cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Biological control increases the susceptibility of melaleuca quinquenervia to fire

ABSTRACTA field experiment evaluating herbivory from biological control agents on Melaleuca quinquenervia saplings experienced a wildfire, which resulted in post-fire tree mortality of 64.6% and 28.1% in the unrestricted and restricted herbivory treatments, respectively. The fire did not negatively impact populations of the biological control agent Oxyops vitiosa.
INTERSPECIFIC DIFFERENCES IN TOLERANCE OF EURYTEMORA AFFINIS AND ACARTIA TONSA FROM AN ESTUARINE ANOXIC BASIN TO LOW DISSOLVED OXYGEN AND HYDROGEN SULFIDE

ABSTRACT The Pettaquamscutt River, Rhode Island, USA, is an estuarine anoxic basin. Acartia tonsa is the numerically dominant summer copepod species and Eurytemora affinis the winter-spring dominant. These two species have similar abilities to tolerate low dissolved oxygen concentrations (l/LD 50 = 1.18 − 2.40), but E. affinis is more tolerant of hydrogen sulfide (LD 50 = 12 uM − 44 uM) than A. tonsa (LD 50 = 2 uM − 11 uM). Acclimation temperature and salinity affect the tolerance of E. affinis to low oxygen concentrations but not to hydrogen sulfide. Acclimation temperature and salinity does not affect the low dissolved oxygen tolerance of A. tonsa but salinity affects its hydrogen sulfide tolerance. Comparing survival times of 50% of the animals exposed to hydrogen sulfide, E. affinis lasts twice as long as A. tonsa at three to four times the concentration. There is no correlation in either species of points of maximum tolerance to low dissolved oxygen concentrations and hydrogen sulfide. This implies different mechanisms of adaptation to the two stresses. The field distributions of the two species agree well with the laboratory response, although both exhibit a lower tolerance to hydrogen sulfide in the laboratory than would be expected.
Impact of Energy Drinks on Health and Well-being

Energy drinks and energy shots are functional supplements with higher caffeine content marketed toward adolescents and young adults with the intention of boosting energy. Parallel to its rising popularity, there are safety concerns with the consumption of these beverages. Herein, we reviewed the impact these supplements produce on health and well-being. Most of the promoted benefits of the beverages can be attributed to caffeine. The physiologic effects, if any, of other ingredients such as vitamins and herbal extracts are unclear. The presence of a higher caffeine content as compared to soft drinks may predispose to caffeine intoxication in susceptible individuals. Also, the practice of co-ingestion of these beverages with alcohol is still prevalent and associated with serious consequences. Strict regulations (restriction of sales, clear warning labels, capping caffeine levels) and public education may help prevent the adverse outcomes from these beverages.
Heavy Ion Transport Modeling for Single-Event Burnout in SiC-Based Power Devices

SiC power devices have been found experimentally to burn out from heavy ion strikes with linear energy transfers as low as 2.0 MeV $\cdot $ cm2/mg. In this paper, to better understand the failure mechanisms, we study the single-event burnout (SEB) phenomenon using a unified physics model between heavy ion radiation transport and device response. High-fidelity radiation data, generated from a general purpose Monte Carlo N-particle transport code (MCNP6.2), were modeled using a double Gaussian function to take into account both the heavy ion and the delta ray contributions. SiC junction barrier Schottky (JBS) diodes underwent 3-D TCAD electrothermal simulations using the double Gaussian model. This model was compared against other heavy ion models to determine the behavior of the thermal response from a heavy ion strike. The results reveal that there is a more rapid thermal response from models using high-fidelity heavy ion radiation data than approximated models provided by TCAD simulators. Peak temperature results from high-voltage SiC JBS diodes, which agree with the experimental observation of SEBs in SiC power devices.
Tau's Three-Repeat Domain and EFhd2 Co-incubation Leads to Increased Thioflavin Signal.

Aggregation of the protein tau is a pathological hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and related disorders. However, the molecular mechanisms that lead to tau protein aggregation are still unclear. Previously, we showed that EFhd2 protein is associated with pathological aggregated forms of tau in AD brain. Further, immuno-gold analyses of purified tau aggregates showed that EFhd2 co-localized with filamentous tau structures. We demonstrated that EFhd2’s coiled-coil domain is required for its association with tau proteins. However, it is unknown the role that EFhd2 plays in tau aggregation. Here, we show that incubation of K19-tau with substoichiometric amount of EFhd2 promote the formation of amyloid structures in vitro. The result suggests that EFhd2 may play a role in the biogenesis of aggregated tau.
Systemic Comorbidity Burden Using the ACTIONS Phenotype Predicts Urologic Medication Discontinuation Following Transurethral Resection of the Prostate.

ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE To assess the impact of systemic comorbidities on a validated health phenotype score (ACTIONS: Anxiety, Cardiovascular, Testosterone, Insulin/diabetes, Obesity, Neurologic, Sleep apnea) on outcomes of transurethral resection of prostate (TURP) for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) for symptoms and medication discontinuation. MATERIALS AND METHODS Comorbidities of men undergoing TURP for BPH from 2004 to 2015 were assessed with the validated ACTIONS phenotype totaling a score from 0 to 2 for each domain (Anxiety, Cardiovascular, Testosterone, Insulin/diabetes, Obesity, Neurologic, Sleep apnea). BPH medication discontinuation, change in International Prostate Symptom Score, postvoid residual, and patient satisfaction were assessed. Descriptive and comparative statistics were calculated with significance set at P RESULTS The 319 men had a median age of 74.0 (interquartile range 67-78). Mean ACTIONS score was significantly lower in men who discontinued alpha-blockers or 5-alpha reductase inhibitors compared to those who did not (3.37 ± 2.14vs 4.79 ± 2.75, P CONCLUSION Lower ACTIONS score was associated with BPH medication discontinuation after TURP, suggesting men with lower comorbidity burdens do better after the procedure. The ACTIONS phenotype score is easily calculated and may aid the preoperative counseling of men undergoing TURP for BPH.
Performance validation of the iron-dominated, normal-conducting 45°dipole magnets in the ReA3 HEBT line at NSCL, MSU

Abstract The Re-Accelerator (ReA3) facility at the National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory (NSCL) at Michigan State University (MSU) delivers rare isotope and stable beams ranging from 0.3 MeV/u to 6 MeV/u to experimental end stations. The High Energy Beam Transport (HEBT) line into the ReA3 experimental hall houses several quadrupole magnets, dipole magnets, and combined function horizontal and vertical corrector magnets. All of these are iron-dominated, resistive type magnets. This paper describes the magnetic performance of 45°dipole magnets installed in both the vertical and horizontal section of the ReA3 beamline. The computed field map and the derived data provide a reference for the operational setting of the magnet and input for the beam optics study. The field measured by both Hall and NMR probes agrees well with the calculations suggesting that the magnet performance meets the design specification.
316 IMPACT OF TENNCARE REFORM ON THE CARE OF PATIENTS WITH RHEUMATIC DISEASES.

Purpose of Study To determine the impact of TennCare reform on the care of patients with rheumatic diseases. Methods The medical records of all patients scheduled to be evaluated in an urban academic rheumatology clinic in the 3 months prior to and in the 3 months following TennCare reform were reviewed to determine differences in show rates. The demographic and disease characteristics, number of active medications, and insurance status of all patients scheduled in the 3 months following TennCare reform was recorded. A telephone survey of patients who did not return to clinic following this reform was done to determine future plans for medical care among those who had been disenrolled from TennCare and the ability to afford medications among those who retained TennCare but who were taking more than five medications. Results Overall, 402 of the 601 patients scheduled for a rheumatology clinic appointment prior to TennCare reform (67%) showed up for their scheduled rheumatology appointment compared with 362 of 595 patients (61%) scheduled for an appointment following TennCare reform, a difference that was statistically significant (p = .034). Compared with patients who kept their clinic appointment following TennCare reform (controls), patients who had been scheduled but did not attend their visit (cases) were significantly more likely to have been disenrolled from TennCare (p Conclusions TennCare reform has significantly limited care provided for patients with rheumatic diseases. The long-term consequences of this merit future study.
Nucleophilic ring opening transformations of bridging thietane ligands in metal carbonyl cluster complexers

Recent studies of the nucleophilic ring opening reactions of bridging thietane ligands in metal cluster complexes are reviewed.
Biofidelic Evaluation of the Large Omni-Directional Child Anthropomorphic Test Device in Low Speed Loading Conditions.

Motor vehicle crashes remain the leading cause of death for children. Traditionally, restraint design has focused on the crash phase of the impact with an optimally seated occupant. In order to optimize restrain design for real-world scenarios, research has recently expanded its focus to non-traditional loading conditions including pre-crash positioning and lower speed impacts. The goal of this study was to evaluate the biofidelity of the large omni-directional child (LODC) ATD in non-traditional loading conditions by comparing its response to pediatric volunteer data in low-speed sled tests. Low-speed (2-4 g, 1.9-3.0 m/s) frontal (0°), far-side oblique (60°), and far-side lateral (90o) sled tests, as well as lateral swerving (0.72 g, 0.5 Hz) tests, were conducted using the LODC. The LODC was restrained using a 3-point-belt with an electromechanical motorized seat belt retractor, or pre-pretensioner. Motion capture markers were placed on the head, torso, and belt. The LODC was compared to previously collected pediatric volunteer data as well as the HIII 10 and Q10. Significant difference between the pediatric volunteers and ATDs were identified by comparing the mean ATD response to the pediatric volunteer 95% CI. The LODC exhibited lower forward head excursion (262 mm) compared to pediatric volunteers (263 - 333 mm) in low-speed frontal sled tests (p<0.05), but was closer to the pediatric volunteers than the HIII 10 (179 mm) and Q10 (171 mm). In lateral swerving, the LODC (429 mm) exhibited greater lateral head excursion (p<0.05) compared to pediatric volunteers (115 - 171 mm). The LODC exhibited a greater reduction in kinematics compared to the pediatric volunteers in all loading conditions with a pre-pretensioner. These data provide valuable insight into the biofidelity of the LODC in non-traditional loading conditions, such as evaluating pre-crash maneuvers on occupant response.
The impact of routine frozen section analysis during partial cystectomy for bladder cancer on surgical margin status and long-term oncologic outcome

