cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Prediction of N2O emissions under different field management practices and climate conditions.

Abstract Due to the contributions of nitrous oxide (N2O) to global climate change and stratospheric ozone destruction, it is important to understand how climate and agricultural management affect N2O emissions. Although the process-based Denitrification Decomposition (DNDC) model is often used for quantifying emissions of N2O, the accuracy of these predictions remains in question, and it is not clear which input variables, environmental or field management, have the greatest effect on model performance. In this study, DNDC was evaluated for prediction of N2O fluxes from two climatically-different corn-field sites in the United States (a Colorado irrigated field and a Minnesota rainfed field). Besides climate, these sites offer the additional advantage that measurements are available for multiple field management practices, including fertilizer application, tillage, and crop rotation. This evaluation found that DNDC did not consistently, correctly predict daily-scale N2O fluxes. Cumulative growing season N2O fluxes were significantly under-predicted in Colorado and were both under- and over-predicted in Minnesota. Model calibration of four soil input parameters did not significantly improve N2O emission predictions at either site or time scale. Modeled and measured N2O fluxes and model error were all strongly correlated with precipitation. Over-predictions of N2O fluxes were associated with heavy precipitation and high modeled denitrification. Based on our results, model improvements to decrease model error for corn cropping systems in temperate climate zones should focus on better accounting for the effects of precipitation on denitrification. Despite discrepancies in daily and cumulative growing season N2O fluxes, DNDC correctly identified the only field management (fertilizer application rate) that significantly influenced the measured N2O fluxes.
Murine Models of Acute Myeloid Leukaemia.

Acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) is a rare but severe form of human cancer that results from a limited number of functionally cooperating genetic abnormalities leading to uncontrolled proliferation and impaired differentiation of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells. Before the identification of genetic driver lesions, chemically, irradiation or viral infection-induced mouse leukaemia models provided platforms to test novel chemotherapeutics. Later, transgenic mouse models were established to test the in vivo transforming potential of newly cloned fusion genes and genetic aberrations detected in patients’ genomes. Hereby researchers constitutively or conditionally expressed the respective gene in the germline of the mouse or reconstituted the hematopoietic system of lethally irradiated mice with bone marrow virally expressing the mutation of interest. More recently, immune deficient mice have been explored to study patient-derived human AML cells in vivo. Unfortunately, although complementary to each other, none of the currently available strategies faithfully model the initiation and progression of the human disease. Nevertheless, fast advances in the fields of next generation sequencing, molecular technology and bioengineering are continuously contributing to the generation of better mouse models. Here we review the most important AML mouse models of each category, briefly describe their advantages and limitations and show how they have contributed to our understanding of the biology and to the development of novel therapies.
Mucus Hydration in Subjects with Stable Chronic Bronchitis: A Comparison of Spontaneous and Induced Sputum.

Mucus hydration is important in mucus clearance and lung health. This study sought to test the relative utility of spontaneous sputum (SS) versus the reasonably noninvasive induced sputum (IS) samples for measurement of mucus hydration. SS and IS samples were collected over a 2-day study interval. Sputum was induced with escalating inhaled nebulized 3-5% hypertonic saline. Viscous portions of the samples ("plugs") were utilized for percent solids and total mucin analyses. Cytokines, nucleotides/nucleosides and cell differentials were measured in plugs diluted into 0.1% Sputolysin. Overall, 61.5% of chronic bronchitis (CB) subjects produced a SS sample and 95.2% an IS sample. Total expectorate sample weights were less for the SS (0.94 ± 0.98 g) than the IS (2.67 ± 2.33 g) samples. Percent solids for the SS samples (3.56% ± 1.95; n = 162) were significantly greater than the IS samples (3.08% ± 1.81; n = 121), p = 0.133. Total mucin concentrations also exhibited a dilution of the IS samples: SS = 4.15 ± 3.23 mg/ml (n = 62) versus IS= 3.34 ± 2.55 mg/ml (n = 71) (p = 0.371). Total mucins (combined SS and IS) but not percent solids, were inversely associated with FEV1 percent predicted (p = 0.052) and FEV1,/FVC % (p = 0.035). There were no significant differences between sample types in cytokine or differential cell counts. The probability of sample collections was less for SS than IS samples. Measurements of hydration revealed modest dilution of the IS samples compared to SS. Thus for measurements of mucus hydration, both SS and IS samples appear to be largely interchangeable.
Lessons learned from International Service Learning Projects : Students’s Perspective

