cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Place and route considerations for voltage interpolated designs

Voltage interpolation is a promising post fabrication technique for combating the effects of process variations. The benefits of voltage interpolation are well understood. Its implementation in a VLSI-CAD flow has been considered through the synthesis stage. In this paper we study the implications of place and route on voltage interpolation. We evaluate multiple placement strategies, and conclude that a hybridization of forced placement and cluster boxing techniques results in minimum overhead.
Insulin sensitivity, insulin secretion and β-cell function during puberty in overweight Hispanic children with a family history of type 2 diabetes

To examine cross-sectional differences in insulin sensitivity, insulin secretion and β-cell function during puberty in overweight Hispanic boys and girls with a family history of type 2 diabetes. This cross-sectional, observational study included 214 8–13-y-old Hispanic children with a BMI percentile ≥85th percentile and family history of type 2 diabetes. Participants underwent a physical examination, body composition measures, oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), and frequently-sampled intravenous glucose tolerance test. Unadjusted and adjusted general linear models (GLM) tested whether insulin/glucose dynamics differed by Tanner stage and gender. Unadjusted group comparisons showed that fasting insulin increased whereas insulin sensitivity (SI) and the disposition index (DI) (a measure of pancreatic β-cell function) decreased across Tanner stage groups (all P<0.05). No differences in the acute insulin response to glucose (AIRg), fasting glucose or 2-h glucose were found. After adjusting for covariates, there was no independent effect of Tanner stage on SI (P=0.9) or AIRg (P=0.2), but DI was slightly lower in later Tanner stages suggesting decreased β-cell function in the more mature groups (P=0.10). Overweight Hispanic children with a family history of type 2 diabetes may represent a unique population given that pubertal insulin resistance was not evident once analyses controlled for body composition. Longitudinal analyses are required to determine whether the slightly diminished β-cell function in later Tanner stages plays a role in the development of type 2 diabetes.
Thallium and arsenic poisoning in a small midwestern town

Thallium and arsenic have been used as a means of criminal poisoning. Although both manifest characteristically with peripheral neuropathies, thallium is associated with alopecia and arsenic with gastrointestinal symptoms. We describe the symptoms, physical findings, diagnostic test results, and outcomes in a group of men poisoned with thallium and arsenic. Seven patients had evidence of elevated thallium levels, and 2 patients had elevated arsenic and thallium levels. The most commonly reported symptoms included myalgias, arthralgias, paresthesias, and dysesthesias. Five patients developed alopecia. All patients with symptoms and peripheral neuropathies had characteristic blackening of their hair roots. Initially treated with dimercaptosuccinic acid, patients were switched to multiple-dose activated charcoal after testing revealed thallium poisoning. By 6 months, all patients' symptoms and peripheral neuropathies improved, but 5 patients had ongoing psychiatric problems. Thallium remains a means of criminal poisoning and should be considered in any patient with a rapidly progressing peripheral neuropathy with or without alopecia.
Large-Scale Screening of Metal Hydride Mixtures for High-Capacity Hydrogen Storage from First-Principles Calculations

First-principles calculations have been used to systematically screen >16 million mixtures of metal hydrides and related compounds to find materials with high capacity and favorable thermodynamics ...
Resolving the Challenge of Measuring Ligand Binding to Membrane Proteins by Combining Analytical Ultracentrifugation and Light Scattering Photometry

ABSTRACT: Membrane proteins are attractive therapeutic targets, however the presence of detergents complicates biophysical binding measurements. Difficulties in determining quantitative dissociation constants for problematic membrane proteins were addressed by combining analytical ultracentrifugation and classical light scattering techniques. Validation of the algorithm used to calculate dissociation constants from sedimentation equilibrium experiments was demonstrated by analyzing binding data of the inhibitor Y-27632 to rho-kinase (ROCK). Kd's of 1.3 ± 0.7 and 52 ± 27 µM were calculated for ROCK constructs (S6-R415) and (M71-E379) respectively, consistent with previously published Ki's of 1.4 ± 0.1 and > 30 µM. Extension of the algorithm to membrane proteins required the collection of light scattering data to determine the partial specific volume, ν ¯ , for the membrane protein-detergent complex. Vitamin B12 binding to the bacterial protein btuB in octyl β-D-glucopyranoside (β-OG) illustrates the applicability of the method. A ν ¯ of 0.781 ml/g was determined for the btuB-β-OG complex. Incorporating this value into the algorithm generated a Kd of 7.0 ± 1.5 µM for the vitamin B12-btuB affinity. A Kd of 9.7 ± 2.7 µM was determined by equilibrium dialysis under similar experimental conditions. Successfully applying AUC to quantifying small-molecule ligand affinities to membrane proteins represents a significant advance to the field. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. and the American Pharmacists Association.
An amazing sequence arrangement at the 5′ ends of adenovirus 2 messenger RNA

