cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
NMR Studies of the Hydrides of Disordered and Amorphous Alloys

Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy has had extensive applications to the characterization of metal-hydrogen systems as is well documented in numerous previous review papers1−7. Structural information on hydrogen site occupancies can be obtained from the NMR lineshapes in the “rigid-lattice” (i. e., immobile nuclei) limit. The hyperfine interactions with conduction electrons can be monitored through Knight shifts (σK) and spin-lattice relaxation time (Tle) contributions. The various nuclear relaxation times are usually very sensitive1−7 to translational diffusion. Under suitable conditions, the hydrogen diffusion constants can be directly measured via various spin-echo techniques2,3,5,6. NMR studies have been conducted on all three hydrogen isotopes (i. e., H, D, and T) as well as many host metal nuclei (e. g., 45Sc, 51V, 89Y, 93Nb, and 139La). Although most attention has been primarily focused upon the binary hydride phases (i. e., TiHx, ZrHx, PdHx, etc.), the hydrides formed by crystalline alloys and interraetallics with nominal stoichiometries A2B, AB, AB2, and AB5 have been the subjects of NMR measurements during the past ten years or so. This interest was mainly stimulated by the potential applications of various ternary hydrides (e. g., TiFeHx, LaNi5Hx, Mg2NiHx) as reversible hydrogen storage systems. However, very few reports of NMR experiments on amorphous hydrides formed from metallic glasses have been published to date 8−16 in spite of the recent proliferation of papers on other aspects of these materials. The relative absence of NMR results for amorphous metal-hydrogen systems is partially due to the rather low sensitivity of the technique (i. e., many spectrometers typically require at least 0.5–1.0g samples — which Is often considered to be quite demanding in the metallic glass preparation field). Furthermore, few NMR experiments had been done for H/M ratios below about 0.1 in any crystalline hydride. In fact, most published NMR results8−15 for the amorphous hydrides have been for samples with hydrogen-to-metal (H/M) atomic ratios around unity.
Enabling refinable cross-host attack investigation with efficient data flow tagging and tracking

Investigating attacks across multiple hosts is challenging. The true dependencies between security-sensitive files, network endpoints, or memory objects from different hosts can be easily concealed by dependency explosion or undefined program behavior (e.g., memory corruption). Dynamic information flow tracking (DIFT) is a potential solution to this problem, but, existing DIFT techniques only track information flow within a single host and lack an efficient mechanism to maintain and synchronize the data flow tags globally across multiple hosts. In this paper, we propose RTAG, an efficient data flow tagging and tracking mechanism that enables practical cross-host attack investigations. RTAG is based on three novel techniques. First, by using a record-and-replay technique, it decouples the dependencies between different data flow tags from the analysis, enabling lazy synchronization between independent and parallel DIFT instances of different hosts. Second, it takes advantage of systemcall-level provenance information to calculate and allocate the optimal tag map in terms of memory consumption. Third, it embeds tag information into network packets to track cross-host data flows with less than 0.05% network bandwidth overhead. Evaluation results show that RTAG is able to recover the true data flows of realistic cross-host attack scenarios. Performance wise, RTAG reduces the memory consumption of DIFT-based analysis by up to 90% and decreases the overall analysis time by 60%-90% compared with previous investigation systems.
Designing in a Logical/Functional Viewpoint

