cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A New Magnetorheological Mount for Vibration Control

In this study, the performance of a new controllable mount design utilizing a magnetorheological material encapsulated in an elastomer matrix is investigated. A magnetorheological fiuid-elastomer (MRF-E) mount is designed and fabricated, and its dynamic performance is studied under harmonic oscillatory vibrations for a wide range of frequencies and various applied magnetic fields. Also, a theoretical analysis is conducted by proposing a three-element phenomenological model for replicating the dynamic behavior of the MRF-E mount under oscillation loadings, and the results are compared with the experimental data. In order to further evaluate the effectiveness of the MRF-E mount for vibration control, a single degree-of freedom (SDOF) system incorporated with this device is developed. Theoretically, the equation of motion utilizing the proposed phenomenological model is derived to provide performance predictions on the effectiveness of the semiactive device at suppressing unwanted vibrations. Experimentally a SDOF system constrained to rectilinear motion and composed of a mass, four linear springs, and the MRF-E mount is designed and manufactured. This work demonstrates the performance of the proposed MRF-E mount and its capability in attenuating undesirable system vibrations for a range of small-displacement amplitudes and frequencies.
Photon spectrometry for the determination of the dose-rate constant of low-energy photon-emitting brachytherapy sources

Accurate determination of dose-rate constant ({lambda}) for interstitial brachytherapy sources emitting low-energy photons (<50 keV) has remained a challenge in radiation dosimetry because of the lack of a suitable absolute dosimeter for accurate measurement of the dose rates near these sources. Indeed, a consensus value of {lambda} taken as the arithmetic mean of the dose-rate constants determined by different research groups and dosimetry techniques has to be used at present for each source model in order to minimize the uncertainties associated with individual determinations of {lambda}. Because the dosimetric properties of a source are fundamentally determined by the characteristics of the photons emitted by the source, a new technique based on photon spectrometry was developed in this work for the determination of dose-rate constant. The photon spectrometry technique utilized a high-resolution gamma-ray spectrometer to measure source-specific photon characteristics emitted by the low-energy sources and determine their dose-rate constants based on the measured photon-energy spectra and known dose-deposition properties of mono-energetic photons in water. This technique eliminates many of the difficulties arising from detector size, the energy dependence of detector sensitivity, and the use of non-water-equivalent solid phantoms in absolute dose rate measurements. It also circumvents the uncertainties that might bemore » associated with the source modeling in Monte Carlo simulation techniques. It was shown that the estimated overall uncertainty of the photon spectrometry technique was less than 4%, which is significantly smaller than the reported 8-10% uncertainty associated with the current thermo-luminescent dosimetry technique. In addition, the photon spectrometry technique was found to be stable and quick in {lambda} determination after initial setup and calibration. A dose-rate constant can be determined in less than two hours for each source. These features make it ideal to determine the dose-rate constant of each source model from a larger and more representative sample of actual sources and to use it as a quality assurance resource for periodic monitoring of the constancy of {lambda} for brachytherapy sources used in patient treatments.« less
Thermal expansion and decomposition of jarosite: a high-temperature neutron diffraction study

The structure of deuterated jarosite, KFe{sub 3}(SO{sub 4}){sub 2}(OD){sub 6}, was investigated using time-of-flight neutron diffraction up to its dehydroxylation temperature. Rietveld analysis reveals that with increasing temperature, its c dimension expands at a rate {approx}10 times greater than that for a. This anisotropy of thermal expansion is due to rapid increase in the thickness of the (001) sheet of [Fe(O,OH){sub 6}] octahedra and [SO{sub 4}] tetrahedra with increasing temperature. Fitting of the measured cell volumes yields a coefficient of thermal expansion, a = a{sub 0} + a{sub 1} T, where a{sub 0} = 1.01 x 10{sup -4} K{sup -1} and a{sub 1} = -1.15 x 10{sup -7} K{sup -2}. On heating, the hydrogen bonds, O1{hor_ellipsis}D-O3, through which the (001) octahedral-tetrahedral sheets are held together, become weakened, as reflected by an increase in the D{hor_ellipsis}O1 distance and a concomitant decrease in the O3-D distance with increasing temperature. On further heating to 575 K, jarosite starts to decompose into nanocrystalline yavapaiite and hematite (as well as water vapor), a direct result of the breaking of the hydrogen bonds that hold the jarosite structure together.
Neurocentral synchondrosis screws to create and correct experimental deformity: a pilot study.

Background Unilateral pedicle screw epiphysiodesis of the neurocentral synchondrosis (NCS) can produce asymmetric growth of the synchondrosis to create scoliosis in an immature animal model.
Effect of transient heat transfer and particle size on acid hydrolysis of hardwood cellulose.

