cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Activity variants of acid phosphatase-3 among chromosome 3 inversions of Drosophila pseudoobscura.

Allozymes of the Ap-3 locus in Drosophila pseudoobscura show very strong associations with chromosome 3 inversions. The 0.98 electrophoretic allele is associated with the TL, SC, CH and PP gene arrangements, while the 1.00 electrophoretic allele is characteristic of the AR and ST gene arrangements. Variation in relative 0.98 and 1.00 AP-3 allozyme activities of chromosome 3 isogenic strains was examined on acrylamide gels in F1 heterozygotes obtained by crossing these strains individually to a reference strain with a slower 0.87 mobility allozyme. F2 analyses demonstrated that the activity variants cosegregate with the Ap-3 locus. Both 0.98 and 1.00 allelic classes are polymorphic for AP-3 activities. In contrast to the virtual monomorphism for an electrophoretic allele, each inversion is polymorphic for AP-3 activities. These results reveal substantially more genetic differentiation among gene arrangements than is evident from electrophoretic allele comparisons. Strains having the PP arrangement are distinct from TL strains in their AP-3 activity expression, and ST strains have a wider range of variation than AR strains. In contrast, no geographical differentiation is evident for strains from the Bogota population of D. pseudoobscura.
Got to have soul

Kevin Corcoran offers an account of how one can be a physicalist about human persons, deny temporal gaps in the existence of persons, and hold that there is an afterlife. I argue that Corcoran's account both violates the necessity of metaphysical identity and implausibly makes an individual's existence dependent on factors wholly extrinsic to the individual. Corcoran's defence is considered, as well as Stephen Davis's suggestions on how an account like Corcoran's can defend itself against these concerns. It is shown, however, that the difficulties remain in full force and, therefore, that Corcoran's account fails to reconcile physicalism, no gappy existence, and an afterlife.
YBCO/ferrite low-loss microwave phase shifter

Microstrip-geometry phase shifters have limited use at microwave frequencies because of high insertion losses resulting from resistance in the metal conductors. We report a phase shifter fabricated from a YBa/sub 2/Cu/sub 3/O/sub 7-x/ microstrip line on LaAlO/sub 3/ coupled to a ferrite toroid. The magnetic flux required for gyromagnetic interaction with the microwave signal is contained within the closed magnetic path of the ferrite toroid so that the superconductor encounters a very low external magnetic field. Initial measurements at 77 K using a meanderline structure to provide nonreciprocal operation have demonstrated greater than 700 deg of differential phase shift at 10 GHz in a compact structure 2.5 cm long by 0.5 cm wide. The insertion loss is smaller than 0.7 dB which yields a figure of merit considerably greater than 1000 deg/dB. The best conventional phase shifters have an estimated figure of merit of 300 deg/dB at 77 K. Potential radar system applications and improvements in the figure of merit are discussed. >
Measurements of reduced corkscrew motion on the ETA-II linear induction accelerator

The ETA-II linear induction accelerator is used to drive a microwave free-electron laser (FEL). Corkscrew motion, which previously limited performance, has been reduced by: (1) an improved pulse distribution system which reduces energy sweep, (2) improved magnetic alignment achieved with a stretched wire alignment technique (SWAT), and (3) a unique magnetic tuning algorithm. Experiments have been carried out on a 20-cell version of ETA-II operating at 1500 A and 2.7 MeV. The measured transverse beam motion is less than 0.5 mm for 40 ns of the pulse, an improvement of a factor of 2 to 3 over previous results. Details of the computerized tuning procedure, estimates of the corkscrew phase, and relevance of these results to future FEL experiments are presented. >
Creating task-based concern maps by merging concern fragments

On any project, it is not possible to have complete and accurate concern maps for all possible tasks. We present an approach to create concern maps from available secondary software work artifacts produced by common software tools, such as revisions control. We mine and index concern fragments from repositories of those tools. Developers can search the index for an initial set of relevant fragments. To create a final concern map, the members from the initial set of fragments are validated, merged and expanded using a call graph. Members of the final concern map members are also ranked to guide developers to more relevant sections of the code.
Policy Entrepreneurship in Government: An American Study

This essay contrasts the careers of Robert Ball and Wilbur Cohen, two American public administrators who have devoted fifty years to America's social insurance institutions, with other types of public actors, especially the in and outer rising spirally across departments, policies and administrations. America's separation of powers and federalism reward with influence those who combine entrepreneurial energy, long-term program commitment, and managerial skill; other political structures provide different patterns of opportunities and constraints. It then applies this perspective to Ball and Cohen's participation in three periods of American social policy history: the formation of federal social insurance policy (1935 to 1950); the expansion period (1950–1970); and the turbulent period of stagflation and fiscal stress (1972 to the present).
Acceleration of Crossbridge Kinetics by Protein Kinase A Phosphorylation of Cardiac Myosin Binding Protein C Modulates Cardiac Function

