cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Palliative Radiation Therapy for Oncologic Emergencies in the Setting of COVID-19: Approaches to Balancing Risks and Benefits

Palliation of metastatic disease compromises a significant portion of radiation treatments in the United States. These patients present a unique challenge in resource-limited settings, as expeditious treatment is often required to prevent serious morbidity. In order to reduce the risk of infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 and maximize the benefit to patients, we present evidence-based recommendations for radiation in patients with oncologic emergencies. Radiation oncologists with expertise in the treatment of metastatic disease at a high-volume comprehensive cancer center reviewed the available evidence and recommended best practices for the treatment of common oncologic emergencies, with attention to balancing the risk of infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 and the potential morbidity of delaying treatment. Many prospective trials and national guidelines support the use of abbreviated courses of radiotherapy for patients with oncologic emergencies. As such, in the setting of the current coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, the use of hypofractionated radiation therapy for patients requiring palliation for oncologic emergencies achieves desirable functional outcomes without compromising care.
88 – Oligopeptidase A

Publisher Summary This chapter describes the structural chemistry and the biological aspects of oligopeptidase A (OpdA). OpdA hydrolyzes TV-blocked peptides containing at least four amino acids but is unable to hydrolyze unblocked peptides with fewer than five amino acids. A study of a rather small group of peptides led to the conclusion that Gly or Ala on either side of the scissile bond is permissive for hydrolysis. More distant residues clearly affect hydrolysis however, because Z-Gly-Pro-Gly+-Gly-Pro-Ala is cleaved between the Gly residues, but Z-(Gly)5 is not a substrate. OpdA is the major soluble activity able to hydrolyze the lipoprotein signal peptide. The 20 amino acid signal peptide is attacked only after it is cleaved from the precursor protein, so OpdA is a signal peptide peptidase, not a signal peptidase. The signal peptide is cleaved at six sites each involving a Gly or Ala on one or the other side of the cleaved bond. OpdA also catalyzes the processing of the bacteriophage P22 gp7 protein. The opdA gene is regulated as a part of the heat shock regulon and its transcription is dependent on σ32.
Red blood cell folate and cardiovascular deaths among hypertensive adults, an 18-year follow-up of a national cohort.

A shift towards high folate concentration has emerged following folate fortification. However, the association between folate and health outcomes beyond neural tube defects remains inconclusive. To assess the relationship between red blood cell (RBC) folate and the risk of cardiovascular death among hypertensive patients, we analyzed the data of 2,986 adults aged 19 or older with hypertension who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (1991–1994) as the baseline examination and were followed up through December 31, 2010. After 32,743 person-years of follow-up with an average of 11.7 (standard error = 0.03) years, 1192 deaths were recorded with 579 cardiovascular deaths. The median survival time was significantly shorter in adults in the high folate quartile than in patients in the low folate quartile: 11.97 vs. 13.85 years for heart diseases and 13.37 vs. 14.82 years for myocardial infarction deaths. The cardiovascular mortality was 13.04, 16.95, and 26.61/1,000 person-years for the groups with low, intermediate and high folate quartiles, respectively. After adjustment for age, sex and other factors, a J-shaped association emerged. The hazard ratios (HRs) of all cardiovascular deaths in patients with low, intermediate, and high folate quartiles were 1.09 (0.94, 1.27), 1.00 (reference), and 1.44 (1.31, 1.58), respectively. The corresponding HRs of acute myocardial infarction were 1.13 (0.86, 1.50), 1.00, and 2.13 (1.77, 2.57), respectively. The estimates remained significant after adjustment for BMI and medication use. Compared to moderate RBC folate levels, high folate levels were significantly associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular deaths, especially acute myocardial infarction.
Comparison of different linear-combination modeling algorithms for short-TE proton spectra

Short-TE proton MRS is used to study metabolism in the human brain. Common analysis methods model the data as a linear combination of metabolite basis spectra. This large-scale multi-site study compares the levels of the four major metabolite complexes in short-TE spectra estimated by three linear-combination modeling (LCM) algorithms. 277 medial parietal lobe short-TE PRESS spectra (TE = 35 ms) from a recent 3 T multi-site study were preprocessed with the Osprey software. The resulting spectra were modeled with Osprey, Tarquin and LCModel, using the same three vendor-specific basis sets (GE, Philips and Siemens) for each algorithm. Levels of total N-acetylaspartate (tNAA), total choline (tCho), myo-inositol (mI) and glutamate + glutamine (Glx) were quantified with respect to total creatine (tCr). Group means and coefficient of variations of metabolite estimates agreed well for tNAA and tCho across vendors and algorithms, but substantially less so for Glx and mI, with mI systematically estimated as lower by Tarquin. The cohort mean coefficient of determination for all pairs of LCM algorithms across all datasets and metabolites was R 2 ¯ = 0.39, indicating generally only moderate agreement of individual metabolite estimates between algorithms. There was a significant correlation between local baseline amplitude and metabolite estimates (cohort mean R 2 ¯ = 0.10). While mean estimates of major metabolite complexes broadly agree between linear-combination modeling algorithms at group level, correlations between algorithms are only weak-to-moderate, despite standardized preprocessing, a large sample of young, healthy and cooperative subjects, and high spectral quality. These findings raise concerns about the comparability of MRS studies, which typically use one LCM software and much smaller sample sizes.
Data-Driven Modeling of Liver Injury, Inflammation, and Fibrosis

