cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
My place, your place, and no place: behavior settings as a risk factor for HIV-related injection practices of drug users in Baltimore, Maryland

Information is sparse on the social context of illicit drug injection behaviors and their relationship to HIV infection. This study examined relationships between injection settings, injecting with others, and HIV risk behaviors of sharing needles and not cleaning contaminated needles in a sample of 630 inner-city injecting drug users in Baltimore, MD. Through open-ended interviews, five primary settings of injection behavior were identified. These settings included one's own, friends' and mother's residence, shooting galleries, and semipublic areas. Most participants reported injecting in their own residence (92%) and friends' residence (86%) in the prior 6 months. In a multiple regression analysis, injecting at friends' residence, in shooting galleries, and in semipublic areas and frequency of injecting with others were significantly associated with frequency of sharing uncleaned needles, “slipping” (i.e., failure to disinfect shared needles), and not always cleaning used needles before injecting. Results suggest that interventions may benefit from targeting settings as well as behaviors to reduce the spread of HIV.
The relaxed game chromatic number of outerplanar graphs

The (r,d)-relaxed coloring game is played by two players, Alice and Bob, on a graph G with a set of r colors. The players take turns coloring uncolored vertices with legal colors. A color α is legal for an uncolored vertex u if u is adjacent to at most d vertices that have already been colored with α, and every neighbor of u that has already been colored with α is adjacent to at most d – 1 vertices that have already been colored with α. Alice wins the game if eventually all the vertices are legally colored; otherwise, Bob wins the game when there comes a time when there is no legal move left. We show that if G is outerplanar then Alice can win the (2,8)-relaxed coloring game on G. It is known that there exists an outerplanar graph G such that Bob can win the (2,4)-relaxed coloring game on G. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Graph Theory 46:69–78, 2004
Evaluation of an Information-Based Sensor Management System

As sensors become more specialized, more powerful, and ubiquitous, previous fixed scheduling methods and even adaptive algorithms become less effective, particularly in a stressing environment in which decisions must be made as to how to most effectively allocate sensing resources. Managing sensors based on maximizing the expected information value rate (EIVR) is implemented in our multi-target, distributed, information based sensor management simulation of a 6-DOF forward air defense (FAD) environment. This generalized approach of maximizing the flow of valued information into our model of the world which is used by the mission manager to make decisions better solves the problem of sensor management since rule based systems cease to perform optimally in a non-stationary environment and their performance does not degrade gracefully. This paper discusses simulation results demonstrating the benefits and limitation of our information based approach to sensor management. It also details the scenarios, performance metrics, and results of the comparison.
The HPV16 E5 protein: expression, detection, and stable complex formation with transmembrane proteins in COS cells.

Abstract The human papillomavirus-16 (HPV16) E5 gene is able to induce stable growth transformation and transient mitogenic stimulation in a variety of cultured cell systems. To characterize the biochemical properties of the hydrophobic HPV16 E5 transforming protein, we have constructed vectors expressing the wild-type HPV16 E5 gene and have generated antipeptide antisera. The 10-kDa E5 protein was readily detectable in transfected COS monkey cells by using these antisera either for immunoprecipitation of metabolically labeled cells or for immunoblotting. Coimmunoprecipitation analysis of cells coexpressing the viral protein and various growth factor receptors demonstrated stable complex formation between the E5 protein and the epidermal growth factor receptor, platelet-derived growth factor β receptor, colony stimulating factor-1 receptor, and p185 neu . The E5 protein also formed a stable complex with the vesicular stomatitis virus glycoprotein. These experiments indicated that the HPV16 E5 protein was able to participate in complex formation with a variety of transmembrane proteins, a property which may contribute to the biological activities of the viral protein. In addition, the expression vectors and antibodies described here will be useful reagents in examining various aspects of HPV16 E5 expression and function.
Differential Evolution and Expression of Murine Peroxisomal Membrane Protein Genes

Abstract Gene segments encoding the 70 and 22-kDa peroxisomal membrane proteins (PMP) have been characterized in mice and compared with other peroxisomal proteins in terms of evolution and expression. The mouse PMP22 gene sequence predicts A 16 G and I 136 V substitutions that agree with those defined by cyanogen bromide cleavage analysis, providing additional evidence that this gene encodes the major 22-kDa membrane protein visualized by SDS-polyacrylamide electrophoresis. Mammalian PMP22 genes exhibit higher evolutionary rates (0.17% amino acid substitution per million years) than PMP35 (0.14%), PMP70 (0.07%), or catalase genes (0.13%). PMP70 gene regions are conserved throughout vertebrate phylas based on Southern analysis, while PMP22 sequences were only detected in rodents. Amino acid substitutions are clustered in both PMP22 and PMP70 genes, and their pattern supports membrane topologies derived from hydropathy profiles. Northern blot analysis identifies single mRNAs of 4.6 kb (PMP70), 1.4 kb (PMP22), and 2.3 kb (catalase) in several rodent tissues. Quantitative or competitive RT-PCR assays detected two- to three-fold greater numbers of catalase mRNA molecules relative to PMP mRNA molecules in brain, liver, and kidney; PMP22 and PMP35 mRNAs were two-fold more abundant than PMP70 mRNA in these tissues. Steady-state levels of PMP22 mRNA were highest in rodent liver kidney, spinal cord, and duodenum with low levels in colon, adrenal, thymus, and spleen. We conclude that PMP genes exhibit independent evolutionary rates and tissue regulation suggesting that they have unique roles in peroxisome biogenesis aod tissue differentiation.
Characterization of Fe-supersaturated Fe-Al bronze coatings fabricated by magnetron sputter deposition

