cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Archaeology of the Old Stone Mill in Newport, Rhode Island

The origin of the old stone tower in Newport has been an important problem in the ancient history of American archaeology for something over a century. The argument swirls around two questions. Who built the tower? When was it built? There are two possible answers to the first of these questions; the second question can readily be answered if the first can be solved. Either the tower was built by persons unknown at some time in the pre-Colonial period; or it was erected in Colonial times shortly before it is first mentioned in the documents. And there is a shortage of the documents on this problem until the development of the nineteenth century romanticism. Either there was no interest or there was no problem. Up to about 1800, moreover, a clear line of legal documents traced the structure as well as the land on which it stood as belonging to Governor Benedict Arnold. The legal documents are supported by strong local tradition that the building was a stone mill. Specifically, in 1677, three documents, including Arnold's own will, mentioned the tower, and for the next 100 years other mention is rare. Thus, at the outset, we see that the controversy over the origin of the tower is recent.
Augmentation mammaplasty: Subpectoral augmentation using the periareolar or inframammary approach

The last decade has witnessed a resurgence in the popularity of augmentation mammaplasty, becoming one of the most sought-after cosmetic surgery procedures. There are a wide range of options in implant characteristics and surgical technique. To provide the best possible results in each case, it is advisable to subscribe to a well-thought out preoperative evaluation of the patient, a consistent operative plan, and a thorough postoperative regimen. We describe the subpectoral placement of the implant using either a periareolar or inframammary approach; our preference is for smooth, round, saline-filled prostheses. The details surrounding the choices made and the consideration that must be given to the various elements involved are discussed. In addition, the advantages and disadvantages of this technique as it compares with others, as well as complications and methods of avoiding and treating them, are also evaluated. Augmentation mammaplasty remains a very satisfying procedure given the right indications, appropriate surgery, and uneventful postoperative course.
Early Cretaceous protist flagellates (Parabasalia: Hypermastigia: Oxymonada) of cockroaches (Insecta: Blattaria) in Burmese amber

Abstract Two Early Cretaceous Burmese amber cockroaches contained protists related to mutualistic flagellates occurring in extant Cryptocercus cockroaches and lower termites. The fossil protists are described as Devescovites proteus Poinar n. gen., n. sp. (Parabasalia: Trichomonadida: Devescovinidae), Paleotrichomones burmanicus Poinar n. gen., n. sp. (Parabasalia: Trichomonida), Burmanymphus cretacea Poinar n. gen., n. sp. (Hypermastigia: Trichonymphida: Burmanymphidae n. fam.) and Oxymonas gigantea Poinar, n. sp. Additional putative protists are also illustrated. Evolutionary implications of this discovery are discussed.
Stimulation of Cellular Proliferation by Hepatitis B Virus X Protein

Chronic infection with the hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a known risk factor in the development of human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The HBV-encoded X protein, HBx, has been investigated for properties that may explain its cancer cofactor role in transgenic mouse lines. We discuss here recent data showing that HBx is able to induce hepatocellular proliferation in vitro and in vivo. This property of HBx is predicted to sensitize hepatocytes to other HCC cofactors, including exposure to carcinogens and to other hepatitis viruses. Cellular proliferation is intimately linked to the mechanism(s) by which most tumor-associated viruses transform virus-infected cells. The HBx alteration of the cell cycle provides an additional mechanism by which chronic HBV infection may contribute to HCC.
Phosphoinositide-3-OH-kinase inhibitor LY294002 prevents activation of Ancylostoma caninum and Ancylostoma ceylanicum third-stage infective larvae

The developmentally arrested hookworm infective larva resumes development only after encountering specific host-mediated cues during invasion. These cues activate a signaling pathway that culminates in the resumption of development. In Ancylostoma caninum, activation is characterised by the resumption of feeding and the release of excretory/secretory products required for infection. The dauer stage of the free-living nematode Caenorhabditis elegans is a developmentally arrested stage analogous to the hookworm infective larva. Dauer larvae exit developmental arrest in response to environmental cues that indicate favorable conditions for reproduction and growth. Because of the similarity between dauer recovery and activation, exit from dauer provides a model for hookworm larval activation. An insulin-signaling pathway has been implicated in controlling exit from developmental arrest in both C. elegans dauers and A. caninum larvae. To further investigate the role of insulin signaling in hookworm larval activation, the phosphatidylinositol-3-OH kinase inhibitor LY294002 was tested for its effect on in vitro activation using the resumption of feeding as a marker for activation. LY294002 prevented feeding in A. caninum infective larvae stimulated with host serum filtrate and a glutathione-analogue, the muscarinic agonist arecoline, or the cell permeable cGMP-analogue 8-bromo-cGMP. Similar results were seen with the congeneric hookworm Ancylostoma ceylanicum. These data suggest that an insulin-signaling pathway mediates activation in hookworm larvae, as in C. elegans, and that the phosphatidylinositol-3-OH kinase inhibitor acts downstream of the cGMP and muscarinic signaling steps in the pathway. In A. caninum, LY294002 had no effect on the release of excretory/secretory products associated with activation, suggesting that the secretory pathway diverges from the activation pathway upstream of the phosphatidylinositol-3-OH kinase step. These results provide additional support for the insulin-signaling pathway as the primarily pathway for activation to parasitism in hookworm larvae.
Theoretical Calculations of the Scattering of π - Mesons by Complex Nuclei

