cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Residue to Residue Hydrogen Bond Mediates the Nucleotide Specificity of Ribonuclease A

Bovine pancreatic ribonuclease A (RNase A) catalyzes the cleavage of the P-O5 bond of RNA after residues bound in the enzyme's B1 subsite. This subsite binds to cytidine 30-fold more tightly than to uridine and > 10(5)-fold more tightly than to adenine. Structural studies had suggested that the hydroxyl group of Thr45 can interact directly with the base of a bound nucleotide. In contrast, the carboxylate group of Asp83 cannot interact directly with bound substrate but can accept a hydrogen bond from the hydroxyl group of Thr45. To assess the role of the Thr45-Asp83 hydrogen bond in catalysis, T45G, D83A and T45G/D83A RNase A were prepared and their abilities to catalyze the cleavage of various substrates were determined. The results indicate that the side-chain of Asp83 enhances catalysis of reactions in which uridine is bound in the B1 subsite, but that this enhancement relies on the side-chain of Thr45. In contrast, the side-chain of Asp83 does not contribute to catalysis of reactions with cytidine in the B1 subsite. Thermodynamic cycles derived from kinetic parameters for the cleavage of poly(U) indicate that the Thr45-Asp83 interaction contributes 1.2 kcal/mol to transition state stabilization, which is 0.9 kcal/mol greater than its contribution to ground state stabilization. Thus, like many residue-substrate interactions, this residue to residue interaction enhances catalysis by becoming stronger as the reaction approaches the transition state.
Intracellular trafficking and surface expression of SS-A (Ro), SS-B (La), poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase and α-fodrin autoantigens during apoptosis in human salivary gland cells induced by tumour necrosis factor-α

Abstract Autoantibodies directed against nucleic acid and protein complexes present in cell nuclei characterize autoimmune diseases and are employed in diagnosis. The mechanisms by which these autoantigens escape immunological tolerance are largely unknown, but a number of recent observations suggest that modified self-protein generated during apoptosis my play an important part in the development of autoimmunity. To investigate the possibility that autoantibodies in patients with Sjogren’s syndrome are induced by apoptosis and presented on the surface of the cell, the internal distribution of autoantigens in apoptotic human salivary gland cells was studied in vitro. Salivary gland cells were treated with tumour necrosis factor-α, an apoptosis inducer. At increasing times after induction, cells were homogenized and cytoplasmic, cell surface membrane and nuclear compartments were fractionated using a sucrose density-gradient system. Autoantigens α-fodrin, SS-A (Ro), SS-B (La), and the enzyme poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase, were detected by conventional immunofluorescence and confirmed by Western immunoblotting. At increasing times after apoptosis, nuclear proteins SS-A (Ro) and SS-B (La), but not poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase were relocated from the cell nucleus to the cell surface membrane. Fodrin, a cytoplasmic protein, was also translocated to the cell membrane after cleavage of α-fodrin. These results show that autoantigens fodrin, SS-A (Ro) and SS-B (La) in human salivary gland cells undergo a striking redistribution during apoptosis and relocate to the cell membrane of apoptotic cells. The appearance of autoantigens on the surface of induced cells could form the basis of a mechanism for autoantigen presentation, processing and autoantibody induction.
Exchange and dipolar interactions in a solid nitroxide radical

Abstract The ESR linewidths of solid samples of the di- t -butylnitroxide radical have been measured over an extended temperature range at three different Zeeman frequencies. The magnitude of both the exchange and dipolar interactions can be determined through an analysis of the linewidths. Both of these interactions are found to have a complex temperature dependence.
Comprehensive analysis of electron correlations in three-electron atoms

We study the electron correlations in singly, doubly, and triply excited states of a three-electron atom. While electron correlation in general is weak for singly excited states, correlation plays major roles in determining the characteristics of doubly and triply excited states. Using the adiabatic approximation in hyperspherical coordinates, we show that the distinction between singly, doubly, and triply excited states is determined by the radial correlations, while finer distinctions within doubly or triply excited states lie in the angular correlations. Partial projections of the body-fixed frame wave functions are used to demonstrate the characteristic nodal surfaces which provide clues to the energy ordering of the states. We show that doubly excited states of a three-electron atom exhibit correlations that are similar to the doubly excited states of a two-electron atom. For the triply excited states, we show that the motion of the three electrons resemble approximately that of a symmetric top.
Male reproductive allocation in fireflies (Photinus spp.)

