cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Network thermodynamics: dynamic modelling of biophysical systems

The success of equilibrium thermodynamics in describing static phenomena has inspired many attempts to develop a rigorous thermodynamics of rate processes.
The ontogenic and functional relationships between growth hormone- and prolactin-releasing cells during the development of the bovine pituitary.

The ontogeny of GH- and prolactin-releasing cells in the developing bovine pituitary was evaluated by reverse haemolytic plaque assays which allows for the detection of hormone release from individual pituitary cells in culture. With this approach, we observed that GH-releasing cells ontogenically preceded prolactin-releasing cells. In fact, GH secretors were observed as early as 59 days of gestational age while cells that released prolactin were not identified until 98 days. The amounts of both GH- and prolactin-releasing cells increased with time to reach more than 50% and 20% of all pituitary cells near term (term approximately 280 days) respectively. Interestingly, the first cells shown to release prolactin also released GH (i.e. were mammosomatotropes). This temporal and functional relationship between GH and prolactin secretors provides suggestive evidence that GH-secreting cells act as the progenitor cells for prolactin secretors via a functional intermediate, the mammosomatotrope.
Chemical depositional environments of calcic marine black shales

The economically important black shale facies contains several discrete chemical groupings in visually similar rocks. We examined the elemental compositions of more than 300 black shales and anoxic sediments in order to understand the relation of their chemical variability to the depositional environment. The low calcic shales were found to contain at least four discrete groupings (1-4) whose depositional and early diagenetic redox conditions are suggested by their Fe, Mn, and V concentrations. The calcic shales (72 Paleozoic, 50 Mesozoic, and 42 Cenozoic; >50,000 ppm AL, >4,000 ppm Ca) were examined in terms of the four thermodynamic groups previously defined for the low calcic shales. The Ca/Mn ratios of the calcic black shales fall into four (I-IV) discrete clusters (as opposed to a continuum). This differentiation reflects the stability of Mn minerals in overlying and interstitial waters under varying redox conditions. One cluster (Ca/ Mn I) from a period of glaciation (Ordovician-Silurian boundary) has high Mn concentrations and falls on the line: [Mn] = 0.065[Ca] + 1,280 (ppm) (r = 0.95, n = 7). A second group (Ca/Mn II) from many different localities and ages falls on a line with a lower slope: [Mn] = 0.038 [Ca] + 187 (ppm) (r = 0.92, n = 21). The third group (Ca/Mn III) falls on the line: [Mn] = 0.011 [Ca] + 152 (ppm) (r = 0.95, n = 19). The greatest number of samples (Ca/Mn IV) fall on the line: [Mn] = 0.0027 [Ca] + 144 (ppm) (r = 0.85, n = 69). In order to establish the depositional environment associated with each of the groups, more modern sediments whose depositional settings are better defined were explored. As a result, the samples from both Ca/Mn I and II can be associated with deposition under oxic water, those from Ca/Mn I remained oxic during early diagenesis. After deposition, Ca/Mn II samples became anoxic, releasing Mn to interstitial waters. The Ca/Mn III and IV group samples were deposited under anoxic waters. In order to establish the thermodynamic environment of the shale component of the calcic shales, it is necessary to extrapolate to the no calcium intercept to determine the Mn content, then apply the rules determined for the low calcic shales. This study demonstrates the wide variety of black shale depositional environments from oxic to methanogenic. Accordingly, black shales can not all be assigned to anoxic, sulfidic environments without additional chemical analysis and interpretation. The proper environmental assignment should be useful in assessing the economic potential of particular black shale deposits.
A critical review of mass balance methods for calculating critical loads of nitrogen for forested ecosystems

Critical loads are used in the assessment of air pollution and regulation of the causative emissions to prevent or mitigate ecological damage. We critically review four mass balance methods for cal...
Power generation in MFCs with architectures based on tubular cathodes or fully tubular reactors

Tubular cathodes provide a method to obtain high surface areas for scaling up microbial fuel cells (MFCs), but the importance of the cathode shape is not known. We therefore examined power production using cathodes in various configurations (tubes or flat). The MFC with a single internal carbon cloth tube cathode (71 W/m3) produced more power than previously obtained with an ultrafiltration membrane (8 W/m3) due to the better performance of carbon material. This power density was slightly less than that of a flat carbon cloth cathode (81 W/m3; 88 m2/m3) due to the lower total surface area of the tube (68 m2/m3) and not as a result of the tubular cathode shape. Adding a second tube increased power (83 W/m3) in proportion to specific surface area (93 m2/m3). Wrapping the cathode completely around the anode formed a fully tubular MFC (external tubular reactor) with a higher surface area that produced 128 W/m3. Volumetric power density was highly correlated with cathode specific surface area ( R 2 = 0.93, p = 0.008) and did not depend on the cathode shape (tubes, completely tubular, or flat). Thus, future MFC designs should focus on increasing cathode specific surface area.
Understanding controls on interfacial wetting at epitaxial graphene: Experiment and Theory

