cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The sea surface microlayer: Biology, chemistry and anthropogenic enrichment

Abstract Recent studies increasingly point to the interface between the world's atmosphere and hydrosphere (the sea-surface microlayer) as an important biological habitat and a collection point for anthropogenic materials. Newly developed sampling techniques collect different qualitative and quantitative fractions of the upper sea surface from depths of less than one micron to several centimeters. The microlayer provides a habitat for a biota, including the larvae of many commercial fishery species, which are often highly enriched in density compared to subsurface water only a few cm below. Common enrichments for bacterioneuston, phytoneuston, and zooneuston are 102−104, 1−102, and 1−10, respectively. The trophic relationships or integrated functioning of these neustonic communities have not been examined. Surface tension forces provide a physically stable microlayer, but one which is subjected to greater environmental and climatic variation than the water column. A number of poorly understood physical processes control the movement and flux of materials within and through the microlayer. The microlayer is generally coated with a natural organic film of lipid and fatty acid material overlying a polysaccharide protein complex. The microlayer serves as both a source and a sink for materials in the atmosphere and the water column. Among these materials are large quantities of anthropogenic substances which frequently occur at concentrations 102−104 greater than these in the water column. These include plastics, tar lumps, polyaromatic hydrocarbons, chlorrinated hydrocarbons, and potentially toxic metals, such as, lead, copper, zinc, and nickel. How the unique processes occurring in the microlayer affect the fate of anthropogenic substances is not yet clear. Many important questions remain to be examined.
Peptide-coated nanotube-based biosensor for the detection of disease-specific autoantibodies in human serum

We demonstrate a label-free peptide-coated carbon nanotube-based immunosensor for the direct assay of human serum. A rheumatoid arthritis (RA)-specific (cyclic citrulline-containing) peptide, was immobilized to functionalized single-walled carbon nanotubes deposited on a quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) sensing crystal. Serum from RA patients was used to probe these nanotube-based sensors, and antibody binding was detected by QCM sensing. Specific antibody binding was also determined by comparing the assay of two serum control groups (normal and diseased sera), and the native unmodified peptide. The sensitivity of the nanotube-based sensor (detection in the femtomol range) was higher than that of the established ELISA and recently described microarray assay systems, detecting 34.4 and 37.5% more RA patients with anti-citrullinated peptide antibodies than those found by ELISA and microarray, respectively. There was also an 18.4 and 19.6% greater chance of a negative test being a true indicator of a person not having RA than by either ELISA or microarray, respectively. The performance of our label-free biosensor enables its application in the direct assay of sera in research and diagnostics.
Effects of Estivation on Lutein and β‐Carotene Concentrations in Biomphalaria glabrata (NMRI Strain) and Helisoma trivolvis (Colorado Strain) Snails as Determined by Quantitative High Performance Reversed Phase Thin Layer Chromatography

Abstract High performance thin layer chromatrography (HPTLC) on C‐18 chemically bonded silica gel layers with petroleum ether‐acetonitrile‐methanol (1:2:2) mobile phase and visible mode slit‐scanning densitometry was used to examine the effects of estivation on β‐carotene and lutein in the medically and economically important snails Biomphalaria glabrata (NMRI strain) and Helisoma trivolvis (Colorado strain). Snails were estivated for 2 weeks in moist chambers at 24°C and a relative humidity of 98%. Controls were maintained at 24°C for the same period in aerated aquaria containing artificial spring water and fed Romaine lettuce leaves ad libitum. As determined by HPTLC analysis, estivation had no significant effect on the weight percentage of β‐carotene in the whole body or digestive gland‐gonad complex (DGG) of both snail species. A significant reduction (Student's t‐test, P<0.5) was found in the percentage of lutein in the DGG of H. trivolvis. Whereas published and unpublished studies have demonstrated ...
Elevated CO2 and plant nitrogen-use: is reduced tissue nitrogen concentration size-dependent?

Plants often respond to elevated atmospheric CO2 levels with reduced tissue nitrogen concentrations relative to ambient CO2-grown plants when comparisons are made at a common time. Another common response to enriched CO2 atmospheres is an acceleration in plant growth rates. Because plant nitrogen concentrations are often highest in seedlings and subsequently decrease during growth, comparisons between ambient and elevated CO2-grown plants made at a common time may not demonstrate CO2-induced reductions in plant nitrogen concentration per se. Rather, this comparison may be highlighting differences in nitrogen concentration between bigger, more developed plants and smaller, less developed plants. In this study, we directly examined whether elevated CO2 environments reduce plant nitrogen concentrations independent of changes in plant growth rates. We grew two annual plant species. Abutilon theophrasti (C3 photosynthetic pathway) and Amaranthus retroflexus (C4 photosynthetic pathway), from seed in glass-sided growth chambers with atmospheric CO2 levels of 350 μmol·mol−1 or 700 μmol·mol−1 and with high or low fertilizer applications. Individual plants were harvested every 2 days starting 3 days after germination to determine plant biomass and nitrogen concentration. We found: 1. High CO2-grown plants had reduced nitrogen concentrations and increased biomass relative to ambient CO2-grown plants when compared at a common time; 2. Tissue nitrogen concentrations did not vary as a function of CO2 level when plants were compared at a common size; and 3. The rate of biomass accumulation per rate of increase in plant nitrogen was unaffected by CO2 availability, but was altered by nutrient availability. These results indicate that a CO2-induced reduction in plant nitrogen concentration may not be due to physiological changes in plant nitrogen use efficiency, but is probably a size-dependent phenomenon resulting from accelerated plant growth.
Neurocognitive Ability in Adults Coping with Alcohol and Drug Relapse Temptations

Coping is important for preventing relapse, but may be utilized differently depending on the individual's level of cognitive functioning. Impaired reasoning, attention, and memory are commonly obse...
Assessing community-wide outcomes of prevention marketing campaigns through telephone surveys.

