cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Photopolymerization of metal nanoparticles on multiwall carbon nanotubes

A facile method for the functionalization of multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) by photopolymerization of 5-mercapto-2,2′-bithiophene modified metal (Au or Ag) nanoparticles on the surface of the MWCNT is developed.
Role of neoadjuvant therapy in the multimodality treatment of older patients with pancreatic cancer

Background A well-defined treatment strategy for elderly patients with resectable pancreatic cancer is lacking. Multiple reports have described highly selected older cancer patients who have successfully undergone pancreatectomy. However, multimodality therapy is essential for long-term survival, and elderly patients are at high risk for not receiving adjuvant therapy postoperatively. We sought to describe the treatment patterns and outcomes of a series of elderly patients with pancreatic cancer who were treated with a multimodality strategy that liberally used neoadjuvant therapy. Study Design We retrospectively reviewed treatment plans, short-term outcomes, and overall survival of all patients 70 years old and older, presenting to our institution over a 9-year period, who were treated for potentially resectable or borderline resectable pancreatic cancer. Results There were 179 (76%) of 236 patients treated with curative intent. Of these patients, 153 (85%) initiated neoadjuvant therapy: 74 (48%) subsequently underwent pancreatectomy and 79 did not due to disease progression (n = 46), insufficient performance status (n = 23), or other reasons (n = 10). Eleven (42%) of 26 patients who underwent surgery first received postoperative therapy. Among patients treated with curative intent, the median overall survival of all patients initiating neoadjuvant therapy (16.6 months [range 2.1 to 142.7 months]) was similar to that of patients undergoing resection primarily (15.1 months [range 5.4 to 100.8 months]), p = 0.53. After pancreatectomy, patients had a 2% in-hospital mortality rate and 91% were discharged home. Conclusions Eighty-five percent of all patients 70 years old and older, who underwent pancreatectomy for potentially resectable or borderline resectable pancreatic cancer, received multimodality therapy. More than 90% were discharged home. These data demonstrate a potential role for neoadjuvant therapy in selecting elderly patients for surgery, and support further studies to refine individualized treatment protocols for this high-risk population.
Flash-induced enhancements in the proton NMR relaxation rate of Photosystem II particles: Response to flash trains of 1–5 flashes

Abstract Flash-induced enhancements of the proton NMR relaxation rate R1 of the solvent in suspensions of PS II particles have been recorded for sequences of 1–5 saturating flashes. The one-flash relaxation transient is a positive R1 enhancement of 0.0080 s−1, which relaxes to the preflash baseline with a half-time of 25 s. The two-flash response is a positive relaxation transient of nearly identical amplitude to the one-flash response, but with a slower decay ( t 1 2 ≈ 40 s ). The appearance of a strongly relaxing paramagnetic center after one flash is consistent with the expected properties of an Mn(III) → Mn(IV) oxidation. In contrast, the absence of a further R1 enhancement after the second flash shows that a strongly relaxing paramagnetic center is not formed by S2 → S3 as is expected for manganese redox chemistry involving oxidation of Mn(III); the NMR experiment gives no indication that manganese redox chemistry occurs on the S2 → S3 transition. The three-flash R1 response is a positive R1 transient of 0.0066 s−1, which decays with a half-time of approx. 50 s to a stable value of 0.002 s−1 above the preflash baseline. Positive R1 enhancements have been observed in the presence of carbonylcyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone (CCCP), an agent known to accelerate the decay of S2 and S3, at concentrations which very effectively suppress the one-flash and two-flash decays. These enhancements indicate that the formation of the S0 state from S1 involves the production of a strongly relaxing center, and the sign of the R1 response is consistent with the expected properties of an Mn(III) → Mn(II) reduction. The kinetic behavior of the three-flash R1 transient is indicative of slow redox equilibria involving the strongly relaxing center of the S0 state. Flash transients across a five-flash cycle exhibit oscillatory behavior with a local minimum on the fourth flash. Simulations of the flash profile indicate the presence of an R1 contribution from a minor fraction of centers which are capable of transition to S2 and S3, but are inhibited at S3 → S0.
Bacterial methane oxidation in sea-floor gas hydrate: Significance to life in extreme environments

Samples of thermogenic hydrocarbon gases, from vents and gas hydrate mounds within a sea-floor chemosynthetic community on the Gulf of Mexico continental slope at about 540 m depth, were collected by research submersible. The study area is characterized by low water temperature (mean = 7 C), high pressure (about 5,400 kPa), and abundant structure II gas hydrate. Bacterial oxidation of hydrate-bound methane (CH{sub 4}) is indicated by three isotopic properties of gas hydrate samples. Relative to the vent gas from which the gas hydrate formed, (1) methane-bound methane is enriched in {sup 13}C by as much as 3.8% PDB (Peedee belemnite), (2) hydrate-bound methane is enriched in deuterium (D) by as much as 37% SMOW (standard mean ocean water), and (3) hydrate-bound carbon dioxide (CO{sub 2}) is depleted in {sup 13}C by as much as 22.4% PDB. Hydrate-associated authigenic carbonate rock is also depleted in {sup 13}C. Bacterial oxidation of methane is a driving force in chemosynthetic communities, and in the concomitant precipitation of authigenic carbonate rock that modifies sea-floor geology. Bacterial oxidation of hydrate-bound methane expands the potential boundaries of life in extreme environments.
Carotenoid photodegradation products and proliferation of murine lymphoid cell lines