The angular distributions of 80-Mev negative pions elastically scattered from Li, C, and Al have been analyzed on the basis of optical models by using I.B.M.-650 computers. It was not possible to fit the data with the usual ${V}_{1}+i{V}_{2}$ type model having either a square or diffuse edge and ${V}_{1}$ and $i{V}_{2}$ proportional to the nuclear density. A Kisslinger-type model, which takes better account of the $p$-wave nature of the basic $\ensuremath{\pi}$-nucleon scattering process, was also used with a modification to avoid a physically unreasonable behavior of the effective interaction. Using ${r}_{0}=1.08$ and a diffuseness parameter $a=0.25$ in a Saxon-type density distribution, good agreement with experimental data was obtained.
Direct and indirect effects of fetal irradiation on cortical gray and white matter volume in the macaque.

Background Schizophrenia is associated with reductions in thalamic neuronal number and cortical gray matter volume. Exposure of nonhuman primates to x-irradiation in early gestation has previously been shown to decrease thalamic volume and neuronal number. Here we examine whether early gestational irradiation also results in cortical volume reduction. Methods High-resolution, T1-weighted magnetic resonance scans were collected in adult monkeys 1) exposed to irradiation during the early gestational period (E33-E42) corresponding to thalamic neurogenesis, 2) irradiated in midgestation (E70-81) during neocortical neurogenesis, and 3) not exposed to irradiation. Cortical gray matter and white matter volumes were derived via manual segmentation; frontal and nonfrontal volumes were distinguished via sulcal landmarks. Results Monkeys irradiated in early gestation exhibited a trend reduction in nonfrontal gray matter volume (17%) and significant reductions in white matter volume in frontal (26%) and nonfrontal (36%) lobes. Monkeys irradiated in midgestation had smaller gray (frontal: 28%; nonfrontal: 22%) and white matter (frontal: 29%; nonfrontal: 38%) volumes. Conclusions The cortical deficits observed in midgestationally irradiated monkeys are consistent with a reduction in cortical neuronal number. Cortical volume reductions following early gestational irradiation may be secondary to reduced thalamic neuronal number and therefore model the thalamocortical pathology of schizophrenia.
Temporal lobe cortical thickness correlations differentiate the migraine brain from the healthy brain

Background Interregional cortical thickness correlations reflect underlying brain structural connectivity and functional connectivity. A few prior studies have shown that migraine is associated with atypical cortical brain structure and atypical functional connectivity amongst cortical regions that participate in sensory processing. However, the specific brain regions that most accurately differentiate the migraine brain from the healthy brain have yet to be determined. The aim of this study was to identify the brain regions that comprised interregional cortical thickness correlations that most differed between migraineurs and healthy controls. Methods This was a cross-sectional brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) investigation of 64 adults with migraine and 39 healthy control subjects recruited from tertiary-care medical centers and their surrounding communities. All subjects underwent structural brain MRI imaging on a 3T scanner. Cortical thickness was determined for 70 brain regions that cover the cerebral cortex and cortical thickness correlations amongst these regions were calculated. Cortical thickness correlations that best differentiated groups of six migraineurs from controls and vice versa were identified. Results A model containing 15 interregional cortical thickness correlations differentiated groups of migraineurs from healthy controls with high accuracy. The right temporal pole was involved in 13 of the 15 interregional correlations while the right middle temporal cortex was involved in the other two. Conclusions A model consisting of 15 interregional cortical thickness correlations accurately differentiates the brains of small groups of migraineurs from those of healthy controls. Correlations with the right temporal pole were highly represented in this classifier, suggesting that this region plays an important role in migraine pathophysiology.
Optimal electrode configuration for pectoral transvenous intplantable defibrillator without an active can

A new 83 cm3 implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) designed for pectoral implantation has been implanted most frequently using right ventricular and superior vena cava (RV-->SVC) electrodes; a patch electrode (RV-->patch + SVC) has been added when necessary to decrease the defibrillation threshold (DFT). The goal of this prospective study was to compare biphasic waveform DFTs for 3 electrode configurations: RV-->patch, RV-->SVC, and RV-->patch + SVC in 25 consecutive patients. The patch was positioned in a left retro-pectoral pocket, and the SVC electrode was positioned with the tip at the junction of the SVC and innominate vein. In the first 15 patients, all 3 electrode configurations were tested in random order; in the last 10 patients, only the RV-->patch and RV-->patch + SVC configurations were tested. In the first 15 patients, the stored-energy DFT for the RV-->SVC configuration (15.2 +/- 7.7 J) was higher (p patch configuration (11.3 +/- 6.2 J) and the RV-->patch + SVC configuration (10.0 +/- 5.8 J). For all 25 patients, the DFT was lower for the RV-->patch + SVC configuration (9.7 +/- 5.1 J) than for the RV-->patch configuration (12.4 +/- 6.6 J, p = 0.005). The pathway resistance was highest for the RV-->patch configuration (72 +/- 9 omega), lower for the RV-->SVC configuration (63 +/- 6 omega, p patch + SVC configuration (46 +/- 3 omega, p < 0.001).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Focal seizures induced by movement without sensory feedback mechanisms.

