cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Urolithiasis in a Rural Wisconsin Population From 1992 to 2008: Narrowing of the Male-to-Female Ratio

Purpose: Urolithiasis is a common disease with multiple etiologies and risk factors. Studies suggest an increased incidence in developed nations in recent decades as well as differential geographic incidence and prevalence rates, and differences between the genders. We updated urolithiasis epidemiological data by examining the incidence and prevalence rates in a stable rural Wisconsin population.Materials and Methods: Data were obtained from the Marshfield Epidemiologic Study Area database, a surveillance tool created in 1991 to track disease in residents of an area of 24 ZIP Codes including approximately 85,000 individuals, of whom most receive care at Marshfield Clinic and affiliates. Urolithiasis cases were identified using ICD-9 codes. Incidence, prevalence and recurrence rates were determined.Results: The mean age adjusted incidence of new onset urolithiasis per 100,000 person-years was 202 (95% CL 168–235) in 1992 and 289 (95% CL 253–325) in 2008. In women the increase per 100,000 person-years was h...
Infrared optical tellurite glass fibers

The liquid viscosities of glass-forming telluria-alumina (6–11 wt% alumina) were found to be high relative to those of 100% telluria, but not high enough to permit processing of glass fibers by conventional methods, i.e., down-drawing from a preform or extrusion (spinning) through an orifice. The viscosities were, however, sufficiently high that the first tellurite fibers on record could be up-drawn from the surface of supercooled melts below the liquidus. A high speed, low cost process is feasible if development of infrared tellurite fibers is warranted.
Ten Years of Career Development: A Nationwide Study of High School Students

The authors summarize trends for several indicators of student career development collected in 1973 (when career education and career planning programs began to receive renewed emphasis) and again in 1983. The indicators, obtained for nationally representative samples of junior and senior high school students (N = 18,129 in 1973 and 15,432 in 1983), included career-related concerns, career planning involvement, and reactions to career planning services. Among the major trends was a 32% increase in the proportion of 11th graders who reported receiving “some” or “a lot” of career planning help from their schools. Moreover, the proportion of students involved in typical career exploration activities increased significantly over the 10 years of the study. In general, the 10-year trends indicate that schools are having a greater impact on student career development than they were in 1973.
Effect of an electric field on superfluid helium scintillation produced by α -particle sources

We report a study of the intensity and time dependence of scintillation produced by weak $\ensuremath{\alpha}$-particle sources in superfluid helium in the presence of an electric field (0--45 kV/cm) in the temperature range of 0.2 to 1.1 K at the saturated vapor pressure. Both the prompt and the delayed components of the scintillation exhibit a reduction in intensity with the application of an electric field. The reduction in the intensity of the prompt component is well approximated by a linear dependence on the electric field strength with a reduction of 15$%$ at 45 kV/cm. When analyzed using the Kramers theory of columnar recombination, this electric field dependence leads to the conclusion that roughly 40$%$ of the scintillation results from species formed from atoms originally promoted to excited states and 60$%$ from excimers created by ionization and subsequent recombination with the charges initially having a cylindrical Gaussian distribution about the $\ensuremath{\alpha}$ track of 60 nm radius. The intensity of the delayed component of the scintillation has a stronger dependence on the electric field strength and on temperature. The implications of these data on the mechanisms affecting scintillation in liquid helium are discussed.
Early-Time Infrared Spectra of the Type Ia Supernova 2000cx

We present 0.8 to 2.5 μm spectra of the Type Ia supernova 2000cx from 8 and 7 days before maximum light. The spectra consist of a continuum that closely follows that of a hot blackbody (25,000 K) upon which is superposed a small number of absorption and emission features. The most prominent absorption is due to the Mg II multiplet at 1.0926 μm (rest frame); the strongest emission feature is at ~1.25 μm and is probably due to Fe III. The broad Si II feature at ~1.65 μm, if present, is very weak. There is no evidence of the He I singlet at 2.0581 μm. Velocities in the Mg II feature extend to beyond 20,000 km s -1, indicating that carbon burning reached the outermost layers of the progenitor, and providing support for the delayed detonation models. The blackbody shape of the continuum beyond 0.9 μm is used to provide a limit on the in situ reddening of E(B-V) ≤ 0.1 mag. Given the probable uniformity of the early-time spectra of Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia), this technique should be applicable to other SNe Ia. Multicolor light curves reported by other observers indicate that SN 2000cx was overluminous, suggesting a higher than usual production of 56Ni. This can account for the hotter than normal continuum and the generally higher excitation of the line features.
Radiation effects in double-sided silicon sensors for CDF

Abstract The inner layers of the vertex detector for CDF utilize double-sided silicon strip sensors. Radiation effects that limit the useful life of these sensors have been studied. From a series of irradiations with 8 GeV/c protons and measurements of bulk capacitance of the sensors during annealing, the removable portion of the initial dopant concentration in the silicon is determined to be Nc0=(5.0±0.2)×1011 cm−3. Measurement of this parameter allows a reliable prediction of depletion voltages after irradiation. A second factor suspected to limit the useful life of the sensors was found to be the degradation of interstrip resistance. For the p implanted side of the sensor, interstrip resistances (which begin in the 100 G Ω range) dropped sharply with fluence, reaching 10 M Ω after only about 7×1013 n/cm2. Both factors lead to about the same predicted maximum fluence and thus the same expected sensor lifetime. This lifetime will be long enough to meet the needs of CDF, but perhaps not future experiments.
Epidermal growth factor and/or growth hormone induce differential, side-specific signal transduction protein phosphorylation in enterocytes.