In recent years, there is a growing trend of engaging engineering students on international development projects in developing and underdeveloped countries. One such example would be International service learning projects (IESL) associated with the EPICS (Engineering Project in Community Services). There are also several other engineering organizations dedicated towards the needs in developed and developing countries such as Engineering without Borders, and Engineering for Sustainable World. These programs require engineering students, young professionals, and faculty members to get directly involved in international development initiatives and projects in the developing and underdeveloped countries. Traditionally, in the Service-learning literature, most of the studies have focused on the learning outcomes, perspectives, and experiences of the students in the domestic service learning programs. Although the research in domestic service learning program grounds in theory and the implications and results are valuable and useful, because of the complexities of cross-cultural differences associated with IESL programs, these findings may not be suitable and applicable for international service learning (IESL) programs. Through this paper, we report the lesson learned by the students and the faculty members engaged in an IESL program. Our initial findings suggest the intended as well as unintended lessons learned by the students and the faculty members engaged in the IESL program. We believe that the findings from this study will contribute to the growing literature of the engineering service learning research. The findings from this study can help the students and the faculty members engaged in IESL programs to set up a better understanding of the expectations from the IESL programs. The findings will also be useful for those service learning programs who engaged with International community partners. Last but not the least, these findings can provide insight for improving IESL program structures and may also inform further investigations of other international partnerships by providing a baseline of presented four international engineering service learning partnership in this study.
State, gender and the life of colonial laws: the hijras/khwajasaras’ history of dispossession and their demand for dignity and izzat in Pakistan

This article critically assesses the notion of dignity used in recent Supreme Court judgments on ‘third gender’ and ‘transgender rights’ in South Asia, and suggests a reexamination of dignity as th...
Monster Carlo 2: Integrating Learning and Tree Search for Machine Playtesting

We describe a machine playtesting system that combines two paradigms of artificial intelligence—learning and tree search—and intends to place them in the hands of independent game developers. This integration approach has shown great success in Go-playing systems like AlphaGo and AlphaZero, but until now has not been available to those outside of artificial intelligence labs. Our system expands the Monster Carlo machine playtesting framework for Unity games by integrating its tree search capabilities with the behavior cloning features of Unity’s Machine Learning Agents Toolkit. Because experience gained in one playthrough may now usefully transfer to other playthroughs via imitation learning, the new system overcomes a serious limitation of the older one with respect to stochastic games (when memorizing a single optimal solution is ineffective). Additionally, learning allows search-based automated play to be bootstrapped from examples of human play styles or even from the best of its own past experiences. In this paper we demonstrate that our framework discovers higher-scoring and more-representative play with minimal need for machine learning or search expertise.
Endometrial Considerations for Minimal Stimulation

The uterus is a vital part of reproduction. In this chapter, we explore the effects of minimal stimulation and clomiphene citrate on the endometrium, including thinning of the endometrium, retardation of glandular growth, and differential gene expression. The mechanisms are unclear but may involve direct antiestrogenic action and paracrine activity via stromal cell secretions. Overall, the negative effects of minimal stimulation with clomiphene citrate may warrant a freeze-all approach for embryo transfer.
Beyond Othello: Juan Latino in Black America

This essay focusses on references to the sixteenth-century black poet and scholar Juan Latino in African American journals in the 1920s–1940s. Although Juan Latino is largely forgotten in the present day, publications such as the Journal of Negro History and the New Negro referred to the poet as an important figure in the intellectual history of the African diaspora. My essay posits Juan Latino (both the historical figure and an early modern play about him) as an alternative exemplar of blackness in early modern Europe to that found in Othello. By turning to Juan Latino instead of to Othello, scholars in the 1920s–1940s were able to suggest a transnational and transhistorical black diasporic identity linked with African American solidarity with the Republican cause in the Spanish Civil War.
The Glories and Iniquities of Heroism, Patriotism, and Paternal Love: Farinata degli Uberti (1212–1264) and Cavalcante de’ Cavalcanti (c. 1220–c. 1280)

This chapter features the personification of thirteenth-century noteworthy pride and destructive arrogance, Farinata degli Uberti, a Ghibelline warrior who both conquered Florence and singlehandedly shielded the city from utter annihilation. Farinata embodies admirable virtue and formidable vice, partisan patriotism, and zealous hedonism, as well as familial loyalty and divisive individualism. We also meet Cavalcante de’ Cavalcanti, the father of Dante’s onetime best friend, Guido Cavalcanti. By closely examining and evaluating Dante’s character sketches of the two protagonists, this chapter explores the relationship between good and evil; the nuances of Epicurean hedonism; the structure of community and its tensions with individualism and narrow tribalism; and Dante’s understanding of salutary love, filtered through Platonic philosophy, Cicero’s pagan argument for the immortality of the human soul, and Christian theology.
Factors affecting bone maturation in Chinese girls aged 4-8 years with isolated premature thelarche