This random sample survey assesses the outcomes of the community-wide HIV prevention marketing campaigns for adolescents through telephone surveys as well as the decisions that were made to address these concerns. The study employed repeated cross-sectional analysis to collect data from 1402 adolescents over a 23-month period. Likewise a dual sampling strategy combined with Random Digit Dialing with Listed Household samples were used. The study was conducted in a manner that protects the anonymity privacy and confidentiality; and at the same time gathers an adequate response rate. Results of the study confirm that the success of the evaluation program depended on the adequacy of the response rate which includes the use of advanced letters and toll-free phone line as well as sensitivity to the needs and concerns of the target population. The success that was achieved is still inadequate since the results confirm the challenge of developing feasible affordable tailored techniques for measuring risk behavior change in members of these groups.
High-Efficiency CdTe and CIGS Thin-Film Solar Cells: Highlights and Challenges

Thin-film photovoltaic (PV) modules of CdTe and Cu(ln,Ga)Se2 (CIGS) have the potential to reach cost-effective PV-generated electricity. These technologies have transitioned from the laboratory to the market place. Pilot production and first-time manufacturing are ramping up to higher capacity and enjoying a flood of venture-capital funding. CIGS solar cells and modules have achieved 19.5% and 13% efficiencies, respectively. Likewise, CdTe cells and modules have reached 16.5% and 10.2% efficiencies, respectively. Even higher efficiencies from the laboratory and from the manufacturing line are only a matter of time. Manufacturing-line yield continues to improve and is surpassing 85%. Long-term stability has been demonstrated for both technologies; however, some failures in the field have also been observed, emphasizing the critical need for understanding degradation mechanisms and packaging options. These two thin-film technologies have a common device/module structure: substrate, base electrode, absorber, junction layer, top electrode, patterning steps for monolithic integration, and encapsulation. The monolithic integration of thin-film solar cells can lead to significant manufacturing cost reduction compared to crystalline Si technology. The CdTe and CIGS modules share common structural elements. In principle, this commonality should lead to similar manufacturing cost per unit area, and thus, the module efficiency becomes the discriminating factor that determines the cost per watt. The long-term potential of the two technologies require R&D emphasis on science and engineering-based challenges to find solutions to achieve targeted cost-effective module performance, and in-field durability. Some of the challenges are common to both, e.g., in-situ process control and diagnostics, thinner absorber, understanding degradation mechanisms, protection from water vapor, and innovation in high-speed processing and module design. Other topics are specific to the technology, such as lower-cost and fast-deposition processes for CIGS, and improved back contact and voltage for CdTe devices
Energy Efficient Method Identification for an Education Building

The studied educational building is a three story building with a total floor area of 78,000 square feet. It consists of classrooms, computer and research laboratories, and faculty offices. The lighting system uses T8 fluorescent light bulbs with manual switches. The heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system is equipped with four single duct variable air volume (VAV) air handling units (AHU). A series of test conducted on the building reveals the enormous energy savings through the use of energy efficient methods. These methods were identified and savings were measured or estimated for the electrical and HVAC systems. The projected annual saving was calculated between $36,309 and $42,809. This paper presents the detailed methodology used in identifying these energy efficient methods.
Security overhead and performance for aggregation with fragment retransmission (AFR) in very high-speed wireless 802.11 LANs

In this paper, we study the overhead introduced by the advanced encryption standard cipher in the context of wireless LANs, specifically at the medium access control layer, as described in the 802.11 standard developed by the 802.11n task group. The advanced encryption standard is incorporated into existing aggregation schemes for 802.11 wireless LANs in order to achieve secure transmission of frames. We compute the maximum throughput, optimal frame, and fragment sizes which can be achieved in this context and compare them to the optimal values when encryption is not used. We evaluate the delay performance of such a scheme in the context of encryption and study asymptotic properties of the medium access control layer efficiency, expected frame size, and throughput.
Self-Amputation of the Breasts by a Male With Schizotypal Personality Disorder

In addition to being the first reported case of self-amputation of the breasts by a male, Mr. M's case is unusual because the patient did not have symptoms of the diagnoses usually associated with self-mutilation, such as borderline and antisocial personality disorder, psychoses, or mental retardation. Although the patient's overtly sexualized self-injury was like that seen in psychotic individuals, a diagnosis of a psychotic disorder was not appropriate in this case. The case is also unusual because the patient's self-mutilation was responsive to treatment. Self-mutilation is often difficult to treat, but this case shows that, at least in the context of some disorders, a multifaceted treatment approach may be effective in reducing this behavior.
Advance care planning for fatal chronic illness: avoiding commonplace errors and unwarranted suffering

