cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The use of panoramic radiography in the medical center.

Abstract There are innumerable indications and applications for the panoramic radiographic examination of maxillomandibular structure and teeth. This procedure can be used in diagnosis, treatment planning, treatment, and follow-up service. In the medical center, the dentist should make it known that panoramic equipment is available if it is not located within the general radiologic facility. The otolaryngologist, the plastic surgeon, and the head and neck surgeon, especially, will have occasion to use this radiographic technique to advantage and should be aware of its possible applications.
A Technique for Test Coverage Closure Using GoldMine

We propose a methodology to generate input stimulus to achieve coverage closure using GoldMine, an automatic assertion generation engine that uses data mining and formal verification. GoldMine mines the simulation traces of a behavioral register transfer level (RTL) design using a decision tree based learning algorithm to produce candidate assertions. These candidate assertions are passed to a formal verification engine. If a candidate assertion is false, a counterexample trace is generated. In this paper, we feed these counterexample traces to iteratively refine the original simulation trace data. We introduce an incremental decision tree to mine the new traces in each iteration. The algorithm converges when all the candidate assertions are true. We formally prove that our algorithm will always converge and capture the complete functionality of each output of a sequential design on convergence. We show that our method always results in a monotonic increase in simulation coverage. We also present an output-centric notion of coverage, and argue that we can attain coverage closure with respect to this notion of coverage. We elaborate the technique step by step using a nontrivial arbiter design. Experimental results to validate our arguments are presented on several designs from Rigel, OpenRisc, and SpaceWire. Some practical limitations to achieve 100% coverage and the differences between final decision tree and binary decision diagram are discussed.
Structures characterizing partially ordered sets, and their automorphism groups

By finding invariant embeddings of a partially ordered set X into the semigroups it is shown that the semigroup of order ideals of X, where the semigroup operation is set union, and the semigroup and semiring of order preserving maps from X into the positive cone D^+ of a partially ordered integral domain D, all characterize X to within poset isomorphism. The automorphism group of the semigroup of order ideals is isomorphic to the automorphism group of X. The same holds for the semiring of order preserving maps from X into the non-negative integers, and this semiring is the closed linear span of its idempotents.
The Framing of Buying Decisions

Research in behavioral decision theory suggests that people use reference points as the basis for judging/comparing the value of decision alternatives, but there has been little research addressing how decision reference points are formed. This paper posits and empirically demonstrates a conceptual framework of the reference point formation process for buying decisions. The basic concepts in the framework are supported, and the resulting reference points are shown to influence choice in a manner consistent with prospect theory.
Vascularization of capillary-scale channels in type I collagen gels

This work examines physical and chemical signals that promote in vitro vascularization of capillary-scale channels in type I collagen gels. We show that retrograde pressure induces endothelial migration and cyclic AMP promotes endothelial stability. Together, these signals enabled vascularization of microchannels as narrow as 11 µm, matching the size scale of capillaries. Further optimization of these signals may allow the formation of perfused, functional capillary-scale vessels. Such engineered capillaries may assist studies of normal and pathological vascularization, and may provide building blocks to create clinically viable vascularized tissue constructs.
Shareholder wealth reaction to officer leave of absence announcements

Purpose – This paper seeks to explore empirically the shareholder reactions to an officer leave of absence (OLOA) announcement.Design/methodology/approach – A standard event study methodology is applied to daily stock holding period returns. The sample studied consists of 104 firms announcing an OLOA and is further delineated by both reasons offered and the title of the officers in the event. A cross‐sectional analysis is used to study the reactions found.Findings – The paper documents a statistically significant negative response from shareholders: a 4.9 percent mean loss across 104 firms in the sample. Cross‐sectional results indicate that board independence and the passage of the Sarbanes‐Oxley Act of 2002 (SOX) influence abnormal returns.Practical implications – The evidence in this study clearly suggests the value‐relevance of the OLOA announcements. Therefore, a thorough understanding of the impact of OLOA announcements on firm value is important to investors.Originality/value – Event studies of man...
Using a poster exercise in an introductory geography course

Abstract A poster assignment has been developed by teaching assistants at the University of Washington, and this has been particularly useful in Introductory Geography courses. This paper discusses the purpose, design, implementation, and value of the exercise in the instruction and promotion of geography at the University of Washington and elsewhere.
18F-Fluorodeoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography Enables the Detection of Recurrent Same-Site Deep Vein Thrombosis by Illuminating Recently Formed, Neutrophil-Rich Thrombus

