cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Spatial judgments in the horizontal and vertical planes from different vantage points.

Todorovic (2008 Perception 37 106-125) reported that there are systematic errors in the perception of 3-D space when viewing 2-D linear perspective drawings depending on the observer's vantage point. Because these findings were restricted to the horizontal plane, the current study was designed to determine the nature of these errors in the vertical plane. Participants viewed an image containing multiple colonnades aligned on parallel converging lines receding to a vanishing point. They were asked to judge where, in the physical room, the next column should be placed. The results support Todorovic in that systematic deviations in the spatial judgments depended on vantage point for both the horizontal and vertical planes. However, there are also marked differences between the two planes. While judgments in both planes failed to compensate adequately for the vantage-point shift, the vertical plane induced greater distortions of the stimulus image itself within each vantage point.
Frontal solvers for process engineering: local row ordering strategies

Abstract The solution of chemical process simulation and optimization problems on today's high performance supercomputers requires algorithms that can take advantage of vector and parallel processing when solving the large, sparse matrices that arise. The frontal method can be highly efficient in this context due to its ability to make use of vectorizable dense matrix kernels on a relatively small frontal matrix in the innermost loop of the computation. However, the ordering of the rows in the coefficient matrix strongly affects size of the frontal matrix and thus the solution time. If a poor row ordering is used it may make the frontal method uncompetitive with other methods. We describe here a graph theoretical framework for identifying suitable row orderings that specifically addresses the issue of frontal matrix size. This leads to local, heuristic methods which aim to limit frontal matrix growth in the row and/or column dimensions. Results on a wide range of test problems indicate that improvements in frontal solver performance can often be obtained by the use of a restricted minimum column degree heuristic, which can be viewed as a variation of the minimum degree heuristic used in other contexts. Results also indicate that the natural unit-block structure of process simulation problems provides a quite reasonable ordering.
Gene Prediction and Annotation in Penstemon (Plantaginaceae): A Workflow for Marker Development from Extremely Low-Coverage Genome Sequencing

Premise of the study: Penstemon (Plantaginaceae) is a large and diverse genus endemic to North America. However, determining the phylogenetic relationships among its 280 species has been difficult due to its recent evolutionary radiation. The development of a large, multilocus data set can help to resolve this challenge. Methods: Using both previously sequenced genomic libraries and our own low-coverage whole-genome shotgun sequencing libraries, we used the MAKER2 Annotation Pipeline to identify gene regions for the development of sequencing loci from six extremely low-coverage Penstemon genomes (∼0.005×−0.007×). We also compared this approach to BLAST searches, and conducted analyses to characterize sequence divergence across the species sequenced. Results: Annotations and gene predictions were successfully added to more than 10,000 contigs for potential use in downstream primer design. Primers were then designed for chloroplast, mitochondrial, and nuclear loci from these annotated sequences. MAKER2 iden...
Field Evaluation of Hotel/Motel Through-the-Wall HVAC Systems Supervisory Controller

Several potential energy-savings devices are available for through-the-wall HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning) systems but independent test data quantifying their savings are sparse. This field evaluation and demonstration study quantifies the potential energy savings and assesses the impacts on occupants and staff of using a supervisory HVAC controller in the lodging industry. The supervisory controller operates according to the occupancy status of each room in a hotel or motel. The controller is a plug-in device installed between a wall outlet and the room HVAC unit. Preliminary tests in laboratory simulated environmental conditions suggest that energy savings ranging from 50% to 80% are possible in unoccupied lodging rooms employing the controller (Fisher, 1999). The field study objective was to quantify and verify these estimates and to identify impacts on occupant comfort. The controller was developed as a tool for reducing energy consumption and lowering operating costs in the lodging industry. This paper describes results from a field evaluation of the performance of a supervisory HVAC controller. During the test period, the uncontrolled rooms HVAC energy consumption averaged 2632.2 kWh monthly while the controlled rooms HVACs consume an averaged 1684.6 kWh, which equates to the uncontrolled rooms HVAC consuming an averaged of 947.6 kWh (56.3%) more energy than the units in the controlled room monthly. Due to intermittent inoperability of the controllers and other energy loads (controllers controlled approximately 50% of the hotel’s conditioned space), comparison analysis of the energy cost over a three-year period for the entire hotel does not reveal any discrete savings during the test period over prior years.Copyright © 2002 by ASME
Rethinking Governmentality: Training, Cultivation, and Cultural Citizenship in Nationalist China

In sum, the significance of military training does not just reside in teaching and learning military regulations and skills. Its main point is to temper the bodies and minds of the trainees and to mold their moral characters, show the proper path of modern life, teach common knowledge for modern citizens, improve the thought and habits of the trainees at the root, and establish complete and flawless characters so that they are able to adhere to discipline, take responsibility, be clear about etiquette and righteousness, know integrity and a sense of shame, and become Chinese citizens who are suited to modern existence. (Jiang Zhongzheng 1935, p. 2)
Porous titanium dental implants.