“Quality Grand Rounds” is a series of articles and companion conferences designed to explore a range of quality issues and medical errors. Presenting actual cases drawn from institutions around the United States, the articles integrate traditional medical case histories with results of root-cause analyses and, where appropriate, anonymous interviews with the involved patients, physicians, nurses, and risk managers. Cases do not come from the discussants’ home institutions.
Christian rhetoric and the western church fathers

This study investigates the attitude of four western Church Fathers toward the use of rhetoric in preaching: St. Cyprian, Arnobius, Lac‐tantius Firmianus, and St. Jerome. All pagan rhetorical principles from Corax and Empedocles of Agrigentum to Sulpicius Victor were rejected, and the classical concepts of rhetoric were inoperative during the patristic era.
Morphological and physiological retinal degeneration induced by intravenous delivery of vitamin A dimers in rabbits.

The eye uses vitamin A as a cofactor to sense light and, during this process, some vitamin A molecules dimerize, forming vitamin A dimers. A striking chemical signature of retinas undergoing degeneration in major eye diseases such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and Stargardt disease is the accumulation of these dimers in the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and Bruch’s membrane (BM). However, it is not known whether dimers of vitamin A are secondary symptoms or primary insults that drive degeneration. Here, we present a chromatography-free method to prepare gram quantities of the vitamin A dimer, A2E, and show that intravenous administration of A2E to the rabbit results in retinal degeneration. A2E-damaged photoreceptors and RPE cells triggered inflammation, induced remolding of the choroidal vasculature and triggered a decline in the retina’s response to light. Data suggest that vitamin A dimers are not bystanders, but can be primary drivers of retinal degeneration. Thus, preventing dimer formation could be a preemptive strategy to address serious forms of blindness.
Effect of 1-Epinephrine on the Coronary Circulation in Human Subjects with and without Coronary Artery Disease

The effects of intravenous infusion of epinephrine on the coronary circulation of 21 human subjects, 8 with and 13 without coronary artery disease, have been studied. The response to epinephrine was similar in the two groups. Epinephrine increased cardiac output, stroke volume, and systolic ejection rate significantly without significant change in blood pressure. Myocardial O2 consumption increased in relation to increased kinetics of contraction. Coronary flow increased significantly without change in coronary arteriovenous O2 difference, suggesting that the vasodilatory response to epinephrine in man is secondary to augmented myocardial metabolic demands.
Diabetes and pregnancy: a retrospective 5-year description comparing two management settings.

During a five year period, informa tion was collected on fifty pregnant women with diabetes mellitus who had been referred to the Diabetes Education Program. Half were man aged in a high risk obstetrical clinic; half were managed by private physi cians. In both the clinic and private set ting, the trend over the last five years has been toward tighter control. Methods to achieve better control of diabetes are described; statistical data and outcomes of the two groups are presented and discussed.
Injection molding quality control by integrating weight feedback into a cascade closed‐loop control system

Quality control plays a crucial role in injection molding control to meet stringent tolerance requirements and to facilitate automation. Previous work has tackled this challenging subject mainly through consistent machine operations or process variable control. In this paper, a direct quality feedback control system has been proposed and developed. The system has a cascade structure and combines both feedback and feedforward controls. An important quality index, namely, part weight, is measured in each molding cycle. The difference between this measurement and a quality target is used to adjust the mold separation at the process level. The mold separation is controlled via both a cycle-to-cycle mass-based switchover point and a within-cycle holding pressure control. Molding experiments have been conducted using different mold geometries and resins. Compared with the cavity pressure based control system currently used in industry, the control system in this study results in a significant improvement of both long-term and short-term consistencies in part quality. In addition, this direct quality feedback control has other benefits, such as 100% quality inspection and automatic process tuning. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 47:852–862, 2007. © 2007 Society of Plastics Engineers
Response of -irradiated mouse salivary gland cells to a proliferative stimulus.

The stimulation of DNA synthesis in mouse salivary gland cells caused by a single administration of isoproterenol was inhibited by prior γ-irradiation. this effect of irradiation was due to a decrease in the fraction of acinar cells stimulated to enter the S phase, rather than an abscopal effect of irradiation. Isoproterenol-stimulated DNA synthesis in irradiated salivary glands gradually increased several days following irradiation; it became identical to unirradiated ones after 10 days. These observations indicate that the capacity of salivary gland cells to synthesize DNA was temporarily depressed by irradiation and recovered after irradiation. However, the newly synthesized DNA in irradiated cells was found to be quickly degraded, while that in unirradiated controls was relatively stable. An autoradiographic analysis of the parotids indicated that the degradation of the DNA was due, at least in part, to degeneration of acinar cells in the irradiated glands.
Determination of Ileum Microbial Diversity of Broilers Fed Triticale- or Corn-Based Diets and Colonized by Salmonella