Carotenoids are degraded in humans upon UV exposure, although the effects of their photodegradation products are largely unknown. We studied the effects of photodegraded b-carotene (fbC) and lycopene (fLyc) on proliferation of murine T-cell (LBRM-33 and CTLL-2) and B-cell (BCL-1) cells. In LBRM-33 cells, fbC (3.5‐ 4.0 mg/ml) inhibited 3 H-thymidine incorporation by 44 and 37 percent in non-stimulated and Con A- treated cells, respectively, without affecting cell viability. In IL-2 dependent CTLL-2 cells, fbC (0.2‐2.1 mg/ml) exhibited stimulatory or inhibitory effects depending on IL-2 concentration. At 3.5 mg/ml, fbC caused 50, 91 and 98 percent inhibition of proliferation in CTLL-2 cultures containing 5, 10, and 20 units rIL-2/ml respectively, without affecting viability. In BCL-1 cells, 2.1‐3.5 mg/ml fbC decreased proliferation of cells by 42 and 37 percent in non-stimulated and LPS-stimulated cells, respectively. fLyc produced effects similar to fbC, indicating that provitamin A activity was not required for the effect. These results are consistent with previous findings thatfbC and fLyc inhibit mitogen-induced proliferation of human peripheral mononuclear cells. © 2001 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.
CFD Simulation of Flow in a Circular Pipe With Percina Rex Fish

We tried to correlate the fish behavior observed in the laboratory during the development of the exhaustion threshold curves with flow field in the fish passage with culverts and other impediments. In particular, we focused on aspects of fish behavior which may have exploited the velocity and turbulence fields in a circular passage. Roanoke logperch ( Percina rex ), the largest of the Virginia’s darters are federally endangered species. Logperch of different sizes were tested during the development of the exhaustion threshold curves at different velocities ranging from 40 to 70 cm/s in the laboratory in a circular pipe. The pipe was divided into four quadrants in the streamwise direction. Simulations were run at velocities 40 and 70 cm/s using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) software Fluent with fish at center and bottom of the pipe. The velocity and turbulence kinetic energy contours of all the positions of the fish were compared to correlate the fish behavior observed in the laboratory.Copyright © 2010 by ASME
Comparison of three enoate reductases and their potential use for biotransformations

Enoate reductases (ERs) selectively reduce carbon-carbon double bonds in α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds and thus can be employed to prepare enantiomerically pure aldehydes, ketones, and esters. Most known ERs, most notably Old Yellow Enzyme (OYE), are biochemically very well characterized. Some ERs have only been used in whole-cell systems, with endogenous ketoreductases often interfering with the ER activity. Not many ERs are biocatalytically characterized as to specificity and stability. Here, we cloned the genes and expressed three non-related ERs, two of them novel, in E. coli: XenA from Pseudomonas putida, KYE1 from Kluyveromyces lactis, and Yers-ER from Yersinia bercovieri. All three proteins showed broad ER specificity and broad temperature and pH optima but different specificity patterns. All three proteins prefer NADPH as cofactor over NADH and are stable up to 40 °C. By coupling Yers-ER with glucose dehydrogenase (GDH) to recycle NADP(H), conversion of >99 % within one hour was obtained for the reduction of 2-cyclohexenone. Upon lowering the loadings of Yers-ER and GDH, we discovered rapid deactivation of either enzyme, especially of the thermostable GDH. We found that the presence of enone substrate, rather than oxygen or elevated temperature, is responsible for deactivation. In summary, we successfully demonstrate the wide specificity of enoate reductases for a range of α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds as well as coupling to glucose dehydrogenase for recycling of NAD(P)(H); however, the stability limitations we found need to be overcome to envision large-scale use of ERs in synthesis.
Development and the "Right to Have Rights" in Intra-African Refugee Resettlement

International migration has long been linked to development through hometown associations, remittances, and the brain drain/gain. These themes also carry over to work on forced migration where resettlement is viewed as the opportunity to obtain social and economic resources to remit to the country of origin or to those remaining in camps. Intra-African refugee resettlement seeks to invert and formalize the migration-development nexus. Instead of viewing development as the result of migration, it makes refugee resettlement a formal development program to benefit the country of resettlement and refugees. Using ethnographic data collected over a year at the Chogo intra-African resettlement in Tanzania and document analysis of United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, government of Tanzania, and resettlement nongovernmental organization reports and evaluations, I ask : (1) How do refugees become citizens, and how is this process related to development? (2) How was this process designed, implemented, and ...
Radiative deuteron capture into the secondary doorway state of 13C.