The liver is an organ key to myriad metabolic and immune/inflammatory function. Thus, liver diseases have a tremendous impact on quality of life and can be lethal. Liver failure is a prototype of complex disease that has defied therapeutic modulation due to complex interactions among multiple cell types present in the liver, inflammation that occurs as a consequence of those interactions, and the systemic spillover of inflammatory mediators that can drive a process of multiple organ dysfunction. This chapter describes multiple computational modeling approaches aimed at gaining both basic and clinically actionable knowledge in the context of liver failure. While this chapter is focused on the liver, the methods and approaches are likely to be informative and useful to investigators in other fields as well.
The Impact of Height on Indoor Positioning With Magnetic Fields

Steel studs, heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, rebar, and many other building components produce spatially varying magnetic fields. Magnetometers can measure these fields and can be used in combination with inertial sensors for indoor positioning of robots and handheld devices, such as smartphones. Current methods of localization and mapping with magnetometers are often based on the simplifying assumption that magnetic fields do not vary with height. In this article, through the analysis of a large data set collected across three buildings on the University of Illinois campus, we quantify the extent to which this “planar assumption” is likely to be violated and examine the consequences for indoor positioning. First, we show that out-of-plane variations in the magnetic field were significant at over half the locations where magnetometer measurements were taken. Second, we show that absolute trajectory error in positioning was low when both localization and mapping were based on magnetometer measurements taken at the same height, but that error increased significantly with even small differences between these heights. Third, we show that the choice of height at which to take measurements—if this height was kept the same for both localization and mapping—had no significant impact on absolute trajectory error when averaged across a given set of trajectories although some trajectories existed for which different measurement heights led to significantly different errors. Fourth, we show that absolute trajectory error decreased when magnetometer measurements were aggregated across a small range of heights to produce a single, planar map and when measurements at the median height were used for localization.
National Trends in Statin Use among the United States Nursing Home Population (2011–2016)

Little is known about trends in statin use in United States (US) nursing homes. The aim of this study was to describe national trends in statin use in nursing homes and evaluate the impact of the introduction of generic statins, safety warnings, and guideline recommendations on statin use. This study employed a repeated cross-sectional prevalence design to evaluate monthly statin use in long-stay US nursing home residents enrolled in Medicare fee-for-service using the Minimum Data Set 3.0 and Medicare Part D claims between April 2011 and December 2016. Stratified by age (65–75 years, ≥ 76 years), analyses estimated trends and level changes with 95% confidence intervals (CI) following statin-related events (the availability of generic statins, American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology guideline updates, and US FDA safety warnings) through segmented regression models corrected for autocorrelation. Statin use increased from April 2011 to December 2016 (65–75 years: 38.6–43.3%; ≥ 76 years: 26.5% to 30.0%), as did high-intensity statin use (65–75 years: 4.8–9.5%; ≥ 76 years: 2.3–4.5%). The introduction of generic statins yielded little impact on the prevalence of statins in nursing home residents. Positive trend changes in high-intensity statin use occurred following national guideline updates in December 2011 (65–75 years: β = 0.16, 95% CI 0.09–0.22; ≥ 76 years: β = 0.09, 95% CI 0.06–0.12) and November 2013 (65–75 years: β = 0.11, 95% CI 0.09–0.13; ≥ 76 years: β = 0.04, 95% CI 0.03–0.05). There were negative trend changes for any statin use concurrent with FDA statin safety warnings in March 2012 among both age groups (65–75 years: β trend change = − 0.06, 95% CI − 0.10 to − 0.02; ≥ 76 years: β trend change = − 0.05, 95% CI − 0.08 to − 0.01). The publication of the results of a statin deprescribing trial yielded a decrease in any statin use among the ≥ 76 years age group (β level change = − 0.25, 95% CI − 0.48 to − 0.09; β trend change = − 0.03, 95% CI − 0.04 to − 0.01), with both age groups observing a positive trend change with high-intensity statins (65–75 years: β = 0.11, 95% CI 0.02–0.21; ≥ 76 years: β = 0.05, 95% CI 0.01–0.09). Overall, statin use in US nursing homes increased from 2011 to 2016. Guidelines and statin-related events appeared to impact use in the nursing home setting. As such, statin guidelines and messaging should provide special consideration for nursing home populations, who may have more risk than benefit from statin pharmacotherapy.
The Knowledge Remedy

This Article explains how common law judges can respond to situations in which a public good that is a necessary predicate for determining liability does not exist. To bring a products liability or environmental harm case, plaintiffs must prove that the product or chemical has a propensity to injure people and that it injured them. But studies demonstrating these facts are too costly for plaintiffs to fund. In many mass tort cases, it is in the defendant’s interest not to conduct studies of the risks associated with chemicals or medical devices and, even when conducting such studies, it is in the defendant’s interest to limit or manipulate research to avoid findings that their products pose a danger to consumers. Government would be the natural producer of such studies, but it does not fund or conduct enough of them. As a result, even if a plaintiff was injured by a toxin or product, where the defendant chose to hide its head in the sand rather than test, she cannot prove this was the case. She may lose even where there is evidence the defendant engaged in misconduct to prevent or hide research into its products. This Article proposes a second-best solution to this problem: a knowledge remedy which requires a defendant found to have engaged in misconduct to fund independent studies into what risks its products impose.
Menstrual Cycle Hormonal Changes and Energy Substrate Metabolism in Exercising Women: A Perspective.