Abstract Objectives The utility of frozen section analysis (FSA) during partial cystectomy has not been established. We assessed the impact of intraoperative FSA in partial cystectomy cases on surgical margin (SM) status and patient outcome. Subjects and methods A retrospective review identified 76 consecutive patients who underwent partial cystectomy for bladder carcinoma with (n = 66; 87%) or without (n = 10; 13%) FSA for SMs at our institution from 2004 to 2018. FSA was correlated with the diagnosis of the frozen section control, the status of final SM, and the prognosis. Results Final SM was positive in 9 (12%) cystectomies, including 6 (9%) FSA vs. 3 (30%) non-FSA cases (P = 0.091). There were no significant differences in tumor size, histology, or tumor grade/stage between the 2 cohorts. FSAs were reported as positive (n = 7; 11%), atypical (n = 10; 15%), and negative (n = 49; 74%). All of the positive and negative FSA diagnoses were confirmed accurate on the frozen section controls, whereas atypical diagnoses were revised to benign (n = 4), atypical (n = 4), and carcinoma (n = 2) on the controls. Ten (77%) of 13 initial FSA-positive (6 of 7)/atypical (4 of 6; excluding benign diagnoses on the controls) cases achieved negative conversion by excision of additional tissue. Thus, final SM was positive in 1 (14%) FSA-positive case, 3 (30%) FSA-atypical cases (including one at the SM where FSA was not sampled), and 2 (4%) FSA-negative cases (at the SM where FSA was not sampled). Kaplan-Meier analysis and log-rank test revealed an association of performing FSA with the risk of disease progression (P = 0.021), but not intravesical recurrence (P = 0.434) or cancer-specific mortality (P = 0.560). Initial positive/atypical FSA, as an independent prognosticator, was associated with reduced progression-free (P = 0.002) and cancer-specific (P = 0.004) survival rates, compared with initial negative FSA. Positive SM was also associated with a larger tumor size (P Conclusions Performing FSA during partial cystectomy may contribute to preventing positive SM and disease progression. Additionally, as seen in most of initial FSA-positive/atypical cases that achieved negative conversion, select patients may benefit from the routine FSA. Meanwhile, positive or atypical FSA was associated with significantly poorer prognosis.
Local Staging of Prostate Cancer with MRI

MRI is important for local staging of clinically significant prostate cancer by differentiating between prostate cancer confined to the gland (≤ T2 disease) and prostate cancer that extends beyond the gland (≥ T3). MR imaging features of locally advanced prostate cancer may influence choice of treatment. The presence of extra prostatic spread has been shown to increase risk of positive surgical margins and impacts survival and the need for additional treatment. High-spatial resolution T2W imaging provides an accurate assessment of extra prostatic extension (T3–T4 disease), which includes bulging of the prostate surface, irregularity or speculated margin at the site of suspected cancer, or invasion of surrounding structures. DWI has become a useful parameter of prostate imaging, key to the detection of significant cancers in the peripheral zone and aiding in determination of extra prostatic extension. MRI staging can assist in surgical margin planning and patient and provider decisions on treatment selection.
Max-pressure signal control with cyclical phase structure

Abstract Max-pressure traffic signal control has many desirable properties. It is analytically proven to maximize network throughput if demand could be served by any signal control. Despite its network-level stability properties, the control itself is decentralized and therefore easily computed by individual intersection controllers. Discussions with city engineers have suggested that a major barrier to implementation in practice is the non-cyclical phase actuation of max-pressure control, which can actuate any phase, in arbitrary order, to serve the queue(s) with highest pressure. This arbitrary phase selection may be confusing to travelers expecting a signal cycle, and is therefore unacceptable to some city traffic engineers. This paper revises the original max-pressure control to include a signal cycle constraint. The max-pressure control must actuate an exogenous set of phases in order, with each phase actuated at least one time step per cycle. Each cycle has a maximum length, but the length can be reduced if desired. Within those constraints, we define a modified max-pressure control and prove its maximum stability property. The revised max-pressure control takes the form of a model predictive control with a one cycle lookahead, but we prove that the optimal solution can be easily found by enumerating over phases. The policy is still decentralized. Numerical results show that as expected, the cyclical max-pressure control performs slightly worse than the original max-pressure control due to the additional constraints, but with the advantage of greater palatability for implementation in practice.
Hyperoxia During Cardiopulmonary Bypass Is Associated With Mortality in Infants Undergoing Cardiac Surgery.

