cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Perceptions of need, service use, and barriers to service access among female methamphetamine users in rural Appalachia.

Active substance users have been characterized as ambivalent about accessing treatment services. Few studies have addressed the social context and related barriers that individuals experience in addressing substance abuse problems. These barriers appear to be heightened for female methamphetamine users living in rural areas of Appalachia. The purpose of this study is to document the willingness of active female methamphetamine users to access substance abuse treatment services, their ability to access substance abuse treatment services, and the barriers they experienced in accessing substance abuse treatment services. Findings from a sample of 153 rural female methamphetamine users revealed the majority of respondents met the criteria for substance dependence (99.3%), believed they had a drug problem (84.9%), believed they needed treatment services (62.9%), and wanted to go to treatment “now” (51.4%). However, only one fourth (26.8%) had accessed treatment, and many had experienced barriers in attempting ...
Nora's lesion: Bizarre parosteal osteochondromatous proliferation

Isolated primary bony lesions of the digits are infrequent. A phalangeal lesion in the hand is most likely to be benign. Rarely, however, primary benign tumour-like conditions affecting the handmay radiologically mimic an osteochondroma and histologically mimic a malignancy. We describe a case of bizarre parosteal osteochondromatous proliferation (Nora's lesion, BPOP), which may do both and mislead the unsuspecting surgeon. The aim of this paper is to present our experience with this case, review existing literature and promote awareness among hand surgeons of a condition that can often be misdiagnosed.
Semi-classical calculation of atomic processes and numerical simulation of dense plasmas

Modern numerical simulations of hot dense plasma require atomic data including equations of state, opacities, and coupling coefficients for energy exchange between photons, electrons, and fast and thermal ions. While these coefficients may be calculated by complicated quantum-statistical theories, in many cases the simpler semi-classical theory gives a reasonably accurate first approximation.
LYMPHOMATOUS PRESENTATION OF CD4 /CD8 HTLV-1-RELATED ADULT T-CELL LEUKEMIA-LYMPHOMA IN AN IRANIAN WOMAN

Adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATLL) remains an uncommon disorder outside well-defined risk groups. We describe the case of an Iranian woman, who presented with isolated meningeal relapse of diffuse large-cell lymphoma. The malignant cells coexpressed CD4 and CD8 and HTLV-1 seropositivity was confirmed. Despite combination chemotherapy disseminated lymphoma developed. Preterminally the characteristic features of ATLL were noted; hypercalcemia, with normal parathyroid hormone-related protein and vitamin D levels, and peripheral blood leukemic involvement.
Side-chain dynamics are critical for water permeation through aquaporin-1.

Molecular dynamics simulations of aquaporin-1 embedded in a solvated lipid bilayer were carried out to investigate the mechanism of water permeation. The 2.2 A resolution crystal structure of the bovine protein was used for five independent trajectories. During the equilibration and preparatory steps in which the protein was held fixed, water molecules inside the water channel adopted the same positions as observed in the crystal structure but they did not pass through the channel, suggesting that the dynamic motion of the protein is critical for water permeation. When the protein atoms were allowed to move, the side chains of the two asparagines in the two conserved Asn-Pro-Ala motifs near the center of the channel formed hydrogen bonds with water and helped water molecules move through the channel by actively aligning them for transport. The main-chain oxygen atoms, which were exposed to the pore surface in the crystal structure, also contributed to water transfer. Besides the constriction region observed in the crystal structure (Arg197, Phe58, His182, and Cys191), we found that His76 and Val155 act as a valve by dynamically blocking water permeation and helping control flow.
Cerebrospinal Fluid Corticotropin and Cortisol Are Reduced in Infantile Spasms

Infantile spasms respond to ACTH, and levels of the hormone in cerebrospinal fluid of untreated infants with this disorder were found to be lower than in age-matched controls. In this study we analyzed cerebrospinal fluid cortisol and ACTH using improved immunoassays in a larger cohort of infants with infantile spasms. Analysis of 20 patients and 15 age-matched controls revealed significantly lower levels of both ACTH and cortisol in the cerebrospinal fluid. These data, combined with the efficacy of ACTH and glucocorticoids for infantile spasms, support an involvement of the brain-adrenal-axis in this disorder.
A simple model to describe transient differences between cell number and biomass growth rates of Escherichia coli.

