cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
InGaAs/GaAsSb Type-II Superlattices for Short-Wavelength Infrared Detection

Type-II superlattices based on In0.53Ga0.47As/GaAs0.51Sb0.49 (5 nm/5 nm) lattice-matched to InP substrates are investigated for short-wavelength infrared detection. Eight band k.p simulations were utilized to extract information on the electronic band structure, which were in turn used to calculate the optical absorption spectrum of the superlattice. The effective bandgap is calculated to be 0.494 eV, corresponding to a cutoff wavelength of λc = 2.51 μm and optical absorption coefficient of approximately 2000 cm−1 at 2 μm. Quantum efficiency was calculated for a standard InGaAs/T2SL/InGaAs p-i-n device structure, where quantum efficiency exceeding 50% at 2 μm may be achieved. Dark current was calculated considering Auger, radiative, and Shockley–Read–Hall generation-recombination, where Shockley–Read–Hall recombination-generation was found to be the limiting mechanism for a trap density greater than 5 × 1014 cm−3, and radiatively limited performance is predicted for a lower trap density. The estimated dark current density is expected to be comparable to existing HgCdTe technology, while outperforming extended-range InGaAs by more than an order of magnitude.
A Behind-the-Meter Battery Control Algorithm with the Consideration of Li-ion Battery Degradation

A behind-the-meter energy storage system can be utilized to mitigate the impact of renewable generation and to improve the monetary benefit to the owner. However, different charging/discharging profiles will directly impact the cycle life of a battery system. A new battery scheduling algorithm with consideration of battery life degradation has been proposed. Software simulations have been performed on a modified IEEE 13-node test feeder with a 100 kW / 400 kWh battery system to validate the voltage regulation and demand charge reduction functionalities. Hardware experiments have been performed to analyze the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm on battery life management.
Role of tissue transglutaminase in conferring metastatic potential in breast cancer cells

796 Tissue type II transglutaminase (TG2) is an important member of the transglutaminase family, which is expressed in endothelial cells and secreted into the extra cellular matrix where it is bound to fibronectin. It cross links the proteins involved in wound healing, tissue remodeling and ECM stabilization. TG2 helps in preventing the leakage of intracellular components and its expression up regulates in drug resistant and metastases breast cancer cells. To understand the role of TG2 in conferring metastatic potential to breast cancer cells, we used two MDA-MB231 clones, which were rich or deficient in TG2 level and studied the involvement of surface TG2 in cell adhesion, invasion, migration and other important parameters of metastases. The clone, which showed high TG2 expression was more adhesive, migrative and invasive compared to low TG2 expressed clone. Flow Cytometry results revealed that TG2 showed high affinity with β1 and β3 integrins. Immuno precipitation study revealed that TG2 co-precipitated with these integrins when grown on Fn coated surface and showed increased resistance to paclitaxel. Study on correlation between the expression of TG2 and other known breast cancer metastatic prognostic markers in six different cancer cell lines by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction showed that metastases depend on many genes including TG2 that modulates the metastases of tumors. The present study provides evidence that TG2 expression is up regulated in metastatic cancer cells and plays an important role in conferring metastases potential to breast cancer cells by helping them to become more adhesive, invasive and migrative.
Virtual Reality: Whence, How and What For

In the 1990s, the term “virtual reality” brought to mind futuristic scenarios based on sci-fi fantasies popularized in books such as Gibson’s (1984) Neuromancer and movies such as the Wachowski brothers’ The Matrix. These media classics pointed to and perhaps raised expectations for digital three-dimensional sensory displays rendered by some complex yet to be invented or at least not-quite-ready for prime time hardware.
Do Orthopedic Trauma Surgeons Adhere to AAOS Guidelines when Treating Distal Radius Fractures

Background The American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons (AAOS) has provided Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPG) and Appropriate Use Criteria (AUC) regarding management of distal radius fractures. The purpose of this study was to evaluate current practices in management of distal radius fractures among orthopedic trauma surgeons and to examine adherence to the AAOS criteria. Methods An online survey was posted and distributed via the Orthopaedic Trauma Association (OTA) website. Information collected included demographics, injury management, and case based questions. For all cases, surgeons were asked to select their treatment of choice given the same fracture in a 25-year-old patient and a 65-year-old patient. Results were compared between surgeons with 10 years of experience. Results There was a total of 51 survey respondents. 45% had 10 years in practice. All respondents reported routine use of preoperative radiographs, while 26% reported routine use of preoperative computed tomography (CT) scans. 73% of respondents reported that they perform operative adjunct fixation of associated ligamentous injuries at the time of distal radius fracture fixation. No one used wrist arthroscopy or fixed associated ulnar styloid fractures. 69% did not allow any range of motion in the immediate postoperative period, while the remainder allowed active and/ or passive ROM. 20% routinely used Vitamin C for Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) prophylaxis postoperatively. 59% routinely used physical and/ or occupational therapy postoperatively. For case-based scenarios, respondents generally tended towards operative fixation in younger patients compared to older patients with the same fracture type. Surgeons with 10 years in practice varied significantly in terms of preoperative imaging and operative fixation of associated ligamentous injuries at the time of fracture fixation. Conclusions When compared to the AAOS CPG and AUC, orthopedic trauma surgeons generally followed accepted treatment guidelines. Differing practices between surgeons with 10 years in practice may be reflective of what is taught in residency training programs.
Using textual data for Personality Prediction:A Machine Learning Approach

