cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effects of intraword and interword spacing on eye movements during reading: Exploring the optimal use of space in a line of text

Two eye movement experiments investigated intraword spacing (the space between letters within words) and interword spacing (the space between words) to explore the influence these variables have on eye movement control during reading. Both variables are important factors in determining the optimal use of space in a line of text, and fonts differ widely in how they employ these spaces. Prior research suggests that the proximity of flanking letters influences the identification of a central letter via lateral inhibition or crowding. If so, decrements in intraword spacing may produce inhibition in word processing. Still other research suggests that increases in intraword spacing can disrupt the integrity of word units. In English, interword spacing has a large influence on word segmentation and is important for saccade target selection. The results indicate an interplay between intra- and interword spacing that influences a font's readability. Additionally, these studies highlight the importance of word segmentation processes and have implications for the nature of lexical processing (serial vs. parallel).
Mechanistic Studies of Gold and Palladium Cooperative Dual-Catalytic Cross-Coupling Systems.

Double-label crossover, modified substrate, and catalyst comparison experiments in the gold and palladium dual-catalytic rearrangement/cross-coupling of allenoates were performed in order to probe the mechanism of this reaction. The results are consistent with a cooperative catalysis mechanism whereby (1) gold activates the substrate prior to oxidative addition by palladium, (2) gold acts as a carbophilic rather than oxophilic Lewis acid, (3) competing olefin isomerization is avoided, (4) gold participates beyond the first turnover and therefore does not serve simply to generate the active palladium catalyst, and (5) single-electron transfer is not involved. These experiments further demonstrate that the cooperativity of both gold and palladium in the reaction is essential because significantly lower to zero conversion is achieved with either metal alone in comparison studies that examined multiple potential gold, palladium, and silver catalysts and precatalysts. Notably, employment of the optimized cocat...
The Estimation of Enterprise's Human Capital Operation

In a knowledge-based economy, employees are considered to be a primary component for attaining a competitive advantage. Human capital has the potential to be key part of overall firm strategy. Enterprise's human capital operation focuses on the forming, prompting & restriction, collocating and flowing of human capital, and the prompting & restriction of human capital is the main body of the operation. From the view of investment, the effect of enterprise's human capital operation depends on prompting & restriction that bring the benefit and risk to the enterprise. Hence, the criterion system of enterprise's human capital operation is put forward based on the principal component analysis. With the help of SPSS, a practice case is analyzed using this method. The result indicates that the method is effective.
Respiratory Viruses Induce Production of Histamine-Releasing Factor by Mononuclear Leukocytes: A Possible Role in the Mechanism of Virus-Induced Asthma

Histamine-releasing factor (HRF) is a cytokine produced by mononuclear leukocytes when stimulated with antigens or mitogens. HRF is capable of inducing degranulation of basophils and release of histamine. To determine if respiratory viruses can induce HRF production, mononuclear leukocytes from healthy adult donors were exposed to influenza or respiratory syncytial virus in vitro. HRF activity was tested by culturing the supernatants with fresh peripheral blood leukocytes and measuring the percentage of histamine released. Significant enhancement in histamine release was found in both virus groups compared with that of media controls. Thus, mononuclear leukocytes from normal individuals produce HRF in response to exposure to respiratory viruses, suggesting that this cytokine, which causes basophil degranulation, may play a role in the mechanism of virus-induced bronchospasm.
A new pattern for flexible worker threads with in-place consumption message queues

We present a new pattern for implementing worker threads that is more flexible than traditional patterns. Traditional worker threads receive command messages with enumerated IDs that refer to pre-defined behaviors. In our new pattern, worker threads receive function pointers, and they have only one behavior: invoke the function. In this way, new behaviors can be passed in to the thread at run-time rather than having to be pre-defined. In addition, we present in-place consumption as an improvement for command message queues that reduces the number of times data needs to be copied.
The haplo-spliceo-transcriptome: common variations in alternative splicing in the human population

Numerous inherited human genetic disorders are caused by defects in pre-mRNA splicing. Two recent studies have added a new twist to the link between genetic variation and pre-mRNA splicing by identifying SNPs that correlate with heritable changes in alternative splicing but do not cause disease. This suggests that allele-specific alternative splicing is a mechanism that accounts for individual variation in the human population.
Availability, Storage, Treatment, Composition, and Feeding Value of Surplus Colostrum: A Review,