Abstract A 49-year-old right-handed female developed repeated tonic-clonic seizures involving only the left arm and face during an episode of non-ketotic hyperglycemia. These seizures were documented cinematographically and electrographically. They occurred spontaneously but could also be provoked by repeated movements of the left hand. A complete left brachial anesthetic block was produced, but a seizure could still be provoked by the patient attempting to move the left hand. The seizure was thought to originate from the right cerebral convexity near the Rolandic fissure and was found not to be dependent on peripheral sensory impulses.
Global warming : what does the science tell us?

Abstract Computer models predict that clear signs of the greenhouse effect should have appeared as a consequence of increases in greenhouse gases, equivalent to a 50% increase in carbon dioxide in the last 100 years. The predictions are contradicted by the climate record in nearly every important respect. Contrary to the models: 1. (1) the Northern Hemisphere has not warmed more than the Southern Hemisphere, 2. (2) high latitudes have not warmed more than low latitudes, and 3. (3) the U.S. has not shown the predicted warming trend, although this is the largest area in the world for which well-distributed, reliable records are available. Finally, all of the computations of the greenhouse effect show an accelerating increase in temperature in the 1980s, reflecting the rapid increase in greenhouse gases in recent years. However, measurements from orbiting satellites with a precision of 0.01 °C show no trend to higher temperatures in the 1980s.
Energetics and traditional agricultural systems: A review

Abstract Prospects for adequate supplies of both renewable and non-renewable energy sources will place severe constraints on the agricultural systems of low income nations. This review examines and evaluates the energetic approach as a methodology and policy tool for understanding and improving the energy use efficiency of traditional agricultural systems.
Procedure for concentration and conditioning of hybridoma cell culture medium for monoclonal antibody purification

Concentration and conditioning the hybridoma cell culture medium is an important step in the monoclonal antibody purification procedure. This report describes a frequent first-step concentration of the hybridoma cell culture medium and the conditioning of the concentrated medium for the affinity purification of the monoclonal antibodies.
A Brownian Motion Model for the Progress of Sports Scores

Abstract The difference between the home and visiting teams' scores in a sports contest is modeled as a Brownian motion process defined on t ∈ (0, 1), with drift μ points in favor of the home team and variance [sgrave]2. The model obtains a simple relationship between the home team's lead (or deficit) l at time t and the probability of victory for the home team. The model provides a good fit to the results of 493 professional basketball games from the 1991-1992 National Basketball Association (NBA) season. The model is applied to the progress of baseball scores, a process that would appear to be too discrete to be adequately modeled by the Brownian motion process. Surprisingly, the Brownian motion model matches previous calculations for baseball reasonably well.
Frau im Haus und Girl im Spiegel : Discourse on Women in the Interregnum Period of 1945–1949 and the Question of German Identity

Defeat after the Second World War was complete for Germany, and life for the civilian population was grim. In one of Erich Kastner's poems, read at a 1947 theater production, a war widow laments that “ganz Deutschland ist ein Wartesaal mit Millionen von Frauen.” Indeed, in 1945 there were approximately seven million more women in Germany than men. More than three million German soldiers were killed in the war. Seven million German soldiers were still prisoners of war, leaving their wives and families to fend for themselves in the rubble heaps of the German cities. Adding to the hardship of the rural areas were the twelve million refugees who had been expelled from the territories conquered by the Soviet army and then had streamed into the American and British zones of occupation to resettle. Defeated Germany was split into four zones of occupation ruled by military governments. German men who had been promised the conquest of the world returned from the war and found their treasured patriarchy undermined in the home and in the state.
Pulsed Electrical Discharges in Water: Can Non-volatile Compounds Diffuse into the Plasma Channel?

The objective of this research effort is to develop a more comprehensive understanding of how molecules get degraded in plasma during an electrical discharge in water. The study correlates the intensity of hydroxyl (OH) radicals in the plasma and physicochemical properties of aqueous solutions of methanol, ethanol, acetonitrile, acetone, dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), dimethyl formamide (DMF), phenol, hydroquinone, caffeine, and bisphenol A (BPA). To determine the tendency of the used compounds to penetrate the plasma, their vapor pressures, Henry’s constants, aqueous solubilities, reaction rate constants with OH radicals, and octanol–water partition coefficients are compared and correlated with plasma spectroscopic and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) measurements. OH radicals are precursors to the formation of hydrogen peroxide and any compound that diffuses into the plasma will react with and lower the intensity of OH radicals and therefore the concentration of hydrogen peroxide in the bulk liquid. Optical emission spectroscopy (OES) reveals that all the used compounds diffuse inside the plasma channel regardless of their vapor pressure where they get oxidized (primarily by OH radicals) and thermally degraded. Results also indicate that hydrophobicity (i.e., octanol–water partition coefficient) is the most important property that determines a compound’s tendency to diffuse inside the plasma channel; hydrophobic compounds readily penetrate the plasma whereas hydrophilic compounds tend to stay in the bulk liquid. The rate of formation of hydrogen peroxide is independent of the type of the compound present in the bulk liquid which confirms that this molecule is formed at the plasma interface.
Separation of concerns: overhead in modeling and efficient simulation techniques