Personality is an important parameter as it differentiates various individuals from one another. Personality prediction is an evergreen area of research. Predicting personality with the help of data through social media is a promising approach as this method does not require any questionnaires to be filled by users thus reducing time and increasing credibility. Thus having knowledge of personality is an interesting domain for researchers to work on. Predicting personality has many applications in real world. Use of social media is increasing day by day. Huge amount of textual data as well as images continue to explode to the web daily. Current work focuses on Linear Discriminate Analysis, Multinomial Naive Bayes and AdaBoost over Twitter standard dataset.
Incidence and risk factors of reoperation in patients with adjacent segment disease: A meta-analysis.

Study Design: This was a systematic review of the literature and meta-analysis. Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the current literature regarding the risk factors contributing to reoperation due to adjacent segment disease (ASD). Summary of Background Data: ASD is a broad term referring to a variety of complications which might require reoperation. Revision spine surgery is known to be associated with poor clinical outcomes and high rate of complications. Unplanned reoperation has been suggested as a quality marker for the hospitals. Materials and Methods: An electronic search was conducted using PubMed. A total of 2467 articles were reviewed. Of these, 55 studies met our inclusion criteria and included an aggregate of 1940 patients. Data were collected pertaining to risk factors including age, sex, fusion length, lumbar lordosis, body mass index, pelvic incidence, sacral slope, pelvis tilt, initial pathology, type of fusion procedure, floating versus sacral or pelvic fusion, presence of preoperative facet or disc degeneration at the junctional segment, and sagittal orientation of the facets at the junctional segment. Analysis of the data was performed using Comprehensive Meta-Analysis software (Biostat, Inc.). Results: The overall pooled incidence rate of reoperation due to ASD from all included studies was 0.08 (confidence interval: 0.065–0.098). Meta-regression analysis demonstrated no significant interaction between age and reoperation rate (P = 0.48). A comparison of the event rates between males and females demonstrated no significant difference between male and female reoperation rates (P = 0.58). There was a significantly higher rate of ASD in patients with longer fusion constructs (P = 0.0001). Conclusions: We found that 8% of patients in our included studies required reoperation due to ASD. Our analysis also revealed that longer fusion constructs correlated with a higher rate of subsequent revision surgery. Therefore, the surgeon should limit the number of fusion levels if possible to reduce the risk of future reoperation due to ASD. Level of evidence: IV
Resolution of subcomponents of synaptic release from post-synaptic currents in rat hair-cell/auditory-nerve fiber dendrites

The synapse between inner hair cells and auditory nerve fiber dendrites shows large EPSCs, which are either monophasic or multiphasic. Multiquantal or uniquantal flickering release have been proposed to underlie the unusual multiphasic waveforms. Here the nature of multiphasic waveforms is analyzed using EPSCs recorded in vitro in rat afferent dendrites. Spontaneous EPSCs were deconvolved into a sum of presumed release events with monophasic EPSC waveforms. Results incude: first, the charge of EPSCs is about the same for multiphasic versus monophasic EPSCs. Second, EPSC amplitudes decline with the number of release events per EPSC. Third, there is no evidence of a mini-EPSC. Most results can be accounted for by versions of either uniquantal or multiquantal release. However, serial neurotransmitter release in multiphasic EPSCs shows properties that are not fully explained by either model, especially that the amplitudes of individual release events is established at the beginning of a multiphasic EPSC, constraining possible models of vesicle release.
Edgeworth Corrections in Randomized Central Limit Theorems

We consider rates of approximation of distributions of weighted sums of independent, identically distributed random variables by the Edgeworth correction of the 4-th order.
Encoding of facial features by single neurons in the human amygdala and hippocampus

Abstract The human amygdala and hippocampus play a key role in face processing. However, it has been unknown how the neurons in the human amygdala and hippocampus encode facial feature information and directs eye movements to salient facial features such as the eyes and mouth. In this study, we identified a population of neurons that differentiated fixations on the eyes vs. mouth. The response of these feature-selective neurons was not dependent on fixation order, and eye-preferring and mouth-preferring neurons were not of different neuronal types. We found another population of neurons that differentiated saccades to the eyes vs. mouth. Population decoding confirmed our results and further revealed the temporal dynamics of face feature coding. Interestingly, we found that the amygdala and hippocampus played a different role in encoding face features. Lastly, we revealed two functional roles of feature-selective neurons that they encoded the salient region for face recognition and they encoded perceived social trait judgment. Together, we revealed and characterized a new class of neurons that encoded facial features. These neurons may play an important role in social perception and recognition of faces.
Possible protective role of 17β-estradiol against COVID-19

Severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the virus that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19); a worldwide pandemic as declared by the World Health Organization (WHO). SARS-CoV-2 appears to infect cells by first binding and priming its viral-spike proteins with membrane-associated angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) and transmembrane protease serine 2 (TMPRSS2). Through the coordinated actions of ACE2 and TMPRSS2, SARS-CoV-2 spike proteins fuse with plasma membranes and ultimately the virus enters cells. ACE2 is integral to the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS), and SARS-CoV-2 down-regulates protein expression levels of ACE2. Once infected, patients typically develop acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and a number of other severe complications that result in a high rate of fatality, especially in older (>60 years) adults and in people with pre-existing medical conditions. Data now indicate clearly that among people of all age groups, COVID-19 fatalities are higher in men than women. Here, attention is focused on these sex differences and posit a role of estrogen in these differences as well as possible therapeutic and protective actions of 17β-estradiol against COVID-19.
The History of Philosophy Reveals that 'Great' Philosophy is Disgused Moral Advocacy: A Nietzschean Case Against the Socratic Canon in Philosophy

Instrumentalists think the history of philosophy is as relevant to philosophy as the history of physics is to physics: if past philosophical or physical theories are true, or help us get to the truth, then we should know about them, otherwise not. Skeptical instrumentalists think history fails on these counts, optimistic instrumentalists think it does not. By contrast “anti-philosophical” instrumentalists — like Marx, Nietszche, and Wittgenstein — are not simply skeptics, because the skeptics still believe there is something for philosophy to do, some knowledge it can produce, some truths it can reveal. The anti-philosophical philosophers think we should give up philosophy as traditionally conceived: the real lesson from the history of philosophy is that philosophy is “garbage,” or, as Nietzsche thought, disguised moral advocacy. For Nietzsche, this is the real lesson of the history of philosophy.
Alterations to the gut microbiome impair bone tissue strength in aged mice.

Abstract Whole bone strength and resistance to fracture are determined by a combination of bone quantity and bone quality – key factors in determining risk for osteoporosis and age-related fractures. Recent preclinical studies have shown that alterations to the gut microbiome can influence bone quantity as well as bone tissue quality. Prior work on the gut microbiome and bone has been limited to young animals, and it is unknown if the gut microbiome can alter bone tissue strength in aged animals. Here we ask if alterations to the constituents of the gut microbiome influence bone strength in older mice (12–24 months of age). Male C57BL/6J mice raised on a standard chow diet until 12 months of age were assigned to one of three diets: high glycemic, low glycemic, or low glycemic diet containing antibiotics (ampicillin and neomycin) to modify the constituents of the gut microbiome. The group fed the low glycemic diet containing antibiotics showed reductions in whole bone strength that could not be explained by geometry, indicating reduced bone tissue strength (p
AI Tax in Mobile SoCs: End-to-end Performance Analysis of Machine Learning in Smartphones

Mobile software is becoming increasingly feature rich, commonly being accessorized with the powerful decision making capabilities of machine learning (ML). To keep up with the consequently higher power and performance demands, system and hardware architects add specialized hardware units onto their system-on-chips (SoCs) coupled with frameworks to delegate compute optimally. While these SoC innovations are rapidly improving ML model performance and power efficiency, auxiliary data processing and supporting infrastructure to enable ML model execution can substantially alter the performance profile of a system. This work posits the existence of an AI tax, the time spent on non-model execution tasks. We characterize the execution pipeline of open source ML benchmarks and Android applications in terms of AI tax and discuss where performance bottlenecks may unexpectedly arise.
A study of state-of-the-art energy saving on edges

Edge computing or Internet of Things (IoT) comprises a set of devices that are interconnected ranging from our daily used objects to advanced networked equipment. It is constantly evolving as the number of devices owned by users is increasing at a rapid speed. These devices are used for various scenarios such as health care, monitoring, autonomous vehicles etc. However, as the edges perform more complex operations and IoTs carry increasing heavy workloads, they demand more energy to perform such tasks. In this paper, we perform a comprehensive study of state-of-the-art energy saving on edge platforms. Specifically, energy efficiency of the devices that run on the edges as well as corresponding solutions including hardware, software, algorithms, etc. will be thoroughly analyzed and we also presented the strengths and weakness of various researches in each area.
Factor VIII inhibitor bypass activity (FEIBA) for the reduction of transfusion in cardiac surgery: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, pilot trial.

