cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Feeding Uninvited Guests: mTOR and AMPK Set the Table for Intracellular Pathogens

Most pathogenesis studies focus on pathogen virulence attributes that mediate host colonization, toxicity, or immune evasion. Some studies focus on how pathogens employ active mechanisms to acquire essential nutrients such as iron and vitamins from the host by producing siderophores or avidins. In order to prevent pathogen nutrient acquisition, host cells employ a process called nutritional immunity to sequester these nutrients, particularly iron, from invading pathogens [1]. However, relatively little attention has been paid to understanding the mechanisms by which pathogens parasitize energy and catabolic substrates from the host even though several host and pathogen metabolic genes, including those in central carbon metabolism, are regularly identified as required for growth in the host [2], [3]. This issue is particularly important for intracellular pathogens that must compete with the host cell for energy and nutrient sources. How and where do intracellular pathogens obtain sufficient amounts of energy and nutrients to support their replication? Pathogens may either parasitize existing energy stores or manipulate the host cell to create usable energy and anabolic precursor metabolites. Several recent studies have identified the host AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) kinases as two important regulators of cellular metabolism whose activities are often altered during infection. However, the AMPK/mTOR pathway also regulates autophagy, which can destroy cytosolic pathogens. While the evasion of autophagy by pathogens is well appreciated, recent work suggests that both the AMPK/mTOR pathway and autophagy itself can provide intracellular metabolites that support intracellular pathogen replication.
Reliability growth modelling for the procurement of flight hardware

Abstract Current legislation on equipment reliability requires military contractors supplying materials to provide warranties specifically against product failure. Thus, we have a need to forecast accurately spare parts requirements. Our model differs from existing models for logistics planning in that we allow for the phenomenon of reliability growth. The model outputs include spares requirements at both the flightlines and at a central repair depot. The model can also be used to determine central depot starring requirements, based upon a specified system utilization
Burkina Faso in the winds of liberalisation

A decade after the end of Burkina Faso's ‘democratic and popular revolution’, the Sahelian country has graduated to the top ranks of the World Bank's select class of model reformers. The regime of President Blaise Compaore is frequently praised not only for its pursuit of economic liberalisation, but also its seeming commitment to the donor institutions’ current assortment of favoured notions: multiparty democracy, good governance and human development. But beyond such facile external perceptions, the daily reality in one of the continent's most underdeveloped countries is far more complex, with an impoverished populace ill‐disposed to the traumatic imposition of market dominance and a political elite unsure of how far it can open up without weakening effective control.
Dose responses of three 4-aminopyridine derivatives on axonal conduction in spinal cord trauma.

To explore novel treatments for enhancing conduction through traumatically injured spinal cord we have synthesized structurally distinct pyridine based compounds; N-(4-pyridyl) methyl carbamate, N-(4-pyridyl) ethyl carbamate, and N-(4-pyridyl) t-butyl carbamate. With the use of a double sucrose gap-recording chamber we perform a dose–response assay to examine the effects of these compounds on axonal conduction following an in vitro stretch injury. The tested compounds significantly enhanced axonal conduction to the stretch injured cord at 1M, a dose that coincides with the clinically relevant dose of potassium channel blocker 4-aminopyridine (4-AP). Methyl carbamate enhanced conduction maximally at 100M. This is also the most effective concentration of 4-AP in vitro. The other compounds ethyl carbamate and t-butyl carbamate enhanced conduction maximally at lower concentrations of 10 and 1M. At higher concentrations each of these compounds continued to increased CAP amplitude, however not significantly. Additionally, two of the compounds ethyl and t-butyl carbamate appear to have negative effects on CAP amplitude when administered at or beyond 100M. These compounds demonstrate the possibility that derivatives of 4-AP can retain the ability to increase axonal conduction in the injured spinal cord.
Molecular Aspects of Seed Dormancy

Seed dormancy provides a mechanism for plants to delay germina- tion until conditions are optimal for survival of the next generation. Dormancy release is regulated by a combination of environmental and endogenous signals with both synergistic and competing effects. Molecular studies of dormancy have correlated changes in transcrip- tomes, proteomes, and hormone levels with dormancy states ranging from deep primary or secondary dormancy to varying degrees of re- lease. The balance of abscisic acid (ABA):gibberellin (GA) levels and sensitivity is a major, but not the sole, regulator of dormancy status. ABA promotes dormancy induction and maintenance, whereas GA promotes progression from release through germination; environ- mental signals regulate this balance by modifying the expression of biosynthetic and catabolic enzymes. Mediators of environmental and hormonal response include both positive and negative regulators, many of which are feedback-regulated to enhance or attenuate the response. The net result is a slightly heterogeneous response, thereby providing more temporal options for successful germination.
A complex systems approach to understand how cells control their shape and make cell fate decisions