. Resource allocation between somatic and reproductive structures has important fitness consequences for individuals, and optimal trade-offs are expected to depend not only on mating system differences among species but also on levels of resource stress within species. We tested the prediction that polyandry (associated with increased sperm competition) will increase male reproductive allocation in bioluminescent fireflies in Photinus spp. by comparing the relative mass of testes, seminal vesicles, and reproductive accessory glands among a monandrous and several polyandrous species. In addition, we examined a single population of a polyandrous species, Photinus greeni, to see how reproductive allocation might shift between years in response to different levels of larval resource stress. As predicted, males of P. collustrans, a monandrous species, showed a fivefold lower allocation to sperm production and a 100-fold lower allocation to reproductive accessory glands compared with males from polyandrous species. We also found evidence within P. greeni of a trade-off between allocation either to reproduction or to somatic tissue; following larval resource stress, males eclosed at significantly shorter body lengths, yet showed a 35% increase in their reproductive allocation. These results demonstrate that mating systems strongly influence male allocation to reproductive accessory glands as well as to sperm production. Furthermore, these results suggest that under larval resource stress males of Photinus spp. increase their allocation to reproduction at the expense of somatic tissue, thus maximizing their ability to produce nuptial gifts required for reproductive success.
Self-organized nanostructures: an ESDIAD study of the striped oxidized Cu(110) surface

Abstract It is well established that adsorption on a Cu(110) surface at 80 K followed by annealing leads to a reconstruction of a particular type: long …CuOCuO… stripes with a width of a few nanometers self-organize into a periodic supergrating. The well-defined angular distributions obtained by the O + ions desorption caused by electron excitation (ESDIAD) have been used to study the thermally activated growth and coverage dependency of these nanostructures. It has been found that using ESDIAD, O atoms from the center of assemblies of the stripes may be distinguished from O atoms at the stripe edges and that the cross section for O + production increases by an order of magnitude when a chemisorbed O atom is converted to a component of the …CuOCuO… stripe. The activation energy for the growth of …CuOCuO… stripes is 0.22±0.01 eV.
A quasi-experimental study examining New York State's tobacco-free regulation: effects on clinical practice behaviors.

Abstract Background On July 24, 2008, New York State (NYS) became the first state to require all state-funded or state-certified substance use disorder (SUD) treatment organizations to be 100% tobacco-free and offer tobacco cessation (TC) treatment. Methods The current study used a quasi-experimental, non-equivalent control group design with a pretest and posttest to examine the effect of the NYS tobacco-free regulation on three clinical practice behaviors (use of TC-related intake procedures, use of guideline recommended counseling for TC, and pharmacotherapy availability) in a diverse sample of SUD treatment programs. Repeated cross-sectional data were collected from NYS counselors (experimental group) and non-NYS counselors (control group) approximately 4 months pre-regulation (N = 282 and 659, respectively) and 10–12 months post-regulation (N = 364 and 733, respectively). Results Using mixed-effects models, results at pre-regulation indicate no group differences in the three clinical practice behaviors. However, significant post-regulation effects were found such that the experimental group reports greater use of TC-related intake procedures, guideline recommended counseling, and availability of pharmacotherapy than the control group. Additionally, the experimental but not the control group shows increases in all three clinical practice behaviors from pre-regulation to post-regulation. Conclusions We conclude that the NYS tobacco-free regulation had a significant and positive effect on promoting patient TC efforts among counselors.
Normative properties of stock market equilibrium with moral hazard

Abstract This paper presents a model of stock market equilibrium with a finite number of corporations and studies its normative properties. Each firm is run by a manager whose effort is unobservable and influences the probabilities of the firm’s outcomes. The Board of Directors of each firm chooses an incentive contract for the manager which maximizes the firm’s market value. With a finite number of firms, the equilibrium is constrained Pareto optimal only when investors are risk-neutral and firms’ outcomes are independent. The inefficiencies which arise when investors are risk-averse, or when firms are influenced by a common shock, are studied and it is shown that under reasonable assumptions there is under investment in effort in equilibrium. The inefficiencies exist when the firms are not completely negligible, as is typical of the large corporations with dispersed ownership traded on public exchanges in the US. In the idealized case where firms of each type are replicated and replaced by a continuum of firms of each type with independent outcomes, the inefficiencies disappear.
Moray revisited: High-priority affective stimuli and visual search

Previous research offers conflicting suggestions about whether "high-priority" verbal stimuli such as an individual's own name or emotionally charged words automatically grab attention and/or can be detected without the usual capacity limitations. Nine experiments investigated this issue, using visual search through displays of words. In speeded search tasks, the subject's own name was detected more quickly than other targets, but in no case were search slopes flat enough to suggest parallel search or "pop-out". Further, names were not found to be unusually potent distractors. Emotionally charged words were neither more readily detected as targets nor more potent as distractors than neutral words. A comparison of observers' accuracy in searching briefly exposed simultaneous vs. successive displays provided further evidence that search for "highpriority" word targets is subject to the same severe capacity limitations as those that are found with search for neutral words. People sometimes seem, rather uncannily, to notice when their name is mentioned in a conversation, even if they were not consciously attending to this conversation. Often, they say, it is as if the name seems to "jump out". Similar effects have been reported with emotion-laden words and voices. The literature on the cognitive processing of such highpriority affective stimuli is somewhat confusing, however, with various conflicting results scattered around the literature. This paper describes a series of experiments undertaken to try to clarify the ways in which high-priority stimuli may be processed differently from other stimuli within the context of a particular task: speeded or unspeeded visual search through displays of words. Aside from their intrinsic interest, the effects of high-priority affective stimuli may shed light on a number of issues. One is the long-running controversy over the extent to which unattended stimuli are processed to a semantic level, as suggested by "late-selection" theories. While many writers have advocated compromise formulations (Johnston & Dark, 1982; Lavie
On decomposition numbers and branching coefficients for symmetric and special linear groups