Background Uncontrolled bleeding after cardiac surgery can be life-threatening. Factor eight inhibitor bypassing activity (FEIBA) is a prothrombin complex concentrate empirically used as rescue therapy for correction of refractory bleeding diathesis post-cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). FEIBA used as rescue therapy for bleeding diathesis after CPB has been associated with a low incidence of complications and a reduction in transfusion requirement and re-exploration. The feasibility and efficacy of early administration of FEIBA after the termination of CPB have not been studied in a prospective randomized trial. Methods We designed a small randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled pilot trial to determine the feasibility of a larger trial testing the hypothesis that FEIBA decreases transfusion requirements after CPB. The study was designed to evaluate the feasibility of a larger pivotal trial to determine the effectiveness of FEIBA in reducing the total volume of blood products transfused perioperatively, and its safety profile. Study participants were adult patients undergoing elective major aortic cardiovascular surgery at a tertiary referral hospital, who were equally randomized to receive a single dose of either FEIBA or matched placebo intraoperatively at the end of CPB. Results Twenty patients were screened and 12 were randomized and included in the analysis. Protocol adherence was high, and all patients received the study drug per intention-to-treat except one patient. There were no protocol deviations or events of unblinding, and adverse events were not different between groups. Patients in the FEIBA group were older and more likely to be female and had higher BMI, lower hematocrit, and longer hypothermic circulatory arrest. There were no differences in post-randomization blood product transfusions (difference FEIBA vs. placebo -899 mL; 95% CI -5206 to 3409) or in the administration of open-label FEIBA. Conclusions This pilot trial confirmed the adequacy of the trial design that involved the early, blinded administration of FEIBA, by demonstrating excellent protocol adherence. We conclude that a larger trial establishing the effectiveness of early prothrombin complex concentrate administration to reduce the use of blood products in the setting of high-risk cardiac surgery is feasible. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02577614 . Registered 16 October 2015.
Military Business : Explaining Support for Policy Change in China, Cuba, and Vietnam

(2004). Military Business : Explaining Support for Policy Change in China, Cuba, and Vietnam. Problems of Post-Communism: Vol. 51, No. 6, pp. 44-63.
Why the null matters: Statistical tests, random walks and evolution

A number of statistical tests have been developed to determine what type of dynamics underlie observed changes in morphology in evolutionary time series, based on the pattern of change within the time series. The theory of the ‘scaled maximum’, the ‘log-rate-interval’ (LRI) method, and the Hurst exponent all operate on the same principle of comparing the maximum change, or rate of change, in the observed dataset to the maximum change expected of a random walk. Less change in a dataset than expected of a random walk has been interpreted as indicating stabilizing selection, while more change implies directional selection. The ‘runs test’ in contrast, operates on the sequencing of steps, rather than on excursion. Applications of these tests to computer generated, simulated time series of known dynamical form and various levels of additive noise indicate that there is a fundamental asymmetry in the rate of type II errors of the tests based on excursion: they are all highly sensitive to noise in models of directional selection that result in a linear trend within a time series, but are largely noise immune in the case of a simple model of stabilizing selection. Additionally, the LRI method has a lower sensitivity than originally claimed, due to the large range of LRI rates produced by random walks. Examination of the published results of these tests show that they have seldom produced a conclusion that an observed evolutionary time series was due to directional selection, a result which needs closer examination in light of the asymmetric response of these tests.
Deprojection of Galaxies: How much can be Learned?

A general discussion, based on the “Fourier Slice Theorem,” is given for the problem of deprojecting the observed light distribution of galaxies to obtain their intrinsic three dimensional light distribution or “shape.” Several results are obtained: 1) A model-independent deprojection of an axially symmetric galaxy is shown to be possible only if the symmetry axis lies in the plane of the sky. 2) A simple criterion is given to test whether two different galaxies can have the same intrinsic shape, based solely on their observed projections. 3) It is shown that a homogeneous class of galaxies can be deprojected using a sufficiently large number of projections of random perspective.
Rapid Reactions of Cytochromes of Hemophilus parainfluenzae on Addition of Substrates or Oxygen

Abstract Addition of oxidizable substrates to aerobic suspensions of Hemophilus parainfluenzae containing no endogenous substrate results in rapid reduction of b and c type cytochromes to the aerobic steady state. The extent of reduction depends upon the relative activities of the dehydrogenases and oxidases involved. Addition of oxygen to anaerobic cells containing substrate rapidly oxidizes the cytochromes to the aerobic steady state. The rapid kinetics observed on mixing with oxygen show no evidence that the initial rate of oxidation of part of the b or c type cytochromes is higher, even within bacteria with a large stoichiometric imbalance of these cytochrome types. Cytochrome a2 reacts rapidly enough with oxygen to be considered a terminal oxidase, and indirect evidence indicates that cytochrome o reacts as rapidly with oxygen as does the mammalian oxidase (pseudofirst order rate constant around 80 sec-1 at room temperature).
STUDIES OF STREPTOCOCCAL CELL WALLS VI. : Effects of Adjuvants on the Production of Type-specific Antibodies to Cell Walls and Isolated M Protein

Hayashi, James A. (University of Illinois College of Medicine, Chicago) and Gerald Walsh. Studies of streptococcal cell walls. VI. Effects of adjuvants on the production of type-specific antibodies to cell walls and isolated M protein. J. Bacteriol. 82:736–742. 1961.—Mineral oil adjuvant was shown to assist in type-specific immunization of rabbits, when use was made of isolated cell walls or pH 2-extracted M protein from type 14 group A hemolytic streptococci. The antibodies produced were type specific, and passively protected mice that were challenged with virulent type 14 streptococci. A single injection each week for 4 weeks gave good levels of antibody. Simultaneous immunization with three different types of group A streptococci resulted in production of antibodies against all three types.
Children in orphanages: Newt Gingrich is not Daddy Warbucks.