In this chapter, we analyze the mechanisms by which mammalian cells maintain their physical shape and make cell fate decisions whether to grow, move, differentiate, or die in response to chemical and physical signals during tissue development. We address how these robust and mutually exclusive, system-level behavioral programs emerge from the dynamics of molecular networks that establish both the hardware (structure) and the software (information processing) of the cell. Molecular filaments within the cytoskeleton self-organize using tensegrity architectural principles in which prestress and force balances between different filaments play key stabilizing roles. In this manner, the filaments form a physical network structure that stabilizes the shape of the cell while providing it with the flexibility necessary for movement. As for cellular information processing, genome-wide regulatory networks impose constraints on the collective dynamics of signaling molecules, so that the biochemical activity of genes and proteins exhibits large-scale coherent patterns that correspond to stable, high-dimensional attractor states. These attractors define distinct cell fates that are stable, yet can undergo regulated all-or-none transitions between distinct stable cell phenotypes. Because of the robustness of these attractors, physical cues devoid of molecular specificity, such as mechanical stress and cell shape distortion, can produce similar effects on cell behavior as highly specific growth factors. This coordination between structural networks and information networks is critical for the formation and homeostasis of complex tissue structures in multicellular organisms. Taken together, this work conveys the importance of complementing existing “bottom-up” approaches in systems biology that emphasize comprehensive characterization of molecular processes, with “top-down” approaches that place these molecular activities within the context of actual system-level properties at the level of the whole living cell. Keywords: tensegrity; molecular networks; attractor; cell shape; cell fate
Dominant species maintain ecosystem function with non‐random species loss

Loss of species caused by widespread stressors, such as drought and fragmentation, is likely to be non-random depending on species abundance in the community. We experimentally reduced the number of rare and uncommon plant species while independently reducing only the abundance of dominant grass species in intact, native grassland. This allowed us to simulate a non-random pattern of species loss, based on species abundances, from communities shaped by natural ecological interactions and characterized by uneven species abundance distributions. Over two growing seasons, total above-ground net primary productivity (ANPP) declined with reductions in abundance of the dominant species but was unaffected by a threefold decline in richness of less common species. In contrast, productivity of the remaining rare and uncommon species decreased with declining richness, in part due to loss of complementary interactions among these species. However, increased production of the dominant grasses offset the negative effects of species loss. We conclude that the dominant species, as controllers of ecosystem function, can provide short-term resistance to reductions in ecosystem function when species loss is nonrandom. However, the concurrent loss of complementary interactions among rare and uncommon species, the most diverse component of communities, may contribute to additional species loss and portends erosion of ecosystem function in the long term.
Naturally Occurring and Experimental Diabetes in Cynomolgus Monkeys: A Comparison of Carbohydrate and Lipid Metabolism and Islet Pathology

Diabetes is a major health problem of increasing incidence in the United States. Diabetes research has been limited by lack of availability of good animal models, particularly for the study of comorbidities associated with diabetes. We investigated the use of cynomolgus monkeys as an animal model of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes and compared these naturally occurring diseases with streptozotocin-induced diabetes. Both type 1 diabetics and streptozotocin-induced diabetics present with sudden onset of hyperglycemia and are ketosis prone without exogenous insulin. Type 2 diabetics can have a very long period of moderate hyperglycemia and hypertriglyceridemia and only require exogenous insulin therapy if pancreatic islet reserves are depleted. Type 2 diabetes is preceded by a relatively long period of insulin resistance that is associated with obesity and dyslipidemia. As insulin resistance progresses, islet size and insulin content increases initially. However, with sustained periods of insulin resistance,...
Areas of Polar Coronal Holes from 1996 Through 2010

Polar coronal holes (PCHs) trace the magnetic variability of the Sun throughout the solar cycle. Their size and evolution have been studied as proxies for the global magnetic field. We present measurements of the PCH areas from 1996 through 2010, derived from an updated perimeter-tracing method and two synoptic-map methods. The perimeter tracing method detects PCH boundaries along the solar limb, using full-disk images from the SOlar and Heliospheric Observatory/Extreme ultraviolet Imaging Telescope (SOHO/EIT). One synoptic-map method uses the line-of-sight magnetic field from the SOHO/Michelson Doppler Imager (MDI) to determine the unipolarity boundaries near the poles. The other method applies thresholding techniques to synoptic maps created from EUV image data from EIT. The results from all three methods suggest that the solar maxima and minima of the two hemispheres are out of phase. The maximum PCH area, averaged over the methods in each hemisphere, is approximately 6 % during both solar minima spanned by the data (between Solar Cycles 22/23 and 23/24). The northern PCH area began a declining trend in 2010, suggesting a downturn toward the maximum of Solar Cycle 24 in that hemisphere, while the southern hole remained large throughout 2010.
Automated 3-D reconstruction of stereo fundus images via camera calibration and image rectification