This chapter describes the next phase of the MBSAP process, showing how the top-level architecture from the Operational Viewpoint (OV) is transformed into a functional design of the system in a Logical/Functional Viewpoint (LV). We familiarize the reader with the concepts and techniques involved in carrying the five Perspectives of the OV to the level of a functional architecture, using the E-X example for illustration. We discuss design patterns, making the point that although these arose in the world of software, they have great applicability and payoff when applied to entire systems. For example, we show how Domains are decomposed to the level of actual system components, modeled as Blocks. Similarly, we will take the representation of system behaviors down to individual Blocks or groups of Blocks and begin to look at the timing of system functions. In the Data Perspective, we illustrate the use of Inheritance to specialize Foundation Classes from the Conceptual Data Model into actual system data entities in a Logical Data Model. We introduce the key subject of layered architectures that are organized on the basis of services to create a computing platform on which applications software and user interfaces can be hosted. Next, we show what the LV looks like in the Smart Microgrid. When the LV is complete and fully documented, the system architect can furnish a set of functional specifications and other architecture artifacts to hardware and software developers, procurement and material management specialists, and others to use in implementing, integrating, testing, producing, and sustaining the system. We end the chapter with a discussion of executable architectures and a summary of key points in the LV. Chapter objective: the reader will be able to transform the high-level architecture of an OV into a functional design in an LV with supporting implementation documentation.
A Randomized Controlled Trial of Fluoroscopically-Guided Sacroiliac Joint Injections: A Comparison of the Posteroanterior and Classical Oblique Techniques.

OBJECTIVE The sacroiliac joint can be a primary source of pain or part of multifactorial syndromes. As there is no single historical, physical examination-based, or radiological feature that definitively establishes a diagnosis of sacroiliac joint pain, diagnostic blocks are regarded as the gold standard. The primary aim of this randomized trial was to compare the posteroanterior approach with the classic oblique approach for sacroiliac joint injection based on an assessment of procedure times and patient-reported pain outcomes in subjects scheduled for fluoroscopically-guided sacroiliac joint injections. METHODS Thirty patients were randomized into 2 groups of 15 patients each. The endpoints measured included the total length of procedure time, fluoroscopic time, needling time (length of time the needle was maneuvered), and pre- and postprocedure visual analogue scale pain scores. RESULTS The posteroanterior approach was significantly shorter in terms of procedure time (p=0.03) and needling time (p=0.01) than the oblique approach. Adjusting for body mass index, the mean procedure and needling times were significantly shorter in the posteroanterior group than in the oblique group. CONCLUSION This study of the posteroanterior approach for fluoroscopic-guided sacroiliac joint injection observed shorter times for fluoroscopy, needling, and the overall procedure than were recorded for the widely prevalent oblique approach. This may translate to lower radiation exposure, lower procedural costs, and enhanced ergonomics of fluoroscopicallyguided sacroiliac joint injections.
Concurrent testicular torsion and acute incarcerated inguinal hernia in an adolescent boy

Testicular torsion and acute incarcerated inguinal hernia are both common surgical emergencies in the paediatric population. We present the unusual case of a 16-year-old adolescent boy who presented with both of these conditions concurrently. He had a history of a right inguinal hernia, but ultrasound confirmed a testicular torsion and we employed manual detorsion in the emergency department prior to taking him to the operating room. We successfully salvaged the testicle in addition to performing inguinal hernia reduction and repair. The goal of this report is to emphasise the importance of maintaining a broad differential and early utilisation of ultrasound in the patient with acute groin pain.
Sensitivity to Morphosyntactic Information in Preschool Children With and Without Developmental Language Disorder: A Follow-Up Study.

Purpose This study tested children's sensitivity to tense/agreement information in fronted auxiliaries during online comprehension of questions (e.g., Are the nice little dogs running?). Data from ...
Parents' Perceptions of Professional Support for the Emergent Literacy of Young Children with Visual Impairments.

This survey explored the emergent literacy experiences that parents provided for their children with visual impairments, aged 1–8, as well as the parents’ perceptions of the professional support th...
A 25 year experience of perineal hernia repair