In isolated premature thelarche (IPT) girls, bone age (BA) is considered consistent with chronological age. However, some IPT girls confirmed by gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) stimulation test could show another trend. We analysed BA and possible potentiating factors in a selected group of girls aged 4–8 years with IPT. IPT girls confirmed by GnRH stimulation test aged 4–8 years hospitalized from January 2015 to April 2018 at Shenzhen Children’s Hospital were included in this retrospective study. They were divided into two groups with advanced BA of 2 years as the cut-off. Body mass index (BMI) and hormone levels were the main outcome measures, and regression analysis was used to identify independent risk factors. IPT girls were divided into subgroups according to the levels of BMI standard deviation score (SDS), insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) SDS and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) SDS for comparisons of advanced BA. Overall, 423 subjects were included and classified into the advanced BA group (48.7%, n = 206) and control group (51.3%, n = 217). The advanced BA group had significantly higher BMI SDS, serum DHEAS SDS, IGF-1 SDS, androstenedione and fasting insulin and significantly lower sex hormone binding globulin (all p < 0.001). Serum IGF-1 SDS (OR = 1.926, p<0.001), BMI SDS (OR = 1.427, p = 0.001) and DHEAS SDS (OR = 1.131, p = 0.005) were independent risk factors for significantly advanced BA. In the multiple linear regression model, serum IGF-1 SDS, BMI SDS and DHEAS SDS were the strongest predictors of advanced BA, accounting for 19.3% of the variance. According to BMI, 423 patients were classified into three groups: normal weight (56.03%, n = 237), overweight (19.15%, n = 81) and obesity (24.82%, n = 105). The proportion of advanced BA in obesity group was significantly higher than those of normal weight and overweight groups (χ2 = 18.088, p<0.001). In the subgroup with normal weight, higher serum IGF-1 SDS (p = 0.009) and DHEAS SDS (p = 0.003) affected BA advancement independent of BMI SDS. Girls with IPT confirmed by GnRH stimulation test aged 4–8 years might have significantly advanced BA. Obesity was highly associated with advanced BA. Age-specific serum IGF-1 SDS and DHEAS SDS were risk factors for BA advancement independent of BMI.
Effect of public housing redevelopment on reported and perceived crime in a Seattle neighborhood

Although research indicates that developing new public housing typically does not increase neighborhood crime, little is known about the impact of revitalizing existing public housing properties, also known as redevelopment. This study evaluates the effect of a multi-component physical and social redevelopment project on reports and perceptions of neighborhood crime in Seattle, Washington. We compare administrative police data with findings from a community survey to assess trends during early-to-mid redevelopment. While perceptions of safety improved over the study period, most crime-specific trends were not significantly different at the redevelopment site relative to comparison sites where no redevelopment occurred. Results suggest that this project did not have obvious adverse effects on crime rates. Although this redevelopment may have had a positive effect on perceptions of crime and safety in the short-term, it may take longer to realize beneficial effects on actual experiences or reports of crime.
Introduction to Special Issue "The 11th International Retroviral Nucleocapsid and Assembly Symposium".

The 11th International Retroviral Nucleocapsid and Assembly Symposium was held August 15–17, 2019, on the campus of Northeastern University [...]
Exploring Non-Volatility of Non-Volatile Memory for High Performance Computing Under Failures

Hardware failures and faults often result in application crash in HPC. The emergence of non-volatile memory (NVM) provides a solution to address this problem. Leveraging the nonvolatility of NVM, one can build in-memory checkpoints or enable crash-consistent data objects. However, these solutions cause large memory consumption, extra writes to NVM, or disruptive changes to applications. We introduces a fundamentally new methodology to handle HPC under failures based on NVM. In particular, we attempt to use remaining data objects in NVM (possibly stale ones because of losing data updates in caches) to restart crashed applications. To address the challenge of possibly unsuccessful recomputation after the application restarts, we introduce a framework EasyCrash that uses a systematic approach to automatically decide how to selectively persist application data objects to significantly increase possibility of successful recomputation. EasyCrash enables up to 30% improvement (20% on average) in system efficiency at various system scales.
Radio Observations of a Large Sample of Late-M, L, and T Dwarfs: The Distribution of Magentic Field Strengths

We present radio observations of a comprehensive sample of 90 dwarf stars and brown dwarfs ranging from spectral type M5 to T8. We detect three radio active sources in addition to the six objects previously detected in quiescence and outburst, leading to an overall detection rate of about 10% for objects later than M7. From the properties of the radio emission we infer magnetic field strengths of ~100 G in quiescence and nearly 1 kG during flares, while the majority of the non-detected objects have B -12, (ii) increased radio activity with later spectral type, in contrast to H-alpha and X-ray observations, and (iii) an overall drop in the fraction of active sources from about 30% for M dwarfs to about 5% for L dwarfs, fully consistent with H-alpha and X-ray observations. Taken together, these trends suggest that some late-M and L dwarfs are capable of generating 0.1-1 kG magnetic fields, but the overall drop in the fraction of such objects is likely accompanied by a change in the structure of the chromospheres and coronae, possibly due to the increasingly neutral atmospheres and/or a transition to a turbulent dynamo. A more extended radio survey currently holds the best promise for measuring the magnetic field properties of a large number of dwarf stars. [abridged]
Nano Diaminopropane tetrac and integrin αvβ3 expression in different cancer types: Anti-cancer efficacy and Safety.