Glaucoma is one of the leading causes of vision loss in the United States, and through early diagnosis and continued monitoring it is possible to delay or even stop the progression of the disease. An automated algorithm for estimating cup to disc ratios, a quantity that is key to tracking glaucoma progression, has already been developed and shown to have high correlation to physician-generated measures over a period of many years. The algorithm in its current state uses image warping to produce aligned stereo pairs that can then be used to estimate depth in the image. In this work, the warping algorithm has been replaced with a more direct camera geometry estimation algorithm. This improvement will allow the images to then be rectified, or transformed into the ideal stereo camera geometry, which greatly simplifies the disparity map generation and automated analysis segments of the existing algorithm.
DS-MAC: Differential service Medium Access Control design for wireless medical information systems

The integration of wireless networking technologies with medical information systems (telemedicine) have a significant impact on healthcare services provided to our society. Applications of telemedicine range from personalized medicine to affordable healthcare for underserved population. Though wireless technologies and medical informatics are individually progressing rapidly, wireless networking for healthcare systems is still at a very premature stage. In this paper we first present our open architecture for medical information systems that integrates both wired and wireless networked data acquisition systems. We then present the implementation at the physical layer and differential service MAC design that adapts channel provisioning based on the information criticality. Performance evaluation using analytical modeling and simulation shows that our DS-MAC provides differentiated services for emergency, warning, and normal traffic.
Performance analysis of UWB impulse radios with noisy template reception

The overall performance of ultra-wideband (UWB) communication systems relies critically on the energy capture capability of UWB receivers. A family of transmitted-reference (TR) UWB receivers has been proposed to achieve effective energy capture at the cost of enhanced noise effect and reduced system capacity. In this paper, we investigate a new receiver structure based on a noisy template (NT). The NT-based receiver enjoys effective signal energy capture and low complexity as the TR family. It has better system capacity and less noise effect with respect to TR UWB. To shed light on the quantitative noise effect of our NT receiver, we derive closed-form expressions for the bit error rate (BER) performance in both sparse and dense multipath channels. Through analysis; we demonstrate that the NT reception scheme effectively alleviates the noise effect as the number of pilot symbols increases, without sacrificing the data rate. We also illustrate the relationship between the channel diversity gain and its ability in compensating for the noise effect.
Regulation of invasive behavior by vascular endothelial growth factor is HEF1-dependent

We previously reported a vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) autocrine loop in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) cell lines, supporting a role for VEGF in HNSCC tumorigenesis. Using a phosphotyrosine proteomics approach, we screened the HNSCC cell line, squamous cell carcinoma-9 for effectors of VEGFR2 signaling. A cluster of proteins involved in cell migration and invasion, including the p130Cas paralog, human enhancer of filamentation 1 (HEF1/Cas-L/Nedd9) was identified. HEF1 silencing and overexpression studies revealed a role for VEGF in regulating cell migration, invasion and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) expression in a HEF1-dependent manner. Moreover, cells plated on extracellular matrix-coated coverslips showed enhanced invadopodia formation in response to VEGF that was HEF1-dependent. Immunolocalization revealed that HEF1 colocalized to invadopodia with MT1-MMP. Analysis of HNSCC tissue microarrays for HEF1 immunoreactivity revealed a 6.5-fold increase in the odds of having a metastasis with a high HEF1 score compared with a low HEF1 score. These findings suggest that HEF1 may be prognostic for advanced stage HNSCC. They also show for the first time that HEF1 is required for VEGF-mediated HNSCC cell migration and invasion, consistent with HEF1's recent identification as a metastatic regulator. These results support a strategy targeting VEGF:VEGFR2 in HNSCC therapeutics.
Modeling and steady-state analysis of a stand-alone, photo-voltaic-three phase inverter power system

A part of an electric power system can operate as a standalone system without any connection to the main grid. Such autonomous systems include dedicated power systems for rural areas, moveable military bases and facilities requiring premium power quality. For the proper calculation and control operation of autonomous generation systems, the dynamics of the power sources and the loads must be properly accounted for thorough adequate system modeling. In this paper, a photovoltaic (PV) system and a battery bank are presented as energy sources, which with the aid of converters, provide electric power to three-phase balanced stand-alone loads. With the aid of DC-DC converters, source output powers and the DC link voltage are controlled. A three phase DC-AC inverter converts the input DC voltage to AC and controls the frequency and magnitude of the load voltage. The modeling and steady state operation of the system are set forth under various operating conditions while accounting for the nonlinearity of the PV source and load type. Besides, the maximum power point tracking algorithm of the solar system is added. The controller design and structures are explained in details and the dynamic behavior of the whole system is studied by computer simulations.
Mass-transport dynamics, activity, and structure of sulfate-reducing biofilms