This article discusses the research supporting that the hormonal changes across the menstrual cycle phases affect a woman’s physiology during exercise, specifically addressing aspects of energy substrate metabolism and macro-nutrient utilization and oxidation. The overarching aim is to provide a perspective on what are the limitations of earlier research studies that have concluded such hormonal changes do not affect energy metabolism. Furthermore, suggestions are made concerning research approaches in future studies to increase the likelihood of providing evidence-based data in support of the perspective that menstrual cycle hormonal changes do affect energy metabolism in exercising women.
Instantons in Quantum Chromodynamics

Recall that the QCD Lagrangian is obtained from the free fermion Lagrangian $$l = \sum\limits_f {{{\bar \psi }_f}\phi } {\bar \psi _f} - i\sum\limits_f {{m_f}} {\bar \psi _f}{\psi _f}$$ (34.1) by localizing the SU(3)-symmetry. Here, for f fixed, ψ f = (ψ f 1 , ψ f 2 , ψ f 3 ) is a three-dimensional vector of bispinors. In other words, when considering the quark fields ψ f k , where k specifies the color and f the flavor, we discard the color index k, a consider ψ f as a vector in color space.
Dynamic HTML in Action

"Dynamic HTML in Action, Second Edition", is a valuable guide for HTML/Web authors eager to get the most out of the extended interactive and multimedia abilities of Dynamic HTML version 2 (as featured in Internet Explorer 5 and possibly supported by Netscape as well). "Dynamic HTML in Action, Second Edition", covers everything that makes Internet Explorer 5 the next breakthrough technology for creating dynamic Web content: Dynamic HTML, dynamic content and dynamic styles, the Internet Explorer 5 object model, new Table features, 2D positioning, and data binding. All topics are covered in clear, succinct language with plenty of sample pages on the CD to make learning these new tools as engaging and interesting as the content Web users will eventually create.
Recent Trends in Chemically Modified sp2 and sp3 Bonded Carbon Electrodes

The sections in this article are Introduction Chemically Modified sp2 Bonded Carbon Electrodes Hydrogen-terminated Surfaces Surfaces Modified by Chemisorbed Molecules Effect of Surface Modification on the Electrochemical Properties Chemically Modified sp3 Bonded Carbon Electrodes CVD Diamond Thin-film Growth Surface Termination Oxygen-terminated Surfaces Surfaces Modified by Chemisorbed Molecules Effect of Surface Modification on the Electrochemical Properties Conclusions Acknowledgments
Therapeutic plasma exchange as a steroid-sparing therapy in a patient with limbic encephalitis due to antibodies to voltage-gated potassium channels.

Autoantibodies to the voltage-gated potassium channel (VGKC) complex cause a spectrum of non-paraneoplastic neurologic syndromes including limbic encephalitis (LE). We report a case of a man with LE who underwent a course of therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) in addition to other immunomodulatory therapies and experienced sustained clinical resolution of his symptoms. This report adds to the existing literature supporting TPE in cases of LE due to VGKC complex autoantibodies. J. Clin. Apheresis 31:63–65, 2016. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Auxin-Induced Epinasty of Tobacco Leaf Tissues (A Nonethylene-Mediated Response).

Interveinal strips (10 x 1.5 mm) excised from growing tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L. cv Xanthi) leaves curled >300[deg] when incubated for 20 h in 5 to 500 [mu]M [alpha]-naphthalene acetic acid or 50 to 500 [mu]M indole-3-acetic acid. Epinasty was not induced without auxin or by the auxin analog [beta]-naphthalene acetic acid, and less substantial epinasty was induced in midrib and vein segments. Auxin treatment increased the length of both surfaces of strips. Curvature resulted from greater growth on the adaxial side. Epinastic sensitivity of strips to auxin appeared first in the distal third of young leaves (blade 4.5–6.0 cm). In older leaves (8–10 and 12–14 cm), the interveinal tissues throughout were sensitive, whereas in leaves 16- to 18-cm long, sensitivity was reduced in the distal two-thirds. Amino-oxyacetic acid (AOA), an ethylene biosynthesis inhibitor, partially inhibited epinasty at 100 [mu]M. However, a poor correlation between inhibition of ethylene biosynthesis by AOA and its inhibition of curvature and the inability of ethylene to produce epinasty or to reverse the effects of AOA suggests that auxin-induced epinasty is not caused by auxin-induced ethylene production.
The Electronic Properties of Adsorbates on Graphene