Information on the response of a microbial culture to dynamic environmental conditions is necessary for the design of transient operation processes. However, most attempts at modelling culture response have been directed at describing the steady-state behavior. Thus, there is a need for adequate dynamic models for process design. Simulations of nutrient shifts were completed using a “single-cell” model for Escherichia coli. It was discovered that the specific mass growth rate and the specific number of cells growth rate were different under transient conditions, whereas at steady state (balanced growth) these rates are equivalent. Using these observations, a simple delay model to describe the transient behavior of the two growth rates is formulated and tested. The model contains as state variables only the readily measurable macroscopic quantities (biomass, cell number, and limiting nutrient). This model agreed well with the predictions of the single-cell model.
White Matter Alterations in Deficit Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia can be classified into two separate syndromes: deficit and nondeficit. Primary, enduring negative symptoms are used to define the deficit form of the illness, which is believed to have a unique neurobiological substrate. Previous research suggests that an aberrant prefrontal–thalamic–parietal network underlies deficit schizophrenia. In this study we conducted diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) fiber tracking to assess the integrity of the superior longitudinal fasciculus (SLF), the major white matter tract that connects prefrontal and parietal cortical regions, in deficit and nondeficit people with schizophrenia. We also used proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS) to assess neurochemistry in the left middle prefrontal and left inferior parietal cortical regions. A total of 20 subjects with schizophrenia (10 deficit and 10 nondeficit) and 11 healthy subjects participated in this study. Results revealed reduced fractional anisotropy (FA), an index of white matter integrity, in the right hemisphere SLF and frontal white matter in the deficit subjects. There were no differences in MRS metabolite concentrations among groups. To our knowledge, this is the first DTI study to show compromised integrity of the major white matter tract that connects frontal and parietal regions in deficit schizophrenia. These findings provide further support for altered frontal–parietal network in deficit schizophrenia.
E2s: structurally economical and functionally replete.

Ubiquitination is a post-translational modification pathway involved in myriad cellular regulation and disease pathways. The Ub (ubiquitin) transfer cascade requires three enzyme activities: a Ub-activating (E1) enzyme, a Ub-conjugating (E2) enzyme, and a Ub ligase (E3). Because the E2 is responsible both for E3 selection and substrate modification, E2s function at the heart of the Ub transfer pathway and are responsible for much of the diversity of Ub cellular signalling. There are currently over 90 three-dimensional structures for E2s, both alone and in complex with protein binding partners, providing a wealth of information regarding how E2s are recognized by a wide variety of proteins. In the present review, we describe the prototypical E2–E3 interface and discuss limitations of current methods to identify cognate E2–E3 partners. We present non-canonical E2–protein interactions and highlight the economy of E2s in their ability to facilitate many protein–protein interactions at nearly every surface on their relatively small and compact catalytic domain. Lastly, we compare the structures of conjugated E2~Ub species, their unique protein interactions and the mechanistic insights provided by species that are poised to transfer Ub.
Fact, context, communication: the value added to data by communication design

"Facts" cannot be viewed as irreducible units of data but rather must be judged for appropriateness dependent upon context; information and messages built from data are even more immersed in the circumstances surrounding their creation; and the feature that determines the success of a document or other form of communication is exactly its responsiveness to the habits of mind of the message consumer. Therefore, the job of the technical communicator is to design with a clear view of the message consumer and the context in which the message will be received. To build these considerations into design, technical communicators must follow user centered design practices.
Human factor XII binding to the glycoprotein Ib-IX-V complex inhibits thrombin-induced platelet aggregation.

Abstract Factor XII deficiency has been postulated to be a risk factor for thrombosis suggesting that factor XII is an antithrombotic protein. The biochemical mechanism leading to this clinical observation is unknown. We have previously reported high molecular weight kininogen (HK) inhibition of thrombin-induced platelet aggregation by binding to the platelet glycoprotein (GP) Ib-IX-V complex. Although factor XII will bind to the intact platelet through GP Ibα (glycocalicin) without activation, we now report that factor XIIa (0.37 μm), but not factor XII zymogen, is required for the inhibition of thrombin-induced platelet aggregation. Factor XIIa had no significant effect on SFLLRN-induced platelet aggregation. Moreover, an antibody to the thrombin site on protease-activated receptor-1 failed to block factor XII binding to platelets. Inhibition of thrombin-induced platelet aggregation was demonstrated with factor XIIa but not with factor XII zymogen or factor XIIf, indicating that the conformational exposure of the heavy chain following proteolytic activation is required for inhibition. However, inactivation of the catalytic activity of factor XIIa did not affect the inhibition of thrombin-induced platelet aggregation. Factor XII showed displacement of biotin-labeled HK (30 nm) binding to gel-filtered platelets and, at concentrations of 50 nm, was able to block 50% of the HK binding, suggesting involvement of the GP Ib complex. Antibodies to GP Ib and GP IX, which inhibited HK binding to platelets, did not block factor XII binding. However, using a biosensor, which monitors protein-protein interactions, both HK and factor XII bind to GP Ibα. Factor XII may serve to regulate thrombin binding to the GP Ib receptor by co-localizing with HK, to control the extent of platelet aggregation in vivo.
The association of methamphetamine use and cardiomyopathy in young patients.