Abstract Integrins are a family of heterodimeric plasma membrane glycoproteins, which regulate tumor growth, angiogenesis, migration, and metastasis. Integrin αvβ3 has been recognized as a putative target for the treatment of several cancers. Thus, the characterization of αvβ3 distribution in different human tumors is of substantial interest in tumor targeting and its suppression. In this study we evaluated the expression of integrin αvβ3 in different cancer types to define the expression pattern in cancer model. Furthermore, we investigated the effect of novel αvβ3 antagonist Diaminopropane Tetraiodothyroacetic acid conjugated to poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) polymer and its nanoformulated form (NDAT), on different cancer cell lines both in vitro and in xenografts. In vitro, NDAT downregulated αv and β3 monomer expression. In vivo in tumor xenografts, similarly, NDAT downregulated αv and β3. Distinct reduction in tumor weight and viability was observed in glioblastoma xenografts treated with NDAT. Furthermore, NDAT was safe and tolerable in mice treated with high doses. In conclusion, NDAT is an effective and safe inhibitor of integrin αvβ3 expression in various cancer types, which indicates its impact on the targetability and suppression of αvβ3-associated tumor functions.
Solving Classic Discrete Facility Location Problems Using Excel Spreadsheets

There are a variety of discrete facility location models that have practical relevance for operations management and management science courses. Integer linear programming (ILP) is the standard tec...
Experimental method of determining the uniaxial-compression characteristics of thin-walled structures

An analytical treatment of the stability of thin-walled cylinders demonstrates that this geometry is free from the normally observed buckling instabilities when the external pressure is applied as a ‘winding’ load. Overwrapping vessels with elastomeric fiber under high tension produces an equilibrium state that is identical with simple external pressure. This state differs from the case of constant external pressure in that it is stable and has no buckling instabilities. An analysis is presented that demonstrates this experimentally observed observation and shows that the system will be stable independent of its material properties (i.e., elastic, plastic, viscoelastic, etc.). Consequently, this technique can be used to subject thin-walled cylindrical structures to large enough external pressure to cause fracture or homogeneous yielding. Simple experiments on a metal and polymer sample demonstrate the technique.
Radio Telescopes: The Future

The Square Kilometer Array (SKA) may yet become the world’s largest radio telescope, consisting of thousands of antennas (both dishes and dipoles) spread over isolated, semi-desert regions of South Africa and Australia.
Identification of B beta chain domains involved in human fibrinogen assembly.

Abstract Fibrinogen chains are assembled in a stepwise manner in the rough endoplasmic reticulum prior to secretion of the final six-chain dimeric molecule. Previous studies indicated that the synthesis of B beta may be a rate-limiting factor in the assembly of human fibrinogen. To determine the domains of B beta which interact with the other two component chains of fibrinogen, deletion mutants of B beta were transiently co-expressed, together with A alpha and gamma chains, in COS cells, and fibrinogen assembly and secretion were measured. Deletion of the COOH-terminal half of the B beta chain (amino acids 208-461) did not affect assembly and secretion. Assembly of A alpha, gamma, and B beta also occurred when the first NH2-terminal 72 amino acids of B beta were deleted, but not when 93 amino acids were deleted. This indicates that the B beta domain between amino acids 73 and 93 is necessary for the assembly of the three fibrinogen chains. This domain marks the start of the alpha-helical "coiled-coil" region of fibrinogen.
What If There Were No More Bickering About Statistical Significance Tests

Questions and concerns are directed to those who advocate replacing statistical hypothesis testing with alternative data-analysis strategies. It is further suggested that: (1) commonly recommended hypothesis-testing alternatives are anything but perfect, especially when allowed to stand alone without an accompanying inferential filtering device; (2) various hypothesis-testing modifications can be implemented to make the hypothesis-testing process and its associated conclusions more credible; and (3) hypothesis testing, when implemented intelligently, adds importantly to the story-telling function of a published empirical research investigation.
The Influence of Pop Culture and Mass Media on Dance Education Today

Popular culture began as an expression of the Industrial Revolution in the late 1700s when large businesses began to mass-produce goods and services for profit (Crothers 2010, 12). Pop culture art ...
L2 Writing in Secondary Classrooms : Student Experiences, Academic Issues, and Teacher Education

1. On the Radar Screen and the Need to Focus on L2 Writing in Secondary Classrooms Luciana C. de Oliveira and Tony Silva Part I: Student Experiences: Case Studies 2. "She Doesn't Know Who I Am": The Case of a Refugee L2 Writer in a High School English Language Arts Classroom Christina Ortmeier-Hooper 3. Adolescent Writers and Academic Trajectories: Situating L2 Writing in the Content Areas Kerry Anne Enright 4. "Doing Like Almost Everything Wrong": An Adolescent Multilingual Writer's Transition from High School to College, Amanda Kibler Part II: Academic Issues 5. Preparing English Language Learners for Argumentative Writing Alan Hirvela 6. The Role of Social Relationships in the Writing Development of Multilingual Adolescents Jennifer Shade Wilson 7. Emerging Literacies in Digital Media and L2 Secondary Writing Melissa Niiya, Mark Warschauer, and Binbin Zheng Part III: Teacher Education 8. Focus on Pre-service Preparation for ESL Writing: K-12 Teacher Perspectives Ditlev Larsen 9. ESOL Teachers as Writing Teachers: From the Voice of Pre-Service Teachers Youngjoo Yi 10. Responsive Teacher Inquiry for Learning about Adolescent English Learners as Developing Writers Steven Z. Athanases, Lisa H. Bennett, and Juliet Michelsen Wahleithner 11. Understanding how Preservice Teachers Develop a Working Knowledge of L2 writing: Toward a Socioculturally-Oriented Postmethod Pedagogy Lisya Seloni
Management of Physical Replicas in Parallel Multimedia in Information Systems

