cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Clemens von Pirquet: A Remarkable Life and Career.

From 1908 to 1929, Clemens von Pirquet was one of the world's most acclaimed pediatricians. Von Pirquet (1874-1929) trained at Vienna's Universitats Kinderklinic under Theodor Escherich, the first Pediatric Infectious Diseases physician [1], and became the first Professor and Chair of Pediatrics at Johns Hopkins in 1909. He then succeeded his mentor Escherich as Professor and Chair of Pediatrics in Vienna, the most prestigious European pediatric position, when Escherich died unexpectedly in 1911. He held that position in Vienna until his shocking double suicide at age 54 with his wife in 1929. Von Pirquet's pioneering contributions from 1903 to 1910 related to host reactions to foreign substances, providing much of the foundation for modern "Immunology". In 1905, he and his student Bela Schick described and named "serum sickness" in children administered animal antiserum. He recognized that animal antiserum resulted in both protection against an infection but also sensitization (sometimes with serious or fatal consequences), ie, that immune responses caused some diseases. In 1906, he proposed the term "allergy" for the altered reactivity induced by what he termed an "allergen", a foreign substance. He recognized that sensitization to an allergen leads to accelerated responses on subsequent allergen administration, analogous to differences between primary and subsequent smallpox vaccine responses. In 1908, von Pirquet presented his invention, the "tuberculin skin test", recognizing its ability to identify individuals with previous tuberculosis infection, then the most prevalent infectious disease. This led to the new understanding that many or most tuberculosis-infected individuals are asymptomatic but at risk for future active disease, introducing the concept of "latent tuberculosis". Von Pirquet was a consummate pediatrician-scientist, translating scientific discoveries directly into improved care of children, and he also pioneered study of the social, nutritional, and public health aspects of pediatrics, especially during and after World War I.
KickLoc: Simple, Distributed Localization for Wireless Sensor Networks

The emergence of location-based applications in wireless sensor network has galvanized extensive research on localization. Nonetheless, localization remains a difficult problem due to trade-offs between accuracy, energy consumption and computing resources. Searching for a solution that is sufficiently robust to handle a variety of scenarios, we propose KickLoc, which is a fully distributed solution. KickLoc takes the reliability of distance measurements into account to mitigate errors resulting from distance measurement errors, and fuses information from all neighboring nodes to provide position estimates. We evaluated the proposed algorithms both through simulations and experiments, the results are compared with other localization schemes and the Cramer-Rao lower bound (CRLB). The results show that the proposed algorithms outperform existing solutions in most of scenarios, while requiring significantly lower resources.
Spectral and angular-selective thermal emission from gallium-doped zinc oxide thin film structures

Simultaneously controlling both the spectral and angular emission of thermal photons can qualitatively change the nature of thermal radiation, and offers a great potential to improve a broad range of applications, including infrared light sources and thermophotovoltaic (TPV) conversion of waste heat to electricity. For TPV in particular, frequency-selective emission is necessary for spectral matching with a photovoltaic converter, while directional emission is needed to maximize the fraction of emission reaching the receiver at large separation distances. This can allow the photovoltaics to be moved outside vacuum encapsulation. In this work, we demonstrate both directionally and spectrally-selective thermal emission for p-polarization, using a combination of an epsilon-near-zero (ENZ) thin film backed by a metal reflector, a high contrast grating, and an omnidirectional mirror. Gallium-doped zinc oxide is selected as an ENZ material, with cross-over frequency in the near-infrared. The proposed structure relies on coupling guided modes (instead of plasmonic modes) to the ENZ thin film using the high contrast grating. The angular width is thus controlled by the choice of grating period. Other off-directional modes are then filtered out using the omnidirectional mirror, thus enhancing frequency selectivity. Our emitter design maintains both a high view factor and high frequency selectivity, leading to a factor of 8.85 enhancement over a typical blackbody emitter, through a combination of a 22.26% increase in view factor and a 6.88x enhancement in frequency selectivity. This calculation assumes a PV converter five widths away from the same width emitter in 2D at 1573 K.
La Deletion from Mouse Brain Alters Pre-tRNA Metabolism and Accumulation of Pre-5.8S rRNA, with Neuron Death and Reactive Astrocytosis.