Abstract Magnetron sputter deposition was used to fabricate thin films of several Fe-Al bronze alloy compositions. Electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction were employed to evaluate the structure and composition of the films, and to determine the extent of Fe supersaturation. It was found that magnetron sputtering is an effective method for creating Fe-Al bronze alloys supersaturated with Fe. The maximum Fe content obtained in a sputtered film was 9.8%, well above the normal equilibrium solubility limit of 3.5 %.
Astrophysics: a certain flare.

Giant flashes from soft γ-ray repeaters are spectacular but rare events — only three have ever been observed in our Galaxy. The suspicion is that we have been missing some from farther afield. On 27 December last year, SGR1806–20, a soft γ-ray repeater in Sagittarius, released a giant flare that has been called the brightest explosion ever recorded. SGRs are X-ray stars that sporadically emit low-energy γ-ray bursts. They are thought to be magnetars: neutron stars with observable emissions powered by magnetic dissipation. Five papers in this issue report initial and follow-up observations of this event. The data are remarkable: for instance in a fifth of a second, the flare released as much energy as the Sun radiates in a quarter of a million years. Such power can be explained by catastrophic global crust failure and magnetic reconnection on a magnetar. Releasing a hundred times the energy of the only two previous SGR giant flares, this may have been a once-in-a-lifetime event for astronomers, and for the star itself.
Purification and Properties of Human Cytosolic Folylpoly-γ-glutamate Synthetase and Organization, Localization, and Differential Splicing of Its Gene

Human cytosolic folylpolyglutamate synthetase (FPGS) was expressed in Escherichia coli and purified to homogeneity. Tetrahydrofolate and dihydrofolate were the most effective substrates, while 5-substituted folates were poor substrates. Most pteroyldiglutamates were better substrates than monoglutamates. The human FPGS gene spans 12 kilobases and contains 15 exons and 14 introns. A single FPGS gene was located to chromosome region 9q34.1. Four exon 1 variants were identified, each of which was spliced to exon 2. The exon 1 variant corresponding to the isolated cDNA contains two ATG codons and multiple transcription start sites in this region generates mitochondrial and cytosolic FPGS (Freemantle, S. J., Taylor, S. M., Krystal, G., and Moran, R. G. (1995) J. Biol. Chem. 270, 9579-9584). Exons 1B and 1C, generated by alternate splicing in intron 1, and exon 1A, which is 5′ to exon 1 and may encode an additional mitochondrial isoform, are preceded by a number of potential promoter sites. Chinese hamster ovary cell transfectants expressing FPGS activity in the mitochondria contained normal mitochondrial and low cytosolic folylpolyglutamate pools. Mitochondrial FPGS activity is required for mitochondrial folate accumulation, while cytosolic FPGS activity is needed for establishment of normal cytosolic folate pools. The reconstructed FPGS gene restored normal cytosolic and mitochondrial folate metabolism in hamster cells.
Distributed parameter system decomposition and coordination

A noble approach of decomposing a class of first-order distributed parameter systems is developed to formulate a coordinated control problem. Instead of making a discrete approximation, we partition the system into a number of subsystems only by making use of physical constraints and design objectives. The control is achieved by two level interative optimization schemes. The first level optimizes individual subsystems, and the second level adjusts the interaction variables between subsystems in order to satisfy the compatibility condition.
Cloning and characterization of CAP, the S. cerevisiae gene encoding the 70 kd adenylyl cyclase-associated protein

Adenylyl cyclase from S. cerevisiae contains at least two subunits, a 200 kd catalytic subunit and a subunit with an apparent molecular size of 70 kd, which we now call CAP (cyclase-associated protein). We cloned a cDNA encoding CAP by screening a yeast cDNA expression library in E. coli with antisera raised against the purified protein. The cDNA contained an open reading frame capable of encoding a 526 amino acid protein that is not homologous to any sequences in the current data bases. Adenylyl cyclase activity in membranes from cells that lacked CAP was not stimulated by RAS2 proteins in vitro. These results suggest that CAP is required for at least some aspects of the RAS-responsive signaling system. Mutants lacking CAP had four additional phenotypes that appear to be unrelated to effects of the RAS/adenylyl cyclase pathway: the inability to grow on rich medium (YPD), temperature sensitivity on minimal medium, sensitivity to nitrogen starvation, and a swollen cell morphology.
Provider Assumptions about Long-Term Care in American Indian Communities.