Normal cardiac function requires dynamic modulation of contraction. beta1-adrenergic-induced protein kinase (PK)A phosphorylation of cardiac myosin binding protein (cMyBP)-C may regulate crossbridge kinetics to modulate contraction. We tested this idea with mechanical measurements and echocardiography in a mouse model lacking 3 PKA sites on cMyBP-C, ie, cMyBP-C(t3SA). We developed the model by transgenic expression of mutant cMyBP-C with Ser-to-Ala mutations on the cMyBP-C knockout background. Western blots, immunofluorescence, and in vitro phosphorylation combined to show that non-PKA-phosphorylatable cMyBP-C expressed at 74% compared to normal wild-type (WT) and was correctly positioned in the sarcomeres. Similar expression of WT cMyBP-C at 72% served as control, ie, cMyBP-C(tWT). Skinned myocardium responded to stretch with an immediate increase in force, followed by a transient relaxation of force and finally a delayed development of force, ie, stretch activation. The rate constants of relaxation, k(rel) (s-1), and delayed force development, k(df) (s-1), in the stretch activation response are indicators of crossbridge cycling kinetics. cMyBP-C(t3SA) myocardium had baseline k(rel) and k(df) similar to WT myocardium, but, unlike WT, k(rel) and k(df) were not accelerated by PKA treatment. Reduced dobutamine augmentation of systolic function in cMyBP-C(t3SA) hearts during echocardiography corroborated the stretch activation findings. Furthermore, cMyBP-C(t3SA) hearts exhibited basal echocardiographic findings of systolic dysfunction, diastolic dysfunction, and hypertrophy. Conversely, cMyBP-C(tWT) hearts performed similar to WT. Thus, PKA phosphorylation of cMyBP-C accelerates crossbridge kinetics and loss of this regulation leads to cardiac dysfunction.
Veteran Status, Extramarital Sex, and Divorce Findings From the 1992 National Health and Social Life Survey

Despite perceptions that infidelity is common among military and veteran populations, there is relatively little evidence documenting the prevalence of extramarital sex among persons with a history of military service or its consequences for marital stability. Using data from the 1992 National Health and Social Life Survey, we estimate multivariate logistic regression models to examine the associations between veteran status, extramarital sex, and divorce among ever-married persons aged 18 to 60 years. We also conduct supplemental analyses of gender differences. We find that 32.17% of veterans report extramarital sexual relationships, which is twice the rate among nonveterans in this sample. Controlling for sociodemographic and early-life factors, veterans are significantly more likely than nonveterans to report extramarital sex and to have ever divorced, whereas extramarital sex has a strong, independent association with divorce. We conclude that veteran status is strongly associated with extramarital se...
Are volatile anesthetics neuroprotective or neurotoxic

Volatile anesthetics are one class of the most commonly used drugs. However, the mechanisms for these drugs to induce anesthesia are not fully understood and have been under intensive investigation. Two other effects of these anesthetics on the central nervous system, volatile anesthetics-induced neuroprotection and neurotoxicity, currently are hot research fields. Although data from animal studies for these two effects are extensive and convincing, clinical data for volatile anesthetics-induced neuroprotection are relatively weak. There is essentially lack of evidence to suggest volatile anesthetics-induced neurotoxicity in humans. In this regard, the contribution of general anesthesia/anesthetics to postoperative cognitive decline, a clinical entity whose existence has been supported by substantial evidence, also has not been established. This paper will be focused on reviewing the evidence, especially the clinical evidence, for volatile anesthetics-induced neuroprotection and neurotoxicity. Efforts will be devoted to facilitating the understanding of the two seemingly contradictory effects of these important drugs on the brain.
Job Experience and Perceived Job Stress among Police, Correctional, and Probation/Parole Officers

A survey of nearly 4,500 police, correctional, and probation and parole officers provided a unique opportunity for cross-occupational comparisons of perceived job stress among criminal justice personnel. The questionnaire included a modified version of Spielberger's Police Stress Survey. Results revealed that police and probation/parole officers demonstrated an apparent curvilinear relationship between time on the job and perceived stress. However, the trend was more linear when only line officers of both groups were considered. Correctional officers, as a group, did not show a curvilinear pattern, although line correctional officers did. The reasons for these patterns are discussed.
A novel double-layer parallel-plate flow chamber

In the present study, we designed and developed a novel double-layer parallel-plate flow chamber (PPFC) to study the dynamic response of vascular endothelial cells to controlled levels of shear stress. In addition, the effects of fluid shear stress on the structure and function of endothelial cells were examined to validate whether a novel PPFC can be employed for studies in the areas of biomedical research. Human microvascular endothelial cells (HMEC-1) were either maintained in static condition or exposed to laminar flow for 24 h. The morphological changes and attenuated expression of pro-inflammatory mediators, such as ICAM-1, VCAM-1, and E-selectin were observed in endothelial cells exposed to the flow. HMEC-1 cells were also either maintained in continuous laminar flow (Normal flow) or subjected to 1 h of flow cessation followed by reperfusion (12 h) of flow (Ischemia/Reperfusion). The real-time RT-PCR analysis showed that Ischemia/Reperfusion significantly up-regulated expression of pro-inflammatory mediators in HMEC-1 compared to Normal flow, which is consistent with previous in vivo studies. These data indicate that our newly designed PPFC can provide a better in vitro system for versatile applications of biomedical research.
Honor as a Moral Category: A Historical-Linguistic Analysis