The 5' terminal sequences of several adenovirus 2 (Ad2) mRNAs, isolated late in infection, are complementary to sequences within the Ad2 genome which are remote from the DNA from which the main coding sequence of each mRNA is transcribed. This has been observed by forming RNA displacement loops (R loops) between Ad2 DNA and unfractionated polysomal RNA from infected cells. The 5' terminal sequences of mRNAs in R loops, variously located between positions 36 and 92, form complex secondary hybrids with single-stranded DNA from restriction endonuclease fragments containing sequences to the left of position 36 on the Ad2 genome. The structures visualized in the electron microscope show that short sequences coded at map positions 16.6, 19.6 and 26.6 on the R strand are joined to form a leader sequence of 150-200 nucleotides at the 5' end of many late mRNAs. A late mRNA which maps to the left of position 16.6 shows a different pattern of second site hybridization. It contains sequences from 4.9-6.0 linked directly to those from 9.6-10.9. These findings imply a new mechanism for the biosynthesis of Ad2 mRNA in mammalian cells.
X-ray mask fabrication process

The Center for X-ray Lithography (CXrL) has developed an x-ray mask fabrication process based on silicon nitride membranes and gold absorber. The LPCVD conditions for the growth of the nitride film produce 2 micrometers thick films with low tensile stress and an optical transmission sufficient for optical alignment. The membranes are formed with an reactive ion etch of the membrane window on the backside nitride, followed by a KOH etch of the silicon wafer. A plating base of 100 angstrom chrome followed by 200 angstrom gold is evaporated on the wafers. The wafer is then mounted on a glass ring using either adhesive or anodic bonding. The absorber pattern is delineated via e-beam lithography into either PMMA or SAL 601. Following resist development and an oxygen plasma cleaning, gold plating is used to produce features of the desired thickness.
MRI of postamputation neuromas.

Magnetic resonance imaging of 24 symptomatic lower limb amputations revealed that postamputation neuromas were easily diagnosed in above-the-knee amputees. Visualization of nerve trunks in below-the-knee amputees was difficult due to greater compactness of calf muscles. Neuromas on magnetic resonance imaging appeared ovoid or rounded and were usually heterogeneous and isointense with muscle. Magnetic resonance imaging also showed additional causes of stump pain such as scar formation, fat in atrophied muscles, soft tissue abscesses, osteomyelitis, and hematomas.
Impact of new land boundary conditions from Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) data on the climatology of land surface variables

[1] This paper uses the Community Land Model (CLM2) to investigate the improvements of a new land surface data set, created from multiple high-quality collection 4 Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer data of leaf area index (LAI), plant functional type, and vegetation continuous fields, for modeled land surface variables. The previous land surface data in CLM2 underestimate LAI and overestimate the percent cover of grass/crop over most of the global area. For snow-covered regions with abundant solar energy the increased LAI and percent cover of tree/shrub in the new data set decreases the percent cover of surface snow and increases net radiation and thus increases ground and surface (2-m) air temperature, which reduces most of the model cold bias. For snow-free regions the increased LAI and changes in the percent cover from grass/crop to tree or shrub decrease ground and surface air temperature by converting most of the increased net radiation to latent heat flux, which decreases the model warm bias. Furthermore, the new data set greatly decreases ground evaporation and increases canopy evapotranspiration over tropical forests, especially during the wet season, owing to the higher LAI and more trees in the new data set. It makes the simulated ground evaporation and canopy evapotranspiration closer to reality and also reduces the warm biases over tropical regions.
Summarization of Imaged Documents without OCR

A system is presented for creating a summary indicating the contents of an imaged document. The summary is composed from selected regions extracted from the imaged document. The regions may include sentences, key phrases, headings, and figures. The extracts are identified without the use of optical character recognition. The imaged document is first processed to identify the word-bounding boxes, the reading order of words, and the location of sentence and paragraph boundaries in the text. The word-bounding boxes are grouped into equivalence classes to mimic the terms in a text document. Equivalence classes representing content words are identified, and key phrases are identified from the set of content words. Summary sentences are selected using a statistically based classifier applied to a set of discrete sentence features. Evaluation of sentence selection against a set of abstracts created by a professional abstracting company is given.
Low temperature graphitization of interphase polyacrylonitrile (PAN)

Abstract Ordered polyacrylonitrile (PAN) interphase structures were formed in solution-cast PAN/carbon nanotube (CNT) composite films by enhancing polymer crystallization conditions and processing parameters for five types of CNTs. All film samples were heat-treated using similar stabilization and carbonization (up to 1100 °C) processes. Both the precursor and carbonized materials were characterized by electron microscopy and X-ray spectroscopy. Highly ordered graphitic structure was formed predominantly in the carbonized materials at 1100 °C (i.e., ∼1500 °C lower than the temperature used in a commercial graphitization process). The ordering of the graphite structure formed at 1100 °C was further improved by heat treatment up to 2100 °C. Multiple characterization results indicate that the early onset of PAN conversion to graphite is directly related to the polymer interphase formation as well as the CNT type. Based on the stabilization and carbonization parameters used in this study, PAN/single-wall carbon nanotube (SWNT) samples showed more prevalent graphite formation at 1100 °C. This work demonstrates the influence of CNT type regarding interfacial confinement toward this low-temperature polymer-to-graphite conversion process.
An insurance paradox