Human La antigen (Sjogren's syndrome antigen B [SSB]) is an abundant multifunctional RNA-binding protein. In the nucleoplasm, La binds to and protects from 3' exonucleases, the ends of precursor tRNAs, and other transcripts synthesized by RNA polymerase III and facilitates their maturation, while a nucleolar isoform has been implicated in rRNA biogenesis by multiple independent lines of evidence. We showed previously that conditional La knockout (La cKO) from mouse cortex neurons results in defective tRNA processing, although the pathway(s) involved in neuronal loss thereafter was unknown. Here, we demonstrate that La is stably associated with a spliced pre-tRNA intermediate. Microscopic evidence of aberrant nuclear accumulation of 5.8S rRNA in La cKO is supported by a 10-fold increase in a pre-5.8S rRNA intermediate. To identify pathways involved in subsequent neurodegeneration and loss of brain mass in the cKO cortex, we employed mRNA sequencing (mRNA-Seq), immunohistochemistry, and other approaches. This revealed robust enrichment of immune and astrocyte reactivity in La cKO cortex. Immunohistochemistry, including temporal analyses, demonstrated neurodegeneration, followed by astrocyte invasion associated with immune response and decreasing cKO cortex size over time. Thus, deletion of La from postmitotic neurons results in defective pre-tRNA and pre-rRNA processing and progressive neurodegeneration with loss of cortical brain mass.
Sleep and mild cognitive impairment

Older adults frequently suffer from sleep disturbances. In addition, with increasing age such disturbances may accompany mild cognitive changes that are symptomatic of a range of neurodegenerative conditions. There is increasing evidence that sleep may represent a prodromal symptom, risk factor or agitator of further decline in cognitive functioning of the older adult. Current research is focused on understanding the impact that effective sleep treatments have on a range of psychological and cognitive variables.
Adverse events in veterans affairs inpatient psychiatric units: Staff perspectives on contributing and protective factors.

Objectives This study sought to identify risk factors and protective factors in hospital-based mental health settings in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA), with the goal of informing interventions to improve care of persons with serious mental illness.
Inkjet and 3D Printing Technology for Fundamental Millimeter-Wave Wireless Packaging

Abstract This article outlines the design, processing, and implementation of inkjet and 3D printing technologies for the development of fully printed, highly integrated millimeter-wave (mm-wave) wireless packages. The materials, tools, and processes of each technology are outlined and justified for their respective purposes. Inkjet-printed 3D interconnects directly interfacing a packaging substrate with an integrated circuit (IC) die are presented using printed dielectric ramps and coplanar waveguide transmission lines exhibiting low loss (.6–.8 dB/mm at 40 GHz). Stereolithography 3D printing is presented for the encapsulation of IC dice, enabling the application-specific integration of on-package structures, including dielectric lenses and frequency selective surface–based wireless filters. Finally, inkjet and 3D printing technology are combined to present sloped mm-wave interconnects through an encapsulant, or through mold vias, achieving a slope of up to 65° and low loss (.5–.6 dB/mm at 60 GHz). The co...
Roman Catholic Church in the Fight for Social Justice during the Communist Dictatorship in Poland

The Roman Catholic Church in Poland was the main force capable to oppose the communist dictatorship. Although the state was officially "œsocialist" the condition of ordinary people, including workers in industry and agriculture, was deplorable. Communist regime totally neglected the principles of social justice, creating and using against society the whole apparatus of repression. The Church was only force in the society which created "œspace of liberty", provided instruction in the principles of Catholic social teaching and moral strength to the fighting for peoples"™ rights. In the absence of any organisation truly representing the world of work, the Roman Catholic Church often played the role of intermediation between the civil authorities and the society. All this led in many ways to the martyrdom of Church leaders and other Church representatives. Suffering with the nation and sharing its fate allowed the Church building up a unique authority, what is still fruiting nowadays when the society tries to shake off the rests of communism now disguised in the suit of liberalism. Keywords: Roman Catholic Church in Poland, Solidarity, martyrdom, communist regime, Cardinal WyszyA„ski, Jerzy PopieA‚uszko, Bishop Kaczmarek
Modulation of the malignant phenotype of human prostate cancer cells by N-(4-hydroxyphenyl)retinamide (4-HPR)

A long latent period of 20 to 30 years may be involved in the multistep process of carcinogenesis represented by prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PIN) in the prostate. It is, therefore, possible that progression to a malignant state could be blocked or reversed during this time. Retinoids not only have the ability to block steps in the process of carcinogenesis but they may also modulate or reverse some malignant characteristics of cancer cells. This study focuses on the ability of N-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-retinamide (4-HPR), a synthetic retinoid, to reverse malignant characteristics towards a normal phenotype, using the human prostate carcinoma cell line DU-145. These malignant characteristics include abnormal cell proliferation, intermediate filament expression, motility, invasion, and cell survival. Results show that 1 μM and 10 μM 4-HPR caused 31% and 96% inhibition of growth, while all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) produced similar effects at 10 and 100 μM, making 4-HPR ten times more effective than ATRA. While DU-145 cells show strong immunostaining for vimentin, treatment with 1 μM 4-HPR for eight days caused a marked decrease in vimentin staining. This was accompanied by a change from an elongated to an epithelial cell morphology. Densitometric analysis of Western blots for vimentin showed a 53% decrease in vimentin expression in 1 μM 4-HPR treated cells. Concomitant with the decrease in vimentin expression, cell motility and invasive ability also decreased by 32% and 52%, respectively. Growth inhibition was accompanied by DNA fragmentation and apoptosis. Exposure of cells to 1 μM 4-HPR caused a marked upregulation of nuclear retinoid receptors RARα and a detectable expression of RARγ. These results suggest that inhibition of growth and vimentin expression, and induction of apoptosis by 4-HPR in prostate cancer cells may occur via a receptor-mediated mechanism involving transrepression of AP-1 by retinoid receptors. We propose that vimentin may serve as a useful intermediate marker for early detection of prostate cancer in biopsy specimens and that 4-HPR may be effective in blocking several steps in prostate carcinogenesis as well as the progression of PIN to invasive carcinoma.
Fine aggregate substitution by granular activated carbon can improve physical and mechanical properties of cement mortars