In Henry IV, Part I, Shakespeare has the witty character Falstaff, in his cynical way, declare that honor is only a word. The scene is the preparation for the Battle of Shrewsbury, which is to be the climax of the play. The evening before the battle, Falstaff says farewell to Prince Henry and tells him that he wishes it were near bedtime and that all is well. The Prince retorts: “Why, thou owest God a death” and exits. Alone, Falstaff begins to ponder the source of his motivation for joining the battle and risking his life. He concludes that honor, the great motivator, is worthless except for those who are dead: What is honour? A word. What is in that word honour? What is that honour? Air. A trim reckoning! Who hath it? He that died a-Wednesday. Doth he feel it? No. Doth he hear it? No. ‘Tis insensible, then? Yea, to the dead. But will it not live with the living? No. Why? Detraction will not suffer it. Therefore I’ll none of it. Honour is a mere scutcheon-and so ends my catechism. (Shakespeare, 1598/1994, V.l.127–141)
ErAs/InGaAs superlattice Seebeck coefficient

InGaAs with embedded ErAs nano-particles is a promising material for thermoelectric applications. The incorporation of erbium arsenide metallic nanoparticles into the semiconductor can provide both charge carriers and create scattering centers for phonons. Electron filtering by heterostructure barriers can also enhance Seebeck coefficient by selective emission of hot electrons. 2.1 /spl mu/m-thick ErAs/InGaAs superlattices with a period of 10 nm InAlGaAs and 20 nm InGaAs were grown using molecular beam epitaxy, and the effective doping is from 2/spl times/10/sup 18/ to 1/spl times/10/sup 19/ cm/sup -3/. Special device patterns were developed for the measurement of the cross-plane Seebeck coefficient of the superlattice layers. Using these device patterns, the combined Seebeck coefficient of superlattice and the substrate were measured and the temperature drops through the superlattice and InP substrate were determined with 3D ANSYS/spl reg/ simulations. The Seebeck coefficient of the superlattice layers is obtained based on the measurements and simulation results.
An examination of pay-for-performance in general practice in Australia.

Research has documented deficiencies in health care quality in many industrialized countries (Seddon et al. 2001; McGlynn et al. 2003; The Study Group of Diagnosis of the Working Group on Heart Failure of the European Society of Cardiology et al. 2003; Hussey et al. 2004; Tomio et al. 2010). Health policy experts often attribute the suboptimal quality to fee-for-service compensation, which incentivizes visit quantity rather than quality (Harris and Zwar 2007; Collier 2009; Stremikis, Davis, and Guterman 2010). Pay-for-performance (P4P) programs, which pay clinicians based upon achieving or improving specific quality metrics, are increasingly being used to improve quality of care. P4P programs range from offering small bonuses (approximately $400) to clinicians who reach threshold performance on a few indicators, such as breast and cervical cancer screening rates, to the Quality and Outcomes Framework in the United Kingdom that ties approximately one-fourth of clinicians' incomes to reaching over 100 quality indicators (Pearson et al. 2008; Campbell et al. 2009). Recent reviews of the impact of P4P in primary care suggest that the programs generally have had limited, positive impacts (Petersen et al. 2006; Van Herck et al. 2010; de Bruin, Baan, and Struijs 2011; Scott et al. 2011). Van Herck and colleagues estimated that P4P programs have resulted in a 5 percent improvement in quality indicators on average, although they document substantial variation—from no impact to large improvements (Van Herck et al. 2010). Many questions remain unanswered about P4P programs (Petersen et al. 2006; Christianson, Leatherman, and Sutherland 2008). Little is known, for example, about the characteristics that distinguish highly successful programs, the factors that limit the impact of programs, and which clinicians are more responsive to P4P. In addition, while there is evidence from the United Kingdom that P4P programs can narrow socio-economic disparities in health care, there is broad concern that P4P programs may widen disparities (Casalino et al. 2007; Doran et al. 2008; Australian Department of Health and Ageing 2009). This study uses mixed methods to evaluate the impact of a voluntary P4P program that incentivizes Australian general practitioners (GPs) to provide recommended diabetes and asthma care, as well as cervical cancer screening. The goals of this study were to (1) examine the impact of the P4P program on incentivized quality measures; (2) investigate whether there is a differential program impact based upon GP characteristics; and (3) explore GPs' perception of the program's impact on their practice.
Two-Carrier Current Saturation in a Lateral Dmos

Conventional Ldmos transistors suffer from drain current "compression" in saturation (gm reduction). When the safe-operating area of the Ldmos is improved by suppressing the parasitic bipolar transistor, an unusual "expansion" in the drain characteristic emerges. This new device behavior is described and a mechanism for the "expansion" proposed.
Potential Influence of Staphylococcus aureus Clonal Complex 30 Genotype and Transcriptome on Hematogenous Infections.