Abstract The kinetics of acid hydrolysis of hardwood cellulose were investigated covering the reaction conditions of 198–215°C and 1–3% sulfuric acid. The thermal diffusivities of hardwood (southern red oak) were experimentally determined. The data were incorporated into a theoretical model designed to study the effect of transient temperature variation within the solid substrate during acid catalyzed hydrolysis of cellulose. The kinetics and the modeling results were analyzed to assess the effect of particle size on acid hydrolysis of wood cellulose. Important findings were that as the chip size increased the maximum attainable glucose yield decreased whereas the corresponding optimum reaction time increased as the result of transient conductive heat transfer. This effect becomes more significant as the temperature and the acid level were raised. Quantitative criteria were established to show the effect of particle size on glucose yield and optimum reaction time at various reaction conditions.
Simple Fabry-Perot-based instrument for surface pressure sensing from space

Mitchel and O'Brien observed in 1989 that a passive satellite measurement using the oxygen A band could exhibit a precision of better than 1% when used to make a surface pressure measurement. I will present a design and performance simulation for a Fabry-Perot interferometer based instrument which should exceed this level of performance. The design is small, inexpensive, and rugged. Preliminary results from a laboratory prototype of the instrument will be presented.
Influence of Formulation on Bioavailability Of Theophylline

The bioavailability of theophylline from formulations containing this drug alone and also in combination with phenobarbital and ephedrine has been studied in normal volunteers and asthmatic subjects. Neither of the latter two drugs had any significant influence on the bioavailability of theophylline. A complexation phenomenon, previously reported to inhibit dissolution of theophylline and phenobarbital in vitro, does not affect the bioavailability of theophylline from solid formulations. No differences were observed in the pharmacokinetics of theophylline between normal and asthmatic subjects.
Fractal (self-VQ) encoding of video sequences

We present results of a scheme to encode video sequences of digital image data based on a quadtree still-image fractal method. The scheme encodes each frame using image pieces, or vectors, from its predecessor; hence it can be thought of as a VQ scheme in which the code book is derived from the previous image. We present results showing: near real-time (5 - 12 frames/sec) software-only decoding; resolution independence; high compression ratios (25 - 244:1); and low compression times (2.4 - 66 sec/frame) as compared with standard fixed image fractal schemes.© (1994) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
LRR Domain Folding: Just Put a Cap on It!

In this issue of Structure, Courtemanche and Barrick (2008) describe the role of helical capping motif in nucleating the folding of leucine-rich repeat (LRR) domains.
Biophysics of the Second-Generation Cryoballoon Cryobiology of the Big Freeze

Current guidelines recommend antral isolation of the pulmonary veins (PV) as the cornerstone of atrial fibrillation ablation.1 Although conventional radiofrequency energy has traditionally been used with a point-by-point approach, cryoablation has emerged as a viable alternative to radiofrequency energy. The clinical success of cryoablation has been driven by the introduction of the cryoballoon. Article see p 186 Cryoenergy has been studied as early as the 1940s using CO2 gas injected in a probe to produce controlled myocardial tissue damage and studied in a variety of experimental animal models.2 In these early experiments, cryoinjury was demonstrated to cause sharply demarcated myocardial lesions. In marked contrast to radiofrequency ablation (RFA) lesions, cryolesions result in preservation of tissue architecture, including fibrocytes and collagen, and there is significantly less damage to large vascular structures or to the endocardium.3 These characteristics contribute to an increased safety profile compared with RFA, including less thrombogenicity4 (preserved endocardium) and less risk of perforation (preserved tissue structure). Another advantage is that cryomapping may be used by temporarily cooling the tissue to sublethal temperatures to predict possible consequences (ie, AV block) of a prolonged ablation. Although safety of point-by-point cryoablation has been demonstrated in clinical studies, long-term efficacy in treating various supraventricular arrhythmias is thought to be reduced when compared with RFA.5 Moreover, feasibility of creating extensive longitudinal lesions is hampered by slow conductive cooling of the tissue and heat-sink effect from surrounding high-flow vascular areas. Development of cryoballoon technology (with recently introduced more efficient second-generation balloons) has been a game-changer for atrial fibrillation ablation because it allows for rapid cooling of large areas in the left atrium (LA) and has proved to be an effective modality to create permanent lesions in a time-efficient manner. The first randomized, multicenter trial (Cryoballoon ablation of pulmonary …
Localized cutaneous Cryptococcus albidus infection in a 14-year-old boy on etanercept therapy

Immune-modulating medications, such as the tumor necrosis factor-alpha inhibitors, are establishing a niche in the dermatologic therapeutic armamentarium as novel, effective, and relatively safe alternatives in the treatment of numerous inflammatory dermatoses. The benefits of anti-tumor necrosis factor-alpha inhibitor therapy are well known. However, these agents are also associated with an increased risk of infectious complications--most commonly granulomatous infections with mycobacteria and fungi. We present a teenaged boy with localized, cutaneous Cryptococcus albidus infection on the scalp which occurred after he began etanercept for refractory psoriasis. The infection resolved after a course of fluconazole. This is the second report of localized, cutaneous C. albidus infection, but the first occurring in association with etanercept therapy. Our patient's findings remind us that extra vigilance is imperative in monitoring patients on immunosuppressive regimens and that any persistent, nonhealing lesion in these patients should prompt evaluation for potential infection, not only from common and typical pathogens but also from more unusual, atypical ones.
Quillaja bark (soapbark)-induced asthma