Background: Epidermal growth factor (EGF) plus growth hormone (GH) enhances luminal glutamine transport into rabbit and human intestinal cells. Our objective was to screen for activation status of signal proteins in C2BBe1 cells (enterocyte-like cell line) in response to side-specific EGF or GH treatment and to investigate the dependence of EGF receptor (EGFR) phosphorylation status on its tyrosine kinase. Methods: C2BBe1 cells on Transwells were treated for 15 minutes on either the basolateral or apical-side with EGF or GH. Lysates underwent Kinetworks phospho site-screen-2.1 analysis (duplicate experiments). In addition, lysates from cells treated as above with or without tyrphostin AG1478 (a specific EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor) underwent Western blot analysis for total EGFR and EGFR phosphorylated on tyrosine 1173, 1086 or 1068 (4–7 experiments). Results: Kinetworks phospho-screening demonstrated a broad range of interactions dependent on both side of exposure and protein studied. From this screen,...
Invited) Implications for Robust Reliability Testing of Power SiC MOSFETs

Threshold voltage (VT) instability remains an important issue for the performance, reliability, and qualification of large-area SiC power MOSFET devices. The direct application of existing reliability test standards to SiC power MOSFETs can in some cases result in an inconsistent pass/fail response for a given device. Significant variations in the ID-VGS characteristics, with accompanying shift in VT and change in leakage current, can result when these prescribed standards are applied as written. These variations are likely due to the complex time, temperature, and bias dependent nature of the charging and discharging of significant numbers of near-interfacial oxide traps that exists in as-processed SiC MOSFET devices. The significant increase in this VT instability at elevated temperature may suggest the activation of additional performance limiting oxide defects. If the negative shift in VT is large enough, it may increase the OFF-state drain leakage current and limit the long-term device reliability.
Polyethyleneimine functionalised nanocarbons for the efficient adsorption ofcarbon dioxide with a low temperature of regeneration

Polyethyleneimine (PEI) conjugates with a range of nanocarbons (NCs) have been prepared, and their performances with regard to carbon dioxide absorption and liberation are compared. PEI-functionalised multi-walled carbon nanotubes (PEI-MWNTs) prepared by the reaction of branched PEI (25,000 Da) with F-MWNTs in the presence of pyridine, showed a lower CO2 capacity at 25 °C (5 wt%, 1.1 mmol CO2/g adsorbent) as compared to PEI-SWNTs (9.2 wt%, 2.1 mmol CO2/g adsorbent), consistent with the interior layers of the MWNTs adding weight to the base NC without adding functionality. PEI-functionalised graphite/graphene was prepared by three routes: fluorinated graphite intercalation compounds, prepared from natural graphite powder, were reacted with PEI in EtOH with pyridine; exfoliated natural graphite powder was reacted with Boc–Phe(4-N3)–OH, and subsequently PEI to give PEI-Phe(4-N-G); graphite oxide (GO) was reacted with PEI in the presence of NEt3 to give PEI-GO. The CO2 capacity of PEI-GO at 25 °C (8 wt%, 1.8 ...
Computational Alternative to a Gain Setting Procedure of Brown and Campbell

A numerical method for setting the gain of a linear control system to obtain a specified peak closed-loop frequency response amplitude is presented. The essential computational step in the algorithm is the calculation of all positive roots of a polynomial. This step provides the set of all possible resonant frequencies. A gain constant for each of these frequencies is then found by a simple function evaluation. The possibility of multiple solutions is demonstrated by an example.
Bifunctional Separator with a Light-Weight Carbon-Coating for Dynamically and Statically Stable Lithium-Sulfur Batteries

Sulfur is appealing as a high-capacity cathode for rechargeable lithium batteries as it offers a high theoretical capacity of 1672 mA h g−1 and is abundant. However, the commercialization of Li-S batteries is hampered by fast capacity fade during both dynamic cell cycling and static cell resting. The poor electrochemical stability is due to polysulfide diffusion, leading to a short cycle life and severe self-discharge. Here, we present the design of a bifunctional separator with a light-weight carbon-coating that integrates the two necessary components already inside the cell: the conductive carbon and the separator. With no extra additives, this bifunctional carbon-coated separator allows the use of pure sulfur cathodes involving no complex composite synthesis process, provides a high initial discharge capacity of 1389 mA h g−1 with excellent dynamic stability, and facilitates a high reversible capacity of 828 mA h g−1 after 200 cycles. In addition, the static stability is evidenced by low self-discharge and excellent capacity retention after a 3 month rest period.
Comparison of hematological alterations induced in the pigeon and rat by fasting and heat stress