Background—Accurate detection of recurrent same-site deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a challenging clinical problem. Because DVT formation and resolution are associated with a preponderance of inflammatory cells, we investigated whether noninvasive 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)-positron emission tomography (PET) imaging could identify inflamed, recently formed thrombi and thereby improve the diagnosis of recurrent DVT. Methods and Results—We established a stasis-induced DVT model in murine jugular veins and also a novel model of recurrent stasis DVT in mice. C57BL/6 mice (n=35) underwent ligation of the jugular vein to induce stasis DVT. FDG-PET/computed tomography (CT) was performed at DVT time points of day 2, 4, 7, 14, or 2+16 (same-site recurrent DVT at day 2 overlying a primary DVT at day 16). Antibody-based neutrophil depletion was performed in a subset of mice before DVT formation and FDG-PET/CT. In a clinical study, 38 patients with lower extremity DVT or controls undergoing FDG-PET were analyzed. St...
Description of transdermal transport of hydrophilic solutes during low-frequency sonophoresis based on a modified porous pathway model

ABSTRACT Application of low-frequency ultrasound has been shown to increase skin permeability, thereby facilitating delivery of macromolecules (low-frequency sonophoresis). In this study, we sought to determine a theoretical description of transdermal transport of hydrophilic permeants induced by low-frequency sonophoresis. Parameters such as pore size distribution, absolute porosity, and dependence of effective tortuosity on solute characteristics were investigated. Pig skin was exposed to low-frequency ultrasound at 58 kHz to achieve different skin resistivities. Transdermal delivery of four permeants [mannitol, luteinizing hormone releasing hormone (LHRH), inulin, dextran] in the presence and absence of ultrasound was measured. The porous pathway model was modified to incorporate the permeant characteristics into the model and to achieve a detailed understanding of the pathways responsible for hydrophilic permeant delivery. The slopes of the log kp p versus log R graphs for individual solutes changed with solute molecular area, suggesting that the permeability–resistivity correlation for each permeant is related to its size. The tortuosity that a permeant experiences within the skin also depends on its size, where larger molecules experience a less tortuous path. With the modified porous pathway model, the effective tortuosities and skin porosity were calculated independently. The results of this study show that low-frequency sonophoresis creates pathways for permeant delivery with a wide range of pore sizes. The optimum pore size utilized by solutes is related to their molecular radii.
Scientific rotoscoping: a morphology-based method of 3-D motion analysis and visualization.

Three-dimensional skeletal movement is often impossible to accurately quantify from external markers. X-ray imaging more directly visualizes moving bones, but extracting 3-D kinematic data is notoriously difficult from a single perspective. Stereophotogrammetry is extremely powerful if bi-planar fluoroscopy is available, yet implantation of three radio-opaque markers in each segment of interest may be impractical. Herein we introduce scientific rotoscoping (SR), a new method of motion analysis that uses articulated bone models to simultaneously animate and quantify moving skeletons without markers. The three-step process is described using examples from our work on pigeon flight and alligator walking. First, the experimental scene is reconstructed in 3-D using commercial animation software so that frames of undistorted fluoroscopic and standard video can be viewed in their correct spatial context through calibrated virtual cameras. Second, polygonal models of relevant bones are created from CT or laser scans and rearticulated into a hierarchical marionette controlled by virtual joints. Third, the marionette is registered to video images by adjusting each of its degrees of freedom over a sequence of frames. SR outputs high-resolution 3-D kinematic data for multiple, unmarked bones and anatomically accurate animations that can be rendered from any perspective. Rather than generating moving stick figures abstracted from the coordinates of independent surface points, SR is a morphology-based method of motion analysis deeply rooted in osteological and arthrological data. J. Exp. Zool. 313A:244–261, 2010. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
A Life in Electronics

I began my career in electronics in Australia in 1960 when I enrolled in the Electrical Engineering Department of Melbourne University. The fifties had been a time of spectacular progress in technology, with the development of nuclear energy, space exploration, and of course electronic systems of many varieties. I had enjoyed physics and math in high school and guessed that the burgeoning field of electronics would be a good career choice for me.
Pharmacologic properties, metabolism, and disposition of linaclotide, a novel therapeutic peptide approved for the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome with constipation and chronic idiopathic constipation

Linaclotide, a potent guanylate cyclase C agonist, is a therapeutic peptide approved in the United States for the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome with constipation and chronic idiopathic constipation. We present for the first time the metabolism, degradation, and disposition of linaclotide in animals and humans. We examined the metabolic stability of linaclotide in conditions that mimic the gastrointestinal tract and characterized the metabolite MM-419447 (CCEYCCNPACTGC), which contributes to the pharmacologic effects of linaclotide. Systemic exposure to these active peptides is low in rats and humans, and the low systemic and portal vein concentrations of linaclotide and MM-419447 observed in the rat confirmed both peptides are minimally absorbed after oral administration. Linaclotide is stable in the acidic environment of the stomach and is converted to MM-419447 in the small intestine. The disulfide bonds of both peptides are reduced in the small intestine, where they are subsequently proteolyzed and degraded. After oral administration of linaclotide, <1% of the dose was excreted as active peptide in rat feces and a mean of 3-5% in human feces; in both cases MM-419447 was the predominant peptide recovered. MM-419447 exhibits high-affinity binding in vitro to T84 cells, resulting in a significant, concentration-dependent accumulation of intracellular cyclic guanosine-3',5'-monophosphate (cGMP). In rat models of gastrointestinal function, orally dosed MM-419447 significantly increased fluid secretion into small intestinal loops, increased intraluminal cGMP, and caused a dose-dependent acceleration in gastrointestinal transit. These results demonstrate the importance of the active metabolite in contributing to linaclotide's pharmacology.
Routine synthesis of N-[11C-methyl]scopolamine by phosphite mediated reductive methylation with [11C]formaldehyde.