A brief survey of 208 Indian Health Service (IHS) providers and allied personnel revealed the extent to which they subscribed to a number of myths about long-term care. With some exceptions, long-term care is equated with the nursing home, perceived as involving essentially health care professionals, and service objectives are assumed to be primarily rehabilitative and protective in nature. Underscored is the importance of past recommendations of geriatric training for IHS and tribal human service providers.
Pair programming: what's in it for me?

Pair programming is a practice in which two programmers work collaboratively at one computer on the same design, algorithm, or code. Prior research on pair programming has primarily focused on its evaluation in academic settings. There has been limited evidence on the use, problems and benefits, partner selection, and the general perceptions towards pair programming in industrial settings. In this paper we report on a longitudinal evaluation of pair programming at Microsoft Corporation. We find from the results of a survey sent to a randomly selected 10% of engineers at Microsoft that 22% pair program or have pair programmed in the past. Using qualitative analysis, we performed a large-scale card sort to group the various benefits and problems of pair programming. The biggest perceived benefits of pair programming were the introduction of fewer bugs, spreading code understanding, and producing overall higher quality code. The top problems were cost-efficiency, (work time) scheduling problems, and personality conflicts. Most engineers preferred a partner who had complementary skills to their own, who was flexible and had good communication skills.
Effects of Surface Orientation on the Performance of Idealized III–V Thin-Body Ballistic n-MOSFETs

Ballistic on-currents of thin-body n-channel metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistors (n-MOSFETs) are compared across group IV (Si, Ge) and III-V (InAs, In0.5Ga0.5As, GaAs, GaSb) materials for different body thickness values, surface orientations, and transport directions under several idealization assumptions. Previous simulation studies have shown that, as oxide capacitance increases, typical III-V channels with (100) surface perform worse than Si in the ballistic limit due to the degraded density-of-states (DOS). In this letter, simulation results based on tight-binding band structure calculations verify a recent proposal that confined III-V n-MOSFETs with small Γ-L separations overcome the DOS bottleneck and deliver high injection velocities, boosting on-current performance. By using the quantized L-valleys, GaSb with (100) or (111) surface orientations shows the best ballistic performance, outperforming all other materials. Although GaAs (100) and InAs or In0.5Ga0.5As with any surface orientation suffer from the DOS bottleneck, GaAs (111) gives higher ballistic on -currents than Si does.
A comparison between single versus dual spindle saw processes for copper metallized wafers

Earlier studies have shown significant differences in backside silicon chipout between aluminum and copper metallized wafers when sawn with a single spindle saw. These earlier studies focused on the results of two designs of experiments to understand the key process parameters and their interactions in order to optimize the wafer saw process. This study was driven by a number of qualification failures that were observed in high temperature operational life (HTOL) on a 3 metal layer copper CMOS device. The failure analysis of these units showed top side silicon cracks that originated from the backside edge of the die where silicon chipouts as large as 4 mil were observed. To reduce the severity of the backside chipouts, key process parameters were optimized for a single spindle wafers saw machine. Newer process technologies have emerged since this study and five to six metal layers of copper are now the development focus. This paper compares the processes for sawing 5 metal layer copper wafers with a single and dual spindle wafer saw and also compares the results with the 3 metal layer copper metallized wafers. The previous work focused on optimization for a single spindle process and data from another earlier study suggests that a double pass saw, where the top metal is cut on the first pass followed by a final cut on the second pass, may provide even further reduced backside silicon chipout. To reduce the cycle time of this approach, a dual spindle saw process was chosen in which the cycle time is similar to a single pass approach.
Head-size equalization for better visual perception of video conferencing

In a video conferencing setting, people often use an elongated meeting table with the major axis along the camera direction. A standard wide angle perspective image of this setting creates significant foreshortening, thus the people sitting at the far end of the table appear very small relative to those nearer the camera. This has two consequences. First, it is difficult for the remote participants to see the faces of those at the far end, thus affecting the experience of the video conferencing. Second, it is a waste of the screen space and network bandwidth because most of the pixels are used on the background instead of on the faces of the meeting participants. In this paper, we present a novel technique, called spatially-varying-uniform scaling functions, to warp the images to equalize the head sizes of the meeting participants without causing undue distortion. In addition, we show a specially designed five-lens camera to capture, stitch, and warp images in real time without sacrificing resolution. Finally, we show that the SVU scaling functions can also be applied to 360 degree images to improve video conferencing experience when an omni-directional camera is used.
Incorporating transaction semantics to reduce reprocessing overhead in replicated mobile data applications