OBJECTIVES Patients undergoing cardiac surgery using cardiopulmonary bypass have variable degrees of blood oxygen tension during surgery. Hyperoxia has been associated with adverse outcomes in critical illness. Data are not available regarding the association of hyperoxia and outcomes in infants undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass. We hypothesize that among infants undergoing cardiac surgery, hyperoxia during cardiopulmonary bypass is associated with greater odds of morbidity and mortality. DESIGN Retrospective study. SETTING Single center at an academic tertiary children's hospital. PATIENTS All infants (< 1 yr) undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass between January 1, 2015, and December 31, 2017, excluding two patients who were initiated on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in the operating room. INTERVENTIONS None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS The study included 469 infants with a median age of 97 days (interquartile range, 14-179 d), weight 4.9 kg (interquartile range, 3.4-6.4 kg), and cardiopulmonary bypass time 128 minutes (interquartile range, 91-185 min). A Pao2 of 313 mm Hg (hyperoxia) on cardiopulmonary bypass had highest sensitivity with specificity greater than 50% for association with operative mortality. Approximately, half of the population (237/469) had hyperoxia on cardiopulmonary bypass. Infants with hyperoxia were more likely to have acute kidney injury, prolonged postoperative length of stay, and mortality. They were younger, weighed less, had longer cardiopulmonary bypass times, and had higher Society of Thoracic Surgeons and the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery mortality scores. There was no difference in sex, race, preoperative creatinine, single ventricle physiology, or presence of genetic syndrome. On multivariable analysis, hyperoxia was associated with greater odds of mortality (odds ratio, 4.3; 95% CI, 1.4-13.2) but failed to identify an association with acute kidney injury or prolonged postoperative length of stay. Hyperoxia was associated with greater odds of mortality in subgroup analysis of neonatal patients. CONCLUSIONS Hyperoxia occurred in a substantial portion of infants undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass for cardiac surgery. Hyperoxia during cardiopulmonary bypass was an independent risk factor for mortality and may be a modifiable risk factor. Furthermore, hyperoxia during cardiopulmonary bypass was associated with four-fold greater odds of mortality within 30 days of surgery. Hyperoxia failed to identify an association with development of acute kidney injury or prolonged postoperative length of stay when controlling for covariables. Validation of our data among other populations is necessary to better understand and elucidate potential mechanisms underlying the association between excess oxygen delivery during cardiopulmonary bypass and outcome.
Timing of Grenville magmatism in the southern Blue Ridge, North Carolina, USA: New in situ zircon U-Pb geochronology and implications for timing of Rodinian orogenesis in eastern Laurentia

Abstract Mesoproterozoic metaplutonic rocks from the southern French Broad massif in southwestern North Carolina preserve Grenville magmatic and metamorphic ages (1.28–1.0 Ga). New in-situ zircon U-Pb measurements from eight basement lithologies, obtained by laser ablation and ion-probe techniques, delineate Elzevirian (1283–1250 Ma), Shawinigan (1191–1126 Ma), and Ottawan (1034–1008 Ma) magmatism and metamorphism. Magmatism produced dominantly calc-alkaline plutons with normative compositions of quartz diorite, quartz monzodiorite, granodiorite, and monzogranite. The majority of magmatism in the field area occurred between ca. 1190 and 1125 Ma, a period correlative to the Shawinigan phase of the Grenville orogeny. Syn- to post-emplacement metamorphism of these units is evidenced by complex zircon U-Pb systematics in all Shawinigan age plutons. Ottawan magmatism, expressed by emplacement of the Max Patch granite and protoliths of the Earlies Gap granitoid gneiss, is less voluminous than Shawinigan magmatism; a difference that mirrors their relative proportions elsewhere in the orogen. Ottawan metamorphism is recorded by growth of new zircon rims around magmatic core domains in several samples and spans a period of ca. 25 m.y. from ca. 1035 to 1010 Ma. The timing of the older and younger magmatic suites from the southern French Broad massif correlate to well-established times of Shawinigan and Ottawan magmatism and metamorphism in other Grenville-age terranes within the U.S. (e.g., Appalachian inliers, Adirondacks).
Oral histiocytic sarcoma in a cat with mandibular invasion and regional lymph node metastasis.

Case summary An 11-year-old female spayed domestic medium-hair cat presented for dental prophylaxis, at which time no oral mass was appreciated. Fifteen days after a dental cleaning, a mass expanding the oral mucosa of the rostral mandible was identified. An incisional biopsy revealed that the oral mucosa was infiltrated by neoplastic round-to-spindloid mesenchymal cells arranged in streams and small, dense aggregates consistent with an undifferentiated sarcoma. The patient was managed medically for approximately 6 months following the diagnosis, but, owing to declining health, euthanasia was elected and a post-mortem examination was performed. On post-mortem examination, the previously described neoplastic cells were infiltrating the rostral mandible and had metastasized to the right submandibular lymph node. Immunohistochemistry performed during the postmortem examination found that neoplastic cells were positive for Iba-1, CD18 and CD204, and negative for MUM-1, S100, Melan-A and E-cadherin, favoring a diagnosis of oral histiocytic sarcoma. Although recently recognized in cats, feline oral histiocytic sarcoma is rare, the tumor's immunohistochemical profile is unstandardized, and the tumor's behavior and prognosis are unclear. The diagnosis is challenging if small incisional biopsies are submitted and the neoplasm is poorly differentiated. This case report discusses the clinical, macroscopic, microscopic and immunohistochemical features of oral histiocytic sarcoma in a cat with mandibular invasion and submandibular lymph node metastasis. Relevance and novel information Feline primary oral histiocytic sarcoma is rare and tumor behavior and prognosis are unclear. This report broadens the immunohistochemical features of the tumor and recognizes mandibular invasion and submandibular lymph node metastasis.
Acoustical Imaging and Point Processes