Though perineal hernias remain rare, the incidence is reportedly rising. Secondary to the historical rarity, optimal method of repair and outcomes after repair remain poorly understood. Therefore, we reviewed the past 25 years of our institutional experience with perineal hernia repair. A retrospective review of an institution-maintained database was conducted from January 1, 1994 to January 31, 2018 for patients undergoing perineal hernia repair. Data were collected on patient characteristics, operative technique, and post-operative outcomes. Twenty-one patients (n = 12 male) underwent perineal hernia repair in the study period with two-thirds of the operations occurring in the most recent 7 years (since January 1, 2011). The median time to repair was 13 months (range 2–127) after index operation. The approach was transabdominal in nine, perineal in nine, and combined in three. Mesh, a tissue flap, or a combination of these was used in 19 of the cases and 6 additional abdominal wall hernias were repaired concurrently. Post-operative complications consisted of superficial surgical-site infection (n = 2), infected seroma (n = 1), and a missed enterotomy (n = 1). Follow-up ranged from 0 to 112 months (median 2 months) and only one recurrence was noted. Presentation for repair of perineal hernia has increased at our instituion over the past 2 decades. Outcomes did not differ between the three repair approaches and the choice of mesh or tissue-based repair. Surgeons should base these decisions on hernia complexity and local tissue conditions.
Utilization of an ICU Severity of Illness Scoring System to Triage Patients With ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction.

Objective:To subjectively identify low-risk ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients and triage this low-risk population to an intermediate level of care.Background:Many patients with ST...
Person-place relationships, social capital, and health outcomes at a nonprofit community wellness center

Park-based social capital, with its potential contribution to health outcomes, is the subject of a growing body of research. However, less is known about social capital in the context of community ...
MRI brain tumor classification Employing transform Domain projections

Brain tumors are among the common types of cancers; which affect all ages, genders, and ethnicities. Early detection of the tumors increases the survival chance of the patients as well as life quality. Brain tumor treatment options depend on the type of tumors, as well as their size and location. Therefore, there is a high demand for accurate tumor classification methods. Recently, Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) were used for the problem of brain tumor type classification. However, CNNs typically require large amount of training data, and have large computational cost.In this paper we propose a fast and accurate brain tumor classifier implementation, which employs a feature extractor realized as an appropriately combined Wavelet and Discrete Cosine Transform (DCT) domain representations of the data, that outperforms the existing overly parameterized CNN. The proposed efficient, low dimensional features exploit the power of shallow deep learning models to achieve higher performance with lower computational cost. In Contrast with CNN feature extractors that require parallel computational units such as GPU, our proposed method can be efficiently run on a CPU and reduces the computational time, 10 times compared to a CNN equivalent. We evaluated the proposed method on brain tumor data set and achieved the state of the art performance with the resolution of 256 × 256. We also conducted a comprehensive set of experiments to analyze the effect of each component on the performance.
Children and Screens

Since the advent of television in the 1950s, parents, educators, researchers, and policy makers have been concerned about the effects of screen time on children's development. Then, when computers ...
Wireless Passive Time-of-Flight Respiratory MEMS Flow Rate Sensor

Here we present the first instance of passive wireless MEMS flow rate sensor designed to measure respiratory flow rate and profile using the time-of-flight sensing modality without the need for battery or on-sensor circuits. With a footprint of only 7.2cm2, the sensor can measure human respiratory rate and flow when placed close to the nasal airway using an excitation antenna that transmits an average power of ∼5mW at a ∼75cm distance. To facilitate the time-of-flight sensor, two low loss, high quality factor TPoS MEMS resonators are placed ∼1cm apart and are connected to a small (3.8cm2) planar ground antenna. We were able to measure flow rate and respiration profile of human subject from a distance of 20cm from the base transceiver. In addition to flow rate, we were capable of accurately tracking the respiration profile of the patient and successfully detecting short cessation of breathing events commonly used in diagnosing sleep apnea.
Abstract A42: The search for new targets for mitigation of metal toxicity based on molecular pathways of action: A case study using cadmium and iron