Purpose – To consider why the law of large numbers does not play a more significant role in determining an insurer's financial leverage.Design/methodology/approach – Insurer‐group data show that there is little relationship between an insurer's premium volume and its overall leverage (i.e. net written premium‐to‐surplus ratio). An explanation is sought for the lack of a positive scale effect by considering concomitant negative scale effects.Findings – It is argued that insurers frequently convert the benefits of the law of large numbers into economic subsidies for expanded writings that include poorer risks.Originality/value – The editorial identifies and explores a significant scale phenomenon in the insurance sector that is generally overlooked.
Histology and Chemistry of Keratin Formation

KERATINIZATION, by the holocrine transformation of epithelial cells, occurs normally in the mammalian epidermis, œsophagus, œstrous vagina, and thymic corpuscles. It accompanies abnormal epithelial transformations after œstrogen administration (in genital organs), in vitamin A deficiency, consequent to trauma (including radiation), and in certain cancers. The etiology of keratinization, which represents differentiation by organized cell deaths, remains unknown; however, the suggestion that a local lack or inactivation of vitamin A is responsible is a possibility1,2.
Dependence of quasi-linear diffusion coefficients on wave parameters

[1] Bounce-averaged diffusion coefficients, traditionally written as double integrals over latitude and wave normal angle, have recently been expressed as double integrals over wave normal angle θ and wave frequency ω. The integrand is the diffusion coefficient due to a single wave, and the total diffusion coefficient is a weighted average of the single-wave values. This formulation essentially factors out the wave power distribution in ω and θ, so that the effects of changes in these distributions may be evaluated without extensive recalculation, and may even be estimated visually from general plots. This approach may also be applied directly to narrowband waves. Results indicate that the transmission of waves propagating near the resonance cone, as may occur in the upcoming Demonstration and Science Experiments satellite mission, may be relatively ineffective at precipitating trapped electrons.
Efficient electricity pricing with self-rationing

Random rationing of generation capacity is inefficient because of the externality caused by an unpriced shortage. We eliminate the inefficiency by introducing a market for capacity via a self-rationing scheme that reflects a consumer's willingness-to-pay for electricity service. This scheme defines the notion of service reliability. We derive the optimal pricing and capacity planning rules under asymmetric information and demand uncertainty. The major findings are: (1) marginal cost pricing is ex ante efficient; (2) an electric utility's installed capacity should equal the total subscription for capacity; (3) the electric utility breaks even with certainty; and (4) partial service curtailment is ex post efficient if consumer preference is weakly separable.
THE EFFECT OF RESIDUAL POROSITY AND GRAIN SIZE ON THE STRESS-RUPTURE PROPERTIES OF SINTERED ALLOYS BASED ON NICKEL-CHROMIUM-COBALT

AbstractThe relationship between residual porosity and stress-rupture life of sintered alloys based on nickel-chromium-cobalt has been investigated. The main conclusion is that the stress-rupture life increases with grain size, but both life and grain size appear to be independent of porosity, provided the density is not less than ∼97% of the theoretical value. Other factors influencing density, grain size, and stress-rupture life are discussed.
E. G. Conklin on evolution: the popular writings of an embryologist.

As the history of science has matured as an intellectual discipline, its practices have gone beyond the mere chronology of change to a deeper analysis of the relationships among ideas, beliefs, institutional structures, and broad cultural currents.' Such analyses have tended to concentrate on the research programs the professional scientific activities of those scientists principally involved in significant change. This is of course reasonable, since it is in research notebooks and specialized publications that the major contributions are to be found. Attempts to discover the influences on a scientist's work have focused on the educational background of the individual being studied and his/her private correspondence with professional colleagues.2 An additional source of insight into the nature of science that has received little attention from historians is the scientist's relationship with the public, in terms of both lectures, articles, and books intended for nonprofessional audiences, and correspondence with members of the lay public concerning the content of published material. Analysis of the "popular works" of scientists may reveal philosophical positions, religious beliefs, and social concerns that were not stated in their more specialized publications, but that nevertheless played a role in their professional accomplishments. The degree to which such analysis is fruitful depends not only on which scientist or group of scientists is being studied, but also the historical period under consideration. The distinction between popular and professional
Inhibitors of membrane lipid metabolism enhance complement-mediated nucleated cell killing through distinct mechanisms.