Separating the description of important aspects of a design such as behavior and architecture, or computation and communication, may yield significant advantages in design time as well as in re-usability of the design. However, exploiting fully the re-usability opportunities offered by this approach implies to keep the various aspects of the design separated while verifying the design at a given level of abstraction. In particular, simulation of the design may undergo significant overhead versus a traditional approach where the design is represented and analyzed monolithically. In this paper, we present a few techniques that eliminate almost entirely the overhead while maintaining the positive aspects of the separation of concerns. Experimental results on a complex design back this assertion.
Supporting Written Expression in Secondary Students With a Series of Procedural Facilitators: A Pilot Study

Written expression is a critical component of the academic curriculum that is needed across content areas and grade levels. Despite the importance of writing, secondary students are struggling to write effectively across the phases of written expression, beginning with prewriting. This research sought to support students' written expression and sustain their written expression improvements by gradually reducing the amount of support provided by procedural facilitators. This study presented 3 procedural facilitators from the most to the least support to 54 eighth-grade students. Results indicated that the procedural facilitators significantly supported written expression. When the amount of support was gradually reduced, students maintained their improved written expression through posttest measures.
Two instruments to determine activated partial thromboplastin time: implications for heparin monitoring.

Study Objective. To measure the difference in therapeutic ranges of activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) between two laboratory devices. Design. Prospective, controlled laboratory study. Setting. University-affiliated hospital. Patients. Thirty inpatients receiving intravenous unfractionated heparin for treatment of myocardial infarction, unstable angina, deep venous thrombosis, or pulmonary embolism. Interventions. Therapeutic APTT ranges were determined by a portable (whole blood assay) and a central laboratory device (plasma assay) based on heparin serum concentrations. They were compared with APTT ranges equivalent to 1.5-2.5 times the mean normal determination. Measurements and Main Results. The central laboratory and portable devices produced therapeutic ranges of 61-93 and 56-73 seconds, respectively. Both differed from conventional therapeutic ratios of 1.5-2.5 times the mean normal (41-68 sec). Mean absolute APTT differences between instruments were statistically significant (12 ± 20 sec, p<0.006), and 58% of paired APTT values differed by more than 10 seconds. Conclusion. A fixed APTT ratio as a goal for monitoring unfractionated heparin may result in significant underanticoagulation. Individual therapeutic APTT ranges must be reported for each instrument if more than one is used for heparin monitoring.
SPSS macros for assessing the reliability and agreement of student evaluations of teaching

This article reports and demonstrates two SPSS macros for calculating Krippendorff’s alpha and intraclass reliability coefficients in repetitive situations where numerous coefficients are needed. Specifically, the reported SPSS macros were used to evaluate the interrater agreement and reliability of student evaluations of teaching in thousands of university course sections. The reported demonstration used 1086 course sections and found that students were frequently unable to attain acceptable levels of interrater reliability and agreement in their evaluations of faculty. Although the macros are not contained in the manuscript, a website is referenced where they can be downloaded free of charge.
Estimation of heavy-metal contamination in soil using reflectance spectroscopy and partial least-squares regression

Lead (Pb) poisoning from anthropogenic sources continues to threaten the health of urban children. Mapping Pb distribution on a large scale is imperative to identify hotspots and reduce Pb poisoning. To assess the feasibility of using reflectance spectroscopy to map soil Pb and other heavy metal abundance, the relationship between surface soil metal concentrations and hyperspectral reflectance measurements was examined via partial least-squares regression (PLSR) modelling. Soil samples were taken from four study sites. Metal concentrations were determined by inductively coupled plasma-atomic-emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) analysis, and reflectance was measured with an ASD (Analytical Spectral Devices) field spectrometer covering the spectral region of 350-2500 nm. Pb displayed an exponential decrease as a function of distance from the roadway, demonstrating the depositional patterns from leaded gas combustion which remain on the landscape 20 years after the phase-out of leaded gasoline. Calibration samples were used to derive the PLSR algorithm, and validation samples assessed the model's predictive ability. The correlation coefficients between the lab-determined abundance and the abundance predicted from PLSR calibration for all metals except copper were at or above 0.970, with the correlation coefficient for Pb the highest of all metals (0.992). Manganese, zinc and Pb had significant coefficients of determination (0.808, 0.760 and 0.746, respectively) for the validation samples. These results suggest that Pb and other heavy metal concentrations can be retrieved from spectral reflectance at high accuracy. Reflectance spectroscopy thus has potential to map the spatial distribution of Pb abundance with the aim of improving children's health in an urban environment.
Estradiol induces and progesterone inhibits the preovulatory surges of luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone in heifers.