If we were living in the best of all possible worlds, every child would be born into a loving family, with two parents who were able to care for the material as well as the emotional needs of the child. But such is not the case, and currently half a million children and youth are in out-of-home placement funded by the government (Newsweek. December 12, 1994:28). We as a collective society must determine what is best for those children who have not been given the best by the circumstances of their birth. Who then is most able to determine what is best for any given child, and how does society9s needs (especially economic ones) enter into the decision making?1
ULTRASONOGRAPHIC ASSESSMENT OF LONG‐TERM ENTERECTOMY SITES IN DOGS

Twenty-eight enterectomy sites from 28 dogs were evaluated sonographically 6 months postoperatively or later. The longest time between the enterectomy and sonography was nearly 7 years. The enterectomy site was visible sonograpically in 22/28 (78.6%) dogs. The enterectomy scar typically appeared as mild focal intestinal wall thickening (90.9%) with altered (90.9%) or absent wall layering (9.1%) over a short distance of the bowel (median 1.2 cm, range from 0.6 to 2.5 cm). Intramural hyperechoic foci, most likely representing fibrosis or nonabsorbed suture material were noted in 63.6% of the visible enterectomy sites. A focal accumulation of intraluminal gas was often seen (81.8%) at the enterectomy site. Additional ultrasonographic features included the presence of an irregular hyperechoic rim bordering the enterectomy site (50 %), and a focal deviation of the intestinal course (45.5%). These descriptive features may assist ultrasonographers in differentiating a previous enterectomy site from other focal intestinal changes.
Radiative corrections to the muonium hyperfine structure: The α 2 ( Z α) correction

This is the second of a series of papers on the radiative corrections of order ${\ensuremath{\alpha}}^{2}(Z\ensuremath{\alpha})$, $\ensuremath{\alpha}(Z\ensuremath{\alpha}{)}^{2}$, and various logarithmic terms of order ${\ensuremath{\alpha}}^{4}$, to the hyperfine structure of the muonium ground state. This paper deals with the $\ensuremath{\alpha}(Z\ensuremath{\alpha}{)}^{2}$ correction. Based on the NRQED bound state theory, we isolated the term of order $\ensuremath{\alpha}(Z\ensuremath{\alpha}{)}^{2}$ exactly. Our result $+16.904 2 (11)\ensuremath{\alpha}(Z\ensuremath{\alpha}{)}^{2}{E}_{F}/\ensuremath{\pi}$ for the non-logarithmic part is consistent with the $\ensuremath{\alpha}(Z\ensuremath{\alpha}{)}^{2}$ part of Sapirstein's calculation and the recent result of Pachucki, and reduces the numerical uncertainty in the $\ensuremath{\alpha}(Z\ensuremath{\alpha}{)}^{2}$ term by 2 orders of magnitude.
Ideal Error-Correcting Codes: Unifying Algebraic and Number-Theoretic Algorithms

Over the past five years a number of algorithms decoding some well-studied error-correcting codes far beyond their "error-correcting radii" have been developed. These algorithms, usually termed as list-decoding algorithms, originated with a list-decoder for Reed-Solomon codes [36,17], and were soon extended to decoders for Algebraic Geometry codes [33,17] and also to some number-theoretic codes [12,6,16]. In addition to their enhanced decoding capability, these algorithms enjoy the benefit of being conceptually simple, fairly general [16], and are capable of exploiting soft-decision information in algebraic decoding [24]. This article surveys these algorithms and highlights some of these features.
A negative staining-carbon film technique for studying viruses in the electron microscope: III. The formation of two-dimensional and three-dimensional crystalline arrays of cowpea chlorotic mottle virus

The negative staining-carbon film technique was applied to purified and highly concentrated suspensions of cowpea chlorotic mottle virus (CCMV) wild type and a salt-stable mutant. Both two-dimensional and three-dimensional crystals were rapidly formed at the surface of mica using CCMV suspensions containing about 2.0 to 14.0 mg/ml of virus. When mixed with 3% ammonium molybdate at pH 5.2 the crystals contained CCMV particles predominantly packed in a hexagonal array at the mica surface. At pH 7.0, the crystals were observed to be predominantly in square arrays. Under the preparative conditions used it was possible to form crystalline sheets with sides of several micrometers and in some instances covering entire grid squares. The crystals were found to be ideal for producing low-angle electron diffraction patterns and optical diffraction patterns from the micrographs with spectra extending out to about 2.0 nm. Experiments carried out on CCMV wild type and the salt stable mutants also showed that rapid morphological degradation occurs following storage at 4°C. The viral components from the degraded virus were observed to influence both the formation of the crystals and resolution obtainable from the specimens.
Level synthesis approach to application-specific integrated circuits (ASIC) design

A high-level synthesis approach to ASIC design is presented. The tutorial focuses on the solutions a synthesis system can offer in an environment where ASIC design problems are becoming increasingly complex. In particular, it is shown how a synthesis system can help in shortening the design cycle and documentation of the design process and aid the design verification. The synthesis process is defined as applied to ASIC design. The benefits synthesis can offer an ASIC designer are discussed. The requirements that a synthesis approach places on the design process and the designer are discussed. A simplified design example is presented. >
Oral contraceptive use and liver cancer.