Abstract Porosity and strength responses that result from the substitution of fine sand aggregate with similarly sized granular activated carbon (GAC) particles, were studied in cements commonly used in North America. In addition to changes in density and mechanical properties, pore structure responses were analyzed using mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP). Increases in both compressive and tensile strength resulted from GAC incorporation, where sand replacement was 2% by mass or lower; porosity and critical pore entry diameter also decreased near this range (
Perception and Concept of Time: A Developmental Perspective

The content of this paper reflects a twofold preoccupation. First, the epistemological nature of time is a complex problem. As a concept, it is simultaneously defined in itself and, more often interpreted through its relationship with space, movement, and speed (Piaget, 1971).
Cosimulation of vehicle dynamics and terrain interaction to predict one-pass vehicle cone index

The one-pass vehicle cone index (VCI1) is a measurement of the softest soil over which a vehicle can consistently drive at least once. In the last few decades, VCI1 has become a common quantitative indicator for the soft-soil performance of wheeled and tracked ground vehicles. Because VCI1 depends on not only the strength (as measured by Cone Index) of the soil but also the type of the soil, it is difficult to numerically predict VCI1 for notional ground vehicles. While reliable empirical methods to predict VCI1 have been refined over the years, the emergence of new vehicle technologies such as traction control systems presents a new challenge for ground vehicle modelling and necessitates a new way for predicting VCI1 performance. In this paper, we present accurate numerical predictions of VCI1 that use the Chrono multi-body dynamics code for vehicle dynamics, cosimulated with empirical, dynamic traction predictions at the vehicle-terrain interface by using the Ground Contact Element (GCE) code. We show that this cosimulated approach accurately reproduces measured values for a variety of wheeled vehicles.
Assessing IT Students’ Intentions to Commit Unethical Actions

With the increased volume of and access to electronically held assets, ethical behavior of information technology (IT) professionals is critical. The importance of ethical behavior in the workplace...
Pawnee vessel function and ceramic persistence: Reconstructed vessels from the Burkett, Barcal, Linwood, Bellwood, and Horse Creek sites

During the AD 1750–1850 period, Pawnee households in the Central Plains made and used ceramic vessels less frequently than Arikara and Hidatsa households in the Northern Plains. Here I explore Pawn...
Treatment-resistant dermatophytosis: A representative case highlighting an emerging public health threat

Abstract Treatment-resistant dermatophytosis due to Trichophyton rubrum has emerged as a global public health threat, particularly in endemic areas like India. However, few if any such cases have been reported in the United States. We report a representative case and discuss our experience treating several patients with extensive T. rubrum tinea corporis that persisted despite prolonged treatment with systemic and topical agents, including oral terbinafine. We have witnessed an increasing number of treatment-resistant cases in our clinic over the past five years, though to our knowledge, there have been no reported cases in the United States.
The functions of translation: Pragmatics

INTRODUCTION Chapter 2 considered how textual functions and other extra-linguistic factors shape texts in both monolingual and translational contexts. The role played by translation norms, which are implicit behavioral practices regarding translation activity, was also examined. Chapter 3 will focus on language and translation functions by examining pragmatics and its relevance to translation. After a brief introduction to the concept of pragmatics, this section covers the differences between grammatical/syntactic functions and pragmatic functions, speech acts, which are closely related to function and intention, presuppositions (in connection with the idea of information shared by writer and reader) and the non-linguistic context. What is pragmatics? Pragmatics is a discipline that investigates language use in its social and cultural context. In particular, pragmatics studies how language is interpreted by users beyond the literal meaning of the actual words used. In order to do that, it considers the effects of the linguistic and non-linguistic context on that interpretation. The non-linguistic context includes participants, their relationships, attitudes and emotions, inferencing procedures, cultural and word knowledge, etc. Much of what we covered in the previous section in connection with functionalism in translation falls under the purview of pragmatics. To better understand what pragmatics is, consider Example 3.1. Example 3.1: Pragmatic adequacy [In the street, to a stranger] i. Excuse me, do you have the time? a. Yes. I don't have a watch, but my cell phone has a clock. b. It's five o'clock. In English, (i) is normally interpreted as a request for the time, despite the fact that the question is not “What time is it?” As a result, the pragmatically adequate answer is (b). We may wonder how we come to interpret the question “Do you have the time?” as “What time is it?” – as a request, rather than a question asking for information.
The representation of mental state information in schizophrenia and first-degree relatives: a multivariate pattern analysis of fMRI data.