Abstract Bovine colostrum imparts passive immunity to newborn calves during the first 24 h of life and generally has been fed for the first 3 days after birth. Surplus colostrum is unmarketable and available in quantities sufficient to feed heifer calves through 28 to 35 days of age. Colostrum can be preserved conveniently for future use by brief refrigeration, freezing, or storage at ambient temperatures (fermentation or chemical treatment). Freezing results in virtually no loss of nutrients during storage but requires a freezer, extra handling, and daily thawing of required colostrum. Storage via fermentation or chemical treatment results in changes in physical characteristics, unavoidable nutrient losses, and occasional acceptability problems but is convenient and economical. Chemical preservatives are recommended for storage at warm temperatures. During storage at ambient temperatures, pH decreases as acidity increases, and total solids, protein, fat, and lactose contents of colostrum decrease. Total microbial numbers increase rapidly with initiation of fermentation, then level off or decline. Mold and yeast numbers continue to rise throughout storage. Some chemical additives are effective in stopping coliform growth or limiting mold and yeast growth. Colostrum can replace more than an equal weight of whole milk in calf-feeding programs due to its higher solids content. When colostrum is fed on an equal solids basis with whole milk, differences in calf performance are minimal. Colostrum generally does not cause scouring problems in calves. Maximal use of colostrum in calf-feeding programs is recommended.
Approximate method of predicting heating on the windward side of Space Shuttle Orbiter and comparisons with flight data

An approximate method is developed for predicting laminar and turbulent heating rates on the windward side of the Space Shuttle Orbiter for both the wind-tunnel and flight environments. The method is based on a 'local infinite swept cylinder' analysis and includes both equilibrium-air chemistry and variable boundary-layer-edge entropy. The method is validated by comparing with data from wind-tunnel experiments and from the first and second Space Shuttle flights both along the windward-symmetry plane and in a lateral direction off the symmetry plane. Agreement with the flight data is good from approximately 67 km (peak heating) downward.
Duration of ATP reduction affects extent of CA1 cell death in rat models of fluid percussion injury combined with secondary ischemia

Secondary ischemia (SI) following traumatic brain injury (TBI) increases damage to the brain in both animals and humans. The current study determined if SI after TBI alters the extent or duration of reduced energy production within the first 24 h post-injury and hippocampal cell loss at one week post-injury. Adult male rats were subjected to sham injury, lateral (LFPI) or central fluid percussion injury (CFPI) only, or to combined LFPI or CFPI with SI. The SI was 8 min of bilateral forebrain ischemia combined with hemorrhagic hypotension, applied at 1 h following FPI. After LFPI alone adenosine triphosphate (ATP) levels within the ipsilateral CA1 were reduced at 2 h (p<0.05) and subsequently recovered. After LFPI+SI the ATP reductions in CA1 ipsilateral to FPI persisted for 24 h (p<0.01). ATP levels in the contralateral CA1 were not affected by LFPI alone or LFPI+SI. After CFPI alone CA1 ATP levels were depressed bilaterally only at 2 h (p<0.01). Similar to the LFPI paradigm, CFPI+SI reduced ATP levels for 24 h (p<0.01), with bilateral ATP reductions seen after CFPI+SI. Cell counts in the CA1 region at 7 days post-injury revealed no significant neuronal cell loss after LFPI or CFPI alone. Significant neuronal cell loss was present only within the ipsilateral (p<0.001) CA1 after LFPI+SI, but cell loss was bilateral (p<0.001) after CFPI+SI. Thus, SI prolongs ATP reductions induced by LFPI and CFPI within the CA1 region and this SI-induced energy reduction appears to adversely affect regional neuronal viability.
PLATELET‐VESSEL‐WALL INTERACTIONS: EXPERIENCES WITH VON WILLEBRAND PLATELETS*

Adhesion of platelets from 15 patients with von Willebrand's disease was tested in an ex vivo human umbilical vein model. Experiments employed umbilical veins still in their umbilical cords taken from patients undergoing cesarean section and platelets (fetal, adult and vW) either apyrase-washed or used as platelet-rich plasma or whole blood. F VIII R:Ag, F VIII:Rcof, and F VIII:C were measured in initial fresh plasma and in effluents from the umbilical vein segments. F VIII:Rcof increased in most perfusates. Binding of latex-linked specific antihuman F VIII R:Ag demonstrated that F VIII R:Ag existed on subendothelium and on injured endothelial cells. Scanning electron microscopy three-dimensionally displayed vW platelet--vessel-wall interactions. Although vW platelets adhered to injured vein, both qualitative and quantitative differences existed in comparison with adhesion of normal platelets. The differences correlated best with the plasma F VIII:Rcof level. The best adhesion shown by vW platelets was only 51 percent of the adhesion of control fetal or adult platelets. vW platelets had less surface activity, fewer pseudopods, and little ability to spread and pave the exposed subendothelium. Pretreatment of the vein with F VIII R:Ag antibody partly blocked adhesion. Coperfusion of cryoprecipitate with vW platelets improved their adhesivity, state of activation on subendothelium, and ability to form aggregates. ABO differences in blood cell types of fetal material and platelet donors seemed without effect, which further establishes this model's validity for studies of platelet dysfunction and platelet or endothelial reactive agents.
A fluorometric determination of iodide ion

Abstract A very selective, simple, sensitive fluorometric method for the determination of iodide ion was developed. The method is based on iodide quenching the fluorescence of an uranyl acetate solution. The fluorescence is measured at 520 mμ. A nearly linear calibration curve is obtained for 2 to 20 μg of iodide ion.
A first-order transition in the charge-induced conformational changes of polymers