Abstract 1. 1. Hematocrit readings, sedimentation rates, whole blood specific gravity, plasma protein and rectal temperatures were determined in adult pigeons and rats which were subjected either to severe fasting up to 144 hr or to elevated ambient temperatures for 2–4 hr. 2. 2. Fasting decreased the body temperature of both animal species and the application of heat elevated only that of the rat; however, there were many differences in the blood parameters studied in the two species in response to both experimental procedures. 3. 3. The similar hematological alterations observed in high-temperature induced anorexia probably are not due to elevated body temperature per se .
Measurement and mathematical modeling of thermally induced injury and heat shock protein expression kinetics in normal and cancerous prostate cells

Purpose: Hyperthermia can induce heat shock protein (HSP) expression in tumours, which will cause enhanced tumour viability and increased resistance to additional thermal, chemotherapy, and radiation treatments. The study objective was to determine the relationship of hyperthermia protocols with HSP expression kinetics and cell death and develop corresponding computational predictive models of normal and cancerous prostate cell response.Methods: HSP expression kinetics and cell viability were measured in PC3 prostate cancer and RWPE-1 normal prostate cells subjected to hyperthermia protocols of 44° to 60°C for 1 to 30 min. Hsp27, Hsp60, and Hsp70 expression kinetics were determined by western blotting and visualised with immunofluorescence and confocal microscopy. Based on measured HSP expression data, a mathematical model was developed for predicting thermally induced HSP expression. Cell viability was measured with propidium iodide staining and flow cytometry to quantify the injury parameters necessary ...
Conversational Structure and Topic Performance Mother-Child Interaction

Discourse participation and topic performance in mother-child interaction were examined. Thirty mother-child dyads, with children ranging in age from 2:10 to 6:3 (years:months), were videotaped in a 10-min free play situation. The interactions were analyzed using several measures of conversational participation and topic including discourse types, turn transitions, and maintenance. Results indicated that children in this age group shared similar characteristics of conversational participation with their mothers. However, the mothers of these children, like mothers of sensorimotor level children, maintained their role as facilitators of the structure and cohesiveness of discourse. Although the children, in general, were more discontinuous in their discourse than their mothers, they exhibited greater topic maintenance and use of shading, a more sophisticated conversational strategy, with increasing age and language abilities.
Effects of varying case definition on carpal tunnel syndrome prevalence estimates in a pooled cohort

Objective To analyze differences in carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) prevalence using a combination of electrodiagnostic studies (EDSs) and symptoms using EDS criteria varied across a range of cutpoints and compared with symptoms in both ≥1 and ≥2 median nerve–served digits.
OXYGEN-STABLE HEMOLYSINS OF GROUP A STREPTOCOCCI : IV. STUDIES ON THE MECHANISM OF LYSIS BY CELL-BOUND HEMOLYSIN OF RED BLOOD CELLS AND EHRLICH ASCITES TUMOR CELLS

In studies of the mechanism of lysis of red blood cells by washed streptococci with hemolytic activity (cell-bound hemolysin, CBH) no components released spontaneously by RBC or streptococci, or by interaction between these cells, could be found to induce the formation of soluble hemolysin by the streptococci. It was also found that separation of RBC from streptococci even by Millipore filter or a very thin layer of agar could prevent their hemolysis. By means of cellulose columns it was possible to separate RBC from streptococci after a short incubation. RBC thus separated from streptococci with which they had been incubated underwent hemolysis on subsequent incubation at 37 degrees C. By varying the period of incubation prior to separation it was possible to demonstrate the transfer of increasing amounts of hemolysin from streptococci to RBC with increasing periods of incubation. A considerable part of this appeared to be at a constant rate. A theory is presented on the relationship between the streptococcal cell-bound hemolysin and the group of oxygen-stable streptococcal hemolysins, in terms of a transferable hemolytic moiety and binding sites for this moiety on the streptococcal cell, on various molecular species which can act as inducers of the oxygen-stable hemolysins, and on the RBC, with the affinity of the respective binding sites for the hemolytic moiety increasing in that order.
The Tritope Model for restrictive recognition of antigen by T-cells: I. What assumptions about structure are needed to explain function?

Abstract Given that the recognition of the allele-specific determinants expressed by MHC-encoded restricting elements (R) is germline encoded and selected, whereas the recognition of peptide (P) is somatically encoded and selected, then two different combining sites must be under selection. This necessitates a multirecognitive-single T-cell antigen-receptor (TCR) with anti-R and anti-P paratopes that function in concert to signal restrictive reactivity. The consequences of this “two repertoire” postulate not only gives us a concept of TCR structure quite distinct from that at present generally accepted, but, in addition, resolves many existent contradictions. The problems of the positive and negative selection, alloreactivity, Self–Nonself (S–NS) discrimination, the nature and size of the repertoire, and the related experimental interpretations, are discussed. Further the Tritope Model is compared with previously proposed models to justify why a competing model is warranted.
Heparin and Activin-Binding Determinants in Follistatin and FSTL3