Titanium implants have been designed which utilize a solid core and porous exterior. The technique for implants containing posts utilizes a cast chromium-cobalt splint for fixation and the buried implants are held in place by the overlying gingiva until tissue growth into the porosity results in stabilization. Clinically successful post implants with apparent bone ingrowth and healthy gingiva surrounding the post have been achieved for periods up to three months.
The content of our cooperation, not the color of our skin: an alliance detection system regulates categorization by coalition and race, but not sex.

Humans in all societies form and participate in cooperative alliances. To successfully navigate an alliance-laced world, the human mind needs to detect new coalitions and alliances as they emerge, and predict which of many potential alliance categories are currently organizing an interaction. We propose that evolution has equipped the mind with cognitive machinery that is specialized for performing these functions: an alliance detection system. In this view, racial categories do not exist because skin color is perceptually salient; they are constructed and regulated by the alliance system in environments where race predicts social alliances and divisions. Early tests using adversarial alliances showed that the mind spontaneously detects which individuals are cooperating against a common enemy, implicitly assigning people to rival alliance categories based on patterns of cooperation and competition. But is social antagonism necessary to trigger the categorization of people by alliance—that is, do we cognitively link A and B into an alliance category only because they are jointly in conflict with C and D? We report new studies demonstrating that peaceful cooperation can trigger the detection of new coalitional alliances and make race fade in relevance. Alliances did not need to be marked by team colors or other perceptually salient cues. When race did not predict the ongoing alliance structure, behavioral cues about cooperative activities up-regulated categorization by coalition and down-regulated categorization by race, sometimes eliminating it. Alliance cues that sensitively regulated categorization by coalition and race had no effect on categorization by sex, eliminating many alternative explanations for the results. The results support the hypothesis that categorizing people by their race is a reversible product of a cognitive system specialized for detecting alliance categories and regulating their use. Common enemies are not necessary to erase important social boundaries; peaceful cooperation can have the same effect.
An ion beam instrumentation simulator as a tool for analyzing and designing ion beam systems

Abstract An experimental computer-aided-design system has been used which can significantly aid in the design of ion source-extractor systems, analysing magnet, or entire source to target beam optical systems. This system is interactive using a terminal to input and retrieve data. The techniques used to solve Poisson type electrostatic problems and to perform magnet analysis through ray tracing programs represent state-of-the-art in the numerical analysis of the electrostatic and magnetic geometries most often found in isotope separators and ion implanters. Problems can be run in a self-optimization mode which facilitates the design of beam optical components. Using this system, numerical calculations have been made to analyze the beam divergence characteristics of a source-extractor system of the type used in isotope separators.
A HOLOGRAPHICALLY ROUTED OPTICAL CROSSBAR USING A FERROELECTRIC LIQUID-CRYSTAL OVER SILICON SPATIAL LIGHT MODULATOR

Abstract Ferroelectric liquid crystal spatial light modulators can be used to display high quality binary phase holograms, and incorporated into programmable free space interconnects. These are potentially highly efficient, and have advantages over conventional shutter based architectures. Such structures have applications in telecommunications and optical processing. In this paper a 16 channel ‘crossbar’ interconnect is presented. Hologram measurement indicates the crossbar will function with a high noise margin. Device nonuniformities cause distortion in the hologram replay and techniques to compensate for this are discussed. Optical throughput and DC balancing of the liquid crystal currently restrict the performance of the switch: Possible solutions to these problems are detailed.
Genome-wide analysis of host-chromosome binding sites for Epstein-Barr Virus Nuclear Antigen 1 (EBNA1)

The Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) Nuclear Antigen 1 (EBNA1) protein is required for the establishment of EBV latent infection in proliferating B-lymphocytes. EBNA1 is a multifunctional DNA-binding protein that stimulates DNA replication at the viral origin of plasmid replication (OriP), regulates transcription of viral and cellular genes, and tethers the viral episome to the cellular chromosome. EBNA1 also provides a survival function to B-lymphocytes, potentially through its ability to alter cellular gene expression. To better understand these various functions of EBNA1, we performed a genome-wide analysis of the viral and cellular DNA sites associated with EBNA1 protein in a latently infected Burkitt lymphoma B-cell line. Chromatin-immunoprecipitation (ChIP) combined with massively parallel deep-sequencing (ChIP-Seq) was used to identify cellular sites bound by EBNA1. Sites identified by ChIP-Seq were validated by conventional real-time PCR, and ChIP-Seq provided quantitative, high-resolution detection of the known EBNA1 binding sites on the EBV genome at OriP and Qp. We identified at least one cluster of unusually high-affinity EBNA1 binding sites on chromosome 11, between the divergent FAM55 D and FAM55B genes. A consensus for all cellular EBNA1 binding sites is distinct from those derived from the known viral binding sites, suggesting that some of these sites are indirectly bound by EBNA1. EBNA1 also bound close to the transcriptional start sites of a large number of cellular genes, including HDAC3, CDC7, and MAP3K1, which we show are positively regulated by EBNA1. EBNA1 binding sites were enriched in some repetitive elements, especially LINE 1 retrotransposons, and had weak correlations with histone modifications and ORC binding. We conclude that EBNA1 can interact with a large number of cellular genes and chromosomal loci in latently infected cells, but that these sites are likely to represent a complex ensemble of direct and indirect EBNA1 binding sites.
Why ketonization is favored over enolization in 5-membered ring H-transfers by CH3C(OH+)CH2CH2 and in 6-membered ring H-transfers by CH3(COH+)CH2CH2CH2