Abstract The ability of nucleated cells to survive limited complement attack has been attributed to metabolic processes unique to these cells, such as rapid elimination of terminal complement complexes (TCC) from their surfaces. The biochemical processes activated by complement channels responsible for cell defense remain poorly defined. Metabolic inhibitors affecting membrane lipid turnover have been shown to increase the complement-mediated cell death. Whether these metabolic inhibitors increase lytic susceptibility of target cells by reducing the rate of TCC elimination has not been previously evaluated. In the present study, inhibitors of membrane lipid transmethylation and lysolecithin reacylation were evaluated in view of the observations that TCC concurrently increase lipid transmethylation and inhibit lysolecithin reacylation, and the inhibition of lipid transmethylation correlates with increased complement-mediated cell death. We have measured the formation as well as the elimination of C5b-9 on the target membrane that affect the outcome of cell death. Our results in the present communication indicated that inhibitors of transmethylation and lysolecithin reacylation increased TCC-mediated cell death through distinct pathways, the former by allowing more efficient deposition of TCC, and the latter by impairing TCC elimination.
Spinal cord injury.

Pediatric spinal cord injury is a relatively uncommon problem, responsible for approximately 5% of all spinal cord injuries. Anatomic and behavioral differences between adults and children lead to variation in injury type and severity. Young children are more prone to high cervical injuries, with nearly 80% of injuries in children < 2 yrs old affecting this area. As the child approaches 8-10 yrs of age, the spinal anatomy and therefore injury pattern more closely approximates adult injuries. Although the prevalence of spine injuries is lower in children, clearing the spine becomes more complex due to radiographic differences and the inability to "clinically" clear the cervical spine in young children. In this article, the types of injuries seen in children are discussed, with an emphasis on acute management and clearance of the cervical spine. Treatment options and long-term issues are also discussed.
Characterization of Sites for Low-Level Waste Disposal Facilities

Characterization of a candidate site to establish its suitability for low-level waste disposal requires careful evaluation of numerous site parameters. Parameters may be grouped for purposes of site definition, hydrological analysis, facility engineering, and monitoring. Each group has importance in the evaluation of the site for containment or in the design and construction of secure facilities. With sufficient attention to the environment, the media, and the construction materials, the problems encountered in past disposal operations will be avoided in the future.
Thermometers and Thermobarometers in Granitic Systems

Recent advances in our ability to resolve the P - T - t (pressure-temperature-time) paths of orogenic terranes have continued to re-emphasize the common marriage between petrology and tectonics. The importance of determining the P - T history of metamorphic rocks, as through chemical analysis of mineral zoning profiles and inclusions initially paved the way into this area of our science (e.g., Essene 1982, 1989; Hoisch 1991; Speer 1993). Parallel success has been demonstrated for igneous systems (see review by Anderson 1996), with the derived information being primarily related to ascent and/or cooling of the crystallizing magma. And, in multiply-intruded terranes, where the ages of intrusion span a significant portion of the orogenic deformation, dated plutons act as important crustal “nails,” which offer first-order insight into the descent and/or ascent of deformed crust during the orogenic process. Emplacement barometry can be retrieved from contact metamorphic rocks where the enclosing host assemblages contain appropriate compositions for barometric calculations. However, in pervasively intruded terranes where a range of ages of magmatic activity exists, multiple and extensive overprinting makes the use of host metamorphic mineral assemblages and mineral compositions challenging. In contrast, several igneous minerals are less prone to the loss of primary compositions, in part due to the inherent insensitivity of the rock to high-grade subsolidus reequilibration and the paucity of post-crystallization fluids. However, there are exceptions to this generalization and below we discuss an example where high- T , post-emplacement fluids have altered the entire margin of the Mt. Stuart batholith of Washington. In general, many igneous rocks lack mineral assemblages suitable for thermobarometric analysis. Either the thermodynamic variance is high or, in specific cases, the phases are characterized by component exchanges easily reset during slow cooling or later thermal events. Two feldspar and iron-titanium oxide thermometry are …
Being and its others : Nietzsche's revaluation of truth

Etude de la reevaluation nietzscheenne de la verite a la lumiere de la genealogie de la pensee occidentale. L'A. montre que l'evenement de la mort de Dieu, contemporain de la reevaluation de la verite, ouvre la voie a une reconciliation de la verite et de l'etre avec ce qui les oppose: le devenir, l'apparence et le pouvoir,sans rejeter la conception traditionnelle de la verite, de l'objectivite et de la connaissance
Sleep suppressant action of quipazine: relation to central serotonergic stimulation.

Abstract Administration of quipazine maleate (1–10 mg/kg, IP), a proposed 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) receptor stimulant to rats produced a dose-related suppression of both slow-wave sleep (SWS) and rapid-eye-movement sleep (REMS) accompanied by an increase in head-shaking behavior. These effects were observed during the first 6 hr of a 12-hr EEG recording session. The latencies to the sleep states were markedly prolonged and correlated with the duration of head-shaking behavior induced by the drug. A significant inverse relationship was found between the amount of SWS or REMS and the number of head-shakes occurring during the first 6-hr period. Since head-shaking behavior in rodents has been proposed as a quantitative, behavioral model of central 5-HT activation, the data suggest a causal relationship between enhanced 5-HT activity and sleep suppression. This assumption is further supported by the observation that pretreatment with metergoline (2.5 mg/kg, IP) a 5-HT receptor blocker, reduced quipazine's effects on both SWS and head-shaking behavior.
Intermittent hormone therapy in nonmetastatic prostate cancer.