Factors limiting hydrogen sulfide production were identified in a two-species biofilm containing sulfate-reducing bacteria (Desulfovibrio desulfuricans) and nonsulfate-reducing bacteria (Pseudomonas fluorescens). Profiles of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) concentration, pH, local mass-transport coefficient, local flow velocity, and local relative effective diffusivity in the biofilm were measured using microelectrodes. Biofilms had a heterogeneous structure consisting of cell clusters separated by voids. Typically, the H2S concentration was lower in the voids than in the adjacent cell clusters, demonstrating that the voids acted as transport channels for removing H2S from cell clusters. The extent of biofilm heterogeneity was directly correlated with the flux of H2S from cell clusters. At flow velocities below 2 cm/s, the flux of H2S from cell clusters depended on the flow velocity. We concluded that at these flow velocities the H2S production rate was limited by the delivery rate of sulfate ions to the biofilm. At flow velocities above 2 cm/s, the H2S production rate was nearly constant and did not depend on the flow velocity. At high flow velocities (>2 cm/s) the H2S production rate was limited by metabolic reactions in the biofilm. Local intrabiofilm flow velocity profiles were influenced strongly by biofilm heterogeneity without significant pH variation within biofilms. Surprisingly, profiles of local relative effective diffusivity indicated that the biofilm was made up of two layers, which could be related to the specimen with a two-species biofilm.
Physics potential of the Fermilab NuMI beamline

We explore the physics potential of the NuMI beamline with a detector located 10 km off axis at a distant site (810 km). We study the sensitivity to ${sin﻿}^{2}2{\ensuremath{\theta}}_{13}$ and to the $CP$-violating parameter $\mathrm{sin}﻿\ensuremath{\delta}$ as well as the determination of the neutrino mass hierarchy by exploiting the ${\ensuremath{\nu}}_{\ensuremath{\mu}}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{\ensuremath{\nu}}_{e}$ and ${\overline{\ensuremath{\nu}}}_{\ensuremath{\mu}}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{\overline{\ensuremath{\nu}}}_{e}$ appearance channels. The results are illustrated for three different experimental setups to quantify the benefits of increased detector sizes, proton luminosities, and ${\ensuremath{\nu}}_{e}$ detection efficiencies.
Domain partitioning for open reactive systems

Testing or model-checking an open reactive system often requires generating a model of the environment. We describe a static analysis for Java that computes a partition of a system's inputs: inputs in the same equivalence class lead to identical behavior. The partition provides a basis for generation of code for a most general environment of the system, i.e., one that exercises all possible behaviors of the system. The partition also helps the generated environment avoid exercising the same behavior multipletimes. Many distributed systems with security requirements can be regarded as open reactive systems whose environment is an adversary-controlled network. We illustrate our approach by applying it to a fault-tolerant and intrusion-tolerant distributed voting system and model-checking the system together with the generated environment.
Colliding stacks: A large deviations analysis

We analyze the performance of a prototypical scheme for shared storage allocation: two initially empty stacks evolving in a contiguous block of memory of size m. We treat the case in which the stacks are more likely to shrink than grow, but with the probabilities of insertion and deletion allowed to depend arbitrarily on stack height as a fraction of m. New results are obtained on the m → ∞ asymptotics of the stack collision time, and of the final stack heights. The results of Wentzell and Freidlin on the large deviations of Markov chains are used, and the relation of their formalism to the Hamiltonian formulation of classical mechanics is emphasized. Certain results on higher‐order asymptotics follow from WKB expansions. © 1991 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Effect of Tryptophan Intake on Oxidation of [7a-14C]Tryptophan and Urinary Excretion of N1-Methylnicotinamide in the Rat

Oxidation of tryptophan and urinary excretion of niacin metabolites were studied in weanling rats fed ad libitum for 12 to 16 days niacin-free and nicotin- amide-supplemented (20 mg/kg of diet) diets containing 15%of crystalline amino acids and from 0.04 to 1.0%of L-tryptophan. N'-methylnicotinamide was measured in urine collected during the last 3 days of the feeding period. After the feeding period, rats were placed in metabolic cages, and each rat was given 4 g (dry weight) of diet con taining a tracer dose of DL-{7a-MC)tryptophan. Expired CO2 was collected hourly for 10 hours. In both the niacin-free and nicotinamide-supplemented groups, weight gains increased with increasing increments of tryptophan up to about 0.16% L-tryptophan. With more than 0.16% of L-tryptophan, the amount of N'-methylnicotinamide excreted per day by both groups of rats increased linearly with increasing tryptophan intake, but proportionately less N'-methylnicotinamide was excreted when the dietary tryp tophan level was 1.0%. The amount of tryptophan oxidized per 10 hours increased linearly with increasing dietary tryptophan levels between 0.16 and 1.0%. Therefore, the decline in excretion of N'-methylnicotinamide with the 1.0%tryptophan level could not be accounted for by increased oxidation. These results suggest that after the tryp tophan requirement for growth is met, the amount of tryptophan oxidized and converted to nicotinamide is directly proportional to the level of tryptophan intake up to about 3 times the requirement for growth. The tryptophan requirement of the growing rat fed niacin-free and nitcotinamide-supplemented diets estimated from the inflection points of N'-methylnicotinamide excretion curves was in good agreement with the requirement of about 100 /imoles/day determined from the growth curve. J. Nutr. 112: 766-775, 1982.
Recreating the feel of the human chest in a CPR manikin via programmable pneumatic damping