The impact of atomic and molecular adsorbate atoms on the electronic structure of the graphene lattice is discussed in the context of how they alter, or renormalize, the graphene electronic band structure. This band renormalization is manifested in several ways, including a rigid shift of the electronic bands due to doping, energy gap formation due to breaking of the lattice symmetry, and alteration of the energy dispersion due to changes in electron–electron, electron–phonon, and electron–plasmon interactions. Also, depending on the arrangement of the adsorbates, many exotic states are predicted or have been observed, including ferromagnetism and strong (Anderson) localization regimes. These effects can be observed using the angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) technique, which is briefly reviewed.After an overview of electronic and magnetic structure of all atomic adsorbates, we will present results for only three combinations of adatoms: (1) H atoms, (2) K atoms, and (3) mixtures of Ca and K atoms. Experiments with just these three adsorbates reveal diverse physics from Anderson localization, to instability toward Mott and superconducting ground states. These examples involve distinct adsorbate symmetry classes and uncover themes that can be expected to be found generally for adsorbates.
Design of the Advanced Toroidal Facility (ATF-1)

The Advanced Toroidal Facility (ATF-1) is a torsatron being designed at ORNL as a replacement for the ISX-B tokamak. The concept for the device includes two continuous helical field coils and a set of twelve toroidal field coils. The vacuum vessel is placed inside the helical field coils and an external toroidal shell support structure is provided to react all coil and vacuum vessel loads. The present design status for all systems is discussed.
Twenty-four-hour L-[1-(13)C]tyrosine and L-[3,3-(2)H2]phenylalanine oral tracer studies at generous, intermediate, and low phenylalanine intakes to estimate aromatic amino acid requirements in adults.

Daily pattern and rates of whole-body tyrosine oxidation and phenylalanine hydroxylation were determined in young adults (15 men. I woman) receiving [ 13 C]tyrosine and [ 2 H 2 ]phenylalanine via primed, constant oral infusion and [ 2 H 4 ]tyrosine by vein (five subjects also received [ 2 H 3 ]leucine simultaneously by vein ) continuously for 24 h (12 h fast then 12 h fed). Subjects were given a diet supplying 96.6 (n = 5), 35.6 (the proposed requirement: n = 5), and 18.5 mg phenylalanine kg -1 . d -1 (n = 6) based on an otherwise adequate L-amino acid mixture for 6 d before the 24-h tracer study began. (Each diet was low in tyrosine: 6.79 mg. kg -1 . d -1 .) Our hypothesis was that subjects would be in tyrosine equilibrium. positive balance, or both, at the 96.6- and 35.6-mg intakes and in distinctly negative balance at the 18.5-mg intake. The diurnal pattern in phenylalanine and tyrosine kinetics was dependent on the intake and, presumably, on the adequacy of dietary phenylalanine. Whole-body tyrosine balances. determined from rates of phenylalanine hydroxylation and tyrosine input and oxidation were negative (0.05 0.05 from zero balance) with the two higher phenylalanine intakes. Whole-body AAA balance (AAA intake - tyrosine oxidation) was negative (P < 0.05 from zero balance) with the low intake. at equilibrium with the intermediate intake, and apparently distinctly positive (P < 0.05) with the generous intake. Despite model limitations, as discussed. these findings lend further support for a proposed, tentative value for a total mean requirement of 39 mg AAA kg -1 . d -1 .
Designing New Musical Interfaces as Research: What's the Problem?

Abstract Practice-based research in NIME is rooted in the practices of design and musical performance. Perspectives from HCI on the relationship between design and research, examining the role of questions or design problems in research, and considering the wickedness of the task help us frame and understand our work.
SENIOR MIGRATION: SPATIAL CONSIDERATIONS OF AMENITY AND HEALTH ACCESS DRIVERS*

This paper extends the literature on amenity migration by focusing on healthcare access for later-life migrants. Previous studies have strongly suggested that natural amenities are strong pull factors for later-life migrants, but high natural amenity counties rarely possess the quality healthcare access optimal for elderly migrants. Utilizing a spatial Bayesian estimation strategy, we explicitly consider numerous drivers of later-life migration to examine the extent to which health access is a driver in location decisions. We find healthcare access measures, including hospital expenditures, hospital beds, and number of doctors, are positively associated with later-life migration decisions.
Family Structure, Commitment, and Involvement in the Hare Krishna Movement

L'A. s'attache a faire apparaitre le lien qui existe entre structure familiale, engagement et implication personnelle dans le mouvement Hare Krishna. La vie maritalo-familiale joue generalement un role proeminent dans le developpement des communautes religieuses. L'A. montre comment le mouvement etudie utilise cette donnee et la fait evoluer. Il montre comment les Hare Krishna luttent contre la structure familiale en tant qu'element de secularisation et de decomposition des communautes religieuses
Antibody-mediated targeted gene transfer to NMDA NR1-containing neurons in rat neocortex by helper virus-free HSV-1 vector particles containing a chimeric HSV-1 glycoprotein C–Staphylococcus A protein