Abstract The reactions leading to dissociation of the metastable enol isomers of 2-butanone have a puzzling feature: why does CH3C( OH+)CH2C H2 (2) isomerize to the less stable 2-butanone cation (3) and dissociate to the exclusion of conversion to CH2 C(OH+ )CH2CH3 (1) and CH3C(OH+ ) CHCH3 (4)? To answer this, the stationary points on the pathways established previously are located using ab initio and hybrid density functional theory and their geometries and energies determined. Rate curves for some of the reactions are also obtained by RRKM theory. It is found that 2 isomerizes to 3 rather than to its more stable enol isomers 1 and 4 because ketonization has the lowest barrier, despite its giving the highest energy product. For 2 → 1, this barrier arises from a strained, twisted transition state geometry being required in transfer of a hydrogen to the π-bonded methylene group in 1 whereas TS ( 2 ⇌ 3 ) is completely planar. The energy of the transition state for 4 ⇌ 2 is elevated by a different phenomenon, the need for an electron to go into an antibonding orbital in a 1,2-H-shift, raising its energy above that of TS ( 2 ⇌ 3 ). The critical energies for the 5-membered ring isomerizations of 1–2 and 2–3 are significantly higher than those of the 6-membered ring processes that ketonize and enolize CH3C( OH+)CH2CH2C H2 (6). However, similarly to 2, isomerization of 6 to CH3C( O+ )CH2CH2CH3 has a lower energy transition state and is preferred to isomerization to the more stable CH2 C(OH+ )CH2CH2CH3. This is also attributable to twisting at the C1 methylene as hydrogen is transferred to and from it.
Aneurysms in renal oncocytoma

Renal oncocytoma is a nonaggressive lesion of the kidney that only recently has been defined as a separate entity pathologically. Clinically they are usually silent and are incidental findings on excretory urography. Sonography and computerized tomography demonstrate that it is a solid lesion, but it is only with angiography that a preoperative diagnosis can be suggested. The angiographic signs are summarized, and it is proposed that aneurysms in or associated with a mass now be included in the angiographic spectrum of oncocytoma.
Macitentan (Opsumit) for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension

The endothelin pathway is a key pathway for the pathogenesis of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Antagonism of this pathway is recommended as initial therapy in low-risk patient with PAH to inhibit fibrosis, cell proliferation, and inflammation caused by endothelin. Prior to October 2013, ambrisentan, a selective ETA receptor antagonist and bosentan, a dual ETA/ETB antagonist, were the only currently available agents for PAH targeting the endothelin pathway. Based on the results of the SERAPHIN trial, macitentan (brand name Opsumit®), a new ETA/ETB antagonist, has been US FDA approved to delay disease progression and reduce hospitalizations for PAH. SERAPHIN is the first ERA trial to use an event-driven strategy with a composite primary end point of morbidity or mortality. Previous trials have focused on short-term outcomes, such as improved 6-min walk distance and WHO functional class.
Nearest-Neighbor Clutter Removal for Estimating Features in Spatial Point Processes

Abstract We consider the problem of detecting features in spatial point processes in the presence of substantial clutter. One example is the detection of minefields using reconnaissance aircraft images that identify many objects that are not mines. Our solution uses Kth nearest neighbor distances of points in the process to classify them as clutter or otherwise. The observed Kth nearest neighbor distances are modeled as a mixture distribution, the parameters of which are estimated by a simple EM algorithm. This method allows for detection of generally shaped features that need not be path connected. In the minefield example this method yields high detection and low false-positive rates. Another application, to outlining seismic faults, is considered with some success. The method works well in high dimensions. The method can also be used to produce very high-breakdown-point–robust estimators of a covariance matrix.
Equilibrium Shapes of Solid Particles on Elastically Mismatched Substrates

Abstract Small particles or islands bonded to a substrate can be profoundly influenced by both interfacial and elastic driving forces that tend to have opposing influences on the apparent wetting behavior. The superposition of these two driving forces can therefore lead to a rich set of particle properties, most notably their equilibrium shapes. Here we present a variational analysis leading directly to an Euler–Lagrange equation that can be solved to yield the equilibrium shapes of partially wetting particles as a function of their size, interface energy densities, and elastic interaction with a rigid substrate. The solutions are used to gain insight into the variables that most significantly influence the equilibrium morphology, and to derive the approximate driving force for surface area reduction by coarsening among a dispersion of unequally sized particles. The relatively simple analytical model can also form a foundation upon which more realistic numerical simulations may be built and compared.
Composite Reflection Coefficients for Stratified Reservoir Models