The interaction of interfacial water with graphitic carbon at the atomic scale is studied as a function of the hydrophobicity of epitaxial graphene. High resolution x-ray reflectivity shows that the graphene-water contact angle is controlled by the average graphene thickness, due to the fraction of the film surface expressed as the epitaxial buffer layer whose contact angle (contact angle \ensuremath{\theta}${}_{\mathrm{c}}$ $=$ 73\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}) is substantially smaller than that of multilayer graphene (\ensuremath{\theta}${}_{c}$ $=$ 93\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}). Classical and ab initio molecular dynamics simulations show that the reduced contact angle of the buffer layer is due to both its epitaxy with the SiC substrate and the presence of interfacial defects. This insight clarifies the relationship between interfacial water structure and hydrophobicity, in general, and suggests new routes to control interface properties of epitaxial graphene.
Impact of forest patch characteristics on small mammal communities: a multivariate approach

We used multivariate analysis to investigate the principal factors affecting forest-floor small mammal occurrence in 80 previously cut and uncut forest patches in temperate woodlands across southern Illinois, USA. Peromyscus leucopus comprised 82.3 % of 836 individuals caught during 24,000 trapnights, followed by Blarina carolinensis, Ochrotomys nuttalli, Tamias striatus and Microtus pinetorum. Small mammal abundances differed between years, possibly due to high winter mortality. Principal component analysis identified three significant environmental gradients, forest structure, forest composition and temperature conditions. Vegetation, rather than spatial characteristics, dominated these gradients. P. leucopus and O. nuttalli abundances were inversely related to forest age and canopy height. B. carolinensis related to temperature conditions. Combined small mammal captures related to forest structure and forest composition. Because heterogeneous forested landscapes differ greatly in spatial and temporal characteristics, extrapolating general small mammal conservation strategies may prove difficult. Integrating habitat restoration with conservation may be more efficient.
Effects of Alanine and Glycine Substitution for Tryptophan on the Heterogeneity of Gramicidin A Analogs in Micelles

The effects of alanine and glycine substitution for tryptophan upon the species heterogeneity of gramicidin A analogs incorporated into SDS micelles have been investigated. The sequential replacement of the four tryptophan residues in gramicidin A at positions 15, 13, 11, and 9 with glycine showed that there was no detectable effect at position 15 but increasing heterogeneity of species in the micelles proceeding toward the interior of the micelle at position 9. The replacement of tryptophan at positions 15 and 9 with alanine was found to produce more species heterogeneity than found with glycine substitution at the same positions. An increase in the SDS concentration reduces the number of different species present in micelles. With the Gly-11, Gly-13, and Gly-15 analogs, the increase in SDS concentration results in the formation of a single species; however, for the Gly-9, Ala-9, and Ala-15 analogs, heterogeneity remains.
DNA insertion sequences near the insulin gene affect glucose regulation.

Abstract There is restriction-fragment length polymorphism in the 5'-flanking region of the insulin gene on the short arm of chromosome 11 in man. The polymorphic DNA sequences in 53 members of a large family were analysed by means of the restriction endonuclease BglI. In this family, the BglI restriction fragments were found in four sizes—2·8 kilobases (kb), 2·9 kb, 4·6 kb, and 4·8 kb. They segregated as alleles. the two larger BglI restriction fragments (U alleles) were associated with high haemoglobin A 1c levels in both blood-related and unrelated non-diabetic members of the family.
Computed tomography-based rigidity analysis: a review of the approach in preclinical and clinical studies

The assessment of fracture risk in patients afflicted with osseous neoplasms has long presented a problem for orthopedic oncologists. These patients are at risk for developing pathologic fractures through lytic defects in the appendicular and axial skeleton with devastating consequences on their quality of life. Lesions with a high risk of fracture may require prophylactic surgical stabilization, whereas low-risk lesions can be treated conservatively. Therefore, effective prevention of pathologic fractures depends on accurate assessment of fracture risk and is a critical step to avoid debilitating complications. Given the complex nature of osseous neoplasms, treatment requires a multidisciplinary approach; yet, little consensus regarding fracture risk assessment exists among physicians involved in the care of these patients. In order to improve the overall standard of care, specific criteria must be adopted to formulate consistent and accurate fracture risk predictions. However, clinicians make subjective assessments about fracture risk on plain radiographs using guidelines now recognized to be inaccurate. Osseous neoplasms alter both the material and geometric properties of bone; failure to account for changes in both of these parameters limits the accuracy of current fracture risk assessments. Rigidity, the capacity to resist deformation upon loading, is a structural property that integrates both the material and geometric properties of bone. Therefore, rigidity can be used as a mechanical assay of the changes induced by lytic lesions to the structural competency of bone. Using this principle, computed tomography (CT)-based structural rigidity analysis (CTRA) was developed and validated in a series of preclinical and clinical studies.
Induction of Forward Mutations in Mutationally Defective Yeast