PURPOSE: Methamphetamine is the most widespread illegally used stimulant in the United States. Previously published case reports and series suggest a potential association between methamphetamine exposure and cardiomyopathy. The objective of this study is to demonstrate an association between methamphetamine use and cardiomyopathy. SUBJECT AND METHODS: Case-control study based on chart review of discharges from a tertiary care medical center from January 2001 to June 2004. Patients were 45 years old. Cases included patients with a discharge diagnosis of either cardiomyopathy or heart failure. Controls included hospitalized patients who had an echocardiographic assessment of left ventricular function with ejection fraction 55% and no wall motion abnormalities. RESULTS: One hundred and seven cases and 114 controls were identified. Both groups had similar gender distribution, length of hospital stay, rates of health insurance, prevalence of coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, cigarette smoking, alcohol abuse, and marijuana and cocaine use. Cases were older than controls (mean age: 38 vs 35 years; P.008), had higher body mass index (BMI) (mean BMI: 37 vs 30 kg/m 2 ; P.001), and higher prevalence of renal failure (13% vs 4.4%; P.03). Methamphetamine users had a 3.7-fold increased odds ratio [95% confidence interval, 1.8-7.8] for cardiomyopathy, adjusting for age, body mass index, and renal failure. CONCLUSIONS: Methamphetamine use was associated with cardiomyopathy in young patients. © 2007
β-Amyloid (Aβ) Oligomers Impair Brain-derived Neurotrophic Factor Retrograde Trafficking by Down-regulating Ubiquitin C-terminal Hydrolase, UCH-L1 *

We previously found that BDNF-dependent retrograde trafficking is impaired in AD transgenic mouse neurons. Utilizing a novel microfluidic culture chamber, we demonstrate that Aβ oligomers compromise BDNF-mediated retrograde transport by impairing endosomal vesicle velocities, resulting in impaired downstream signaling driven by BDNF/TrkB, including ERK5 activation, and CREB-dependent gene regulation. Our data suggest that a key mechanism mediating the deficit involves ubiquitin C-terminal hydrolase L1 (UCH-L1), a deubiquitinating enzyme that functions to regulate cellular ubiquitin. Aβ-induced deficits in BDNF trafficking and signaling are mimicked by LDN (an inhibitor of UCH-L1) and can be reversed by increasing cellular UCH-L1 levels, demonstrated here using a transducible TAT-UCH-L1 strategy. Finally, our data reveal that UCH-L1 mRNA levels are decreased in the hippocampi of AD brains. Taken together, our data implicate that UCH-L1 is important for regulating neurotrophin receptor sorting to signaling endosomes and supporting retrograde transport. Further, our results support the idea that in AD, Aβ may down-regulate UCH-L1 in the AD brain, which in turn impairs BDNF/TrkB-mediated retrograde signaling, compromising synaptic plasticity and neuronal survival.
Joint estimation of linear and nonlinear parameters using reduced sufficient statistics

A new algorithm is presented for the joint estimation of linear and nonlinear parameters of a deterministic signal embedded in additive Gaussian noise. The algorithm is a modification of the reduced sufficient statistics (RSS) method introduced by Kulhavy (1990), which estimates the posterior parameter density via minimization of the cross-entropy. In the additive Gaussian noise measurement model, the modified RSS algorithm employs a parallel bank of least-squares type estimators for the linear parameters, coupled with an approximate minimum variance estimate for the nonlinear parameter. Simulation results are presented for the problem of estimating parameters of a chirp signal embedded in multipath, and the averaged squared error (ASE) of the parameter estimates is compared with the Cramer-Rao bound.
Individual differences in adolescents' sympathetic and parasympathetic functioning moderate associations between family environment and psychosocial adjustment

The present study tested whether individual differences in autonomic nervous system functioning interact with environmental risk factors to predict adolescents’ psychosocial functioning. The authors assessed skin conductance and respiratory sinus arrhythmia at rest and during laboratory stressors in 110 14-year-olds. Subsequently, adolescents and their mothers provided both questionnaire and daily diary data (over 10 days) on emotional and interpersonal functioning. The authors found stronger associations between environmental risk factors (having a single-mother household or a mother with high internalizing problems) and psychosocial outcomes (externalizing problems, daily negative affect, and daily interaction quality) among youths with specific patterns of tonic and stress-induced sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system activity, but the pattern of moderating effects differed between boys and girls. The findings support the notion that individual differences in autonomic functioning index variation in youth’s susceptibility to environmental risk factors.
Commentary on Searle's ‘Social ontology: Some basic principles’: Culture and institutions

In response to Searle's article on social ontology, this commentary focuses on the relation between the concept of culture and Searle's work on institutions. Issues concerning the super-organic pro...
Problem drinking and symptoms of disordered eating in female high school students