Abstract A synthesis of [11C]scopolamine capable of clinical delivery of this agent in high specific activity is described. The precursor [11C]formaldehyde was produced by catalytic oxidation of [11C]CH3OH over metallic silver and was used to N-11C-methylate norscopolamine using aqueous neutral potassium phosphite as the reducing agent. The labeling reaction was complete after 5 min at 75–80°C and the [11C]scopolamine (99% radiochemical purity) was isolated by preparative HPLC. Total synthesis time is less than 45 min. Decay corrected radiochemical yields from [11C]CO2 are presently 20–43%.
1500 years of hydrocephalus treatment - How little it has changed

ydrocephalus is an ancient disease from both an archeological perspective and written history. In H reviewing our surgical treatment of hydrocephalus, where there has been at least some modicum of surgical success, we can only go back 100 years to the end of the 19th century. An early invasive treatment (albeit temporary) was introduced by Heinrich I. Quincke (1842e1922) in which he introduced the spinal puncture and serial spinal taps for removal of spinal fluid (4). The spinal tap was introduced in the 1890s both for diagnostic examination of the spinal fluid and also for removal of spinal fluid in hydrocephalus. Other inventive individuals attempted cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) drainage/diversion by putting in tubes through the vertebral body and draining the fluid into the peritoneum. Neurosurgeons really did not have any successful forms of surgical treatment for hydrocephalus until the 1950s, when some inventive people such as John W. Holter, Robert H. Pudenz, Frank E. Nulsen, and Eugene B. Spitz, among others, came up with CSF diversion systems allowing the CSF to be diverted from the cerebral ventricles to the heart or abdomen using a recently introduced tubing material made of silicone. To put this all into perspective, the generation practicing neurosurgery now has in 1 generation been able to come up with some reasonably good surgical solutions for the surgical treatment of hydrocephalus.
A peptide isolated by phage display binds to ICAM-1 and inhibits binding to LFA-1.

A mixed phage library containing random peptides from four to eight residues in length flanked by cysteine residues was screened using a recombinant soluble, form of human ICAM-1, which included residues 1-453, (ICAM-1(1-453)). Phage bound to immobilized ICAM-1(1-453) were eluted by three methods: (1) soluble ICAM-1(1-453), (2) neutralizing murine monoclonal antibody, (anti-ICAM-1, M174F5B7), (3) acidic conditions. After three rounds of binding and elution, a single, unique ICAM-1 binding phage bearing the peptide EWCEYLGGYLRCYA was isolated; the identical phage was selected with each method of elution. Attempts to isolate phage from non-constrained (i.e., not containing cysteines) libraries did not yield a phage that bound to ICAM-1. Phage displaying EWCEYLGGYLRCYA bound to immobilized ICAM-1(1-453) and to ICAM-1(1-185), a recombinant ICAM-1, which contains only the two amino-terminal immunoglobulin domains residing within residues 1-185. This is the region of the ICAM-1 that is bound by LFA-1. The phage did not bind to proteins other than ICAM-1. The phage bound to two ICAM-1 mutants, which contained amino acid substitutions that dramatically decreased or eliminated the binding to LFA-1. Studies were also performed with the corresponding synthetic peptide. The linear form of the synthetic EWCEYLGGYLRCYA peptide was found to inhibit LFA-1 binding to immobilized ICAM-1(1-453) in a protein-protein binding assay. By contrast, the disulfide, cyclized, form of the peptide was inactive. The EWCEYL portion of the sequence is homologous to the EWPEYL sequence found within rhinovirus coat protein 14, a nonintegrin protein that binds to ICAM-1. Taken together, the results suggests that the EWCEYLGGYLRCYA sequence is capable to binding to immobilized ICAM-1. Phage display appears to represent a new approach for the identification of peptides that interfere with ICAM-1 binding to beta 2 integrins.
Cornell's Nanomove: Decontamination, Safety Reviews, and Various Lessons Learned