A 24-yr-old man developed sensitization to Quillaja bark (soapbark) dust at his work place. Within 3 mo of being employed in a factory processing Quallaja bark to produce saponin, he experienced asthma symptoms while handling the bark but only nasal symptoms on being exposed to the purified saponin. Bronchial provocation using Quillaja bark dust resulted in immediate bronchoconstriction as well as faintness, diffuse erythema, and hypotension. Radioallergosorbent test (RAST) using the pulverized crude Quillaja bark was markedly positive, and cross-reactivity between gum acacia and gum tragacanth was demonstrated using this technique.
Multiple Primary Cancers

Introduction Because multiple primary cancers have been found to occur oftener than expected among necropsy cases at the State of Wisconsin General Hospital, a tabulation of such cases has been made and their incidence computed. Comparison with previous reports has been facilitated by the work of Warren and Gates (1), who published in 1932 the results of a comprehensive survey of all cases reported up to that date, beginning with the initial case described by Billroth (2) in 1869. From all sources (they cite 430 authors in their exhaustive bibliography), they were able to collect 1219 apparently authentic cases, to which they added their own series of 40, making a total of 1259. They computed the incidence of multiple malignancy among all malignancies at 1.84 per cent on the basis of the collected statistics, at 3.9 per cent on the basis of American statistics alone, and at 3.7 per cent on their own series. Of reports published prior to 1932, one from the American literature should receive brief recognition, that of Major (3) of the University of Kansas, appearing in 1918. With one interesting surgical case of his own as an inspiration, he collected 220 additional cases, mainly from foreign sources, of which approximately 180 to 190 would qualify as true multiple primary cancers today. His bibliography lists 196 authors, mostly German. Of reports published subsequent to 1932, the more important contributions, in which whole series rather than individual cases are described, are those of Hurt and Broders (4) of the Mayo Clinic, Schreiner and Wehr (5) from the State Institute for the Study of Malignant Diseases at Buffalo, N. Y., and Bugher (6) of the University of Michigan.
Minimax state estimation for linear stationary differential-algebraic equations

Abstract This paper presents a generalization of the minimax state estimation approach for singular linear Differential-Algebraic Equations (DAE) with uncertain but bounded input and observation's noise. We apply generalized Kalman Duality principle to DAE in order to represent the minimax estimate as a solution of a dual control problem for adjoint DAE. The latter is then solved converting the adjoint DAE into ODE by means of a projection algorithm. Finally, we represent the minimax estimate in the form of a linear recursive filter.
On a nonlocal phase-field system

Abstract We study the existence, uniqueness and continuous dependence on initial data of the solution to a nonlocal phase-field system on a bounded domain. The system is a gradient flow for a free energy functional with nonlocal interaction. Also we study the asymptotic behavior of the solution and show the existence of an absorbing set in some metric space.
Reconstitution Of β-catenin Degradation In Xenopus Egg Extract

Xenopus laevis egg extract is a well-characterized, robust system for studying the biochemistry of diverse cellular processes. Xenopus egg extract has been used to study protein turnover in many cellular contexts, including the cell cycle and signal transduction pathways1-3. Herein, a method is described for isolating Xenopus egg extract that has been optimized to promote the degradation of the critical Wnt pathway component, β-catenin. Two different methods are described to assess β-catenin protein degradation in Xenopus egg extract. One method is visually informative ([35S]-radiolabeled proteins), while the other is more readily scaled for high-throughput assays (firefly luciferase-tagged fusion proteins). The techniques described can be used to, but are not limited to, assess β-catenin protein turnover and identify molecular components contributing to its turnover. Additionally, the ability to purify large volumes of homogenous Xenopus egg extract combined with the quantitative and facile readout of luciferase-tagged proteins allows this system to be easily adapted for high-throughput screening for modulators of β-catenin degradation.
Natural History of Tricuspid Valve Regurgitation (TR) Diagnosed Immediately after Heart Transplant

Purpose Tricuspid valve regurgitation is a common finding at time of cardiac transplantation. Optimal surgical management of TR in this setting is uncertain. Our objective is to assess the natural history of TR after transplant and identify the impact on postoperative morbidity and survival. Methods and Materials We retrospectively reviewed our transplant database from January 2000 to June 2012. TR was assessed with intraoperative TEE after graft reperfusion and postoperative TTE at monthly followups and yearly thereafter. TR grades were classified as insignificant (none, mild) vs. significant (moderate, severe). Survival, changes in TR grade and need for post-transplant valve repair were analyzed. Surgery for TR during transplant and combined/redo heart transplant were exclusion criteria. Results 542 transplants performed with bicaval technique had both intraoperative TEE after graft reperfusion and postoperative TTE available. Significant TR was detected in 21% after reperfusion despite no significant difference in preoperative mean PA and wedge pressures. Significant TR was associated with increased plasma creatinine (2.6±1.5 vs. 2.1±1.2 mg/dL, p=.008), prolonged postoperative stay (20 days, CI 9-21 vs. 14 days, CI 8-14 p Conclusions Significant TR immediately after transplant is a common finding and appears to be associated with early morbidity and reduced survival. The majority of significant TR resolves by 1 year post-transplant. Assessment of predictors of persistent significant TR after heart transplant is warranted. [ figure 1 ]
Neutron Damage in GaAs Laser Diodes: At and above Laser Threshold