Local regulation of pituitary FSH secretion and many other cellular processes by follistatin (FS) can be ascribed to its potent ability to bind and bioneutralize activin, in conjunction with binding to cell surface heparan-sulfate proteoglycans through a basic heparin-binding sequence (HBS; residues 75-86) in the first of the three FS domains. The FS homolog, FSTL3, also binds activin, but lacks any HBS and cannot associate with cell surfaces. We have used mutational analyses to define the determinants for heparin binding and activin interaction in FS and to determine the effects of conferring heparin binding to FSTL3. Mutants expressed from 283F cells were tested for cell surface and heparin affinity binding, for competitive activin binding and for bioactivity by suppression of pituitary cell FSH secretion. Replacement of the HBS or the full-length FS-domain 1 abolished cell surface binding but enhanced activin binding 4- to 8-fold. Surface binding was partially reduced after mutation of either lysine pair 75/76 or 81/82 and eliminated after mutation of both pairs. The 75/76 mutation reduced activin binding and, therefore, pituitary cell bioactivity by 5-fold. However, insertion of the HBS into FSTL3 did not restore heparin binding or pituitary-cell bioactivity. These results show that 1) the residues within the HBS are necessary but not sufficient for heparin binding, and 2) the HBS also harbors determinants for activin binding. Introduction of the full domain from FS conferred heparin binding to FSTL3, but activin binding was abolished. This implies an evolutionary safeguard against surface binding by FSTL3, supporting other evidence for physiological differences between FS and FSTL3.
A Simple and More Efficient New Approach to Life Testing

Abstract Testing of various classes of life distributions has long been a subject of investigation. Most of these procedures, however, are not easy to grasp by non-specialized users of statistics. Additionally, not all of these procedures have good efficiencies. In the present investigation, a new and much simpler approach is presented for testing exponentiality (the common null hypothesis in life testing) against two perennial life classes, namely the class of increasing failure rate (IFR) distributions, the class of new better than used (NBU) distributions and the class of new better than used of specified age (NBU − t s ). This new approach is very simple and is also more efficient for some commonly used alternatives than older and more involved methodologies in the sense of Pitman's asymptotic relative efficiency.
Efficient Calculation of Eddy Current Responses Due to Defects

The eddy current responses due to three dimensional defects embedded in a conducting half space are evaluated with an iterative numerical technique using a volume integral formulation in conjunction with a variational expression for the response. This approach is applied to defects of spherical and cylindrical geometry with dimensions up to several skin depths. Computations of the eddy current responses converge in one to four iterations and the comparison to moment-method results and experimental values is discussed. The iterative numerical approach has been found to be robust, to require modest computer time/storage, and to provide a model which can accomodate a wide range of defect parameters.
Function, goals and intention: children's teleological reasoning about objects

A fundamental aspect of adult thought is the 'teleological' tendency to assume that objects exist for a purpose. When seeing an unfamiliar artifact or strange anatomical part on an animal, the first question an adult will usually ask is 'what's that for?' - a query that assumes that the object can be teleologically explained in terms of its function. Current debate focuses on the origin and scope of teleological thought, and its role in children's emerging theories of the biological world. The bias to view objects as 'designed for a purpose' probably derives from children's privileged understanding of intentional behavior and artifacts. This makes children prone to a 'promiscuous teleology' in which artifacts and natural objects of all types are viewed as existing for a function. Because of this, I argue that we should be cautious about taking the existence of an early teleological bias as evidence that there is biological understanding that exists independently of a psychological construal of living things.
Uptake of Exogenous Aspartate into Circumventricular Organs but Not Other Regions of Adult Mouse Brain

: Adult mice were treated intraperitoneally with aspartate (Asp) at one of several doses (0.47–3.75 mmol/kg) and 30 min later given a subcutaneous Asp injection at the same dose. This treatment regimen resulted in steady state blood Asp elevations, a given dose producing the same degree of elevation at both 30 and 60 min. The lowest and highest doses, respectively, produced fourfold and 55-fold elevations of serum Asp. In selected circumventricular organ (CVO) regions of brain which lack blood brain barriers, tissue Asp levels rose 1.5 and 3 times above control values following the lowest and highest doses, respectively, whereas tissue Asp remained unchanged in non-CVO brain regions. Thus, even very moderate Asp dosing causes marked increases in CVO Asp. In order to analyze the pattern of Asp uptake into CVO, Asp was assayed in numerous subdivisions of each CVO, and maps were constructed which reflected microregional concentration differences. The pattern of Asp distribution suggests that Asp enters brain via fenestrated capillaries serving certain portions of CVO and then spreads into adjacent brain tissue. In separate experiments, we administered a single high dose of Asp (15 mmol/kg) to both adult and infant mice and measured Asp in serum and select brain regions 60 min later. Asp concentrations in serum and CVO (but not other brain regions) rose markedly at both ages but the increases were greater in serum and therefore also in CVO of infants. This may explain in part the observation that a given dose of Asp destroys a larger number of CVO neurons in infant than in adult mice. Our findings support a growing body of evidence that CVO are an important communication link between blood and brain.
Density functional theory study of multiprotonated BH5