Multimedia information systems have emerged as an essential component of many application domains ranging from library information systems to entertainment technology. However, most implementations of these systems (based on a workstation) cannot support a continuous display of multimedia objects and suffer from frequent disruptions and delays termed hiccups. This is due to the low I/O bandwidth of the current disk technology, the high bandwidth requirement of multimedia objects, and the large size of these objects which requires them to be almost always disk resident. One approach to resolve this limitation is to decluster a multimedia object across multiple disk drives in order to employ the aggregate bandwidth of several disks to support its continuous retrieval (and display). To support simultaneous display of several multimedia objects for different users, the system can replicate data across multiple groups of disk drives in a virtual manner. This paper describes techniques to manage the replicas of objects in a parallel multimedia information system. These techniques are general and can be customized by the database administrator to satisfy the constraints of an application. We quantify the tradeoffs associated with these strategies using a simulation study.
Atrial myxoma. I. Clinical and pathologic features in nine cases

Abstract During the past five years, nine cases of atrial myxoma, seven left and two right, have been diagnosed and successfully treated at this institution. Seven were female and all were Caucasian except for one Negro man. Dyspnea was the most common symptom, being present in all nine patients. Six of the nine complained of vague chest pain and syncope was present in three. Ankle edema was prominent in eight patients. Emboli, pulmonary and/or systemic, occurred in four patients. Congestive heart failure, right and/or left, was present in eight of the nine; no patient complained of hemoptysis. Four patients were found to have anemia and three noted fever. The atrial myxoma was successfully removed with the aid of cardiopulmonary bypass and all nine patients noted marked symptomatic improvement. The clinical, electrocardiographic, and pathologic features are described.
Capacitive Probe Array Measurements and Limitations

This paper reviews the use of electrostatic capacitive probes for detections and evaluations of dielectric material properties and flaws. Interest in using both inductive and capacitive arrays for proximity sensing, surface feature characterization, material properties evaluation, and flaw detecting has increased steadily since the mid-1980’s [1–7]. Two other papers [6,7] in this proceedings also discuss the present state of the art, particularly with regard to the measurement of lossy dielectrics (complex permittivity). In traditional dielectrometry measurements (as well as in eddy-current measurements of material properties evaluation) varying the probe frequency has long been used as a tool for extracting information about dispersion and loss mechanisms. Use of a spatially periodic array probe interrogates the material, or flaw, with a field that penetrates into the sample to a degree determined by the periodicity. This controllable penetration phenomenon (artificial-skin effect or zoom effect) has been successfully exploited by Melcher, Zaretsky [5], and Goldfine [6] in what they call imposed w-k magnetometry and dielectrometry, using interdigital probes of different periodicities. Details are given in these proceedings. Gammell’s paper [7] gives a progress report on complex permittivity measurements using probes of more conventional type.
Control of sensor information in distributed multisensor systems

Provides an analysis of error covariance control techniques for allocating sensing resources in distributed, multiprocessor, multisensor systems. We present two algorithms for allocating sensing resources that manage the rates and resolutions at which sensor information from various nodes is processed. An elliptical annulus described by two covariance matrices is used to control the prediction and update covariances in the decentralized Kalman filter. These algorithms allow for nodal autonomy by letting each node control the usage of its own suite of sensors. With a single state filter, these sensor management techniques are shown to result in a discrete periodic Riccati equation.
Z, ZX, and X-1: a realistic path to high fusion yield

Z-pinches now constitute the most energetic and powerful sources of X-rays available by a large margin. The Z accelerator at Sandia National Laboratories has produced 1.8 MJ of X-ray energy, 280 TW of power, and hohlraum temperatures of 200 eV. These advances are being applied to inertial confinement fusion (ICF) experiments on Z. The requirements for high fusion yield are exemplified in the target to be driven by the X-1 accelerator. X-1 will drive two Z-pinches, each producing 7 MJ of X-ray energy and about 1000 TW of X-ray power. Together, these radiation sources will heat a hohlraum containing the 4-mm diameter ICF capsule to a temperature exceeding 225 eV for about 10 ns, with the pulse shape required to drive the capsule to high fusion yield; in the range of 200-1000 MJ. Since X-1 consists of two identical accelerators, it is possible to mitigate the technical risk of high yield by constructing one accelerator. This accelerator, ZX, will bridge the gap from Z to X-1 by driving an integrated target experiment with a very efficient energy source. ZX will also provide experimental confirmation that the full specifications of the X-1 accelerator for high yield are achievable, and that a realistic path to high fusion yield exists.
Reliability and Validity of the Sedation Subscale of the Modified Neonatal Pain, Agitation and Sedation Scale (MN-PASS)

Reliability and Validity of the Sedation Subscale of the Modified Neonatal Pain, Agitation and Sedation Scale (MN-PASS)
Simulations Of Optical Lithography Test Structures: Murray Daggers And Contact Arrays

