cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Serum antibody repertoire profiling using virtual antigen screen

We propose an algorithm for deciphering the repertoire of serum antibodies using next generation sequencing (NextGenSeq) of random peptide phage display libraries (RPPDL) selected for binding to serum antibodies. The algorithm is aimed to distinguish real antigens recognized by serum antibodies from irrelevant proteins retrieved due to a chance. Using this method we analyzed sera from mice immunized with a known human protein, Prostatic Acid Phosphatase (PAP). We were able to identify the PAP among the top candidate antigens retrieved by the BLAST database search. Our data demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed method for profiling serum antibody repertoires.
Crystalliferous Bacillus cereus group bacteria from a Maryland hardwood forest are dominated by psychrotolerant strains.

Crystal-forming bacteria of the Bacillus cereus group were isolated from soil samples collected at different elevations within a mixed hardwood forest in central Maryland, and their phylogenetic relationships determined by multilocus sequence analysis. The vast majority of isolates obtained were associated with two phylogenetic groups known to be psychrotolerant, with very few isolates representing phylogenetic groups more typically associated with Bacillus thuringiensis. Isolates from the psychrotolerant groups were found to grow on solid media at 7°C. Isolates of 11 highly related, novel sequence types (STs) from the psychrotolerant group that includes Bacillus weihenstephanensis were generally found at higher elevations, and were not associated with soils near streams. Isolates of two related STs from the second psychrotolerant group were nearly always found at the bottoms of ravines near streams, in areas abundant in earthworm castings.
Are There Sex-dependent Differences in Acetabular Dysplasia Characteristics?

Background Many patients who undergo periacetabular osteotomy (PAO) for symptomatic acetabular dysplasia experience decreased pain and improved function, yet some experience inadequate clinical improvement. The etiologies of treatment failure have not been completely defined, and sex-dependent disease characteristics that may be associated with less pain relief are not understood.
Automatic abstraction and verification of verilog models

Abstraction plays a critical role in verifying complex sys-tems. A number of languages have been proposed to model hardware systems by, primarily, abstracting away their wide datapaths while keeping the low-level details of their control logic. This leads to a significant reduction in the size of the state space and makes it possible to verify intricate control interactions formally. These languages, however, require that the abstraction be done manually, a tedious and error-prone process. In this paper we describe Vapor, a tool that auto-matically abstracts behavioral RTL Verilog to the CLU lan-guage used by the UCLID system. Vapor performs a sound abstraction with emphasis on minimizing false errors. Our method is fast, systematic, and complements UCLID by serving as a back-end for dealing with UCLID counterexamples. Preliminary results show the feasibility of automatic abstraction and its utility in formal verification.
High current effects in silicide films for sub-0.25 /spl mu/m VLSI technologies

Characterization and modeling of high current conduction in TiSi/sub 2/ and CoSi/sub 2/ films formed on n/sup +/-Si and n/sup +/ poly-Si under DC and pulsed stress conditions is reported for the first time. High current conductance of silicides is shown to be strongly affected by the technology and process conditions. The nonlinear I-V characteristics of silicide films under DC and pulsed high current stress has been modeled and the nonlinearity has been shown to be due to self-heating. Two physical parameters, B and /spl lambda/, associated with DC and pulsed current stress, have been shown to be able to describe the sensitivity of the films to high current conduction. At high currents, an abrupt lowering of the resistance of the silicided structures is observed. Detailed analysis of the evolution of this resistance drop has been made. It is shown that the cause is related to the melting of the structures, which also causes degradation in the post-stress silicide film resistance. The critical current for these failures has been shown to be strongly influenced by the silicide film width and the time duration of the pulse. CoSi/sub 2/ films and films on poly-Si are shown to be more sensitive to high current conduction and degradation.
Finding a single-molecule receptor for citramalic acid through supramolecular chelation

We have demonstrated that the tritopic hydrogen-bond acceptor 1,3,5-(5,6-dimethylbenzimidazol-1-yl)-2,4,6-trimethylbenzene can act as a perfectly complementary receptor for citramalic acid. The solid-state structure of the cocrystal of the two components show that they form 1:1 pairs where each pair is held together by three near-linear O–H···N hydrogen bonds in a converging manner. The conformational flexibility of both species is apparently no hindrance to the formation of discrete dimeric “cups” wherein each species presents three hydrogen-bond donors/acceptors in a face-to-face orientation.
STEREOELECTRONIC PROPERTIES OF PHOTOSYNTHETIC AND RELATED SYSTEMS—IX. AB INITIO QUANTUM MECHANICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF THE ELECTRONIC STRUCTURE AND SPECTRUM OF THE BACTERIOCHLOROPHYLLIDE a ANION RADICAL