The effects of fast neutron damage on GaAs laser diodes have been examined with the following results: (1) Infrared photomicrographs of laser output for diodes operating above threshold at 300 K reveal that neutron irradiation does not have a significant effect on the near-field spatial distribution. (2) Neutron irradiation of a group of laser diodes of different cavity lengths demonstrates that the damage-induced increase in threshold current at 300 K is due primarily to a decrease in gain factor. The rate of decrease of the gain factor with neutron fluence agrees with that predicted by a previously determined damage constant. (3) Preliminary measurements of total light output as a function of diode current at 300 K and 76 K show that the lasers are much less sensitive to neutron damage at currents significantly above threshold. In fact, for some diodes the light output at 76 K increases at a given current with neutron irradiation for fluences as high as 3 × 1014 n/cm2.
Neuroblastoma regression and immunity induced by transgenic expression of interleukin-12

Abstract Purpose: Interleukin-12 (IL-12) is a cytokine with potent antitumor effects. The authors sought to assess its capacity to increase tumor immunogenicity when expressed by tumor cells in a murine model of neuroblastoma. Methods: Syngeneic A/J mice were inoculated subcutaneously with 2 × 10 6 cells from a murine neuroblastomaderived cell line (neuro-2a). In situ transduction of the neuroblastoma cells was achieved by intratumoral injection of an adenoviral vector endocing both subunits of the murine IL-12 heterodimer. Growth of the IL-12 gene-modified tumor cells was compared with untreated neuro-2a cells. Tumor immunity was assessed by rechallenging mice that had rejected their tumor with unmodified neuroblastoma cells. The contribution of cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) was evaluated through cytotoxicity assays. Results: Eighteen (72%) of 25 tumor-bearing mice treated with the mlL-12 adenoviral vector exhibited tumor regression, with 12 mice (48%) completely rejecting their tumors over 2 to 3 weeks. None of the mice that had rejected their tumor and were rechallenged with unmodified neuro-2a cells subsequently developed new tumors. Pooled splenocytes from mice rejecting their tumors showed significant tumor killing (>20% cytolysis) in vitro in 51 Cr release assays. Conclusions: Adenoviral-mediated IL-12 expression by tumor cells in a murine neuroblastoma model produced a significant antitumor response. Most treated tumors demonstrated at least transient regression, whereas many completely regressed. Cured mice exhibited protective immunity and CTL activity against the tumor. These data confirm the immunomodulatory efficacy of IL-12 as part of a vaccine-based antineuroblastoma strategy.
Gifted or ADHD? The possibilities of misdiagnosis

This research intends to provide empirical support for the possibility of misdiagnosis of giftedness and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Forty‐four graduate students enrolled in a school counseling program acted as participants. Participants were given one of two forms, both of which provided a hypothetical case study of a young boy with characteristics of both giftedness and ADHD. Participants were then asked for a diagnosis. A chi‐square analysis suggests a statistically significant difference whereby the suggestion of the diagnosis of giftedness can lead participants away from a diagnosis of ADHD. Implications for educators and graduate level counseling and psychology programs are provided.
High dynamic range receiver optical design and integration challenges

Design trade-offs and integration challenges of High Dynamic Range Integrated (HDRI) receivers for next generation long haul and dynamic metro networks are presented. Extended receiver dynamic range is achieved by integrating Variable Optical Attenuator (VOA) and optical receiver functionalities in a single hermetic package. The HDRI receiver provides a cost-effective alternative to a discretely packaged VOA and receiver combination, resulting in a substantial reduction in size, fiber management and total insertion loss. Different VOA integration schemes are considered. Important optical design aspects of different VOA schemes are discussed in detail including field distributions at the optical blocker and at the VOA output plane, the VOA attenuation characteristics as a function of the beam blocker position, as well as the optical return loss. Simulation results for a single mode fiber output field and its Gaussian beam approximations are compared. The optical return loss analysis is performed in 3D space to exclude from coupling spatial domains exceeding the back-reflection specification value. A novel single lens in-line micro-optics integration approach is presented, providing a compact and cost-effective coupling scheme with minimal insertion loss and packaging complexity.
Local versus global isospin symmetry in nuclei

Abstract Two mechanisms producing E1 transitions of considerable magnitude are discussed. Both mechanisms imply that isospin in nuclei should be viewed as a local rather than a global symmetry. Experiments to detect these E1 transitions are discussed.
Immunological tolerance induced by cyclophosphamide assayed by plaque spleen cell method.