In this paper we find the multiplicities $\dim L(\lambda)_{\lambda-\alpha}$ where $\alpha$ is an {\em arbitrary} root and $L(\lambda)$ is an irreducible $SL_n$-module with highest weight $\lambda$. We provide different bases of the corresponding weight spaces and outline some applications to the symmetric groups. In particular we describe certain composition multiplicities in the modular branching rule. 1991 Mathematics Subject Classification: 20C05, 20G05.
Targeting vascular endothelium with avidin microbubbles

Targeting microbubbles (MBs) to specific vascular beds enables contrast ultrasound to be used for molecular imaging. There are several methods for attaching targeting moieties to the surface of MBs. In the present study, we demonstrate that avidin (Av) can be incorporated into the shell of perfluorocarbon-exposed sonicated dextrose albumin (PESDA) MBs (Av-PESDA-MBs) and serve as an anchor that links Av-PESDA-MBs to biotinylated monoclonal antibodies (mAbs). This novel linking strategy was used to conjugate Av-PESDA-MBs to mAbs specific for endoglin (CD105) or a control IgG. MBs targeted to CD105 specifically bound to endothelial cells, but not to fibroblasts, in vitro but Av-PESDA-MBs conjugated with the control IgG did not specifically target either cell type. We conclude that Av-PESDA-MBs represent a novel and attractive tool to conjugate MBs with biotinylated mAbs for the purposes of vascular targeting and molecular imaging.
Multimedia data in hybrid vehicular networks

In this paper we study querying multimedia data such as video and voice clips in hybrid vehicular networks that consist of vehicles that are capable of both infrastructure-less short-range communication and infrastructure communication. We introduce a set of query processing strategies which differ from each other in terms of push versus pull, whether or not infrastructure communication is utilized, and whether metadata dissemination is separated from multimedia dissemination. We analyze these strategies theoretically and by simulations, and identify the one that is superior to the others.
Percent body fat estimations in college men using field and laboratory methods: A three-compartment model approach

Background: Methods used to estimate percent body fat can be classified as a laboratory or field technique. However, the validity of these methods compared to multiple-compartment models has not been fully established. This investigation sought to determine the validity of field and laboratory methods for estimating percent fat (%fat) in healthy college-age women compared to the Siri threecompartment model (3C). Methods: Thirty Caucasian women (21.1 ± 1.5 yrs; 164.8 ± 4.7 cm; 61.2 ± 6.8 kg) had their %fat estimated by BIA using the BodyGram™ computer program (BIA-AK) and population-specific equation (BIA-Lohman), NIR (Futrex® 6100/XL), a quadratic (SF3JPW) and linear (SF3WB) skinfold equation, air-displacement plethysmography (BP), and hydrostatic weighing (HW). Results: All methods produced acceptable total error (TE) values compared to the 3C model. Both laboratory methods produced similar TE values (HW, TE = 2.4%fat; BP, TE = 2.3%fat) when compared to the 3C model, though a significant constant error (CE) was detected for HW (1.5%fat, p ≤ 0.006). The field methods produced acceptable TE values ranging from 1.8 – 3.8 %fat. BIA-AK (TE = 1.8%fat) yielded the lowest TE among the field methods, while BIA-Lohman (TE = 2.1%fat) and NIR (TE = 2.7%fat) produced lower TE values than both skinfold equations (TE > 2.7%fat) compared to the 3C model. Additionally, the SF3JPW %fat estimation equation resulted in a significant CE (2.6%fat, p ≤ 0.007). Conclusion: Data suggest that the BP and HW are valid laboratory methods when compared to the 3C model to estimate %fat in college-age Caucasian women. When the use of a laboratory method is not feasible, NIR, BIA-AK, BIA-Lohman, SF3JPW, and SF3WB are acceptable field methods to estimate %fat in this population.
PREPARATION OF 1,2,3,4‐TETRAHYDRO‐6‐METHOXY‐5‐METHYLNAPHTHALEN‐2‐ONE

(1983). PREPARATION OF 1,2,3,4-TETRAHYDRO-6-METHOXY-5-METHYLNAPHTHALENE-2-ONE. Organic Preparations and Procedures International: Vol. 15, No. 3, pp. 145-148.
An alternate form of the conjugate gradient method for dynamic optimization

The Polak-Ribiere conjugate gradient technique is here applied to a general optimal control problem. This method is a modification of the method of Lasdon, Mitter, and Waren. A convergence proof is presented.
The impact of precipitating ice and snow on the radiation balance in global climate models

[1] Climate models often ignore the radiative impact of precipitating hydrometeors. CloudSat retrievals provide the first means to distinguish between cloud versus precipitating ice mass and characterize its vertical structure. With this information, radiative transfer calculations are performed to examine the impact of excluding precipitating ice on atmospheric radiative fluxes and heating rates. The preliminary results show that such exclusion can result in underestimates of the reflective shortwave flux at the top of the atmosphere (TOA) and overestimates of the downwelling surface shortwave and emitted TOA longwave flux, with the differences being about 5–10 Wm−2 in the most convective and rainfall intensive areas and greatest for the TOA longwave flux. There are also considerable differences (∼10–25%) in the vertical profiles of shortwave and longwave heating, resulting in an overestimation (∼up to 10%) of the integrated column cooling. The implications of these results are that models that exclude these ice components are achieving TOA radiation balance through compensating errors as well as possibly introducing biases in atmospheric circulations.
Development of endothelial cells on pillar-covered silicon