Abstract Purpose The object of this study was to evaluate the duration of response to intermittent androgen deprivation (IAD) in patients with nonmetastatic recurrent or localized prostate cancer. Patients and Methods One hundred ten patients received IAD from February 1992 to February 2005. One hundred three patients were treated after failure of primary radiation therapy and/or prostatectomy, with the remaining 7 patients treated primarily with IAD. The median duration of treatment cycle was 6 months. Patients were considered resistant to hormone therapy if the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level increased, with castrate levels of testosterone. At the time of Initials diagnosis, the median Gleason score was 7 (range, 4-9), and tumor stages were as follows: T1/T2 (n = 73), T3 and T4 N1 (n = 34), and other (n = 3). The median PSA at the initiation of IAD was 8.25 ng/mL. Results The median follow-up after beginning IAD was 45.5 months. Patients received a median of 2 cycles (range, 1-9 cycles). Ninety-four of 110 patients (85.5%) remained responsive to IAD. Sixteen patients (14.5%) progressed to become refractory to primary hormone treatment. Patients with a higher tumor stage (T3 and T4) were significantly more likely to develop resistance. The median time to become refractory to hormone therapy was 47.9 months (range, 9.4-93.4 months). Five patients were put on secondary continuous hormone treatment, and 3 of them developed resistance at a median of 9 months. One patient was put on a secondary IAD and was still responding at the last follow-up. Conclusion With 85.5% of the original patient population still responding to the primary hormone therapy at 45.5 months of follow-up, IAD appears to be a viable option for patients with biochemical failure after local radiation therapy. A pattern of shortening time between cycles and an increasing nadir PSA level with each successive cycle is consistent with the gradual development of hormone resistance.
Energetics of ZnO nanoneedles: Surface enthalpy, stability, and growth

The surface enthalpy of ZnO nanoneedles has been measured by oxide melt solution calorimetry of samples with different surface areas. Water adsorption calorimetry was carried out to characterize the stabilization effect of surface hydration. The surface enthalpies of hydrated and anhydrous surfaces (8.21 ± 0.67 and 9.81 ± 0.69 J/m2, respectively) are larger than those of nanorods. The less stable surface of nanoneedles provides a driving force for the transformation of nanoneedles into nanorods during aging. The formation of bushlike assemblies of nanoneedles is also discussed.
Differential effects of intrastriatal estradiol on the dorsal immobility response in male rats.

Abstract The effects of implants of 17β-estradiol and cholesterol in four regions of the dorsal striatum were tested on the duration of the dorsal immobility response in gonadectomized male rats. The dorsal immobility response was significantly potentiated by 4-h implants of 17β-estradiol in the dorsomedial and dorsolateral regions of the dorsal striatum but not in the ventromedial and ventrolateral regions. These data further support the growing evidence that estradiol acts directly but differentially on the striatum to affect behaviors in the rat.
The Role of Anorexia in Resistance and Tolerance to Infections in Drosophila

Most infections induce anorexia but its function, if any, remains unclear. Because this response is common among animals, we hypothesized that infection-induced diet restriction might be an adaptive trait that modulates the host's ability to fight infection. Two defense strategies protect hosts against infections: resistance, which is the ability to control pathogen levels, and tolerance, which helps the host endure infection-induced pathology. Here we show that infected fruit flies become anorexic and that diet restriction alters defenses, increasing the fly's tolerance to Salmonella typhimurium infections while decreasing resistance to Listeria monocytogenes. This suggests that attempts to extend lifespan through diet restriction or the manipulation of pathways mimicking this process will have complicated effects on a host's ability to fight infections.
Metastable Bose condensate made of atoms with attractive interaction

Recent experiments with trapped cooled atoms have produced evidence for Bose-Einstein condensation (BEC). Among the atoms used are {sup 7}Li, with attractive low-energy interaction. A potential barrier separating the condensed part from the collapse is studied and stability limits are established. The lifetime due to tunneling is estimated and is found to be very small. We further argue that BEC should have significant angular momentum {ital L}/{ital N}{approximately}1{h_bar} and thus both states with angular momentum {ital l}{sub {ital z}}=0,1 should be {open_quote}{open_quote}macroscopically{close_quote}{close_quote} populated. Eventually, as rotation is slowed down, collapse and strong reheating should occur, in amusing resemblance to a supernova explosion. {copyright} {ital 1996 The American Physical Society.}
The hand on the door.