Objectives were to determine: 1) whether estradiol, given via implants in amounts to stimulate a proestrus increase, induces preovulatory-like luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) surges; and 2) whether progesterone, given via infusion in amounts to simulate concentrations found in blood during the luteal phase of the estrous cycle, inhibits gonadotropin surges. All heifers were in the luteal phase of an estrous cycle when ovariectomized. Replacement therapy with estradiol and progesterone was started immediately after ovariectomy to mimic luteal phase concentrations of these steroids. Average estradiol (pg/ml) and progesterone (ng/ml) resulting from this replacement were 2.5 and 6.2 respectively; these values were similar (P greater than 0.05) to those on the day before ovariectomy (2.3 and 7.2, respectively). Nevertheless, basal concentrations of LH and FSH increased from 0.7 and 43 ng/ml before ovariectomy to 2.6 and 96 ng/ml, respectively, 24 h after ovariectomy. This may indicate that other ovarian factors are required to maintain low baselines of LH and FSH. Beginning 24 h after ovariectomy, replacement of steroids were adjusted as follows: 1) progesterone infusion was terminated and 2 additional estradiol implants were given every 12 h for 36 h (n = 5); 2) progesterone infusion was maintained and 2 additional estradiol implants were given every 12 h for 36 h (n = 3); or 3) progesterone infusion was terminated and 2 additional empty implants were given every 12 h for 36 h (n = 6). When estradiol implants were given every 12 h for 36 h, estradiol levels increased in plasma to 5 to 7 pg/ml, which resembles the increase in estradiol that occurs at proestrus. After ending progesterone infusion, levels of progesterone in plasma decreased to less than 1 ng/ml by 8 h. Preovulatory-like LH and FSH surges were induced only when progesterone infusion was stopped and additional estradiol implants were given. These surges were synchronous, occurring 61.8 +/- 0.4 h (mean +/- SE) after ending infusion of progesterone. We conclude that estradiol, at concentrations which simulate those found during proestrus, induces preovulatory-like LH and FSH surges in heifers and that progesterone, at concentrations found during the luteal phase of the estrous cycle, inhibits estradiol-induced gonadotropin surges. Furthermore, ovarian factors other than estradiol and progesterone may be required to maintain basal concentrations of LH and FSH in heifers.
Safety and biological activity of repeated doses of recombinant human Flt3 ligand in patients with bone scan-negative hormone-refractory prostate cancer.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the safety, biological activity, and feasibility of repeated doses of the dendritic cell (DC)-stimulating agent Flt3 ligand (FL) in patients with bone scan-negative hormone-refractory prostate cancer. Experimental Design: Thirty-one patients with hormone-refractory prostate cancer who had elevated prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels and negative bone scans were enrolled. Six cycles (28 days each) were planned. In the first cycle, patients were randomized to FL or placebo. All patients received open-label FL during the next five courses. DC, anti-FL antibody, and PSA levels were measured every 15 days to assess biological activity. Results: DCs increased markedly in FL-treated patients from precycle to day 15, and the increase was consistent in each cycle. Mean percentages of DCs in peripheral blood ranged from 1.4% to 1.9% precycle and from 10.1% to 13.9% on day 15, and after the first cycle, absolute counts on day 15 were approximately 29-fold higher than precycle levels. Natural killer cell counts (CD56 + ) were found to be elevated after cycle 1 (154% increase versus 2.8% decrease in placebo group at day 22). Twenty-two of 27 patients tested developed nonneutralizing anti-FL antibody. The most frequently experienced toxicity was injection site reaction, followed by asthenia, rash, and diarrhea. Although median PSA levels did not vary during any cycle, a significant slowing in velocity of PSA was observed while patients were on-study (relative velocity = 0.002) compared with prestudy PSA velocity (relative velocity = 0.007). Conclusions: FL was well tolerated. FL consistently produced an increase in DC count without any evidence of decreasing response with continued exposure. The expansion of DCs and the slowing of PSA velocity after administration of FL suggest potential clinical applications in the immunotherapy of prostate cancer.
A human H19 transgene exhibits impaired paternal-specific imprint acquisition and maintenance in mice

Genomic imprinting, the differential expression of autosomal genes based on their parent of origin, is observed in all eutherian mammals that have been examined. In most instances the genes that are imprinted in one species are imprinted in others as well, suggesting that imprinting predated eutherian radiation. For example, the RNA-coding H19 gene is repressed upon paternal inheritance in all species examined to date. Thus, it is surprising that there is remarkably little sequence conservation among the cis-acting DNA regulatory elements that are required for imprinting of H19 and the tightly linked Igf2 gene. The most conserved characteristic in the imprinting control region (ICR) is the presence of multiple binding sites for the zinc finger protein CTCF, raising the possibility that CTCF binding might be sufficient for the reciprocal imprinting of H19 and Igf2. To investigate whether a human H19 transgene, harboring seven CTCF sites, is correctly recognized and imprinted in the mouse, a 100 kb transgene containing the human H19 gene was introduced into the mouse germline. The human transgene was specifically methylated after passage through the male germline in a copy number-dependent manner, but the methylation was unstable, undergoing progressive loss during development. Consequently, the transgene was highly expressed upon both maternal and paternal inheritance. These results argue that the signals for both the acquisition and maintenance of methylation imprinting are diverging rapidly.
Optical actuation of a bistable MEMS