Individuals with a schizophrenia-spectrum disorder (SSD) and those at familial high-risk (FHR) for SSDs experience social difficulties that are related to neural abnormalities in the network of brain regions recruited during theory of mind (ToM). Prior work with these groups has focused almost exclusively on characterizing involvement of these regions in ToM. Here, we examine the representational content of these regions using multivariate pattern analysis. We analyzed two previously collected datasets of SSD, FHR, and control participants who, while undergoing fMRI, completed the false-belief task in which they read stories describing beliefs or physical representations (e.g., photographs). Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed in regions-of-interest to evaluate group differences in task-based activation and representational content, respectively. Compared to non-SSD, SSD showed reduced decoding accuracy for the category of mental states in right temporo-parietal junction (RTPJ)-which was related to false-belief accuracy-and dorsal medial prefrontal cortex (DMPFC), and reduced involvement of DMPFC for mental state understanding. FHR showed no differences in decoding accuracy or involvement compared to non-FHR. Given prior studies of disrupted neural involvement in FHR, and the lack of decoding differences observed here, the onset of illness may involve processes that corrupt how mental state information is represented.
HDAC1: an environmental sensor regulating endothelial function.

The histone deacetylases (HDACs) are a family of enzymes that catalyze lysine deacetylation of both histone and non-histone proteins. Here we review, summarize, and provide perspectives on the literature regarding one such HDAC, HDAC1, in endothelial biology. In the endothelium, HDAC1 mediates the effects of external and environmental stimuli by regulating major endothelial functions such as angiogenesis, inflammatory signaling, redox homeostasis, and nitric oxide signaling. Angiogenesis is most often, but not exclusively, repressed by endothelial HDAC1. The regulation of inflammatory signaling is more complex as HDAC1 promotes or suppresses inflammatory signaling depending upon the environmental stimuli. HDAC1 is protective in models of atherosclerosis where loss of HDAC1 results in increased cytokine and cell adhesion molecule abundance. In other models, HDAC1 promotes inflammation by increasing cell adhesion molecules and repressing claudin-5 expression. Consistently, from many investigations, HDAC1 decreases antioxidant enzyme expression and nitric oxide production in the endothelium. HDAC1 decreases antioxidant enzyme expression through the deacetylation of histones and transcription factors, and also regulates nitric oxide production through regulating both the expression and activity of nitric oxide synthase 3. The HDAC1-dependent regulation of endothelial function through the deacetylation of both histone and non-histone proteins ultimately impacts whole animal physiology and health.
Disorders of Biliary Secretion

More than 0.5 liter of bile is produced per day in humans. The chemical composition of bile is complex. In addition to inorganic electrolytes, bile contains high (millimolar) concentrations of organic compounds, including glutathione, dipeptides, and amino acids (Table 26.1). While the above compounds are freely water-soluble, equally high concentrations of bilirubin, cholesterol, and phospholipids are present in bile. The latter material is kept in a micellar and/or vesicular form by another major biliary component, the bile acids. The physical chemistry of the ternary bile acid-cholesterol-phospholipid system is beyond the scope of the present chapter; it should be mentioned, however, that an imbalance in the secretion of these three components sets the stage for biliary stone formation. Finally, bile contains proteins, e.g., IgA. Except for the inorganic electrolytes, all of the compounds mentioned above are present in bile at concentrations that significantly exceed their concentrations in plasma. This indicates that biliary secretion is an active process. The latter conclusion is also consistent with the generally accepted model of bile formation.
Modeling FM/AFM/FM Trilayers with the 8-State Clock Model

Monte Carlo simulation has been used to investigate the magnetic phases of a trilayer system consisting of one layer of antiferromagnetic spins sandwiched between two layers of ferromagnetic spins. Each layer consisted of three planes of a bcc lattice. An eight-state clock model was used to have the spins be two-dimensional. At low temperatures and low external fields the system was antiferromagnetic (AFM), but as the field increased, the system entered a spin-flop phase and finally a paramagnetic (PM) phase. At higher temperatures the spin-flop phase did not exist, and the system passed directly from the AFM to the PM phase.
Synthesis of cDNAs from synthetic oligonucleotides using troponin C as an example.