Measurements were made of the 90\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} cross sections of the $^{11}\mathrm{B}$(d,${\ensuremath{\gamma}}_{0}$${)\mathrm{}}^{13}$C reaction in the energy region of the previously reported secondary doorway state in $^{13}\mathrm{C}$. Angular distribution data of the cross section, vector analyzing power, and tensor analyzing power ${T}_{20}$(0) were measured over the same energy region. The current data were combined with the neutron capture data of the previous study, and both data sets were analyzed simultaneously using a secondary doorway state formalism.
Neoisostegane, a new bisbenzocyclooctadiene lignan lactone from Steganotaeniaaraliacea hochst.

The structure of neoisostegane, 1, a new bisbenzocyclooctadiene lignan lactone was elucidated from its1H and13C NMR spectra and by chemical correlation with known steganes.
Thin film formation from low energy ions: new kinetic paths, new properties, new phases

Advances in the science and technology of communication and computing devices (electronics and optoelectronics devices) have relied heavily during the second half of the 20th century upon the scaling down of device dimensions. These dimensions are now close to the average distance between atoms in solid matter. More specifically, the very operation of new devices depends critically on the arrangement of atoms at interfaces, ie the junction of two different materials, as shown in Fig. 3. Interfaces are now often confined within one single atomic plane. In addition to the decrease in spatial dimensions, the complexity of the material structure has increased significantly as well. For instance, the number of interfaces found in a device has multiplied. This has led to the name of 'artificially structured materials', to emphasize the remoteness of atomic arrangement found in such structures with respect to those found as 'naturally occurring in nature'. These structures can be described as a succession of ultrathin solid films. These films are often epitaxial from the Greek epi-, skin or surface, and -taxos, order which means that each atomic layer is organized as in a periodic crystal, even at heterointerfaces where different materials join, as depicted in Fig. 3. Such structures can also involve compounds such as GaAs rather than elemental materials such as Si and Ge. The formation of heterostructures relies thus on processes such as epitaxial growth and chemical reactions. Epitaxy and chemical reactions, however, need to be activated by an adequate input of energy, which traditionally has been provided by an elevated temperature applied to the whole structure. However, thermal activation leads to undesired effects such as diffusion of atoms across interfaces, thus destroying the heterostructure being formed. The problem becomes even more acute as device dimensions shrink. The focus of the present research is to induce epitaxial growth and chemical reactions with as little disruption as possible of the atomic arrangement directly underneath the region where the growth takes place. We use for this purpose low energy ion beams, which substitute for vapours and molecules to deposit thin films. The kinetic energy of low energy ions substitutes for the thermal energy normally applied to the substrate, and is deposited only in the location where the growth takes place (near the surface). This limits diffusion to where it is needed for growth, and leaves the atomic arrangement underneath undisturbed. The research explores the mechanisms involved at the atomic scale, how they can be taken advantage of, and how they differ from thermal mechanisms. This is accomplished . . . • ¢ : o O0~O ° • •
Airborne spectroscopy and spacecraft radiometry of Venus in the far infrared

The first spectral observations of the Venus disk in the 110 to 270 per cm spectral range are reported, made from the Kuiper Airborne Observatory in mid-March 1979, some three months following the start of the Pioneer Venus Orbiter mission. The instrumentation and its differences from earlier flight hardware is discussed. The brightness temperature was 275 K near 110/cm, dropping to 230 K near 270/cm. Radiance calculations, using temperature and cloud structure formation from the Pioneer Venus mission and including gaseous absorption by the collision-induced dipole of CO2, yield results consistently brighter than the observations. The atmospheric environment is reviewed with regard to the FIR opacity and possible particle distribution modifications are discussed. It is concluded that the most likely possibility for supplementing the FIR opacity is a population of large particles in the upper cloud with number densities less than one particle per cu cm which has remained undetected by in situ measurements.
Sequential polymicrobial infections lead to CNS inflammatory disease: Possible involvement of bystander activation in heterologous immunity

VV(PLP) is a recombinant vaccinia virus (VV) encoding myelin proteolipid protein (PLP) that has been used to investigate molecular mimicry and autoimmunity. Since virus infections can cause bystander activation, mice were first infected with VV(PLP), and later challenged with wild-type VV, lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV), or murine cytomegalovirus (MCMV). Among the VV(PLP)-primed mice, only MCMV challenge induced significant Ki-67(+), CD3(+)T cell infiltration into the central nervous system (CNS) with a mild PLP antibody response. While MCMV alone caused no CNS disease, control VV-infected mice followed with MCMV developed mild CNS inflammation. Thus, heterologous virus infections can induce CNS pathology.
A comparison of programming team performance on software development projects

A senior level course for software project developments is offered every semester at Lamar University. The design and programming teams formed in the class are analyzed. The purpose of this paper is to present some statistics and key parameters from that analysis to compare the performance of large and small size programming teams on software development projects.
Transient Thermal Finite Element Analysis Based on Field Measured Data and the Impact on Fatigue