This paper presents an optical actuation scheme for MEMS devices based on the well-established fact that light possesses momentum, and hence, imparts a force equal to 2 W/c when reflected by a surface. Here, W is the total power of the reflected light, and c is the speed of light. Radiation pressure, as it is known, is nearly insignificant for most macroscale applications, but it can be quite significant for MEMS devices. In addition, light actuation offers a new paradigm. First, intersecting light beams do not interfere, in contrast to electrical conductors, which short when they come into contact. Second, light can operate in high temperature and high radiation environments far outside the capability of solid state electronic components. This actuation method is demonstrated, both in air and in vacuum, by switching the state of a bistable MEMS device. The associated heat transfer model is also presented.
Beiträge zur Chemie der SiN‐Bindung, IV. Zur Reaktion von Isocyanat mit cyclischen Silazanen

Hexamethylcyclotri- und Octamethylcyclotetrasilazan reagieren mit Isocyanaten zu Derivaten des 1.1-Dimethyl-1-sila-2.4.6-triaza-cyclohexandions-(3.5). Der Reaktionsmechanismus wird diskutiert.
Highly Porous Silicon Membranes Fabricated from Silicon Nitride/Silicon Stacks

Nanopore formation in silicon films has previously been demonstrated using rapid thermal crystallization of ultrathin (15 nm) amorphous Si films sandwiched between nm-thick SiO2 layers. In this work, the silicon dioxide barrier layers are replaced with silicon nitride, resulting in nanoporous silicon films with unprecedented pore density and novel morphology. Four different thin film stack systems including silicon nitride/silicon/silicon nitride (NSN), silicon dioxide/silicon/silicon nitride (OSN), silicon nitride/silicon/silicon dioxide (NSO), and silicon dioxide/silicon/silicon dioxide (OSO) are tested under different annealing temperatures. Generally the pore size, pore density, and porosity positively correlate with the annealing temperature for all four systems. The NSN system yields substantially higher porosity and pore density than the OSO system, with the OSN and NSO stack characteristics fallings between these extremes. The higher porosity of the Si membrane in the NSN stack is primarily due to the pore formation enhancement in the Si film. It is hypothesized that this could result from the interfacial energy difference between the silicon/silicon nitride and silicon/silicon dioxide, which influences the Si crystallization process.
Peroxisome Proliferators and Receptor-Mediated Hepatic Carcinogenesis:

The peroxisome proliferators represent an important group of hepatic carcinogens in rodents that act via the nuclear receptor PPARα. The primary role of PPARα in mediating this response had led to the further characterization of potential events downstream that likely enable the carcinogenic response, including increased peroxisomal fatty acid beta oxidation and the modulation of hepatocellular replication and death, either generally or in preneoplastic lesions. A cooperative role of Kupffer cell activation has been proposed to function in the modulation of hepatocellular proliferation in rodent liver by peroxisome proliferators, but data that confirm or refute this proposal are mixed. Presently there is no evidence that links the Kupffer cell activation by peroxisome proliferators directly to the development of liver tumors. There are marked species differences in susceptibility to peroxisomal proliferation, and active investigation concerning the molecular basis of these differences continues.
Takotsubo cardiomyopathy associated with cardiac arrest following cardiac surgery: new variants of an unusual syndrome.

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy is increasingly being recognized in the perioperative period. To date, there have been only three previous cases involving cardiac surgery reported and this represents the fourth case. The precise mechanism remains elusive, and there is no definitive management strategy. It appears that the syndromes course in cardiac surgical patients is self-limited. This syndrome must now be considered in the differential diagnosis of postcardiotomy cardiac failure. (J Card Surg 2010;25:679-683)
Amino acid and carbohydrate preferences in C57BL/6ByJ and 129P3/J mice

Compared with mice from the 129P3/J (129) inbred strain, mice from the C57BL/6ByJ (B6) inbred strain have higher consumption of several sweet-tasting amino acids and carbohydrates. To examine the relative contribution of taste and nutritive properties in these strain differences, we measured responses of B6 and 129 mice to eight sweet and non-sweet amino acids and carbohydrates in two-bottle preference tests with water. Mice from the two strains did not differ in consumption of non-sweet l-valine and l-histidine. Compared with 129 mice, B6 mice had higher consumption and lower preference thresholds for sweet amino acids l-glutamine, l-alanine and l-threonine, monosaccharides glucose and fructose, and maltooligosaccharide. These data suggest that differences in gustatory responsiveness are an important factor underlying higher consumption of some amino acids and carbohydrates by B6 mice compared with 129 mice. It is likely that in B6 mice, higher sweet taste responsiveness results in increased consumption of sweet-tasting amino acids and sugars, and higher taste responsiveness to complex carbohydrates results in increased consumption of maltooligosaccharide. However, postingestive processes also influence nutrient consumption and may be responsible for higher intake of carbohydrates compared with sweet-tasting amino acids. Results of this study set the stage for genetic analysis of differences between B6 and 129 mice in taste responsiveness and macronutrient consumption.
Older Adults’ Expectations to Move: Do They Predict Actual Community-Based or Nursing Facility Moves Within 2 Years?