SINCE the demonstration in the rabbit of specific immuno-logical tolerance when 6-mercaptopurine was administered together with the antigen bovine serum albumin1, numerous examples of tolerance induced by immuno-suppressive drugs have been demonstrated2. This phenomenon of drug-induced tolerance is a particularly favourable system for the analysis of the fundamental and still incompletely understood problem of specific immunological unreactivity, but so far it has received little attention in this connexion.
Retention of Differentiated Function in Clonal Animal Cell Lines, Particularly Hormone-Secreting Cultures

Clonal hormone-secreting cell lines have been established from animal tumors. These lines include adrenal steroid-secreting cells, growth hormone-secreting cells, steroid-secreting Leydig cells, and ACTH-secreting cells that retain their differentiated function for prolonged periods in continuous culture. In addition, fibroblast cell lines that secrete a material which stimulates steroidogenesis by adrenal cells and Leydig cells are described. A systematic approach to obtain functional cultures and the general problem of retention of differentiated function in cultured cells are discussed.
Dimerization with cannabinoid receptors allosterically modulates delta opioid receptor activity during neuropathic pain.

The diversity of receptor signaling is increased by receptor heteromerization leading to dynamic regulation of receptor function. While a number of studies have demonstrated that family A G-protein-coupled receptors are capable of forming heteromers in vitro, the role of these heteromers in normal physiology and disease has been poorly explored. In this study, direct interactions between CB1 cannabinoid and delta opioid receptors in the brain were examined. Additionally, regulation of heteromer levels and signaling in a rodent model of neuropathic pain was explored. First we examined changes in the expression, function and interaction of these receptors in the cerebral cortex of rats with a peripheral nerve lesion that resulted in neuropathic pain. We found that, following the peripheral nerve lesion, the expression of both cannabinoid type 1 receptor (CB1R) and the delta opioid receptor (DOR) are increased in select brain regions. Concomitantly, an increase in CB1R activity and decrease in DOR activity was observed. We hypothesize that this decrease in DOR activity could be due to heteromeric interactions between these two receptors. Using a CB1R-DOR heteromer-specific antibody, we found increased levels of CB1R-DOR heteromer protein in the cortex of neuropathic animals. We subsequently examined the functionality of these heteromers by testing whether low, non-signaling doses of CB1R ligands influenced DOR signaling in the cortex. We found that, in cortical membranes from animals that experienced neuropathic pain, non-signaling doses of CB1R ligands significantly enhanced DOR activity. Moreover, this activity is selectively blocked by a heteromer-specific antibody. Together, these results demonstrate an important role for CB1R-DOR heteromers in altered cortical function of DOR during neuropathic pain. Moreover, they suggest the possibility that a novel heteromer-directed therapeutic strategy for enhancing DOR activity, could potentially be employed to reduce anxiety associated with chronic pain.
Screening Newborn Blood Spots for 22q11.2 Deletion Syndrome Using Multiplex Droplet Digital PCR

BACKGROUND: The diagnosis of 22q11 deletion syndrome (22q11DS) is often delayed or missed due to the wide spectrum of clinical involvement ranging from mild to severe, often life-threatening conditions. A delayed diagnosis can lead to life-long health issues that could be ameliorated with early intervention and treatment. Owing to the high impact of 22q11DS on public health, propositions have been made to include 22q11DS in newborn screening panels; however, the method of choice for detecting 22q11DS, fluorescent in situ hybridization, requires specialized equipment and is cumbersome for most laboratories to implement as part of their routine screening. We sought to develop a new genetic screen for 22q11DS that is rapid, cost-effective, and easily used by laboratories currently performing newborn screening. METHODS: We evaluated the accuracy of multiplex droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) in the detection of copy number of 22q11DS by screening samples from 26 patients with 22q11DS blindly intermixed with 1096 blood spot cards from the general population (total n = 1122). RESULTS: Multiplex ddPCR correctly identified all 22q11DS samples and distinguished between 1.5- and 3-Mb deletions, suggesting the approach is sensitive and specific for the detection of 22q11DS. CONCLUSIONS: These data demonstrate the utility of multiplex ddPCR for large-scale population-based studies that screen for 22q11DS. The use of samples from blood spot cards suggests that this approach has promise for newborn screening of 22q11DS, and potentially for other microdeletion syndromes, for which early detection can positively impact clinical outcome for those affected.
Radiation resistance testing of MOSFET and CMOS as a means of risk management

Whether for military, research (space, accelerator physics) and/or civilian use, risk avoidance against radiation-induced damage is not possible with COTS parts. Thus the sensible approach is risk management. We recommend a sensible risk management approach as follows: 1) know the radiation environment of the intended application to the extent possible; 2) know the effects of ionizing radiation on the component(s) of interest; 3) know the requirements of the application; 4) identify the candidate or chosen components; 5) test the components; 6) design-in safety factor margins to the extent possible.
Dyspnea during Thalidomide Treatment for Advanced Ovarian Cancer