This paper presents simulations of lithography test structures, Murray daggers and contact arrays, and includes comparisons to experiment. Murray daggers are triangular structures whose height is determined by lithography system resolution and process conditions. The tip of a dagger can be seen optically (with a 50 or 100X magnification), making it simple to use. Contact arrays are measured by locating the smallest size contact where the resist has cleared. Aerial image and development simulation programs (SAMPLE) are used to find clearpoint regions in the structure for given lithographic conditions. The location of the clearpoint within the structure is then mapped out as a function of stepper exposure dose and defocus value. Correlations of dagger and contact array readings to develop check CD's are also derived. From the structures investigated, it is found that contact arrays with varying dimensions are sensitive to defocus at low doses (1.2 times the dose needed to clear a large area in the resist, 1.2E0), and that line daggers are the most sensitive at high doses (3.6E0). Sensitivity to exposure dose depends on defocus for all the test structures, but the space dagger appears to be the most reliable indicator. Correlations of printed spacewidth to test structure readings reveal sensitivities on the order of .1 micron/ 1 increment change observed in readings. Experimental dagger measurements suggeit that the simulations are correct.
Stability of DNA-tethered lipid membranes with mobile tethers.

We recently introduced two approaches for tethering planar lipid bilayers as membrane patches to either a supported lipid bilayer or DNA-functionalized surface using DNA hybridization (Chung, M.; Lowe, R. D.; Chan, Y−H. M.; Ganesan, P. V.; Boxer, S. G. J. Struct. Biol.2009, 168, 190−9). When mobile DNA tethers are used, the tethered bilayer patches become unstable, while they are stable if the tethers are fixed on the surface. Because the mobile tethers between a patch and a supported lipid bilayer offer a particularly interesting architecture for studying the dynamics of membrane−membrane interactions, we have investigated the sources of instability, focusing on membrane composition. The most stable patches were made with a mixture of saturated lipids and cholesterol, suggesting an important role for membrane stiffness. Other factors such as the effect of tether length, lateral mobility, and patch membrane edge were also investigated. On the basis of these results, a model for the mechanism of patch dest...
Reasoning about Sensor Data for Automated System Identification

The computer program PRET automatically constructs mathematical models of physical systems. A critical part of this task is automating the processing of sensor data. PRET's intelligent data analyzer uses geometric reasoning to infer qualitative information from quantitative data; if critical variables are either unknown or cannot be measured, it uses delay-coordinate embedding to reconstruct the internal dynamics from the external sensor measurements. Successful modeling results for two sensor-equipped systems, a driven pendulum and a radio-controlled car, demonstrate the effectiveness of these techniques.
Simulation of the Effects of Seasonally Varying Pumping on Intraborehole Flow and the Vulnerability of Public-Supply Wells to Contamination

Public-supply wells with long screens in alluvial aquifers can produce waters of differing quality from different depths. Seasonal changes in quality are linked to seasonal changes in pumping rates that influence the distribution of flow into the well screens under pumping conditions and the magnitude and direction of intraborehole flow within the wells under ambient conditions. Groundwater flow and transport simulations with MODFLOW and MT3DMS were developed to quantify the effects of changes in average seasonal pumping rates on intraborehole flow and water quality at two long-screened, public-supply wells, in Albuquerque, New Mexico and Modesto, California, where widespread pumping has altered groundwater flow patterns. Simulation results indicate that both wells produce water requiring additional treatment to maintain potable quality in winter when groundwater withdrawals are reduced because less water is derived from parts of the aquifer that contain water requiring less treatment. Simulation results indicate that the water quality at both wells could be improved by increasing average winter-pumping rates to induce more lateral flow from parts of the aquifer that contain better quality water. Arsenic-bearing water produced by the Albuquerque well could be reduced from 55% to 45% by doubling average winter-pumping rate, while nitrate- and uranium-bearing water produced by the Modesto well could be reduced from 95% to 65% by nearly tripling the average winter-pumping rate. Higher average winter-pumping rates would also reduce the volume of intraborehole flow within both wells and prevent the exchange of poor quality water between shallow and deep parts of both aquifers.
Determination of gas-phase nitric acid using a tracer technique

Abstract A tracer technique has been developed in this laboratory which allows the measurement of aqueous-phase oxidation of SO 2 in clouds. We are now extending this technique to the chemistry of nitrogen species in clouds. Using a conservative tracer such as selenium we can determine the fraction of cloudwater nitrate that is the result of aerosol scavenging. At remote sites this allows the calculation of the nitric acid mixing ratio in the precloud air from measurements made during a cloud event. We have used this technique to determine the pre-cloud nitric acid partial pressure at Whiteface Mountain (WFM) for three cloud events. The calculated concentrations for an event on 2 August 1997 agree with measurements made at a second site below cloud level using filterpacks. Nitric acid concentrations for cloud events during July 1995, yielded values of x sources the technique may provide a method of determining if there is any aqueous-phase oxidation of N(III) occurring.
Neurological complications following vaccinations.