SUMMARY Diversity of the bacterial communities in the ileum of broilers was characterized using denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis. Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis separation of polymerase chain reaction amplicons of the V2-V3 variable regions of the 16S rDNA is a common method to profile community diversity and has been used to assess the effects of diet and antibiotics on the ileal bacterial community of chickens. Broilers raised either on litter floor or in cage batteries were fed either a finely ground corn- (control), a finely ground triticale-, or a whole triticale-based diet from 0 to 42 d. Microbial DNA was extracted from the ileum content of 42-d-old broilers, and the 16S rDNA gene was amplified by polymerase chain reaction and the amplicons separated by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis. Diversity indexes including richness, evenness, diversity, and pairwise similarity coefficients were calculated. Diversity indexes were related to the dietary treatments, housing designs, and to changes in Salmonella colonization of broiler ceca as characterized by the most probable number method. Higher microbial diversity indexes were observed among birds fed whole triticale-based diets and reared on litter floors. In contrast, finely ground grain treatments had lower diversity and higher Salmonella prevalence than the whole triticale treatment. The data indicated that combination of high dietary fiber content and increased coarseness of the diet by feeding whole triticale stimulated microbial community diversity and discouraged Salmonella colonization, perhaps through a competitive exclusion-type mechanism.
Methodological limitations of psychosocial interventions in patients with an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) A systematic review

Background Despite the potentially life-saving benefits of the implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD), a significant group of patients experiences emotional distress after ICD implantation. Different psychosocial interventions have been employed to improve this condition, but previous reviews have suggested that methodological issues may limit the validity of such interventions. Aim: To review the methodology of previously published studies of psychosocial interventions in ICD patients, according to CONSORT statement guidelines for non-pharmacological interventions, and provide recommendations for future research.
A 5Gb/s 2.6mW/Gb/s reference-less half-rate PRPLL-based digital CDR

A reference-less half-rate digital CDR implements proportional control in phase domain with a phase-rotating PLL (PRPLL) which decouples jitter transfer (JTRAN) bandwidth and jitter tolerance (JTOL) corner frequency, eliminates jitter peaking, and removes JTRAN dependence on phase detector gain. Fabricated in a 90nm CMOS process, the prototype CDR achieves 2MHz JTRAN, 16MHz JTOL, and consumes 13.1mW from 1V supply at 5Gb/s with BER<;10-12.
Angular size of the high energy X-ray source in the Crab nebula.

THIS article reports new data on the spatial structure of the source of 25 to 100 keV X-rays in the Crab nebula, obtained with a balloon-borne X-ray modulation collimator. The angular diameter of the Crab for energies of 1.2 to 12 keV has been measured previously in two rocket experiments by lunar occultation1 and by modulation collimator2. Both measurements showed that the low energy X-rays come from an extended region one to two arc minutes in diameter centred on the visible nebula. Since then the radio3 and optical4 pulsar NP 0532 has been identified with a central star in the nebula5.
Preservation of biological function despite oxidative modification of the apolipoprotein A-I mimetic peptide 4F

Myeloperoxidase (MPO)-derived hypochlorous acid induces changes in HDL function via redox modifications at the level of apolipoprotein A-I (apoA-I). As 4F and apoA-I share structural and functional properties, we tested the hypothesis that 4F acts as a reactive substrate for hypochlorous acid (HOCl). 4F reduced the HOCl-mediated oxidation of the fluorescent substrate APF in a concentration-dependent manner (ED50∼ 56 ± 3 μM). This reaction induced changes in the physical properties of 4F. Addition of HOCl to 4F at molar ratios ranging from 1:1 to 3:1 reduced 4F band intensity on SDS-PAGE gels and was accompanied by the formation of a higher molecular weight species. Chromatographic studies showed a reduction in 4F peak area with increasing HOCl and the formation of new products. Mass spectral analyses of collected fractions revealed oxidation of the sole tryptophan (Trp) residue in 4F. 4F was equally susceptible to oxidation in the lipid-free and lipid-bound states. To determine whether Trp oxidation influenced its apoA-I mimetic properties, we monitored effects of HOCl on 4F-mediated lipid binding and ABCA1-dependent cholesterol efflux. Neither property was altered by HOCl. These results suggest that 4F serves as a reactive substrate for HOCl, an antioxidant response that does not influence the lipid binding and cholesterol effluxing capacities of the peptide.
Duffy Blood Group Antigen/Receptor for Chemokines

This article has no abstract. Keywords: duffy blood group antigen/receptor for chemokines
REPRODUCTIVE EFFORT IN SQUIRRELS: ECOLOGICAL, PHYLOGENETIC, ALLOMETRIC, AND LATITUDINAL PATTERNS

Abstract The distinctive features of reproduction in squirrels are the lack of allometric influences on the duration of reproductive investment; the strong allometric influences on offspring mass; and a trade-off between number and size of young, suggesting an important developmental component to reproduction. Lengths of gestation and lactation do not vary with body size but neonatal and weaning mass do. Apparently, the major constraint on reproduction in squirrels is not resources per se (food, calories, minerals, or water) but rather the length of time such resources are available. Squirrels adjust growth rate to fit the timing of resource abundance. Within the familial reproductive pattern, arboreal squirrels invest more into reproduction than do ground squirrels. Flying squirrels (Pteromyini) have a larger temporal investment into reproduction but a smaller energetic investment compared with other squirrels. Ground squirrels do not have a distinct reproductive profile, because marmotine and nonmarmoti...
Reduction of Fe(III), Cr(VI), U(VI), and Tc(VII) by Deinococcus radiodurans R1