Research on the relationship between problem drinking and disordered eating in adolescent girls has produced conflicting results. This study examines this relationship using a state-of-the-art inventory for measuring eating disorder symptoms and a standardized inventory for detecting problem drinking among adolescents. Two hundred thirty-four female high school students (mean age = 15.5 years,) completed the Adolescent Drinking Index and the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire. Girls diagnosed with an eating disorder were twice as likely to be problem drinkers than girls who were not diagnosed with an eating disorder. Regression analysis and comparisons of problem drinkers and non-problem drinkers point to the central role of body image concerns and dieting in the association of alcoholism and disordered eating among adolescent girls. Prospective studies are needed to explore the mechanisms underlying the links between drive for thinness and problem drinking. © 1993 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Modeling the Fitness Consequences of a Cyanophage-Encoded Photosynthesis Gene

Background: Phages infecting marine picocyanobacteria often carry a psbA gene, which encodes a homolog to the photosynthetic reaction center protein, D1. Host encoded D1 decays during phage infection in the light. Phage encoded D1 may help to maintain photosynthesis during the lytic cycle, which in turn could bolster the production of deoxynucleoside triphosphates (dNTPs) for phage genome replication. Methodology / Principal Findings: To explore the consequences to a phage of encoding and expressing psbA, we derive a simple model of infection for a cyanophage/host pair — cyanophage P-SSP7 and Prochlorococcus MED4— for which pertinent laboratory data are available. We first use the model to describe phage genome replication and the kinetics of psbA expression by host and phage. We then examine the contribution of phage psbA expression to phage genome replication under constant low irradiance (25 m Em 22 s 21 ). We predict that while phage psbA expression could lead to an increase in the number of phage genomes produced during a lytic cycle of between 2.5 and 4.5% (depending on parameter values), this advantage can be nearly negated by the cost of psbA in elongating the phage genome. Under higher irradiance conditions that promote D1 degradation, however, phage psbA confers a greater advantage to phage genome replication. Conclusions / Significance: These analyses illustrate how psbA may benefit phage in the dynamic ocean surface mixed layer.
Disease-associated mutations affect GPR56 protein trafficking and cell surface expression

Bilateral frontoparietal polymicrogyria (BFPP) is a congenital brain malformation resulting in irregularities on the surface of the cortex, where normally convoluted gyri are replaced by numerous (poly) and noticeably smaller (micro) gyri. Individuals with BFPP suffer from epilepsy, mental retardation, language impairment and motor developmental delay. Mutations in the gene-encoding G protein-coupled receptor 56 (GPR56) cause BFPP; however, it remains unclear how these mutations affect GPR56 function. Here, we examine the biochemical properties and protein trafficking of wild-type and mutant GPR56. We demonstrate that GPR56 protein undergoes two major modifications, GPS domain-mediated protein cleavage and N-glycosylation, and that the N-terminal fragment can be released from the cell surface. In contrast to the wild-type protein, disease-associated GPR56 missense mutations in the tip of the N-terminal domain (R38Q, R38W, Y88C and C91S) produce proteins with reduced intracellular trafficking and poor cell surface expression, whereas the two mutations in the GPS domain (C346S and W349S) produce proteins with dramatically impaired cleavage that fail to traffic beyond the endoplasmic reticulum. Cell-trafficking impairments are abrogated in part by pharmacological chaperones that can partially rescue mutant GPR56 cell surface expression. These data demonstrate that some BFPP-associated mutations in GPR56 impair trafficking of the mutant protein to the plasma membrane, thus providing insights into how BFPP-associated mutations affect GPR56 function.
Chiral Toxicology: It's the Same Thing…Only Different

Chiral substances possess a unique architecture such that, despite sharing identical molecular formulas, atom-to-atom linkages, and bonding distances, they cannot be superimposed. Thus, in the environment of living systems, where specific structure-activity relationships may be required for effect (e.g., enzymes, receptors, transporters, and DNA), the physiochemical and biochemical properties of racemic mixtures and individual stereoisomers can differ significantly. In drug development, enantiomeric selection to maximize clinical effects or mitigate drug toxicity has yielded both success and failure. Further complicating genetic polymorphisms in drug disposition, stereoselective metabolism of chiral compounds can additionally influence pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and toxicity. Optically pure pharmaceuticals may undergo racemization in vivo, negating single enantiomer benefits or inducing unexpected effects. Appropriate chiral antidotes must be selected for therapeutic benefit and to minimize adverse events. Enantiomers may possess different carcinogenicity and teratogenicity. Environmental toxicology provides several examples in which compound bioaccumulation, persistence, and toxicity show chiral dependence. In forensic toxicology, chiral analysis has been applied to illicit drug preparations and biological specimens, with the potential to assist in determination of cause of death and aid in the correct interpretation of substance abuse and "doping" screens. Adrenergic agonists and antagonist, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents, SSRIs, opioids, warfarin, valproate, thalidomide, retinoic acid, N-acetylcysteine, carnitine, penicillamine, leucovorin, glucarpidase, pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls, phenylethylamines, and additional compounds will be discussed to illustrate important concepts in "chiral toxicology."
Real-time analysis of the detailed sequence of cellular events in mAb-mediated complement-dependent cytotoxicity of B-cell lines and of chronic lymphocytic leukemia B-cells