It is well known that the human chest exhibits a strong force-displacement hysteresis during CPR, a stark contrast to the non-hysteretic behavior of standard spring manikins. We hypothesize that individuals with experience performing CPR on humans would perceive a manikin with damping as more realistic and better for training. By analyzing data collected from chest compressions on real patients, we created a dynamic model that accounts for this hysteresis with a linear spring and a one-way variable damper, and we built a new high-fidelity manikin to enact the desired force-displacement relationship. A linkage converts vertical motions of the chest plate to the horizontal displacement of a set of pneumatic dashpot pistons, sending a volume of air into and out of the manikin through a programmable valve. Position and pressure sensors allow a microcontroller to adjust the valve orifice so that the provided damping force closely follows the desired damping force throughout the compression cycle. Eight experienced CPR practitioners tested both the new manikin and an identical looking standard manikin; the manikin with damping received significantly higher ratings for haptic realism and perceived utility as a training tool.
Mismatch analysis and statistical design at 65 nm and below

Transistor sizing to control random mismatch is investigated. Input offset voltage of 65 nm bulk CMOS SRAM sense amplifiers are measured to analyze NMOS and PMOS threshold voltage (Vtn, Vtp) variation effects and compare them with statistical models and Pelgrom model predictions. A linear statistical response surface model (RSM) relating input offset to Vtn and Vtp is shown to agree well with measured results. Designs optimized using the RSMs produce circuits with 25% lower input offset voltage spread at a cost of 10% more active device area. Statistical models for post-manufacturing configuration are postulated and shown for sub-65 nm technologies.
Web applications and web services:supporting technologies (panel introduction)

Different technologies are emerging for developing multi-tier enterprise Web-based applications. Among them are Java 2 Enterprise Edition (J2EE) and the .NET Framework. Both support XML-based Web Services and offer related features. This panel explores the future of these technologies and identifies the issues and strategies underlying their use and evolution. NE of the most rapid areas of change for software technology today is in frameworks to support Web applications. As industry increases focus on commercial utilization of the Web, framework providers vie for developer buy-in through promise of improved support. Today a vast majority of Web-centric applications are hosted on Java solutions. But, technology advances in the recent release of Visual Studio .NET and its underlying framework promise to significantly impact market balance. Suppose you are in the situation today of selecting the platform for a new project aimed at providing Web presence to augment your company's retail offerings. The server-side options available to you are broad and represent significantly different approaches. The original approach of scripting through common gateway interface has largely been replaced by more efficient technologies represented by Java Server Pages and Servlets. Recent development platforms, however, present options where a good decision may depend upon characteristics of your application, as well as aspects of the technology framework. What application characteristics must you consider and how can you compare alternative frameworks? Web Services is an emerging technology that utilizes HTTP and XML to provide network-wide access to an Object's methods. The vision includes exposing business related services to potential consumers thus facilitating business-to- business cooperation. The model equally supports business to consumer communications, and is amenable to multiple cost models, including pay-per-use, subscription and freely available services. Interoperability among Web Service platforms promises platform, language and infrastructure
Electrically coupled MEMS bandpass filters: Part II. Without coupling element

Abstract This paper, the second of two parts, introduces electrostatic coupling of micromechanical resonators for implementation of high-order narrow-bandwidth bandpass filters. The concept of electrostatic coupling of closely spaced microresonators and its electromechanical modeling is presented. Electrostatic coupling of resonators does not require any distinct physical coupling elements. The electrostatic coupling strength between the resonators is sharply dependant on the applied polarization voltages to the resonators. Hence the coupling strength and consequently filter bandwidth can be tuned over a wide range after fabrication. It is shown that electrostatic coupling provides the highest degree of tunability and design flexibility among the available microresonator coupling approaches. Low frequency single crystal silicon prototypes of second order electrostatically coupled filters are fabricated and characterized. Filter quality factor as high as 6800 (0.015% BW) with more than one decade of bandwidth tunability is demonstrated for a second order electrostatically coupled beam filter at center frequency of 170 kHz.
Highly efficient chemoenzymatic synthesis of naturally occurring and non-natural α-2,6-linked sialosides: A P. damsela α-2,6- sialyltransferase with extremely flexible donor-substrate specificity

Sialic acids are a family of α-keto acids with a 9-carbon backbone. They have been predominantly found as terminal carbohydrate units on glycoproteins and glycolipids of vertebrates or as components of capsular polysaccharides and lipooligosaccharides of pathogenic bacteria.[1] Sialic acid-containing structures play pivotal roles in many physiologically and pathologically important processes, including cellular recognition and communication, bacterial and viral infection, and tumor metastasis, etc.[1] Currently, greater than 50 structurally distinct forms of sialic acids have been found in nature.[1] From which, more than 15 have been found on human red blood cell surfaces, saliva proteins, and gastrointestinal mucins.[2] Three basic forms of sialic acids (Scheme 1) are N-acetylneuraminic acid (Neu5Ac), N-glycolylneuraminic acid (Neu5Gc), and deaminoneuraminc acid (KDN). Based on these three forms, single or multiple substitutions can occur at the hydroxyl group on C-4, C-5, C-7, C-8, and/or C-9 positions, including O-acetylation and the less frequent O-methylation, O-lactylation, O-sulfation, and O-phosphorylation (Scheme 2).[1]
Selfish Multi-User Task Scheduling