In the fall of 2003, the Cornell NanoScale Science & Technology Facility (CNF) relocated from its 22 year-old home, Knight Lab, into Duffield Hall, a new nanotechnology research building with approximately 30 research labs totaling over 4,600 m2 (50,000 ft2) of research space and a 2,300 m2 (25,000 ft2) class 1000 cleanroom. The relocation involved moving over a three month period more than thirty major pieces of sensitive research equipment, many which used toxic or corrosive gases or liquids. In addition to the relocated equipment, the facility also installed over 20 new pieces of equipment during the initial move-in phase. To ensure the safety of the personnel moving and reinstalling the equipment, which included Cornell University personnel as well as outside contractors, a decontamination procedure and certification process was developed and implemented by CNF staff. This process is typically done by an outside specialty contractor, particularly in work situations involving outside tradesman. The decontamination protocol covered wet process equipment as well as vacuum and gas systems and included review and signoff by tool owners, lab management, the Duffield Hall construction management team, and a representative from Cornell Environmental Health and Safety (EH&S). With this process, Cornell was able to avoid the considerable expenses of an outside safety contractor. Additionally, as part of the commitment to the City of Ithaca and the local fire company during the original Environmental Impact Statement performed by the University, Duffield Hall management committed to a thorough safety and engineering review of each tool installed in Duffield Hall, both within the CNF clean room as well as within other laboratories in the building. A Pre-Operational Safety and Environmental Review (POSER) process was developed by CNF staff, Cornell EH&S, and outside consultants and applied to all tools (approximately 70) during the post construction move in period. The review process involved looking at all operational, facilities, and maintenance operations for each tool to look for and document issues related to personal exposure or injury, facilities loading, environmental releases, as well as impact to other research equipment in the building. This team-based review is done on a tool by tool basis, and is updated upon major tool or process changes. The review continues to be used for all major and minor tool installations in Duffield Hall. Cooperation between staff, facilities, construction, and safety personnel were critical in both the decontamination certification process and the POSER process. The lessons learned and the experience gained should be of value to others in the process of moving into new advanced laboratory facilities.
Associating spatial diversity features of radiologically defined tumor habitats with epidermal growth factor receptor driver status and 12-month survival in glioblastoma: Methods and preliminary investigation

We analyzed the spatial diversity of tumor habitats, regions with distinctly different intensity characteristics of a tumor, using various measurements of habitat diversity within tumor regions. These features were then used for investigating the association with a 12-month survival status in glioblastoma (GBM) patients and for the identification of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-driven tumors. T1 postcontrast and T2 fluid attenuated inversion recovery images from 65 GBM patients were analyzed in this study. A total of 36 spatial diversity features were obtained based on pixel abundances within regions of interest. Performance in both the classification tasks was assessed using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. For association with 12-month overall survival, area under the ROC curve was 0.74 with confidence intervals [0.630 to 0.858]. The sensitivity and specificity at the optimal operating point ([Formula: see text]) on the ROC were 0.59 and 0.75, respectively. For the identification of EGFR-driven tumors, the area under the ROC curve (AUC) was 0.85 with confidence intervals [0.750 to 0.945]. The sensitivity and specificity at the optimal operating point ([Formula: see text]) on the ROC were 0.76 and 0.83, respectively. Our findings suggest that these spatial habitat diversity features are associated with these clinical characteristics and could be a useful prognostic tool for magnetic resonance imaging studies of patients with GBM.
Synthesis of PbTe nanowire arrays using lithographically patterned nanowire electrodeposition

We describe the preparation by electrodeposition of arrays of lead telluride (PbTe) nanowires using the lithographically patterned nanowire electrodeposition (LPNE) method. PbTe nanowires had a rectangular cross-section with adjustable width and height ranging between 60−400 nm (w) and 20−100 nm (h). The characterization of these nanowire arrays using X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy and electron diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) is reported. PbTe nanowires were electrodeposited using a cyclic electrodeposition-stripping technique that produced polycrystalline, stoichiometric, face-centered cubic PbTe with a mean grain diameter of 10−20 nm. These nanowires were more than 1 mm in length and two additional processing steps permitted their suspension across 25 μm air gaps microfabricated on these surfaces. The LPNE synthesis of lithographically patterned PbTe nanowires was carried out in unfiltered laboratory air....
Inelastic Analysis of Multistory Multibay Frames

An incremental load procedure is presented for determining the elasto-plastic behavior of plane rectangular rigid frames from the unloaded state to the ultimate carrying capacity. The procedure utilizes the displacement method of analysis and includes the effects of joint displacement, strain reversal, axial force, and spread of the inelastic zones in the members. The numerical procedure was programmed to study bending and bifurcation failures of fixed base portal and multibay, multistory frames under proportional and nonproportional loading. On the basis of the frames studied the inclusion of joint displacements in the analysis had a significant effect on the computed value of the ultimate carrying capacity of the structure. The studies indicated that the value for the determinant of the stiffness matrix approaches zero at the ultimate carrying capacity regardless of whether the frame fails by bifurcation or by bending, elastically or inelastically.
On two snapping shrimps, Alpheus baccheti n. sp. and A. coetivensis Coutière from the Tuamotu Islands, French Polynesia (Crustacea, Decapoda)