Complement-dependent cytotoxicity is an important mechanism of action of certain mAbs used in cancer immunotherapy, including ofatumumab and rituximab. However, the detailed sequence of cellular changes that occur in nucleated cells attacked by mAb and complement has not been delineated. Recently developed CD20 mAbs, engineered to form hexamers on binding to cells, react with B-cells in serum, chelate C1q, and then activate complement and promote cell killing considerably more effectively than their wild-type precursors. We used these engineered mAbs as a model to investigate the sequence of events that occur when mAbs bind to B-cell lines and to primary cells from patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia and then activate complement. Based on four-color confocal microscopy real-time movies and high resolution digital imaging, we find that after CD20 mAb binding and C1q uptake, C3b deposits on cells, followed by Ca(2+) influx, revealed by bright green signals generated on cells labeled with FLUO-4, a Ca(2+) indicator. The bright FLUO-4/Ca(2+) signal fades, replaced by punctate green signals in mitochondria, indicating Ca(2+) localization. This step leads to mitochondrial poisoning followed by cell death. The entire sequence is completed in <2 min for hexamerization-enhanced CD20 mAb-mediated killing. To our knowledge this is the first time the entire process has been characterized in detail in real time. By identifying multiple discrete steps in the cytotoxic pathway for nucleated cells our findings may inform future development and more effective application of complement-fixing mAbs to cancer treatment.
Association of the Type of Toy Used During Play With the Quantity and Quality of Parent-Infant Communication

Importance The early language environment of a child influences language outcome, which in turn affects reading and academic success. It is unknown which types of everyday activities promote the best language environment for children. Objective To investigate whether the type of toy used during play is associated with the parent-infant communicative interaction. Design, Setting, and Participants Controlled experiment in a natural environment of parent-infant communication during play with 3 different toy sets. Participant recruitment and data collection were conducted between February 1, 2013, and June 30, 2014. The volunteer sample included 26 parent-infant (aged 10-16 months) dyads. Exposures Fifteen-minute in-home parent-infant play sessions with electronic toys, traditional toys, and books. Main Outcomes and Measures Numbers of adult words, child vocalizations, conversational turns, parent verbal responses to child utterances, and words produced by parents in 3 different semantic categories (content-specific words) per minute during play sessions. Results Among the 26 parent-infant dyads, toy type was associated with all outcome measures. During play with electronic toys, there were fewer adult words (mean, 39.62; 95% CI, 33.36-45.65), fewer conversational turns (mean, 1.64; 95% CI, 1.12-2.19), fewer parental responses (mean, 1.31; 95% CI, 0.87-1.77), and fewer productions of content-specific words (mean, 1.89; 95% CI, 1.49-2.35) than during play with traditional toys or books. Children vocalized less during play with electronic toys (mean per minute, 2.9; 95% CI, 2.16-3.69) than during play with books (mean per minute, 3.91; 95% CI, 3.09-4.68). Parents produced fewer words during play with traditional toys (mean per minute, 55.56; 95% CI, 46.49-64.17) than during play with books (mean per minute, 66.89; 95% CI, 59.93-74.19) and use of content-specific words was lower during play with traditional toys (mean per minute, 4.09; 95% CI, 3.26-4.99) than during play with books (mean per minute, 6.96; 95% CI, 6.07-7.97). Conclusions and Relevance Play with electronic toys is associated with decreased quantity and quality of language input compared with play with books or traditional toys. To promote early language development, play with electronic toys should be discouraged. Traditional toys may be a valuable alternative for parent-infant play time if book reading is not a preferred activity.
Interaction of gender and age in pharmacists' labour outcomes

Objectives Workers from different genders and age groups may encounter unequal opportunities and/or structural barriers that grant them access to, or limit, the acquisition of human capital and the ability to apply it, which are likely to affect labour outcomes such as job entry, mobility, hours of work, and wages and salaries. The objective was to assess whether labour outcomes of young women differ from those of the rest of the workforce, if at all, due to gender, age, or the interaction of both classifications. Methods The study was based on survey data self-reported by licensed pharmacists. A 2 × 3 (gender × age-group) factorial design was used to assess differences in seven labour outcomes. Key findings Wages and salaries were greater for men than for women, and the disparity was observed in all age groups. Gender differences in average workweek and part-time employment were heavily mediated by age. Age also mediated gender differences in annual household income. While the age-group classification was statistically significant for all labour outcomes, the gender classification lacked significance for household income, distance to work and one-way commute time. Wages and salaries, the wage rate, distance to work and one-way commute time failed to show a significant interaction effect. Conclusions Pharmacists of different genders and age groups vary widely in terms of labour outcomes.
Differences in myocardial stunning following coronary artery occlusion in conscious dogs, pigs, and baboons.