—Ab initio configuration interaction wavefunctions and energies are reported for 19 doublet states of the anion radical of ethyl bacteriochlorophyllide a (Et-BChl a˙), and are employed in a resolution of the electronic absorption spectrum, as well as in a comparison with a previously reported study of the electronic states and spectrum of the anion radical of ethyl bacteriopheophorbide a (Et-BPheo a˙). The lowest two excited doublet states, D1 and D2, of Et-BChl a˙ are found to be approximately degenerate and are predicted to contribute to the experimentally observed absorption at 10000 cm−1. In contrast, the D2D0 transition in Et-BPheo a˙ is predicted to contribute to the 11000 cm−1 absorption, while the D1D0 transition appears at approximately 8600 cm−1 with a low oscillator strength (f= 0.002). The prominent visible absorption at ∼15700 cm−1 in both molecules is found to be due to the D4 D0 transition. Another difference between the predicted spectra of the two molecules appears in the low-energy shoulder of the Soret band. Here, two intense transitions, D10D0 and D11D0, are predicted for Et-BChl a˙, as opposed to three fairly intense transitions, D7D0, D8D0 and D9D0, for Et-BPheo a˙, differences which may provide a means of distinguishing between the two molecules using resonance Raman spectroscopy. The remainder of the Soret band of Et-BChl a˙ above 26000 cm−1 consists of a number of closely-spaced transitions to states D12D18. The intense transitions D12D0, D13D0, D14D0 are predicted to contribute to the Soret maximum near 30000 cm−1. The ground state spin densities of the two molecules are similar, with the minor difference of somewhat less spin density located on the methine carbon atoms of Et-BChl a˙ compared with Et-BPheo a˙.
How big should a mammal be? A macroecological look at mammalian body size over space and time

Macroecology was developed as a big picture statistical approach to the study of ecology and evolution. By focusing on broadly occurring patterns and processes operating at large spatial and temporal scales rather than on localized and/or fine-scaled details, macroecology aims to uncover general mechanisms operating at organism, population, and ecosystem levels of organization. Macroecological studies typically involve the statistical analysis of fundamental species-level traits, such as body size, area of geographical range, and average density and/or abundance. Here, we briefly review the history of macroecology and use the body size of mammals as a case study to highlight current developments in the field, including the increasing linkage with biogeography and other disciplines. Characterizing the factors underlying the spatial and temporal patterns of body size variation in mammals is a daunting task and moreover, one not readily amenable to traditional statistical analyses. Our results clearly illustrate remarkable regularities in the distribution and variation of mammalian body size across both geographical space and evolutionary time that are related to ecology and trophic dynamics and that would not be apparent without a broader perspective.
Interactive effects of 1-octen-3-ol and carbon dioxide on mosquito (Diptera: Culicidae) surveillance and control.

Responses of natural populations of biting Diptera were studied at Everglades National Park, Fla., to three levels (0, 3.0, and 41.1 mg/h) of l-octen-3-ol (octenol), four levels (0, 20, 200, and 2,000 ml/min) of carbon dioxide (CO2), and their combinations. Catches of mosquitoes (Aedes taeniorhynchus (Wiedemann), Culex [ Melanoconion ]) spp., Cx. nigripalpus Theobald, and Wyeomyia spp.) and one tabanid ( Diachlorus ferrugatus (F.)) were affected significantly by CO2 and octenol. Significantly greater numbers of all taxa were collected as the level of CO2 was increased. The 3.0-mg/h release rate of octenol alone resulted in increased trap catches relative to no bait for all taxa except Cx. (Melanoconion) spp., whereas the 41.1-mg/h release rate alone generally reduced trap catches relative to either no bait or 3.0 mg/h octenol. The effect of CO2 and octenol was additive for Cx. (Melanoconion) spp. and D. ferrugatus and synergistic for Ae. taeniorhynchus. Six octenol-supplemented CO2 treatments produced mixed results for Cx. nigripalpus.
Patterns of Cultural Choice A Prolegomenon

Introducing this joint effort to account empirically for taste, Peterson advances the concept “patterns of cultural choice,” and contrasts it with “lifestyle,”“subculture,”“culture class,”“taste culture,” and “status group.” He then introduces the eight research articles, which employ alternative strategies of isolating choice patterns.
Chromosome Size-Dependent Control of Meiotic Reciprocal Recombination in Saccharomyces cerevisiae: The Role of Crossover Interference

In the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, small chromosomes undergo meiotic reciprocal recombination (crossing over) at rates (centimorgans per kilobases) greater than those of large chromosomes, and recombination rates respond directly to changes in the total size of a chromosomal DNA molecule. This phenomenon, termed chromosome size-dependent control of meiotic reciprocal recombination, has been suggested to be important for ensuring that homologous chromosomes cross over during meiosis. The mechanism of this regulation was investigated by analyzing recombination in identical genetic intervals present on different size chromosomes. The results indicate that chromosome size-dependent control is due to different amounts of crossover interference. Large chromosomes have high levels of interference while small chromosomes have much lower levels of interference. A model for how crossover interference directly responds to chromosome size is presented. In addition, chromosome size-dependent control was shown to lower the frequency of homologous chromosomes that failed to undergo crossovers, suggesting that this control is an integral part of the mechanism for ensuring meiotic crossing over between homologous chromosomes.
The advance velocity of steps under the influence of volume and surface diffusion, by direct and indirect incorporation of growth units