The 3 rev loci that reduce ultraviolet light (UV)-induced reversion in S. cerevisiae had a similar effect on forward mutation to auxotrophy induced by a single 400 erg/mm2 UV dose: rev1-1, rev2-1 and rev3-1 reduced average frequencies of auxotrophs to 4%, 64% and 4% that in wild type and reduced frequencies of mutants at ade1 or ade2 to 19%, 88% and 2% wild type, respectively. The rev2-1 strain exhibited high frequencies of spontaneous mutation. It is suggested that rev1-1 and rev3-1 block steps in a general UV mutation mechanism controlling forward and reverse mutation throughout the genome. The small effect of rev2-1, compared to the effect of rev1-1 or rev3-1, is consistent with previously obtained data on UV reversion and could be due to a specificity for induced mutation involving only certain types of UV damage or, on the other hand, it may be related to mutator activity. Although rev caused varying degrees of sensitivity to ethylmethanesulfonate (EMS), there was little or no significant effect on mutation induced by a single 30 min. dose of 3% EMS. Auxotroph frequencies were 79%, 109% and 94% wild type, whild frequencies at ade1 or ade2 were 82%, 56% and 51% wild type in the respective strains. It is suggested that steps blocked by rev, although they may participate in repair of lethal EMS damage, do not themselves generate EMS-induced mutations.
The integration of modular fixture database, fixturing knowledge base and 3-D fixture planning interface

Abstract The objective of this project is to present a computer aided fixturing system (CAFS), which integrates modular fixture database, fixture positions knowledge base and 3-D graphic display interface. The system will automatically select and layout the fixture elements to secure a workpiece through an interactive progress. This work can be sub-divided into three tasks. The first task is to build a modular fixture element database. The second task is to determine true positions of modular fixture elements given a set of fixture points, called fixture configuration. The third task is to provide a 3-D graphic interface to display and refine the fixture plan interactively. The system will be developed on the platform of a solid modeler, I-DEAS. Using this platform, the user can graphically rearrange fixture elements to refine the fixture plan.
Increased density of excitatory amino acid transport sites in the hippocampal formation following an entorhinal lesion.

High affinity transport of excitatory amino acids such asl-glutamate into astrocytes is necessary for the termination of its excitatory signal and the prevention of its excitotoxic effects. The removal of glutamate from the synaptic cleft is carried out by both sodium- and chloride-dependent systems. Both sodium-dependentd-[3H]aspartate and chloride-dependentl-[[3H]glutamate binding were found to increase in the dentate gyrus molecular layer of rats following an entorhinal lesion. The increased binding reached a maximum at 5 and 7 days postlesion and returned to normal by 12 days postlesion. No changes in binding were observed at long time points postlesion. This increased ability to transport glutamate may be a compensatory response to protect the remaining neurons from the excitotoxic conditions that accompany neuronal degeneration.
Body Mass Index and Fatigue Severity in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

AbstractBackground: It is uncertain how much fatigue is related to weight in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS).Objective: To assess the association of body mass index (BMI) and fatigue in CFS patients.Methods: Consecutive patients seen in a referral-based specialty clinic were eligible if they met CFS criteria and had completed required measures. Fatigue measures were the vitality subscale of the Medical Outcomes Short-Form 36 and the global fatigue index from the Multidimensional Assessment of Fatigue.Results: In women, there was no relationship between BMI and vitality subscale or global fatigue index scores (P = 0.99 and P = 0.44). For men, vitality subscale scores significantly decreased as BMI increased (P = 0.02).Conclusions: In CFS patients, the prevalence of obesity was low despite risk factors for weight gain. Fatigue severity and BMI were unrelated in women with CFS, but this relationship may differ for men.
Guidelines for Modeling Based on Experiences with Radiantly Stabilized Combustion

Many processes of interest in chemical engineering are yet beyond the reach of a numerical solution in a practical sense. For such processes, creative modeling by means of idealizations and approxi...
Long-term combined treatment with thiazide and potassium citrate in nephrolithiasis does not lead to hypokalemia or hypochloremic metabolic alkalosis

Long-term combined treatment with thiazide and potassium citrate in nephrolithiasis does not lead to hypokalemia or hypochloremic metabolic alkalosis. Background Potassium citrate is commonly used in combination with a thiazide diuretic in the medical management of recurrent hypercalciuric nephrolithiasis. However, concerns have been raised that administration of this nonchloride potassium alkali with a kaliuretic and natriuretic agent such as thiazide may not be efficacious in correcting or preventing hypokalemia, and may produce hypochloremic metabolic alkalosis. This retrospective analysis was conducted to determine if these two potential complications are encountered in patients on long-term potassium citrate and thiazide therapy. Methods Data were collected on 95 patients who had been on combination therapy for at least 4 months from the stone clinics of the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Duke University Medical Center, and Ochsner Clinic. Results Mean serum potassium concentration remained within normal limits without a significant decrease during combined therapy. Serum chloride was significantly lower from pretreatment but by only 1 mEq/L and remained within normal limits throughout treatment. There was a small increase in serum bicarbonate concentration compared to the baseline level of less than 1 mEq/L at 8 to 12 and 18 to 24 months, but not at other treatment periods. Conclusion Co-administration of potassium citrate did not induce hypokalemia or hypochloremic metabolic alkalosis in our thiazide-treated patient population.
The Victorian Marionette Theatre