There are many situations in acoustical imaging (active or passive) where the possible sources or scatterers to be detected or discriminated against are points, or, more generally, are represented by models in which some kind of point process is embedded. A point process is a random set of points (random both in number and positions) in some kind of state space. Examples of imaging problems involving point processes may be found in nondestructive evaluation (including acoustic emission), underwater surveillance (e.g., bearing estimation), medical imaging (e.g., in the case where the detection of echogenic nodules in breast tissue is desired), etc. In this paper, we will address the problem of estimating the average local density of points in some appropriate state space, given a set of measured signals. This density function or a suitable slice or projection of it constitutes the image. Most earlier treatments of this problem involve either 1) an approach that is exact for a single-point model, but which involves an inaccurate ad hoc extension to the many-point case, or 2) an approximate approach involving linear estimators with or without the use of an underlying many-point model. Neither of these approaches can yield algorithms that can resolve two point sources that are too close to be resolvable according to conventional optical criteria. We present here a third approach, based on a many-point model, where the estimation procedure is sufficiently accurate to preserve the essential “pointyness” of the model. Our estimation procedure involves the solution of a hierarchy of integro-differ-ential equations, appropriately truncated, in which the independent variable is a parameter defining the a priori density bias. Computational examples will be presented and discussed.
Darbepoetin administration to neonates undergoing cooling for encephalopathy: a safety and pharmacokinetic trial

Despite therapeutic hypothermia, neonates with encephalopathy (NE) have high rates of death or disability. Darbepoetin alfa (Darbe) has comparable biological activity to erythropoietin, but has extended circulating half-life (t1/2). Our aim was to determine Darbe safety and pharmacokinetics as adjunctive therapy to hypothermia. Thirty infants (n = 10/arm) ≥36 wk gestation undergoing therapeutic hypothermia for NE were randomized to receive placebo, Darbe low dose (2 μg/kg), or high dose (10 μg/kg) given intravenously within 12 h of birth (first dose/hypothermia condition) and at 7 d (second dose/normothermia condition). Adverse events were documented for 1 mo. Serum samples were obtained to characterize Darbe pharmacokinetics. Adverse events (hypotension, altered liver and renal function, seizures, and death) were similar to placebo and historical controls. Following the first Darbe dose at 2 and 10 μg/kg, t1/2 was 24 and 32 h, and the area under the curve (AUCinf) was 26,555 and 180,886 h*mU/ml*, respectively. In addition, clearance was not significantly different between the doses (0.05 and 0.04 l/h). At 7 d, t1/2 was 26 and 35 h, and AUCinf was 10,790 and 56,233 h*mU/ml*, respectively (*P < 0.01). Darbe combined with hypothermia has similar safety profile to placebo with pharmacokinetics sufficient for weekly administration.
CHAPTER 5.1 – Gene therapy: Liposomes and gene delivery–a perspective

This chapter gives an introduction to gene therapy. Gregoriadis and Ryman showed, for the first time, that liposomes could be used to transport molecules into liver cells following an intravenous injection into rats. This observation was made at a time when a considerable body of physico-chemical work about liposomes had accumulated valuable information on the permeability and stability of lipid bilayers, lipid–protein interactions, liposome fusion, as well as mobility of lipids in the bilayers. The newly shown capacity of liposomes to deliver encapsulated material into cells suggested a significant potential for medical use of liposomes. By suitable engineering, they can become specific for target-cells, the amount of drugs or DNA associated with them has been dramatically increased. The first paper on the encapsulation of the polio virus in lipid vesicles from the laboratory showed the possibility of infection of virus-resistant cells by the encapsulated virus. In other words, it was possible to overcome the barrier to entry into the cell using liposomes and to deliver viral RNA (and proteins), thus inducing infection in resistant cells. In spite of these observations, anionic or neutral liposomes were not very effective in transferring genes. The problem of low efficiency for encapsulating large DNA molecules into liposomes has been an important technical obstacle to the utilization of liposomes for gene delivery. This low encapsulation efficiency problem can be overcome by using cationic liposomes, which interact spontaneously with the negatively charged nucleic acid polymers. Because of its convenience and efficacy, cationic lipid mediated gene delivery technology has become a promising system for in vivo gene therapy, as an alternative to viral-based vectors.
Brazing of ceramic-matrix composites to titanium using metallic glass interlayers

Bonding and assembly of ceramic-matrix composites is an enabling technology for applications in a number of aerospace and ground-based systems. In this study, three types of composites (C-C, C-SiC, and SiC-SiC) were brazed to titanium metal using amorphous Ni-base metglass (MBF-20 and MBF-30) braze foils. The SEM and EDS examination of the joints showed that chemical dissolution and interdiffusion led to compositional changes and second phase precipitation which aided metallurgical bonding. Evidence of interlamellar shear failure along the weak BN coatings on SiC fibers was noted in some composites but the brazed joints were crack-free. Residual stresses led to hardness gradients across the joint with peak microhardness (Knoop) as high as 1310 KHN; stress accommodation by the ductile brazes seems to have prevented interfacial cracking.
Suppression of Higgsino mediated proton decay by cancellations in grand unified theories and strings