Abstract The coupled surface and volume diffusion problem for the advance rate of steps on crystal surfaces is studied. The incorporation of growth units may take place by direct integration from the mother phase into the step, or by indirect incorporation via the surface between steps. A coupled set of two Fredholm integral equations for the contributions of these two mechanisms to the step advance rate is presented. These equations are valid for any type of step pattern. They are solved for parallel straight steps and for a circular step. It is shown that the Chernov (only direct integration) and the Gilmer, Ghez and Cabrera (only indirect integration) results for straight parallel equidistant steps appear as limiting cases. It is shown that only for steps lower than a certain critical height the indirect incorporation mechanism is dominant, and an expression for this height is given. The theory is applied to growth spirals in order to obtain the influence of boundary layer thickness on the growth rate and on the slope of spiral hillocks. A different dependence of the slope on the boundary layer thickness is predicted for the direct and indirect mechanism.
Probing cells with noble metal nanoparticle aggregates

This review focuses on the integration of noble metal nanoparticle aggregates as tags and transport vessels in cellular applications. The natural tendency of nanoparticles to aggregate can be reduced through surface modification; however, this stabilization is often compromised in the cellular environment. The degree of nanoparticle aggregation has both positive and negative consequences. Nanoparticle aggregates are more efficiently removed by the organism compared with single nanoparticles, preventing delivery to their cellular target. In addition, these aggregates are recognized by cells in different ways versus isolated nanoparticles. Despite these negatives, aggregates exhibit enhancement for many detection and treatment techniques in comparison with single nanoparticles. In coming years, the role of aggregates and better control over the degree of aggregation in cellular studies will be required for the realization of medical applications.
Small bowel transplantation in the rat: ultrastructural changes during the early phases of rejection.

Small bowel transplantation has great potential for the treatment of short bowel syndrome, but the poorly understood rapid rejection of the bowel has hindered progress in this field. In this study, the rat model was used to evaluate the earliest detectable changes of bowel rejection. Eleven pairs of out bred rats underwent heterotopic transplantation of 10–15 cm segments of proximal jejunum on a pedicle of superior mesenteric artery and vein, anastomosed microsurgically to recipient aorta and inferior vena cava, respectively. The bowel extremities were exteriorized. Eight successfully transplanted rats were studied with serial punch biopsies, immediately post-transplantation and daily for 7 successive days. Biopsies were evaluated by light (LM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Ultra structural changes were evident before any gross or histologic changes. Endothelial damage, detected only by TEM, was common and resulted in exposure of the thrombus-promoting subendothelial components. Activated pl...
Total variation image restoration: numerical methods and extensions

We describe some numerical techniques for the total variation image restoration method, namely a primal-dual linearization for the Euler-Lagrange equations and some preconditioning issues. We also highlight extension of this technique to color images, blind deconvolution and the staircasing effect.
Transverse tectonic boundaries near Kodiak Island, Alaska

Transverse tectonic boundaries exist at the northeast and southwest ends of the Kodiak islands, so that the Aleutian arc-trench system is longitudinally segmented in this area. Evidence for the transverse boundaries includes alignments of such geologic features as offset volcanic lineations, terminations of structural trends, and boundaries of discrete zones of earthquake aftershock sequences. The boundaries appear to be broad zones of disruption that began to form during the late Miocene or Pliocene. Although oceanic fracture zones and seamount chains intersect the continental margin near the boundaries, subduction of these features probably did not cause the tectonic boundaries. The fracture zones and seamount chains have swept northeastward along the margin, at least since the late Pliocene, because of the direction of convergence of the Pacific and North American plates.
Fitness of Cuscuta salina (Convolvulaceae) parasitizing Beta vulgaris (Chenopodiaceae) grown under different salinity regimes

The distribution of saltmarsh dodder (Cuscuta salina) worldwide is restricted to areas of high salinity, where it parasitizes a variety of salt-tolerant plants. Because dodders do not maintain root connections to the soil, this pattern of parasitization may be related to the effects of salt stress on the host that increase the ability of attached dodders to more easily transfer host contents. This study explored whether a saline host environment is required for successful infection and whether stem contents of potential hosts become more concentrated in response to salinity. Fecundity of dodder was highest when hosts (Beta vulgaris) were grown either without salt or at high (250 mmol/L) salinity; it produced significantly fewer flowers and fruit at intermediate salinities. Stem constituents of two unparasitized host species had high conductivity and elevated levels of dissolved sugars at increasing salinities. Nitrate content of stems was also increased by salinity, but declined at the extreme salinity (400 mmol/L). Salinity effects on host suitability may partially explain differences in growth and vigor of C. salina in certain areas of salt marsh, but information on nonrandom dispersal of C. salina seeds may be needed to fully explain this parasite's distribution.
Data-driven, target-oriented, kinematic prediction and subtraction of multiples from pure and mode-converted multicomponent data