Publisher Summary Expression of recombinant proteins in Escherichia coli or eukaryotic cells has become a valuable tool of biochemists, cell biologists, and molecular biologists. While the most common approach has been to isolate a cDNA from a library, there are instances in which gene synthesis from synthetic oligonucleotides is a feasible, if not economically preferable, alternative. In the cytoskeleton and cell motility field, gene synthesis has been used successfully for construction of cDNAs for calmodulin and troponin C. This chapter describes a method for cDNA synthesis from synthetic oligonucleotides that was used for synthesis of a troponin C cDNA. There are two basic approaches to gene synthesis: full two-strand synthesis and synthesis by the overlapping fill-in method. The full two-strand synthesis is the safer, more widely used approach and was used for the calmodulin cDNA synthesis. Oligonucleotides for both coding and noncoding strands are synthesized. Overlapping complementary oligonucleotides are phosphorylated at the 5' ends, annealed, and the ends, overlapping by 6–8 bases, are joined by enzymatic ligation.
World Bank and China in Recent Developments with Special Reference to Renewable Energy

One of the features of the World Bank’s assistance in China’s current development is to alleviate the tension on the imbalance between its economic and social development, and between its scarce natural resourcesand the environment. The Bank supports the Government's strategy for scaling up its renewable energy for power generation based on developing a supporting legal and regulatory framework, increasing access to advanced technology and techniques to permit the exploitation of renewable energy resources. To say that we live in an increasingly interdependent, global world is a truism. The meaning of truism, however, is just that it is true. What China does affects a significant portion of the entire world.
Teaching concepts of virtual memory with the Moses2 microcomputer operating system environment simulator

A clear understanding of the concepts of virtual memory is important to any student of computer science or professional computer scientist, especially those who work in system administration or program at the systems level. Virtual memory is now the standard paradigm for solving the classic trade-off between expensive but fast main memory and the cheaper yet much slower hard disk drive space.This paper discusses the design and implementation of the virtual memory simulation facility of Moses2, a virtual computing environment for use in undergraduate operating systems courses. Moses2 is an original software system produced and refined by the author over fourteen years in conjunction with teaching senior level operating systems courses. In the Moses2 environment, students run and test original kernel emulator programs as they develop these programs incrementally over a semester. Presented here is how the Moses2 system teaches fundamental concepts of a paged segmentation virtual memory manager.
Insights of Regulations in a Military Driven Markets

After the invasion of Iraq it appears that the pre-invasion assumptions of many observers and market participants turned out to be contradicted by reality. In this paper we investigate the U.S. government policy related to military spending on the invasion of Iraq. By analyzing the economic conditions of the U.S. financial markets before and after the war and terror, this paper attempts to examine the expediency of the military intervention, as well as its unintended consequences with respect to energy prices and the fortunes of firms sensitive to them, and to the ramifications of continued spending on Iraq in a period of high debt and budget deficits.
Models for Superimposed Information

The ubiquitous World Wide Web presents a simple interface for a vast array of heterogeneous information. We see the Web as one enabler for what we call superimposed information. Superimposed information serves to highlight, annotate, connect and supplement information in a base information space. Superimposed information is already pervasive for the Web, with a variety of models and accompanying capabilities. In this paper, we introduce superimposed information and analyze a range of conceptual models for it using a three-part feature space consisting of information elements, links, and marks. Information elements in the superimposed layer and links among those information elements are analogous to the classical entities and relationships of database models. The novelty is in the marks that reference underlying information elements. Superimposed information can serve as proxies for underlying information elements, can provide new access paths, and can introduce new information as well as new links among existing information elements. We conclude with a discussion of open research questions regarding superimposed information.
Metabolic Switches of T-Cell Activation and Apoptosis

The signaling networks that mediate activation, proliferation, or programmed cell death of T lymphocytes are dependent on complex redox and metabolic pathways. T lymphocytes are primarily activated through the T-cell receptor and co-stimulatory molecules. Although activation results in lymphokine production, proliferation, and clonal expansion, it also increases susceptibility to apoptosis upon crosslinking of cell-surface death receptors or exposure to toxic metabolites. Activation signals are transmitted by receptor-associated protein tyrosine kinases and phosphatases through calcium mobilization to a secondary cascade of kinases, which in turn activate transcription factors initiating cell proliferation and cytokine production. Initiation and activity of cell death-mediating proteases are redox-sensitive and dependent on energy provided by ATP. Mitochondria play crucial roles in providing ATP for T-cell activation through the electron transport chain and oxidative phosphorylation. The mitochondrial transmembrane potential (DeltaPsi(m)) plays a decisive role not only by driving ATP synthesis, but also by controlling reactive oxygen species production and release of cell death-inducing factors. DeltaPsi(m) and reactive oxygen species levels are regulated by the supply of reducing equivalents, glutathione and thioredoxin, as well as NADPH generated in the pentose phosphate pathway. This article identifies redox and metabolic checkpoints controlling activation and survival of T lymphocytes.
Relationships between diurnal changes in blood pressure and catecholamines among Filipino-American and European-American women.