The risk of liver cancer in relation to the use of oral contraceptives was evaluated in a hospital-based case-control study conducted in 5 US cities between 1977-85. 12 new cases of liver cancer were identified in women ages 19-54; 5 controls selected from among patients hospitalized for acute conditions unrealted to oral contraceptive (OC) use were matched to each case on age (5-year categories) date of interview (3- year categories) and geographic location of hospital. Among 9 cases classified as having hepatocellular carcinoma 8 (89%) had used OCs; only 16 (36%) of 45 matched controls had used OCs. Among 3 other cases (2 with cholangiocarcinomas and 1 with liver cancer of undetermined type) all had used OCs compared with 4 of 15 matched controls. The results confirm the strong positive association between OC use and hepatocellular carcinoma observed in earlier studies. Such an association is consistent with evidence that OC use is associated with benign hepatic tumors in young women. However the number of cases of liver cancer in the US attributable to OC use is probably small because liver cancer is extremely rare in the US. (authors)
Varieties of historiography

(1981). Varieties of historiography. History of European Ideas: Vol. 2, No. 3, pp. 247-254.
Homojunction GaAs solar cells grown by close space vapor transport

We report on the first pn junction solar cells grown by homoepitaxy of GaAs using close space vapor transport (CSVT). Cells were grown both on commercial wafer substrates and on a CSVT absorber film, and had efficiencies reaching 8.1%, open circuit voltages reaching 909 mV, and internal quantum efficiency of 90%. The performance of these cells is partly limited by the electron diffusion lengths in the wafer substrates, as evidenced by the improved peak internal quantum efficiency in devices fabricated on a CSVT absorber film. Unoptimized highly-doped n-type emitters also limit the photocurrent, indicating that thinner emitters with reduced doping, and ultimately wider band gap window or surface passivation layers, are required to increase the efficiency.
Classical Trajectory Studies of the D + H2 → HD + H Reaction Confined in Carbon Nanotubes: Parallel Trajectories

We use full-dimensional classical trajectories to study how reaction probabilities for the D + H2 → DH + H reaction are altered when the system is confined to move within various-sized carbon nanotubes (CNTs). This study focuses on D atoms initially moving parallel to the long axis of the tube. We compare our results with standard gas-phase reaction probabilities. Enhanced reaction probabilities are found for the smaller diameter CNTs, and slight quenching is found for the largest diameter CNT studied. These results are also consistent with those of a reduced-dimensional, quantum study. The origins of the confinement effects are discussed in terms of how the CNT modifies the H2 reactant state and of the modified forces experienced by the incoming D atom.
Evidence for the functional interaction of two central neurotransmitters.

Rats pretreated with pargyline (50 mg/kg) and then given either l-tryptophan (150 mg/kg) or l-Dopa (100 mg/kg) display strikingly similar behavioral syndromes. Especially prominent are tremor, rigidity, lateral head weaving and reciprocal forepaw treading. Because of the overt similarity in these 2 syndromes, it was hypothesized that they might be dependent upon a common neurochemical substrate. This was tested by observing whether blocking either the biosynthesis of serotonin or dopamine or their receptors was capable of blocking the production of the syndrome produced by precursors of the other transmitter. Pretreatment with α-methyl-p-tyrosine, a catecholamine synthesis inhibitor, failed to affect either syndrome, whereas p-chlorophenylalanine, a serotonin synthesis inhibitor, blocked both. Similarly, the dopamine receptor blocker pimozide had no effect on either syndrome, while the serotonin receptor blockers cinanserin and methysergide blocked or markedly diminished both syndromes equally. It is concluded that at least a portion of the syndrome that emerges following pargyline and l-Dopa is mediated by serotonin rather than dopamine.
Asthma treatment and asthma prevention: A tale of 2 parallel pathways

Three recent clinical trials used different study designs to test the hypothesis that early introduction of inhaled corticosteroids in infants and young children at high risk for the development of asthma could change the natural course of the disease. All 3 trials reached the same conclusion: treatment requirement, symptom frequency while off treatment, and lung function did not differ between children receiving active drug or placebo, with outcomes measured 2 to 4 years after randomization. These findings challenge the concept that the inflammatory processes that cause asthma symptoms and are responsive to inhaled corticosteroids are also responsible for the chronic changes in airway structure and function that are believed to predispose to the development of persistent asthma. This conclusion is supported by studies showing that bronchial hyperresponsiveness, independent of current asthma symptoms, is associated with subsequent deficits in airway function growth during childhood. Successful strategies for the prevention of asthma will require a better understanding of the genetic, environmental, and developmental factors that predispose toward inappropriate responses to airway injury. Abnormal airway remodeling and persistent dysregulation of airway tone might be the final common pathway for different disease mechanisms, and this might explain the heterogeneity of clinical phenotypic syndromes that go under the common label of "asthma."
Alternative measurement approaches to consumer values: The list of values and the rokeach value survey

Two methods of measuring consumer values, the List of Values and the Rokeach Value Survey, are compared. Both involve some social desirability responding but both have convergent, discriminant, and empirical validity for consumer research. The List of Values may be preferable for some types of research because it detects more daily influence in people's lives and because it is simpler to administer.
Reduced speaking rate as an early predictor of reading disability.