Most multiple removal algorithms focus on multiples of primary P-wave reflections; removal of multiples of converted reflections have not received comparable attention, so explicit consideration is overdue. A target-oriented algorithm predicts converted wave multiples by coupling apparent slownesses, and then subtracts them from elastic common-source data in a data-adaptive window. Prediction is based on matching apparent slownesses in common-source and common-receiver gathers at all source and receiver locations along the propagation path. Predictions use only offset and traveltime, of the primary pure and converted waves that produce the multiples, picked from common-source gathers, and the slownesses calculated from them. Higher-order multiples can be predicted by repeating this process to match slownesses at a sequence of alternating source and receiver locations in turn. Primary reflections (e.g., SS, SP, and PS) that are considered to be noise, can also be subtracted. The predictions are data-driven...
Analysis of rapidly synthesized guest‐filled porous complexes with synchrotron radiation: practical guidelines for the crystalline sponge method

A detailed set of synthetic and crystallographic guidelines for the crystalline sponge method based upon the analysis of expediently synthesized crystal sponges using third-generation synchrotron radiation are reported. The procedure for the synthesis of the zinc-based metal–organic framework used in initial crystal sponge reports has been modified to yield competent crystals in 3 days instead of 2 weeks. These crystal sponges were tested on some small molecules, with two being unexpectedly difficult cases for analysis with in-house diffractometers in regard to data quality and proper space-group determination. These issues were easily resolved by the use of synchrotron radiation using data-collection times of less than an hour. One of these guests induced a single-crystal-to-single-crystal transformation to create a larger unit cell with over 500 non-H atoms in the asymmetric unit. This led to a non-trivial refinement scenario that afforded the best Flack x absolute stereochemical determination parameter to date for these systems. The structures did not require the use of PLATON/SQUEEZE or other solvent-masking programs, and are the highest-quality crystalline sponge systems reported to date where the results are strongly supported by the data. A set of guidelines for the entire crystallographic process were developed through these studies. In particular, the refinement guidelines include strategies to refine the host framework, locate guests and determine occupancies, discussion of the proper use of geometric and anisotropic displacement parameter restraints and constraints, and whether to perform solvent squeezing/masking. The single-crystal-to-single-crystal transformation process for the crystal sponges is also discussed. The presented general guidelines will be invaluable for researchers interested in using the crystalline sponge method at in-house diffraction or synchrotron facilities, will facilitate the collection and analysis of reliable high-quality data, and will allow construction of chemically and physically sensible models for guest structural determination.
Coral as Environmental BioIndicators: Ecological and Morphological Effects of Gasoline on Gorgonian Corals, Leptogorgia virgulata

Oil spills are the most common sources of pollution in marine ecosystems occurring worldwide, causing problems not only for benthic and pelagic organisms but also for terrestrial species that feed on marine organisms. Coral, more so than many other organisms, are sensitive to tiny changes in the marine environment, which makes them an excellent bioindicator of changing environmental conditions. In this study, Leptogorgia virgulata located in the Aransas Pass ship channel, Port Aransas, Texas was examined to determine the level of gasoline (10 ppm, 50 ppm, and 100 ppm) this species could tolerate. Our experimental research compared both coral-tips (the youngest and most rapid growing part of gorgonian corals) to the coral-bases (the older part of these coral) of L. virgulata. Affects were characterized by determining the number of sclerites sloughed off over seven days (168 h). Comparative analysis between treatments show that gasoline has a significant negative consequence, damaging coral tissue over time (ANOVA, p=0.008; ?=0.05). Similarly, the sensitivity of tips to bases was significantly different (ANOVA, p=0.003; ?=0.05). The coral-bases sloughed more cells and sclerites than the coral-tips indicating greater sensitivity to the gasoline treatments. This study also showed that at low concentrations, environmental managers may have as much as 48 h to mitigate the effects of a petroleum spill. Any clean-up not completed beyond that period of time will cause massive death to the coral L. virgulata and associated inhabitants, including potentially important sport fishes known to associate with these benthic fauna.
On the Brønsted Acid‐Catalyzed Homogeneous Hydrolysis of Furans