Many vessels experience significant thermal loads in operation. This paper discusses a method used to develop the internal thermal boundary conditions (film coefficients) required to evaluate thermal loads when the thermal properties of the internal fluid are unknown. In a thermal analysis it is critical to determine the correct film coefficients to achieve the proper behavior. Improperly quantified heat up rates can have a dramatic effect on the overall design. An example is provided to show how assumptions on thermal input can directly effect the results. The method described in this paper uses Finite Element Analysis (FEA) to determine internal film coefficients based on field measured thermocouple data.© 2004 ASME
14·8 MeV neutron activation cross sections for chromium

Abstract 14·8 MeV neutron activation cross sections of chromium have been measured using gamma spectroscopy and radiochemical techniques. The cross sections measured are 52 Cr( n , p ) 52 V, 115 ± 15 mbarn; 53 Cr( n , p ) 53 V, 44 ± 5 mbarn; 53 Cr( n , np ) 52 V, 7·1 ± 1·5 mbarn; 54 Cr( n , p ) 54 V, 13·5 ± 1·5 mbarn; and 54 Cr( n , α ) 51 Ti, 12·5 ± 1·3 mbarn. The data are in reasonable agreement with theoretically calculated values of Gardner.
The amounts, subunit structures, and template-engaged activities of RNA polymerases in germinating soybean axes☆

Abstract During the first 24 hr of soybean axis imbibition and growth, there is about a 25-fold increase in RNA polymerase activity associated with isolated nuclei. Within this same period, there is no increase in the amount of RNA polymerase I or II protein in soybean axes. There is no alteration in subunit structure of RNA polymerase II during germination and growth, with the possible exception of conversion of the 215,000 subunit to a 180,000 polypeptide, and no alteration in phosphorylation pattern of RNA polymerase II subunits. These results suggest that the rates of RNA synthesis during imbibition, germination, and growth of soybean axes are not regulated by altering the amount or subunit structure or by posttranslational modification of RNA polymerase II subunits.
Mostow-Margulis rigidity with locally compact targets

Let $ \Gamma $ be a lattice in a simple higher rank Lie group G. We describe all locally compact (not necessarily Lie) groups H in which $ \Gamma $ (with the only exception of non-uniform lattices in $ G \simeq {\rm SL_2}({\Bbb R}) $ , which are virtually free groups) we give a similar description of all possible locally compact groups H, in which $ \Gamma $ can be embedded as a uniform lattice.
The mechanical engineering of dielectrics

The proper selection and design of dielectric components for electronic applications must take into consideration the types of loading to be expected and the ambient temperature. It is suggested that 3-dimensional plots of the engineering properties vs. both time and temperature are necessary for best results.
Dose Response to Insulin in Man: Differential Effects on Glucose and Ketone Body Regulation

This prospective study was undertaken to elucidate the relationship between progressive log increments in plasma free insulin concentration and the resultant changes in the concentrations of plasma glucose, potassium, ketones, and free fatty acids in man. We attempted to define both the maximal and minimal threshold for substrate response relative to circulating concentrations of plasma insulin. Hyperglycemia and hyperketonemia were experimentally induced with dexamethasone in six diabetic subjects. Circulating plasma insulin concentration was acutely elevated by the continuous iv infusion of insulin in order to attain ten-fold increments in circulating plasma insulin concentration. Specifically, following a progressive elevation above basal concentration, maximal increments in circulating plasma insulin of 7 μU/ml, 90μU/ml, and 1, 621 μU/ml were obtained. The differential effects of these acute alterations in plasma insulin concentration on plasma substrate concentrations were compared to a controlsaline...
Aging effects on secretory IgA immune responses.

Studies of cellular and humoral components of the secretory immune system indicated dramatic decreases in the SIgA response to T-dependent antigens (i.e. DNP-BGG) in aged rats. Senescent rats (18–20 months old) showed comparable levels of SIgA anti-DNP antibody to adult animals after oral immunization with a T-independent antigen, DNP-FICOLL. The salivary SIgA responses to both antigens were substantially decreased in weanling rats (21–35 days) versus the adult rats. Significant anamnestic SIgA responses were shown after oral immunization with DNP-BGG in adult rats, but was not observed in the senescent and midlife (10–12 months) rats. In contrast, the DNP-FICOLL appeared incapable of eliciting a secondary SIgA response in any of the groups. Examination of immunoglobulin-containing cells (ICC) in secretory and lymphoid tissues indicated a generally decreased proportion of IgAICC and IgGICC in the secretory tissues from the senescent rats. IgAICC and IgGICC were within normal limits in the lymphoid tissues...
Structure and vibrational dynamics of isotopically labeled lithium borohydride using neutron diffraction and spectroscopy

The crystalline structure of a 7 Li and 11 B labeled lithium borohydride has been investigated using neutron powder diffraction at 3.5, 360, and 400 K. The B–H bond lengths and H–B–H angles for the [BH4] � tetrahedra indicated that the tetrahedra maintained a nearly ideal configuration throughout the temperature range investigated. The atomic displacement parameters at 360 K suggest that the [BH4] � tetrahedra become increasingly disordered as a result of large amplitude librational and reorientational motions as the orthorhombic to hexagonal phase transition (T ¼ 384 K) is approached. In the high-temperature hexagonal phase, the [BH4] � tetrahedra displayed extreme disorder about the trigonal axis along which they are aligned. Neutron vibrational spectroscopy data were collected at 5 K over an energy range of 10–170 meV, and were found to be in good agreement with prior Raman and low-resolution neutron spectroscopy studies.
Reduction of Listeria monocytogenes biofilms on stainless steel and polystyrene surfaces by essential oils.