Bovine aortic endothelial cells were grown on nanostructured substrates consisting of pillars with height 10 μm, pitch 6 μm, and tip diameter 0.15 μm. Cells cultured on a pillar-covered substrate were more successful than those cultured on flat silicon wafers; however, they developed more slowly than cells cultured on glass coverslips. Specifically, focal contact maturation and matrix fibrillogenesis were inhibited. In subconfluent layers, pillars are found to penetrate deeply into both the cell cytoplasm and nucleus, suggesting that cells relaxed mechanically around the 3D topography. In confluent monolayers, actin stress fiber and VE-cadherin distributions were indistinguishable from those in confluent monolayers on coverslips. The pillars were no longer detectable because the cells have pulled themselves up such that in the confluent layer they rest atop the pillars. Inhibition of myosin IIA with blebbistatin caused cells in a confluent layer to relax around the pillars. Thus, myosin-mediated internal tension was required for monolayer stabilization above the pillars, suggesting that active tension among adjacent endothelial cells in a monolayer dominates mechanotransmission. Time (duration of culturing) rather than cell density appears to be a critical variable that allows for the transition from a subconfluent to a confluent layer. In subconfluent layers, cells impale themselves on the pillars to the extent that even some of the cell nuclei are penetrated by pillar tips as shown by the arrows.
Packing of graphs with small product of sizes

We show that for every @e>0, there exists n"0=n"0(@e) such that for every n>n"0, two n-vertex graphs G"1 and G"2 with e(G"1)e(G"2)=<([email protected])n^2 pack, unless they belong to a well-defined family of exceptions. This extends a well-known result by Sauer and Spencer.
SELF-REFERENCING VERSUS THE KEYWORD METHOD IN LEARNING VOCABULARY WORDS

Immediate and delayed retention for self-referencing and the keyword method were compared. 54 students were randomly assigned to one of four groups, Immediate-Self-reference, Immediate-keyword, Delayed-Self-reference, and Delayed-Keyword. The self-referencing groups were asked to use each of 20 foreign words in a sentence with the word “I” or “me,” and the keyword groups were asked to make an interactive image between the foreign word and its keyword. Each word was shown once for 45 sec. When recall of the English meanings was tested 2 min. or 1 wk. later, for the keyword technique recall was higher at 2 min. but not at 1 wk.
Comparison of in Vivo Reactivation, in Vitro Reactivation, and Polymerase Chain Reaction for Detection of Latent Pseudorabies Virus Infection in Swine

The following methods were compared for their ability to detect latent pseudorabies virus in 24 pigs that had been experimentally infected with virulent pseudorabies virus: 1) in vivo reactivation by dexamethasone administration, 2) in vitro reactivation by 5 different techniques of explant culture or cocultivation of trigeminal ganglia, and 3) detection of pseudorabies virus genome in tissue digests of tonsils or trigeminal ganglia using the polymerase chain reaction. Reactivation of pseudorabies virus by administration of dexamethasone was attempted in 12 of 24 pigs in an effort to determine if this procedure would affect the detection of latent pseudorabies virus by any of the subsequent in vitro methods. Detection of latent virus by the polymerase chain reaction with trigeminal ganglia was the most successful method (24/24 were positive). The next most successful method was in vivo reactivation through the administration of dexamethasone (10/12 [83%] were positive). Only 1 in vitro reactivation technique, cocultivation involving digestion of the trigeminal ganglia with trypsin and collagenase and the addition of a hypomethylating agent to the medium, yielded positive results (5/24 [21%] were positive). The polymerase chain reaction performed on tissue digests of tonsils was much less effective (2/24 [8%] were positive) than it was with trigeminal ganglia. Reactivation by dexamethasone did not appear to have any effect on the subsequent detection of latency by any of the methods tested.
Very few RNA and DNA sequence differences in the human transcriptome.

RNA editing is an important cellular process by which the nucleotides in a mature RNA transcript are altered to cause them to differ from the corresponding DNA sequence. While this process yields essential transcripts in humans and other organisms, it is believed to occur at a relatively small number of loci. The rarity of RNA editing has been challenged by a recent comparison of human RNA and DNA sequence data from 27 individuals, which revealed that over 10,000 human exonic sites appear to exhibit RNA-DNA differences (RDDs). Many of these differences could not have been caused by either of the two previously known human RNA editing mechanisms—ADAR-mediated A→G substitutions or APOBEC1-mediated C→U switches—suggesting that a previously unknown mechanism of RNA editing may be active in humans. Here, we reanalyze these data and demonstrate that genomic sequences exist in these same individuals or in the human genome that match the majority of RDDs. Our results suggest that the majority of these RDD events were observed due to accurate transcription of sequences paralogous to the apparently edited gene but differing at the edited site. In light of our results it seems prudent to conclude that if indeed an unknown mechanism is causing RDD events in humans, such events occur at a much lower frequency than originally proposed.
3: Sexual behaviors following universal screening and diagnosis of sexually transmitted infections in a non-clinic sample of young healthy women