Update anywhere-anytime-anyway transactional replication has unstable behavior as the workload scales up. To reduce this problem, a two-tier replication algorithm is proposed in (Gray et al., 1996) that allows mobile applications to propose tentative transactions that are later applied to a master copy. However it can suffer from heavy reprocessing overhead in many circumstances. We present the method of merging histories instead of reprocessing to reduce the overhead of two-tier replication. The basic idea is when a mobile node connects to the base nodes merging the tentative history into the base history so that substantial work of tentative transactions could be saved. As a result, a set of undesirable transactions (denoted B) have to be backed out to resolve the conflicts between the two histories. Desirable transactions that are affected directly or indirectly, by the transactions in B complicate the process of backing out B. We present a family of novel rewriting algorithms for the purpose of backing out B. By incorporating transaction semantics, our rewriting methods are strictly better at saving desirable tentative transactions than the traditional reads-from transitive-closure based approach. In most cases our rewriting methods are better at saving desirable tentative transactions than an approach which is based only on commutativity.
Archenteron precursor cells can organize secondary axial structures in the sea urchin embryo

Local cell-cell signals play a crucial role in establishing major tissue territories in early embryos. The sea urchin embryo is a useful model system for studying these interactions in deuterostomes. Previous studies showed that ectopically implanted micromeres from the 16-cell embryo can induce ectopic guts and additional skeletal elements in sea urchin embryos. Using a chimeric embryo approach, we show that implanted archenteron precursors differentiate autonomously to produce a correctly proportioned and patterned gut. In addition, the ectopically implanted presumptive archenteron tissue induces ectopic skeletal patterning sites within the ectoderm. The ectopic skeletal elements are bilaterally symmetric, and flank the ectopic archenteron, in some cases resulting in mirror-image, symmetric skeletal elements. Since the induced patterned ectoderm and supernumerary skeletal elements are derived from the host, the ectopic presumptive archenteron tissue can act to 'organize' ectopic axial structures in the sea urchin embryo.
Transcriptional targeting of herpes simplex virus for cell-specific replication

Tissue- or cell-specific targeting of vectors is critical to the success of gene therapy. We describe a novel approach to virus-mediated gene therapy, where viral replication and associated cytotoxicity are limited to a specific cell type by the regulated expression of an essential immediate-early viral gene product. This is illustrated with a herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) vector (G92A) whose growth is restricted to albumin-expressing cells. G92A was constructed by inserting an albumin enhancer/promoter-ICP4 transgene into the thymidine kinase gene of mutant HSV-1 d120, deleted for both copies of the ICP4 gene. This vector also contains the Escherichia coli lacZ gene under control of the thymidine kinase promoter, a viral early promoter, to permit easy detection of infected cells containing replicating vector. In the adult, albumin is expressed uniquely in the liver and in hepatocellular carcinoma and is transcriptionally regulated. The plaquing efficiency of G92A is > 10(3) times higher on human hepatoma cells than on non-albumin-expressing human cells. The growth kinetics of G92A in albumin-expressing cells is delayed compared with that of wild-type HSV-1, likely due to aberrant expression of ICP4 protein. Cells undergoing a productive infection expressed detectable levels of ICP4 protein, as well as the reporter gene product beta-galactosidase. Confining a productive, cytotoxic viral infection to a specific cell type should be useful for tumor therapy and the ablation of specific cell types for the generation of animal models of disease.
Obesity in Older Adults – A Growing Problem

The increasing prevalence of obese older adults is a major public health issue. Obesity causes frailty in older adults by exacerbating the age-related decline in physical function. Treatment plans for obese older adults should include lifestyle intervention such as weight loss, behavior modification and exercise therapy to improve physical function, quality of life and medical complications associated with obesity. The treatment must consider the potential adverse effects of weight loss on bone and muscle mass.
APSA Teaching and Learning Conference: A Summary of Four Tracks

From February 19-21, 2004 the inaugural APSA Teaching and Learning Conference was held at American University in Washington, D.C. The conference was organized to emulate the “European” model of a conference, where a set of working groups (or “tracks”) were convened to work on one of four issue areas that the conference program committee considered important to the political science discipline. The tracks were not designed to follow the standard political science conference format where individual papers were presented and a “discussant” commented on the papers, leaving five minutes at the end for general discussion. Rather, the tracks were working groups, where each individual presented over two days with the papers discussed by the group collectively, not to fete out criticisms, but to build on presented themes. The groups then made recommendations to a plenary session at the end of the conference, suggesting what APSA as a professional association could do to facilitate advances in each of the four issue areas.
Capillary-mediated interface perturbations: Deterministic pattern formation

Abstract Leibniz–Reynolds analysis identifies a 4th-order capillary-mediated energy field that is responsible for shape changes observed during melting, and for interface speed perturbations during crystal growth. Field-theoretic principles also show that capillary-mediated energy distributions cancel over large length scales, but modulate the interface shape on smaller mesoscopic scales. Speed perturbations reverse direction at specific locations where they initiate inflection and branching on unstable interfaces, thereby enhancing pattern complexity. Simulations of pattern formation by several independent groups of investigators using a variety of numerical techniques confirm that shape changes during both melting and growth initiate at locations predicted from interface field theory. Finally, limit cycles occur as an interface and its capillary energy field co-evolve, leading to synchronized branching. Synchronous perturbations produce classical dendritic structures, whereas asynchronous perturbations observed in isotropic and weakly anisotropic systems lead to chaotic-looking patterns that remain nevertheless deterministic.
Posttraumatic Nonhemic Subdural Effusion