In this paper we formulate and study a new scheduling problem called Selfish Multi-User Task Scheduling. This problem assumes that there are several users, each of them having multiple tasks that need processing on a set of parallel identical machines. Each user is selfish and her goal is to minimize the makespan of her own tasks. We model this problem as a non-cooperative, extensive-form game. We use the subgame perfect equilibrium solution concept to analyze the game which provides insight into the problem?s properties. We compute the price of anarchy to quantify the costs due to lack of coordination among the users.
A Simulation Model of the DOCSIS Protocol

The number of households and businesses using hybrid fiber coaxial cable networks for Internet access is rapidly approaching 40 million in the United States. The cable industry has standardized on a single medium access control (MAC) and physical layer standard, the Data Over Cable Service Interface Specification (DOCSIS). The MAC layer of the emerging IEEE 802.16 broadband wireless access standard is also based upon DOCSIS. Thus, the performance of DOCSIS is now and will remain a critical element in the overall performance of shared medium broadband access networks. Despite this fact, public domain tools that may be used to assess and improve the performance of DOCSIS have been slow to emerge. To address this problem, we have implemented a simulation model of the DOCSIS MAC layer for the `ns' network simulation tool. Due to the complexity of DOCSIS and because the specifications are purposely incomplete, developing an accurate simulation is quite challenging. In this paper we present analytic and live network evidence that the simulation accurately reflects the behavior of a DOCSIS network under a limited set of workloads.
Implications of CVA for Financial Stability in Over-the-Counter Derivatives Markets: A Simulation Analysis

In this paper, we propose a simulation framework to assess the risk of financial contagion in over-the-counter (OTC) derivatives markets. We incorporate Credit Valuation Adjustment (CVA), a mark-to-market estimate of counterparty credit risk booked in a bank's balance sheet, into a model of interbank network. In this simulation framework, a bank can make a margin call and purchase protection in credit default swap (CDS) markets in order to reduce CVA. We also model the adverse market impacts in CDS markets where the bank's CVA hedging increases CDS spreads due to the lack of liquidity. A financial shock propagates through the interbank linkage of CVA and banks' CDS markets. Utilizing this simulation framework, we study the impact of four different shocks on the financial soundness of banks in the OTC derivatives markets: a large loss from a credit portfolio, a large loss from a derivative trade, a market-wide haircut rate change and a downgrade trigger. We also analyze whether and to what extent the introduction of central clearing party (CCP) attenuates the negative effect of CVA hedging on the financial stability. Our simulation results highlights the importance of understanding collateral management at bank level to assess a potential contagious risk in the OTC derivatives markets.
The Next Frontier: Exploring the Substance of Legal Writing

This volume represents another milestone for the Association of Legal Writing Directors (ALWD). Not only does this volume mark ALWD's official entry into periodical publishing, but also it marks the beginning of ALWD's latest effort to expand and improve the field of legal writing. More specifically, with the creation of this Journal, ALWD announces in dramatic fashion that it will take a lead role in the development and expansion of substantive legal writing doctrine. Since its inception in 1996, ALWD has diligently sought to improve legal writing as a discipline and as a profession . . . . Now, with the publication of this Journal, ALWD takes a fifth approach. The Mission of this Journal is very specific and unique. Briefly stated, "[t]he purpose of the Journal of the Association of Legal Writing Directors (J. ALWD) is to develop scholarship focusing on the substance of professional legal writing and to make that scholarship accessible and helpful to practitioners as well as to legal writing teachers." Rather than producing a journal on legal writing in general, ALWD has taken a bold move and has decided to dedicate this Journal to one specific genre of legal writing scholarship: scholarship that explores the substance of legal writing. This article examines the meaning and implications of this novel mission of the Journal.
A Study on the Impact of Multidisciplinary Collaboration on Computational Thinking