Background. The contemporary Staphylococcus aureus clonal complex (CC) 30 lineage is associated with complicated infections, including endocarditis and osteomyelitis. This lineage diverged from the phage-type 80/81 S aureus clone responsible for a major bacterial epidemic of the 20th century. The genome and transcriptome features that contribute to complicated infections of the CC30 lineage are unknown. Methods. Twenty-nine clinical methicillin-resistant S aureus (MRSA) strains (8 from CC30 and 21 from other major CCs were evaluated for virulence using murine and Galleria mellonella sepsis models. Genomic features of CC30 were identified by comparative genome sequencing and RNA-Seq transcriptome analysis of the 29 strains and 31 previously sequenced S aureus genomes. Results. The CC30 isolates displayed lower virulence in the sepsis models compared with other CCs [P < .0001]. Comparisons of orthologous proteins and transcriptome analysis identified genes (eg, nitric oxide reductase) and changes in metabolic pathways (eg, pyrimidine metabolism) that contribute to the distinct CC30 phenotype. Previously reported nonsynonymous single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were found in accessory gene regulator C (agrC) and α-hemolysin (hla), molecules important for virulence. Additional nonsynonymous SNPs conserved across clinical CC30 isolates when compared with the first sequenced contemporary CC30 clone, MRSA-16, were identified in multiple genes, suggesting continuing evolutionary divergence in this lineage. Conclusions. Genomic and transcriptional analyses suggest that the CC30 lineage has acquired metabolic features that contribute to persistent and complicated infections. Absence of sepsis-induced mortality in animal models may be due in part to its unique genomic profile and suggests that specific genotypes of S aureus elicit distinct types of infection types.
Evaluation of a Clinical Program Applying the Concept of Trustworthiness

The criteria of trustworthiness developed by Guba (1981) can be utilized to both plan and judge evaluations within the naturalistic inquiry paradigm. This article (1) describes the process and results of a study done to evaluate an educational program developed to increase faculty-student contact in a clinical clerkship, (2) applies the criteria of trustworthiness to the evaluation methodology, and (3) identifies some issues andproblems that may affect an evaluator's ability to apply the criteria of trustworthiness as completely as theoretically desirable.
Whitefly and Lace Bug Performance on Lantana spp. Cultivars in the Greenhouse

Performance of greenhouse whitefly, silverleaf whitefly, and lantana lace bug for eleven cultivars of Lantana spp. was assessed in greenhouse experiments. Insect population growth was monitored for seven weeks in three experiments. Relative damage at three weeks post-infestation with lantana lace bug was also evaluated. All cultivars supported growth and development of all insect s pecies evaluated. Initial population development occurred differentially on cultivars with larger leaves, e.g., ‘Miss Huff’ and ‘Confetti’. However, by week seven all cultivars supported high populations of greenhouse and silverleaf whitefly and lantana lace bug. Index words: host plant resistance, integrated pest management, IPM, silverleaf whitefly, greenhouse whitefly, lantana lace bug. Species used in this study: silverleaf whitefly ( Bemisia argentifolli Bellows and Perring), greenhouse whitefly ( Trialeurodes vaporariorum (Westwood)), lantana lace bug (Teleonemia scrupulosa (Stal)), lantana ( Lantana camara L. cvs., ‘Confetti’, ‘Cream Mound’, ‘Dallas Red’, ‘Irene’, ‘Lemon Drop’, experimental proposed name ‘Mabel Rogers’, ‘Miss Huff’, ‘New Gold’, ‘Pink Caprice’ , and ‘Radiation’; Lantana montevidensis (K. Spreng.) Briq. ‘Purple Trailing’). Significance to the Nursery Industry No evidence for complete resistance among lantana cultivars examined was found. However, an apparent preference for certain cultivars suggests a potential monitoring strategy to facilitate early detection of potential insect pest problems in production and landscape settings. Greenhouse and silverleaf whitefly populations in the greenhouse increased more rapidly on ‘Miss Huff’, ‘Confetti’, and ‘Radiation’, the large-leaf cultivars. ‘Dallas Red’ demonstrated the least susceptibility to both species of whitefly. Similarly, pest population establishment on the other small-leaf cultivars ‘New Gold’, ‘Cream Mound’, and ‘Lemon Drop’ was compara
Using Patient-Reported Outcome Measures to Capture the Patient's Voice in Research and Care of Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis

Patient-reported outcome (PRO) measures provide a valuable window into how patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis and their parents perceive their functioning, quality of life, and medication side effects in the context of their disease and treatment. Momentum behind adoption of PRO measures is increasing as these patient-relevant tools capture information pertinent to taking a patient-centered approach to health care and research. This article reviews the clinical and research utility of obtaining PROs across domains applicable to the experience of juvenile idiopathic arthritis and summarizes available self-report and parent-proxy PRO measures. Current challenges and limitations of PRO usage are discussed.
The gamete membrane fusion test to assay the fertilizing ability of human spermatozoa

The value of the gamete fusion test for the assessment of human spermatozoa is assessed. The factors influencing the test are discussed, including the conditions of heterologous fertilization using zona-free oocytes such as the nature of sperm preparation, sperm concentration and capacitation time, and the importance of albumin in the medium. The oocytes can be examined before or after fixation, and the spermatozoa around the eggs assessed for acrosome changes, while the number of sperm tails on the oocyte can be related to the number of chromatin decondensations. The test provides information on the fertilizing ability of spermatozoa of given individuals, and may prove of value in testing contraceptives.
Feeding preferences and changes in mass of Canada Geese grazing endophyte-infected tall fescue

In the late 1940s and 1950s southern farmers began planting a newly-discovered tall fescue cultivar (Kentucky-3 1), which was much hardier and more productive than other cultivars. Unknown at the time, this cultivar was infected with the endophytic fungus Acremonium coenophialum. By the 1910s there were over 14 million ha of tall fescue pastures in the U.S., mostly in the southern and south-central states, and most were infected with the fungus (Shelbv and Dalrvmule 1987. Stuedemann and Ho>eland 1988). The total infected area may have increased recently, because tall fescue has been the predominant grass seeded in Conservation Reserve Program plantings in the central and southern
Multiple Ca2+-dependent modulators mediate alkalosis-induced vasodilation in newborn piglet lungs

We previously found that alkalosis-induced vasodilation was mediated by endothelium-derived nitric oxide (EDNO) in newborn piglet pulmonary artery and vein rings precontracted with the thromboxane ...
Serum luteinizing hormone and estrogen profiles before puberty in the gilt.