John McCormick's delightful book The Victorian Marionette Theatre is at once a labor of love, a comprehensive history of a popular art form, an insider's description of the craft by a longtime practitioner, and a nostalgic reminiscence of a nearly forgotten aspect of the Victorian theatre. For all that, the book has an authoritative point of view and a cohesive unity establishing it as one of the most important sources of its kind, complementing George Speaight's more wide-ranging, classic treatment of the subject, The History of the English Puppet Theatre (London: G. G. Harrap, 1955; 2d ed., Carbondale: Southern Illinois University Press, 1990) and McCormick's own companion study, coauthored with Bennie Pratasik, Popular Puppet Theatre in Europe, 1800–1914 (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1998). Those three works anchor a shelf of studies of a major cultural phenomenon.
Board Composition and Corporate Social Responsibility: An Empirical Investigation in the Post Sarbanes-Oxley Era

Although the composition of the board of directors has important implications for different aspects of firm performance, prior studies tend to focus on financial performance. The effects of board composition on corporate social responsibility (CSR) performance remain an under-researched area, particularly in the period following the enactment of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (SOX). This article specifically examines two important aspects of board composition (i.e., the presence of outside directors and the presence of women directors) and their relationship with CSR performance in the Post-SOX era. With data covering over 500 of the largest companies listed on the U.S. stock exchanges and spanning 64 different industries, we find empirical evidence showing that greater presence of outside and women directors is linked to better CSR performance within a firm’s industry. Treating CSR performance as the reflection of a firm’s moral legitimacy, our study suggests that deliberate structuring of corporate boards may be an effective approach to enhance a firm’s moral legitimacy.
138 PROSPECTIVE ANALYSIS OF PATENT DUCTUS ARTERIO-SUS (PDA) IN INBORN INFANTS < 1500 GM

Despite an increasing practice of ductal closure in the first 72h, neither the incidence of symptomatic PDA (sPDA) nor need for such aggressive therapy is clear. We have determined the incidence and onset of sPDA and related echocardiographic (ECHO) and clinical findings in a prospective study (6/1/79 to 4/30/80) of all inborn infants 72h. The same physician examined all infants q 48h; sPDA was defined by criteria of Cotton,et.al. ECHOs at 7d were read blindly. sPDA occurred in 4/120 infants (3%) in the 1st week and only 19 infants total (16%), mean onset (± SD)=15 ± 3d. Ligation was required in 9 infants, 2 at 1.15 was 80% and specificity 50%, while LVD/BW > 12 was 67 and 75% and LA/BW > 6.0 was 73 and 49%, respectively. Values lower than these were ≥89% predictive for no sPDA after 7d. sPDA is not necessarily a common or early problem in infants <1500g. Although silent PDAs may alter the ECHO, indications and benefits of early closure remain to be determined by randomized studies.
Federal Reserve independence: the Fed Funds Rate under different regimes

The independence of central banks is an important feature of a properly functioning and stable monetary system. The structure of the Federal Reserve is designed to minimize political influence and insulate policy makers from political pressure. Nevertheless, members of the Fed’s Federal Open Market Committee are members of society and informed about public opinion, potentially opening them to political bias, even if unintentional. This article uses a Taylor rule structure to examine changes in the Fed’s reaction function to unemployment and inflation under different political administrations and chairman. Preliminary results show that the Fed is more responsive to the output gap under Republican presidential administrations and sets the Federal Funds Rate at a lower level under Republican administrations.
Quantitative Chirality Measures Applied to Domain Formation in Langmuir Monolayers

A quantitative chirality measure previously developed by Zabrodsky et al. (Zabrodsky, H.; Peleg, S.; Avnir, D. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1992, 114, 7843−7851) has been applied to the analysis of liquid-condensed domain shapes in Langmuir monolayers of the phospholipid D-α-phosphatidylcholine, dipalmitoyl (dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine or DPPC). We present data on the variation of the quantitative chirality measure as a function of in-plane molecular area and temperature, as well as different subphase electrolyte concentration. Upon compression, the chirality is shown to grow monotonically with decreasing molecular area (increasing surface pressure) and to correlate linearly with the domain shape factor (a measure of noncompact growth). The chirality was similar for temperatures ≤25 °C and decreased substantially by 30 °C. For a subphase electrolyte concentration high enough to screen out electric dipole interactions, the dependence of chirality measure on molecular area is the same as that measured for low-elect...
Baby Boomer Drug Users: Career Phases, Social Control, and Social Learning Theory

Social control and self-control theories have influenced social research and public policy regarding drug use and abuse. While some researchers propose an integration of these theories, others argue that these theories are incompatible. Earlier models of drug use phases indicate that social environment affects self-control, which contradicts the assumption made in self-control theory that self-control is stable over time. In this article we used life course and grounded theory methods to analyze the in-depth life histories of 65 active heroin or methamphetamine users who are part of the cohort known as baby boomers. Interviews with drug users having a long history of drug use allow us to examine drug patterns over the life course. Based on social roles and control over drug use, we developed a four-phase typology comprised of controlled users, marginal users, hustlers, and junkies that accounts for the variation found in our sample of baby boomer drug users. The study participants’ identity and self-concept are employed as descriptive illustrative themes. The typology presented here can assist in evaluat-ing drug users for treatment, as well as developing public health interventions and policymaking.
Sociodemographic and social contextual predictors of multiple health behavior change: Data from the Healthy Directions-Small Business study