The time course for the development of subdural fluid collections after a single traumatic event in 55 head trauma patients younger than 3 years was determined by CT scan in a retrospective consecutive case series at Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin, Milwaukee.
Mobile local search with noisy locations

Abstract The deep penetration of mobile devices have led to the emergence of multiple mobile applications that seek to harness the positioning capabilities embedded in such devices. One of the most functional of these applications is local search. Local search is similar to a regular web search, yet is more powerful in a mobile setting since results are ranked both by prominence and locality. Undoubtedly popular, the current design of local search applications fails to cater equally to a privacy-aware user who desires finer controls in her location disclosure. Towards this end, we propose the design for a private local search (PriLS) application that enables a user to first learn the geographic variation in local search results and then use it to determine a noisy location that has little or no affect on the search results. Parametric studies and real-world evaluations show that PriLS can help identify geographic locations that would produce similar search results (compared to when the user’s location is used) with no noticeable delays in user experience. They also reveal that large areas typically exist where there is no change in the result of a local search query, and can be exploited to provide spatial privacy guarantees to a user.
The Virtual SDH Network Element`s Construction and Network Simulation

A network framework composed of the virtual optical transmission equipments is discussed based on the Telecomm Manager Network rules and implemented by the multiple clients and servers technology method. Then with the network model the actual application environment is successfully figured out and the performance testing of SDH Network Manager also seems feasible though in the lab where materials are limited
NONPARAMETRIC PROCEDURES FOR SELECTING FIXED-SIZE SUBSETS

Introduction and Summary There is a collection of k populations μ1,μ2,…,μk where μi. is associated with the continuous distribution function (d.f.) Fi(x) = Fi. A number α such that 0 < α < 1 and integer t where 1 ≤ t ≤ k-1 are given. Earlier Sobel [5] considered the problem of selecting those t of the k populations which have the largest α-quantiles. He developed nonparametric procedures based on n independent observations from each of the k populations. Here we consider the problem of selecting a subset of specified size s, where t ≤ s ≤ k-1, which includes those t populations of the given set which have largest a-quantiles. Thus our goal will reduce to the goal in [5] when s = t. The proposed procedure is defined in terms of order statistics which are based on n independent observations from each of the k populations. This procedure can be viewed as a nonparametric analogue of the procedure developed by one of the authors in [3]. Assuming that the functional form of F. is unknown and that Fi is continuous, we determine the sample size n, which makes the procedure explicit, such that the procedure satisfies the usual probability requirement.
Gamma Knife radiosurgery for intracranial hemangioblastoma

Gamma knife radiosurgery (GKRS) has become a treatment option for intracranial hemangioblastomas, especially in patients with poor clinical status and also high-risk surgical candidates. The objective of this study was to analyze clinical outcome and tumor control rates. Retrospective chart review revealed 12 patients with a total of 20 intracranial hemangioblastomas treated with GKRS from May 1998 until December 2014. Kaplan-Meier plots were used to calculate the actuarial local tumor control rates and rate of recurrence following GKRS. Univariate analysis, including log rank test and Wilcoxon test were used on the Kaplan-Meier plots to evaluate the predictors of tumor progression. Two-tailed p value of <0.05 was considered as significant. Median follow-up was 64months (2-184). Median tumor volume pre-GKRS was 946mm(3) (79-15970), while median tumor volume post-GKRS was 356mm(3) (30-5404). Complications were seen in two patients. Tumor control rates were 100% at 1year, 90% at 3years, and 85% at 5years, using the Kaplan-Meier method. There were no statistically significant univariate predictors of progression identified, although there was a trend towards successful tumor control in solid tumors (p=0.07). GKRS is an effective and safe option for treating intracranial hemangioblastoma with favorable tumor control rates.
Spectral cones in Euclidean Jordan algebras

Abstract A spectral cone in a Euclidean Jordan algebra V of rank n is of the form K = λ − 1 ( Q ) , where Q is a permutation invariant convex cone in R n and λ : V → R n is the eigenvalue map (which takes x to λ ( x ) , the vector of eigenvalues of x with entries written in the decreasing order). In this paper, we describe some properties of spectral cones. We show, for example, that spectral cones are invariant under automorphisms of V , that the dual of a spectral cone is a spectral cone when V is simple or carries the canonical inner product, and characterize the pointedness/solidness of a spectral cone. We also show that for any spectral cone K in V , dim ⁡ ( K ) ∈ { 0 , 1 , m − 1 , m } , where dim ⁡ ( K ) denotes the dimension of K and m is the dimension of V .
Biological Monitoring of Exposure to Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons

Methods are now available for the sensitive detection and quantitation of carcinogen-DNA adducts which do not depend upon radiolabeled carcinogens. These methods are essential for the measurement of adducts in humans with exposure to environmental and occupational carcinogens. Measurement of carcinogen-DNA adducts in the target tissue, termed biologically effective dose, is believed to be a more relevant marker of exposure than measurement of the chemical itself either in the environment or in body fluids (1). Such assays take into account individual differences in absorption and metabolism of carcinogens as well as repair of adducts. Since target tissue (e.g., lung, liver) is not available on a routine basis from healthy individuals, white blood cells have been utilized in a number of biomonitoring studies as a surrogate source of DNA.
Trade Balance and Exchange Rates

One of the most remarkable facts about the development of international economics in the past 50 years has been the persistence of the belief that a country can improve its balance of trade by devaluing its currency. More generally, it is believed that just as a profit-maximizing monopolistic firm producing under constant costs can improve its sales and thereby its profitability by lowering its costs and thus its selling price provided the elasticity of demand for its product is greater than unity, a country can be become more “competitive” and improve its balance of trade by cutting the prices of its export goods provided the sum of its elasticity of demand for imports and the foreign elasticity of demand for its exports exceeds unity. (For brevity, the terms “balance of trade” and “trade balance” are used rather improperly throughout this paper to stand for the balance of payments on goods and services. The term “foreign balance” has an equivalent meaning.)
The design of DNA sequences for branched systems

Structural DNA nanotechnology rests on three pillars: (1) nucleic acid hybridization, (2) facile synthesis of designed DNA sequences, and (3) the ability to design branched DNA molecules. This chapter is primarily about the third topic, but before we get into it, we should briefly discuss the other two topics. The hybridization of DNA strands is taken for granted by virtually all investigators today, but this was not always so. When the first hybridization was done in 1956 by Rich and Davies (see Chapter 1), the result was treated with skepticism, typified by the comment, “You mean [the two strands hybridize] without an enzyme?” The first approaches to DNA nanotechnology entailed sequence design that attempted to minimize sequence symmetry in every way possible. Such sequences are not readily obtained from natural sources, so the synthesis of DNA molecules of arbitrary sequence is a sine qua non for DNA nanotechnology; the field would not exist without the phosphoramidite-based synthesis methodology developed by Caruthers and his colleagues. Fortunately, DNA synthesis has existed for about as long as needed by DNA nanotechnology: synthesis within laboratories or centralized facilities has been around since the 1980s; today it is possible to order all the DNA components needed for DNA nanotechnology, so long as they are free of complex modifications, i.e., so-called “vanilla” DNA. In addition, the biotechnology enterprise has generated demand for many variants on the theme of DNA (e.g., biotinylated molecules), and these molecules are also readily synthesized or purchased. The details of DNA base pairing. What about branched DNA? All of us know that A pairs with T and G pairs with C. That's how biology works. However, we are not talking about biology here. We are talking about making things out of DNA that do not form readily in biological systems. What problems arise in this case? What can go wrong, and why? Are there simple solutions to the issues that arise? To answer these questions we should examine the structure of DNA in more detail, and talk about the things DNA and its components can do, so as to be sure that we can get it to do what we want it to do. When we talk about A pairing with T and G pairing with C, we are talking about hydrogen bonded interactions.
Seven Reasons for Skepticism about the Technology Story of U.S. Wage Inequality

One of the most important economic developments over the past few decades has been the persistent increase in the inequality of economic outcomes. Though its rise has slowed over the past few years, family income inequality—the gap between the income of families at the bottom, middle, and top of the income distribution—was much greater in the late 1990s than at any other time in post-World War II America. Naturally, inquiring minds have turned to economists for an explanation of this expansion of inequality. Since labor earnings comprise the bulk of most families’ incomes, analysts have examined the causes of rising wage dispersion to understand what is driving inequality’s inexorable climb since the late 1970s.
Determinants of Mexican-Origin Dropout: The Roles of Mexican Latino/a Destinations and Immigrant Generation

Adolescents of Mexican origin have higher than average school dropout rates, but the risk of school non-enrollment among this subgroup varies substantially across geographic areas. This study conducts a multilevel logistic regression analysis of data from the 2005–2009 American Community Survey to evaluate whether spatial heterogeneity in school non-enrollment rates among Mexican-origin youth (n = 71,269) can be attributed to the histories of states and local areas as Mexican Latino/a receiving gateways. This study also determines whether the association between new destinations and school non-enrollment varies within the Mexican-origin population by nativity and duration of residence. Net of background controls, the risk of non-enrollment does not differ significantly between Mexican-origin youth living in states that are newer Mexican Latino/a gateways versus those in more established destinations, in part because Mexican-origin school non-enrollment rates are heterogeneous across newer destination states. At the more local Public Use Microdata Area level, however, Mexican-origin youth in newer gateways have a higher risk of non-enrollment than those in established destinations, revealing the importance of local-level contexts as venues for integration. The disparity in non-enrollment between Mexican-origin youth in new versus established destination PUMAs is apparent for all generational groups, but is widest among 1.25-generation adolescents who arrived in the country as teenagers, suggesting that local new destinations are particularly ill-equipped to deal with the educational needs of migrant newcomers.
A 64-Kb 0.37V 28nm 10T-SRAM with mixed-Vth read-port and boosted WL scheme for IoT applications