Abstract An extensive density functional theory (DFT) study with ten DFT methods to determine the ionization potentials and electron affinities of BH2, BH3, BH4 and BH5 was performed. Various ways of the preparation of both BH4 and BH5 and energy profiles for these reactions in the gas phase were discussed. Further study was directed in determining the stability of the protonated BH5 isomers, their stability and their capability to be prepared by the protonation of BH5, the H 3 + molecular association with BH3 and the double hydrogen molecule association with BH 2 + . New thermodynamic values were proposed for several ionic reactions that include borane, and the reliability of the hybrid DFT method in comparison with the gradient-corrected and the local DFT method for the study of these molecular systems were discussed.
Coordinated assembly of human translation initiation complexes by the hepatitis C virus internal ribosome entry site RNA

Protein synthesis in all cells begins with recruitment of the small ribosomal subunit to the initiation codon in a messenger RNA. In some eukaryotic viruses, RNA upstream of the coding region forms an internal ribosome entry site (IRES) that directly binds to the 40S ribosomal subunit and enables translation initiation in the absence of many canonical translation initiation factors. The hepatitis C virus (HCV) IRES RNA requires just two initiation factors, eukaryotic initiation factor (eIF) 2 and eIF3, to form preinitiation 48S ribosomal complexes that subsequently assemble into translation-competent ribosomes. Using an RNA-based affinity purification approach, we show here that HCV IRES RNA facilitates eIF2 function through its interactions with eIF3 and the 40S ribosomal subunit. Although the wild-type IRES assembles normally into 48S and 80S ribosomal complexes in human cell extract, mutant IRES RNAs become trapped at the 48S assembly stage. Trapped 48S complexes formed by IRES mutants with reduced eIF3 binding affinity nonetheless contain eIF3, consistent with inherent eIF3–40S subunit affinity. Intriguingly, however, one of these IRES mutants prevents stable association of both eIF3 and eIF2, preventing initiator tRNA deposition and explaining the block in 80S assembly. In contrast, an IRES mutant unable to induce a conformational change in the 40S subunit, as observed previously by single-particle cryoelectron microscopy, blocks 80S formation at a later stage in assembly. These data suggest that the IRES RNA coordinates interactions of eIF3 and eIF2 on the ribosome required to position the initiator tRNA on the mRNA in the ribosomal peptidyl-tRNA site (P site).
Testing a pharmacist-patient relationship quality model among older persons with diabetes

Abstract Background Considering recent changes to the Medicare program, pharmacists will have unique opportunities to be reimbursed for providing Medication Therapy Management Services to older persons with diabetes. A high-quality pharmacist-patient relationship can lay the foundation for effective provision of Medication Therapy Management Services and improved care in this cohort. Objective To test a pharmacist-patient relationship quality model in a group of older persons with diabetes from the patient's perspective. Antecedents to relationship quality were pharmacist participative behavior/patient-centeredness of relationship, patient participative behavior, and pharmacist-patient interpersonal communication. Pharmacist-patient relationship commitment was the outcome of relationship quality studied. Methods Data were collected via mailed questionnaire from a random sample of 600 community-dwelling adults in the United States who (1) were 65 years of age and older, (2) had type 1 or type 2 diabetes, (3) used at least one prescription medication to treat their diabetes, and (4) used some type of nonmail order pharmacy as their primary source of obtaining prescription medications. Model relationships were tested using path analysis. Results The adjusted response rate was 41.6% (221/531). The models explained 47% and 49% of the variance in relationship quality and relationship commitment, respectively. In the relationship quality model, pharmacist participative behavior/patient-centeredness of relationship ( β = .51, P β = .17, P = .008) had direct effects on relationship quality. In the relationship commitment model, relationship quality had a direct effect on relationship commitment ( β = .60, P Conclusions Results affirm findings from previous research showing that patients' perceptions of pharmacist participative behavior/patient-centeredness of relationship and pharmacist-patient interpersonal communication are positively related to perceptions of relationship quality. Also, relationship quality is a strong mediator between pharmacist participative behavior/patient-centeredness of relationship and relationship commitment, as well as between pharmacist-patient interpersonal communication and relationship commitment.
Analysis of Transcriptional Activation at a Distance in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Most fundamental aspects of transcription are conserved among eukaryotes. One striking difference between yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae and metazoans, however, is the distance over which transcriptional activation occurs. In S. cerevisiae, upstream activation sequences (UASs) are generally located within a few hundred base pairs of a target gene, while in Drosophila and mammals, enhancers are often several kilobases away. To study the potential for long-distance activation in S. cerevisiae, we constructed and analyzed reporters in which the UAS-TATA distance varied. Our results show that UASs lose the ability to activate normal transcription as the UAS-TATA distance increases. Surprisingly, transcription does initiate, but proximally to the UAS, regardless of its location. To identify factors affecting long-distance activation, we screened for mutants allowing activation of a reporter when the UAS-TATA distance is 799 bp. These screens identified four loci, SIN4, SPT2, SPT10, and HTA1-HTB1, with sin4 mutations being the strongest. Our results strongly suggest that long-distance activation in S. cerevisiae is normally limited by Sin4 and other factors and that this constraint plays a role in ensuring UAS-core promoter specificity in the compact S. cerevisiae genome.
Manipulating of resonances in conductance of an electron waveguide with antidots