Multiple modifiable health behaviors contribute to the chronic diseases that are the leading causes of death in the USA. Disparities for meeting recommended health behavior guidelines exist across occupational classes and socioeconomic levels. The purpose of this paper was to investigate sociodemographic and social contextual predictors of multiple health behavior change in a worksite intervention. We analyzed data on four diet and exercise variables from an intervention trial with worksite-level randomization. Eight hundred forty-one employees had complete data from baseline (response rate = 84 %) and follow-up surveys (response rate = 77 %). Multilevel logistic regression estimated associations between least absolute shrinkage and selection operator-selected sociodemographic and social contextual predictor variables and the multiple health behavior change outcome (changing 2+ versus 0 behaviors). Gender, being married/partnered, and perceived discrimination were significantly associated with multiple health behavior change. Sociodemographic and social contextual factors predict multiple health behavior change and could inform the design and delivery of worksite interventions targeting multiple health behaviors.
Achieving dynamic inter-organizational workflow management by integrating business processes, events and rules

In the competitive global marketplace, business organizations often need to team up and operate as a virtual enterprise to achieve common business goals. Since the business environment of a virtual enterprise is highly dynamic, it is necessary to develop a workflow technology that is capable of handling dynamic workflows across enterprise boundaries. The paper describes a dynamic workflow model and a dynamic workflow management system for modeling and controlling the execution of inter-organizational business processes. The model extends the underlying model of WfMC's WPDL by adding connectors, events, triggers and rules as its modeling constructs, encapsulating activity definitions, and allowing e-service requests as a part of the activity specification. The workflow management system makes use of an event and rule server to trigger business rules during the enactment of workflow processes to enforce business constraints and policies and/or to modify the process model at run-time. It also provides a mechanism to dynamically bind e-service requests to e-services.
Sorcery in the Black Atlantic: The Occult Arts in Comparative Perspective

Three recent volumes—Pares and Sansi (eds.), Sorcery in the Black Atlantic; Paton and Forde (eds.), Obeah and Other Powers; and Sweet, Domingos Alvares, African Healing, and the Intellectual History of the Atlantic World—set a new bar for scholarship about Caribbean and Latin American sorcery, stressing its contingency as well as its transnational and cosmopolitan aspects. Their richly contextualized case studies of African-derived practices related to illness and health, as well as the quotidian experience of slaves outside the plantation, challenge the most entrenched assumptions about sorcery and extend its use to a range of social actors, not just slaves. In the process, they serve to relocate the practice of sorcery in Latin America within a broad comparative framework that includes Europe and the Americas as well as Africa.
Analgesia and increases in limbic and cortical MOPEG-SO4 produced by periaqueductal gray injections of morphine.

Analgesia and changes in limbic and cortical concentrations of the major brain noradrenaline metabolite, 3-methoxy-4-hydroxy-phenylethylene glycol sulphate (MOPEG-SO4), were investigated in rats following the bilateral injection of morphine into the periaqueductal gray (PAG). Morphine, at a dose of 5 micrograms per bilateral site, produced a significant antinociceptive effect within 15 min of injection. This effect, as measured by the tail flick analgesic test, remained constant at a level of approximately 75% of the maximum for 60 min. Significant increases in limbic and cortical MOPEG-SO4 were also observed 15, 30 and 60 min after the 5 micrograms bilateral PAG injection of morphine. However, MOPEG-SO4 concentrations exhibited a sharp peak in both brain areas at 30 min. Analgesia and the regional increases in MOPEG-SO4 were antagonized by the prior systemic injection of naloxone (1 mg kg-1, i.p.). Thus, analgesia and increases in noradrenaline metabolism in two brain regions appear to be mediated by the specific activation of opiate receptors in the PAG. Although these findings indicate that brain noradrenergic systems may be involved in the mediation of morphine analgesia, the lack of a strict temporal relationship between antinociceptive action and increases in MOPEG-SO4, suggests that analgesia cannot be totally attributed to changes in brain noradrenergic transmission.
Understanding the Metropolis-Hastings Algorithm

Abstract We provide a detailed, introductory exposition of the Metropolis-Hastings algorithm, a powerful Markov chain method to simulate multivariate distributions. A simple, intuitive derivation of this method is given along with guidance on implementation. Also discussed are two applications of the algorithm, one for implementing acceptance-rejection sampling when a blanketing function is not available and the other for implementing the algorithm with block-at-a-time scans. In the latter situation, many different algorithms, including the Gibbs sampler, are shown to be special cases of the Metropolis-Hastings algorithm. The methods are illustrated with examples.
Sleep Transistor Sizing and Adaptive Control for Supply Noise Minimization Considering Resonance