Objectives: This study examined the relationship between older adults’ expectations to move and actual residential relocation in the community or to a nursing facility within 2 years. Method: Two waves of data (2000, 2002) from the Health and Retirement Study were used to compare expectations with subsequent moves. Logistic regression techniques were used to analyze the association between decision outcomes and expectations to move, health and functioning, physical environment, informal supports, and formal services. Results: Findings indicated that expectations to move did predict community-based moves but did not predict moves to nursing facilities. Additional factors had significant effects but did not diminish relationships between expectations and actual moves. Discussion: Results support the residential decision process as a dynamic one based on the cumulative effect of factors from an ecological model. Findings will inform policy makers and practitioners as they work to support older adults’ prefer...
Synthesis of log-domain filters from first-order building blocks

Log-domain filters are an important class of current-mode circuits having large-signal linearity and increased tuning range over voltage-mode filter circuits of similar complexity. In this paper we describe synthesis of a single-ended, first-order filter circuit from static and dynamic translinear circuit principles, and show how higher-order filters can be easily constructed from the first-order building block. We address additional issues related to low-frequency (audio-frequency) filter design and present results measured from test circuits and a complete 15-channel filterbank system fabricated in 2 μm and 1.2 μm BiCMOS processes.
Back scattering at high frequencies from a conducting cylinder with dielectric sleeve

The computational difficulties connected with the problem of high-frequency back scattering from a conducting cylinder with dielectric sleeve arise from the slow convergence of the conventional Fourier representation of the field and are compounded by the involved nature of its Fourier coefficients. In addition, the numerical results give no physical insight into the complicated structure of the back-scattering functions. An alternative representation of the diffracted amplitude as a series of radial eigenfunctions has the advantage of rapid convergence at high frequencies but presents difficulties of its own since one must find not only the complex coefficients of the expansion but also the complex indices for which the coefficients are to be evaluated. Some of these difficulties can be avoided by transforming the radial representation into a sum of terms, one of which is a well-known form of the diffracted amplitude from a conducting cylinder whose radius is the same as the outer radius of the dielectric sleeve. The second term, which contains the effect of the sleeve, turns out conveniently to be an infinite integral over a real variable. An expansion of its integrand leads to a series of terms which are analogous to optical rays. When the over-all cylinder radius is large, each of these terms has a stationary phase approximant over a certain range of dielectric thickness and relative dielectric constant. Only over this range does the corresponding ray contribute to the back-scattered amplitude. The detailed evaluation of three of these integrals gives results which account for some of the features of the back-scattering functions.
Enhancement of Adaptive Immunity to Neisseria gonorrhoeae by Local Intravaginal Administration of Microencapsulated Interleukin 12

Gonorrhea remains one of the most frequent infectious diseases, and Neisseria gonorrhoeae is emerging as resistant to most available antibiotics, yet it does not induce a state of specific protective immunity against reinfection. Our recent studies have demonstrated that N. gonorrhoeae proactively suppresses host T-helper (Th) 1/Th2-mediated adaptive immune responses, which can be manipulated to generate protective immunity. Here we show that intravaginally administered interleukin 12 (IL-12) encapsulated in sustained-release polymer microspheres significantly enhanced both Th1 and humoral immune responses in a mouse model of genital gonococcal infection. Treatment of mice with IL-12 microspheres during gonococcal challenge led to faster clearance of infection and induced resistance to reinfection, with the generation of gonococcus-specific circulating immunoglobulin G and vaginal immunoglobulin A and G antibodies. These results suggest that local administration of microencapsulated IL-12 can serve as a novel therapeutic and prophylactic strategy against gonorrhea, with implications for the development of an effective vaccine.
Three dimensional dimple contact technology for lower contact resistance

A three dimensional dimple contact was formed by silicon etching at the bottom of the contact hole. Contact size examined were around sub-half micron. Side wall of high temperature oxide film, which has perfect stepcoverage, were used to form the sub-half micron contacts. In these dimples, arsenic ions were implanted 60 keV with a 15 degree beam tilt in order to make uniform n+diffusion layer along the silicon surface. Process conditions, ion implantation and annealing, were controlled with computer simulations. Blanket tungsten process with Ti/TiN barriers was used for filling the deep contact holes. Low contact resistance of fine contact hole with dimple was demonstrated, compared with the contact resistance of conventional contact. This three dimensional dimple contact has been found to be the one technology for lower contact resistance. >
(S)‐N,N‐Dimethyl‐N′‐(1‐tert‐Butoxy‐3‐Methyl‐2‐Butyl)Formamidine

