survey. Patients were an average of 46 months post-neurotomy at the time of follow-up. Outcome measures included patient satisfaction, disability status, Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire, Stauffer-Coventry Index, and Short-Form Health Survey-36 (v.2). Statistical techniques utilized included frequencies, mean comparisons, and logistic and multiple regressions. RESULTS Forty percent of patients were totally disabled at the time of follow-up. Lawyer involvement, older age, and a positive history of depression were predictors of poor outcomes in logistic and multiple regression equations. CONCLUSION Presurgical biopsychosocial variables were predictive of multidimensional patient outcomes, and a high rate of total disability was observed. Additional research on the effectiveness of RFN for workers' compensation patients is recommended.
Creep Mechanisms in Ceramic Materials at Elevated Temperatures

The creep of ceramic materials at elevated temperatures may take place by the movement of dislocations within the lattice, by grain boundary sliding, and/or by stress-directed diffusion either through the lattice or along the grain boundaries. Other accommodation mechanisms, such as grain boundary separations, may also occur. Some indication of the significant creep mechanism may be obtained by determining the dependence of steady-state creep rate on stress, grain size, and temperature. A comparison is made between the predictions arising from the theoretical models and recent experimental data obtained on several materials in both single crystal and polycrystalline forms.
Social hierarchies override environmental conditions in determining body coloration of brook trout

ABSTRACTDynamic changes in body color are commonly used as a means of intraspecific communication and for crypsis. It is well established that subordinate fish signal to dominant fish by darkening their body color. Similarly, salmonids can adapt their body color to match their environment. What is not known is whether social interactions or environment plays a larger role in driving dynamic changes in body color, as these factors rarely occur in isolation. Experiments conducted in artificial stream channels with wild brook trout tested for the potential of color matching by varying light and dark substrates and included treatments with individuals as well paired cohorts to test for the effect of social hierarchies. Fish displayed a broad ability to adapt their coloration to match a range of substrates, with a strong preference for dark substrate. In paired trials, dominant fish matched light substrate more effectively while subordinates displayed darker coloration, resulting in subordinates being poorly m...
A novel monoclonal antibody to the HLA of cisplatin resistant ovarian cancer cells (TUM2P.1018)

Cisplatin is widely used as a chemotherapeutic drug in the treatment of ovarian cancer. Resistance to cisplatin occurs in about one-third of women during the primary course of treatment. We hypothesized that the class I HLA of cisplatin-resistant ovarian cancer cells present peptides distinct to these cells as compared to sensitive cells and that HLA/peptide complexes unique to cisplatin-resistant cells would be valuable targets for immunotherapeutic intervention. To identify the peptides that are uniquely presented by cisplatin-resistant ovarian cancer cells, the intrinsic cisplatin-resistant cells (SKOV3) and sensitive cells (A2780, OV90, FHIOSE) were characterized by comparative mass spectrometry. Peptide sequences distinct to cisplatin-resistant cells include a peptide (VMF11) derived from thioredoxin interacting protein (TXNIP) that was in high abundance in SKOV3. Next a T cell receptor mimic monoclonal antibody (RL41A) against A*02:01/VMF11 complex was generated. The specificity and affinity of RL41A toward VMF11/A*02:01 complex was shown by staining peptide-pulsed T2 cells and surface plasmon resonance respectively. Staining of ovarian cancer cells by flow cytometry also demonstrates that RL41A stains cisplatin-resistant cells but not drug sensitive cells. We therefore report the successful development of a monoclonal antibody that represents an attractive candidate for further validation using cisplatin-resistant and sensitive primary ovary tissues.
On the cost of type-tag soundness

Gradual typing systems ensure type soundness by transforming static type annotations into run-time checks. These checks provide semantic guarantees, but may come at a large cost in performance. In particular, recent work by Takikawa et al. suggests that enforcing a conventional form of type soundness may slow a program by two orders of magnitude. Since different gradual typing systems satisfy different notions of soundness, the question then arises: what is the cost of such varying notions of soundness? This paper answers an instance of this question by applying Takikawa et al.'s evaluation method to Reticulated Python, which satisfies a notion of type-tag soundness. We find that the cost of soundness in Reticulated is at most one order of magnitude, and increases linearly with the number of type annotations.
How strain can break the scaling relations of catalysis

Heterogeneous catalysts control the rates of chemical reactions by changing the energy levels of bound intermediates relative to one another. However, the design flexibility in catalysis is limited by scaling relations: when a catalyst binds one adsorbate more strongly, it tends to bind similar adsorbates more strongly as well. Here we show how strain can break this constraint by employing a mechanics-based eigenstress model to rationalize the effect of strain on adsorbate–catalyst bonding. This model suggests that the sign of the binding-energy response to strain depends on the coupling of the adsorbate-induced eigenstress with the applied strain; thus, tensile strain can make binding either stronger or weaker, depending on the eigenstress characteristics of the adsorbate on the surface. We then suggest how these principles can be used in conjunction with anisotropic strain to engineer opposite responses of adjacent adsorbates to strain; such effects are expected to allow larger changes to reaction rates than predicted by scaling relations. Scaling relationships provide powerful predictive opportunities in catalysis, but at the same time also reflect the limitations related to the design of new catalytic systems. Now, theoretical studies show how mechanical strain on catalyst surfaces can be engineered to break scaling relations.
Defects in Ferroelectrics

Ferroelectric materials are one of the smartest materials known to us, which have multiple functional properties, including piezoelectric, dielectric and pyroelectric characteristics. Since functional properties are usually associated with response agilities of materials to external stimuli, better functional properties may be created if one could make the crystal structure or mechanical structure of materials less inert As discussed in this chapter, various defects, including vacancies, aliovalent dopants, domain walls, grain boundaries, interstitial defects, surfaces, etc. have been introduced into ferroelectric materials to weaken the stability of crystal structure or domain structure so that some intended functional properties can be greatly enhanced. In fact, any ferroelectric material used as a functional material contains some types of defects. These defects may be chemically introduced through doping or are being physically created through thermal processes or domain engineering. Understanding the role of each type of defect can help us use defects properly to our advantage in designing better functional materials and in creating smaller and more advanced electric or electromechanical devices that can further facilitate our life.