Purpose This study evaluated whether developmental reading disability could be predicted in children at the age of 30 months, according to 3 measures of speech production: speaking rate, articulati...
Carbon biogeochemistry and climate change

The rapid increase of atmospheric CO2 resulting from anthropogenic activites has stimulated a great deal of interest in the carbon cycle. Important decisions need to be made about future tolerable levels of atmospheric CO2 content, as well as the land and fossil fuel use strategies that will permit us to achieve these goals. The vast amount of new data on atmospheric CO2 content and ancillary properties that has become available during the last decade, and the development of models to interpret these data, have led to significant advances in our capacity to deal with such issues. However, a major continuing source of uncertainty is the role of photosynthesis in providing a sink for anthropogenic emissions. It is thus appropriate that a new evaluation of the status of our understanding of this issue should be made at this time. The aim of this paper is to provide a setting for the papers that follow by giving an overview of the role of carbon dioxide in climate, the biogeochemical processes that control its distribution, and the evolution of carbon dioxide through time from the origin of the earth to the present. We begin with a discussion of relevant processes. We then proceed to a more detailed discussion of the time periods that are best documented: the late Pleistocene (during which time large continental ice sheets waxed and waned) and the modern era of anthropogenic impact on the carbon cycle.
Operational applications of satellite snowcover observations

The history of remote sensing of snow cover is reviewed and the following topics are covered: various techniques for interpreting LANDSAT and NOAA satellite data; the status of future systems for continuing snow hydrology applications; the use of snow cover observations in streamflow forecasts by Applications Systems Verification and Transfer participants and selected foreign investigators; and the benefits of using satellite snow cover data in runoff prediction.
Ethnic and Racial Differences in the Natural History of Hepatitis C

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is common in the United States and affects all ethnic groups. Important ethnic disparities exist in HCV severity, response to treatment, and progression after liver transplantation. Among patients with chronic HCV, African Americans tend to have less severe disease histologically, whereas Hispanics appear to have a more aggressive disease course compared with non-Hispanic Whites. In contrast, new data suggest that African Americans have more rapid HCV progression after liver transplantation relative to other ethnic groups. African Americans and Hispanics have lower sustained virologic response rates to pegylated interferon and ribavirin compared with non-Hispanic Whites. Awareness of these differences will help clinicians counsel diverse populations of patients on risk of progression, treatment outcome, and expectations after liver transplant. Future investigations of these differences should help in identifying mechanisms behind observed disparities and interventions to improve outcomes.
Betaxolol: A New Long-Acting Beta1-Selective Adrenergic Blocker

Betaxolol (Searle, Skokie, Illinois) is a new beta1-selective adrenergic blocker with no partial agonist action and minimal membrane stabilizing activity. Its pharmacokinetic profile is characterized by a long serum half-life and excellent oral bioavailability, with little first-pass metabolism. The mean 16-hour half-life of betaxolol has been shown to provide full 24-hour control of blood pressure and heart rate. Betaxolol has been proven to be a safe and effective antihypertensive agent, and was recently approved for clinical use in the United States for this indication.
Identification of tyrosine 79 in the tocopherol binding site of glutathione S-transferase pi.

Alpha-tocopherol, the most abundant form of vitamin E present in humans, is a noncompetitive inhibitor of glutathione S-transferase pi (GST pi), but its binding site had not been located. Tocopherol iodoacetate (TIA), a reactive analogue, produces a time-dependent inactivation of GST pi to a limit of 25% residual activity. The rate constant for inactivation, kobs, exhibits a nonlinear dependence on reagent concentration, with KI = 19 μM and kmax = 0.158 min-1. Complete protection against inactivation is provided by tocopherol and tocopherol acetate, whereas glutathione derivatives, electrophilic substrate analogues, buffers, or nonsubstrate hydrophobic ligands have little effect on kobs. These results indicate that TIA reacts as an affinity label of a distinguishable tocopherol binding site. Loss of activity occurs concomitant with incorporation of about 1 mol of reagent/mol of enzyme subunit when the enzyme is maximally inactivated. Isolation of the labeled peptide from the tryptic digest shows that Tyr7...
Conference Brings Together Scientists, Policy Makers, and Stakeholders

Incorporating Earth and space science research into policy is integral to supporting any nation's public safety, security, and economy. To help bridge the science and policy fields, AGU convened its second annual Science Policy Conference as a means to engage stakeholders. The meeting, held 24–26 June in Washington, D. C., featured experts from government, industry, academia, media, and nonprofits.
Remarks on non-Hamiltonian statistical mechanics