The conventional sleep transistor sizing schemes do not consider the resonant supply noise which represents the worst-case supply disturbance. This paper investigates the impact of sleep transistor sizing on different on-chip noise components and shows that, contrary to the conventional wisdom, a larger sleep transistor is not always favored in term of performance when the resonant supply noise is taken into account. To minimize the worst-case supply noise, an optimal sizing scheme using an explicit noise and impedance model is developed and verified by benchmark circuits. Employing the proposed technique results in a reduction of the worst-case noise by 19%, as well as a saving of standby leakage and area overhead by 60% in comparison with conventional sizing scheme. In order to deal with the sporadic nature of the resonant, we propose an adaptive sleep transistor circuit which adjusts the size of sleep transistor on the fly to remove the DC noise penalty of the fixed sizing scheme. Simulation results on 32-nm CMOS technology are used to demonstrate the functionality and effectiveness of the proposed adaptive sizing circuits.
Retinal waves are unlikely to instruct the formation of eye-specific retinogeniculate projections

In all mammalian species the projections of the two eyes to the dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus are initially overlapping before gradually forming the eye-specific domains evident at maturity. It is widely thought that retinal waves of neuronal activity play an instructional role in this developmental process. Here, I discuss the myriad reasons why retinal waves are unlikely to have such a role, and suggest that eye-specific molecular cues in combination with neuronal activity are most probably involved in the formation of eye-specific retinogeniculate projections.
Use of propensity score matching to evaluate a national smoking cessation media campaign

Sustained mass media campaigns have been recommended to stem the tobacco epidemic in the United States. Propensity score matching (PSM) was used to estimate the effect of awareness of a national smoking cessation media campaign (EX) on quit attempts and cessation-related cognition. Participants were 4,067 smokers and recent quitters aged 18-49 in targeted U.S. media markets. Controlling for potential confounders through PSM and regression analysis, confirmed awareness of EX was not significantly associated with either outcome at 6-month follow-up. Matched analyses excluding 217 quitters resulted in a significant effect of EX on both outcomes.
Defective DNA Replication Impairs Mitochondrial Biogenesis In Human Failing Hearts

Rationale: Mitochondrial dysfunction plays a pivotal role in the development of heart failure. Animal studies suggest that impaired mitochondrial biogenesis attributable to downregulation of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator (PGC)-1 transcriptional pathway is integral of mitochondrial dysfunction in heart failure. Objective: The study sought to define mechanisms underlying the impaired mitochondrial biogenesis and function in human heart failure. Methods and Results: We collected left ventricular tissue from end-stage heart failure patients and from nonfailing hearts (n=23, and 19, respectively). The mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) content was decreased by >40% in the failing hearts, after normalization for a moderate decrease in citrate synthase activity ( P P P Conclusions: Mitochondrial biogenesis is severely impaired as evidenced by reduced mtDNA replication and depletion of mtDNA in the human failing heart. These defects are independent of the downregulation of the PGC-1 expression suggesting novel mechanisms for mitochondrial dysfunction in heart failure.
The Mean and the Time Variability of the Shallow Meridional Overturning Circulation in the Tropical South Pacific Ocean

AbstractThe meridional transport in the Pacific Ocean subtropical cell is studied for the period from 2004 to 2011 using gridded Argo temperature and salinity profiles and atmospheric reanalysis surface winds. The poleward Ekman and equatorward geostrophic branches of the subtropical cell exhibit an El Nino–Southern Oscillation signature with strong meridional transport occurring during La Nina and weak meridional transport during El Nino. At 7.5°S, mean basinwide geostrophic transport above 1000 dbar is 48.5 ± 2.5 Sv (Sv ≡ 106 m3 s−1) of which 30.3–38.4 Sv return to the subtropics in the surface Ekman layer, whereas 10.2–18.3 Sv flow northward, feeding the Indonesian Throughflow. Geostrophic transport within the subtropical cell is stronger in the ocean interior and weaker in the western boundary during La Nina, with changes in the interior dominating basinwide transport. Using atmospheric reanalyses, only half of the mean heat gain by the Pacific north of 7.5°S is compensated by oceanic heat transport o...
Chemistry of surface waters: Distinguishing fine-scale differences in sea grass habitats of Chesapeake Bay

We tested the hypothesis that the physical and chemical processes acting in sea grass habitats of the lower Chesapeake Bay are spatially structured and that dissolved elemental chemistry of sea grass-habitat surface waters have their own unique identity. We sampled surface waters from July to September 2001 in five sea grass habitats of the lower bay: Potomac, Rappahannock, York, Island (Tangier-Bloodsworth), and Eastern Shore. Dissolved Mg, Mn, Sr, and Ba concentrations were measured by sector field inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. As expected, Mg, Sr, and Ba exhibited conservative behavior, but Mn exhibited nonconservative behavior along the salinity gradient. Spatial differences in the chemistry of surface waters over sea grass habitats were fully resolvable independently of time. Moreover, classification accuracy of water samples was low in Rappahannock, moderate in Potomac and Eastern Shore, and high in the York and Island habitats. The chemistry of York was distinct because of the effects of physical mixing, whereas Island chemistry was unique, potentially because of the influence of Coriolis acceleration and river discharges from the Susquehanna River. The results of this study show that sites so close to one another in physical space maintain distinct chemical differences.
The 30 nm Chromatin Fiber as a Flexible Polymer