The hypothesis that an increase in serum luteinizing hormone (LH) concentration occurs before the onset of puberty in the gilt was tested. Blood samples were collected from 14 gilts, 166 d of age and 72.6 +/- 1.8 kg body weight, every 15 min for 8 h 1 d after jugular cannulation. Gilts were checked daily for estrus with a boar. The sampling procedure was repeated 21 and 33 d later, by which time three gilts had attained puberty (first estrus with continued regular estrous cycles), and then every 7 d thereafter until an additional five gilts attained puberty. Serum LH and estrogen (E) concentrations were quantitated by radioimmunoassay. Bleeding periods were grouped into seven common physiological ages before puberty; age 1 greater than or equal to 57 d (n = 4), age 2 = 43 to 50 d (n = 5), age 3 = 31 to 38 d (n = 4), age 4 = 22 to 26 d (n = 5), age 5 = 17 to 19 d (n = 4), age 6 = 10 to 12 d (n = 5) and age 7 = 3 to 5 d (n = 5). Mean serum LH concentration (ng/ml, mean +/- SE) at age 7 (1.0 +/- .1) was greater (P less than .01) than at ages 2, 3, 4 and 5 (6 +/- .1) but not ages 1 and 6 (.8 +/- .1).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Shapiro spikes and negative mobility for skyrmion motion on quasi-one-dimensional periodic substrates

Using a simple numerical model of skyrmions in a two-dimensional system interacting with a quasi-one-dimensional periodic substrate under combined dc and ac drives where the dc drive is applied perpendicular to the substrate periodicity, we show that a rich variety of novel phase-locking dynamics can occur due to the influence of the Magnus term on the skyrmion dynamics. Instead of Shapiro steps, the velocity response in the direction of the dc drive exhibits a series of spikes, including extended dc drive intervals over which the skyrmions move in the direction opposite to the dc drive, producing negative mobility. There are also specific dc drive values at which the skyrmions move exactly perpendicular to the dc drive direction, giving a condition of absolute transverse mobility.
Preparation of a Positive Control Sample for Use in the Routine Analysis of Milk and Milk Products for Alkaline Phosphatase

A method was developed for preparing filter paper impregnated with raw skim milk to serve as positive control samples during the routine analysis of milk and milk products for alkaline phosphatase. Whatman No. 40 filter paper circles (12.5-cm diameter) were dipped in raw skim milk standardized to known concentrations of alkaline phosphatase. Excess milk was removed by draining and blotting between folds of blotting paper. The filter papers were dried over silica gel in a desiccator under continuous vacuum for 5 to 6 days. Disks measuring 0.64-cm were punched out of the dried filter paper circles and stored in screw-cap test tubes at room temperature in the dark until use. The relationship between the alkaline phosphatase contents of milk and the filter paper disks was linearly correlated and characterized by the equation: [Edisk] = 0.0071 × [Emilk] + 0.41, and r = 0.98. Reproducibility of preparing impregnated filter paper circles showed coefficients of variation of 3.3 to 15.7%. Statistical analysis of the data relating alkaline phosphatase activity with days of storage by analysis of variance and regression analysis indicated significant differences in the slope of the regression lines at the a = 0.05 level. At the end of 406 to 599 days of storage, the estimated decrease in [Edisk] for significant samples ranged from 25.6 to 38.9%, with an average ± SD of 33.0 ± 4.4%. Data do show, however, that filter paper disks can be prepared to contain known concentrations of alkaline phosphatase and stored at room temperature for several months for use as positive control samples.
Substituent Effects That Control Conjugated Oligomer Conformation through Non-covalent Interactions

Although understanding the conformations and arrangements of conjugated materials as solids is key to their prospective applications, predictive power over these structural factors remains elusive. In this work, substituent effects tune non-covalent interactions between side-chain fluorinated benzyl esters and main-chain terminal arenes, in turn controlling the conformations and interchromophore aggregation of three-ring phenylene-ethynylenes (PEs). Cofacial fluoroarene–arene (ArF–ArH) interactions cause twisting in the PE backbone, interrupting intramolecular conjugation as well as blocking chromophore aggregation, both of which prevent the typically observed bathochromic shift observed upon transitioning PEs from solution to solid. This work highlights two structural factors that determine whether the ArF–ArH interactions, and the resulting twisted, unaggregated chromophores, occur in these solids: (i) the electron-releasing characteristic of substituents on ArH, with more electron-releasing character f...
Olaparib in combination with irinotecan, cisplatin, and mitomycin C in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer.