Summary Amplitude variation with offset (AVO) analysis is complicated by many factors, such as NMO or migration processing errors. Furthermore, the method itself is typically based on simplified, approximate solutions for the reflection coefficient. Even the exact expression is still limited by the fact that the result is derived for a plane wave incident on a planar boundary between two solid half spaces. This simplification may cause important errors. Previous work has sought to extend AVO analysis by considering the tuning, or superposition, of reflections from the top and bottom of a reservoir layer that is thin compared to the seismic wavelength. Here I extend this analysis by computing reflection coefficients for a thin reservoir layer that also has additional internal layering. When modeling this idealized reservoir as a stack of plane layers sandwiched between two homogeneous half spaces, propagator matrix methods compute the exact reflection coefficient for a specified frequency and angle of incidence. If the reservoir is homogeneous, the results reproduce those of previous studies. When random layering is included within the reservoir, the reflection coefficient shows strong fluctuations in magnitude, scatter that becomes stronger as frequency increases. The general dependence of the reflection coefficient on angle of incidence is still fairly consistent. However, when gas is included in a few of the internal reservoir layers, the reflection coefficient shows changes in AVO slope and intercept that are similar to those predicted by conventional analysis. This suggests that though complex internal structure of a reservoir may cause fairly significant deviations of AVO results from those expected by simple analysis of reflection coefficients, anomalous results caused by hydrocarbons can still be detected.
High resolution spectroscopic studies of 1-(1-naphthyl)ethylamine in S0 and S1: exploring the dependence of circular dichroism on conformational structure

Abstract Rotationally resolved spectra of gas-phase samples of 1-(1-naphthyl)-ethylamine (NEA) and amine deuterated forms have been obtained in the microwave and ultraviolet regions, with the isotopomers initially prepared in their zero-point vibrational levels by cooling in pulsed jet and molecular beam supersonic expansions. A single parameter set that includes inertial parameters and 14 N nuclear quadrupole constants has accounted for nearly all transitions observed in the Fourier-transform microwave spectrum at 2 K and indicates the presence of only one geometrical isomer in the jet-cooled expansion. The rotational constants, dipole moment orientation, and the amine hydrogen atom positions have been used to identify the conformation of the attached chiral group from among nine possible isomeric forms. The S 1 rotational constants and electronic transition moment orientation have been obtained from high resolution molecular beam data of the band origin at 31771.56(2) cm −1 . Excited state “gas phase” predictions from ab initio theory at the CIS/6-31G(d,p) and CIS/6-311 + G(d) levels are compared with the observed S 1 results and with circular dichroism (CD) data obtained for solution phase samples of ( S )-NEA in cyclohexane. Distinguishing spectral features are found in the calculated CD spectra of the three lowest energy conformers arising from rotation about the C–CH(NH 2 )CH 3 bond, all of which are thermally populated at room temperature. While the predictions at both levels are in fair agreement with the observed gas phase results, CIS/6-31G(d,p) theory is found to be inadequate to model the condensed phase CD spectrum. In constrast, the calculated spectrum of the equilibrium mixture of conformers at the CIS/6-311 + G(d) level is in good qualitative agreement with the observed CD results and indicates the importance of diffuse functions for the accurate prediction of chiroptical properties of NEA. The most noteworthy exception is the predicted rotatory strength of the S 1 origin, which is overestimated by more than 10-fold. Possible reasons for this discrepancy with experiment include a reversal of S 1 (L b ) and S 2 (L a ) states from the absence of electron correlation and/or the neglect of room-temperature solvent effects. These results provide for rigorous benchmark tests of theoretical models and further elucidate the importance of the conformational structure for determinations of absolute stereochemistry from CD spectra.
Light polarization by transmission: a laboratory experiment

Measurements of the polarization of visible light by transmission through glass plates are discussed as being worthwhile undergraduate laboratory experiments. At the introductory level, the experiments are to be carried out at Brewster's angle of incidence, for which a simple polarization formula is derived without use of Fresnel's equations. At the more advanced level, familiarity with the latter permits the data to be analysed at arbitrary angles of incidence, and allows a single correction to be made for reflections. Examples of data taken with the present apparatus are presented and the results compared with theory.
New mutations and phenotypes associated with glutamate and aspartate transport in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO-K1) cells

Two new Chinese hamster ovary cell (CHO-K1) mutants lacking amino acid transport System XAG− activity were isolated by [3H]aspartate suicide selection. These null mutants, Dd-B6 and Dd-B7, were analyzed by somatic cell hybridization, along with previously described partial-function mutants, Ed-A1 and Ed-B8. With respect to System XAG− activity, all four mutations fell into a single complementation group. By quantitative assay, the mutations in Ed-A1 and Ed-B8 behaved as simple recessives in fusions with wild type cells, while those in Dd-B6 and Dd-B7 were codominant. We have discovered that Ed-A1 and Ed-B8 are highly permeable to smal neutral molecules. This high permeability phenotype was dominant to wild-type. Northern, Southern, and Western analyses indicated that System XAG− in CHO is not closely related to any of the three well characterized glutamate transporters represented by GLT-1, EAAC1 or GLAST.
Scale Assignment for Imbalanced Points

Imbalance oriented candidate selection was introduced as an alternative of non-maximum suppression, aiming to improve the localization accuracy. To distinguish interest points detected via non-maximum suppression, we call interest points detected via imbalance oriented selection imbalanced points. Scale assignment for imbalanced points is not straightforward because of a dilemma of involving non-maximum suppression -- The scale space theory, a popular scale assignment scheme, requests non-maximum suppression to detect extreme points from scale spaces, while imbalanced points are expected to be free of non-maximum suppression in order to maintain the localization accuracy. In this paper, we propose a bypass scheme that circumvents the above dilemma by establishing an association between an imbalanced point and a certain interest point with a known scale (e.g., key points). We justify the proposed bypass scheme theoretically and experimentally. For example, our results show that epipolar geometry estimated via imbalanced points with bypass scales is more consistent with ground truth than key points.
Performance of bicuspidized pulmonary allografts compared with standard trileaflet allografts.