SOMETIMES AMOMENT can alter your life. For me, one such moment came in the middle of residency. I was moonlighting at the local health department—as residency obligations permitted—just 2 hours a week, seeing children and teens in foster care for their “annual exam.” The clinic provided basic care for about 200 of the 1200 children and teens in foster care in our county. Back then, the clinic operated very differently. Every patient got a 9 AM appointment time and was given a number by which they were called back for what amounted to a brief physical. The nurses took the histories. I spent my first few weeks there working on some changes—providing individual appointment times, using names instead of numbers, and obtaining health histories myself. Each time I went, I was greeted by Eleanor, a veteran nurse who often said to me, “These children deserve better.” But it wasn’t until I met 16-year-old Jason, around my sixth week at the clinic, that I truly understood what Eleanor meant. Jason came in on a sunny Thursday morning. During our visit, I learned that he had asthma but had no idea of what his triggers were, how to use his medications, or even what medications hewas on. It was a quiet morning, so I took the time to teach him about asthma: how to identify and monitor his symptoms, take his meds, and when to call for help. Jason was bright and articulate and caught on quickly. I learned he had been in the same foster home for nearly 16 years, with a family he enjoyed and felt part of. We must have spent about 40 minutes together, including time to write new prescriptions. I finally had my hand on the doorknob, ready to leave the room, when I turned and asked him what I often asked my patients at the end of a visit, “Is there anything else I can do for you today?” The room developed that quiet stillness that tells you something important is about to occur. I stood waiting, my hand on the door, as Jason sat, looking at me, assessing and thinking. I waited some more, a bit impatient to move on, a bit uncertain and anxious about what was coming. Finally, after what was surely no more than seconds, but felt like minutes, he replied, “Yes. You can tell me what I did when I was 6 months old to be put in foster care.” I could feel in the space between us how hard it was for him to ask this question, and how much pain and hurt lay behind the words. It hit me then how little I knew about
Supersymmetry and the strong CP problem

Abstract We show how supersymmetric grand unified theories provide a natural solution to the strong CP problem. Such theories contain an additional global U(1) PQ chiral (Peccei-Quinn) symmetry which is conserved up to color anomalies. Hence the QCD θ angle is irrelevant. Moreover the PQ symmetry is spontaneously broken at the grand unified scale. As a result standard Weinberg-Wilczek axion has a mass m a ∼ Λ QCD 2 Λ GUM ∼ 10 − 10 e V which effectively decouples from ordinary matter.
Discrete spatial and temporal cis-acting elements regulate transcription of the Arabidopsis floral homeotic gene APETALA3

The APETALA3 floral homeotic gene is required for petal and stamen development in Arabidopsis. APETALA3 transcripts are first detected in a meristematic region that will give rise to the petal and stamen primordia, and expression is maintained in this region during subsequent development of these organs. To dissect how the APETALA3 gene is expressed in this spatially and temporally restricted domain, various APETALA3 promoter fragments were fused to the uidA reporter gene encoding beta-glucuronidase and assayed for the resulting patterns of expression in transgenic Arabidopsis plants. Based on these promoter analyses, we defined cis-acting elements required for distinct phases of APETALA3 expression, as well as for petal-specific and stamen-specific expression. By crossing the petal-specific construct into different mutant backgrounds, we have shown that several floral genes, including APETALA3, PISTILLATA, UNUSUAL FLORAL ORGANS, and APETALA1, encode trans-acting factors required for second-whorl-specific APETALA3 expression. We have also shown that the products of the APETALA1, APETALA3, PISTILLATA and AGAMOUS genes bind to several conserved sequence motifs within the APETALA3 promoter. We present a model whereby spatially and temporally restricted APETALA3 transcription is controlled via interactions between proteins binding to different domains of the APETALA3 promoter.
Research Design and Estimator Choices in the Analysis of Interstate Dyads: When Decisions Matter

Researchers face three basic questions when testing theoretically driven hypotheses. First is research design: for example, what population should be analyzed, what sample should be drawn from that population, and what cases should be excluded from the sample? What statistical estimator should one use? What set of control variables should one employ? Results drawn from several permutations of the Correlates of War Militarized Interstate Dispute data set are compared using three statistical models. For some theories and variables (international institutionalism—intergovernmental organization and alliance membership; realism—balance of power; expected utility theory—international interaction game equilibria), research design and estimator choices substantially influence the findings. For others (trade and democratic peace theory), the relationship between the dependent and independent variables is relatively impervious to research design and estimator choices.
Effect of long-term corona on non-ceramic outdoor insulator housing materials

The influence of long-term corona on the degradation of non-ceramic composite insulator (NCI) housing materials was studied. Polymer samples were obtained from full-scale NCI, employing three different housing materials, namely silicone rubber, ethylene propylene diene monomer rubber and a blend of EPDM with silicone rubber. The effect of relative humidity and externally applied mechanical stress as acceleration factors was assessed. Several modes of degradation were observed, namely, cracking, roughening, and discoloration. In general the severity of degradation increased with the relative humidity level and application of mechanical stress. Periodic monitoring of corona discharge magnitude and pulse repetition rate allowed for a simplistic computation of the energy needed for initiation of surface changes. A comparison of these calculated values with expected conditions in the field was made, It is postulated that even under severe operating conditions over a period of many years, degradation of the housing materials evaluated due to water droplet corona is highly unlikely.
Organizational memory: processes, boundary objects, and trajectories