The present study deals with two species of the snapping shrimp genus Alpheus Fabricius, 1798 recently collected on a shallow reef flat of Makemo, central Tuamotu Islands, French Polynesia. Alpheus baccheti n. sp., is described on the basis of a single complete male specimen (holotype). The new species appears to be most closely related to the species of the A. lobidens de Haan, 1849 and A. strenuus Dana, 1852 species complexes, but can be easily distinguished from all of them by the presence of a distoventral tooth on the merus of the third and fourth pereiopods. The presence of Alpheus coetivensis Coutiere, 1908 in the Tuamotu Islands is confirmed on the basis of several specimens from Makemo; some taxonomic remarks are provided for this species. The diagnostic colour patterns are illustrated for both A. baccheti n. sp. and A. coetivensis.
Electronic Structure of Fullerenes: Isolated Molecules and Metal-Doped Crystals

We analyze results from a variety of recent density-functional based calculations on isolated and crystalline fullerene molecules. From the generalized gradient-correction we predict an experimental cohesive energy of 7.25 eV per atom for the isolated molecule. Calculations of the band structures of alkali-doped fullerenes [K6C60 and K3C60] are reported. We present cluster-based studies aimed at understanding the interactions governing the arrangement of the potassium atoms in the BCC K6C60 structure. For the K6C60 structure, the arrangement of potassium atoms is primarily governed by short-range carbon-potassium interactions. Calculations aimed at addressing the possibility of transition metal doped fullerene crystals are also presented.
Hotspot detection and removal flow using multi-level silicon-calibrated CMP models

As we move to advanced technology nodes, the requirements on within chip and across wafer planarity are becoming more demanding [1]. Also, the number of Chemical Mechanical Polishing (CMP) processes and steps used in microelectronic chip manufacturing is increasing rapidly, in an effort to meet the stringent planarity requirements [1]. However, the complex pattern dependencies inherent in CMP processes, and the cumulative nature of the topography generated by these processes make it challenging to meet the aforementioned stringent uniformity requirements for the variety of designs produced. Consequently, we expect to see an increased CMP and related hotspots on advanced node designs. Accurately detecting CMP and related hotspots (such as pooling, DOF hotspots, topography variation hotspots etc.) and providing guidelines to fix or prevent them is therefore critical for CMP process development, yield ramp up and shorter design and manufacturing cycles. In this paper we present a hotspot detection and removal/prevention flow. The flow uses Cadence Design System’s manufacturing modeling methodology that predicts feature scale, within chip, and wafer level topography. The modeling methodology takes into account etch depth, deposition, and CMP variations across multiple levels in the design, and across multiple process steps within a given design level.
Fifteen Years on the Rock: Archaeological Research, Administration, and Compliance on Black Mesa, Arizona

The Black Mesa Archaeological Project has been conducting field investigations and archaeological research in northeastern Arizona since 1967. The work is contracted for by Peabody Coal Company in order to comply with federal, state, and tribal statutes. The longevity of the project, as well as its size and complexity, affords a unique opportunity to evaluate and refine research, project administration, and legal compliance procedures. In most situations, clear advantages have resulted from the opportunities to learn from the project's history. Unfortunately, changing statutes and changing interpretations of the same statutes have resulted in major problems—both for the archaeologists and for the Peabody Coal Company.
Wheat Gluten Blends with a Macromolecular Cross-Linker for Improved Mechanical Properties and Reduced Water Absorption

Wheat gluten (WG) is reactively blended with a macromolecular cross-linker, polyethylene-alt- maleic anhydride (PEMA), to simultaneously improve strength, stiffness, strain, and reduce water absorption for the first time. FTIR illustrates the cross-linking reaction. An increase in Tg measured by DSC and a decrease in protein extractability measured by SE-HPLC demonstrates an increase in cross-linking as PEMA content increases. The modified WG is thermo-molded into solid bars and tested for flexural properties. The flexural testing results indicate that the maximum strain and stress of the modified WG can be improved by as much as 95% and 120%, respectively. Addition of PEMA to WG lowers the water absorption by as much as a factor of 4 at the same time as improving the mechanical properties. The results are consistent with a single phase, intermolecular, cross-linked morphology. The improvements attained make these blends approach the properties of polystyrene and aerospace grade epoxies.
Seeking Love Online: A Cross-cultural Examination of Personal Advertisementson American and Chinese Dating Websites

This cross-cultural study explored the role of culture and gender in mate selection. Through content analyzing two hundred Chinese personal advertisements and two hundred American personal advertisements posted on Chinese and American dating websites, the study found that culture had significant impact on patterns of self-presentation and mate preference. More Chinese advertisers provided information on their physical appearances, health conditions, financial status, education, and morality, whereas more American advertisers wrote about their personality and hobbies. A similar pattern was found in their statements about mate preferences: statement about physical characteristics, financial status and morality more frequently appeared in Chinese personal ads, and statements about personality and hobbies more frequently occurred in American personal ads. Results also revealed some gender differences. Particularly, Chinese women were more likely to write about their own personalities, moralities, and physical characteristics than Chinese men.
Life on the stoichiometric knife-edge: effects of high and low food C:P ratio on growth, feeding, and respiration in three Daphnia species