// Mark Yarchoan 1 , Melinda C. Myzak 1 , Burles A. Johnson III 1 , Ana De Jesus-Acosta 1 , Dung T. Le 1 , Elizabeth M. Jaffee 1 , Nilofer S. Azad 1 , Ross C. Donehower 1 , Lei Zheng 1 , Paul E. Oberstein 2 , Robert L. Fine 2 , Daniel A. Laheru 1 and Michael Goggins 1 1 The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins, Baltimore, MD, USA 2 Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA Correspondence to: Michael Goggins, email: mgoggins@jhmi.edu Keywords: olaparib, pancreatic cancer, BRCA2, irinotecan, cisplatin Received: February 24, 2016 Accepted: March 13, 2017 Published: April 19, 2017 ABSTRACT Background: Olaparib is an oral inhibitor of polyadenosine 5’-diphosphoribose polymerization (PARP) that has previously shown signs of activity in patients with BRCA mutations and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Patients and Methods: In this phase 1 dose-escalation trial in patients with unresectable PDAC, we determined the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of olaparib (tablet formulation) in combination with irinotecan 70 mg/m 2 on days 1 and 8 and cisplatin 25 mg/m 2 on days 1 and 8 of a 28-day cycle (olaparib plus IC). We then studied the safety and tolerability of adding mitomycin C 5 mg/m 2 on day 1 to this regimen (olaparib plus ICM). Results: 18 patients with unresectable PDAC were enrolled. The MTD of olaparib plus IC was olaparib 100 mg twice-daily on days 1 and 8. The addition of mitomycin C to this dose level was not tolerated. Grade ≥3 drug-related adverse events (AEs) were encountered in 16 patients (89%). The most common grade ≥3 drug-related toxicities included neutropenia (89%), lymphopenia (72%), and anemia (22%). Two patients (11%), both of whom had remained on study for more than 12 cycles, developed drug-related myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). The objective response rate (ORR) for all evaluable patients was 23%. One patient who carried a deleterious germline BRCA2 mutation had a durable clinical response lasting more than four years, but died from complications of treatment-related MDS. Conclusions: Olaparib had substantial toxicity when combined with IC or ICM in patients with PDAC, and this treatment combination did not have an acceptable risk/benefit profile for further study. However, durable clinical responses were observed in a subset of patients and further clinical investigation of PARP inhibitors in PDAC is warranted. Trial registration : This clinical trial was registered on ClinicalTrials.gov as NCT01296763.
Pathways to carbon neutral energy systems at the University of California, Davis

Abstract To achieve carbon neutrality by 2025 the University of California, Davis (UCD) seeks to eliminate its dependence on fossil energy sources. This study outlines a methodology to identify optimal equipment phase-in and capacities, and the major technical and economic drivers influencing the implementation of a carbon-neutral energy system. The analysis, focused on UCD, considers solar photovoltaic and thermal, biomass combined heat and power, biomass boiler, heat pump and electric boiler as replacement systems. Three cases besides the baseline are presented: 1) biomass-based system, 2) combination of biomass and electrification, and 3) electrification. Analysis period spans 2016–2035, with equipment phasing limited to the 2020–2025 period, and capacity limited to the peak campus loads of 40 MWe for electricity and 80 MWt for thermal. Results indicate that balancing the supply-demand mismatch is the greatest challenge for high renewable penetration at UCD, thus making thermal storage and generation systems which can modulate with variable loads crucial. The cost of carbon credits offset has negligible influence in the results due to its low value in the present market. Relative to the baseline 20-yr present cost of $634M, the 3 alternate cases are projected to incur between $629M (Case 1) and $704M (Case 3).
Solid state phase transformations during the oxidation of copper sulfides: Roaster diagrams for the Cu-S-O system

Abstract Roaster diagrams that represent the stabilities of condensed phases as a function of temperature and percent oxygen appear to be more useful than the predominance area diagrams (PADs), which show the stability of different phases in the metal-sulfur-oxygen system at constant temperature. Roaster diagrams can be obtained from PADs and represent the intersection of total pressure lines with lines on a PAD extended in temperature. In this paper, PADs at four different temperatures and roaster diagrams for the system Cu-S-O are derived from PADs at total pressures of 0.25 atm and 1 atm. These diagrams show that at total pressures of 0.25 atm and 1 atm the CuO/CuO·CuSO 4 phase transformation occurs at 1063 K and 1133 K at 50% oxygen. The more complex four-component system Cu-As-S-O will follow in a subsequent publications.
The Opacity Project and the Iron Project

Systematic and large-scale calculation of accurate plasma opacities and atomic data by the Opacity Project and the Iron Project has applications in many areas of astrophysics. Analysis of EUVE observations using monochromatic opacities of elements calculated by the Opacity Project is described. Theoretical methods and atomic calculations are discussed briefly. Recent work related to ionization balance, photoionization and recombination, and the modeling of plasmas in local thermodynamic equilibrium (LTE) and non-LTE are discussed. New calculations for the important iron ions, under the Iron Project, are also described and their relevance to the more extensive non-LTE calculations is pointed out. The comprehensive radiative and collisional data sets from the Opacity and the Iron Projects should be applicable to a large number of sources in the EUV and other wavelength regions.
The strategy of a field geologist