The term organizational memory is due for an overhaul. Memory appears to be everywhere in organizations; yet, the term has been limited to only a few uses. Based on an ethnographic study of a telephone hotline group, this paper presents a micro-level, distributed cognition analysis of two hotline calls, the work activity surrounding the calls, and the memory used in the work activity. We find a number of interesting theoretical concepts that are useful in further describing and analyzing organizational memory.
Impact of vehicle performance on cost effective way to meet CAFE 2017–2025

In September 2010, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Authority (NHTSA) released the Interim Joint Technical Assessment Report, Light-Duty Vehicle Greenhouse Gas Emission Standards and Corporate Average Fuel Economy Standards for Model Years 2017–2025. The objective of the study is to determine the most cost-effective technology options to meet the 3 and 6% fuel consumption improvements proposed for different acceleration performances. To take into account uncertainties, three cases have been considered: low (90%), medium (50%), and high (10%). The low case represents “business as usual,” while the high case is based on targets from the U.S. DOE Vehicle Technologies Program. The study, based on Argonne's Autonomie vehicle simulation tool, demonstrates that improving vehicle performance benefits the introduction of electric drive vehicles.
Pre-Service Music Educators’ Perceived Reasons for Preferring Three Foreign and Distinctive Asian Pieces:

The purpose of this study was to examine the perceived reasons of pre-service music educators (undergraduate music majors preparing to teach music) for preferring three distinctive pieces with traditional roots in East Asia. The selected pieces were foreign to research participants in the US. Pre-service music educators (N= 66) listened to a Chinese piece, a Japanese-American piece and a Korean piece. They were asked to choose one piece that they liked and one piece that they disliked and to explain why they made these preference choices. Results indicated non-significant differences for liking or disliking any of the three pieces (p> .05). Data suggested that ‘dislike’ should be interpreted as ‘least preferred’. Results showed that pre-service music educators’ perceived reasons for preference were mostly analytical, followed by affective and interest/judgmental. Metaphorical and familiarity reasons were relatively unimportant in explaining pre-service music educators’ preference choices among the three p...
Vitamin D status, functional decline, and mortality in peripheral artery disease

Associations of vitamin D levels with prospectively measured functional decline and mortality in people with lower extremity peripheral artery disease (PAD) are unknown. We determined whether lower baseline vitamin D levels are associated with a faster decline in functional performance and higher mortality among people with and without PAD. A total of 658 participants (395 with PAD) underwent baseline measurement of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (DiaSorin radioimmunoassay), a 6-minute walk test, 4-meter walking velocity and the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB), and were followed annually for up to 4 years. Analyses were adjusted for age, sex, race, body mass index, comorbidities, the ankle-brachial index, and other confounders. Among participants with PAD, lower baseline vitamin D levels were associated with a faster decline in the 6-minute walk (vitamin D < 30 nmol/L: -70.0 feet/year; vitamin D 30 to < 50 nmol/L: -72.3 feet/year; vitamin D 50 to < 75 nmol/L: -35.5 feet/year; vitamin D 75 to < 120 nmol/L: -35.9 feet/year; p trend=0.012). PAD participants with vitamin D < 30 nmol/L had a faster decline in the SPPB and 6-minute walk compared to those with levels of 50 to < 75 (p=0.034 and p=0.04, respectively). Among participants without PAD, lower vitamin D was associated with a faster decline in the fast 4-meter walking velocity (p trend=0.003). There were no significant associations of baseline vitamin D levels with all-cause or cardiovascular disease mortality in PAD or non-PAD participants. In conclusion, among individuals with and without PAD, low vitamin D status was associated with a faster decline in some measures of functional performance but was not related to mortality.
REACTIVITY OF ADSORBED AND STRUCTURAL IRON IN HECTORITE AS INDICATED BY OXIDATION OF BENZIDINE

The roles of different forms of Fe(III) impurities in a hectorite with respect to the oxidation of benzidine in aqueous suspension have been evaluated using electron spin resonance and UV-visible spectroscopy. Natural surface-adsorbed Fe(III) showed no detectable activity in the oxidation process, while very small quantities of structural octahedral Fe(III) apparently promoted a relatively rapid conversion to the radical cation. However, extremely small quantities of benzidine were oxidized in comparison to the exchange capacity of the clay. Freshly adsorbed Fe3+ cations effectively oxidized benzidine, but lost much of this ability upon aging. The Fe(III)-benzidine electron transfer could be distinguished from an O2-benzidine reaction, since the latter reaction was slow and limited by the rate of O2 diffusion into the clay-water system. The O2-benzidine reaction was also inhibited at high pH. The existence of two reaction mechanisms and the involvement of only a small fraction of the total structural iron, as shown by comparison of the hectorite and a montmorillonite, may explain the conflicting interpretations in the literature. The benzidine blue reaction not only requires an oxidizing agent to form the radical, but also a clay surface to adsorb and stabilize it against further oxidation.
Vision-based autonomous landing of an unmanned aerial vehicle