Recently, data have emerged indicating that not only high food carbon:phosphorus (C:P) ratio but also low food C:P (P-rich food) can have negative effects on the growth of consumers. The shape of this “stoichiometric knife edge,” however, is not yet well-documented, and the mechanisms underpinning it are not understood. Here we report the results of experiments using 3 species of Daphnia ( D. magna , D. pulicaria , D. pulex ) consuming the green alga Scenedesmus acutus with widely varying C:P ratios (from 1500 by atoms). The experiments were designed to (1) characterize the potential stoichiometric knife edge for each species, and (2) evaluate potential changes in feeding and respiration rates that may underpin the unimodal response to food C:P. All 3 Daphnia species grew more slowly when food C:P (atomic) exceeded ~250–300 but also when C:P was <120. Both high and low C:P foods were associated with increased respiration rates, indicating that the negative effects of food C:P imbalance at least partially involve increased metabolic costs of dealing with stoichiometrically imbalanced food. Feeding rate experiments indicated that, in contrast with limited previous data, animals generally increased their feeding rate on P-rich food. Overall, the “lower threshold elemental ratio” we identify here (~120) is surprisingly high, in an ecologically meaningful range, suggesting that negative effects of excessive food P content may play an under-recognized role in affecting Daphnia performance in P-rich lakes with low seston C:P ratio. Such effects also need to be incorporated into stoichiometrically explicit models of planktonic trophic interactions.
Witnessing Violence Versus Experiencing Violence: Effects on Psychological Distress

Based on secondary analysis of data from a sample of 649 individuals attending one of three New England colleges in the United States, this study examines the links between childhood exposure to violence and young adult depression. Assessment of the relative impact on depression of adversity experienced through direct personal victimization and adversity experienced through witnessing the violent victimization of others was made in an attempt to identify mechanisms by which each affects psychological distress. It was hypothesized that childhood adversity exhibits effects on psychological distress in young adulthood, at least in part, through its damaging impact on the development of social and personal resources—specifically, by affecting a reduction in family support, peer support, self-esteem, and mastery. Further, it was hypothesized that the importance of these mediators in explaining the link to depression of adversity differs between personally experiencing victimization and witnessing the victimization of others. Findings indicate that witnessing the violent victimization of intimates has effects on depression equal to personally experiencing the same type of victimization. Further, the most important mediators of the relationship to depression of violence personally experienced were family support, peer support, and self-esteem; but the most important mediator of the relationship to depression of violence witnessed was mastery. Also, the combined mediating effect of the resource variables is greater for violence experienced than it is for violence witnessed. These findings suggest that the mechanisms involved in the translation of adversity to depression do vary somewhat by the type of adversity experienced. DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2016.v7n3s1p11
Feasibility of introducing Wiki technology into hospital libraries

After a brief description of the characteristics and application of Wiki technology,the feasibility of introducing Wiki technology into hospital libraries was discussed from its value,significance,participation,technology and cost and certain matters needing attention in introducing Wiki technology were also pointed out.
A Comparative Analysis of Front-End and Back-End Compatible Silicon Photonic On-Chip Interconnects

Photonic devices fabricated with back-end compatible silicon pho-tonic (BCSP) materials can provide independence from the complex CMOS front-end compatible silicon photonic (FCSP) process, to sig-nificantly enhance photonic network-on-chip (PNoC) architecture performance. In this paper, we present a detailed comparative analy-sis of a number of design tradeoffs for CMOS front-end and back-end compatible devices for silicon photonic interconnects. A cross-layer optimization of multiple device-level and link-level design pa-rameters is performed to enable the design of energy-efficient on-chip photonic interconnects using BCSP devices. The optimized design of BCSP on-chip links renders more energy-efficiency and aggregate bandwidth than FCSP on-chip links, in spite of the inferior opto-elec-tronic properties of BCSP devices. Our experimental analysis com-pares the use of BCSP and FCSP links at the architecture level, and shows that the optimized design of the BCSP-based Firefly PNoC achieves 1.15x greater throughput and 12.4% less energy-per-bit on average than the optimized design of FCSP-based Firefly PNoC. Similarly, the optimized design of the BCSP-based Corona PNoC achieves 3.5x greater throughput and 39.5% less energy-per-bit on average than the optimized design of FCSP-based Corona PNoC.
Nanomaterials for In Vivo Imaging