OBJECTIVE:To detail the dyspnea encountered in women receiving thalidomide as therapy for advanced ovarian cancer.CASE SUMMARIES:Eight of 18 (44%) patients with recurrent ovarian cancer developed dyspnea while receiving thalidomide 200 mg daily as part of a prospective Phase II study. Dyspnea was evaluated with pulse oximetry, chest X-ray and, if indicated, spiral computed tomography scan. Four patients had abnormal chest X-ray findings (1 pleural effusion, 1 pneumonia, 2 mild congestive heart failure), and one of these patients also had a pulmonary embolus. The other 4 patients had no objective test findings to explain their dyspnea. Five patients had resolution of symptoms when thalidomide was discontinued and, when the drug was resumed at a 50% dose reduction, experienced no further shortness of breath.DISCUSSION:While dyspnea in association with thalidomide has not previously been reported as a common adverse event, it was a frequent complaint of patients receiving this drug as part of a Phase II stud...
Certification, Recertification, and Maintenance : Continuing to Learn

The process of certification, recertification, and maintenance of certification is mandated by the American Board of Urology as a member Board of the American Board of Medical Specialties. The history of maintenance of certification parallels that of private regulation of medical schools and postgraduate medical education (residency) and other nonmedical areas in which public trust is involved. Current trends in information technology that allow data gathering that measure medical practice and recognition of failure mandate that urologists practice with current knowledge. This will be documented in the maintenance of certification process.
The Scientific Pluralism of Agribusiness: A Special Issue on Theory and Practice: Forward

The term “agribusiness” first appeared in Davis and Goldbergs’ (1957) seminal book titled “A concept of Agribusiness”, which described three distinct yet interdependent sectors in a global food system. These include suppliers of agricultural inputs, producers of agricultural commodities, and institutions that perform the functional aspects associated with marketing food and fiber products. Fundamental to the concept of agribusiness is that many problems related to agriculture are interrelated and dependent upon political, sociological, economic and behavioral factors. In this special issue of the journal, we argue that the “field of agribusiness” is inherently a “scientifically pluralistic” endeavor to which efforts to define it as an academic discipline is not useful. In the introductory paper that follows, we provide a brief commentary about each of the articles featured in this special issue and discuss the opportunities and challenges of scientific pluralism for agribusiness research, teaching and extension.
Testability of asynchronous timed control circuits with delay assumptions

This paper addresses the testability of “timed” asynchronous control circuits built of standard logic cells, in which each gate’s rise and fall time is associated with a pair of minimum and maximum values. The circuit that we analyze is assumed to be hazardfie. given that the gate delay assumptions are met in its implementation. We first give sufficient and necessary conditions under which the affects of single stuck-at-faults (SAFs) can be characterized. Then we provide sufficient conditions which ensure that these faults can be detected without access to the memory elements. Finally we present an automated tool which analyzes the testability of “timed” asynchronous circuits based on the derived conditions.
Readability of written informed consent forms used in exercise and sport psychology research.

(1996). Readability of Written Informed Consent Forms Used in Exercise and Sport Psychology Research. Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport: Vol. 67, No. 3, pp. 360-362.
Histone H3K4 trimethylation by MLL3 as part of ASCOM complex is critical for NR activation of bile acid transporter genes and is downregulated in cholestasis

The nuclear receptor Farnesoid x receptor (FXR) is a critical regulator of multiple genes involved in bile acid homeostasis. The coactivators attracted to promoters of FXR target genes and epigenetic modifications that occur after ligand binding to FXR have not been completely defined, and it is unknown whether these processes are disrupted during cholestasis. Using a microarray, we identified decreased expression of mixed lineage leukemia 3 (MLL3), a histone H3 lysine 4 (H3K4) lysine methyl transferase at 1 and 3 days of post-common bile duct ligation (CBDL) in mice. Chromatin immunoprecipitation analysis (ChIP) analysis revealed that H3K4me3 of transporter promoters by MLL3 as part of activating signal cointegrator-2 -containing complex (ASCOM) is essential for activation of bile salt export pump (BSEP), multidrug resistance associated protein 2 (MRP2), and sodium taurocholate cotransporting polypeptide (NTCP) genes by FXR and glucocorticoid receptor (GR). Knockdown of nuclear receptor coactivator 6 (NCOA6) or MLL3/MLL4 mRNAs by small interfering RNA treatment led to a decrease in BSEP and NTCP mRNA levels in hepatoma cells. Human BSEP promoter transactivation by FXR/RXR was enhanced in a dose-dependent fashion by NCOA6 cDNA coexpression and decreased by AdsiNCOA6 infection in HepG2 cells. GST-pull down assays showed that domain 3 and 5 of NCOA6 (LXXLL motifs) interacted with FXR and that the interaction with domain 5 was enhanced by chenodeoxycholic acid. In vivo ChIP assays in HepG2 cells revealed ligand-dependent recruitment of ASCOM complex to FXR element in BSEP and GR element in NTCP promoters, respectively. ChIP analysis demonstrated significantly diminished recruitment of ASCOM complex components and H3K4me3 to Bsep and Mrp2 promoter FXR elements in mouse livers after CBDL. Taken together, these data show that the “H3K4me3” epigenetic mark is essential to activation of BSEP, NTCP, and MRP2 genes by nuclear receptors and is downregulated in cholestasis.
Commitment-driven distributed joint policy search