We present the design and implementation of a real-time, vision-based landing algorithm for an autonomous helicopter. The helicopter is required to navigate from an initial position to a final position in a partially known environment based on GPS and vision, locate a landing target (a helipad of a known shape) and land on it. We use vision for precise target detection and recognition. The helicopter updates its landing target parameters based on vision and uses an on-board behavior-based controller to follow a path to the landing site. We present results from flight trials in the field which demonstrate that our detection, recognition and control algorithms are accurate and repeatable.
Model Selection Criteria for Latent Growth Models Using Bayesian Methods

Research in applied areas, such as statistical, psychological, behavioral, and educational areas, often involves the selection of the best available model from among a large set of candidate models. Considering that there is no well-defined model selection criterion in a Bayesian context and that latent growth mixture models are becoming popular in many areas, the goal of this study is to investigate the performance of a series of model selection criteria in the framework of latent growth mixture models with missing data and outliers in a Bayesian context. This study conducted five simulation studies to cover different cases, including latent growth curve models with missing data, latent growth curve models with missing data and outliers, growth mixture models with missing data and outliers, extended growth mixture models with missing data and outliers, and latent growth models with different classes. Simulation results show that almost all the proposed criteria can effectively identify the true models. This study also illustrated the application of these model selection criteria in real data analysis. The results will help inform the selection of growth models by researchers seeking to provide states with accurate estimates of the growth of their students.
Digital PCR on a SlipChip

This paper describes a SlipChip to perform digital PCR in a very simple and inexpensive format. The fluidic path for introducing the sample combined with the PCR mixture was formed using elongated wells in the two plates of the SlipChip designed to overlap during sample loading. This fluidic path was broken up by simple slipping of the two plates that removed the overlap among wells and brought each well in contact with a reservoir preloaded with oil to generate 1280 reaction compartments (2.6 nL each) simultaneously. After thermal cycling, end-point fluorescence intensity was used to detect the presence of nucleic acid. Digital PCR on the SlipChip was tested quantitatively by using Staphylococcus aureus genomic DNA. As the concentration of the template DNA in the reaction mixture was diluted, the fraction of positive wells decreased as expected from the statistical analysis. No cross-contamination was observed during the experiments. At the extremes of the dynamic range of digital PCR the standard confidence interval determined using a normal approximation of the binomial distribution is not satisfactory. Therefore, statistical analysis based on the score method was used to establish these confidence intervals. The SlipChip provides a simple strategy to count nucleic acids by using PCR. It may find applications in research applications such as single cell analysis, prenatal diagnostics, and point-of-care diagnostics. SlipChip would become valuable for diagnostics, including applications in resource-limited areas after integration with isothermal nucleic acid amplification technologies and visual readout.
Real exchange rate fluctuations and monetary shocks: a revisit

In this paper, I first estimate a structural VAR model by following Clarida and Gali (1994) and obtain results indicating that the variance of real exchange rates can be attributed more to monetary shocks when the sample span is extended. In order to further investigate this aspect, I then employ a VAR model with long-run US–UK annual data from 1889 to 1995. According to the variance decompositions, I find that monetary shocks can explain nearly 50% of real exchange rate variance in the long-run sample periods. All the evidence suggests that monetary shocks are indeed more important in a larger sample set. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Magnitude and oxidation potential of hydrocarbon gases released from the BP oil well blowout

The deep-sea oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico released large quantities of oil and gaseous hydrocarbons into the deep ocean. Calculations using published estimates of the volume of oil released suggest that up to 500,000 t of gases such as methane were released into the deep ocean.
Repression of meiotic genes by antisense transcription and by Fkh2 transcription factor in Schizosaccharomyces pombe.

In S. pombe, about 5% of genes are meiosis-specific and accumulate little or no mRNA during vegetative growth. Here we use Affymetrix tiling arrays to characterize transcripts in vegetative and meiotic cells. In vegetative cells, many meiotic genes, especially those induced in mid-meiosis, have abundant antisense transcripts. Disruption of the antisense transcription of three of these mid-meiotic genes allowed vegetative sense transcription. These results suggest that antisense transcription represses sense transcription of meiotic genes in vegetative cells. Although the mechanism(s) of antisense mediated transcription repression need to be further explored, our data indicates that RNAi machinery is not required for repression. Previously, we and others used non-strand specific methods to study splicing regulation of meiotic genes and concluded that 28 mid-meiotic genes are spliced only in meiosis. We now demonstrate that the “unspliced” signal in vegetative cells comes from the antisense RNA, not from unspliced sense RNA, and we argue against the idea that splicing regulates these mid-meiotic genes. Most of these mid-meiotic genes are induced in mid-meiosis by the forkhead transcription factor Mei4. Interestingly, deletion of a different forkhead transcription factor, Fkh2, allows low levels of sense expression of some mid-meiotic genes in vegetative cells. We propose that vegetative expression of mid-meiotic genes is repressed at least two independent ways: antisense transcription and Fkh2 repression.