Analytical mean-field theories and lattice model simulations have been used to study the charge-induced conformational changes of single polymer molecules. The compact-to-extended transition induced by charge is found to be first-order (i.e., two-state transition with a transition state) in the presence of strong short-range interactions at low temperatures. Short-range interactions decay much faster than electrostatic energy so expansion below a minimal value cannot produce electrostatic compensation for short-range energy loss. This is the origin of a free energy barrier (transition state) between the compact and the extended states. If the short-range interactions are weak in comparison with attractive and repulsive Coulomb interactions, the transition is expected to be second-order (one-state transition without a transition state). The prediction is compared to the computer simulation of the exhaustive enumeration of all 12-mer cubic lattice polymer conformations using different potentials, and qualitative agreement is found. Implications for protein folding and unfolding are discussed.
Priority: Home! A true priority? An analysis of the Federal Plan to Break the Cycle of Homelessness

Homelessness pervades every fabric of American society: it has plagued individuals and families, young and old, males and females. This paper analyzes and discusses the feasibility of a current proposal, Priority: Home? The Federal Plan to Break the Cycle of Homelessness, and the intended effects of its policies pertaining to the homeless. Specifically, the plan outlines the need for a continuum of care, a concept which promotes three stages to attain self-sufficiency: emergency shelter, transitional housing, and permanent housing. Providing support services and follow-up care are contingent on the success of the continuum. The plan therefore describes a comprehensive solution to address homelessness and requires that all levels of government participate in the process.
Organically Pillared Micro- and Mesoporous Materials

There is currently a great deal of research activity dealing with the synthesis and characterization of inorganic micro- and mesoporous materials. This activity not only stems from their possible use as sorbents, catalysts, molecular sieves, and related applications but also is due to fascination for their varied forms and novel structures. A somewhat promising but less thoroughly investigated topic is that of organically pillared layered compounds where the pillars are covalently bonded to the layers. These compounds are the cross-linked metal phosphonates of the type Mz+4/z(O3P−R−PO3), where R is an alkyl or aryl group. Because of the great variety of R groups containing different functional groups that can be used, these compounds have great potential utility. That this has not been realized is mainly due to the inability to control the pore sizes. The chemistry of this group of compounds will be reviewed and the prognosis for the future indicated.
“At First I Just Said ‘I Like Girls’”: Coming Out With an Affinity, Not an Identity

Contemporary youth are increasingly engaging in coming out prior to the formation of concrete sexual identities. They are coming out with an “affinity:” affirming to themselves and expressing to others that “I like girls” or “I like boys.” This study centers on the experiences of 13 individuals who all came out with an affinity, not a sexual identity. Participants who came out with an affinity did so either as a personal/political strategy or because they perceived coming out with an affinity to be a less risky way to express sexual difference in a heteronormative society.
Incorporating transient storage in conjunctive stream–aquifer modeling

Abstract There has been growing interest in incorporating the transient storage effect into modeling solute transport in streams. In particular, for a smaller mountain stream where flow is fast and the flow field is irregular (a favorable environment to induce dead zones along the stream), long tails are normally observed in the stream tracer data, and adding transient storage terms in the advection–dispersion transport equation can result in more accurate simulation. While previous studies on transient storage modeling account for temporary, localized exchange between the stream and the shallow groundwater in the hyporheic zone, larger-scale exchange with the groundwater in the underlying aquifer has rarely been included or properly coupled to surface water modeling. In this paper, we complement previous modeling efforts by incorporating the transient storage concept in a conjunctive stream–aquifer model. Three well-documented and widely used USGS models have been coupled to form the core of this conjunctive model: MODFLOW handles the groundwater flow in the aquifer; DAFLOW accurately computes unsteady streamflow by means of the diffusive wave routing technique, as well as stream–aquifer exchange simulated as streambed leakage; and MOC3D computes solute transport in the groundwater zone. In addition, an explicit finite difference package was developed to incorporate the one-dimensional transient storage equations for solute transport in streams. The quadratic upstream interpolation (QUICK) algorithm is employed to improve the accuracy of spatial differencing. An adaptive stepsize control algorithm for the Runge–Kutta method is incorporated to increase overall model efficiency. Results show that the conjunctive stream–aquifer model with transient storage can handle well the bank storage effect under a flooding event. When it is applied over a stream network, the results also show that the stream–aquifer interaction acts as a strong source or sink along the stream and is too significant to be ignored. The adaptive stepsize control for stream solute transport improves overall model performance.
An element error indicator and a related stress-improvement procedure

A posteriori error indicators for strain energy error in finite-element solutions have recently been shown to be effective. A popular error indicator, usually denoted by η, makes use of ‘error energy’, i.e. strain energy associated with the difference between the conventional element stresses σ and a smoothed stress field constructed from σ. It is intended that η be constructed by summing element contributions and that it be applied at the global level. The present study suggests that an error indicator applicable at the element level can be obtained by combining an element value of η with information about stress gradient and strain energy density. It is also shown how the stress gradient information can be used to obtain more accurate stresses at mesh boundaries.
A study of surface tension of the interaction between two polyoxyethylene alkylamine surfactants and two acid dyes