This paper reports on a multi-semester study of the impact on student perceptions of their computational thinking abilities as a result of collaboration between students in computer science (CS) and journalism courses to solve a problem for a community partner, Habitat for Humanity. Interdisciplinary computing collaborations have become a popular mode of instruction in upper-level CS courses. In many cases, these collaborations have been with other STEM disciplines. However, there are non-STEM fields that have been transformed by computer science and can also serve as fruitful test beds for curricular innovation; journalism is one such field. In this study, undergraduate students in CS and journalism courses focused on creating a computational solution to address a real community need. The study investigates whether immersion in multidisciplinary collaborative experiences increases the computational thinking abilities of both CS and non-CS students. 41 CS students participated in the study alongside 96 students in a range of other STEM and non-STEM majors. Quantitative data were collected to gauge students' attainment of concepts and skills constitutive to computational thinking. Pre-test data indicate that CS students were no different from other STEM students in their own assessment of computational thinking and skills. Post-test data indicate that while all students made significant gains in self-assessment of skills and knowledge, CS majors fared significantly better than their peers. It is particularly noteworthy that CS majors' gains outpaced those of computer engineering majors. Further research is planned to gain additional insight into the possible reasons behind these results.
Structure Formelle des Textes et Communication

SommaireIntroduction, p. 1. Sur le caractere discret des signes linguistiques, p. 3. Sur les mots comme unites concretes de tout texte (Generalisation et explication de la loi statistique d'Estoup et de Zipf), p. 9. Bibliographie, p. 26. Les renvois a la bibliographie comportent le nom de l'auteur et la date du travail cite. English summary, p. 27.
Carrier Dynamics in Highly Quantum-Confined, Colloidal Indium Antimonide Nanocrystals

Nanometer-sized particles of indium antimonide (InSb) offer opportunities in areas such as solar energy conversion and single photon sources. Here, we measure electron–hole pair dynamics, spectra, and absorption cross sections of strongly quantum-confined colloidal InSb nanocrystal quantum dots using femtosecond transient absorption. For all samples, we observe a bleach feature that develops on ultrafast time scales, which notably moves to lower energy during the first several picoseconds following excitation. We associate this unusual red shift, which becomes larger for larger particles and more distinct at lower sample temperatures, with hot exciton cooling through states that we suggest arise from energetically proximal conduction band levels. From controlled optical excitation intensities, we determine biexciton lifetimes, which range from 2 to 20 ps for the studied 3–6 nm diameter particle sizes.
Application of Structural Optimization Technologies and Methods to Reduce Design Time and Improve Structural Robustness

3 Abstract Optimization technologies and methods can be used to effectively reduce component design-time and weight, to improve component strength, to "tune" structures to accommodate modal targets, and to generally improve component robustness. In this paper Topology Optimization, Topography Optimization and Size and Shape Optimization, as they apply to aerospace-related applications, are discus sed. Topology Optimization is considered in the determination of material placement in order to minimize component stress and mass. Topography Optimization for the stiffening of plate type structures is dis cussed. In order to achieve required structural frequencies, Topography Optimization produces bead patterns to drive component stiffness to acceptable levels. Size and Shape Optimization for Design Fine Tuning and for optimally meeting design requirements such as stress, strain, buckling, frequency, displacement, etc., is considered. Size and Shape Optimization minimizes component gage thicknesses, adjusts component radii, and updates component shapes to produce more optimal structures. Examples relevant to the Aerospace Industry are given to demonstrate optimization for metallic and composite structures.
409 T-CELL REGULATION IN NEONATES MAY MODIFY IMMUNE RESPONSE TO INTRACELLULAR PATHOGENS.

A delicate balance in host immunity is constantly maintained, allowing for potent responses during infection and quickly silencing these responses once infection resolves. Perturbations in this balance result in increased susceptibility to infection, immune cell-mediated injury to the host, or both. Part of the answer of better stabilizing our immune defense is the advent of vaccines. Although currently available vaccines for neonates use are able to elicit robust antibody responses, this type of response provides immunity for some infections; it does not provide immunity to pathogens, such as Listeria monocytogenes (Lm), that primarily reside in the intracellular compartment, which require antigen, specific Th1, and CD8 T cells. Lm is a major pathogen in the neonate and in other immune-compromised hosts, causing gastroenteritis, abortion, sepsis, and CNS infections. A recent discovery that could provide some answers could be a fraction of CD4 T cells, called T-regulatory cells (or simply Tregs), which have recently been identified to play an active regulatory role by suppressing the function of other CD4 and CD8 T cells. Neonatal cells do not respond well to some vaccines due to their natural bias toward a Th2 response; given the potential reactivity of fetal T cells, it seems reasonable to hypothesize that neonatal Tregs cells contribute to apparent fetal unresponsiveness by dominant tolerance mechanisms, perhaps to prevent destructive reactivity to maternal antigens. Preliminary data to ascertain this hypothesis indicated that neonatal murine Tregs transcriptionally expressed more of the foxp3 gene compared with adults Tregs per cell basis, and these data could lend themselves to function. Comparing the transfer of donor adult versus neonatal Tregs within the responder Lm-infected mice, we hope to test the ability of neonatal versus adult Tregs to suppress the action of same responder population (adult splenocytes) by measuring their ability to produce a Th1 cytokine (IFN-γ). Unfortunately, adult Tregs resulted in greater suppressive activity than their neonatal counterpart did.
Consideration for the clinical studies of new anti-influenza virus drugs