Deinococcus radiodurans is an exceptionally radiation-resistant microorganism capable of surviving acute exposures to ionizing radiation doses of 15,000 Gy and previously described as having a strictly aerobic respiratory metabolism. Under strict anaerobic conditions, D. radiodurans R1 reduced Fe(III)-nitrilotriacetic acid coupled to the oxidation of lactate to CO(2) and acetate but was unable to link this process to growth. D. radiodurans reduced the humic acid analog anthraquinone-2,6-disulfonate (AQDS) to its dihydroquinone form, AH(2)DS, which subsequently transferred electrons to the Fe(III) oxides hydrous ferric oxide and goethite via a previously described electron shuttle mechanism. D. radiodurans reduced the solid-phase Fe(III) oxides in the presence of either 0.1 mM AQDS or leonardite humic acids (2 mg ml(-1)) but not in their absence. D. radiodurans also reduced U(VI) and Tc(VII) in the presence of AQDS. In contrast, Cr(VI) was directly reduced in anaerobic cultures with lactate although the rate of reduction was higher in the presence of AQDS. The results are the first evidence that D. radiodurans can reduce Fe(III) coupled to the oxidation of lactate or other organic compounds. Also, D. radiodurans, in combination with humic acids or synthetic electron shuttle agents, can reduce U and Tc and thus has potential applications for remediation of metal- and radionuclide-contaminated sites where ionizing radiation or other DNA-damaging agents may restrict the activity of more sensitive organisms.
Synthesis and characterization of some anomeric pairs of per-O-acetylated aldohexopyranosyl cyanides (per-O-acetylated 2,6-anhydroheptononitriles). On the reaction of per-O-acetylaldohexopyranosyl bromides with mercuric cyanide in nitromethane.

Abstract The synthesis and characterization of the anomeric pairs of the per- O -acetylaldohexopyranosyl cyanides of d -galactose, l -fucose, d -glucose, and d -mannose, as well as of 3,4,6-tri- O -acetyl-2-deoxy-2-phthalimido-β- d -glucopyranosyl cyanide, are described. Cyanation of the readily available, per- O -acetylaldohexopyranosyl bromides with mercuric cyanide in nitromethane, and subsequent purification, gave the corresponding, crystalline glycosyl cyanides with a high degree of 1,2- trans stereoselectivity. Thus, per- O -acetylated aldohexopyranosyl cyanides of the 1,2- trans configuration were obtained in yields ranging from 20 to 79%, whereas the corresponding 1,2- cis anomers were obtained in yields of ⩽8.4%, the ratios of the 1,2- trans : 1,2- cis anomers so prepared being ⩾8.5:1. The principal by-products of these irreversible, cyanation reactions were the per- O -acetylated 1,2- O -[1-( exo - and endo -cyano)ethylidene]aldohexopyranoses, obtained in yields of up to 40%. The structural assignments of the per- O -acetylaldohexopyranosyl cyanides were unequivocally established by elemental analysis, chemical transformation, vibrational spectroscopy, and 13 C- and 1 H-nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Correlations between the physical properties and the anomeric configurations of these C -aldohexopyranosyl compounds are described.
Conversion of MIL-T-28800 to a performance specification

MIL-T-28800 is a specification for the environmental requirements or test equipment. Authorization was obtained to convert MIL-T-28800 to a performance specification and reissue it as MIL-PRF-28800F to conform with the guidance provided for Acquisition Reform. The conversion was completed in June 1996. Major aspects of the conversion are discussed including the replacement of Military specification references with commercial and international standards references.
Reduction of Electron Flow Current and Localized Anode Energy Deposition in Transitions from Coaxial Feeds to a Disk

Summary form only given. Many conceptual designs for fusion energy involve combining energy from a number of feed lines to a centrally located load. One such design with 70 coaxial lines (each delivering Ia ~ 1 MA at V ~ 7 MV) merging into a center disk has been shown to yield large (Ie ~ 10-40 MA) electron flow currents. The magnetic nulls inherent in this type of current adder geometry cause an extreme amount of energy to be deposited in localized areas of the anode. A revised design is proposed using 10 coaxial lines delivering Ia ~ 7 MA at V ~ 9 MV that provides better magnetic insulation and therefore lowers the electron flow currents. Computer simulations were used to examine these designs. The 3-D electromagnetic, particle-m-cell (PIC) code QUICKSILVER1 developed at Sandia National Laboratories was used for the numerical simulations. The capabilities of QUICKSILVER are especially well-suited to this problem since it has many features that were developed to model a variety of power flow issues in the Z and ZR accelerators. The simulation results show that switching to a 10-feed line structure (versus a 70-feed line structure) yields a vast improvement in (lowering of) the electron flow current (Ie ~ 1-2 MA). Unfortunately, this reduction in electron flow current only translates into a modest improvement in the energy deposition on the anode in the transition and disk regions due to the abrupt coax-disk transition and the necessarily small A-K gap in the disk region. These issues were addressed using two methods to attempt to lower this energy deposition. Smoothing the geometrical transition from the feed coaxial lines to the disk provides approximately a factor of 3 reduction in the peak local energy deposition. However, lengthening the A-K gaps in the localized areas where anode energy deposition is problematic provides more than a factor of 16 reduction in the peak energy deposition and the combination of the two methods yields better than a 22 fold reduction in the peak energy deposition.
Nephrotic syndrome and Hodgkin lymphoma in children. Report of two cases.