Decentralized MDPs provide powerful models of interactions in multiagent environments, but are often very difficult or even computationally infeasible to solve optimally. Here we develop a hierarchical approach to solving a restricted set of decentralized MDPs. By forming commitments with other agents and modeling these concisely in their local MDPs, agents effectively, efficiently, and distributively formulate co-ordinated local policies. We introduce a novel construction that captures commitments as constraints on local policies and show how Linear Programming can be used to achieve local optimality subject to these constraints. In contrast to other commitment enforcement approaches, we show ours to be more robust in capturing the intended commitment semantics while maximizing local utility. We also describe a commitment-space heuristic search algorithm that can be used to approximate optimal joint policies. A preliminary empirical evaluation suggests that our approach yields faster approximate solutions than the conventional encoding of the problem as a multiagent MDP would allow and, when wrapped in an exhaustive commitment-space search, will find the optimal global solution.
Redefining the Role of the CPU in the Era of CPU-GPU Integration

We've seen the quick adoption of GPUs as general-purpose computing engines in recent years, fueled by high computational throughput and energy efficiency. There is heavier integration of the CPU and GPU, including the GPU appearing on the same die, further decreasing barriers to the use of the GPU to offload the CPU. Much effort has been made to adapt GPU designs to anticipate this new partitioning of the computation space, including better programming models and more general processing units with support for control flow. However, researchers have placed little attention on the CPU and how it must adapt to this change. This article demonstrates that the coming era of CPU and GPU integration requires us to rethink the CPU's design and architecture. We show that the code the CPU will run, once appropriate computations are mapped to the GPU, has significantly different characteristics than the original code (which previously would have been mapped entirely to the CPU).
Masculinity, the Embodied Male Worker, and the Historian’s Gaze

While historians have provided insights into the ways women's work culture and labor organizing were infused with issues of sex, sexuality and appearance, they have not similarly examined the white male working body. This article discusses the significance of this different analysis for our understanding of men workers and for its ability to continue to marginalize women at the workplace. It considers how to incorporate the “bodily turn” in history by examining three conceptual themes in research on working-class masculinity: masculinity crises, muscular masculinity, and homosociality.
COMPARATIVE STUDY OF LUMINESCENT AND NONLUMINESCENT STRAINS OF GONYAULAX EXCAVATA (PYRRHOPHYTA)1,2

Three of ten cultures of Gonyaulax excavata (Braarud) Balech isolated from the 1972 New England red tide are nonluminescent, Biochemical components of dinoflagellate bioluminescence were not detected in the extracts from these three isolates. Cells of the nonluminescent cultures were identical to those of luminescent cultures as compared by light microscopy, major body plate tabulation, cell size and growth. Both luminescent and nonluminescent cells were toxic as determined by using the mouse bioassay for paralytic shellfish poisoning. All the 122 clones made from one of the luminescent isolates were luminescent suggesting this feature is a stable trait. We conclude that these isolates represent luminescent and luminescent strains of G. excavata. This is the first intraspecific investigation of in vitro bioluminescent components between nonluminescent and luminescent strains of a dinoflagellate.
Thermal pressurization and onset of melting in fault zones

[1] We examine how frictional heating drives the evolution of temperature, strength, and fracture energy during earthquake slip. For small slip distances, heat and pore fluid are unable to escape the shearing fault core, and the behavior is well approximated by simple analytical models that neglect any transport. Following large slip distances, the finite width of the shear zone is small compared to the thicknesses of the thermal and hydrological boundary layers, and the fault behavior approaches that predicted for the idealized case of slip on a plane. To evaluate the range in which the predictions of these two sets of approximations are valid, we develop a model that describes how frictional dissipation within a finite shear zone drives heat and mass transport through the surrounding static gouge. With realistic parameter values and slips greater than a few centimeters, the subsequent evolution of strength and fracture energy are approximated well by the planar slip model. However, the temperature evolution is much more sensitive to the finite shear zone thickness, and the ultimate temperature rise tends to be intermediate between that predicted for the two simplified cases. We explore the range of conditions necessary for melting to begin and focus in particular on the potential role of fault zone damage in facilitating fluid transport and promoting larger temperature increases. We discuss how the apparent scarcity of exhumed pseudotachylytes places constraints on some of the more uncertain fault zone parameters.
Empiricism, probability, and knowledge of arithmetic: A preliminary defense