with statistical significance declared at p 0.05. Results: 1122 diary periods were evaluated, and 353 diary periods (31.5%) exhibited the presence of CT, GC, or TV infection. Multivariable logistic models for CT infections showed that OCP use was a predictor for infection ( 0.5; p .06) compared to no hormonal contraception. The other predictor for CT was 1 sexual partner (compared to no partners) [ 1.2; p 0.003]. DMPA usage was a significant predictor for GC infection ( 0.63; p 0.01) compared to no hormonal contraception. Exposed coital event rate ( 2.51; p 0.02) and 1 sexual partner ( 1.62; p 0.01) compared to no sexual partners were also significant predictors for GC infection. The single significant predictor for TV infection was 1 sexual partner ( 1.77; p 0.004) compared to no partners. Conclusion: OCP and DMPA increase the risk of infection with CT and GC respectively. Contraceptive care for adolescents is an ongoing process to provide both pregnancy and STI prevention services. With increased risk of STI associated with hormonal methods, clinicians should maintain high emphasis on the use of barrier methods in conjunction with hormonal methods. Physiologic causation for STI risk with hormonal contraception remains unclear; future research should be pursued for possible explanations. Support: AAMC #MM-0467; HRSA T71MC00008; T32HD42990; HD042404.
Flight Deck-Based Merging and Spacing impact on flight crew operations during Continuous Descent Arrivals and approaches

In an effort to achieve consistent, low variance spacing between aircraft pairs during arrival operations and to reduce aircraft maneuvering, noise, fuel burn, and controller workload, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is developing, and UPS has implemented an Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) concept termed Merging and Spacing (MS workload and situation awareness; and procedures for non-normal situations. Nine airline-qualified pilots flew a series of scenarios while acting as the pilot flying. Results indicated general acceptability and improvements over current-day operations under normal and non normal conditions. Pilots in general reported that FDMS: was acceptable, was compatible with current operations, was similar in terms of workload as compared to operations without FDMS, allowed for a reduction in communications with ATC, and allowed for acceptable situation awareness. Pilots were able to use the displays to implement speed changes to manage normal and non-normal situations such that the desired spacing interval was maintained with minimal variation. Some pilots reported issues with the CDTI retrofit location and reported increased acceptability of FDMS when the CDTI location was moved to the primary field of view. The simulation results related to the concept were used to further refine FDMS and to focus future simulations. They also supported an implementation that was certified and operationally approved.
The Early Days of Sociolinguistics: Memories and Reflections

The Early Days of Sociolinguistics: Memories and Reflections. Christina Bratt Paulston and G. Richard Tucker. eds. Dallas, TX: Summer Institute of Linguistics, 1997. 362 pp.
Non-gradient Extremum Seeking Control of Feedback Linearizable Systems with Application to ABS Design

In this paper, the extremum seeking control problem is treated as a real time optimization problem with dynamic system constraints. We propose a non-gradient trust region-baded extremum seeking control scheme for state feedback linearizable systems, then extend to input-output feedback linearizable systems with some minor modifications. The main contribution of the trust region-based extremum seeking control is that we no longer require gradient information of the performance function and is of global convergence. We also present the convergence and robustness analysis. Simulation study of antilock braking system (ABS) design is addressed to illustrate the feasibility of the proposed scheme.
What is Effective Literature Instruction? a Study of Experienced High School English Teachers in Differing Grade- and Ability-Level Classes:

This study examined how experienced high school English teachers defined and gauged effective literature instruction as well as how their perspectives affected their students' experiences with lite...
Rotman lens development

The geometric optics based RLD produced impressive initial results. This fast and accurate design tool generates good first-cut designs that can serve as a starting point in more computationally intensive EM codes. The measured results validated the RLD simulations. Finally, the effect of introducing a bend in the beamformer was empirically studied and it was found that such alterations introduced negligible effects on the performance of the lens.
A Simple Lithographic Approach for Preparing Patterned, Micron‐Scale Corrals for Controlling Cell Growth

Hydrophobic n-alkanethiolate bottoms and walls consisting of hydrophilic three-layer poly(acrylic acid)/poly(ethylene glycol) nanocomposite polymers are used for making patterned corrals having lateral dimensions of 63 μm. Macrophage cells are confined within these corrals and are unable to grow over the corral walls (see picture).
Terminal Suffering and the Ethics of Palliative Sedation

Until quite recently bioethicists have had little of depth and probity to say about the duty of healthcare professionals in general and physicians in particular to relieve pain and suffering associated with disease and/or its treatment.
Use of sensitivities and generalized substrate models in mixed-signal IC design

A novel methodology for circuit design and automatic layout generation is proposed for a class of mixed-signal. Circuits in presence of layout parasitics and substrate induced noise. Accurate and efficient evaluation of the circuit during design is possible by taking into account such non-idealities. Techniques are presented to derive and use a set of constraints on substrate noise and on the geometric instances of the layout. Verification is performed using substrate extraction in combination with parasitic estimation techniques. To show the suitability of the approach, a VCO for a PLL has been designed and implemented in a CMOS 1 /spl mu/m technology. The circuit has been optimized both at the schematic and at the layout level for power and performance, while its sensitivity to layout parasitics and substrate noise has been minimized.
Fighting peer-to-peer SPAM and decoys with object reputation