Plant-derived essential oils were tested for their ability to eliminate biofilms of Listeria monocytogenes on polystyrene and stainless steel surfaces. Various concentrations of essential oils were tested with different contact times on biofilms of various ages. Preliminarily screening of nine essential oils and related phenolic compounds in a disk diffusion assay revealed that thyme oil, oregano oil, and carvacrol had the highest antimicrobial activity. Further screening of these three compounds against 21 L. monocytogenes strains representing all 13 serotypes indicated some strain-specific variations in antimicrobial activity. For 1-day-old biofilms of mixed L. monocytogenes strains produced at 22°C on polystyrene microtiter plates, only 0.1% concentrations of thyme oil, oregano oil, and carvacrol were needed to eliminate 7 log CFU per well. On the stainless steel coupons, a 0.5% concentration of these compounds was adequate to completely eliminate 4-day-old biofilms at 7 log CFU per coupon. Our finding...
Type B coxsackieviruses and their interactions with the innate and adaptive immune systems

Coxsackieviruses are important human pathogens, and their interactions with the innate and adaptive immune systems are of particular interest. Many viruses evade some aspects of the innate response, but coxsackieviruses go a step further by actively inducing, and then exploiting, some features of the host cell response. Furthermore, while most viruses encode proteins that hinder the effector functions of adaptive immunity, coxsackieviruses and their cousins demonstrate a unique capacity to almost completely evade the attention of naive CD8+ T cells. In this article, we discuss the above phenomena, describe the current status of research in the field, and present several testable hypotheses regarding possible links between virus infection, innate immune sensing and disease.
Modeling and tissue parameter extraction challenges for free space broadband fNIR brain imaging systems

Fiber based functional near infra-red (fNIR) spectroscopy has been considered as a cost effective imaging modality. To achieve a better spatial resolution and greater accuracy in extraction of the optical parameters (i.e., μa and μ's), broadband frequency modulated systems covering multi-octave frequencies of 10-1000MHz is considered. A helmet mounted broadband free space fNIR system is considered as significant improvement over bulky commercial fiber fNIR realizations that are inherently uncomfortable and dispersive for broadband operation. Accurate measurements of amplitude and phase of the frequency modulated NIR signals (670nm, 795nm, and 850nm) is reported here using free space optical transmitters and receivers realized in a small size and low cost modules. The tri-wavelength optical transmitter is based on vertical cavity semiconductor lasers (VCSEL), whereas the sensitive optical receiver is based on either PIN or APD photodiodes combined with transimpedance amplifiers. This paper also has considered brain phantoms to perform optical parameter extraction experiments using broadband modulated light for separations of up to 5cm. Analytical models for predicting forward (transmittance) and backward (reflectance) scattering of modulated photons in diffused media has been modeled using Diffusion Equation (DE). The robustness of the DE modeling and parameter extraction algorithm was studied by experimental verification of multi-layer diffused media phantoms. In particular, comparison between analytical and experimental models for narrow band and broadband has been performed to analyze the advantages of our broadband fNIR system.
P02.113. The benefits of yoga for women veterans with chronic low back pain

Purpose Chronic low back pain (CLBP) is prevalent among military veterans and often leads to functional limitations, psychological symptoms, lower quality of life, and higher health care costs. An increasing proportion of US veterans are women, and women veterans may have different healthcare needs than men veterans. The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of a yoga intervention on women and men with CLBP.
Exploiting the generic view assumption to estimate scene parameters

The generic view assumption states that an observer is not in a special position relative to the scene. The author shows how to use the generic view assumption to quantify the likelihood of a view and so derive a powerful tool to estimate scene parameters. Generic variables can include viewpoint, object orientation, and lighting position. By considering the image as a function of these variables, the probability that a set of scene parameters created a given image is derived. This scene probability equation includes a term which rewards fidelity to the image, and a generic view term, which favors scenes likely to produce the observed image. Large derivatives of the image with respect to the generic variables correspond to unlikely scenes. This approach reduces the dependence on prior assumptions and should increase the scope and accuracy of scene estimates. This framework applies to many vision problems. Several shape from shading examples are shown, including the estimation of reflectance function, light direction, and vertical scale, in cases where these are otherwise unknown. >
Information rates of binary-input intersymbol interference channels with signal-dependent media noise