The purpose of this paper is to study the interference of the narrow group states with the continuum. The model we have adopted as the basis of our analysis consists of two or three antidots in the waveguide. We extend our previous method (Kim et al., 1999 and 2002) and analyze the evaluation of scattering amplitude with repulsive potentials. We shall study a new scenario when decaying (quasi-bound) states can interfere with the continuum. In a waveguide with two antidots we have observed interesting phenomena: the interference between one subband of the quasi-bound states and background second-subband, and the interference of resonant group states of different subbands. In this case, zero of Fano resonance is shifted in the complex plane and the coupling parameter q becomes complex. The degeneration of two quasi-bound states takes place in the waveguide with three antidots, where interference of the degenerate states may be considered. The Fano-interference of two almost degenerate resonances may bring full suppression of pair resonances in the transmission. This can be explained by parities of quasi-bound states. Our results show that the zero of Fano resonance due to interference between the quasi-bound states and the continuum is generally placed in the complex plane. It gives an additional possibility to manipulate conductance resonances in a waveguide by changing the antidots parameters.
Optimized Analytical Procedures for the Untargeted Metabolomic Profiling of Human Urine and Plasma by Combining Hydrophilic Interaction (HILIC) and Reverse-Phase Liquid Chromatography (RPLC)–Mass Spectrometry

Profiling of body fluids is crucial for monitoring and discovering metabolic markers of health and disease and for providing insights into human physiology. Since human urine and plasma each contain an extreme diversity of metabolites, a single liquid chromatographic system when coupled to mass spectrometry (MS) is not sufficient to achieve reasonable metabolome coverage. Hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography (HILIC) offers complementary information to reverse-phase liquid chromatography (RPLC) by retaining polar metabolites. With the objective of finding the optimal combined chromatographic solution to profile urine and plasma, we systematically investigated the performance of five HILIC columns with different chemistries operated at three different pH (acidic, neutral, basic) and five C18-silica RPLC columns. The zwitterionic column ZIC-HILIC operated at neutral pH provided optimal performance on a large set of hydrophilic metabolites. The RPLC columns Hypersil GOLD and Zorbax SB aq were proven to be best suited for the metabolic profiling of urine and plasma, respectively. Importantly, the optimized HILIC-MS method showed excellent intrabatch peak area reproducibility (CV < 12%) and good long-term interbatch (40 days) peak area reproducibility (CV < 22%) that were similar to those of RPLC-MS procedures. Finally, combining the optimal HILIC- and RPLC-MS approaches greatly expanded metabolome coverage with 44% and 108% new metabolic features detected compared with RPLC-MS alone for urine and plasma, respectively. The proposed combined LC-MS approaches improve the comprehensiveness of global metabolic profiling of body fluids and thus are valuable for monitoring and discovering metabolic changes associated with health and disease in clinical research studies.
On the higher order asymptotic analysis of a non-uniformly propagating dynamic crack along an arbitrary path

Transient mixed-mode elastodynamic crack growth along arbitrary smoothly varying paths is considered. Asymptotically, the crack tip stress field is square root singular with the angular variation of the singular term depending weakly on the instantaneous values of the crack tip speed and on the mode-I and mode-II stress intensity factors. However, for a material particle at a small distance away from the moving crack tip, the local stress field will depend not only on the instantaneous values of the crack tip speed and stress intensity factors, but also on the past history of these time dependent quantities. In addition, for cracks propagating along curved paths the stress field is also expected to depend on the nature of the curved crack path. Here, a representation of the crack tip fields in the form of an expansion about the crack tip is obtained in powers of radial distance from the tip. The higher order coefficients of this expansion are found to depend on the time derivative of crack tip speed, the time derivatives of the two stress intensity factors as well as on the instantaneous value of the local curvature of the crack path. It is also demonstrated that even if cracks follow a curved path dictated by the criterion K11d =0, the stress field may still retain higher order asymmetric components related to non-zero local curvature of the crack path.
An overview of non-volatile memory technology and the implication for tools and architectures

Novel nonvolatile memory technologies are gaining significant attentions from semiconductor industry in the competition of universal memory development. We used Spin-Transfer Torque Random Access Memory (STT-RAM) and Resistive Random Access Memory (R-RAM) as examples to discuss the implication of emerging nonvolatile memory for tools and architectures. Three aspects, including device and memory cell modeling, device/circuit co-design consideration and novel memory architecture, are discussed in details. The goal of these discussions is to design a high-density, low-power, high-performance nonvolatile memory with simple architecture and minimized circuit design complexity.
Virtual Patients for Clinical Therapist Skills Training