Numerous national, international, and provincial geologic societies around the world have either just celebrated, or are about to celebrate, their centennial anniversaries. The founders of these organizations and the many members that followed them were lured into geology by a combination of curiosity, a love of the outdoors, a quest for exploration, a need to climb the mountain, and a longing to conquer the last frontiers. The process was as important as the product. The aesthetics of the outdoors were inextricably entwined with analytical exercises. Great expeditions were launched across the Alps, the Himalayas, and the Rockies. Geologic maps were the tablets that recorded their discoveries. Vast collections of rocks and fossils were sent back to laboratories and museums for further study, and the explorers kept pushing forward, shrinking the frontiers.
A Late Cenozoic Stratigraphy for Glacial-Marine Sediments of the Eastern Alpha Cordillera, Central Arctic Ocean

Fifteen lithostratigraphic units are present and correctable in 48 sediment cores recovered from the eastern flank of the Alpha Cordillera, central Arctic Ocean, The lithostratigraphy has been designated to facilitate correlation with established units of the central portion of the Amerasian Basin. Based on the extrapolation and interpolation of sedimentation rates from paleomagnetic reversals, calculated ages indicate a stratigraphic section ranging from early Pliocene to Holocene. The oldest sediment recovered yielded an age of 3.54 m. y.
Phonons and Their Interactions

Within the harmonic approximation, phonons are non-interacting and have an infinite lifetime. Including higher terms (anharmonic terms) in the expansion of the potential leads to an interaction between phonons. As a result, a phonon from a given state defined by the wave vector q and the branch j of the dispersion spectrum ω j (q) will decay into other phonons after a finite time. Phonon–phonon interactions involve different number of phonons in the interaction process.
Henry David Thoreau’s Conscientious Performance

McCool details two modes of political action. One is authentic: a society of individuals demonstrate their inner consciences to each other in an intimate community, which governs itself directly. One is theatrical: citizens perform roles for each other in political action. Thoreau is presented as a thinker who exhibits the best of both. At Walden, Thoreau speaks with a prophetic voice he finds within his own conscience. In his John Brown speech, Thoreau gives a theatrical performance meant to shock and awaken the consciences of his audience. Ultimately, Thoreau wants his readers to experience their own natural consciences for themselves, as he demonstrates his own rediscovery of his inner nature. This blends the best of both theatrical and authentic models of politics.
Dative Directing Group Effects in Ti-Catalyzed [2+2+1] Pyrrole Synthesis: Chemo- and Regioselective Alkyne Heterocoupling.

Transient dative substrate–Ti interactions have been found to play a key role in controlling the regioselectivity of alkyne insertion and [2+2] cycloaddition in Ti-catalyzed [2+2+1] pyrrole synthes...
Practical Implementation of a Single-Night Split-Titration Protocol With BPAP-ST and AVAPS in Patients With Neuromuscular Disease.

Study Objectives:At the sleep laboratory, noninvasive positive pressure ventilation titration protocols in patients with neuromuscular disease (NMD) are based on standard pressure cycle devices in ...
Nutritional Support in the Pediatric ICU

Nutritional status and adequacy are associated with clinical outcomes during critical illness. Though there are significant knowledge gaps in our understanding of the optimal nutrient strategy for critically ill children, there have been incremental advances in the field to guide bedside practice. Malnutrition and nutritional deterioration are prevalent among critically ill children and have been associated with poor clinical outcomes. However, early detection of malnutrition and those at risk of nutritional deterioration is hindered by the lack of reliable screening tools and availability of accurate anthropometry. The optimal prescription of nutrition would require consideration of the body’s unpredictable response to metabolic stress. Currently available equations provide inaccurate estimates of energy requirements during critical illness. Indirect calorimetry remains the gold standard for measuring resting energy expenditure and helps prevent unintended underfeeding and overfeeding. Ultimately, the goal of optimal nutrition during critical illness is to improve patient outcomes. Preventing lean muscle loss is an important target, as muscle loss has been associated with worse clinical outcomes. Minimum protein intake of 1.5 g/kg/day may be necessary to achieve a positive protein balance. Enteral nutrition is the preferred route of nutrient delivery, and strategies to diagnose and manage enteral feeding intolerance are being investigated. Recent data should guide the timing of supplemental parenteral nutrition when enteral nutrition is not feasible or insufficient. Future studies designed to assess the efficacy of immunonutrition are desired before this practice can be recommended.
Neighborhoods and National Housing Policy: Toward Circumscribed, Neighborhood-Sensitive Reforms

AbstractThis article provides a holistic analysis of why and how federal assisted housing policy (specifically, public housing, Low-Income Housing Tax Credit [LIHTC], and voucher programs) should b...
Photocatalytic Properties of Zinc Oxide and Graphene Nanocomposites

Zinc oxide (ZnO), as a semiconducting oxide, has potential as a photocatalyst due to some of the properties it possesses, including a large excitation energy, deep violet/borderline ultraviolet (UV) absorption at room temperature, and good photocatalytic activity. However, the main issue with using ZnO as a photocatalyst is that it has a rapid rate for the recombination of electron-hole pairs. Since the photoactivity of a catalyst is determined by its ability to create photogenerated electron-hole pairs, having a fast recombination rate can interfere with the reaction process. This issue could potentially be fixed by combining the ZnO with graphene, a carbon-based material. The conjugated structure of graphene enables the separation of charges in the photocatalytic process, so by combining ZnO and graphene the recombination rate could possibly be slowed while retaining the beneficial properties of both materials. Â This project analyzes the effects of ZnO/graphene nanocomposites on the degradation process of methylene blue dye. This dye breaks down when exposed to solar light, and so the photocatalytic properties of the nanocomposites can be studied by examining how they influence the speed of the reaction process.
Social Media: Anticipatory Guidance.