Background: The association of nephrotic syndrome (NS) and Hodgkin’s lymphoma (HL), although rare, is well recognised. In the majority of cases of HL, minimal change NS is detected. Description of Cases: This report presents the occurrence of NS in two children with HL. In the first case, NS preceded the diagnosis of lymphoma by 3 months, while in the other child, the two disorders occurred simultaneously. In both cases, clinical manifestations and laboratory parameters (proteinuria) of NS resolved after effective treatment for active HL. Conclusion: Prolonged proteinuria may be a paraneoplastic syndrome and HL should be considered in the diagnosis as it is crucial for the management of both entities. Hippokratia 2014; 18 (4): 373-375.
A Closer View of China's Problems

Now, wherever the Reds went there is no doubt they radically changed the situation for the tenant farmer, the poor farmer, the middle fanner, and all the "havenot" elements. All forms of taxation were abolished in the new districts for the first year.... Secondly, they gave land to the land-hungry peasants.... Thirdly, they took land and livestock from the wealthy classes and redistributed among the poor. Redistribution of land was a fundamental of Red policy.'
Reliability of SiC Digital Telemetry Circuits on AlN Substrate

In this work, two silicon carbide based integrated circuits (frequency counter and timing generator) have been designed, fabricated, and tested for functionality at 300°C and prove to operate continuously for more than 1,000 h. Further, the boards were subjected to random vibration at 20G RMS and also mechanical shock at 215G in a 300°C environment and remained operational after 8 h of vibration and 1,000 shocks. These boards are the building blocks of a digital telemetry module for the purpose of sensing and transmitting pressure measurements from a geothermal well at temperatures up to 300°C. The frequency counter consists of one 4-bit counter, one 4-bit shift register, and one buffer. The timing generator contains an 8-bit counter, a D-flip-flop, and some dedicated logic gates to generate timing pulses for the two channel frequency counter. These dice were flip-chip bonded to patterned gold thin-film aluminum nitride substrate circuit boards.
EVIP—Edutainment violence intervention/prevention model

ABSTRACTThe Edutainment Violence Intervention/Prevention Model (EVIP) is an exciting intervention to be used with Black adolescents who have been or will be exposed to the trauma of police brutality. Since such exposure to violence is associated with a diversity of negative consequences in developing adolescents, social workers need interventions to help Black adolescents acquire skills to navigate police interactions and to make sense of the brutality they witness. This article delineates the conceptual rationale, needed skills, and steps for implementing EVIP. EVIP incorporates the Centers for Disease Control’s best practices for violence prevention programs and is congruent with Bandura’s theory of self-efficacy. EVIP uses media, such as live theater, to give educational messages in an entertaining format. A pilot study has indicated that this intervention has promise. Furthermore, it is engaging and enables participants to explore multiple perspectives. This intervention can be seamlessly embedded by ...
Brucella in Tissues removed at Surgery.

Previous communications from this laboratory have pointed out that the gross appearance and histologic examination of infected tissue removed at operation may not reveal the true nature of the microbe responsible for the infection. This is due in part to the great variation in the response of the tissues to a given organism. In addition is the fact that a great variety of microbic agents may induce the same general type of lesion. I t also is known that in many cases the microbic agent may not be recognized in the histologic sections. Present-day chemotherapy, however, has a certain degree of specificity so that it is necessary in dealing with infections to isolate and identify the organism by using the accepted bacteriologic procedures. During the past six years at the Mayo Clinic we have studied rather extensively a large number of patients with chronic infections and found that the majority of the lesions were caused by (1) the tubercle bacillus, (2) some kind of mycotic organism or (3) some species of Brucella. Previous communications have dealt with the difficulty in establishing the diagnosis of tuberculosis, histoplasmosis," actinomycosis, and other conditions. In the present study we wish to report 13 cases in which organisms of the genus Brucella (Br. snis, abortus or melitensis) were present in tissues removed at operation and were probably causally related to the condition. While the diagnosis of chronic brucellosis is frequently difficult to prove, it is emphasized that in the cases here presented the diagnosis was made by isolating and identifying the organisms. After the organism was isolated from the tissue a critical discussion with the patient usually revealed either that he had a history of probable exposure to Brucella or that he had had previous symptoms of the disease. Rather detailed reports of cases are given in order that the material may be of interest to clinicians, radiologists, surgeons and pathologists alike. I t is our opinion that close co-operation of these four groups is essential for the understanding of such chronic infections in order that patients with such conditions may benefit.
Pharmacoinvasive and Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention Strategies in ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction (from the Mayo Clinic STEMI Network)