To determine whether myocardial stunning differs among dogs, pigs, and baboons and is reproducible within species, we examined the effects of 10-min coronary artery (CA) occlusion (CAO) on 9 consci...
Thin-Wafer Handling with a Heat-Spreader Wafer for 2.5D/3D IC Integration

Thin-wafer handling is one of the key enabling technologies for 2.5D/3D IC integration. Usually, it temporary bonds the TSV (through-silicon via)/RDL (redistribution layer) wafer (e.g., passive and active interposers) to a supporting carrier wafer with an adhesive, backgrinds the TSV/RDL interposer wafer to very thin (≤100μm), goes through all the necessary processes, and then de-bonds the thin TSV/RDL interposer wafer from the carrier wafer. In this study, a different route will be taken which eliminates the temporary bonding and de-bonding processes. Emphasis is placed on using a heat-spreader wafer as a supporting carrier wafer during the manufacturing processes and after the assembly is completed (diced), the heat-spreader remains on the thin TSV/RDL interposer. This is a very simple and low-cost thin-wafer handling method for 2.5D/3D IC integration.
Phish-IDetector: Message-ID based automatic phishing detection

Phishing attacks are a well known problem in our age of electronic communication. Sensitive information like credit card details, login credentials for account, etc. are targeted by phishers. Emails are the most common channel for launching phishing attacks. They are made to resemble genuine ones as much as possible to fool recipients into divulging private and sensitive data, causing huge monetary losses every year. This paper presents a novel approach to detect phishing emails, which is simple and effective. It leverages the unique characteristics of the Message-ID field of an email header for successful detection and differentiation of phishing emails from legitimate ones. Using machine learning classifiers on n-gram features extracted from Message-IDs, we obtain over 99% detection rate with low false positives.
Stochastic Models for Population Dynamics

Cell growth and division are stochastic processes that exhibit significant amount of cell-to-cell variation and randomness. In order to connect single cell division dynamics with overall cell population, stochastic population models are needed. We summarize the basic concepts, computational approaches and discuss simple applications of this modeling approach to understanding cancer cell population growth as well as population fluctuations in experiments.
Developing an index to measure the voluntariness of consent to research.

The goals of the current study were to expand the content domain and further validate the Coercion Assessment Scale (CAS), a measure of perceived coercion for criminally involved substance abusers being recruited into research. Unlike the few existing measures of this construct, the CAS identifies specific external sources of pressure that may influence one’s decision to participate. In Phase 1, we conducted focus groups with criminal justice clients and stakeholders to expand the instrument by identifying additional sources of pressure. In Phase 2, we evaluated the expanded measure (i.e., endorsement rates, reliability, validity) in an ongoing research trial. Results identified new sources of pressure and provided evidence supporting the CAS’s utility and reliability over time as well as convergent and discriminative validity.
System Reliability Analysis With Dependent Component Failures During Early Design Stage

It is desirable to predict product reliability accurately in the early design stage, but the lack of information usually leads to the use of independent component failure assumption. This assumption makes the system reliability prediction much easier, but may produce large errors since component failures are usually dependent after the components are put into use within a mechanical system. The bound of the system reliability can be estimated, but is usually wide. This wide reliability bound makes it difficult to make decisions, such as evaluating and selecting design concepts, during the early design stage. This work develops a new methodology that makes the system reliability prediction more accurate by considering the dependence between component failures. The following situation is addressed: the reliability of each component and the distribution of its load are known, but the dependence between component failures is unknown. With a physics-based approach, an optimization model is established so that a narrow bound of the system reliability can be generated. Two examples demonstrate that the proposed methodology produces a narrower system reliability bound than the traditional reliability bound, thereby better assisting decision making during the early design stage.Copyright © 2015 by ASME
DC-driven, sub-2 V solid-state electrochemiluminescent devices by incorporating redox coreactants into emissive ion gels

We demonstrate a DC-driven solid-state electrochemiluminescent (ECL) device based on a solution-processable ion gel containing luminescent complexes and tetrabutylammonium oxalate (TBAOX) as a coreactant. The ECL gel, comprising a polystyrene-block-poly(methyl methacrylate)-block-polystyrene copolymer, 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium bis (trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide ionic liquid, tris(2,2′-bipyridine)ruthenium(II) hexafluorophosphate (Ru(bpy)3(PF6)2) and TBAOX, was cast as a film on indium tin oxide-coated glass (anode) by spin-coating, and a top electrode (cathode) was prepared by brush-painting Ag paint. Application of 1.6 V DC bias across the device resulted in the onset of light emission. The maximum luminance was achieved at 1:5 mol ratio of Ru(bpy)3(PF6)2 and TBAOX, and the turn-on voltage was independent of the composition. The simplicity of the ECL device and its low voltage operation characteristics make it potentially attractive as a display element for printed electronic circuits.
Lactic-malic dehydrogenase quotients during transformation of fibroblasts into cartilage and bone.