Abstract By the addition of acid dye to an aqueous solution of polyoxyethylene alkylamine (AmEO), a significant decrease in surface tension at lower concentrations of AmEO was observed. This observed behavior was in marked contrast to the results obtained from the interaction of polyoxyethylene alkylphenyl ether or polyoxyethylene alcohol ether (AlcEO) with acid dye, in which the values for the AlcEO solutions containing the dye were higher than those for the corresponding concentrations of AlcEO alone. Such a behavior in the AmEO-acid dye interaction system was interpreted as indicating the formation of hydrophobic complexes which were adsorbed to the surface of the solution.
Purification, Size, and Morphology of a Mosquito-Borne Animal Virus, Semliki Forest Virus.

Abstract A plaque assay procedure for Semliki Forest virus (SFV) with an efficiency close to 100% has been described. A concentrated SFV preparation of about 97% purity has been obtained from infected suckling mouse brains by a combination of centrifugations and protamine sulfate treatment. The purification procedure results in an increase of more than 1.5 × 10 5 -fold in ability to agglutinate goose erythrocytes, with no significant loss of infectivity. The concentration of plaque-forming units of the preparation is 0.9 times that of the virus-size particles, as determined by a count of the particles in microdrops. Sedimentation velocity and electron microscope studies on the particles of the SFV preparation, combined with measurement of infectivity, lead to the conclusion that the virus particles have a sedimentation constant of 320 S and are nonrigid spheres, with a diameter of 50 mμ, or disks. Some of the morphological aspects of SFV particles have been examined in electron micrographs of the suspension and pellet of the virus preparation.
AMPylation: Something Old is New Again.

The post-translational modification AMPylation is emerging as a significant regulatory mechanism in both prokaryotic and eukaryotic biology. This process involves the covalent addition of an adenosine monophosphate to a protein resulting in a modified protein with altered activity. Proteins capable of catalyzing AMPylation, termed AMPylators, are comparable to kinases in that they both hydrolyze ATP and reversibly transfer a part of this primary metabolite to a hydroxyl side chain of the protein substrate. To date, only four AMPylators have been characterized, though many more potential candidates have been identified through amino acid sequence analysis and preliminary in vitro studies. This modification was first discovered over 40 years ago by Earl Stadtman and colleagues through the modification of glutamine synthetase by adenylyl transferase; however research into this mechanism has only just been reenergized by the studies on bacterial effectors. New AMPylators were revealed due to the discovery that a bacterial effector having a conserved Fic domain transfers an AMP group to protein substrates Current research focuses on identifying and characterizing various types of AMPylators homologous to Fic domains and adenylyl transferase domains and their respective substrates. While all AMPylators characterized thus far are bacterial proteins, the conservation of the Fic domain in eukaryotic organisms suggests that AMPylation is omnipresent in various forms of life and has significant impact on a wide range of regulatory processes.
What Do We Really Know about Municipal Finance

Despite claims that cities have experienced fiscal stress, data from other sources show that cities have endured jinancial challenges by finding new revenue sources and techniques. An analysis of census data from 1967–2000 indicates that the pattern of municipal revenues has changed from reliance on property tares to greater reliance on charges. While revenues have outpaced expenditures, both revenues and expenditures have grown far more than would have been necessary to keep pace with inflation and indicate a worrisome trend toward borrowing. However, limitations of current data collection raise questions of validity. Data collection and reporting must improve if appropriate policy decisions are to follow.
Using a Functional Approach to Change Preservice Teachers' Understanding of Mathematics Software

AbstractThis study examined the structure of two preservice teachers’ understandings of educational software in mathematics using repertory grid techniques. Specifically, the study focused on how teacher educators can enable preservice teachers to discern the features of mathematics software, and develop pedagogical goals that reflect the affordances and constraints of available tools. Results showed a deepening of knowledge and a differentiation of knowledge following experiences of exploration, evaluation, and comparison of different types of software. Results imply that directing preservice teachers’ attention to utilizing the functional characteristics of software for developing plans and for the design of instruction may be fruitful for more effective integration of software in their future teaching. However, participants’ preexisting content knowledge and their pedagogical worldview tempered this effect.
Applications of femtosecond lasers in materials processing

Chemical bonding, phase transitions, and surface processes occur on timescales comparable to the natural oscillation periods of atoms and molecules, in the range of femtoseconds (1 fs =10−15 s) to picoseconds (1 ps = 10−12 s). Advances in the generation of ultrashort laser pulses in the past two decades have made it possible to directly observe these fundamental processes. These advances have taken us from the picosecond timescale a generation ago, to the femtosecond timescale in the past decade, and recently into the attosecond (1 as = 10−18 s) regime. Materials science, interdisciplinary by nature, has benefited from these advances because recent studies, ranging from probing atomistic processes in model materials, to real-time diffraction of lattices and to ultrafast laser processing of materials are furthering our understanding of time-dependent processes in materials. [1] In this tutorial presentation, I will review recent work involving the interaction of femtosecond laser pulses with materials. I will discuss the fundamental processes involved and a number of applications, classifying the work into two parts: the interaction with transparent materials (bulk femtosecond micromachining) and interaction with absorbing materials (femtosecond surface structuring).
The Chlamydia effector chlamydial outer protein N (CopN) sequesters tubulin and prevents microtubule assembly.