Peer-to-peer filesharing is now commonplace and its traffic now dominates bandwidth consumption at many Internet peering points. Recent studies indicate that much of this filesharing activity involves corrupt and polluted files. This paper describes Credence, a new object-based reputation system, and shows how it can counteract content pollution in peer-to-peer filesharing networks. Credence allows honest peers to assess the authenticity of online content by securely tabulating and managing endorsements from other peers. We employ a novel voter correlation scheme to weigh the opinions of peers, which gives rise to favorable incentives and system dynamics. We present simulation results indicating that our system is scalable, efficient, and robust.
Predicting Missing Items in Shopping Carts

Existing research in association mining has focused mainly on how to expedite the search for frequently co-occurring groups of items in ldquoshopping cartrdquo type of transactions; less attention has been paid to methods that exploit these ldquofrequent itemsetsrdquo for prediction purposes. This paper contributes to the latter task by proposing a technique that uses partial information about the contents of a shopping cart for the prediction of what else the customer is likely to buy. Using the recently proposed data structure of itemset trees (IT-trees), we obtain, in a computationally efficient manner, all rules whose antecedents contain at least one item from the incomplete shopping cart. Then, we combine these rules by uncertainty processing techniques, including the classical Bayesian decision theory and a new algorithm based on the Dempster-Shafer (DS) theory of evidence combination.
P03.09. Modulation of Autonomic Nervous System Assessed Through Heart Rate Variability by a Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction Program: Study Protocol.

Focus Areas: Integrative Approaches to Care, Supporting Behavioral Change, Alleviating Pain Background: Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) is a well-delineated 8-week mindfulness meditation program and hence lends itself well to be applied clinically and studied systematically. Heart rate variability (HRV) is the beat-to-beat variation in the heart rate and is a unique way to study sympathovagal balance and autonomic control of cardiopulmonary dynamics. Methods: Twenty healthy volunteers were recruited from among participants of the MBSR program offered at the University of Minnesota. Two visits are planned, before and after completion of the MBSR program. After a brief period to help subjects acclimatize, 3 phases of data were recorded, each phase lasting for 5 minutes. Phase 1. Resting: Served as baseline value.Phase 2. Controlled Respiration: Involved audio cues to control the respiratory rate at a fixed interval of 6/minute.Phase 3. Meditation:Involved self-guided sitting meditation.Echocardiog...
The effect of equating loudness on audibility-based hearing aid selection procedures

Recently the articulation index (AI) has received a great deal of attention as a means to select hearing aid characteristics and to evaluate the merits of different hearing aid selection methods. These evaluations were based on the seldom modified assumption that the listening condition producing the largest AI is the best condition. The negative consequences of the differences in hearing aid conditions were seldom considered. In this paper it is shown that higher AIs are often achieved at the cost of substantially greater loudness. When gain adjustments are made to equate loudness across conditions, very different conclusions are reached about the relative merits of selection methods and the value of certain frequency-gain response modifications.
“It’s Not One Size Fits All”: Diversity Among Student Veterans

Veterans are a growing subpopulation of students on college campuses. While writing proliferates about best practices and veteran-friendly suggestions (e.g., Carr, 2010; Cook & Kim, 2009; Lokken, Pfeffer, McAuley & Strong, 2009; McBain, Kim, Cook & Snead, 2013), only a small body of empirical research about contemporary student veterans exists. Much of this literature describes student veterans as a monolithic group, leading to “one size fits all” campus initiatives. In this paper, the voices of 11 student veterans explicate their perceptions of being homogenized while in college. In response to the stereotypes of sameness, participants offered rich descriptions of what they believed to be important differences among student veterans.
Femtosecond laser irradiation of dielectric materials containing randomly-arranged nanoparticles

We investigate femtosecond laser irradiation of dielectric materials containing randomly-arranged nanoparticles. For this, numerical modeling is performed based on three different methods: Mie theory, static solution of linear Maxwell's equations and a solution of nonlinear Maxwell's equations together with kinetic equations for free electron excitation/relaxation processes. First two approaches are used to define the static intensity distribution and to analyze the electromagnetic interaction between the nanoparticles. The third method allows us to investigate the complex dynamics of the laser-matter interaction. Multiphoton absorption is shown to be responsible for electron plasma generation in the regions of strong intensity enhancements in the vicinity of nanoparticles. The irradiation of the dielectric material leads to the elongation of nanoplasmas by the near-field enhancement perpendicular to the laser polarization and to their strong interaction resulting in periodic arrangement. Numerical results shed light on such effects as femtosecond laser-induced nanograting formation
Modeling Erroneous Human Behavior: A Context-Driven Approach

Artificial agents that model aspects of human behavior often model behaviors that an observer would regard as normal. In recent years, agents that exhibit observable erroneous behaviors have become common in a variety of applications, including simulated impaired agents to test assistive technologies and realistic agents in video games. In this paper, we present a context-driven approach to modeling plausible human behavior and a framework for modeling erroneous behavior which focuses on impairing an agent’s ability to recognize and deal effectively with anticipated contextual changes.
Detent-Force Minimization of Double-Sided Interior Permanent-Magnet Flat Linear Brushless Motor