A previous brief summary of some basic relations in non-Hamiltonian statistical mechanics (Ramshaw J. D., Phys. Lett. A, 116 (1986) 110) is generalized to allow for an arbitrary time-dependent metric in phase space, thereby permitting a comparison with the formulation of Tuckerman et al. (TEA) (Europhys. Lett., 45 (1999) 149). It is shown that a) the generalized Liouville equation (GLE) in the earlier work is rigorously valid in general, and moreover is completely equivalent to the GLE of TEA; and b) the time-dependent metric factor √g in the volume form used by TEA is itself a solution of the GLE, and consequently becomes singular and unacceptable for systems with attractors in steady state.
Optical variables as measures of performance during simulated flight

It is assumed that when a pilot flies according to visual flight reference, control adjustments are made in order to control visual perception. If so, the optical variables and invariants produced by the pilot can serve as dependent variables in research on information used in guiding flight. Visual flight simulators provide an ideal experimental environment for exploring the optical approach to the study of pilots' perception-action cycles. Language: en
The Use of Psychology in Industry: A Trade Union Point of View

Our principal object is to examine the industrial arena in which the psychologist is active. A short excursion is taken into the fields of aptitude testing and the psychological evaluation of industrial engineering techniques. However, the major portion of our treatment is reserved for the human relations area.
Controllable pulse compression in a multiple-pass-cell Raman laser.

Pulse compression has been observed with the 16-μm multiple-pass-cell hydrogen Raman laser. The effect, which also leads to high quantum conversion of the pump radiation, has been analyzed and is a result of beam crossings inherent in the geometry of the device.
CD2 Regulates T Cell-Dependent Induction of Monocyte IL-1β mRNA during Anti-CD3 Mitogenesis

Abstract The induction of monocyte IL-1 mRNA during T cell activation requires that monocytes receive contact-dependent signals from activated T cells. Furthermore, the ability of T cells to induce IL-1β mRNA is not constitutive but rather is rapidly acquired (≤30 min) following activation via mechanisms that do not require protein synthesis. The goal of these studies is to identify the T cell signal(s) that mediates the cell contact-dependent induction of monocyte IL-1β mRNA. The induction of IL-1β mRNA during anti-CD3 mitogenesis was significantly inhibited by anti-CD2 mAb, whereas mAb against CD11a, CD18, CD69, or CD5 molecules had no effect. The inhibition of IL-1β mRNA induction by anti-CD2 mAb was restricted to only those mAb that block CD2/CD58(LFA-3) interactions. Furthermore, anti-CD2 blocked the induction of monocyte IL-1β mRNA by T cells that were preactivated using either immobilized anti-CD3 or anti-T11 2 plus anti-T11 3 mAb, thereby indicating that the inhibition of IL-1β mRNA was not due to negative signaling effects exerted on the T cell by anti-CD2. Finally, although anti-CD69 mAb had no effect on IL-1β mRNA induction, it inhibited the generation of soluble IL-1β. The combination of anti-CD69 and anti-CD2 mAb exhibited greater inhibition of secreted IL-1β than either antibody alone. These results indicate that CD2 is required for T cell induction of IL-1β mRNA through interaction with LFA-3 on the monocyte and that the generation of soluble IL-1β is regulated by CD69.
Energy efficiency of cooperative beamforming in wireless ad-hoc networks

Energy efficiency is a critical issue in wireless communication networks since most of the communication devices have limited energy capacity. Various strategies for maximizing energy efficiency have been proposed. In this paper, we analyze the energy efficiency of cooperative beamforming where the source and relay nodes construct a virtual Multiple-Input SingleOutput (MISO) beamforming system. In the analysis, we consider all the energy consumption overheads incurred in forming a virtual MISO system. We show that cooperative beamforming achieves not only a higher energy efficiency, but also better spectral efficiency for large transmission distances.
CE analysis of the acidic organelles of a single cell.

The properties of organelles within a cell have been shown to be highly heterogeneous. Until now, it has been unclear just how much of this heterogeneity is endemic to the organelle subpopulations themselves and how much is actually due to stochastic cellular noise. An attractive approach for investigating the origins of heterogeneity among the organelles of a single cell is CE with LIF detection (CE-LIF). As a proof of principle, in this report we optimize and use a single cell CE-LIF method to investigate the properties of endocytic (acidic) organelles. Our results show that the properties of individual acidic organelles containing Alexa Fluor® 488 Dextran suggest that there are two groups of CCRF-CEM cells: a group with a high dextran content per cell, and a group with a low dextran content per cell. Furthermore, the individual organelle measurements of the single cells allow us to compare in each group the distributions of doxorubicin content per acidic organelle and electrophoretic mobilities of these organelles.
Names and Peoples in Incaic Quito: Retrieving Undocumented Historic Processes Through Anthroponymy and Statistics

When analyzed statistically, the distribution of verbal elements in some written sources, like that of objects in archeological sites, yields culture-historical data independent of artifacts' intended meaning. A 1559 case study from highland Ecuador uses personal names and their parts to detect cultural differences in aboriginal society and their changing relation to superordinate Inca culture. This can be done even with undeciphered names from an extinct language, suggesting a fortiori that the method is generalizable.
Competence and consent to research: a critique of the recommendations of the National Bioethics Advisory Commission.

Concern about the participation of incompetent subjects in psychiatric research has grown in the last several years. In response, the National Bioethics Advisory Commission (NBAC) recommended in it...