Furan affairs: Electronic structure calculations of the homogeneous Bronsted acid-catalyzed hydrolysis of 2,5-dimethylfuran show that proton transfer to the β-position is rate-limiting and provides support that the hydrolysis follows general acid catalysis. By means of projected Fukui indices, we show this to be the case for unsubstituted, 2-, and 2,5-substituted furans with electron-donating groups.
Importance of Holotoxin Assembly in Ptl-Mediated Secretion of Pertussis Toxin from Bordetella pertussis

We examined the structural components of pertussis toxin that are required for efficient export from Bordetella pertussis via the Ptl system, a member of the type IV family of macromolecular transporters. First, we constructed a strain of B. pertussis that contains a functional Ptl system but does not produce pertussis toxin. Plasmids which express either the S1 subunit or the B oligomer were then introduced into this strain. We found that the B oligomer of the toxin is not secreted in the absence of the S1 subunit. Conversely, the S1 subunit is also not secreted by a Ptl-mediated mechanism in the absence of the B oligomer. Thus, an assembled holotoxin is required for Ptl-mediated export of pertussis toxin from B. pertussis.
Progressive Collapse Analysis of Reinforced Concrete Frames with Unreinforced Masonry Infill Walls Considering In-Plane/Out-of-Plane Interaction

Reinforced concrete (RC) frames with unreinforced masonry (URM) infill walls are commonly used in seismic regions around the world. It is recognized that many buildings of this type perform poorly ...
Expecting the unexpected: representing, reasoning about, and assessing construction project contingencies

Planning, scheduling and effective management of contingencies are crucial for the successful management of construction projects. In this paper we explore a mathematical representation of construction processes that can be used to infer alternative futures of a project as it unfolds. The representation has its foundations in temporal constraint networks. We present algorithms that can traverse the network in time, reason about the constraints driving a construction project, and present the combinatorial possibilities of futures that can emerge from one or more constraint violations during project implementation. The algorithms will aid construction managers to anticipate and react to crisis scenarios as they evolve in time. Our broader goal is to use the contingency information and the user responses to reveal the cognitive strategies used by humans to manage complex crisis scenarios.
A Relational Turbulence Model Perspective on Communication in Intimate Relationships Post-HPV Testing

ABSTRACTThe Relational Turbulence Model (RTM) is a theoretical tool designed to understand how romantic partners navigate tumultuous events. In this article, we explore two RTM constructs, relational uncertainty and partner interference, in the context of romantic partners’ human papillomavirus (HPV) diagnosis outcomes. We examine whether self-reported relational uncertainty and partner interference were differentially associated with a negative self-HPV diagnosis, a positive self-diagnosis, or a partner’s positive diagnosis. Findings suggest that diagnosis type predicts relational uncertainty and partner interference in different ways. We also argue that partners’ reported expression of affect after experiencing a relationally-relevant transition may manifest in both positive and negative ways. Our results support the contention that partners may express both positive and negative affect toward one another, particularly based on the type of HPV diagnosis outcome they receive.
Abstract 371: TNFα Drives Endothelial Dysfunction and Oxidative Stress via eNOS Uncoupling in Aortic Valve Disease

Objective: Oxidative stress (OxS) is known to contribute to late stages of aortic valve disease (AVD), but its role in early-stage valve inflammation and as a driver of valve pathology has not been investigated. Here we show that inflammation drives increased OxS via eNOS uncoupling. Using an ex vivo model of AVD, we show that targeting eNOS uncoupling with tetrahydrobiopterin or superoxide dismutase can mitigate later-stage valve degeneration by blocking the downstream effects of eNOS uncoupling. Methods and Results: We first observed evidence of eNOS uncoupling in the endothelium of calcified human aortic valve leaflets, which showed increased superoxide co-localized with cells positive for CD31 and VCAM-1, suggesting a connection between endothelial inflammatory activation and increased oxidative stress. We then showed that inflammatory cytokine TNF-α caused increased superoxide, free radicals, and hydrogen peroxide in aortic valve endothelial cells, as soon as 15 minutes after treatment. TNF-α did not...
Point de vue d’un patient sur l’aide médicale à mourir

Je suis medecin de famille et, depuis 8 ans, je vis avec la sclerose amyotrophique laterale, une maladie neurologique degenerative terminale. J’ai recu ce diagnostic alors que j’etais un homme actif de 41 ans. Maintenant, 8 ans plus tard, je ne peux pas bouger les bras et je peux a
Immunological Properties of an Antibody Containing a Fluorescent Group.