New detent-force minimization methodologies for a 6/4 double-sided interior permanent-magnet flat linear brushless motor configured with alternate teeth windings are presented in this paper. Based on the superposition principle, the end-effect and cogging forces are separately minimized using two different techniques. The end-effect force is reduced by a new 2-D optimization using the step-shaped end frames in the slotless stators. The cogging force is minimized through a destructive interference using the slot-phase shift between the upper and lower stators. Each technique is verified experimentally, and the optimal design parameters are formulated using Fourier series. The total detent-force reduction of 94% is achieved as compared with the base model. The steady-state force after applying these new detent-force-free techniques is demonstrated with actual measurements, and also compared with the finite-element analysis result and analytic solution.
A portable microkeratome-based anterior corneal surface harvesting device.

PURPOSE To determine the reproducibility of anterior sclerokeratectomy using a portable nonelectric microkeratome-based device capable of harvesting the entire anterior corneal surface for lamellar transplantation. METHODS A modified gas turbine-driven microkeratome (LSK One, Moria/Microtech, Doylestown, PA) with a redesigned head large enough to incorporate the whole human anterior corneal surface in a pass and was coupled to a manual vacuum pump. This instrument was tested on 25 fresh porcine globes divided into 2 groups (170-microm and 200-microm head). To assess cut reproducibility the physical dimensions (diameter and thickness) of the obtained lenticules were measured. RESULTS The obtained lenticules were fairly circular (horizontal versus vertical diameters, p >0.2), with average diameters of 12.85 +/- 0.52 mm and 13.25 +/- 1.15 mm for the 170 and 200-microm heads, respectively. The average central lenticule thickness was 176.92 +/- 34.68 microm and 166.00 +/- 53.74 microm for the 170 and 200-microm heads, respectively. CONCLUSION This new system presents an economical and portable alternative to electric-powered systems. In addition to being used by surgeons in the operating room, eye bank technicians in the field could theoretically use this system; including in developing countries where cost, availability of electricity, and portability are issues.
Laboratory Studies of Lespesia archippivora in Four Lepidopterous Hosts

The times required for the tachinid parasite Lespesia archippivora (Riley) to develop in 4 lepidopterous pests of cotton were determined at several constant temperatures. The period from oviposition through the pupal stage ranged from 57.4±3.6 days in the salt-marsh caterpillar. Estigmene acrea (Drury), at 15 to 11.0±0.4 days in the beet army worm, Spodoptera exigua (Hubner), at 30. The time for development increased slightly at 35 except in the cabbage looper, Trichoplusia ni (Hubner), and the bollworm, Heliothis zea (Boddie). Comparisons made to evaluate the possible use of each host in a tachinid mass-rearing program showed that on the basis of percentage survival and number of puparia per parasitized host, larvae of the salt-marsh caterpillar and a temperature of about 25 provided optimum rearing conditions. However, the beet armyworm and a temperature of 30 were almost as effective. Additional tests indicated that these 2 hosts were also preferred the tachinid. No evidence was found that host preference was imprinted on F1 flies, regardless of the host in which they were reared.
Psychosocial predictors of long-term mortality among women with suspected myocardial ischemia: the NHLBI-sponsored Women's Ischemia Syndrome Evaluation.

This paper evaluated long-term associations between psychosocial factors and premature mortality among women with suspected coronary artery disease (CAD). We tracked total mortality events over a median 9.3 years in a cohort of 517 women [baseline mean age = 58.3 (11.4) years]. Baseline evaluations included coronary angiography, psychosocial testing, and CAD risk factors. Measures included the Spielberger Trait Anxiety Scale, Beck Depression Inventory, self-rated health, and Social Network Index. Cox regression analysis was used to assess relationships. Covariates included age, CAD risk factors, and CAD severity. BDI scores (HR 1.09, 95 % CI 1.02–1.15), STAI scores (HR .86, 95 % CI .78–.93), and very good self-rated health (relative to the poor self-rated health group; HR .33, 95 % CI .12–.96) each independently predicted time to mortality outcomes in the combined model. SNI scores (HR .91, 95 % CI .81–1.06) and other self-rated health categories (i.e., fair, good, and excellent categories) were not significant mortality predictors after adjusting for other psychosocial factors. These results reinforce and extend prior psychosocial research in CAD populations.
The Study of International Politics