Cadmium is a nonessential heavy metal, ubiquitous in nature with a long half-life in human beings. It is widely used in various industrial applications such as toy and jewelry making and is one of the key constituents of tobacco and cigarette smoke. Cadmium, both at occupational and environmental levels, has been implicated in the causation of cancerous and noncancerous health outcomes. In comparison, iron is an essential metal and is a constituent of hemoglobin and many vital enzymes and proteins and plays a pivotal role in human health. However, increased consumption of iron from fortified diets and iron supplements presents opportunities for exposure to supraphysiologic iron concentrations and toxicity. Additionally, hereditary iron disorders (thalassemia, hereditary hemochromatosis), other disease conditions such as cancer and kidney diseases, and certain environmental exposures (e.g., steel-welding fumes, asbestos, and air pollution) could also lead to iron toxicity with disturbed homeostasis mechanisms affecting intracellular and systemic regulation of iron. Chelation therapy has traditionally been used to mitigate the toxicity of metals. This talk will present the results of systematic reviews and analyses for both cadmium and iron toxicity and highlight the diverse molecular pathways by which these metals can elicit toxic effects. Using the examples of cadmium and iron, I will discuss some recent advances in our understanding of the molecular mechanisms of metal toxicity and how this information can be used to identify novel targets for toxicity mitigation. (The views expressed in this abstract are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of EPA.) Citation Format: Anuradha Mudipalli. The search for new targets for mitigation of metal toxicity based on molecular pathways of action: A case study using cadmium and iron [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Environmental Carcinogenesis: Potential Pathway to Cancer Prevention; 2019 Jun 22-24; Charlotte, NC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Can Prev Res 2020;13(7 Suppl): Abstract nr A42.
Some Basics of Capitalism and Socialism and Implications for Human Liberty, Morality, and Fairness

This essay outlines the big-picture aspects of capitalism and socialism, and uses this overview to discuss human liberty and economic liberty in each system. Additionally, I note that some have argued that capitalism is unfair or immoral and so I consider three specific and common moral standards in this regard. They are: (i) “From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs;” (ii) “People should get what they earn;” and (iii) “’Agreement without conformity’ or ‘conformity without agreement.’” Capitalism is centered on individual rights and private ownership, while socialism awards decision-making powers to government. The former is consistent with human and economic liberty while the latter is not. Moreover, socialism fares poorly in comparison to capitalism regarding the three moral standards.
Is information in deferred tax valuation allowance useful in predicting the firm’s ability to continue as a going concern incremental to MD&A disclosures and auditor’s going concern opinions?

This study explores the role of deferred tax valuation allowances, management’s discussion of ability to continue as a going concern, and auditor going concern opinions in predicting the financial distress of a firm. Mayew et al. (Account Rev 90(4):1621–1651, 2015) show that textual disclosures in the Management, Discussion, and Analysis (MD&A) section of a firm’s SEC 10-K filing predict a firm’s ability to continue as a going concern. This study advances their analysis by including deferred tax valuation allowances in their framework. To the extent valuation allowances incorporate managers’ private information about future profitability, valuation allowances are useful in identifying the transitory nature of losses and thus the going concern status of the firm. Using a sample of firms that filed for bankruptcy over the period 2002–2018, the study shows that increases to valuation allowances are incrementally informative in predicting a firm’s ability to continue as a going concern after considering management’s textual disclosures, linguistic tone of the MD&A, auditor’s going concern opinions, financial statement ratios, and market-based variables. These results extend to three years prior to bankruptcy. The results also speak to the evolving roles of MD&A disclosures and auditor opinions on going concern.
Bomb-produced radiocarbon age validation of Greenland halibut (Reinhardtius hippoglossoides) suggests a new maximum longevity

Abstract Bomb-produced radiocarbon (14C) was used to validate age estimates of Greenland halibut (Reinhardtius hippoglossoides) using a stained otolith cross-section method. The Δ14C in eastern Bering Sea (EBS) Greenland halibut otoliths was compared to both EBS and Gulf of Alaska (GOA) Pacific halibut (Hippoglossoides stenolepis) otolith reference chronologies to evaluate which reference chronology was most suitable, and to quantitatively estimate age determination bias. Using Bayesian analysis and a coupled-function model, the Δ14C in the Greenland halibut showed greatest similarities to the Δ14C in the GOA reference chronology. Although the model indicated under ageing, the bias was not large. Assigning an age less than the true age by more than a one year is about 73%, and less than the true age by more than 2 years is only about 25%. When considering the age at which Greenland halibut is only 7.5% of its maximum longevity (50+ years) and that the probability of underageing by 3 years being less than 5%, it is likely that between-age-reader variation will cancel out any systematic bias that exists in the age determination protocols. Prior to the use of stained cross-sections the maximum age was 38 years, now a maximum age of 53 years is supported.
Cisplatin Resistance and Redox-Metabolic Vulnerability: A Second Alteration.