A mechanism for the enhancement for proton lifetime in supersymmetric/supergravity (SUSY/SUGRA) grand unified theories and in string theory models is discussed where Higgsino mediated proton decay arising from color triplets (antitriplets) with charges $Q=\ensuremath{-}1/3(1/3)$ and $Q=\ensuremath{-}4/3(4/3)$ is suppressed by an internal cancellation due to contributions from different sources. We exhibit the mechanism for an $SU(5)$ model with ${45}_{H}+{\overline{45}}_{H}$ Higgs multiplets in addition to the usual Higgs structure of the minimal model. This model contains both $Q=\ensuremath{-}1/3(1/3)$ and $Q=\ensuremath{-}4/3(4/3)$ Higgs color triplets (antitriplets) and simple constraints allow for a complete suppression of Higgsino mediated proton decay. Suppression of proton decay in an $SU(5)$ model with Planck scale contributions is also considered. The suppression mechanism is then exhibited for an $SO(10)$ model with a unified Higgs structure involving ${144}_{H}+{\overline{144}}_{H}$ representations. The $SU(5)$ decomposition of ${144}_{H}+{\overline{144}}_{H}$ contains ${5}_{H}+{\overline{5}}_{H}$ and ${45}_{H}+{\overline{45}}_{H}$ and the cancellation mechanism arises among these contributions which mirror the $SU(5)$ case. The cancellation mechanism appears to be more generally valid for a larger class of unification models. Specifically the cancellation mechanism may play a role in string model constructions to suppress proton decay from dimension five operators. The mechanism allows for the suppression of proton decay consistent with current data allowing for the possibility that proton decay may be visible in the next round of nucleon stability experiment.
The Externalities of Nuclear Power: First, Assume We Have a Can Opener . . .

The nuclear power industry has latched on to global warming as an argument for its renaissance. Although even industry proponents acknowledge that the problem of disposing of spent nuclear fuel remains unsolved, the industry routinely assumes this problem will be solved in the future. Unfortunately, this is the same assumption made by nuclear energy proponents at the beginning of the nuclear industry fifty years ago. We haven’t solved the nuclear waste problem in the past half century, and there is no reason to think we will be more likely to do so in the next one. Like the shipwrecked economist in the old joke, the nuclear industry continues to postulate that we should “assume we have a can opener” for the nuclear waste problem.
Relative Accessibility and the Choice of Modes

The factors influencing commute mode choice are a subject of ongoing research and policy. Existing literature explores a wide range of factors which may influence mode choice; many of these focus on demographic factors as well as user preferences and perception, thereby highlighting the unique characteristics of each mode. This analysis hypothesizes that mode share, the aggregate expression of individuals' mode choices, is determined in large part by more fundamental properties of transportation systems. Accessibility, which measures the ease of reaching destinations, is used as a tool for comparing modes which focuses on their properties as abstract transportation systems. It explores the potential to predict the relative commute shares of non-auto and auto modes from the relative accessibility provided by each. Using public data sources and methods selected for their simplicity and ease of interpretation, a model is estimated which accounts for 41% of the variation in commute mode share at the block group level in the Minneapolis--Saint Paul, MN metropolitan area.
A pH 7 buffer devoid of nitrogen, sulfur, and phosphorus for use in bacteriological systems.

Apparent pK values were determined for a series of commercially available carboxylic acids in a search for a buffer suitable for bacterial studies at pH 7 in media free from nitrogen, sulfur, and phosphorus. Of the compounds possessing pK′ values near pH 7,3,6-endomethylene-1,2,3,6-tetrahydrophthalic acid (EMTA) was chosen as possessing suitable physical properties, cost, and purity for biological use. Aerobacter aerogenes and Escherichia coli grew normally in its presence but did not utilize it as a sole source and energy. Although good turbidimetric data could not be obtained, Pseudomonas aeruginosa responded in the same qualitative way. Therefore, EMTA promises to be useful in work on endogenous metabolism and in nutritional studies.
Subunit Structure of l-Arabinose Isomerase from Escherichia coli

Abstract l-Arabinose isomerase, isolated from l-arabinose-induced cultures of Escherichia coli B/r, has a molecular weight of 362,000 and an s020,w of 12.6 x 10-13 sec. Protonation of purified l-arabinose isomerase at pH 2.0 or treatment with 8 m urea results in the dissociation of the native enzyme into subunits which are homogeneous in the ultracentrifuge and which migrate as a single band on disc eletrophoresis in acrylamide gel containing urea. Physical characterization of the subunits has yielded an s020,w of 2.85 x 10-13 sec with a significant dependence of the sedimentation coefficient on protein concentration. The molecular weight, determined by sedimentation equilibrium, is 6.0 ± 0.26 x 104, indicating 6 identical subunits per molecule of native enzyme. No defined dissociation intermediates corresponding to dimers or trimers were detected by either protonation or treatment with 8 m urea. The identity of the subunits was substantiated by peptide mapping of cyanogen bromide-cleaved, performic acid-oxidized, 14C-carbamylated enzyme. The amino acid composition of the native enzyme includes 95.4 moles of methionine per 363,000 g of enzyme; after cyanogen bromide cleavage, a total of 18 to 19 peptides was detected by acrylamide gel electrophoresis, high voltage electrophoresis, and descending chromatography.
Rule-based supervisory control of a two-link flexible manipulator

In this paper, we propose a two level hierarchical control strategy to achieve accurate end-point position of a planar two-link flexible manipulator. The upper level consists of a feedforward rule-based supervisory controller that incorporates fuzzy logic, whereas the lower level consists of conventional controllers that combine shaft position-endpoint acceleration feedback for disturbance rejection properties and shaping of the (joint) actuator inputs to minimize the energy transferred to the flexible modes during commanded movements. The effectiveness of this hierarchical control strategy is verified by experimental results for various movements of the links, in various configurations. In particular, we illustrate how the hierarchical intelligent control strategy performs better than conventional control techniques for endpoint position control in the presence of flexure effects.
Continuous on-line monitoring of biomolecules based on automated homogeneous enzyme-linked competitive binding assays.