The need for novel antiviral drugs for influenza remains.How to systemically design the human pharmacological studies and the clinical studies of antiviral drugs is still a challenge for domestic sponsors.This article reviewed the literature about the clinical studies of neuraminidase inhibitors,and mainly introduced the general consideration for human pharmacological studies and clinical studies of new anti-influenza virus drugs.
Analysis on Unhealthy Lifestyle Status and the Influential Factors Among Some Residents,Fujian Province

Objective To understand the unhealthy lifestyle status and the influential factors among some residents in Fujian province,so as to provide the baseline data for the aimed interventional measures. Methods A total of 3 000residents aged 18and over were pitched in 3counties of Wuping,Yong'an and Changle respectively,using stratified cluster random sampling method.Surveying face-to-face questionnaire in the light of daily behavior and lifestyle. Results 4 663males,4 337females.Rate of smoking and often harmful drinking was 21.10% and 6.01%,which of often not eating breakfast was 5.50%,often not eating on time was 5.76%,taste salty was 26.59%,often eating pickled food was93.74%,often eating fried food was 5.93%,salt more than 6g and oil more than 30g for per person per day was 49.33%and 56.01%,rarely participating physical exercise was 71.60%. Conclusion Factors such as urban-rural,sex,age,education degree and occupation have influence on the daily behaviors and lifestyle.Corresponding interventional steps should be carried out for different groups.
Robot-assisted laparoscopic ileal ureter.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES A patient with a solitary kidney, cysteine stones, and recurrent ureteral strictures underwent robot-assisted laparoscopic ureterectomy with ileal ureter formation. METHODS Using a transperitoneal, 4-port robotic approach, we removed the strictured ureter and created an ileal ureter. The ileal-pyelo and ileal-vesical anastomoses were performed using the robotic system. An extracorporeal bowel anastomosis was performed using stapling devices. Operative time was 9 hours with negligible blood loss, and the patient was discharged after 5 days. RESULTS A cystogram at 10 days demonstrated patent anastomoses without extravasation. The patient continues to do well 48 months later. CONCLUSION Robot-assisted laparoscopic ileal ureter replacement is feasible with excellent long-term outcome.
Delayed cerebrospinal fluid leak after penetrating cervical trauma

Stab wound injury to the cervical spinal cord is a rare occurrence and usually presents with immediate, disastrous, and permanent neurological consequences. Rarer, and potentially as severe, is the...
The Critical Role of Anionic Polymerization for Advances in the Physics of Polyolefins

This chapter shows how the great power and versatility of anionic polymerization, which has been described in the rest of this book, has been used to develop an improved understanding of the basic physical principles that underlie the performance of polyolefin materials. When these synthetic tools are employed to polymerize dienes and are then combined with controlled saturation methods, a wide panoply of saturated hydrocarbon polymers can be made. These products can serve as models for commercial polyolefins, which is the most widely used class of synthetic polymers and which continues to develop at a strong pace. The ability to make such models with highly controlled chain architectures, plus the ability to label the molecules for use in techniques such as NMR and neutron scattering, has provided polymer physicists with means to understand polyolefin physics at a deep level. This has been used to determine the size of polyolefin chains (both in dilute solution and in melt state), the ways that polyolefins mix, how their rheology depends on the chemical structure of the chains, and how long branches control their performance. This chapter covers not only the scientific results of this research, but also how these can be applied in the development of novel, useful polyolefin products.
Heroes in Medical History

The history of medicine—from primitive times to today—is in many ways a collection of stories about heroes. It is about their insights, courage, serendipity, risk-taking, occasional self-experimentation, and, in most instances, telling colleagues what had been found. It is tales of wound care using soothing ointment rather than boiling oil, of how cowpox can protect against smallpox, and proving that pellagra is not an infection, after all. Chapter 1 tells about these heroes, including Imhotep, Hippocrates, Galen, Pare, Harvey, Jenner, Snow, Curie, Osler, Fleming, Goldberger, Salk, and others.
Modelling the Dynamics of Marital Interaction: Divorce Prediction and Marriage Repair

This chapter introduces a new use of mathematical modelling and a new approach to the modelling of social interaction using difference equation models such as we discussed in Chapter 3. These equations express, in mathematical form, a proposed mechanism of change of marital interaction over time. The modelling is designed to suggest a precise mechanism of change. In much of this book the aim of the methodology is quantitative. That is, on the basis of our psychological understanding we write down, in mathematical form, the causes of change in the dependent variables. In the field of family psychology, however, statistical analysis is the usual analytical approach and, furthermore, generally based on linear models. In recent years it has become increasingly clear that most systems are highly nonlinear. The new approach to studying marital interaction with mathematical models was initiated by J. M. Gottman, based on his extensive studies of family interaction, and J.D. Murray (see the book by Gottman et al. 2002 for considerably more psychological detail and several case studies which have used the modelling technique and philosophy described in this chapter). The material we discuss here is based in large part on the paper by Cook et al. (1995).