Objectives Studies show that diurnal blood pressure (BP) sensitivity to epinephrine (EPI) in African-American women is significantly greater than that of European-American (EA) women. Few if any studies have examined diurnal catecholamine-BP relationships in women of other ethnic groups. The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of diurnal changes in EPI and norepinephrine (NE) on the diurnal changes in BP between Filipino-American (FA) and EA women. Methods The subjects included 31 FA and 27 EA nurses and nurses aides and eight FA and 19 EA hotel workers from Hawaii who wore an ambulatory BP monitor and collected timed urine specimens (4 h at work, approx.4 h at home and approx. 8 h overnight) for assay of EPI and NE. Proportional changes in systolic and diastolic BP from sleep to work and sleep to home were examined using ANCOVA models including fixed effect-covariate interactions, with ethnicity as a fixed factor, and BMI and the appropriate proportional change in EPI or NE as covariates. Results The results show that there was no association between changes in EPI and BP, either overall or by ethnic group; however, overall changes in diastolic BP from sleep to work tended to be smaller among the FAs (P < 0.06). There was also an interactive effect of NE and ethnic group on diastolic BP such that among FAs, as diastolic BP increased, the corresponding NE change decreased (P < 0.039). Conclusion The relationships between diurnal BP and catecholamine variations differ by ethnicity. Further research is needed to better understand the mechanisms behind the differences and to evaluate whether this vascular tonic relationship has been the focus of natural selective processes. Am. J. Hum. Biol. 25:431–433, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Impact of employee benefits on families with children with autism spectrum disorders

The objectives of this study are to evaluate the employee benefits parents of children with autism spectrum disorders have, how benefits are used, work change, and job satisfaction. We conducted a cross-sectional mailed survey study of 435 families with children with autism spectrum disorders residing in the United States. We received 161 surveys for a response rate of 37%. Families reported using the following benefits: 39% paid family leave, 19% unpaid family leave, 91% flexible work arrangements, and 86% telecommuting. Of respondents, 43% reported stopping work, cutting down on hours worked, or changing jobs because of their child’s condition. Having paid family leave was a positive predictor for job satisfaction. Parents of children with autism spectrum disorders have an interest and need for alternative work arrangements.
An RNA–protein complex links enhanced nuclear 3′ processing with cytoplasmic mRNA stabilization

Post-transcriptional controls are critical to gene regulation. These controls are frequently based on sequence-specific binding of trans-acting proteins to cis-acting motifs on target RNAs. Prior studies have revealed that the KH-domain protein, αCP, binds to a 3′ UTR C-rich motif of hα-globin mRNA and contributes to its cytoplasmic stability. Here, we report that this 3′ UTR αCP complex regulates the production of mature α-globin mRNA by enhancing 3′ processing of the hα-globin transcript. We go on to demonstrate that this nuclear activity reflects enhancement of both the cleavage and the polyadenylation reactions and that αCP interacts in vivo with core components of the 3′ processing complex. Consistent with its nuclear processing activity, our studies reveal that αCP assembles co-transcriptionally at the hα-globin chromatin locus and that this loading is selectively enriched at the 3′ terminus of the gene. The demonstrated linkage of nuclear processing with cytoplasmic stabilization via a common RNA–protein complex establishes a basis for integration of sequential controls critical to robust and sustained expression of a target mRNA.
Increasing the Number of Outpatients Receiving Spiritual Assessment: A Pain and Palliative Care Service Quality Improvement Project

Abstract Background Spirituality is a patient need that requires special attention from the Pain and Palliative Care Service team. This quality improvement project aimed to provide spiritual assessment for all new outpatients with serious life-altering illnesses. Measures Percentage of new outpatients receiving spiritual assessment (Faith, Importance/Influence, Community, Address/Action in care, psychosocial evaluation, chaplain consults) at baseline and postinterventions. Intervention Interventions included encouraging clinicians to incorporate adequate spiritual assessment into patient care and implementing chaplain covisits for all initial outpatient visits. Outcomes The quality improvement interventions increased spiritual assessment (baseline vs. postinterventions): chaplain covisits (25.5% vs. 50%), Faith, Importance/Influence, Community, Address/Action in care completion (49% vs. 72%), and psychosocial evaluation (89% vs. 94%). Conclusions/Lessons Learned Improved spiritual assessment in an outpatient palliative care clinic setting can occur with a multidisciplinary approach. This project also identifies data collection and documentation processes that can be targeted for improvement.
ADS equivalent circuit of direct-modulated high-speed DFB lasers

A rate equation-based model of MQW semiconductor lasers, has been developed describing power and chirp dynamics. The equations are implemented using an equivalent circuit approach, exploiting the analogy between rate equations and a Kirchoff current balance equation at a capacitor node. Current and voltages across the circuit components are equivalent to the main elements of the rate equations. This solution offers different advantages like the possibility to study the parasitic effects and the opportunity to integrate an high-speed laser model with an IC driver model in the same simulation environment. The model can be easily implemented in any circuit simulator (SPICE, Cadence, Agilent EESoft ADS). All parameters have been derived from measurements on real DFB devices. The model was used to improve static and dynamic performances of InGaAsP MQW-DFB laser 10Gb/s operations, as well as to study the problem of interfacing laser and IC driver. This optimization gave contributions to the realization of uncooled (up to 95°C chip temperature) DFB lasers directly modulated at 10 Gb/s for optical transceivers in 10Gb-Ethernet networks.
Profiling of the Tox21 10K compound library for agonists and antagonists of the estrogen receptor alpha signaling pathway