A new method is described here by which the concentration of biologically important molecules can be monitored continuously. Two well-characterized homogeneous enzyme-linked competitive binding assays for the vitamins folate and biotin serve as model systems for these investigations
Effect Of Boration Upon The Stability Of Polyvinyl Alcohol (PVA) Iodine Polarizers

Enhanced stability of PVA-iodine type polarizers can be effected through esterification of the PVA matrix with boric acid. The extent of esterification, and hence stability, can be greatly influenced by reaction conditions. Conditions examined in this study, and their relative influence, include reaction time and temperature, concentration of the boric acid, pH of the reaction medium, and the reaction medium itself.© (1982) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Total matchings and total coverings of threshold graphs

Abstract A graph is said to be threshold if there exist real numbers a i associated with its vertices i and a real number b such that ∑ i ϵ S a i ⩽ b holds if and only if S is a stable set of vertices. A vertex of a graph is said to cover itself, its neighboring vertices, and the incident edges. An edge is said to cover itself, its neighboring edges, and its endvertices, Alavi, Behzed, Lesniak-Foster and Nordhaus defined a total matching as a maximal set of vertices and edges that do not cover each other. A total covering is defined as a minimal set of vertices and edges that cover every vertex and edge. We determine the largest size of a total matching and the smallest size of a total covering in a threshold graph. Various related parameters are also found.
Localization of enzymes catalysing kaurene biosynthesis in immature pea seeds

Abstract Comparative assays of (–)-kaurene accumulation in cell-free extracts of whole pea ( Pisum sativum L. cv. Alaska) seeds, isolated seed coats, cotyledons, and embryonic shoot-root axes revealed that the enzymes catalysing the synthesis of (−)-kaurene from mevalonic acid-2- 14 C are apparently localized exclusively in the cotyledons. Differential centrifugation of extracts showed that the enzymes catalysing (−)-kaurene biosynthesis occur in the soluble fraction. The enzymes responsible for squalene (identification tentative) biosynthesis were present in both the seed coat and the cotyledon extracts.
How well is cancer pain treated

There are currently two indicators, Morphine Consumption Data and the Pain Management Index, that have been widely used to assess the efficacy of cancer pain treatment. Both are based on the World Health Organization guidelines for cancer pain and both have limitations in their ability to assess the quality of pain care for cancer patients. The published studies that have used these methods all report that cancer pain is generally undertreated in a wide range of clinical settings and care models.
When all children comprehend: increasing the external validity of narrative comprehension development research.

Narratives, also called stories, can be found in conversations, children's play interactions, reading material, and television programs. From infancy to adulthood, narrative comprehension processes interpret events and inform our understanding of physical and social environments. These processes have been extensively studied to ascertain the multifaceted nature of narrative comprehension. From this research we know that three overlapping processes (i.e., knowledge integration, goal structure understanding, and causal inference generation) proposed by the constructionist paradigm are necessary for narrative comprehension, narrative comprehension has a predictive relationship with children's later reading performance, and comprehension processes are generalizable to other contexts. Much of the previous research has emphasized internal and predictive validity; thus, limiting the generalizability of previous findings. We are concerned these limitations may be excluding underrepresented populations from benefits and implications identified by early comprehension processes research. This review identifies gaps in extant literature regarding external validity and argues for increased emphasis on externally valid research. We highlight limited research on narrative comprehension processes in children from low-income and minority populations, and argue for changes in comprehension assessments. Specifically, we argue both on- and off-line assessments should be used across various narrative types (e.g., picture books, televised narratives) with traditionally underserved and underrepresented populations. We propose increasing the generalizability of narrative comprehension processes research can inform persistent reading achievement gaps, and have practical implications for how children learn from narratives.
Nocturnal sleep enhances working memory training in Parkinson's disease but not Lewy body dementia

Working memory is essential to higher order cognition (e.g. fluid intelligence) and to performance of daily activities. Though working memory capacity was traditionally thought to be inflexible, recent studies report that working memory capacity can be trained and that offline processes occurring during sleep may facilitate improvements in working memory performance. We utilized a 48-h in-laboratory protocol consisting of repeated digit span forward (short-term attention measure) and digit span backward (working memory measure) tests and overnight polysomnography to investigate the specific sleep-dependent processes that may facilitate working memory performance improvements in the synucleinopathies. We found that digit span backward performance improved following a nocturnal sleep interval in patients with Parkinson's disease on dopaminergic medication, but not in those not taking dopaminergic medication and not in patients with dementia with Lewy bodies. Furthermore, the improvements in patients with Parkinson's disease on dopaminergic medication were positively correlated with the amount of slow-wave sleep that patients obtained between training sessions and negatively correlated with severity of nocturnal oxygen desaturation. The translational implication is that working memory capacity is potentially modifiable in patients with Parkinson's disease but that sleep disturbances may first need to be corrected.
Constraints on heavy neutrinos

If a heavy neutrino of mass 1.1 MeV <m <14 MeV participates in the weak charged current coupling for the electron, then it can be produced in the Sun and decay in flight into an electron, a positron and a light neutrino. It is shown here that existing experimental bounds on low-energy interplanetary positrons severely constrain the heavy neutrino–electron coupling. Accelerator experiments severely constrain the coupling of still heavier neutrinos.
Ergonomics and GI endoscopy.