Because of the heterogeneous cellular composition of the brain, and especially the forebrain, cell type-specific expression will benefit many potential applications of direct gene transfer. The two prevalent approaches for achieving cell type-specific expression are using a cell type-specific promoter or targeting gene transfer to a specific cell type. Targeted gene transfer with Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV-1) vectors modifies glycoprotein C (gC) to replace the heparin binding domain, which binds to many cell types, with a binding activity for a specific cell surface protein. We previously reported targeted gene transfer to nigrostriatal neurons using chimeric gC-glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor or gC-brain-derived neurotrophic factor protein. Unfortunately, this approach is limited to cells that express the cognate receptor for either neurotrophic factor. Thus, a general strategy for targeting gene transfer to many different types of neurons is desirable. Antibody-mediated targeted gene transfer has been developed for targeting specific virus vectors to specific peripheral cell types; a specific vector particle protein is modified to contain the Staphylococcus A protein ZZ domain, which binds immunoglobulin (Ig) G. Here, we report antibody-mediated targeted gene transfer of HSV-1 vectors to a specific type of forebrain neuron. We constructed a chimeric gC-ZZ protein, and showed this protein is incorporated into vector particles and binds Ig G. Complexes of these vector particles and an antibody to the NMDA receptor NR1 subunit supported targeted gene transfer to NR1-containing neocortical neurons in the rat brain, with long-term (2 months) expression.
Inorganic species in geologic fluids: Correlations among standard molal thermodynamic properties of aqueous ions and hydroxide complexes

Abstract Correlations among experimentally determined standard partial molal thermodynamic properties of inorganic aqueous species at 25°C and 1 bar allow estimates of these properties for numerous monatomic cations and anions, polyatomic anions, oxyanions, acid oxyanions, neutral oxy-acid species, dissolved gases, and hydroxide complexes of metal cations. Combined with correlations among parameters in the revised Helgeson-Kirkham-Flowers (HKF) equation of state (Shock et al., 1992), these estimates permit predictions of standard partial molal volumes ( V ° ), heat capacities ( C ° P ), and entropies ( S ° ), as well as apparent standard partial molal enthalpies ( Δ H ° P,T ) and Gibbs free energies (ΔḠ° P,T ) of formation to 1000°C and 5 kb for hundreds of inorganic aqueous species of interest in geochemistry. Data and parameters for more than 300 inorganic aqueous species are presented. Close agreement between calculated and experimentally determined equilibrium constants for acid dissociation reactions and cation hydrolysis reactions supports the generality and validity of these predictive methods. These data facilitate the calculation of the speciation of major, minor, and trace elements in hydrothermal and metamorphic fluids throughout most of the crust of the Earth.
Genomic and Genotoxic Responses to Controlled Weathered-Oil Exposures Confirm and Extend Field Studies on Impacts of the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill on Native Killifish

To understand the ecotoxicological impacts of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, field studies provide a context for ecological realism but laboratory-based studies offer power for connecting biological effects with specific causes. As a complement to field studies, we characterized genome-wide gene expression responses of Gulf killifish (Fundulus grandis) to oil-contaminated waters in controlled laboratory exposures. Transcriptional responses to the highest concentrations of oiled water in the laboratory were predictive of field-observed responses that coincided with the timing and location of major oiling. The transcriptional response to the low concentration (∼10-fold lower than the high concentration) was distinct from the high concentration and was not predictive of major oiling in the field. The high concentration response was characterized by activation of the molecular signaling pathway that facilitates oil metabolism and oil toxicity. The high concentration also induced DNA damage. The low concentration invoked expression of genes that may support a compensatory response, including genes associated with regulation of transcription, cell cycle progression, RNA processing, DNA damage, and apoptosis. We conclude that the gene expression response detected in the field was a robust indicator of exposure to the toxic components of contaminating oil, that animals in the field were exposed to relatively high concentrations that are especially damaging to early life stages, and that such exposures can damage DNA.
Phase transformations in an in situ Nb-reinforced Nb3Al intermetallic composite

Abstract The development of two-phase Nb/Nb 3 Al in situ composite microstructures by thermal treatment in a Nb-6wt. %Al alloy, processed through powder-metallurgy techniques, is examined in detail using transmission and scanning electron microscopy. Observations reveal that the precipitation of Nb 3 Al in a heavily dislocated Nb solid solution matrix initiates at grain boundaries and progresses along the 〈110〉 and 〈211〉 directions in the matrix and Nb 3 Al precipitate, respectively; the precipitates eventually fuse into small, elongated grains with 1–10 μm dimensions. The evolution of the in situ composite microstructure from the hot-pressed equiaxed structure proceeds by a diffusion-controlled nucleation and growth transformation and not by a massive transformation. The lamellar microstructure of the alloy displays a five-fold increase in toughness over unreinforced Nb 3 Al primarily due to crack bridging and plastic deformation associated with the ductile Nb phase.
Numerical reconstruction of graphite/epoxy composite microstructure based on sub-micron resolution X-ray computed tomography