SummaryA β-anthryl-carbamido derivative of antipneumococcus III rabbit antibody retains the original immunological properties while rendering Type III pneumococci specifically fluorescent in ultrav...
Intestinal absorption of fats

Great progress in understanding the mechanisms of fat absorption by the mammalian intestine has been made in the past decade and a half. In contrast to the contentions of rival theorists of the century before this, it has been possible for many laboratories throughout the world to confirm observations made by use of the new tools available, and to come to agreement on current interpretations of the data. A brief survey of the historical background is presented to establish mainly a point of departure, after which some of the notable contributions of the postwar period and early Fifties are discussed in time sequence. In developing the review of advances during the past decade, however, I have chosen to focus upon metabolic events occurring in the epithelial cells of the gut mucosa. For emphasis on these events a deviation has been made from the usual anatomic sequence of discussion in order to consider the glycerol moiety of the glycerides synthesized in the cells, the activation of fatty acids, and the pathway of direct esterification of monoglycerides. By this device I have attempted to underscore the importance of the components of the intraluminally formed micelles, and the intracellular partition based upon chain length and solubility. Also, it is hoped that the biochemical transformations may be borne in mind when considering the morphologic and fine structure changes associated with pinocytosis, possible micellar absorption of lipid, intracellular transport of the fat droplets, and the release of finished chylomicrons into the lacteal spaces. Finally, some of the structural determinants of glyceride synthesis and the energetics of the over-all process of triglyceride absorption are mentioned before a statement of the present position is offered.
The Design and Evaluation of an Integrated Wire-Bondless Power Module (IWPM) using Low Temperature Co-fired Ceramic Interposer

This article presents the plan and initial feasibility studies for an Integrated Wire Bond-less Power Module. Contemporary power modules are moving toward unprecedented levels of power density. The ball has been set rolling by a drastic reduction in the size of bare die power devices owing to the advent of wide bandgap semiconductors such as silicon carbide (SiC) and gallium nitride. SiC has capabilities of operating at much higher temperatures and faster switching speeds compared with its silicon counterparts, while being a fraction of their size. However, electronic packaging technology has not kept pace with these developments. High-performance packaging technologies do exist in isolation, but there has been limited success in integrating these disparate efforts into a single high-performance package of sufficient reliability. This article lays the foundation for an electronic package designed to completely leverage the benefits of SiC semiconductor technology, with a focus on high reliability and fast...
Analysis of the Characteristics of 126790 injury cases in Zhangjiagang from 2006 to 2010

Objective This study was to learn the distribution characteristics of injury cases of sentinel surveillance in Zhangjiagang from 2006 to 2010, so as to provide the basis for formulating injury prevention and control. Methods Surveillance data of injury from 3 sentinel hospitals were collected for analysis. Results Totally 126790 effective cases were detected during 2006-2010, with more local cases than foreign cases and a male to female ratio of 1.61. Around 12.71% of the cases occurred to people in 20s, accounting for the highest proportion in age groups. In terms of occupation of patients, 42.44% occurred to operators in the production of transportation equipment. The top three injury causes were traffic accidents, falls and blunt strikes. The top three places were roads/streets, industrial and construction sites and homes. The major three activities during which injury occurred were entertainment, driving and paid jobs. Most injury was unintentionally caused. Conclusion Injury prevention was feasible and necessary. The whole community should prevent injuries by intervention according to the analysis of injury causes.
Comprehensive Failure Mechanism Theory-Metal Film Resistor Behavior

The activities described here represent the initial results of a long range program. These studies are concerned with applying the knowledge gained by failure physics investigations, to the problem of predicting electronic part behavior. The approach is to construct a computerized mathematical model from physical knowledge of part materials and their interactions. These activities are concerned with applying known relationships into a cohesive theory broadly applicable to a wide range of electronic parts, and covering a broad spectrum of stress types and stress levels. Our initial study vehicle has been a metal film resistor, formed by vapor deposition of Evanohm. That it has been necessary for us to conduct substantial experimental investigations for this single device is perhaps indicative of the fact that, to a large degree, part manufacturers have not felt the need to conduct such investigations with respect to their own product. Only to the extent that the over-all Physics of Failure program can motivate the entire community of parts manufacturers to conduct such fundamental investigations can activities toward a comprehensive failure theory completely fulfill the goal that has been set. It is impossible for all such fundamental work to be carried out specifically as the need arises by any one organization or group of organizations. Rather, it is necessary that efforts in developing a comprehensive failure theory place emphasis upon applying the knowledge gained by others.
Online learning of region confidences for object tracking

This paper presents an online learning method for object tracking. Motivated by the attention shifting among local regions of a human vision system during tracking, we propose to allow different regions of an object to have different confidences. The confidence of each region is learned online to reflect the discriminative power of the region in feature space and the probability of occlusion. The distribution of region confidences is employed to guide a tracking algorithm to find correspondences in adjacent frames of video images. Only high confidence regions are tracked instead of the entire object. We demonstrate feasibility of the proposed method in video surveillance applications. The method can be combined with many other existing tracking systems to enhance robustness of these systems.
Electrically Tunable Metamaterials Based on Multimaterial Nanowires Incorporating Transparent Conductive Oxides