Virtual humans offer an exciting and powerful potential for rich interactive experiences. Fully embodied virtual humans are growing in capability, ease, and utility. As a result, they present an opportunity for expanding research into burgeoning virtual patient medical applications. In this paper we consider the ways in which one may go about building and applying virtual human technology to the virtual patient domain. Specifically we aim to show that virtual human technology may be used to help develop the interviewing and diagnostics skills of developing clinicians. Herein we proffer a description of our iterative design process and preliminary results to show that virtual patients may be a useful adjunct to psychotherapy education.
Multichip assembly with flipped integrated circuits

A multichip module process has been developed using flipped-chip interconnection. The process uses plated copper bumps for superior thermal transport characteristics, active silicon as a substrate material for matched expansion properties, on-chip interconnection metallization that allows bumps to be placed over the active circuitry, and conventional wafer fabrication facilities for low-cost production. For successful design and fabrication of multichip assemblies, an organized methodology similar to that which has proved successful in design and assembly of single VLSI circuits was used. This approach involves: computer-aided modeling of the circuit and package for electrical, thermal, and mechanical simulation; test chips for process development and failure mechanism testing; and fabrication of actual demonstration circuits. Verification of function and reliability was then made through temperature cycle testing (-65 degrees C to 150 degrees C), exposure to accelerated moisture environments, and measure of heat dissipation properties. This approach and an example of its application to a multichip module that demonstrated successful performance on the first design pass are described. >
Vascular endothelial growth factor activation of sterol regulatory element binding protein: a potential role in angiogenesis

By stimulating the migration and proliferation of endothelial cells (ECs), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a potent angiogenic factor. However, the molecular mechanism involved in the VEGF-induced angiogenesis remains elusive. We hypothesized that sterol regulatory element binding proteins (SREBPs), transcription factors governing cellular lipid homeostasis, play an important role in regulating angiogenesis in response to VEGF. VEGF activated SREBP1 and SREBP2 in ECs, as demonstrated by the increased SREBPs, their cleavage products, and the upregulation of the targeted genes. VEGF-induced SREBP activation depended on SREBP cleavage-activating protein (SCAP), because knocking down SCAP by RNA interference (RNAi) inhibited SREBP activation in response to VEGF. SREBP activation was also blocked by 25-hydroxycholesterol (25-HC). To verify the functional implication of SREBPs in VEGF-induced angiogenesis, we tested the role of SREBPs in EC migration and proliferation. SCAP RNAi or 25-HC inhibited VEGF-induced pseudopodia extension and migration of ECs. Both treatments inhibited VEGF-induced EC proliferation, with cell growth arrested at the G(0)/G(1) phase and a concomitant decrease of the S phase. Blocking the PI3K-Akt pathway inhibited the VEGF-activated SREBPs, demonstrating that PI3K-Akt regulates SREBPs. Consistent with our in vitro data, SREBP1 was detected in newly developed microvasculatures in a rabbit skin partial-thickness wound-healing model. SREBP inhibition also markedly suppressed VEGF-induced angiogenesis in chick embryos. In summary, this study identifies SREBPs as the key molecules in regulating angiogenesis in response to VEGF.
Active coded aperture neutron imaging

Because of their penetrating power, energetic neutrons and gamma rays (>~1 MeV) offer the best possibility of detecting highly shielded or distant special nuclear material (SNM). Of these, fast neutrons offer the greatest advantage due to their very low and well understood natural background. We are investigating a wholly new approach to fast-neutron imaging-an active coded-aperture system that uses a coded mask composed of neutron detectors. The only previously demonstrated method for long-range fast neutron imaging is double-scatter imaging. Active coded-aperture neutron imaging should offer a highly efficient alternative for improved detection speed, range, and sensitivity. We will describe our detector including design considerations and present initial results from a lab prototype.
Comparison of Epstein-Barr virus presence in Hodgkin lymphoma in pediatric versus adult Argentine patients.

Abstract Context.—In developed countries and high socioeconomic groups, Hodgkin lymphoma has an initial peak in young adulthood, whereas in undeveloped countries and low socioeconomic groups, it sh...
Cloning and characterization of the cDNA encoding a novel human pre-B- cell colony-enhancing factor

A novel gene coding for the pre-B-cell colony-enhancing factor (PBEF) has been isolated from a human peripheral blood lymphocyte cDNA library. The expression of this gene is induced by pokeweed mitogen and superinduced by cycloheximide. It is also induced in the T-lymphoblastoid cell line HUT 78 after phorbol ester (phorbol myristate acetate) treatment. The predominant mRNA for PBEF is approximately 2.4 kb long and codes for a 52-kDa secreted protein. The 3' untranslated region of the mRNA has multiple TATT motifs, usually found in cytokine and oncogene messages. The PBEF gene is mainly transcribed in human bone marrow, liver tissue, and muscle. We have expressed PBEF in COS 7 and PA317 cells and have tested the biological activities of the conditioned medium as well as the antibody-purified protein in different in vitro assays. PBEF itself had no activity but synergized the pre-B-cell colony formation activity of stem cell factor and interleukin 7. In the presence of PBEF, the number of pre-B-cell colonies was increased by at least 70% above the amount stimulated by stem cell factor plus interleukin 7. No effect of PBEF was found with cells of myeloid or erythroid lineages. These data define PBEF as a novel cytokine which acts on early B-lineage precursor cells.
Testability and the Refutation and Corroboration of Cladistic Hypotheses