We introduce a simulation-based method to compute the information rates of intersymbol interference (ISI) channels with additive colored Gaussian noise and/or signal-dependent Gaussian noise when the inputs are binary and independent identically distributed. The method extends the idea advanced by Arnold and Loeliger (2001), which focuses on the ISI channels with additive white Gaussian noise (AWGN). With the new method, we can compute the information rates of the Lorentzian channel with media noise that represents a suitable model for practical magnetic recording channels. We illustrate the use of the technique via several examples and show that media noise is preferable to AWGN in terms of the achievable information rates, at low signal-to-noise ratios, in particular. We also present examples of turbo codes for Lorentzian channels with media noise and compare the performance with the achievable information rates. The results demonstrate, not surprisingly, that improved detectors are necessary to achieve the channel capacity for magnetic recording channels when the media noise is dominant.
Reliability design and experiment of low cost WLP-QFN modules

Wafer level packages (WLP) and Quad flat no-lead (QFN) packages are both widely used in electronics assemblies. This is because they both provide good electrical and thermal performance and especially low cost as they are simple in the construction. In this paper, two designs of experiment (DoEs) have been constructed. The first DoE is employed to characterize the impact of the module reliability from die size, underfill, shield-can and substrate selection. The second DoE covers the center pad area and board thickness impact. The study indicates that underfill selection and curing strategy impact both the stress and strain of the solder joint and the redistribution layer (RDL) at the WLP. The thermal pad design and PCB board thickness will also impact those strain levels. Reliability tests of both WLP and QFN show that the WLP solder joints and RDL are the weakest link in the WLP-QFN assembly. Design optimization shall be considered at the system level to be effective.
Persistent Adverse Effects on Health and Reproduction Caused by Exposure of Zebrafish to 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin During Early Development and Gonad Differentiation

Little is understood regarding the impacts of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) exposure during early development on the health, survival, and reproductive capability of adults. Here we use zebrafish to determine whether early life stage exposure to TCDD induces toxicity in adult zebrafish and their offspring. Zebrafish were exposed to graded concentrations of TCDD (0‐400 pg/ml) via waterborne exposure for 1 h/week from 0 to 7 weeks of age. The heart and swim bladder were identified as being most sensitive to TCDD exposure during early development. Subtle developmental toxic responses collectively impaired survival, and only zebrafish in the 0, 25, and 50 pg TCDD/ml groups survived to adulthood. Surviving fish exhibited TCDD toxicity in craniofacial structures (i.e., operculum and jaw), heart, swim bladder, and ovary. Exposure to 25 pg TCDD/ml impaired egg production (40% of control), fertility (90% of control), and gamete quality. TCDDtreated males contributed more than females to impaired reproductive capacity. Transgenerational effects were also discovered in that offspring from parents exposed to TCDD during early life stages showed a 25% increase in mortality compared with the F1 of dimethyl sulfoxide fish, reduced egg production (30‐50% of control) and fertility (96% of control). Thus, adverse effects resulting from TCDD exposure during early life stages for one generation of zebrafish were sufficient to cause adverse health and reproductive effects on a second generation of zebrafish. In the environment, transgenerational effects such as these may contribute to population declines for the most TCDD sensitive fish species.
The IBM Yorktown simulation engine

The IBM Yorktown Simulation Engine (YSE) is a special-purpose, highly parallel programmable machine for the gate-level simulation of logic. A YSE has been constructed at the IBM T. J. Watson Research Center. A full configured YSE could simulate up to two million gates at a speed of over three billion gate simulations per second, it is estimated that a YSE could simulate an IBM 3081 processor, at the gate level, at a rate of 1000 System/370 instructions per second. This paper describes the YSE architecture and software support.
Performance of two novel fast affine projection adaptation algorithms

This paper studies the performance of two recently proposed stable and robust fast affine projection (FAP) adaptation algorithms - LDL/sup T/ FAP and RATCHET FAP. They can, respectively, provide an exact solution at a moderate complexity and a good approximation at a complexity lower than that of any other FAP algorithms. These patent pending algorithms are expected to be practical in telecommunication and other adaptive filtering applications.
Antinucleon production in colliding e+-e− beams at SPEAR

The results of an initial survey for antiproton and antineutron inclusive events produced by colliding electron and positron beams of 5.2 GeV center-of-mass energy are reponted. The resulting upper limits are near the lower limit of the Bjorken-Kogut p branching fraction estimate and a factor of five larger than the simplest pure space-like inversion estimate.
The whiteboard environment: an electronic sketchpad for data structure design and algorithm description

Most instructors describe algorithms and data structures to students using a physical blackboard or a whiteboard and chalk or markers. This paper describes two tools, Data Structure Designer and Whiteboard, that provide an instructor with the functionality of a whiteboard. The environment provided by these tools improve upon a whiteboard by providing interactivity and dynamic capabilities that whiteboards lack. Data Structure Designer provides a direct manipulation, graphical editor, similar to a widget-editor, that allows users to create attractive, customized data structure objects that very closely resemble the pictures of data structures that appear in textbooks. The Whiteboard environment provides a drawing area where data structures created in the Data Structure Designer can be interactively drawn, populated with example data, and then used in the demonstration of algorithms. Built-in semantics facilitate common operations. For example, assignment is accomplished by dragging and dropping a variable onto another variable. These two tools make the interactive design of data structures and demonstration of algorithms fast and easy.
De-Aliasing Through Over-Integration Applied to the Flux Reconstruction and Discontinuous Galerkin Methods