(E)-(S) [114318-94-4] C12H26N2O (MW 214.40) InChI = 1S/C12H26N2O/c1-10(2)11(13-9-14(6)7)8-15-12(3,4)5/h9-11H,8H2,1-7H3/b13-9+ InChIKey = RANMPCGRQHZTKK-UKTHLTGXSA-N (S) [66919-83-3] InChI = 1S/C12H26N2O/c1-10(2)11(13-9-14(6)7)8-15-12(3,4)5/h9-11H,8H2,1-7H3/t11-/m1/s1 InChIKey = RANMPCGRQHZTKK-LLVKDONJSA-N (R) [90482-06-7] InChI = 1S/C12H26N2O/c1-10(2)11(13-9-14(6)7)8-15-12(3,4)5/h9-11H,8H2,1-7H3/t11-/m0/s1 InChIKey = RANMPCGRQHZTKK-NSHDSACASA-N (chiral auxiliary for derivatization, directed lithiation, and asymmetric alkylation adjacent to nitrogen of benzylic or allylic secondary amines by formamidine exchange, metalation, alkylation, and hydrolysis1, 2) Physical Data: bp 55–65 °C/0.05 mmHg; [α]D −59.6° (c 3.5, EtOH).2 Preparative Methods: easily prepared from (S)-valinol in a high yielding four-step procedure (eq 1).2 Other chiral formamidines can be prepared and used successfully in the methodology outlined here (eq 2).2, 3 (1) (2) Handling, Storage, and Precautions: store under argon at rt; use in a fume hood.
Dynamic IPC/clock rate optimization

Current microprocessor designs set the functionality and clock rate of the chip at design time based on the configuration that achieves the best overall performance over a range of target applications. The result may be poor performance when running applications whose requirements are not well-matched to the particular hardware organization chosen. We present a new approach called Complexity-Adaptive Processors (CAPs) in which the IPC/clock rate tradeoff can be altered at runtime to dynamically match the changing requirements of the instruction stream. By exploiting repeater methodologies used increasingly in deep sub-micron designs, CAPs achieve this flexibility with potentially no cycle time impact compared to a fixed architecture. Our preliminary results in applying this approach to on-chip caches and instruction queues indicate that CAPs have the potential to significantly outperform conventional approaches on workloads containing both general-purpose and scientific applications.
Obesity surgery and malignancy: our experience after 1500 cases.

Abstract Background Obesity is a risk factor for cancer and is associated with increased mortality from a number of malignancies. We describe our experience with bariatric surgery patients with a history of malignancy and review the safety and outcomes of bariatric surgery in patients with a history of cancer. Methods We performed a retrospective review of prospectively collected data from all patients diagnosed with a malignancy before, during, or after bariatric surgery. Data on weight loss, co-morbidities, and recurrence were collected. Results From July 1999 to February 2008, 1566 patients underwent bariatric surgery. Of these 1566 patients, 36 (2.3%) had a history of malignancy before they underwent bariatric evaluation and surgery, 4 (0.26%) were diagnosed with a malignancy during their preoperative evaluation, 2 of whom subsequently underwent bariatric surgery, and 2 had intraoperative findings suspicious for malignancy; bariatric surgery was completed in both cases. The evaluation revealed renal cell carcinoma and low-grade lymphoma, respectively. No procedures were aborted because of a suspicion of malignancy. Postoperatively, 16 patients (0.9%) were diagnosed with cancer, 3 of whom had a history of malignancy: 1 with metastatic renal cell, 1 with recurrent melanoma, and 1, who had had prostate cancer, with bladder cancer. Conclusion A history of malignancy does not appear to be a contraindication for bariatric surgery as long as the life expectancy is reasonable. Screening for bariatric surgery might reveal the malignancy. Bariatric surgery does not seem to have a negative effect on the treatment of malignancies that are discovered in the postoperative period.
Complete Genome Sequence and Methylome of Staphylococcus schleiferi, an Important Cause of Skin and Ear Infections in Veterinary Medicine

ABSTRACT Staphylococcus schleiferi, a Gram-positive and coagulase-variable organism, is an opportunistic human pathogen and a major cause of skin and soft tissue infections in dogs. Here, we report the first S. schleiferi genome sequence and methylome from four canine clinical isolates.
Experimental oxygen potentials for U1−yPryO2±x and thermodynamic assessment of the U-Pr-O system

Abstract Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) was used to determine the oxygen potentials of fluorite urania-praseodymia (U1−yPryO2±x) solid solutions for y = 0.10 and 0.20 between 1000 and 1500 °C. A thermodynamic assessment of U-Pr-O system was performed using the CALPHAD (CALculation of PHAse Diagrams) method. The models well reproduce the TGA measurements and the computed phase relations are in good agreement with those proposed from an X-ray diffraction investigation.
Catching Bandits and Only Bandits: Privacy-Preserving Intersection Warrants for Lawful Surveillance

Motivated in part by the Snowden revelations, we address the question of whether intelligence and lawenforcement agencies can gather actionable, relevant information about unknown electronic targets without conducting dragnet surveillance. We formulate principles that we believe effective, lawful surveillance protocols should adhere to in an era of big data and global communication networks. We then focus on intersection of cell-tower dumps, a specific surveillance operation that the FBI has used effectively. As a case study, we present a system that computes such intersections in a privacypreserving, accountable fashion. Preliminary experiments indicate that such a system could be efficient and usable, suggesting that privacy and accountability need not be barriers to effective intelligence gathering.