In vivo imaging, which enables us to peer deeply within living subjects, is producing tremendous opportunities both for clinical diagnostics and as a research tool. Contrast material is often required to clearly visualize the functional architecture of physiological structures. Recent advances in nanomaterials are becoming pivotal to generate the high-resolution, high-contrast images needed for accurate, precision diagnostics. Nanomaterials are playing major roles in imaging by delivering large imaging payloads, yielding improved sensitivity, multiplexing capacity, and modularity of design. Indeed, for several imaging modalities, nanomaterials are now not simply ancillary contrast entities, but are instead the original and sole source of image signal that make possible the modality’s existence. We address the physicochemical makeup/design of nanomaterials through the lens of the physical properties that produce contrast signal for the cognate imaging modality—we stratify nanomaterials on the basis of thei...
Predicting the effects of manual crayfish removal on California newt persistence in Santa Monica Mountain streams

Abstract We construct a hybrid, stage-structured mathematical model to study whether trapping of the invasive predatory crayfish Procambarus clarkii can prevent local extinctions of the California newt ( Taricha torosa ), a species of special concern native to Santa Monica Mountain streams. Specifically, we numerically and analytically determine under what conditions trapping can drive the crayfish population size to zero. We observe the persistence or the time to extinction for newt populations under corresponding trapping scenarios. No simulations allow for long-term coexistence of newts and crayfish, although multiple scenarios delay newt extinction by several years in the presence of crayfish. We predict that crayfish extinction and newt persistence become more likely as the quantity of trapping resources, frequency of trapping implementation, and susceptibility of the crayfish population to trapping increases. We quantify the effectiveness of different crayfish trapping regimes at delaying the time until the newt population goes extinct. Predictions made with our model inform restorative efforts and crayfish management.
Why Organ Conscription Should Be off the Table: Extrapolation from Heidegger’s Being and Time

The question, what measures to address the shortage of transplantable organs are ethically permissible? requires careful attention because, apart from its impact on medical practice, the stance we espouse here reflects our interpretations of human freedom and mortality. To raise the number of available organs, on utilitarian grounds, bioethicists and medical professionals increasingly support mandatory procurement. This view is at odds with the Catechism of the Catholic Church (2003, p. 2296), according to which ‘[o]rgan donation after death is a noble and meritorious act’ but ethically impermissible absent consent. Those who concur with this position, but would oppose conscription on independent philosophical grounds, have not yet found a voice in the Western tradition comparable in strength to the utilitarian basis of the policy’s support, for Kantian and Aristotelian ethics, too, lend themselves to a requirement that we make our organs available to others when they can no longer serve ourselves. One finds an ethical wedge against conscription in an unexpected philosophical locale: the ‘fundamental ontology’ of Heidegger’s Being and Time, where pertinent individual choices arc protectively over what happens post mortem. Heidegger’s perspective on this issue thus meshes, not with other philosophical voices, but with Catholic doctrine—a surprising convergence of atheistic and theistic approaches to our flourishing whose ground I address in the article’s conclusion.
Analyzing security vulnerabilities of three-dimensional integrated circuits

Despite the well-understood advantages over 2D ICs, three-dimensional integrated circuits (3D ICs) introduce unique and unexplored challenges on managing hardware security. Existing works leverage the 3D structure to address the security concerns in 2D ICs, rather than studying the security threats originated from the 3D integration itself. To fill in this gap, this work analyzes new security threats on 3D ICs by examining five attack scenarios in the supply chain of 3D chips. With special emphasis on inter-die communication, we first model three types of Through Silicon Via (TSV) based hardware Trojans. Our case studies show that the impact of TSV-based Trojans on circuit power and delay can be significant enough to sabotage the integrity and security of 3D ICs. Furthermore, we envision that cross-tier hardware Trojan may become a unique hardware Trojan in 3D ICs to cause bandwidth depletion or information leakage among the tiers.
Technical Advance: New in vitro method for assaying the migration of primary B cells using an endothelial monolayer as substrate

Migration of B cells supports their development and recruitment into functional niches. Therefore, defining factors that control B cell migration will lead to a better understanding of adaptive immunity. In vitro cell migration assays with B cells have been limited by poor adhesion of cells to glass coated with adhesion molecules. We have developed a technique using monolayers of endothelial cells as the substrate for B cell migration and used this technique to establish a robust in vitro assay for B cell migration. We use TNF-α to up-regulate surface expression of the adhesion molecule VCAM-1 on endothelial cells. The ligand VLA-4 is expressed on B cells, allowing them to interact with the endothelial monolayer and migrate on its surface. We tested our new method by examining the role of L-plastin (LPL), an F-actin-bundling protein, in B cell migration. LPL-deficient (LPL-/-) B cells displayed decreased speed and increased arrest coefficient compared with wild-type (WT) B cells, following chemokine stimulation. However, the confinement ratios for WT and LPL-/- B cells were similar. Thus, we demonstrate how the use of endothelial monolayers as a substrate will support future interrogation of molecular pathways essential to B cell migration.
A soil column study to evaluate treatment of trace elements from saline industrial wastewater.