We present novel design approaches for metasurfaces and metamaterials with electrical tunability offering real-time manipulation of light and serving as multifunctional devices in near-infrared frequency regime (at the specific wavelength of 1.55 μm). For this purpose, we integrate indium-tin-oxide (ITO) as a tunable electro-optical material into multimaterial nanowires with metal-oxide-semiconductor and metal-insulator-metal configurations. In particular, an active metasurface operating in the transmission mode is designed which allows for modulation of the transmitted light phase over 280 degrees. This large phase modulation is afforded in the cost of low transmission efficiency. We demonstrate the use of such active metasurfaces for tunable bending and focusing in free-space. Moreover, we investigate the implementation of this material in deeply subwavelength multimaterial nanowires, which can yield strong variations in the effective refractive index by the virtue of internal homogenization enabling tunability of the performance in gradient refractive index metamaterials. In the theoretical modeling of these structures, we adopt a hierarchical multiscale approach by linking drift-diffusion transport model with the electromagnetic model which rigorously characterizes the electro-optical effects.
Estimating the electricity generation capacity of solar photovoltaic arrays using only color aerial imagery

In this work, the problem of developing algorithms that automatically infer information about small-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) arrays in high resolution aerial imagery is considered. Such algorithms potentially offer a faster and cheaper solution to collecting small-scale PV information, such as their location and capacity. Existing work on this topic has focused on the automatic identification and annotation of panels in the aerial imagery. We extend this work by showing that we can reliably infer the capacity of PV arrays given only (i) color aerial imagery and (ii) a precise annotation of the array location. First we demonstrate that accurate capacity estimates can be obtained simply by estimating the visible surface area of a solar array, regardless of tilt. We then build a more sophisticated model where we use additional image information related to the properties of the solar array to further improve the capacity predictions. We use a dataset of 362 manually annotated Google Earth images of solar arrays with known electricity generation capacity in North Carolina to measure the predictive performance of our models.
A traveling-wave resonator for exciting whispering-gallery modes in an overmoded circular waveguide

Several gyrotrons currently under development have cavities that operate in rotating TEnm modeswith very high azimuthal indices m such as a rotating TE15,2 or TE22,2 circular waveguide mode. If n<< m as well, these modes are sometimes called whispering gallery modes. It is desirable to be able toproduce these modes at low power from the TEio mode in standard dominant-mode rectangularwaveguide so that components to be used within or in conjunction with these gyrotrons can be moreeasily tested. Recently we discussed the principles of operation of a device which can be used to generatesuch high azimuthal index modes using an azimuthal array of apertures in the circular waveguide [1].Other methods of generating WG modes have also been developed. One uses a helical multifoil [2], andanother uses a cylindrical input cavity within a coaxial cavity [3]. The azimuthal aperture array methodhas the possible advantage that more than one different WG mode with the same azimuthal index, m,could be generated with the same device. Also, both senses of rotation and any degree of rotation,including a stationary mode, can be produced with one device for possible testing purposes.
BAD and KATP channels regulate neuron excitability and epileptiform activity

Brain metabolism can profoundly influence neuronal excitability. Mice with genetic deletion or alteration of Bad ( B CL-2 a gonist of cell d eath) exhibit altered brain-cell fuel metabolism, accompanied by resistance to acutely induced epileptic seizures; this seizure protection is mediated by ATP-sensitive potassium (KATP) channels. Here we investigated the effect of BAD manipulation on KATP channel activity and excitability in acute brain slices. We found that BAD's influence on neuronal KATP channels was cell-autonomous and directly affected dentate granule neuron (DGN) excitability. To investigate the role of neuronal KATP channels in the anticonvulsant effects of BAD, we imaged calcium during picrotoxin-induced epileptiform activity in entorhinal-hippocampal slices. BAD knockout reduced epileptiform activity, and this effect was lost upon knockout or pharmacological inhibition of KATP channels. Targeted BAD knockout in DGNs alone was sufficient for the antiseizure effect in slices, consistent with a 'dentate gate' function that is reinforced by increased KATP channel activity.
LH Hypersecreting Mice: A Model for Ovarian Granulosa Cell Tumors

Proper function of the ovary requires carefully orchestrated proliferation and differentiation of granulosa cells that respond dynamically to signals from LH and FSH, and a host of other paracrine and autocrine factors. These numerous signals regulate a complex array of responsive genes. Any perturbation of these pathways, especially those that change the ratios of LH and FSH, compromises ovarian function and results in a number of outcomes including infertility, disruption of pregnancy, and even ovarian malignancy such as granulosa cell (GC) tumors.
Pulmonary Arterial Enlargement is Associated With Acute Chest Pain in Patients Without Obstructive Coronary Artery Disease