Abstract This study presents a combined experimental and computational effort aimed at high-resolution 3D imaging, visualization, and numerical reconstruction of a fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) composite microstructure at the constituent-level length scale. A unidirectional sample of graphite/epoxy composite is imaged at sub-micron resolution using a 3D X-ray computed tomography microscope. The numerical reconstruction is enabled by a novel segmentation algorithm, which is developed using concepts adopted from computer vision and multi-target tracking, to detect and estimate with high accuracy the position of individual fibers in a volume of the imaged composite. Results from the segmentation algorithm are compared qualitatively to the tomographic data and suggest high accuracy of the numerical reconstruction. The segmentation data are also used to quantify the relative distribution of fibers within the imaged cross sections of the volume and the local fiber misorientation relative to the global fiber axis. Finally, the segmentation data are converted into a solid model of fibers and surrounding resin, which is then meshed using commercially available finite element (FE) software. A static, linear elastic simulation is performed on NASA’s Pleiades supercomputer to quantify the computational cost associated with the high-fidelity, constituent-level, 3D numerical model. The high-fidelity simulation is an important step towards demonstrating the feasibility of an FE-based simulation framework for FRP composites at the constituent length scale.
Microbeads and Engineering Design in Chemistry: No Small Educational Investigation

A multipart laboratory activity introducing microbeads was created to meet engineering and engineering design practices consistent with new Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). Microbeads are a current topic of concern as they have been found to cause adverse impacts in both marine and freshwater systems resulting in multiple states proposing or adopting legislation to ban their manufacture or sale. The activity allows for student inquiry, discovery, and engineering design using inexpensive, readily available, and safe chemicals. In addition, the products tested (toothpastes, facial-cleansers, and/or hand-cleansers) will be familiar items to the students, stressing the ubiquitous nature of chemistry. The activity fostered confidence in the students through designing and testing procedures, introduced them to a topic that most knew nothing about, and drew praise for achieving the learning goals while investigating a relevant real-world problem.
Central atrial natriuretic factor reduces vasopressin secretion in the rat.

Atrial natriuretic factor (ANF, Arg 101-Tyr 126; 0.5 and 2.5 μg) administered into the lateral cerebral ventricle of conscious euhydrated and dehydrated rats resulted in a significant reduction in the plasma vasopressin concentration. The effect of ANF on vasopressin secretion was greater in the water-deprived animal. Central ANF was without effect on mean arterial blood pressure in both euhydrated and dehydrated rats. The data suggest that ANF occurring in the central nervous system may be important in the control of vasopressin secretion.
Recursive integral equations for the detection of counting processes

A recursive stochastic integral equation for the detection of counting processes is derived from a previously known formula [5] of the likelihood ratio. This is done quite simply by using a result due to Doleans-Dade [4] on the solution of stochastic integral equations.
Information sharing and supply chain performance: Understanding complexity, compatibility, and processing

Practically all supply chains operate under conditions of uncertainty. To mitigate this uncertainty and increase performance, organizations within chains exchange information to achieve operational cohesion. However, as some researchers have noted, some supply chains benefit more from increased levels of information sharing than others (e.g. Cachon & Fisher, 2000). To assist in explaining the performance differences experienced by supply chains engaged in information-sharing activities, we introduce a new perspective of information sharing within supply chains based on organizational information processing theory (Galbraith, 1973). More specifically, our work and derived conceptual model posit that individual supply chains may be examined as single information processors and that their characteristics can induce complexities in the shared information which subsequently influence how supply chains process this information. Furthermore, the degree to which supply-chain membersâ€™ information systems are compatible with each other is posited to also play a significant role in information-processing capabilities.
On generating power-law networks with assortative mixing

Power-law networks are often used to model a wide range of real-world networks such as social networks, technological networks, and biological networks. Assortative mixing, or assortativity, is a tendency for similar-degree nodes to connect to each other. It is known that a positive degree of assortativity is present in social networks whereas a negative degree is present in technological networks. Both of these networks display the power-law degree property. It is thus important to have a network construction model that can generate power-law networks with different degrees of assortativity. Existing construction models are based on node degree information to determine how nodes are connected in the network. In this paper, we investigate a new model based on our hypothesis that each node has a singular “fitness” value representing its attractiveness to other nodes and that the network's growth is influenced by node fitness rather than node degree. The proposed model is a growth model without any re-wiring; the network is formed by adding a new node or a link between two nodes at each time step. Our theoretical findings are substantiated by a simulation study.
Integrating dynamic pricing of electricity into energy aware scheduling for HPC systems

The research literature to date mainly aimed at reducing energy consumption in HPC environments. In this paper we propose a job power aware scheduling mechanism to reduce HPC's electricity bill without degrading the system utilization. The novelty of our job scheduling mechanism is its ability to take the variation of electricity price into consideration as a means to make better decisions of the timing of scheduling jobs with diverse power profiles. We verified the effectiveness of our design by conducting trace-based experiments on an IBM Blue Gene/P and a cluster system as well as a case study on Argonne's 48-rack IBM Blue Gene/Q system. Our preliminary results show that our power aware algorithm can reduce electricity bill of HPC systems as much as 23%.
Reactive astrocytes express estrogen receptors in the injured primate brain.