The U.S. Tox21 program has screened a library of approximately 10,000 (10K) environmental chemicals and drugs in three independent runs for estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) agonist and antagonist activity using two types of ER reporter gene cell lines, one with an endogenous full length ERα (ER-luc; BG1 cell line) and the other with a transfected partial receptor consisting of the ligand binding domain (ER-bla; ERα β-lactamase cell line), in a quantitative high-throughput screening (qHTS) format. The ability of the two assays to correctly identify ERα agonists and antagonists was evaluated using a set of 39 reference compounds with known ERα activity. Although both assays demonstrated adequate (i.e. >80%) predictivity, the ER-luc assay was more sensitive and the ER-bla assay more specific. The qHTS assay results were compared with results from previously published ERα binding assay data and showed >80% consistency. Actives identified from both the ER-bla and ER-luc assays were analyzed for structure-activity relationships (SARs) revealing known and potentially novel ERα active structure classes. The results demonstrate the feasibility of qHTS to identify environmental chemicals with the potential to interact with the ERα signaling pathway and the two different assay formats improve the confidence in correctly identifying these chemicals.
Bioenergy potential of the United States constrained by satellite observations of existing productivity.

United States (U.S.) energy policy includes an expectation that bioenergy will be a substantial future energy source. In particular, the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA) aims to increase annual U.S. biofuel (secondary bioenergy) production by more than 3-fold, from 40 to 136 billion liters ethanol, which implies an even larger increase in biomass demand (primary energy), from roughly 2.9 to 7.4 EJ yr–1. However, our understanding of many of the factors used to establish such energy targets is far from complete, introducing significgant uncertainty into the feasibility of current estimates of bioenergy potential. Here, we utilized satellite-derived net primary productivity (NPP) data—measured for every 1 km2 of the 7.2 million km2 of vegetated land in the conterminous U.S.—to estimate primary bioenergy potential (PBP). Our results indicate that PBP of the conterminous U.S. ranges from roughly 5.9 to 22.2 EJ yr–1, depending on land use. The low end of this range represents the potential w...
Third-harmonic generation using an ultrahigh-spectral-brightness ArF* source

Tunable coherent radiation in the vicinity of 64 nm has been produced by third-harmonic generation of the output of an ultrahigh-spectral-brightness ArF* source in various simple gaseous media. The following performance parameters of the ArF* system are used: pulse energy, ~300 mJ; pulse duration, ~7 nsec; spectral width, <260 MHz; beam divergence, ~5 μrad × 15 μrad; and repetition rate up to 10 Hz. Third-harmonic generation with peak powers up to 30 W has been observed in an apparatus that eliminates photoabsorption of the third harmonic in the differential pumping stages.
Malate synthase from Gossypium hirsutum

Abstract Malate synthase was purified 2000-fold from cotyledons of dark-germinated cotton, Gossypium hirsutum . The purified enzyme had a pH optimum of 8.2, and an absolute requirement for a divalent cation. Only glyoxylate and acetyl-CoA served as condensation partners. Results obtained with functional-group directed inhibitors suggest the presence of lysine, tyrosine and histidine residues in the active site. Temperature optimum was 40°, and energy of activation was 3.3 kcal/mol. The MW of cotton malate synthase, determined by rate-zonal density gradient sedimentation, was 750 000. Initial-rate studies indicated Michaelis-Menten kinetics. Inhibition by substrate analogs, plus substrate-interaction kinetics gave results consistent with a sequential bireactant mechanism.
Changes in the Form of Mammalian Red Cells due to the Presence of a Coverglass

IN 1924, Gough described a remarkable change in the form of mammalian red cells which can be observed in suspensions of these cells in isotonic saline (Gough, A., Biochemical Journal, 18, 202; 1924). The normally discoidal cells become perfect spheres, the volume of which can be shown to be the same as that of the discoidal forms. It has hitherto been believed that it is the immersion of the cells in saline which produces this change of form. This, however, is not the case, as the following experiments show.
Regeneration modes and peak temperatures in a diesel particulate filter