Chlamydia species are obligate intracellular pathogens that utilize a type three secretion system to manipulate host cell processes. Genetic manipulations are currently not possible in Chlamydia, necessitating study of effector proteins in heterologous expression systems and severely complicating efforts to relate molecular strategies used by Chlamydia to the biochemical activities of effector proteins. CopN is a chlamydial type three secretion effector that is essential for virulence. Heterologous expression of CopN in cells results in loss of microtubule spindles and metaphase plate formation and causes mitotic arrest. CopN is a multidomain protein with similarity to type three secretion system “plug” proteins from other organisms but has functionally diverged such that it also functions as an effector protein. We show that CopN binds directly to αβ-tubulin but not to microtubules (MTs). Furthermore, CopN inhibits tubulin polymerization by sequestering free αβ-tubulin, similar to one of the mechanisms utilized by stathmin. Although CopN and stathmin share no detectable sequence identity, both influence MT formation by sequestration of αβ-tubulin. CopN displaces stathmin from preformed stathmin-tubulin complexes, indicating that the proteins bind overlapping sites on tubulin. CopN is the first bacterial effector shown to disrupt MT formation directly. This recognition affords a mechanistic understanding of a strategy Chlamydia species use to manipulate the host cell cycle.
Mechanical thrombectomy devices for treatment of stroke

Mechanical thrombectomy devices comprise a wide array of endovascular tools cleared for removing thrombi from the neurovasculature in acute ischemic stroke patients. In the United States, 3 classes of mechanical thrombectomy devices have been cleared by the Food and Drug Administration: coil retrievers in 2004, aspiration devices in 2008, and stent retrievers in 2012. Available evidence and fundamental physiologic principles suggest that mechanical thrombectomy is appropriate for patients with large, proximal intracranial artery occlusions due to emboli of cardiac or arterial origin and is most effective when performed as soon as feasible after onset in patients known to still be harboring salvageable penumbral tissue. This review summarizes the mechanism of action of these devices, clinical trial results for efficacy and safety, and clinical use.
Soil Component Interactions with 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic Acid under Supercritical Fluid Conditions

Interest in using supercritical CO2 as an alternative to nonpolar liquid solvents to extract toxic organics from soils is growing. Unfortunately, supercritical CO2 alone is a poor solvent for many polar compounds, including acid herbicides, in soils. In this study, supercritical CO2 was modified with benzoic acid/methanol to extract 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) from selected model soil components, analogs of soil components that potentially limit its extraction from soils. The components included four minerals, silica gel, sodium humate, and humic acid. These model materials were chosen to test three potential factors inhibiting 2,4-D extraction: (1) adsorption to mineral surfaces, (2) diffusion-limited release from porous materials, and (3) pH-dependent partitioning between the solid and supercritical fluid phases. High recoveries were obtained from gibbsite (100 ± 3%), goethite (91 ± 3%), and illite (88 ± 6%). Porous materials such as the silica gels and humic acid yielded lower recoveries, 7...
The Impact of Rosenberger v. Rector and Visitors of University of Virginia on Public Forum Doctrine

Abstract In Rosenberger the Supreme Court held that the denial of funds for a student religious publication at the University of Virginia was unconstitutional viewpoint discrimination. The decision signaled a change in public forum doctrine in cases involving religious speech. This paper examines how lower federal courts have applied the Rosenberger decision in public forum cases. Most of the cases have involved situations that move well beyond the issue of funding student groups at public universities. Lower courts have been divided in their treatment of the decision. In ten cases the Rosenberger precedent was followed as controlling authority but in eleven others it was used by dissenting judges. In the remaining cases, the precedent was either distinguished or it did not play a central role in the opinion. Despite the variance in lower court application, the Rosenberger decision has had an impact on public forum doctrine, especially where religious speech is concerned.
Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha Levels in HIV-1 Seropositive Injecting Drug Users