Abstract Our analysis of the data of van den Engh, Sachs, and Trask (Science 257, 1410 (1992)), for the dependence of the mean square distance between pairs of hybridization sites ( ,μm2)on the known genomic distance (n, bp) separating these sites on chromosome number 4 in G1 human fibroblast nuclei, shows that is proportional to n2v with v = 3/5 for n on n for n < 4 Mbp is consistent with the model of large (∼ 6 Mbp, 3μm diameter) loops of interphase chromatin attached to nuclear membrane sites. Using the constant (e.g., Widom, Ann. Rev. Biophys. Biophys. Chem. 18, 365 (1989)) and variable (Wil...
Millimeter-scale surface nano-structuring using focused ion beam milling

New patterning schemes for a variety of applications including sensors and photonics are explored. We present here a comprehensive study of using focused ion beam (FIB) milling to modify surfaces over millimeter-scale areas with nano-patterns of dimensions down to 30 nm. A typical example of a pattern is 40 nm diameter × 40 nm depth wells with a 200 nm pitch. Typical sample materials are metals, but polymer patterning is possible. We have also evaluated the surface of the patterned materials to ensure there are no negative effects of these patterning schemes on the future device performance.
The establishment of a follow-up clinic to monitor patient outcomes for a short-term surgical trip to Haiti

INTRODUCTION: International organizations perform a large volume of surgery in lowand middle-income countries (LMIC) but very few report outcomes data. Among groups performing shortterm humanitarian surgery interventions, complication rates are unknown due to a lack of patient follow-up. As part of a one month Global Surgery Elective, we performed urologic and general surgery procedures at Hospital St. Therese (HST) in Hinche, Haiti. The purpose of this study is to determine if a short-term follow-up clinic is adequate to collect surgical outcomes data that would lead to improvements in patient outcomes.
Increase of nuclear bodies in bovine luteal cells after treatment with human chorionic gonadotropin.

Nuclear bodies, which are dynamic components of nuclei indicating the level of nuclear activation and cellular transcriptional and translational events, were found in small numbers (2 to 4 nuclear profiles per 150 examined) in control luteal tissue. The number of nuclear bodies, however, greatly increased after incubation with increasing concentrations of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). Either one simple or one complex, but very rarely two or more nuclear bodies per nuclear profile, were found in response to bCG. The nuclear bodies increased by 1 h of incubation with hCG at 38#{176}C (p<O.Ol), which further increased by 2 h, remained elevated until 8 h (p<O.ol), and then returned to control levels by 12 h. Thirty to forty percent of the nuclear bodies that increased in response to hCG were complex nuclear bodies; these are larger than simple nuclear bodies, and contain a fibrillar capsule surrounding the electron-dense or granular core of tightly packed osmophilic material. While bCG increased the number of nuclear bodies similarly at 22#{176}C and 38#{176}C, it had no effect at 4#{176}C. hCG had no effect on nuclear bodies in luteal fibroblasts and endothelial cells or in bovine liver or kidney cells, suggesting that the effect of hCG was cell- and tissue-specific. High concentrations of human prolactin (hPRL), human follicle-stimulating hormone (hFSH), or prostaglandin (PG) E1 or PGF2a had no effect on nuclear bodies in luteal cells, suggesting that the hCG effect was hormone-specific. Human luteinizing hormone (hLH) also increased the number of nuclear bodies in luteal cells, with three differences from that seen with hCG. First, hLH caused a smaller increase of nuclear bodies; second, longer periods of incubation with hLH were required for an increase in number of complex nuclear bodies; and third, even then, a fewer number of complex nuclear bodies appeared in response to hLH as compared to hCG. The addition of hCG with hLH resulted in appearance of nuclear bodies similar to the effects of treatment with hLH alone. Dibutyryl cyclic adenosine 3’,5’-monophosphate had no effect on number of nuclear bodies in bovine luteal cells, suggesting that the hCG and hLH increase of nuclear bodies could not have been mediated by this cyclic nucleotide.
The Rotational Periods of Uranus and Neptune