Gastroenterologists are at risk for overuse injuries, such as carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), DeQuervain’s tenosynovitis, and lateral epicondylitis due to the repetition and prolonged awkward postures associated with endoscopy. Much attention has been paid to the safety of patients during endoscopic procedures, but the safety of the physician is often forgotten. Indeed, the rigorous training and increasing demand for colonoscopy have made the gastroenterologist a commodity in today’s workplace. Surveybased studies estimate a 37% to 89% prevalence of musculoskeletal pain among gastroenterologists, although the proportion of occupation-related injuries is unknown. According to a recent American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE) survey, gastroenterologists spend 43% of their time performing endoscopy, and increased endoscopy volume is associated with an increased risk of musculoskeletal complaints. Ergonomics is the study of the physical and cognitive demands of a task in relation to an individual’s capacity. In effect, ergonomics evaluates how a job can best be fit to an individual, instead of forcing an individual to fit into a job. Because work-related injuries can be devastating to a physician’s livelihood, it is important for physicians to be educated on ergonomic principles to minimize the risk for endoscopy-related injury. We herein review the available literature on the prevalence, risk factors, and potential mechanisms for upper extremity and neck injuries in endoscopists and propose general ergonomic guidelines to reduce these risks.
Efficient sensory encoding and bayesian inference with heterogeneous neural populations

The efficient coding hypothesis posits that sensory systems maximize information transmitted to the brain about the environment. We develop a precise and testable form of this hypothesis in the context of encoding a sensory variable with a population of noisy neurons, each characterized by a tuning curve. We parameterize the population with two continuous functions that control the density and amplitude of the tuning curves, assuming that the tuning widths vary inversely with the cell density. This parameterization allows us to solve, in closed form, for the information-maximizing allocation of tuning curves as a function of the prior probability distribution of sensory variables. For the optimal population, the cell density is proportional to the prior, such that more cells with narrower tuning are allocated to encode higher-probability stimuli and that each cell transmits an equal portion of the stimulus probability mass. We also compute the stimulus discrimination capabilities of a perceptual system that relies on this neural representation and find that the best achievable discrimination thresholds are inversely proportional to the sensory prior. We examine how the prior information that is implicitly encoded in the tuning curves of the optimal population may be used for perceptual inference and derive a novel decoder, the Bayesian population vector, that closely approximates a Bayesian least-squares estimator that has explicit access to the prior. Finally, we generalize these results to sigmoidal tuning curves, correlated neural variability, and a broader class of objective functions. These results provide a principled embedding of sensory prior information in neural populations and yield predictions that are readily testable with environmental, physiological, and perceptual data.
Attenuated Salmonella typhimurium invades and decreases tumor burden in neuroblastoma.

Abstract Introduction We have previously shown that Salmonella elicits an antitumor response against hepatic adenocarcinomatous metastases. In vitro studies have demonstrated both intracellular invasion and proliferation of Salmonella within cultured neuroblastoma cells. We sought to demonstrate in vivo invasion, proliferation, and a potential antitumor response. Methods A murine model for retroperitoneal neuroblastoma was established with viable neuroblastoma cells. A green fluorescent protein (GFP—Clontech, Palo Alto, CA) gene was inserted into our attenuated Salmonella species via electroporation. Fourteen days after retroperitoneal injection, the Salmonella typhimurium - pGFP construct was administered and studied. In separate experiments, the antitumor effect against neuroblastoma was studied in controls, Salmonella lacking an interleukin 2 (IL-2) gene (Sal-NG), and Salmonella containing an IL-2 gene ( Salmonella-pIL2 ). Results Consistent with previous reports, 74% of mice injected were found to have recognizable tumors. Salmonella was present within tumor cells. Average tumor volumes for control, Sal-NG, and Salmonella-pIL2 mice were 2024.3, 749.5, and 332.4 mm 3 , respectively ( P Salmonella-pIL2 mice were 2.218, 0.880, and 0.377 g, respectively ( P Conclusions Attenuated Salmonella species can now be tracked via fluorescent microscopy within tumor cells. Furthermore, an 84% reduction in tumor burden was observed in those animals gavage fed Salmonella with the IL-2 gene.
Faculty status and academic librarianship: Transformation to a clinical model

Abstract Faculty status for academic librarians is based on the teaching faculty model. However, the basic tenure and promotion constructs of teaching, research and service do not readily apply to academic library practice. This article presents the clinical faculty model as a more viable foundation for faculty status for academic librarians.