Background Pulmonary allografts are commonly used in the reconstruction of the right ventricular outflow tract. However, in pediatric patients, allografts that are small enough are often unavailable. To downsize larger, more readily available conduits, one leaflet can be excised, forming a bicuspid valve. The aim of this study was to assess the intermediate-term durability of bicuspidized allografts compared with standard allografts. Methods Forty-seven patients who received a bicuspidized allograft from 1998 to 2008 were compared with 51 patients who received a standard allograft during the same time period. Outcome measures included need for and timing of reintervention, degree of pulmonary stenosis, insufficiency at most recent follow-up, and survival. Results On average, the bicuspidized allograft patients were younger, weighed less, and received smaller valves more frequently placed in a heterotopic position than the standard allograft patients. The mean peak gradient across the conduit and the degree of pulmonary insufficiency at discharge were similar between the comparison groups. No statistical differences in need for or timing of reintervention were observed between the surgical groups. Conclusions Bicuspidized allografts performed similarly to that of standard allografts with regard to the need for reintervention, the development of stenosis or regurgitation, and patient survival. Based on this patient sample, the bicuspidized allograft technique appears to provide an excellent option to expand the availability of small-sized allografts for the reconstruction of the right ventricular outflow tract.
A 280 mV-to-1.1 V 256b Reconfigurable SIMD Vector Permutation Engine With 2-Dimensional Shuffle in 22 nm Tri-Gate CMOS

An ultra-low voltage reconfigurable 4-way to 32-way SIMD vector permutation engine is fabricated in 22 nm tri-gate bulk CMOS, consisting of a 32-entry × 256b 3-read/1-write ported register file with a 256b byte-wise any-to-any permute crossbar for 2-dimensional shuffle. The register file integrates a vertical shuffle across multiple entries into read/write operations, and includes clock-less static reads with shared P/N dual-ended transmission gate (DETG) writes, improving register file VMIN by 250 mV across PVT variations with a wide dynamic operating range of 280 mV-1.1 V. The permute crossbar implements an interleaved folded byte-wise multiplexer layout forming an any-to-any fully connected tree to perform a horizontal shuffle with permute accumulate circuits, and includes vector flip-flops, stacked min-delay buffers, shared gates, and ultra-low voltage split-output (ULVS) level shifters improving logic VMIN by 150 mV, while enabling peak energy efficiency of 585 GOPS/W measured at 260 mV, 50 °C. The permutation engine achieves: (i) nominal register file performance of 1.8 GHz, 106 mW measured at 0.9 V, 50 °C, (ii) robust register file functionality measured down to 280 mV with peak energy efficiency of 154 GOPS/W, (iii) scalable permute crossbar performance of 2.9 GHz, 69 mW measured at 1.1 V, 50 °C with sub-threshold operation at 240 mV, 10 MHz consuming 19 μW, and (iv) a 64b 4 × 4 matrix transpose algorithm and AoS to SoA conversion with 40%-53% energy savings and 25%-42% improved peak throughput measured at 1.8 GHz, 0.9 V.
Correlates of marital happiness among the remarried.

During the last decade, the divorce rate per 1, 000 population in the United States has doubled and divorce is now recognized as being pervasive throughout all major segments of society. While the remarriage rate has declined somewhat in the past few years, most of those who divorce will, nevertheless, eventually marry again. Data on the correlates of marital satisfaction among those who remarry tends to be fragmentary and dated. To provide additional information on this topic, questionnaires were received from 500 ever-divorced persons living in eight western states who were identified through a screening questionnaire sent to a much larger random sample of residents of these states. A total of369 of these persons were remarried at the time of the study. Comparatively, these individuals exhibit a very high level of marital satisfaction. However, traditional correlates of marital happiness among the firstmarriedsuch as presence or absence of children, religious homogeneity, and social class-are found to be relatively poor predictors of marital happiness among the remarried. The nature and types qf problems which do exist in the remarriages tend to be quite different from those that occurred in the marriage that was terminated by divorce.
Long-term thermal stability of Ti/Al/Mo/Au ohmic contacts on n-GaN