The effectiveness of a pharmacoinvasive strategy consisting of fibrinolysis and transfer for percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) compared to primary PCI (PPCI) in patients presenting to non–PCI-capable hospitals with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is not well defined. We analyzed data from the Mayo Clinic STEMI database of patients treated with a pharmacoinvasive strategy (favored in those presenting early after symptom onset) or PPCI in a regional STEMI network from 2004 to 2012. A total of 364 and 1,337 patients were included in the pharmacoinvasive and PPCI groups, respectively. Patients in the PPCI group were older and more frequently had cardiogenic shock at the time of presentation (12.1% vs 7.7%, p = 0.018). Death from any cause occurred in 58 (16%) and 314 (23%) patients in the pharmacoinvasive and PPCI groups, respectively (median follow-up 3.9 and 4.4 years, respectively). In multivariate analyses adjusting for age, gender, and other variables for which the 2 groups differed at baseline, there was no significant difference between the 2 strategies for 30-day (hazard ratio 0.66, 95% confidence interval 0.36 to 1.21) or overall mortality (hazard ratio 0.84, 95% confidence interval 0.63 to 1.12). Shorter door-to-balloon time was associated with increased effectiveness of PPCI (p for trend = 0.015), but there was no difference between the 2 strategies even when considering only the patients with door-to-balloon time in the lowest quartile. In conclusion, fibrinolysis followed by transfer for PCI represents a reasonable alternative when PPCI is not readily available especially in patients presenting early after symptom onset.
Investigating the extent that religion is considered: a survey of various SSTR modeling tool's literature

This paper examines the extent to which various SSTR models attempt to represent or include religion. The research method used was a literature review of user documentation, informative presentations and umbrella strategic documents. Specifically a word search of the terms Religion, Religious and Beliefs was used as a starting point. Analysis conducted concludes that modeling religion as a stand-alone construct for use in SSTR models has not been overtly attempted. Religion has been mentioned and used as a data input with respect to ethnic and cultural evaluation.
Implications of Electrical Crosstalk for High Density Aligned Array of Single-Wall Carbon Nanotubes

Single-wall carbon nanotube (SWNT) based devices promise a number of applications in flexible electronics, sensing, and optoelectronics. Specifically, devices based on densely packed aligned array of SWNTs are desirable for high drive current. An unintended consequence of dense packing is a new type of electrostatic crosstalk, where a single broken SWNT-at a critical field-may initiate correlated breakdown (CBD) that produces a nanoscale fissure in the channel, and thereby, defines the density limit of the aligned-array devices. In this paper, self-consistent numerical and analytical transport models (coupled to stochastic Monte Carlo simulation) are developed to explore and interpret electrical crosstalk in aligned-array SWNTs, and guidelines for improved design are proposed. Our analysis suggests that a broken SWNT induces localized voltage drop in the neighboring SWNTs, initiating band-to-band-tunneling/impact-ionization current, and corresponding breakdown electric-field is ~23 V/μm. The fissure profile is defined by an interplay between the initial (spatial) distribution of broken SWNTs and the correlation defined by the electrostatic crosstalk. Results are summarized in a density-field phase diagram that distinguishes regions of safe operation versus random breakdown/CBD. The critical field is ultimately defined by properties of the tubes (i.e., diameter distribution, doping, and size of the breakdown spot) and the substrate (e.g., dielectric and thickness).
Factors Regulating Nitrogen Retention During the Early Stages of Recovery from Fire in Coastal Chaparral Ecosystems

Fire is a fundamental reorganizing force in chaparral and other Mediterranean-type ecosystems. Postfire nutrient redistribution and cycling are frequently invoked as drivers of ecosystem recovery. The extent to which N is transported from slopes to streams following fire is a function of the balance between the rate at which soil microbes retain and metabolize N into forms that readily dissolve or leach, and how rapidly recovering plants sequester this mobilized N. To better understand how fire impacts this balance, we sampled soil and plant N dynamics in 17 plots distributed across two burned, chaparral-dominated watersheds in Santa Barbara County, California. We measured a variety of ecosystem properties in both burned and unburned plots on a periodic basis for 2 years, including soil water content, pH, soil and plant carbon and nitrogen, extractable inorganic nitrogen, dissolved organic nitrogen, and microbial biomass. In burned plots, nitrification was significantly enhanced relative to rates measured in unburned plots. Ephemeral herbs established quickly following the first postfire rain events. Aboveground plant biomass assimilated N commensurate with soil net mineralization, implying tight N cycling during the early stages of recovery. Microbial biomass N, on the other hand, remained low throughout the study. These findings highlight the importance of herbaceous species in conserving ecosystem nutrients as shrubs gradually recover.
A novel point-of-care BioNanoSensor for rapid HIV detection and treatment monitoring.