Previous studies have suggested that estrogen may regulate the expression of genes related to the inflammatory response within the nervous system, particularly within glia. In the present study, we examined whether injury induces estrogen sensitivity in reactive glia in the primate brain. Three adult Macaca fascicularis (cynomolgous) monkeys received unilateral fimbria fornix transections followed by chronic intracranial cannula implants through which a vehicle solution was infused intracerebroventricularly for a 4-week period. Astrocytes adjacent to areas of parenchymal disruption caused either by the lesion or by the instrumentation procedure became reactive, as evidenced by cellular hypertrophy and up-regulation of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) immunolabeling. Of note, specific estrogen receptor-α immunolabeling also was induced adjacent to injured regions, and this labeling strictly colocalized with GFAP immunoreactivity upon double fluorescent confocal immunolabeling. Induction of estrogen receptor immunoreactivity in reactive astrocytes occurred in all monkeys examined, whereas nonreactive glia distant from disrupted regions did not exhibit estrogen receptor labeling. Thus, expression of estrogen receptors is up-regulated in reactive astrocytes of the primate brain, potentially allowing estrogen to modulate aspects of the central nervous system's inflammatory response to injury. J. Comp. Neurol. 433:115–123, 2001. © 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
The importance of acknowledging context in institutional research

This chapter highlights the need for incorporating institutional and societal context into institutional research in order to ensure accurate interpretation of data.
Myocardial energetics: experimental and clinical studies to address its determinants and aerobic limit

The major determinants of myocardial oxygen consumption (\( M\dot V{O_2} \)) were examined in the isolated, servo-regulated, canine heart in which coronary perfusion pressure, heart rate, ventricular volume and pressure could be individually monitored and controlled. We found that the integral of systolic wall force and the time derivative of systolic force development were major determinants of \( M\dot V{O_2} \). Net \( M\dot V{O_2} \), seen in response to increments in contractility (dobutamine) and heart rate, were the result of the relative increments in each of these determinants. Additional studies were performed to assess the heart’s metabolic reserve and aerobic limit (i.e., before the onset of lactate production). We found that with increments in left ventricular work, mediated by increments in filling volume, heart rate, and contractility (dobutamine), myocardial lactate production could be induced, but was dependent on the level of coronary perfusion pressure. When the aerobic limit of the myocardium was exceeded, its performance declined and pulsus alternans appeared.
Folded State of the Integral Membrane Colicin E1 Immunity Protein in Solvents of Mixed Polarity

The colicin E1 immunity protein (ImmE1), a 13.2-kDa hydrophobic integral membrane protein localized in the Escherichia coli cytoplasmic membrane, protects the cell from the lethal, channel-forming activity of the bacteriocin, colicin E1. Utilizing its solubility in organic solvents, ImmE1 was purified by 1-butanol extraction of isolated membranes, followed by gel filtration and ion-exchange chromatography in a chloroform/methanol/H2O (4:4:1) solvent system. Circular dichroism analysis indicated that the α-helical content of ImmE1 is approximately 80% in 1-butanol or 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol, consistent with a previous membrane-folding model with three extended hydrophobic transmembrane helical domains, H1−H3. Each of these extended hydrophobic domains contains a centrally located single Cys residue that could be used as a probe of protein structure. The presence of tertiary structure of purified ImmE1 in a solvent of mixed polarity, chloroform/methanol/H2O (4:4:1) was demonstrated by (i) the constraints on ...
Bicritical points in an exactly solvable model

Abstract Within the framework of the exactly solvable model, which takes into account the interaction of fluctuating modes with equal and opposite momenta, we show the possibility of fluctuation induced phase transitions of the first order in systems with coupled scalar order parameters.
Propagating topological singularities: the photon

At its foundations, Maxwell's theory of Electrodynamics, like thermodynamics, is a topological theory independent from geometric constraints of metric, scales, or gauge symmetries. One of the most interesting features of Electromagnetism is its relationship to the transport of momentum and energy by means of photons. This article utilizes a topological perspective to discuss the classical features and quantum concepts associated with the photon, including Topological Spin, Topological Torsion, Helicity and Chirality.
Outcome of colectomy for Clostridium difficile colitis : a plea for early surgical management

Abstract Background Fulminant Clostridium difficile colitis is a common nosocomial infection that occurs with increasing frequency. Methods A total of 3,237 consecutive cases of C difficile cytotoxin–positive stool samples from 1998 to 2006 were reviewed. Commonly referenced indicators for surgical intervention were gathered on the day of surgery. The preoperative characteristics of patients surviving subtotal colectomy were compared with those who did not survive. Results Thirty-six patients underwent colectomy. Twenty-three patients (64%) were discharged from the hospital alive. Preoperative intubation and vasopressor requirement were risk factors for in-hospital mortality (odds ratio [OR], 7.15; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 1.28–39.8 and OR, 6.0; CI, 1.08–33, respectively). Patients who had a recent surgical procedure had a lower in-hospital mortality rate (OR, .11; 95% CI, .02–.52). Conclusions Fulminant C difficile colitis is associated with a high mortality rate. Development of a vasopressor requirement or need for intubation are ominous signs and should lead to rapid surgical intervention.
Perinatal outcomes associated with assisted reproductive technology: the Massachusetts Outcomes Study of Assisted Reproductive Technologies (MOSART).