Abstract Objective: To review the most common neurological disorders associated with various vaccines, and offer suggestions aiming at a better understanding if a causal relationship between the neurological complications and the vaccination is feasible. Methods: A literature search was conducted in PubMed using combination of the following items: vaccines, vaccination, immunization and neurological complications. Review of reports and publications from the World Health Organizations, US Centers for Disease Control and the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System regarding safety and common neurological complications following vaccinations. Especial attention was given to the incidence of complications in various Latin American countries. Results: Neurological complications following vaccination are rare, and in most cases, represent a monophasic neurological event with good clinical recovery. However, serious and fatal complications have been reported. In general, neurological adverse events may not be cau...
Use of ethnic-specific medians for Hispanic patients reduces ethnic disparities in multiple marker screening.

Objective To estimate whether midtrimester maternal serum analyte concentrations differ between Caucasian and Hispanic women and whether using ethnic-specific medians affects quad screen performance. Method Caucasian and Hispanic patients with singletons who underwent maternal serum screening in our laboratory were identified. Alfa-fetoprotein (AFP), estriol, human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG), and inhibin-A medians were derived separately for Caucasians, Hispanics, and for the composite group. Using composite medians, intergroup mean multiples of the medians (MoMs) for each analyte were compared. Using ethnic-specific medians, new MoMs were calculated and utilized in a risk estimation algorithm. Results A total of 5478 Caucasian and 2246 Hispanic pregnancies were evaluated. Intergroup MoMs were significantly different for all analytes. AFP, hCG, and inhibin-A were lower in Hispanics, while estriol was higher (P < 0.0001). Using composite medians, the screen-positive rate (SPR) for trisomy 21 was 5.39% in Caucasians and 3.29% in Hispanics. Ethnic-specific medians reduced this disparity: 4.76% in Caucasians and 4.05% in Hispanics. The SPR for neural tube defects with composite medians was 1.44% for Caucasians and 0.89% for Hispanics; with ethnic-specific medians, the SPR was 1.42% for Caucasians and 1.07% for Hispanics. Conclusion Serum analyte concentrations differ between Caucasian and Hispanic gravidas. Use of ethnic-specific medians reduces the disparity in SPR for trisomy 21 and neural tube defects. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Acidogenic Potential of Cariogenic and Noncariogenic Diets in the Rat

No significant difference in lactic acid content was observed in food residues removed from the occlusal grooves of rats receiving Purina lab chow or the 62% sucrose cariogenic diet. The incubation of rat saliva with Purina chow, with 62% sucrose diet, or with the 62% sucrose diet supplemented with carbamyl phosphate, egg shell meal, and the trace elements zinc, molybdenum, and chromium produced in 24 hours essentially the same pH curve. The terminal titratable acidity observed in saliva incubated with the 62% unsupplemented diet, however, was significantly less than that produced in salivary mixtures containing either Purina chow or supplemented sucrose diets.
Testosterone metabolism by human male mammary skin

Abstract Tissue slices of human male mammary skin were incubated with testosterone in a Krebs-Ringer phosphate buffer at 37°C for six hours. Four metabolic products of testosterone were identified by preliminary chromatography of the incubation extracts on silica gel columns, followed by gas chromatography of the free metabolites, their trimethylsilyl ethers, O-methyloxime derivatives and double derivatives on one percent SE-30 and one percent NGS columns. The metabolites identified were: 5α-androstane-3α-o1,17-one; 5α-androstane-3, 17-dione, androst-4-ene-3, 17-dione and 5β-androstane-3α-o1, 17-one.
Changing models of settlement, economy, and ritual activity: Recent research in late prehistoric central Europe

Recent research in central Europe is changing our understanding of the role of centers in economic and social systems of late prehistoric times. Increased attention to smaller, more typical settlements shows that they engaged in economic activities similar to those at the large, fortified complexes. Abundant new evidence pertaining to ritual activity indicates that ritual was often integrated into daily life at settlements. The evidence from the exceptionally rich data on late prehistoric central Europe can be of substantial value for developing models applicable to contexts in other parts of the world.
Oxidation of Zirconium Diboride with Niobium Additions

Oxidation of ZrB2 ceramics containing Nb additions at 1500 ◦ C resulted in the formation of a two-layer oxide scale. The outer surface was partially covered by a glassy layer containing B2O3 with smaller amounts of Nb and Zr oxides dissolved into it. With increasing exposure time, evaporation of B2O3 from the outer layer resulted in precipitation of oxide particles in the receding glassy phase. Between the outer layer and the unoxidized (Zr,Nb)B2 was a porous layer that consisted of particles containing Zr, Nb, and O. The formation of Nb2Zr6O17 was observed in the porous oxide layer. Since this compound is solid at the oxidation temperature, liquid phase sintering of the ZrO2 scale was not possible. However, dissolution of Nb into B2O3 increased the stability of the liquid/glassy layer, which acted as a barrier to the transport of oxygen at higher temperatures compared to the scale formed on nominally pure ZrB2. © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Analysis of laminar film boiling in boundary layer flows with appreciable radiation