TNF-α is a highly pleiotropic cytokine and plays an important role in regulating HIV-1 replication. It may compromise the integrity of the blood-brain-barrier and, thus, may contribute to the neurotoxicity of HIV-1-infection. Both intravenous drug abuse (IDU) and HIV infection can increase TNF-α activity, but little information is available on the effects of a combination of these factors on TNF-α. We investigated plasma TNF-α levels and mRNA in the peripheral monocytes of 166 men and women in three groups: HIV-1-positive IDUs, HIV-1-negative IDUs, and HIV-negative non-IDU control participants. HIV-1-positive IDUs had higher TNF-α levels than HIV-1-negative IDUs who, in turn, had higher levels than controls. TNF-α mRNA expression in peripheral monocytes was significantly increased in both HIV-1-positive and negative IDUs compared to controls. These findings show that the effects of HIV infection and intravenous drug use may be additive in increasing TNF-α levels. Given the multiple effects of TNF-α in HIV infection, additional investigation of its role is needed.
Interfacing Ag Nanoparticles with 1D Semiconductor Micro/Nanostructures via Joule Heating for Transfer Printing Nanodevices at Room Ambient

We describe an experiment to interface and characterize silver nanoparticle (AgNPs) aggregates that are self-assembled and plastically deformable on a thin gold (Au) film deposited on glass substrate. The electrical characterization is done using an electrical nanoprobe attached to a nano-manipulator inside a scanning electron microscope (SEM). Electrical current-voltage (I-V) measurements are made between the electrical nanoprobe in contact with the nanoparticle and the Au film. The Ag nanoparticles have diameters ranging between ~200-800nm and are self-assembled on a thiolated 100nm Au film. Application of a contact force via the nanoprobe even after substantial particle deformation reveals initially a small non-linear current. Upon current annealing through Joule heating, significant improvement in the electrical contact at the AgNP/substrate interface was observed. This is most likely based on bonding of the AgNPs to the Au film after passage of a high current. The need for such an annealing/sintering step will be critical in forming good ohmic contacts at ambient conditions during transfer printing of semiconductor micro/nanopillars.
Two dimensional prolate spheroidal wave functions for MRI.

The tradeoff between spatial and temporal resolution is often used to increase data acquisition speed for dynamic MR imaging. Reduction of the k-space sampling area, however, leads to stronger partial volume and truncation effects. A two dimensional prolate spheroidal wave function (2D-PSWF) method is developed to address these problems. Utilizing prior knowledge of a given region of interest (ROI) and the spatial resolution requirement as constraints, this method tailors the k-space sampling area with a matching 2D-PSWF filter so that optimal signal concentration and minimal truncation artifacts are achieved. The k-space sampling area is reduced because the shape and size of the sampling area match the resolution posed by the non-rectangular shape of a convex ROI. The 2D-PSWF method offers an efficient way for spatial and temporal tradeoff with minimal penalty due to truncation, and thus, it promises a wide range of applications in MRI research.
Combined input and output all-optical variable buffered switch architecture for future optical routers

We present a novel optical packet switching fabric architecture incorporating both input single-stage and output multistage all-optical variable delay buffers as combined input and output queues. For a given optical buffer size (1000 B), the proposed architecture, which has combined input and output optical variable buffer queues with optimum partition, achieves packet loss rates (3.4E-5) that are three orders of magnitude lower than the case without the variable buffers and two orders of magnitude lower than the cases with input or output optical queues alone.
Posttreatment Tree Mortality After Forest Ecological Restoration, Arizona, United States

Pine–oak forests are of high ecological importance worldwide, but many are threatened by uncharacteristically severe wildfire. Forest restoration treatments, including the reintroduction of a surface fire regime, are intended to decrease fire hazard and emulate historic ecosystem structure and function. Restoration has recently received much management attention and short-term study, but little is known about longer-term ecosystem responses. We remeasured a replicated experimental restoration site in the southwestern United States 5 years after treatments. Basal area, tree density, and canopy cover decreased in the treated units at a faster rate than in controls. Delayed mortality, not evident right after treatment, decreased density modestly (13% in treated units and 10% in controls) but disproportionately affected large trees (“large” ponderosa pines were those with diameter at breast height [dbh] ≥37.5 cm; other species dbh ≥20 cm). In treated units, 10.9 large trees ha–1 died, whereas 6.2 trees ha–1 died in control units. Compared with reference conditions, the experimental blocks remained higher in pine density and, in three of the four blocks, in basal area. Pine trees grew significantly faster in treated units than in controls, enough to reach the reference level of basal area in 6 years. Although mortality of large trees is a concern, the treated units have vigorous growth and low density, indicating that they will be relatively resistant to future drought and fire events. Similar treatments may be beneficial in many areas of the United States and in related pine-oak ecosystems elsewhere.
Auditing SQL Queries

We study the problem of auditing a batch of SQL queries: given a forbidden view of a database that should have been kept confidential, a batch of queries that were posed over this database and answered, and a definition of suspiciousness, determine if the query batch is suspicious with respect to the forbidden view. We consider several notions of suspiciousness that span a spectrum both in terms of their disclosure detection guarantees and the tractability of auditing under them for different classes of queries. We identify a particular notion of suspiciousness, weak syntactic suspiciousness, that allows for an efficient auditor for a large class of conjunctive queries. The auditor can be used together with a specific set of forbidden views to detect disclosures of the association between individuals and their private attributes. Further it can also be used to prevent disclosures by auditing queries on the fly in an online setting. Finally, we tie in our work with recent research on query auditing and access control and relate the above definitions of suspiciousness to the notion of unconditional validity of a query introduced in database access control literature.
Finite-element analysis of the displacement of closed DNA loops under torsional stress.