Objective To compare on a population basis the birth outcomes of women treated with assisted reproductive technologies (ART), women with indicators of subfertility but without ART, and fertile women. Design Longitudinal cohort study. Setting Not applicable. Participant(s) A total of 334,628 births and fetal deaths to Massachusetts mothers giving birth in a Massachusetts hospital from July 1, 2004, to December 31, 2008, subdivided into three subgroups for comparison: ART 11,271, subfertile 6,609, and fertile 316,748. Intervention(s) None. Main Outcome Measure(s) Four outcomes—preterm birth, low birth weight, small for gestational age, and perinatal death—were modeled separately for singletons and twins with the use of logistic regression for the primary comparison between ART births and those to the newly created population-based subgroup of births to women with indicators of subfertility but no ART. Result(s) For singletons, the risks for both preterm birth and low birth weight were higher for the ART group (adjusted odds ratios [AORs] 1.23 and 1.26, respectively) compared with the subfertile group, and risks in both the ART and the subfertile groups were higher than those among the fertile births group. For twins, the risk of perinatal death was significantly lower among ART births than fertile (AOR 0.55) or subfertile (AOR 0.15) births. Conclusion(s) The use of a population-based comparison group of subfertile births without ART demonstrated significantly higher rates of preterm birth and low birth weight in ART singleton births, but these differences are smaller than differences between ART and fertile births. Further refinement of the measurement of subfertile births and examination of the independent risks of subfertile births is warranted.
Trading Wavelength for Absorbance Resolution: Predicting the Performance of Array Detection Systems

Mid-infrared spectra of liquid mixtures measured at 4 cm−1 resolution and near-infrared spectra of synthetic natural gas samples measured at 2 cm−1 resolution were convoluted to determine the effect of low resolution on multicomponent analyses of these samples. The resolution of the liquid samples could be degraded to almost 100 cm−1 before significant effects on the quantitative results were observed. The minor components in the natural gas samples were sensitive to degrading the resolution; however, the major components, methane and ethane, and the BTU values were unaffected until the resolution was degraded to over 100 nm (~600 cm−1 at 1225 nm). The convoluted spectra were also displayed across a simulated array detector to determine the effect of the number of pixels on quantitative analysis. Excellent results were obtained on the convoluted spectra of both the liquid and gas mixtures with 32 elements. The liquid samples could be analyzed with as few as 8 pixels.
TRH-induced TSH response in unipolar, bipolar, and secondary depressions: Possible utility in clinical assessment and differential diagnosis

Abstract (1) The effect of TRH on TSH and GH release was studied in 32 depressed patients. (2) Patients were diagnosed as having a primary (unipolar or bipolar) or secondary depression and rated with Hamilton ratings at the time of TRH testing. (3) The magnitude of the TRH-induced TSH responses significantly differentiated unipolar and bipolar depressed patients who had similar symptoms, cortisol secretion, and Hamilton ratings. (4) GH responses to TRH were only observed in primary affective, depressed patients. (5) The fact that bipolar depressives had augmented TSH responses while unipolar patients had blunted TSH responses supports the clinical differentiation of these patients and suggests that different neurobiological factors may be involved in these clinically similar states. TRH-induced TSH response may ‘switch’ from augmented to blunted as the patient's clinical state changes from depressed to manic. (6) The neural mechanism mediating these TRH test data is difficult to discern on the basis of current studies reported in the literature.
General and specific traits of personality and their relation to sleep and academic performance.

Few studies have examined the links between personality variables and sleep and their combined effect on specific real-world outcomes. Participants in this study completed numerous personality, sleep, and performance measures; we examined the associations among these measures. Personality was assessed using the Five-Factor Model. The personality trait of Conscientiousness (especially its facet of Achievement Striving) was a substantial predictor of academic performance. Analyses of the sleep variables revealed three distinct constructs: quantity, quality, and schedule. Sleep quantity showed few interesting correlates. In contrast, sleep quality was associated with greater well-being and improved psychological functioning, whereas sleep schedule (i.e., average rising and retiring times) was significantly related to Conscientiousness, such that conscientious individuals maintain earlier schedules.
Major signaling pathways in intestinal stem cells.

Background The discovery of markers to identify the intestinal stem cell population and the generation of powerful transgenic mouse models to study stem cell physiology have led to seminal discoveries in stem cell biology.
Molecular beam epitaxial double heterojunction bipolar transistors with high current gains

Double heterojunction Al0.35Ga0.65As/GaAs bipolar junction transistors (DHBJTs) grown by molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) were fabricated and tested. Devices with 2000 A and 500 A base widths exhibited common emitter current gains of about 325 and 500, respectively, in a wide range of base and collector currents. The use of such high Al mole fraction and double heterojunctions placed stringent requirements on the growth parameter which had to be optimised and controlled very precisely to obtain such high current gains. These current gains compare with the previous best value of 120 obtained in a molecular beam epitaxial single heterojunction bipolar transistor having a 500 A-thick base region.