This paper presents the theoretical study of the heat transfer and friction characteristics in the natural convection film boiling on an inclined surface and a sphere, the forced convection film boiling over a horizontal plate, and the stagnation flow film boiling when radiation is appreciable. The boiling liquid is either at the saturation temperature or subcooled. The two phase flow and heat transfer problems have been formulated exactly within the framework of boundary layer theory with the consideration of the shear stress and vapor velocity at the liquid-vapor interface. Through the use of the similarity transformation expressions are obtained to determine the vapor film thickness, skin friction, and heat transfer rate. It is disclosed that the presence of surface radiation results in an increase in the heat transfer rate and a decrease in the skin friction.
Epidemiology of Antibiotic and Heavy Metal Resistance in Bacteria: Resistance Patterns in Staphylococci Isolated from Populations Not Known to be Exposed to Heavy Metals

Staphylococci were isolated from clinical specimens obtained from patients not known to be exposed to abnormal levels of heavy metals. The antibiotic and heavy metal resistance patterns of these strains were determined by using a disk diffusion test and computer sorting. Though not absolute, an association of resistance to mercury and tetracycline in coagulase-negative strains was found, in contrast to resistance to copper and penicillin in coagulase-producing strains. A high degree of correlation was observed between the resistance to phenyl mercury and inorganic mercury, but no correlation was obtained between resistance to methylmercury and other metals. In general, strains resistant to many agents were usually coagulase negative. A possible mechanism and implications of these associations are considered.
An scFv Intrabody against the Nonamyloid Component of α-Synuclein Reduces Intracellular Aggregation and Toxicity

Prevention of abnormal misfolding and aggregation of alpha synuclein (syn) protein in vulnerable neurons should be viable therapeutic strategies for reducing pathogenesis in Parkinson's disease. The nonamyloid component (NAC) region of alpha-syn shows strong tendencies to form beta-sheet structures, and deletion of this region has been shown to reduce aggregation and toxicity in vitro and in vivo. The binding of a molecular species to this region may mimic the effects of such deletions. Single-chain variable fragment (scFv) antibodies retain the binding specificity of antibodies and, when genetically manipulated to create high-diversity libraries, allow in vitro selection against peptides. Accordingly, we used a yeast surface display library of an entire naive repertoire of human scFv antibodies to select for binding to a NAC peptide. Candidate scFv antibodies (after transfer to mammalian expression vectors) were screened for viability in a neuronal cell line by transient cotransfection with A53T mutant alpha-syn. This provided a ranking of the protective efficacies of the initial panel of intracellular antibodies (intrabodies). High steady-state expression levels and apparent conformational epitope binding appeared more important than in vitro affinity in these assays. None of the scFv antibodies selected matched the sequences of previously reported anti-alpha-syn scFv antibodies. A stable cell line expressing the most effective intrabody, NAC32, showed highly significant reductions in abnormal aggregation in two separate models. Recently, intrabodies have shown promising antiaggregation and neuroprotective effects against misfolded mutant huntingtin protein. The NAC32 study extends such work significantly by utilizing information about the pathogenic capacity of a specific alpha-syn region to offer a new generation of in vitro-derived antibody fragments, both for further engineering as direct therapeutics and as a tool for rational drug design for Parkinson's disease.
The influence of angiotensin II on catecholamine synthesis in neuronal cultures from rat brain.

Abstract Incubation of primary neuronal cultures prepared from the hypothalamus and brainstem of neonatal rats with angiotensin II (Ang-II) resulted in a concentration-dependent effect on the incorporation of [3H]-tyrosine ([3H]-Tyr) into [3H]-catecholamines ([3H-CA). At concentrations of 1 nM–1μM, Ang-II (60 min. incubation) caused significant decreases (31–52%) in neuronal [3H]-CA content compared with controls. Conversely, higher concentrations of Ang-II (10–100 μM; 60 min.) caused significant increases (20–60%) in neuronal [3H]-CA content compared with controls. Both of these effects were blocked by co-incubation with the Ang-II receptor antagonist Sar1IIe8-Ang-II. These observations demonstrate that neuronal cells in primary culture have the ability to synthesize [3H]-CA from [3H]-Tyr, and that Ang-II has a receptor-mediated biphasic influence on newly synthesized [3H]-CA (norepinephrine and dopamine).
Retrospective observation of 6-month survival following decompressive craniectomy in a London major trauma and stroke centre

This study describes 5.5 years of retrospective data examining hospital and 6-month outcome of patients following decompressive craniectomy (DC). The effectiveness of DC remains uncertain with conflicting results in patients with TBI and stroke [1,2].
Transient Hypoglossal Nerve Palsy after Septorhinoplasty - A case report -

Hypoglossal nerve palsy is a rare complication after general anesthesia with orotracheal intubation. It can present with symptoms of tongue deviation, dysarthria and swallowing difficulties. We report 33-year-old female who was scheduled to undergo surgery for a nasal bone fracture under general anesthesia, using orotracheal intubation. After surgery, she complained right side tongue deviation and, dysarthria, and was diagnosed with right hypoglossal nerve palsy. The cause of the hypoglossal nerve palsy was assumed to be a complication of the orotracheal intubation. Fortunately, the patient fully recovered 2 weeks after surgery.