Closed DNA loops that contain intrinsic curvature occur in biologically important structures that are formed by bringing together proteins attached at distinct sites. Such loops constitute topological domains that are characterized by a linking number Δ Lk . We calculate, using finite–element analysis, the structural changes induced by small changes in this linking number, Δ Lk . Because of the intrinsic curvature, the slightest change in linking number induces writhe and the loop begins to fold in space. We previously studied the case in which the initial curvature is uniformly distributed along the DNA rod. We found that there are two different folding modes, depending on the amount of intrinsic curvature and the Poisson ratio, a quantity that measures the ratio of bending stiffness to torsional rigidity. For combinations of the Poisson ratio and curvature that lie below a critical curve, called the Fickel curve, the folding is monotonic in the sense that the writhe uniformly increases as Δ Lk increases, until self–contact occurs. For combinations below this curve, the folding is non–monotonic in the sense that as Δ Lk increases the writhe first increases, then decreases back to essentially zero, and then increases uniformly until self–contact occurs. The folding behaviour and the self–contact points in the two folding modes are completely different. In this paper we first review this previous work. We then extend those results to more–complex situations in which the curvature is initially distributed non–uniformly along the DNA rod. We show that the location of the Fickel curve depends upon both the extent of the initial curvature and upon its distribution along the rod. We also show that two DNAs with the same total intrinsic curvature will fold differently depending upon the distribution of that curvature along the DNA axis, and upon the point of the loop at which the applied rotation or change in Δ Lk is introduced.
Adaptive system anomaly prediction for large-scale hosting infrastructures

Large-scale hosting infrastructures require automatic system anomaly management to achieve continuous system operation. In this paper, we present a novel adaptive runtime anomaly prediction system, called ALERT, to achieve robust hosting infrastructures. In contrast to traditional anomaly detection schemes, ALERT aims at raising advance anomaly alerts to achieve just-in-time anomaly prevention. We propose a novel context-aware anomaly prediction scheme to improve prediction accuracy in dynamic hosting infrastructures. We have implemented the ALERT system and deployed it on several production hosting infrastructures such as IBM System S stream processing cluster and PlanetLab. Our experiments show that ALERT can achieve high prediction accuracy for a range of system anomalies and impose low overhead to the hosting infrastructure.
#45 Childhood adversity and the onset, recurrence, and remission of major depression

Abstract PURPOSE: Childhood adversity significantly increases the risk of depression, but it is unclear whether such risk is most pronounced early in life. In the present study, we examine whether childhood adversity—indicated by parental socioeconomic status (SES), family disruption, and residential instability—is related to an increased risk of depression during specific stages of the life course; in addition, we analyze the association between childhood adversity and the subsequent course of major depression. METHODS: A sample of 1,089 of the 4,140 births enrolled in the Providence (Rhode Island) site of the National Collaborative Perinatal Project was interviewed between the ages of 17 and 39. Measures of childhood risks were obtained before birth and at age seven. Ages at onset, offset, and number of lifetime depressive episodes were ascertained via structured diagnostic interviews. Survival analyses were used to identify risk factors for depression onset and remission, and Poisson regression was used to model the recurrence rate of depressive episodes. RESULTS: By the age of 7, low parental SES, divorce, and a high level of residential instability, defined as 3 or more family moves, were related to elevated lifetime risks of depression; the effects of parental divorce and residential instability were most pronounced for depression onset by age 14. Childhood adversity was also related to increased risk of recurrence and reduced likelihood of remission. CONCLUSION: Childhood social disadvantage has long term consequences for the onset of major depression; however, the duration of risk associated with the childhood environment varies, and may diminish with time. Early childhood adversity also predicted poor prognosis independent of its effects on early onset depression.
Effects of transluminal coronary angioplasty on left ventricular systolic and diastolic function at rest and during exercise.

The left ventricular global and regional systolic function, ventricular volumes, and peak diastolic filling rate (PDFR) were studied in 30 patients with coronary artery disease, before and 2 to 5 days after transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA), utilizing equilibrium radionuclide angiography at rest and during exercise. At rest, the global ejection fraction (EF) was unchanged before (60 ± 9%) and after PTCA (62 ± 10%). During exercise, global EF increased from 59 ± 11% pre PTCA to 67 ± 10 post PTCA (p < 0.001). Twenty-two patients had abnormal EF response to exercise pre PTCA, versus seven post PTCA (p < 0.001). Improvements in exercise regional EF paralleled the changes in global EF. End-systolic volume was unchanged at rest but decreased significantly with exercise post PTCA (60 ± 36 ml pre vs 49 ± 32 ml post PTCA, p < 0.01). At rest, the PDFR was unchanged post PTCA (2.4 ± 0.9 end-diastolic volume (EDV)/sec pre vs 2.5 ± 0.8 EDV/sec post). During exercise, PDFR increased from 2.1 ± 0.7 EDV/sec pre PTCA to 2.5 ± 0.7 EDV/sec post PTCA (p < 0.02). In conclusion, in patients with coronary artery disease, successful PTCA improves global and regional systolic function during exercise. Diastolic function is improved during exercise, a fact not previously demonstrated.
Mutagenicity of soluble and insoluble nickel compounds at the gpt locus in G12 Chinese hamster cells.