Both refutationist and verificationist philosophies and practices are becoming increasingly evident in phylogenetic inference. Refutation and verification are fundamentally different epistemologies, and it seems unlikely that they can continue to coexist as the basis for inferring species history. The refutationist nature of cladistics is explored in terms of Popperian testability, in order to understand better the alternatives and to predict the outcome of the expected revolution. Testability concerns the logical relationship between a hypothesis (h, such as a cladogram), evidence (e, such as synapomorphy), and background knowledge (b). Of particular importance is the direct relationship between the logical improbability of h and its potential to be tested, because for e to corroborate h, e should be improbable given b alone. Simplicity and boldness, amount of empirical content, and logical improbability all refer to the potential to be tested. That h must be testable by severe tests is the same as saying that those tests have greater probability of failing, given only b. Descent with modification is sufficient as background knowledge (b) in phylogenetic inference, and such a minimal assumption explains the generality of cladistics. Also of interest to the refutationist position is total evidence. In terms of testability, a statement describing the results of multiple tests is less probable than a statement describing only some of the tests, the multiple test result being more improbable, and accordingly more severe, than its component tests. All other cladistic principles and practices considered in this review are also understandable in terms of Popperian testability, refutation and corroboration. These
Insecurity in the ivory tower: Understanding and responding to students' victimization and fear of crime

Full text is not available in SOAR due to copyright restrictions. WSU Libraries provides access to electronic copy of this article via commercial databases and library online catalog: A link to Security Journal online: http://libcat.wichita.edu/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?BBID=1375845
Spectral Response of Cotton Aphid– (Homoptera: Aphididae) and Spider Mite– (Acari: Tetranychidae) Infested Cotton: Controlled Studies

Remote sensing is a precision tool that can detect plant health. Ground-based methods in small-scale experiments were used to explore the applicability of this technology for detection of arthropod-damaged cotton and to find useful indices or wavelengths for detecting arthropod-damaged cotton. Individual leaves of greenhouse-grown cotton plants and cotton plants in the field were infested with populations of cotton aphids, spider mites, and aphids + mites. Several sets of reflectance measurements were collected from the adaxial surface of the leaves at various intervals after infestation using a portable hyperspectral spectrometer with an integrating sphere or a contact probe. Vegetation indices were calculated from the reflectance values; these indices and the raw reflectance values, represented by narrow wavelength bands, were tested to see if arthropod damaged cotton could be distinguished from healthy cotton. Results indicated that it was possible to detect cotton aphid- and spider mite-damaged leaves by tracking the spectral changes in the leaf, although the damage type of each arthropod could not be distinguished spectrally. In addition, spider mite- and aphid-infested cotton leaves increased reflectance in the near infrared wavelength at approximately 850 nm in comparison to uninfested leaves.
One Piece of the Puzzle-Financial Exploitation and Elder Abuse

Elder Financial Exploitation is both a piece of the broader puzzle of elder abuse and a puzzle onto itself. Elder Financial Exploitation, “the illegal or improper use of an elder’s funds, property, or assets,” occurs both alone (pure financial exploitation) and in conjunction with other forms of elder abuse (hybrid financial exploitation). It consists of crimes of occasion, desperation, and predation. This chapter describes how elder financial exploitation fits into the broader matrix of elder abuse. It describes perpetrators, victims, and the psychodynamics of the perpetrator–victim relationship. It offers recommendations for integrating efforts to combat financial exploitation into elder abuse prevention efforts.
Quantitatively resolving multivalent interactions on a macroscopic scale using force spectroscopy

Multivalent interactions remain difficult to be characterized and consequently controlled, particularly on a macroscopic scale. Using force-induced remnant magnetization spectroscopy (FIRMS), we have resolved the single-, double-, and triple-biotin–streptavidin interactions, multivalent DNA interactions and CXCL12–CXCR4 interactions on millimetre-scale surfaces. Our results establish FIRMS as a viable method for systematic resolution and controlled formation of multivalent interactions.
Waves in a Spatial Queue: Stop-and-Go at Airport Security

We model a long queue of humans by a continuous-space model in which, when a customer moves forward, they stop a random distance behind the previous customer, but do not move at all if their distance behind the previous customer is below a threshold. The latter assumption leads to \waves" of motion in which only some random number W of customers move. We prove that P(W > k) decreases as order k 1=2 ; in other words, for large k the k’th customer moves on average only once every order k 1=2 service times. A more rened analysis relies on a non-obvious asymptotic relation to the coalescing Brownian motion process; we give a careful outline of such an analysis without attending to all the technical details.