T would be unfortunate if the recent proliferation of textbooks on international relations served only to give added stimulus to the longstanding conviction that texts are not to be regarded seriously by serious scholars. The view that texts of necessity represent little more than a low-grade distillation and simplification-usually oversimplification -of the work of scholars laboring at the frontiers of the field has always had numerous supporters. It would be pointless to deny that there are texts whose contents appear to validate that judgment. Still, there is surely no compelling reason that precludes a text from representing a distinguished and challenging work of scholarship, as the well-known text of Professor Hans Morgenthau clearly shows. Nor is there any compelling reason for accepting the assumption that the nature of a text somehow requires avoiding the critical utilization of recent research or eschewing controversial issues, let alone taking a clear position on such issues. If the authors of some texts have in fact done just this, it is less a reflection on the supposed "nature" of texts than a comment on the authors themselves and, it is only fair to add, on the nefarious pressures exerted by some publishers. Indeed, it may reasonably be contended that texts on international relations can and should provide a useful means for furthering a number of serious purposes, quite apart from the obvious purpose of informing the student and arousing his curiosity. It is in the writing of a general text that the need clearly arises to impose a greater measure of order on the vast and amorphous materials that make up the study of international relations. Out of this effort new theoretical insights may come. On the reverse side, texts should serve as an excellent testing ground for theories developed elsewhere in highly abstract form. If a theory is incapable of meaningful verification because of its ambiguity, if it can be maintained only by ignoring much of reality, and if it proposes an elaborate and complex structure for the solution of problems
Noise in Double-Barrier Resonant Tunneling Structures

The noise characteristics of double-barrier resonant tunneling structures are measured in three samples with different barrier structures. In the resonant tunneling regime, shot noise of full or reduced strengths is observed. The results provide direct evidence of incoherent tunneling and can be qualitatively understood if phase incoherence of the tunneling processes is taken into account. In the regime where assisted tunneling processes dominate, the noise is generally not linear in current and can be much larger than the full shot noise. In particular, it displays pronounced peaks in a quantizing magnetic field, at biases where the I-V curve exhibits negative differential resistances due to Landau quantization.
Dielectric Dispersion in Dilute Solutions of Several Para-Substituted Polystyrenes

Dielectric loss measurements are reported for polymers of several styrene derivatives in dilute benzene or toluene solution in the range 3–50 MHz and from about -10°C to +30°C. For polymers of 4-fluorostyrene and 4-chlorostyrene, as well as for a styrene/ 4-vinylpyridine 2/1 copolymer, the frequency of maximum dielectric loss at 300°K is about 30 to 40 MHz and the activation energy is about 5 kcal/mole. These results are in fair accord with acoustic and magnetic relaxation data on polystyrene solutions. Fragmentary results on polymers of p-methoxystyrene and p-fluoro-α-methylstyrene are described. Dipole moments in benzene are also reported.
Low Thymic Natural Regulatory T Cell Output in the Donor Is Associated with An Increased Incidence of Extensive Chronic GvHD After T Cell Depleted Matched Sibling Stem Cell Transplantation (SCT)

Abstract 328 Low CD4+ T cell counts early post-SCT are associated with a greater risk of developing chronic GVHD (cGVHD). However, the factors affecting post graft CD4+ T cell recovery are not known. Furthermore, the CD4 T cell subset correlating best with protection from cGvHD is not defined. We hypothesized that the donor immune repertoire determines CD4+ reconstitution after SCT. We studied 220 donor-recipient pairs undergoing a myeloablative matched-sibling T-cell depleted SCT for a variety of hematological malignancies including AML, ALL, CML, and MDS. Median donor and patient age was 36 years (range, 9 – 70). Median CD34+ cell dose was 5.56 ×10 6 /kg (range, 2.3–14.5), with a fixed T cell dose per protocol of 1–5 ×10 4 /kg. Ninety-four patients (43%) developed chronic GvHD (32 limited, 64 extensive). Prior to SCT a cryopreserved mononuclear fraction (PBMC) was obtained by leukopheresis on all donors. PBMC from 139 donors were stained with fluorescently conjugated antibodies against CD3, CD4, CD8, CD27, CD45RA, CD31, CD25, CD14, CD19, FOXP3, and Helios and acquired on a custom-built LSR Fortessa (BD) flow cytometer. The following T cell subsets were examined: naive, CD27+CD45RA+; central memory, CD27+CD45RA-; effector memory, CD27-CD45RA-; and effector T cells, CD27-CD45RA+. Regulatory T cells (Tregs) and Treg subsets were identified within the CD4+ T cell population using a combination of FOXP3 and Helios The combination of FOXP3 with Helios has recently been shown to identify natural, thymus-derived Tregs (nTregs), whereas CD4+FOXP3+ T cells lacking Helios represent a pool of induced Tregs (Thornton et al., 2010, J Immunol. 184:3433–3441). Combined expression of CD31 and CD45RA in the CD4+ and nTreg populations was used to identify recent thymic emigrants (RTE). Data were analyzed by FlowJo (Treestar, Ashland, OH, version 8.6.6), and both univariate and multivariate analysis analyses using the Cox regression models with right censored time-to-event variables were performed on the readouts (SPSS 15.0, S-Plus 8 and Prism 4 Software). All p-values were computed based on the log-rank test statistics. Absolute lymphocyte counts in 220 donors were 2.11/μl (range 0.89 – 4.12). A low absolute lymphocyte count was significantly correlated with a higher cumulative probability for time to incidence of extensive cGVHD (HR 2.38, p = 0.0008). This relationship between lymphocytes and cGVHD was retained in CD4+ T cell subsets: CD3+CD4+ (HR 2.48, p = 0.005); CD3+CD4+CD25+ (ZAM and JJM contributed equally to this work) . Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.