Improved performance of the ohmic contacts on n-GaN has been demonstrated with the use of MoAu as the capping layer on TiAl metallization. Contact resistance as low as 0.13 Θ-mm was achieved in these ohmic contacts when annealed at 850°C for 30 sec. We have studied the long-term thermal stability of these contacts at 500°C, 600°C, 750°C, and 850°C, respectively. The Ti/Al/Mo/Au metallization forms low contact-resistance ohmic contacts on n-GaN that are stable at 500°C and 600°C after 25 h of thermal treatment. The ohmic-contact performance degrades after 10 h of thermal treatment at 750°C, while the contacts exhibit nonlinear current-voltage (I-V) characteristics after 1 h of thermal treatment at 850°C with the formation of oxide on the surface of the contacts accompanied by surface discoloration. The intermetallic reactions taking place in the contacts during the long-term thermal treatments were studied using Auger electron spectroscopy (AES), and the surface morphology was characterized using atomic force microscopy (AFM).
Increased cardiac levels of taurine in cardiomyopathy : the paradoxical benefits of oral taurine treatment

Taurine is an amino acid found in high concentrations in mammalian tissues, however, its function has yet to be fully understood. Certain cellular processes are known to be modulated by taurine, e.g., calcium metabolism, protein phosphorylation, and osmoregulation. Taurine has been used with both experimental and clinical success in treating various cardiovascular diseases. Significantly, treatment with oral taurine has been beneficial in improving signs and symptoms of congestive heart failure. Taurine treatment is safe and inexpensive, and at the very least, taurine may be therapeutically useful as a nutritional supplement in patients with cardiovascular disease. Curiously, certain conditions or models of cardiovascular disease which benefit from taurine treatment exhibit increased levels of taurine in the heart. This article serves to review the various experimental and clinical models which have been used to study the paradoxical benefit of therapy with oral taurine.
On the spectrum of N0-matrices

Abstract The author studies the spectrum of N 0 -matrices, i.e. matrices of the form A = αI − B where B ⩾0 and λ 0 ⩽ α B ). Here, λ 0 is the maximum of the spectral radii of all principal submatrices of B of order n − 1.
Surface science and electrochemical studies of WC and W2C PVD films as potential electrocatalysts

Abstract The stability of WC and W2C in an electrochemical environment has been examined using an electrochemical half-cell in combination with X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) to monitor changes in surface composition. The W2C film is not stable in the electrochemical environment, immediately oxidizing to form surface WxOy species. In contrast, the WC film is stable at the anode potential below 0.6 V, demonstrating the potential to be used as an electrocatalyst. In order to determine the feasibility of using WC as an electrocatalyst for direct methanol fuel cells (DMFC), the reaction of methanol on the PVD WC film has been studied using ultrahigh vacuum (UHV) surface techniques, including high-resolution electron energy loss spectroscopy (HREELS) and Auger electron spectroscopy (AES). Methanol dissociates on the WC film to produce the methoxy intermediate (CH3O), which is stable on the WC surface to 500 K. The reaction of methanol has also been investigated on WC films modified by low coverages of Pt, which shows a promoting effect of Pt for the dissociation of methoxy in the temperature range of 400–500 K. The surface science results suggest a synergistic effect for supporting low coverages of Pt on WC films for the potential application as electrocatalysts.
Tbx20 regulation of cardiac cell proliferation and lineage specialization during embryonic and fetal development in vivo.

TBX20 gain-of-function mutations in humans are associated with congenital heart malformations and myocardial defects. However the effects of increased Tbx20 function during cardiac chamber development and maturation have not been reported previously. CAG-CAT-Tbx20 transgenic mice were generated for Cre-dependent induction of Tbx20 in myocardial lineages in the developing heart. βMHCCre-mediated overexpression of Tbx20 in fetal ventricular cardiomyocytes results in increased thickness of compact myocardium, induction of cardiomyocyte proliferation, and increased expression of Bmp10 and pSmad1/5/8 at embryonic day (E) 14.5. βMHCCre-mediated Tbx20 overexpression also leads to increased expression of cardiac conduction system (CCS) genes Tbx5, Cx40, and Cx43 throughout the ventricular myocardium. In contrast, Nkx2.5Cre mediated overexpression of Tbx20 in the embryonic heart results in reduced cardiomyocyte proliferation, increased expression of a cell cycle inhibitor, p21CIP1, and decreased expression of Tbx2, Tbx5, and N-myc1 at E9.5, concomitant with decreased phospho-ERK1/2 expression. Together, these analyses demonstrate that Tbx20 differentially regulates cell proliferation and cardiac lineage specification in embryonic versus fetal cardiomyocytes. Induction of pSmad1/5/8 at E14.5 and inhibition of dpERK expression at E9.5 are consistent with selective Tbx20 regulation of these pathways in association with stage-specific effects on cardiomyocyte proliferation. Together, these in vivo data support distinct functions for Tbx20 in regulation of cardiomyocyte lineage maturation and cell proliferation at embryonic and fetal stages of heart development.
A framework for the design and audit of an activity‐based costing system

The objective of a cost management system is to provide accurate and useful information to help companies in utilizing their valuable resources for producing quality goods and services in a competitive environment. Activity‐based costing (ABC) has been found more appropriate for capital intensive manufacturing environments. However, there is no systemic framework for design and implementation of ABC. Realizing the importance of ABC, an attempt has been made in this paper to develop a framework for the design of an ABC system. It is based on the review of literature on the design and implementation of ABC. In ABC, the activities required to manufacture a product should be identified and then quantified by their consumption of resources. The cost of each activity that is required to produce the product/parts will be calculated in such a way that the factors causing or driving the cost (cost drivers) of the activity in question can be determined. The cost driver rate will be used to allocate the cost of activities to a product/part according to the volume of the cost driver. In addition, the advantages and limitations of ABC are also discussed.
The Practice of Carotid Revascularization in a Large Metropolitan Population