1. David L. Hill, MD* 1. *Department of Pediatrics, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC Clinicians should be aware of roles that social media play in child and adolescent health and development and be prepared to guide parents and patients toward best practices in social media use. After completing this article, readers should be able to: 1. Recognize the major benefits and risks posed by social media throughout the course of child development. 2. Become comfortable addressing the roles that social media play in the most important aspects of child health and development, including psychosocial development, academic performance, healthy weight and sleep habits, and minimizing high-risk behaviors. Dr Victor Strasburger wrote in 2010: “The media are not the leading cause of any health problem in childhood or adolescence. However, they can make a substantial contribution to virtually every health concern that pediatricians and parents have about young people—aggression, sex, drugs, obesity, self-image and eating disorders, depression and suicide, even learning disorders and academic achievement.” (1) Since that time, the use of digital media has proliferated, along with our understanding of how such media affect child and adolescent health and development. To Dr Strasburger’s list we would now add risks including sleep deprivation, problematic Internet use, and Internet gaming disorder. At the same time, this assessment overlooks some of the potential benefits that social media have to contribute to children’s education, connectedness, and resilience. Although many pediatricians feel comfortable using some social media platforms, fewer counsel parents and patients on social media use. The American …
The diagnostic value of 124I PET compared to 131I imaging in differentiated thyroid cancer: systematic review and meta-analysis.

1334 Background: 124I PET/CT has better contrast resolution and better lesion detection compared to conventional radioiodine imaging, however, some studies have shown that 131I imaging is superior to 124I imaging. The purpose of this study is to review the wide spectrum of sensitivity and specificity in different patient populations and to try to further analyze the factors for better detection on 124I. Methods: A literature search was performed for relevant studies using Ovid MEDLINE and EMBASE through April 2017. A librarian searched for radioisotopes and thyroid neoplasms, selecting all articles of all languages that contained an English abstract, plus a manual search of the reference list of relevant articles. Relevant studies for 124I, 123I and 131I scans in DTC were selected based on predetermined criteria: duplicate reports, reports with less than 3 subjects, reviews and editorials, 124I studies on kinetics or lesional dosimetry, reports without sufficient individual by-patient or by-lesion analysis, and non-English reports were excluded. Two reviewers extracted and examined the data. Results: This review includes four retrospective and ten prospective studies in which 495 DTC patients underwent 124I and 131I imaging. No studies made comparisons to 123I. There was heterogeneity between studies including study design, 131I activity administered, administration route, TSH stimulation method, iodine restriction, imaging day, imaging method, TNM stage, DTC pathologic variants, and number of previous 131I therapies. Table 1 shows the comparisons of diagnostic detection. When compared to 131I DxScan in 72 patients, 120 lesions were detected on 124I whereas only 52 were detected on 131I. Of which, 51 lesions were seen on both 124I and 131I DxScan, and 69 lesions were only seen on 124I. When compared to 131I TxScan in 266 patients, 410 lesions were detected on 124I whereas 390 were detected on 131I TxScan. Of which, 368 lesions were seen on both 124I and 131I TxScan, and additional 42 lesions were seen on 124I.The by-patient pooled sensitivity was 90.3% (84.3-94.6%; p
Catalyst-Free Ceramic–Carbonate Dual-Phase Membrane Reactors for High-Temperature Water Gas Shift: A Simulation Study

Water gas shift (WGS) reaction enhanced by a membrane reactor technology has emerged as a high-efficiency alternative to conventional fixed-bed reactors in integrated gasification combined cycle (I...
Cellulose nanofibrils with and without nanosilica for the performance enhancement of Portland cement systems

Abstract This article presents a comprehensive investigation on the effects of pure cellulose nanofibrils (CNF) and nanosilica containing CNF on the performance of ordinary portland cement (OPC) paste. The effects of CNFs on cement paste rheology, hydration, microscopic phase formation, compressive strength, and fracture parameters were monitored. Sol-gel method was used to synthesis nanosilica particles within CNF slurry. The effects of CNF on cement hydration was found to be dependent on the water to cement ratio (w/c). Specifically, CNFs accelerated the early age cement hydration at 0.35 w/c, but this acceleration effect was not prominent for 0.45 w/c. Such w/c dependent effect was attributed to the negatively charged hydroxyl and carboxyl surface sites of CNFs which can bind alkali ions or cement particles. The concentration of alkali ions in cement pore solution depends on the w/c and hence, resulting the w/c dependent effects of CNF. The colloidal stability of CNF was found to improve due to the addition of nanosilica particles. Addition of CNF was found to increase the flexural strength of cement paste up to 75%. The effects of CNF addition on the compressive strength of cement paste matrix was negligible.