The topic of this paper is our knowledge of the natural numbers, and in particular, our knowledge of the basic axioms for the natural numbers, namely the Peano axioms. The thesis defended in this paper is that knowledge of these axioms may be gained by recourse to judgments of probability. While considerations of probability have come to the forefront in recent epistemology, it seems safe to say that the thesis defended here is heterodox from the vantage point of traditional philosophy of mathematics. So this paper focuses on providing a preliminary defense of this thesis, in that it focuses on responding to several objections. Some of these objections are from the classical literature, such as Frege's concern about indiscernibility and circularity (Section 2.1), while other are more recent, such as Baker's concern about the unreliability of small samplings in the setting of arithmetic (Section 2.2). Another family of objections suggests that we simply do not have access to probability assignments in the setting of arithmetic, either due to issues related to the @w-rule (Section 3.1) or to the non-computability and non-continuity of probability assignments (Section 3.2). Articulating these objections and the responses to them involves developing some non-trivial results on probability assignments (Appendix A-Appendix C), such as a forcing argument to establish the existence of continuous probability assignments that may be computably approximated (Theorem 4Appendix B). In the concluding section, two problems for future work are discussed: developing the source of arithmetical confirmation and responding to the probabilistic liar.
Technology scaling effects on multipliers

Since integrated circuits were invented, fabrication engineers have been able to steadily decrease the dimensions of the devices (transistors). These reductions in the minimum feature sizes have resulted in improved performance. In addition, the dimensions of the interconnect used to connect the active transistors have also scaled. The decreasing dimensions of the physical devices causes the capacitance and resistances of the different parts of the multiplier to change. Therefore, the relative delay due to each part of the multiplier changes. In addition, the different encoding schemes used to generate the partial products and the different topologies used in the reduction of the partial products effect the total latency of the multiplier. This paper examines the effects of the smaller device dimensions on multipliers. It shows that the interconnect is becoming more important and that automatic generation of partial products provides the minimum latency for small feature sizes.
Event-related potentials and the decision to shoot: The role of threat perception and cognitive control

Participants played a videogame in which they were required to make speeded shoot/don't-shoot decisions in response to armed and unarmed targets, half of whom were Black, half of whom were White. Event-related brain potentials (ERPs), recorded during the game, assessed attentional processes related to target race and object type. Early ERP components (i.e., the P200 and N200) differentiated between Black and White targets, as well as between armed and unarmed targets. Explicitly measured cultural stereotypes predicted both this racial ERP differentiation and racial bias in the game. Most importantly, the degree of racial differentiation in the early ERP components predicted behavioral bias in the videogame and mediated the relationship between cultural stereotypes and bias.
The application of experimental design to the analysis of semiconductor manufacturing lines

Flexible, interactive software is used to apply a two-level fractional factorial design with ten factors to the discrete event simulation of a semiconductor manufacturing line. The authors analyse the sensitivity of the cycle time to the number of tools and the operator-to-tool ratio at five tool groups that tend to have large queues preceding them. The analysis confirms the proposed model for the cycle time and illustrates the efficiency of using experimental design for discrete event simulation. A review of ancillary output data from each run corroborates the results of the experimental analysis, namely that tool effects predominate. The main effects for the tools are ordered according to utilization. >
Design and Fabrication of 3D Microprocessors

Stacking multiple device strata can improve system performance of a microprocessor (μP) by reducing interconnect length. This enables latency improvement, power reduction, and improved memory bandwidth. In this paper we review some of our recent design analysis and process results which quantitatively show the benefits of stacking applied to μPs. We report on two applications for stacking which take advantage of reduced wire length- “logic+logic” stacking and “logic+memory” stacking. In addition to optimizing minimum wire length, we considered carefully the thermal ramifications of the new designs. For the logic+memory application, we considered the case of reducing off-die wiring by stacking a DRAM cache (32 to 64MB) onto a high performance μP. Simulations showed 3x reduced off-die bandwidth, Cycles Per Memory Access (CPMA) reduction of 13%, and a 66% average bus power reduction. For logic+logic applications, we considered a high performance μP where the unit blocks were repartitioned into two strata. For this case, simulations showed that stacking can simultaneously reduce power by 15% while increasing performance by 15% with a minor 14° C increase in peak temperature compared to the planar design. Using voltage scaling, this translates to 34% power reduction and 8% performance improvement with no temperature increase. We found that these results can be further improved by a secondary splitting of the individual blocks. As an example, we split a 32KB first level data cache resulting in 25% power reduction, 10% latency reduction, and 20% area reduction. We also discuss the fabrication of stacked structures with two complimentary process flows. In one case, we developed a 300mm wafer stacking process using Cu-Cu bonding, wafer thinning, and through-silicon vias (TSVs). This technology provides reliable bonding with non-detectable bonding-interface resistance and inter-strata via pitch below 8μm. We investigated the impact of this wafer stacking process to the transistor and interconnect layers built using a 65nm strained-Si/Cu-Low-K process technology and found no impact to either discrete N- and P-MOS devices or to thin 4Mb SRAMs. We verified fully functional SRAMs on thinned wafers with thicknesses down to 5μm. Although wafer stacking leads itself well to tight-pitch same-die-size stacking, die stacking enables integration of different size dies and includes opportunity to improve yield by stacking known good dies. We demonstrated a die stack process flow with 75μm thinned die, TSV, and inter-strata via pitch below 100μm. We also found negligible impact to transistors using this process flow. Multiple stacks of up to seven 75μm thin dies with TSVs were fabricated and tested. Prospects for high volume integration of 3D into μPs are discussed.