Carotid endartectomy (CEA) and carotid artery stenting (CAS) reduce the risk of stroke when performed with acceptable perioperative morbidity and mortality. Studies from the 1980s in the greater Cincinnati/northern Kentucky population showed that perioperative risk after CEA exceeded the recommended boundaries of 3.0% for asymptomatic stenosis and 6.0% for symptomatic stenosis. We investigated the indications and outcomes for CEA and CAS in the same population during 2005. We identified all residents of the greater Cincinnati/northern Kentucky region who underwent CEA or CAS at any local hospital during 2005. Identified cases of transient ischemic attack or stroke occurring before or after CEA or CAS were abstracted by study nurses and reviewed by a study physician. The main outcome of interest was 30-day risk of stroke or death after CEA or CAS. Events were analyzed using Kaplan-Meier statistics. Among approximately 1.3 million greater Cincinnati/northern Kentucky residents, 525 CEAs were performed, 343 (65%) for asymptomatic stenosis and 182 (35%) for symptomatic stenosis. There were 43 CAS procedures, 23 (53%) for asymptomatic stenosis and 20 (47%) for symptomatic stenosis. The 30-day perioperative risk of stroke or death after CEA was 3.3% (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.8%-5.9%) for asymptomatic stenosis and 6.3% (95% CI, 3.5%-11.1%) for symptomatic stenosis. The 30-day perioperative risk of stroke or death after CAS was 4.6% (95% CI, 0.7%-28.1%) for asymptomatic stenosis and 21.1% (95% CI, 8.5%-46.8%) for symptomatic stenosis. Point estimates for perioperative risk after CEA were improved from previous studies but remained above the recommended benchmarks. The number of CAS procedures was low, but the perioperative risk was significant.
Origin of metazoan cadherin diversity and the antiquity of the classical cadherin/β-catenin complex

The evolution of cadherins, which are essential for metazoan multicellularity and restricted to metazoans and their closest relatives, has special relevance for understanding metazoan origins. To reconstruct the ancestry and evolution of cadherin gene families, we analyzed the genomes of the choanoflagellate Salpingoeca rosetta, the unicellular outgroup of choanoflagellates and metazoans Capsaspora owczarzaki, and a draft genome assembly from the homoscleromorph sponge Oscarella carmela. Our finding of a cadherin gene in C. owczarzaki reveals that cadherins predate the divergence of the C. owczarzaki, choanoflagellate, and metazoan lineages. Data from these analyses also suggest that the last common ancestor of metazoans and choanoflagellates contained representatives of at least three cadherin families, lefftyrin, coherin, and hedgling. Additionally, we find that an O. carmela classical cadherin has predicted structural features that, in bilaterian classical cadherins, facilitate binding to the cytoplasmic protein β-catenin and, thereby, promote cadherin-mediated cell adhesion. In contrast with premetazoan cadherin families (i.e., those conserved between choanoflagellates and metazoans), the later appearance of classical cadherins coincides with metazoan origins.
Aroclor 1254, a developmental neurotoxicant, alters energy metabolism- and intracellular signaling-associated protein networks in rat cerebellum and hippocampus

The vast literature on the mode of action of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) indicates that PCBs are a unique model for understanding the mechanisms of toxicity of environmental mixtures of persistent chemicals. PCBs have been shown to adversely affect psychomotor function and learning and memory in humans. Although the molecular mechanisms for PCB effects are unclear, several studies indicate that the disruption of Ca(2+)-mediated signal transduction plays significant roles in PCB-induced developmental neurotoxicity. Culminating events in signal transduction pathways include the regulation of gene and protein expression, which affects the growth and function of the nervous system. Our previous studies showed changes in gene expression related to signal transduction and neuronal growth. In this study, protein expression following developmental exposure to PCB is examined. Pregnant rats (Long Evans) were dosed with 0.0 or 6.0mg/kg/day of Aroclor-1254 from gestation day 6 through postnatal day (PND) 21, and the cerebellum and hippocampus from PND14 animals were analyzed to determine Aroclor 1254-induced differential protein expression. Two proteins were found to be differentially expressed in the cerebellum following PCB exposure while 18 proteins were differentially expressed in the hippocampus. These proteins are related to energy metabolism in mitochondria (ATP synthase, sub unit β (ATP5B), creatine kinase, and malate dehydrogenase), calcium signaling (voltage-dependent anion-selective channel protein 1 (VDAC1) and ryanodine receptor type II (RyR2)), and growth of the nervous system (dihydropyrimidinase-related protein 4 (DPYSL4), valosin-containing protein (VCP)). Results suggest that Aroclor 1254-like persistent chemicals may alter energy metabolism and intracellular signaling, which might result in developmental neurotoxicity.
The role of maternal self-care in new motherhood.