SummaryThe concurrent assay of lactic and malic dehydrogenase in the cytosol of homogenized tissues is a simple and useful device in studying the biochemistry of transformation of fibroblasts from fascia into cartilage, followed by bone. The quotient, LDH/MDH, in cartilage exceeds 1 whereas in fascia and bone it is less than 1.
The Thermal Simulation of Restoration Segment of Buried Hot Oil Pipeline during the Periods of Shut Down and Restart

The hot oil pipeline of northeast has been worked for 30 years, and it’s using life has exceed the designing life.Corrosion protective covering breakage and oil scattering are very common, so it urgent needs to be repaired in shut down.When hot oil pipeline is repaired in the state of shut down, the bared pipe of excavation segment directly contact with air, heat loss and temperature drop are great, which affect the changing of oil viscosity and restart.For the whole buried oil pipeline, the segment of maximal temperature range is the excavation segment.Now the researches about temperature drop in shut down all focus on the temperature variation of the whole buried pipeline.The unsteady-state computation module of oil temperature in excavation segment during the periods of shut down and restart for the first time based on the research of the run in stable state is established, and simulated the curve of temperature variation, at last analyzed the alternation regularity of oil temperature in excavation segment during the period of shut down with different repair parameters.
Helicobacter pylori: Physiology and Genetics

This book is a well-prepared treatise about Helicobacter pylori, a gram-negative, spiral-shaped, microaerophilic bacterium that is now known to be a cause of gastritis, gastric and duodenal ulceration, and gastric cancer. Although reports of spiral bacteria in the stomach date back to the 1800s, Barry J. Marshall and J. Robin Warren were the first who successfully cultured these unusual microbes from a gastric biopsy in 1982. Their discovery initiated an almost unparalleled research activity over the past two decades, and this book summarizes and reviews the most significant knowledge about this important human pathogen. The editors have assembled a group of 95 scientists and clinicians from different scientific disciplines from around the globe who have prepared 46 chapters on various aspects of H. pylori, including morphology and culture, taxonomy, metabolism and physiology, genetics and molecular biology, epidemiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment, animal models, and the relationship between H. pylori and other Helicobacter species.
Applying Portfolio Management to Implement Ecosystem-Based Fishery Management (EBFM)

AbstractPortfolio management has been suggested as a tool to help implement ecosystem-based fisheries management. The portfolio approach involves the application of financial portfolio theory to multispecies fishery management to account for species interdependencies, uncertainty, and sustainability constraints. By considering covariance among species, this approach allows economic risks and returns to be calculated across varying combinations of stock sizes. Trade-offs between expected aggregate returns and portfolio risk can thus be assessed. We develop a procedure for constructing portfolio models to help implement ecosystem-based fisheries management in the northeastern United States, using harvest data from the National Marine Fisheries Service. Extending the work of Sanchirico et al. (2008), we propose a measure of excessive risk taking, which may be used by managers to monitor signals of nonoptimal harvests. In addition, we conduct portfolio assessments of historical commercial fishing performance ...
The cardinality of β A ( S J )

Let J be an infinite set and let \(I=\mathcal{P}_{f}( J)\). For i∈I, define \(\mathcal{B}_{J}( i) =\{ f\mid f:\mathcal{P}( i) \rightarrow \mathcal{P}( i) \} \) and let $$S_{J}=\{ ( i,f) \mid i\in I\text{ and } f\in \mathcal{B}_{J}( i) \}.$$ For (i,f), (k,g)∈SJ, define \(f\ast g:\mathcal{P}( i\cup k) \rightarrow \mathcal{P}( i\cup k) \) as follows. For \(x\in \mathcal{P}( i\cup k) \), let $$( f\ast g) ( x) =\left\{\begin{array}{l@{\quad }l}g( x) , & \text{if\ }x=\emptyset, \\g( x\cap k) , & \text{if\ }x\cap k\neq \emptyset, \\f( x) , & \text{if\ }x\in \mathcal{P}( i\backslash k)\text{ and }x\neq \emptyset.\end{array}\right.$$ Define (i,f)∗(k,g)=(i∪k,f∗g). It is shown that (SJ,∗) is a semigroup. Let βSJ denote the collection of all ultrafilters on the set SJ. We consider (βSJ,⊛), the compact (Hausdorff) right topological semigroup that is the Stone–CechCompactification of the semigroup (SJ,∗) equipped with the discrete topology. Similar to the construction in Grainger (Semigroup Forum 73:234–242, 2006), it is shown that there is an injective map A→βA(SJ) of \(\mathcal{P}( J) \) into \(\mathcal{P}( \beta S_{J}) \) such that each βA(SJ) is a closed subsemigroup of (βSJ,⊛), the set βJ(SJ) is the smallest ideal of (βSJ,⊛) and the collection \(\{ \beta_{A}( S_{J}) \mid A\in \mathcal{P}( J) \} \) is a partition of βSJ. The main result is establishing that the cardinality of βA(SJ) is \(2^{2^{\vert J\vert }}\) for any A⊆J.
CONTEMPORARY DYNAMICS IN WORLD-HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE

Our premise at the start of this book was that, by recasting labor studies in a world-historical framework, we would be able to shed a new light on the contemporary global crisis of labor movements. The central chapters of the book sought to distinguish, from successive angles of vision, dynamics that are recurrent from those that are fundamentally new and unprecedented in the trajectory of world labor unrest. This final chapter returns to the debates highlighted in Chapter 1 about the causes, depth, and nature of the contemporary crisis of labor movements, informed now by our study of the past. A Race to the Bottom? Our analysis of the globalization of mass production in the world automobile industry in Chapter 2 concluded that the geographical relocation of production has not created a simple race to the bottom. Rather, we found a recurrent pattern in which the geographical relocation of production tended to create and strengthen new working classes in each favored new site of investment. While multinational capital was attracted by the promise of cheap and controllable labor, the transformations wrought by the expansion of the industry also transformed the balance of class forces. The strong labor movements that emerged succeeded in raising wages, improving working conditions, and strengthening workers' rights. Moreover, they often played a leading role in democracy movements, pushing onto the agenda social transformations that went well beyond those envisioned by pro-democracy elites. To be sure, the relocation of capital from existing sites of production tended to weaken established working classes.
Environment Discourse and the 'Other': Implications from a Study in Indonesian Language Education

In a study of student discourse in Indonesian language education the environment emerged as a significant topic of discussion. Analysis using the Postcolonial theory concepts of orientalism and ambivalence shows that environment discourse can function as a means of Othering. It can reflect the ambivalence and complexities of Orientalism and resist simple categorisation as positive or negative.
Taking Congress Home: Effects of NC 4-H Congress on Youth Behaviors and Intentions

This evaluation report describes the outcomes and quality of the 2006 North Carolina 4-H Congress, an annual five-day teen conference focused on citizenship, leadership, and service. A majority of returning youth cited Congress experiences as significant in their continued learning and practice in citizenship, leadership, and service learning. Likewise, most youth participants in the 2006 conference indicated that they planned to participate in more citizenship, community leadership, and service activities in their home communities. A Youth Program Climate survey revealed that youth viewed NC 4-H Congress as a setting where service was important, where they learned to accept differences, teamwork was emphasized, and where they were able to make a difference in the lives of others. Three implications of the evaluation report are discussed: 1) value of a youth leadership conference for educating and inspiring youth in citizenship, leadership, and service; 2) evaluation methodology, including engaging youth leaders in design and use of conference data; and 3) marketing and accountability opportunities resulting from program evaluations.
Efficient collocational approach for parametric uncertainty analysis

A numerical algorithm for effective incorporation of parametric uncertainty into mathematical models is presented. The uncertain parameters are modeled as random variables, and the governing equations are treated as stochastic. The solutions, or quantities of interests, are expressed as convergent series of orthogonal polynomial expansions in terms of the input random parameters. A high-order stochastic collocation method is employed to solve the solution statistics, and more importantly, to reconstruct the polynomial expansion. While retaining the high accuracy by polynomial expansion, the resulting “pseudo-spectral” type algorithm is straightforward to implement as it requires only repetitive deterministic simulations. An estimate on error bounded is presented, along with numerical examples for problems with relatively complicated forms of governing equations.
The capacity of QoE for wireless networks with unreliable transmissions

Video streaming is anticipated to dominate wireless traffic in the near future. We study wireless systems where an access point delivers video streams to multiple clients over unreliable wireless channels. The performance of each client is measured by the amount of time that its video playback halts due to buffer underflow, which has been shown to have the most impact on clients’ perceived quality of experience (QoE). This performance measure is significantly different from traditional quality of service metrics. We develop an analytic framework that jointly captures the video playback process and the unreliable and heterogeneous wireless channels. We use a diffusion limit to approximate the short-term QoE performance. We derive the capacity region for QoE by establishing a lower bound of a weighted sum of video halt durations over all clients. We then propose a QoE-optimal policy that can achieve every point within the capacity region. Finally, we compare our policy against two commonly used policies. Both theoretical analysis and simulation results show that our policy greatly outperforms other policies.
“Letting Kids Be Kids”: Youth Voice and Activism to Reform Foster Care and Promote “Normalcy”

Abstract In this chapter, I examine stories that foster care youth tell to legislatures, courts, policymakers, and the public to influence policy decisions. The stories told by these children are analogized to victim truth testimony, analyzed as a therapeutic, procedural, and developmental process, and examined as a catalyst for systemic accountability and change. Youth stories take different forms and appear in different media: testimony in legislatures, courts, research surveys or studies; opinion editorials and interviews in newspapers or blog posts; digital stories on YouTube; and artistic expression. Lawyers often serve as conduits for youth storytelling, translating their clients’ stories to the public. Organized advocacy by youth also informs and animates policy development. One recent example fosters youth organizing to promote “normalcy” in child welfare practices in Florida, and in related federal legislation.