Background:Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is an underdiagnosed cause for chest pain in patients without significant coronary artery disease (CAD). Studies showed that enlarged pulmonary arterial (PA) ...
A Prospective Comparison of Diagnostic Tools for the Diagnosis of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Purpose Nerve conduction studies (NCS), CTS-6, Wainner, Kamath, and Lo are diagnostic tests that are used to diagnose carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). To our knowledge, no study has compared the sensitivity and specificity of these 5 tests with one another. The purpose of this study is to compare NCS, CTS-6, Wainner, Kamath, and Lo using clinical diagnosis by a hand fellowship–trained orthopedic surgeon as reference standard. Methods A hand fellowship–trained surgeon completed the CTS-6, Wainner, Kamath, and Lo diagnostic tools. Cutoff values for a positive test were based on values in the literature, if available. The NCS were performed by a certified electrodiagnostic physician according the standards of the American Association of Neuromuscular and Electrodiagnostic Medicine and were interpreted using absolute latencies, relative latencies, and combined sensory index. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, positive likelihood ratio, and negative likelihood ratio were calculated for the tests using clinical diagnosis as the reference standard. Results A total of 408 wrists from 250 patients were analyzed in the study. The NCS had the highest sensitivity (94%) but also the lowest specificity (50%) of any of the diagnostic tests. Using a cutoff of 18, CTS-6 had the highest specificity (99%). The NCS had the highest area under the curve at 74%, followed closely by the Kamath at 69%. Conclusions The NCS were traditionally felt to be a strong confirmatory test given their high specificity. However, this prospective series demonstrated that NCS had the lowest specificity of any diagnostic test. Clinical relevance Consideration should be given to using alternative diagnostic tests/tools based on the results of this study.
Personal identity and the concept of a person

Philosophers approach the concept of a person from two directions. In ethics and political philosophy it often is taken as primitive, or at least familiar and not requiring elucidation, but persistent inquiry and difficult problems make a deeper look inevitable. In discussing abortion, for example, one can hardly invoke principles about rights and welfare of persons concerned, without facing the question about which concerned parties are, in fact, persons, and what that means. One moves remorselessly from issues of rights and responsibilities to questions of consciousness, self-awareness, and identity - from the moral to the metaphysical.
Shadow Money in the 19th Century: Is Marx Relevant for Understanding Contemporary Shadow Money?

The growth of shadow money, since the 1980s, has implications for both central bank policy and the theorization of money. However, modern shadow money has a historical analogue in the private bill ...
Optimization and management in manufacturing engineering: resource collaborative optimization and management through the internet of things

This interesting and timely book examines the challenges faced by manufacturing systems that integrate information technology, process management, and optimization within the Internet of Things (Io...
Asymptotically Optimal Prediction for Time-Varying Data Generating Processes

We develop a methodology (referred to as kinetic prediction) for predicting time series undergoing unknown changes in their data generating distributions. Based on Kolmogorov-Tikhomirov’s ${\varepsilon }$ -entropy, we propose a concept called ${\varepsilon }$ -predictability that quantifies the size of a model class (which can be parametric or nonparametric) and the maximal number of abrupt structural changes that guarantee the achievability of asymptotically optimal prediction. Moreover, for parametric distribution families, we extend the aforementioned kinetic prediction with discretized function spaces to its counterpart with continuous function spaces, and propose a sequential Monte Carlo-based implementation. We also extend our methodology for predicting smoothly varying data generating distributions. Under reasonable assumptions, we prove that the average predictive performance converges almost surely to the oracle bound, which corresponds to the case that the data generating distributions are known in advance. The results also shed some light on the so called “prediction-inference dilemma.” Various examples and numerical results are provided to demonstrate the wide applicability of our methodology.
Positive views of aging reduce risk of developing later-life obesity

Abstract The obesity epidemic among older adults is expected to continue increasing unless public-health efforts address this age group. Yet, little is known about psychosocial determinants of obesity that relate specifically to older persons. In this study, we investigated for the first time whether self-perceptions of aging (SPA), defined as beliefs about oneself as an older person that are assimilated from society, relate to new cases of obesity. This seemed plausible because older persons who report more-positive SPA tend to engage in more health-promoting behaviors. Our sample consisted of 5702 Americans in the nationally representative Health and Retirement Study who were aged 60 years or older and not obese at baseline. The participants were followed from 2008 to 2014. As predicted, older persons with more-positive SPA, compared to those with more-negative SPA, were significantly less likely to become obese over the next 6 years, after adjusting for relevant covariates. For example, according to our model, a participant with the most-positive SPA score was 27% less likely to become obese than a same-aged peer with an average score on the SPA measure. These findings suggest that interventions aimed at reducing the prevalence of obesity in later life could benefit from targeting SPA.
Detecting past changes in vegetation resilience in the context of a changing climate.

Anthropogenic climate change is continuously altering ecological responses to disturbance and must be accounted for when examining ecological resilience. One way to measure resilience in ecological...