Abstract Objective to examine the following: (1) women's perceptions regarding the role of maternal self-care, (2) specific applications of self-care in new motherhood and (3) barriers to practising effective self-care. Design three focus groups were conducted in order to study women's perspectives regarding the key components of new motherhood. Setting recruitment took place in Allegheny County, surrounding Pittsburgh. The focus groups were held at the University of Pittsburgh's Medical School. Participants thirty-one adult women who had given birth in the year prior to enrollment participated in the study. Methods the focus group conversations were recorded and transcribed for purposes of qualitative analysis. Conversation related to maternal self-care, which was identified as a component of new motherhood, was grouped into one of three categories: (1) women's valuations of self-care, (2) effective applications of self-care and (3) barriers to good self-care practice. Findings two ideologies regarding the role of self-care emerged. In one conception of effective mothering, self-care was of primary importance. On the contrary, some women associated a sometimes extreme form of self-sacrifice with new motherhood. Effective applications of self-care included taking time to exercise, allowing the infant's father to care for the child for a period of time and going out to restaurants. Barriers to good self-care practice were time, other limited resources such as money and social support and difficulty accepting help and setting boundaries. Key conclusions additional focus groups should be conducted with the purpose of studying maternal self-care exclusively. This work is an important first step in identifying ways to help new mothers better care for themselves.
A Freshman Course in Religion

CURRICULUM revision is now a strong tide in higher education. Our rapidly changing age, the competition of rival ideas as in Communism, the hideous or sublime depths revealed in war, the wonder about an uncertain world future, the unprecedented flood of students are factors which compel re-examination of the fields or methods of study. In the impending changes, the teachers of religion have a new and wider responsibility and opportunity. New departments of religion, additional teachers in present departments, new courses, increased interest among faculties, deep questionings by students who have faced life or death and who
Cerebrovascular emergencies in pregnancy

Caring for pregnant and postpartum patients with neurological disease carries specific challenges. In performing a diagnosis, it is often difficult to differentiate between true pathology and neurological symptoms resulting from normal pregnancy physiology. Treating the pregnant patient can be problematic as well. Providers need to be aware of the possible untoward effects of maternal treatments on the developing fetus, but not withhold therapies that reduce disease-related morbidity and mortality. Given the complexities of conducting trials during pregnancy, few treatments are based on high-quality data; observational data and clinical expert opinion often guide treatments. With the exception of preeclampsia/eclampsia, neurological diseases typically do not warrant early delivery in the absence of fetal distress. Multidisciplinary care, utilizing the expertise of anesthesiology, critical care medicine, emergency medicine, maternal–fetal medicine, neurology, and radiology, is essential in ensuring prompt diagnosis and treatment.
A Study of the Histological Effects of Hypoderma lineatum (De Vill.) on Gullet Tissue Taken from Systemically Treated and Untreated Cattle

An evaluation was made of the histopathological effects of the systemic insecticide, O -(3-chloro-4 methylumbelliferone) O,O -diethyl phosphorothioate (Co-Ral®; Bayer 21/199), on the gullet tissues of cattle sprayed with a 0.5% concentration and cattle drenched at the rate of 10 mg./kg. body weight for control of the common cattle grub (Hypoderma lineatum (De Vill.)). Good control of grubs with the spray and none with the drench resulted. A study of the prepared sections revealed no difference in the actual tissue of the grubs, except in case of the dead grubs. An examination of the gullet connective tissue surrounding the grubs revealed the following: Tissue from Sprayed Animal: Tissue and cells appear to be normal, i.e. normal numbers of macrophages, lymphocytes, plasma cells, and fiberblasts, and collagen ous fibers, The spray apparently had no effect on the connective tissue around the parasites or on the walls of the esophagus. The esophagi from the sprayed animals were normal. Tissue from Drenched Animal: Very heavy infiltration of lymphocytes, macrophages, and plasma cells, and fiberblasts, with active inflammation was observed. In the submucosa, loose and reticular connective tissue fibers were normal. Quite a number of plasma cells and macrophages were present. Many polymorphoneuclearcytes were present, indicating active inflammation probably owing to drench. Also noticeable was a mild to acute inflammation of the connective tissue fibers and cells of the lamina propriety of the esophagus. The inflammation was doubtless caused by the reaction of the host to one or two foreign agents, namely, the larval stages of H. lineatum , and the administration of the systemic insecticide. This probably indicates that the use of Co-Ral as a drench not only failed to give grub control, but was detrimental as well.
Power integral bases for real cyclotomic fields

We consider the problem of determining all power integral bases for the maximal real subfield Q (ζ + ζ−1) of the p-th cyclotomic field Q (ζ), where p ≥ 5 is prime and ζ is a primitive p-th root of unity. The ring of integers is Z[ζ+ζ−1] so a power integral basis always exists, and there are further non-obvious generators for the ring. Specifically, we prove that if or one of the Galois conjugates of these five algebraic integers. Up to integer translation and multiplication by −1, there are no additional generators for p ≤ 11, and it is plausible that there are no additional generators for p > 13 as well. For p = 13 there is an additional generator, but we show that it does not generalise to an additional generator for 13 < p < 1000.