Industrial wastewater from the flue gas desulfurization (FGD) process is characterized by the presence of trace elements of concern, such as selenium (Se) and boron (B) and relatively high salinity. To simulate treatment that FGD wastewater undergoes during transport through soils in subsurface treatment systems, a column study (140-d duration) was conducted with native Kansas soil and saline FGD wastewater, containing high Se and B concentrations (170 μg/L Se and 5.3 mg/L B) and negligible arsenic (As) concentration (∼1.2 μg/L As). Se, B, and As, and dissolved organic carbon concentrations and organic matter spectroscopic properties were measured in the influent and outflow. Influent Se concentrations were reduced by only ∼half in all treatments, and results suggest that Se sorption was inhibited by high salinity of the FGD wastewater. By contrast, relative concentrations (C/Co) of B in the outflow were typically 150 μg/L in the treatment with labile organic carbon addition) suggest that soils not previously known to be geogenic arsenic sources have the potential to release As to groundwater in the presence of high salinity wastewater and under reducing conditions.
Clerkish Control of Recent Supreme Court Opinions? A Case Study of Justice Kennedy's Opinion in Gonzales vs. Carhart

In recent years, several analyses have furthered our understanding of the roles of U.S. Supreme Court clerks. This article applies the insights provided by these works to a case study of some of the language in Justice Kennedy's opinion in Gonzales v. Carhart (2007). The study considers whether both the theory and content of this language were largely the work of one of the crop of clerks who worked for the Justice during the October '06 Term.Justice Kennedy's vote and his authorship of the majority opinion were unsurprising. However, some of the opinion content was unexpected; its paternalistic approach to abortion rights is inconsistent with the otherwise libertarian arguments that he has employed in previous abortion cases. I hypothesize that this might be explained by the presence, within the quartet of Kennedy's clerks, of an individual who wrote these particular views into the Justice's opinion.At the end of the day, the name on the opinion in Carhart is Kennedy's. He bears the public burden of shouldering responsibility for the opinion's content. However, recent studies tell us never to underestimate the importance of those who clerk for U.S. Supreme Court Justices. In order to understand Carhart, might we have to accept that it is an example of clerkish control?This article draws on material from my book: Helen J. Knowles, The Tie Goes to Freedom: Justice Anthony M. Kennedy on Liberty (Rowman & Littlefield, forthcoming January 2009)
Accurate and Robust Spectral Testing with Relaxed Instrumentation Requirements

Analog-to-Digital Converters (ADCs) are becoming increasingly common to be involved in most systems in Integrated Circuits (ICs). Thanks to the rapid growth of modern semiconductor technology, the performance of the data converters becomes better and better. One of the difficulties being faced is to be able to accurately and cost-effectively test the continually better performance ADCs. The conventional test method for ADCs can be difficult to implement accurately and cost effectively due to the stringent requirements, such as achieving coherent sampling, requiring high purity test stimulus, avoiding signal clipping, maintaining stationary test environment and minimizing clock jitter. To relax these necessary conditions and to reduce test cost while achieving high accuracy, several new algorithms are introduced in this paper, to perform accurate spectral and linearity test of the ADC without requiring precise test instruments. Extensive simulation results performed in MATLAB first validated the accuracy as well as robustness of the proposed algorithms. Furthermore, measurement results using different devices and test platforms have verified many of these algorithms. For the first time, the accurate testing can be performed without the need for stringent requirements of conventional test, which offers much more flexibility as well as lower cost. Combined with their easy, cost-effective setup and high accuracy, these algorithms are readily available for precision ADC characterization and can be implemented into Built-in-Self-Test (BIST). solutions for production and bench testing.
Selective Proton/Deuteron Transport through Nafion|Graphene|Nafion Sandwich Structures at High Current Density.

Ion current densities near 1 A cm–2 at modest bias voltages (<200 mV) are reported for proton and deuteron transmission across single-layer graphene in polyelectrolyte-membrane (PEM)-style hydrogen pump cells. The graphene is sandwiched between two Nafion membranes and covers the entire area between two platinum–carbon electrodes, such that proton transfer is forced to occur through the graphene layer. Raman spectroscopy confirms that buried graphene layers are single-layer and relatively free of defects following the hot-press procedure used to make the sandwich structures. Area-normalized ion conductance values of approximately 29 and 2.1 S cm–2 are obtained for proton and deuteron transport, respectively, through single-layer graphene, following correction for contributions to series resistance from Nafion resistance, contact resistance, etc. These ion conductance values are several hundred to several thousand times larger than in previous reports on similar phenomena. A ratio of proton to deuteron con...
Using Software Engineering Metrics to Evaluate the Quality of Static Code Analysis Tools

This paper presents a framework for evaluating the quality of static code analysis (SCA) tools in the context of different software engineering metrics. The framework supports up to 38 software engineering metrics. We applied the framework against both open-source and commercially available SCA tools. The results of our experiments show that software engineering metrics, such as cyclomatic complexity, fan-out, knots, and essential complexity can impact the ability of a static code analysis tool to identify potential vulnerabilities in source code.