Abstract Observations of tilts of spectral lines in the spectrum of Uranus and Neptune yield the following rotational periods: “Uranus,” 24 ± 3 hr; “Neptune,” 22 ± 4 hr. Neptune is confirmed to rotate in a direct sense. The position angle of the pole of Uranus, projected onto the plane of the sky, is found to be 283 ± 4°. The value for Neptune is 32 ± 11°. These results agree with the direction of the pole of Uranus inferred from the common plane of its four brightest satellites and with the direction of the pole of Neptune as inferred from the precession of Triton's orbit. The rotational period of Uranus is found to be consistent with modern values of its optical and dynamical oblateness and the theory of solid-body rotation with hydrostatic equilibrium. This is barely the case for the period derived for Neptune and we suspect that future observations made under better seeing conditions may lead to a shorter rotation period between 15 and 18 hr. Because of a substantial difference between our results and those of earlier spectroscopic and photometric investigations we include an assessment of several previously published photometric studies and a new reduction of the original Lowell and Slipher spectroscopic plates of Uranus [Lowell Obs. Bull. 2, 17–18, 19–20 (1912)]. The early visual photometry of Campbell (Uranus) and Hall (Neptune) is found to be more satisfactorily accounted for by periods of 21.6 and 23.1 hr, respectively, than by the periods originally suggested by the observers. Our reduction of the Lowell and Slipher Uranus plates yields a period near 33 hr uncorrected for seeing. This value is consistent with the results based on the 4-m echelle date.
Are Physically Active Individuals Taking Statins at Increased Risk for Myopathy

Statin drugs are generally well tolerated in most patients. A limited number of studies have been published that look at the relationship of skeletal muscle injury in patients who take statin medications and exercise compared with taking statin medications without exercise. To date, the sample size of these studies is small, but there appears to be evidence to show that statin medications may exacerbate exercise-induced skeletal muscle injury. In addition, a study of professional athletes with familial hypercholesterolemia showed that 16 of 22 athletes could not tolerate statin medications. Patients with dyslipidemia who experience muscle pain and discomfort may be less likely to be compliant with their medication and/or physical activity regimens. Educating patients to recognize the signs and symptoms of medication-induced myopathy versus exercise-induced muscle soreness is an important counseling topic for health care providers.
I Don't Want to Sit by You : A Preliminary Study of Experiences and Consequences of Stigma and Discrimination from HIV-positive Mothers and Their Children

ABSTRACT This exploratory study seeks to recognize the voices of infected mothers and their uninfected children regarding their experiences and consequences of stigma and discrimination. Ten children and their HIV-positive mothers were interviewed to assess perceptions of stigma and discrimination, as well as emotional and educational functioning. Quantitative and qualitative methods indicated that infected mothers perceive greater levels of stigma and experienced a greater number of discriminatory acts than their uninfected children. Children's total stigma score was significantly correlated with levels of maternal anxiety and depression. Additionally, child reading levels were negatively correlated with their mothers' total stigma score. Qualitative analyses revealed that many acts of stigma and discrimination experienced by the mothers were related to a fear of contagion. Children did not report any acts of discrimination due, in part, to the fact that children did not typically share their mother's HI...
Review of the TAXUS® Liberté™ SR paclitaxel-eluting coronary stent

The advent of drug-eluting stents has revolutionized the treatment of coronary heart disease. Interventional cardiologists are increasingly treating more complex lesions in patients that would have otherwise required bypass surgery. As a result of technological advances, the second-generation thin strut TAXUS stent--the TAXUS Liberte SR paclitaxel-eluting coronary stent--has now been introduced into routine clinical practice. The Liberte stent has evolved from the currently available TAXUS Express stent to provide enhanced lesion access in challenging anatomies as well as more uniform drug delivery. This article will provide an overview of the TAXUS Liberte stent.
Prevalence of HPV 16/18 genotypes and histopathologic follow-up outcomes in women with negative cytology and positive high-risk HPV test results

Introduction Management of human papillomavirus (HPV)-positive/cytology-negative patients has represented a special challenge ever since the introduction in 2003 of routine cytology and HPV cotesting of women 30 years and older. Since the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s approval in 2009 of an HPV 16/18 genotyping test, guidelines have included an HPV 16/18 genotyping triage option for identifying high-risk HPV-positive/cytology-negative patients who would benefit from immediate colposcopic referral. Materials and methods A retrospective database search was conducted to identify patients with HPV-positive/cytology-negative results between May 1, 2010 and June 30, 2013 in an academic women’s hospital practice in which clinical staff consented to routine HPV 16/18 genotyping triage testing of women 30 years and older with HPV-positive/cytology-negative results. Results Of 824 cytology-negative/HPV-positive cases with valid HPV 16/18 genotyping results, positive results were obtained in 101 (12.3%). HPV 16 was detected most frequently (9.1%), followed by HPV 18 (2.4%) and both 16 and 18 (0.7%). Histopathologic follow-up results were documented over an average of 3.5 months (range 0.5 to 22.5) in 51 patients with HPV-positive/cytology-negative/HPV 16/18-positive results; cervical intraepithelial neoplasia 2/3 biopsy diagnoses were reported in 4 of 51 (7.8%). Previously we reported cervical intraepithelial neoplasia 2+ diagnoses in 2.4% of 849 high-risk HPV-positive/cytology-negative patients followed for almost 2 years without HPV 16/18 genotype testing. Conclusions These initial routine clinical practice findings are consistent with data from both long-term research studies and recent shorter term clinical trials indicating enhanced risk stratification of HPV-positive/cytology negative patients with HPV 16/18 genotype testing. This is the first report of the application of this option in a routine clinical practice setting.