High-order methods are quickly becoming popular for turbulent flows as the amount of computer processing power increases. The flux reconstruction (FR) method presents a unifying framework for a wide class of high-order methods including discontinuous Galerkin (DG), Spectral Difference (SD), and Spectral Volume (SV). It offers a simple, efficient, and easy way to implement nodal-based methods that are derived via the differential form of the governing equations. Whereas high-order methods have enjoyed recent success, they have been known to introduce numerical instabilities due to polynomial aliasing when applied to under-resolved nonlinear problems. Aliasing errors have been extensively studied in reference to DG methods; however, their study regarding FR methods has mostly been limited to the selection of the nodal points used within each cell. Here, we extend some of the de-aliasing techniques used for DG methods, primarily over-integration, to the FR framework. Our results show that over-integration does remove aliasing errors but may not remove all instabilities caused by insufficient resolution (for FR as well as DG).
Syntheses and characterization of ammonium and tetraalkylammonium thiomolybdates and thiotungstates

Abstract Improved methods for the preparation of [NH4]2[MO2S2] and [NH4]2[MS4] are summarized and new syntheses of [NH4]2[MOS3] are reported (M = Mo, W). The facile conversion of the [NH4]+ salts to [Et4N]+ salts via reaction with aqueous [Et4N]OH is also described. Infrared and electronic spectral data for the thiometallates are summarized as an aid to future characterization.
Additive effects of a prolactin receptor antagonist, G129R, and herceptin on inhibition of HER2-overexpressing breast cancer cells

Breast cancers overexpressing human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) have been reported to have higher proliferative and metastatic activity in the presence of autocrine prolactin (PRL), indicating potential cooperation between HER2 and the PRL receptor (PRLR) during breast cancer progression. PRL can induce the tyrosine phosphorylation of HER2 which stimulates mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) activity. To determine if this transactivation of HER2 by PRL contributes to anti-HER2 therapy resistance we examined the potential of combining Herceptin with a PRLR antagonist, G129R, which inhibits PRL-induced signaling, as a novel therapeutic strategy. Two PRL-expressing human breast cancer cell lines (T-47D and BT-474) that overexpress PRLR and HER2 to different degrees were chosen for this study. The phosphorylation status of HER2 and activation of MAPK, signal transducers and activators of transcription (STAT), as well as phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase (PI3K) signaling cascades were examined in response to Herceptin, G129R or a combination of the two in either the absence or presence of exogenous PRL. As a single agent, Herceptin was more effective than G129R at inhibiting AKT phosphorylation; whereas, G129R was superior at blocking STAT3 and STAT5 activation. G129R was also able to directly inhibit the HER2 phosphorylation. The combination of Herceptin and G129R had an additive inhibitory effect on HER2 and MAPK phosphorylation, confirming that the MAPK signaling is a converging pathway shared by both HER2 and the PRLR. Combination of Herceptin and G129R also additively inhibited cell proliferation in vitro and in vivo as measured by inhibition of the growth of T-47D and BT-474 xenografts in athymic nude mice. We conclude that an anti-HER2 and anti-PRLR regimen may offer a new approach to treat HER2-overexpressing breast cancers.
Fighting Organized Crime: A History of Law Enforcement Efforts in Chicago

This article reviews the history of law enforcement efforts against traditional organized crime in Chicago. While the historical record is replete with examples of the relationship between corrupt ...
Bit-error rates for optical receivers using avalanche photodiodes with dead space

Bit-error rates are computed for an on-off keying optical communication system using avalanche photodiodes (APDs). We use a model for the APD that includes dead space and the finite response time. Dead space is the minimum distance that a newly generated carrier must travel in order to acquire sufficient energy to become capable of causing an impact ionization in the multiplication region of the APD. The detector's finite impulse response and its randomness are important for high data-rate systems. Using an exact analysis, we show that the presence of dead space enhances the performance at relatively low data rates. Using a Gaussian approximation technique with the exact mean and variance, we demonstrate that dead space degrades the performance at-high data rates since it is responsible for longer tails in the impulse response function of the APD, which in turn increases the effect of intersymbol interference. >
Clinical Presentation and Microarray Analysis of Peruvian Children with Atypical Development and/or Aberrant Behavior

We report our experience with high resolution microarray analysis in infants and young children with developmental disability and/or aberrant behavior enrolled at the Centro Ann Sullivan del Peru in Lima, Peru, a low income country. Buccal cells were collected with cotton swabs from 233 participants for later DNA isolation and identification of copy number variation (deletions/duplications) and regions of homozygosity (ROH) for estimating consanguinity status in 15 infants and young children (12 males, 3 females; mean age ± SD = 28.1 m ± 7.9 m; age range 14 m-41 m) randomly selected for microarray analysis. An adequate DNA yield was found in about one-half of the enrolled participants. Ten participants showed deletions or duplications containing candidate genes reported to impact behavior or cognitive development. Five children had ROHs which could have harbored recessive gene alleles contributing to their clinical presentation. The coefficient of inbreeding was calculated and three participants showed first-second cousin relationships, indicating consanguinity. Our preliminary study showed that DNA isolated from buccal cells using cotton swabs was suboptimal, but yet in a subset of participants the yield was adequate for high resolution microarray analysis and several genes were found that impact development and behavior and ROHs identified to determine consanguinity status.
Older adolescents with cancer in North America deficits in outcome and research.