We report here a new diagnostic approach to the direct detection of HIV in blood or other body fluids that is rapid, sensitive and potentially applicable in a point-of-care setting. The approach follows on the development of a novel BioNanoSensor (BNS) device that utilizes piezoelectric technology to detect the presence of the HIV surface glycoprotein gp120 in a nanoscale format. The detection range of the BNS device for the biomarker gp120 displayed a low-end sensitivity of 6.5×104 HIV viral particles/ml, while using a small fluid sample (5 μl) and with a reaction time of less then 30 seconds. Performance of this device indicated that the BNS has utility for direct detection of HIV particles prior to, and independent from, antibody formation. Accordingly, this device holds utility to monitor the status of HIV infection both early after exposure to virus as well as during chronic HIV infection. The BNS parameters of small sample volume, compact device size, and detection sensitivity indicate that the BNS is potentially useful in the pointof- care and/or home setting for monitoring decisions regarding HIV treatment on a real-time basis.
Abstract IA21: Vascular phenotyping: Using genomics to inform antiangiogenesis

Anti-angiogenesis therapy has proven to be an important tool for oncologists particularly in metastatic disease. To date much of the success has been built on targeting the VEGF/VEGFR pathways and FDA approvals have been granted in many disease settings including CRC, RCC, NSCLC, and others. In 2014 Cervical Cancer and Gastric cancer were new cancers added to this list. Still, it9s fair to say that we have a limited understanding of how to identify the patients who will receive optimal benefit from the available therapeutic agents, and how inhibitors of non-VEGF pathways will compare or combine with currently approved therapies. This presentation will discuss new findings that use molecular analysis to understand heterogeneity in cancer vascular beds and how they relate to preclinical efficacy for VEGF pathway inhibitors. Linking these findings to clinical outcomes in the future may provide a bridge between the wealth of data being generated in cancer genomics and patients most likely to derive benefit from anti-angiogenesis. Citation Format: Laura E. Benjamin. Vascular phenotyping: Using genomics to inform antiangiogenesis. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference: Tumor Angiogenesis and Vascular Normalization: Bench to Bedside to Biomarkers; Mar 5-8, 2015; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Mol Cancer Ther 2015;14(12 Suppl):Abstract nr IA21.
LPS-induced delayed myocardial adaptation enhances acute preconditioning to optimize postischemic cardiac function.

Myocardial tolerance to ischemia and reperfusion (I/R) injury can be achieved by either acute or delayed cardioprotective mechanisms. Ischemic preconditioning has been demonstrated to be a powerful...
New Trends in Si and Si1−xGex Devices and Nanostructures

This paper discusses two recent results involving Si and Si1−xGex heterostructures and nanostructures -- (1) resonant tunneling and angle-resolved magneto-tunneling spectroscopy (ARMS) of hole Si/SiGe double barrier structures, and (2) luminescence and electroluminescence from microporous silicon. In the first part results on probing the resonances of a double barrier resonant tunneling structure by applying a magnetic field parallel to the heterointerfaces are presented. This technique enables us to investigate the local valence band structure in k-space. By then rotating the magnetic field in the plane of the interfaces, the energy surface at constant kII is investigated. Using this technique, we have studied differently strained Si/Si1−xGex quantum wells, wherein we see a large anisotropy of the energy levels, with the symmetry axes of light-holes and heavy-holes being rotated 45° with respect to each other. In the second part, a novel immersion scanning technique for making microporous silicon on blank and lithographically patterned Si substrates is presented. The advantages of the method lie in its simplicity, speed, and adaptability to large and odd-size substrates. The photoluminescence (PL) spectra of microporous Si show a continuous decrease in intensity between 200K and 2K, but are fully reversible. Thermal desorption spectroscopy on microporous Si shows a classic hydrogen desorption spectrum which coincides with a quenching of the PL intensity. Under constant excitation, a degradation of PL intensity occurs in oxygen and wet nitrogen but is only partially reversible in dry N2. In addition, microporous Si p-n junctions exhibiting normal I-V characteristics have been successfully fabricated with standard Si VLSI processes. Visible light emission under forward bias is detected which increases linearly in intensity with input current. This is the first observation of visible electroluminescence at room temperature from microporous Si p-n junctions.
Intratumoral multinucleated giant cells are not a prognostic pathologic feature in cutaneous melanoma

Background Histopathologic diagnostic features such as tumor thickness, ulceration, mitoses, microsatellitosis and nodal metastases are principal pathologic staging components of cutaneous melanomas. We chose to focus on evaluating the presence of multinucleated giant cells in microscopic sections as a putative novel prognosticating diagnostic feature of melanoma. Methods We assembled a retrospective cohort comprised of 562 cases of melanoma. We annotated each case for a multitude of known clinicopathologic variables to allow robust statistical evaluation of our cohort. Results Only 37 cases (6.6%) exhibited the multinucleated giant cells phenotype. Virtually all multinucleated giant cells were localized in the reticular dermis. Of interest, melanomas with multinucleated giant cells were roughly twice more likely to occur on head and neck sites (p = 0.04). Melanomas with multinucleated giant cells phenotype had both comparable melanoma recurrence (p = 0.12) and similar melanoma-specific mortality when compared with melanomas without multinucleated giant cells phenotype (p = 0.26). Conclusion Despite prior anecdotal reports possibly linking multinucleated giant cells phenotype to more aggressive clinical course, we find that melanomas with multinucleated giant cells phenotype is not associated with shorter survival.