Nickel is an established human and animal carcinogen, but efforts to demonstrate its mutagenicity in a number of cell types have not been successful. In this report the authors describe the mutational response to nickel compounds in the G12 cell line, an hprt deficient V79 cell line containing a single copy of the E. coli gpt gene. This cell line has a low spontaneous background, making it suitable for assessment of mutagenic responses to environmental contaminants. When G12 cells were treated with insoluble particles of crystalline nickel sulfide <5 [mu]m in diameter, a strong, dose-dependent mutagenic response was observed up to 80 times the spontaneous background. Of 48 mutant gpt([minus]) clones isolated that were induced by insoluble nickel, all were capable of DNA amplification of the gpt sequences by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The ability to produce full-length PCR products is an indication that large deletions of gene sequences have not occurred. When G12 cells were treated with soluble nickel sulfate, the mutational response was not significantly increased over the spontaneous background. This difference in mutagenic response reflects a large difference in the mutagenic potential of soluble and insoluble nickel compounds, which reflects the carcinogenic potential of these forms ofmore » nickel. 45 refs., 5 figs.« less
Convergence of consensus filtering under network throughput limitations

Consensus filters (Olfati-Saber and Shamma, 2005) provide a distributed way of computing data aggregates in embedded sensor networks. Prior work has suggested that the rate at which such filters achieve consensus is proportional to the number of neighbors. This conclusion, however, is simplistic because it ignores the intrinsic throughput limitation of multi-hop networks. This paper examines the convergence behavior of consensus filters under such throughput limitations. We consider a time-slotted frequency division multiple access (FDMA) network assuming a regular network. Under these assumptions we show that throughput limits can be modeled as delays. We study the impact these delays have on the time and energy that consensus filters require to achieve epsiv-consensus.
Sincronicidades: história, memória e ficção em Ana Maria Machado e Griselda Gambaro

Este artigo discute comparativamente os romances O mar nunca transborda, de Ana Maria Machado, e El mar que nos trajo, de Griselda Gambaro, com o proposito de examinar a representacao da identidade nacional e da identidade do sujeito atraves da intersecao entre historia, ficcao e memoria. As duas obras oferecem representacoes da nacao alternativas aquelas da historiografia oficial, privilegiando as micro-historias de individuos ou grupos marginalizados, deslocados ou "ex-centricos". Salienta-se aqui o que Homi Bhabha considerou a "ambivalencia" do conceito da nacao em oposicao ao mito hegemonico da identidade nacional como una e integrada.
The Editor's Roundtable: High-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol

r. Friedewald has no relevant financial relationship to isclose. Dr. Brewer has received fees for consulting from erck, White House Station, New Jersey; Merck/Schering lough, North Wales, Pennsylvania; Lipid Sciences, Pleasnton, California; Pfizer, Inc., New York, New York; Noartis, East Hanover, New Jersey; sanofi-aventis, Bridgewaer, New Jersey. Dr. Grundy has received research grants rom Merck, White House Station, New Jersey; Abbott, bbott Park, Illinois; KOS Pharmaceuticals, Weston, Florda; and has worked as a Consultant for Merck; Merck/ chering Plough, Kenilworth, New Jersey; KOS Pharmaeuticals; Pfizer, Inc., New York, NY; Eli Lilly, ndianapolis, Indiana; GlaxoSmithKline, Research Triangle ark, North Carolina; Abbott; Fournier, Montreal, Quebec, anada; Bristol-Myers Squibb, Plainsboro, New Jersey; ankyo, Parsippany, New Jersey; AstraZeneca, Wilmingon, Delaware; and sanofi-aventis, Bridgewater, New Jerey. Dr. Rader has received fees for speakers bureau from straZeneca, Wilmington, Delaware; Merck, White House tation, New Jersey; Merck/Schering Plough, North Wales, ennsylvania; Pfizer, Inc., New York, New York; has orked on the Advisory Committees for AstraZeneca; oehringer Ingelheim, Ridgefield, Connecticut; Bristol Myrs Squibb, Plainsboro, New Jersey; KOS Pharmaceuticals, eston, Florida; Merck; Merck/Schering Plough, North ales, Pennsylvania; Pfizer; Schering-Plough, Kenilworth, ew Jersey; and has worked as a Consultant for