In low voltage SRAM for IoT application, although static noise margin (SNM) and write margin (WM) decide VMIN, Icell / Ioff ratio and Icell are also important in order to keep performance and achieve better operating efficiency. We propose a new mixed Vth RP design which can achieve better Icell and Icell / Ioff ratio. Furthermore, combination of the proposed mixed Vth and boosted read wordline (RWL) scheme improves the worst case bitline delay time by 72.3% at 0.45V. In the measurement results, we confirmed a minimum operating voltage (VMIN) for the 64 Kb SRAM of 0.370 V with 99% yield at room temperature.
Representing uniqueness constraints in object-relational mapping

Object-oriented languages model data as transient objects, while relational databases store data persistently using a relational data model. The process of making objects persistent by storing their state as relational tuples is called object-relational mapping (ORM). This process is nuanced and complex as there are many fundamental differences between the relational model and the object model. In this work we address the difficulties in representing entity identity and uniqueness consistently, efficiently, and succinctly in ORM. We introduce the natural entity framework, which: (1) provides a strong concept of value-based persistent object identity; (2) allows the programmer to simultaneously specify natural and surrogate key constraints consistently in the object and relational representations; (3) provides object constructors and initializers that disambiguate the semantics of persistent object creation and retrieval; and (4) automates the mapping of inheritance hierarchies that respect natural key constraints and allows for efficient polymorphic queries and associations.
Ensemble clustering for efficient robust optimization of naturally fractured reservoirs

In the development of naturally fractured reservoirs (NFRs), the existence of natural fractures induces severe fingering and breakthrough. To manage the flooding process and improve the ultimate recovery, we propose a numerical workflow to generate optimal production schedules for smart wells, in which the inflow control valve (ICV) settings can be controlled individually. To properly consider the uncertainty introduced by randomly distributed natural fractures, the robust optimization would require a large ensemble size and it would be computationally demanding. In this work, a hierarchical clustering method is proposed to select representative models for the robust optimization in order to avoid redundant simulation runs and improve the efficiency of the robust optimization. By reducing the full ensemble of models into a small subset ensemble, the efficiency of the robust optimization algorithm is significantly improved. The robust optimization is performed using the StoSAG scheme to find the optimal well controls that maximize the net-present-value (NPV) of the NFR’s development. Due to the discrete property of a natural fracture field, traditional feature extraction methods such as model-parameter-based clustering may not be directly applicable. Therefore, two different kinds of clustering-based optimization methods, a state-based (e.g., s w profiles) clustering and a response-based (e.g., production rates) clustering, are proposed and compared. The computational results show that the robust clustering optimization could increase the computational efficiency significantly without sacrificing much expected NPV of the robust optimization. Moreover, the performance of different clustering algorithms varies widely in correspondence to different selections of clustering features. By properly extracting model features, the clustered subset could adequately represent the uncertainty of the full ensemble.
Theoretical Maximum Efficiency for a Linearly Graded Alphavoltaic Nuclear Battery

This paper presents a study on the optimization of the amount of energy deposited by alpha particles in the depletion region of a silicon carbide (SiC) alphavoltaic cell using Monte Carlo models. T...
The Social Responsibility of Minority-Owned Small Business Companies:

Questionnaire data from the chief operating executives of 220 minority-owned small business companies showed significant differences in the number and type of social responsibility activities engag...
The Effects of Endotracheal Suctioning in the Pediatric Population: An Integrative Review.

Background Critically ill pediatric patients with endotracheal tubes routinely receive endotracheal tube suctioning to clear secretions and ensure tube patency. This common practice can result in adverse effects. Objectives The aim of this study was to evaluate the research literature on the stressors of endotracheal suctioning and consequent effect on the pediatric patient. Methods An integrative review was conducted using the Whittemore and Knafl modified framework for integrative reviews, and article selection was guided by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses flow diagram. A literature search was conducted via PubMed, the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, and Scopus. Selected articles were evaluated to present the current evidence on the stressors of endotracheal suctioning in the pediatric population. Results This review includes 14 articles, with a total of 849 patients, ranging in age from premature neonates to 17 years of age. The available literature aligned into 3 categories: neurovascular effects, respiratory systems effects, and pain related to endotracheal tube suctioning. Pain was the most prevalent category, with half of the studies using endotracheal suctioning as a painful procedure to validate pain assessment tools rather than examining the effect of suctioning. A majority of the studies (67%) were conducted in the premature neonate population. Children with congenital cardiac or pulmonary defects, genetic syndromes, or neurological injuries were frequently excluded. Conclusions Literature regarding the effects of endotracheal suctioning in children is limited. There are many extrapersonal, interpersonal, and intrapersonal stressors associated with endotracheal suctioning that merit future research.
The Inflammasome: Regulation of Nitric Oxide and Antimicrobial Host Defence