Abstract In the two decades from the mid 1970s to the mid 1990s, the proportion of 5-year survivors among children in North America with cancer has increased nearly 40%. Advances in otherwise fatal leukemias, lymphomas, sarcomas, brain tumors, germ cell neoplasms and cancer of the kidney account for much of the improvement. Unfortunately, older adolescents have not fared as well. Their epidemiological, medical, physical, psychological and social needs remain largely unmet despite their age juxtaposition with younger patients whose outcomes have so much improved. In the United States and Canada, cancer in adolescents 15 to 19 years of age occurs at nearly twice the rate observed in 5 to 14 year-olds. Many of the types of cancer that occur in older adolescents are unique to this age group, and the pattern of distribution occurs at no other age interval. Overall, the cancers in older adolescents are more similar to the spectrum of cancer in children than to the common types of cancer in adults, but they are also distinctly different and require an age-specific approach. There is evidence of a lower degree in reduction in cancer mortality in the United States and Canada in this age range than in younger or older persons. Moreover, the disparity appears to be increasing. The improvement in 5-year survival from diagnosis of cancer from the mid 1970s to the early 1990s was lower than the rate of improvement in the younger age groups. Survival rates of older adolescents with cancer in the general population have not improved as much, especially in comparison with results of the national pediatric cooperative cancer groups. In the United States and Canada, only about 5% of 15 to 25 year-olds with cancer are entered onto clinical trials, in contrast to 60% to 65% of younger patients. Thus, cancer during adolescence and early adulthood has been relatively neglected and merits enhanced national research programs and resources.
Resonance in the two-nucleon transfer reaction /sup 12/C(/sup 12/C,/sup 10/B)/sup 14/N

The energy dependence of the reaction /sup 12/C(/sup 12/C,/sup 10/B)/sup 14/N has been studied in the range E/sub c.m./ = 22--42 MeV. A striking resonance is observed at E/sub c.m./ = 30.75 MeV which correlates with a very pronounced structure in the /sup 12/C + /sup 12/C inelastic channels. The total resonance cross section observed in the /sup 10/B + /sup 14/N channel implies a reduced partial width comparable to those of the inelastic channels. These data suggest, for the first time, the possible importance of nucleon degrees of freedom in the structure of the /sup 12/C + /sup 12/C resonances.
Association of arterial stiffness with coronary flow reserve in revascularized coronary artery disease patients

Association of arterial stiffness with coronary flow reserve in revascularized coronary artery disease patients
Stoichiometric self-assembly of isomeric, shape-persistent, supramacromolecular bowtie and butterfly structures.

Two novel macromolecular constitutional isomers have been self-assembled from previously unreported terpyridine ligands in a three-component system. The terpyridine ligands were synthesized in high yields via a key Suzuki coupling. Restrictions of the possible outcomes for self-assembly ultimately provided optimum conditions for isolation of either a molecular bowtie or its isomeric butterfly motif. These isomers have been characterized by ESI-MS, TWIM-MS, 1H NMR, and 13C NMR. Notably, these structural isomers have remarkably different drift times in ion mobility separation, corresponding to different sizes and shapes at high charge states.
Minimizing the Risks of Delegation: Multiple Referral in the German Bundesrat

"preference outliers." This article establishes that committee assign? ment procedures in the German up? per house, the Bundesrat yield com? mittees that do not always reflect the chamber's partisan preferences. This non-American setting provides lever? age on a central question in legisla? tive studies: how can a chamber ensure responsive lawmaking when delegating to unrepresentative com? mittees? I argue that Bundesrat pro? cedures, including multiple referral, equal reporting rights, and a selfselection referral process, minimize the risks of delegation. A spatial model illustrates how the Bundesrat
A man-packable unmanned surface vehicle for radiation localization and forensics

This paper describes the first known man-packable unmanned surface vehicle (USV) system designed for radiation localization, either for nuclear treaty verification or sampling after a nuclear incident. Currently, outdoor radiation sampling is done manually or by ground or aerial unmanned systems. An unmanned surface vehicle can operate in shallow nuclear facility cooling ponds and connected streams, rivers, and bays to sample without entering the facility and while maintaining network connectivity to report readings. The Challenge 1 USV is a Lutra 1.1 autonomous airboat modified to carry an UltraRadiacTM. The debris-free area to survey is determined by teleoperation, then the system autonomously generates and executes a novel spiral path and sampling policy. Challenge 1 was tested for proof-of-concept at Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service's Disaster City® with a cesium-137 source placed near one shore of a pond 72 meters from the deployment point. During this test, 775 radiation readings were taken over an area of 57.61 square meters in 18 minutes. These data were used by an inverse distance weighting interpolation algorithm to produce a visual heatmap.