Abstract Diesel particulate filters (DPF) are regenerated by combustion of the accumulated particulate matter (PM). This can lead to high peak temperature which can damage the DPF. We present guidance about how this peak temperature depends on the DPF design and operating conditions. Simple criteria are developed for predicting the peak temperature of two limiting regeneration modes. One is the transverse regeneration mode during which the PM is consumed uniformly along the DPF and the axial temperature is close to uniform. The second is the axial regeneration mode under which a negligible temperature difference exists between the solid phase and the gas, the filtration velocity is highly non-uniform and a sharp temperature front forms during the PM combustion. Most DPFs operate in the mixed regeneration mode, and their peak temperature is bounded between those predicted by the two limiting modes. The predictions of the behavior of the two limiting models provide useful guidance and bounds on any DPF design and operating conditions which will lower the peak regeneration temperature. For example, choices that widen the width of the moving temperature front decrease the maximum regeneration temperature under stationary feed conditions. A major technological challenge in the regeneration of the ceramic cordierite filter is that a sudden decrease of the engine load, referred to as Drop to Idle (DTI), may create a transient temperature peak much higher than under either the initial or final stationary feed conditions. The results for the stationary feed conditions suggest selections that decrease the peak temperature under stationary operation will also decrease the peak DTI temperature rise.
Comparisons of Temperature and Heat Flux in Furnaces Controlled by Different Types of Temperature Sensors

This paper presents and discusses furnace temperature and heat flux measurements in a fire resistance floor furnace controlled by ASTM shielded thermocouple probes, ISO 834 plate thermometers, directional flame thermometers, and bare bead thermocouples. Comparisons of furnace temperature measurements, temperature sensor time constants; incident heat flux and measured versus predicted incident heat flux are presented.
Comparative approaches to the avian song system

between the number of song types a bird sings and ABSTRACT: There is extensive diversity among the size of the song nuclei, and seasonal plasticity of the 4000 species of songbirds in different aspects of the song control circuits. In the second context, I dis- song behavior, including the timing of vocal learning, sex patterns of song production, number of songs that cuss whether the vocal control systems of parrots and are learned (i.e., repertoire size), and seasonality of songbirds were inherited from a common ancestor or song behavior. This diversity provides unparalleled independently evolved. I also consider at what stage opportunities for comparative studies of the relation- in the phylogeny of songbirds the hormone-sensitive ship between the structure and function of brain re- forebrain circuit found in modern birds first evolved. gions and song behavior. The comparative approach I conclude by identifying directions for future re- has been used in two contexts: (a) to test hypotheses search in which a comparative approach would be about mechanisms of song control, and (b) to study productive. q 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Neurobiol 33: the evolution of the control system in different groups 517-531, 1997 of birds. In the first context, I review studies in which Keywords: avian; bird; birdsong; comparative; evolu- a comparative approach has been used to investigate tion; hormones; seasonal; steroids sex differences in the song system, the relationship
Effects of absorber topography and multilayer coating defects on reflective masks for soft x-ray/EUV projection lithography

The effects of mask topography and multilayer coating defect on areal images of reflective masks for soft x-ray projection lithography is studied using electromagnetic simulation. Masks made by depositing and patterning an absorber layer over the multilayer coating was found to be insensitive to variations in incidence angle and absorber layer edge profile. 100 nm of gold, germanium or carbon absorber is sufficient for high image contrast. Masks made by etching patterns into the multilayer stack is more sensitive to variations in incidence angle and edge profile. Defects on the substrate severely degrade the areal image. Different coverage profiles results in widely different areal image.© (1993) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Mass concentrations and metals speciation of PM2.5, PM10, and total suspended solids in Oxford, Ohio and comparison with those from metropolitan sites in the Greater Cincinnati region

Abstract Ambient aerosols were sampled for a period of 12 months from January to December 2005 in Oxford, OH, which is a relatively small college town approximately 50 miles northwest of Cincinnati. The goal of this study was to compare the mass concentrations and metals speciation of ambient aerosols collected in Oxford, OH with those collected in three urban centers (Cincinnati, Middletown, and Hamilton) in the Greater Cincinnati region. A secondary goal was to compare the effects of meteorological conditions on PM2.5 and PM10. Three different sampling instruments were used to collect PM2.5, PM10, and total suspended solids (TSP) in Oxford. It was found that PM2.5 mass concentrations in Oxford were approximately 10% lower than those measured in Cincinnati, Middletown, and Hamilton. It was also found that the PM2.5 contributed ∼95% to PM10 and >60% to TSP. Acid extraction of the filters followed by inductively coupled plasma (ICP) was used for metals speciation. It was found that arsenic, antimony, cobalt, and lead were predominantly contained in PM2.5, whereas cadmium, chromium, iron, nickel, molybdenum, silicon, vanadium, and zinc were found predominantly in PM10. The crustal elements, including aluminum, calcium, magnesium, manganese, and potassium, were found predominantly in TSP. Copper had relatively high concentrations in TSP samples in Oxford, which may be due to emissions from a local industry that manufactures copper-based products. The metals concentrations in Oxford were generally lower than those reported in for Cincinnati and Middletown. However, different analytical methods were used for metals speciation in those cities, which likely contributed significantly to observed differences. It was observed that PM concentrations increased with air temperature and decreased with increasing wind speed. Humidity, precipitation, and wind direction appeared to have very little effect on PM concentrations.