Nitric oxide (NO) is a gaseous signalling molecule that plays diverse physiological functions including antimicrobial host defence. During microbial infection, NO is synthesized by inducible NO synthase (iNOS), which is expressed by host immune cells through the recognition of microbial pattern molecules. Therefore, sensing pathogens or their pattern molecules by pattern recognition receptors (PRRs), which are located at the cell surface, endosomal and phagosomal compartment, or in the cytosol, is key in inducing iNOS and eliciting antimicrobial host defence. A group of cytosolic PRRs is involved in inducing NO and other antimicrobial molecules by forming a molecular complex called the inflammasome. Assembled inflammasomes activate inflammatory caspases, such as caspase-1 and caspase-11, which in turn process proinflammatory cytokines IL-1β and IL-18 into their mature forms and induce pyroptotic cell death. IL-1β and IL-18 play a central role in immunity against microbial infection through activation and recruitment of immune cells, induction of inflammatory molecules, and regulation of antimicrobial mediators including NO. Interestingly, NO can also regulate inflammasome activity in an autocrine and paracrine manner. Here, we discuss molecular mechanisms of inflammasome formation and the inflammasome-mediated regulation of host defence responses during microbial infections.
Models of Human Vascular Disease: Is There an Animal of La Mancha?

Cervantes comprendio que los modelos (tanto si son fisicos como si se trata de ensenanzas morales) solo son validos en la medida en que reflejan aquello que pretenden simular. Esta es la cuestion esencial que presentan Diego et al en el articulo publicado en REVISTA ESPANOLA DE CARDIOLOGIA. Los stents liberadores de farmacos han cambiado la practica de la medicina y son tal vez la intervencion mas comunmente utilizada en la actualidad. Cada ano se implantan millones de stents y, sin embargo, sigue habiendo dudas cruciales respecto a si un diseno es mejor que otro. La dificultad reside en gran parte en que, aunque los disenos de los dispositivos puedan ser notablemente diferentes entre si, la deteccion de una diferencia clinica resulta dificil, dada la muy baja frecuencia de los efectos secundarios. Los ensayos clinicos humanos son de un tamano demasiado pequeno y de una duracion demasiado breve para permitir la deteccion de diferencias incluso en los eventos mortales que se producen en 1 de cada 100 pacientes al ano. El recurso al que se acude de modo natural es los modelos en animales, aunque continua sin estar claro cual es la mejor manera de utilizarlos. Diego et al describen un estudio que compara la respuesta proliferativa desencadenada tras el despliegue de stents liberadores de paclitaxel y stents metalicos sin recubrimiento en arterias coronarias porcinas. Estos autores senalan que la capacidad de la estructura del stent para influir significativamente en la cicatrizacion vascular tardia depende del grado de lesion causado en el momento de la implantacion. Un resultado de este tipo tiene profundas repercusiones en la forma en que consideramos los modelos animales para las tecnologias cruciales, nuestra perspectiva sobre la biologia vascular y la reparacion vascular y nuestra apreciacion de la historia de los
Metabolic persistence of fetal hemoglobin

Hereditary persistence of fetal hemoglobin (HPFH) has typically been ascribed to mutations in the beta-globin gene cluster. Pharmacologic agents, including the short-chain fatty acid butyrate, have been shown to upregulate fetal and embryonic globin gene expression. In this report we investigate the possibility that metabolic derangements characterized by an inability to metabolize another short-chain fatty acid, propionate, could be associated with a persistence of fetal hemoglobin unrelated to alterations in the beta-globin cluster. Embryonic globin gene upregulation in a murine adult erythroid cell culture was shown by RNase protection after induction with three short-chain fatty acids (C2-C5). Chart reviews and measurement of fetal hemoglobin in five patients with abnormalities in propionate (C3) metabolism were undertaken; SSCP/dideoxy fingerprint analysis of the gamma-globin gene promoters was done in three of these five patients. Twelve patients with other metabolic derangements served as controls. Only the four patients with clinically severe abnormalities in propionate metabolism (ages 2 to 11), but without anemia, showed a sustained elevation in fetal hemoglobin (3% to 10%). The level of elevation of fetal hemoglobin in these patients, who lack erythropoietic stress, suggests that propionic acid and/or its metabolites are potent stimulators of fetal hemoglobin expression. Study of this group of patients should allow unique insights into the long-term effects of sustained exposure to elevations of short-chain fatty acid levels.
Visualization and analysis methods for comparing agent behavior in TAC SCM

We are targeting for analysis a complex, multi-agent, repeated market simulation in which agents compete to maximize overall profit over a finite time horizon. The Trading Agent Competition for Supply Chain Management (TAC SCM), which has been run annually as a tournament for five years, is designed to model realistic supply chain and market mechanisms. In this paper, we introduce our extensible analysis framework that can be used for posing and answering new questions related to understanding market mechanisms and agent behavior.