The development of drug resistance in tumors is a major obstacle to effective cancer chemotherapy and represents one of the most significant complications to improving long-term patient outcomes. Despite early positive responsiveness to platinum-based chemotherapy, the majority of lung cancer patients develop resistance. The development of a new combination therapy targeting cisplatin-resistant (CR) tumors may mark a major improvement as salvage therapy in these patients. The recent resurgence in research into cellular metabolism has again confirmed that cancer cells utilize aerobic glycolysis (“the Warburg effect”) to produce energy. Hence, this observation still remains a characteristic hallmark of altered metabolism in certain cancer cells. However, recent evidence promotes another concept wherein some tumors that acquire resistance to cisplatin undergo further metabolic alterations that increase tumor reliance on oxidative metabolism (OXMET) instead of glycolysis. Our review focuses on molecular changes that occur in tumors due to the relationship between metabolic demands and the importance of NAD+ in redox (ROS) metabolism and the crosstalk between PARP-1 (Poly (ADP ribose) polymerase-1) and SIRTs (sirtuins) in CR tumors. Finally, we discuss a role for the tumor metabolites of the kynurenine pathway (tryptophan catabolism) as effectors of immune cells in the tumor microenvironment during acquisition of resistance in CR cells. Understanding these concepts will form the basis for future targeting of CR cells by exploiting redox-metabolic changes and their consequences on immune cells in the tumor microenvironment as a new approach to improve overall therapeutic outcomes and survival in patients who fail cisplatin.
Complete assignment of the 1H nuclear magnetic resonance spectrum of French bean plastocyanin. Sequential resonance assignments, secondary structure and global fold.

Abstract Sequence-specific proton nuclear magnetic resonance (n.m.r.) assignments for all 99 amino acid residues of French bean Cu(I) plastocyanin are described. The assignments were made using standard sequential assignment procedures and were greatly facilitated by the availability of complete spin system assignments. The characteristic short NOE connectivities between backbone protons, the values of 3 J HNα, and the locations of slowly exchanging backbone amide protons, identify and define the elements of regular secondary structure. Eight well-defined β-strands, a small helical segment and eight tight turns can be identified unambiguously. On the basis of a very extensive set of inter-strand NOE connectivities, the β-strands can be packed into two distinct β-sheets. Over 80% of the residues in the protein can be assigned to some regular element of secondary structure. The n.m.r. data is sufficient to define the chain folding topology, which is that of a Greek key β-barrel, and provides a qualitative description of the global fold. The overall structure of French bean plastocyanin in solution is very similar to that of poplar plastocyanin in crystals. Significant local differences are, however, observed, particularly in the loops connecting some of the β-strands.
Search for rare multi-pion decays of the tau lepton using the BABAR detector

A search for the decay of the {tau} lepton to rare multi-pion final states is performed using the BABAR detector at the PEP-II asymmetric-energy e+e- collider. The analysis uses 232 fb-1 of data at center-of-mass energies on or near the {Upsilon}(4S) resonance. In the search for the {tau}- {yields} 3{pi}-2{pi}+2{pi}{sup 0}{nu}{sub {tau}} decay, we observe 10 events with an expected background of 6.5{sup +2.0}{sub -1.4} events. In the absence of a signal, we calculate the decay branching ratio upper limit {beta}({tau}- {yields} 3{pi}-2{pi}+2{pi}{sup 0}{nu}{sub {tau}}) < 3.4 x 10{sup -6} at the 90% confidence level. This is more than a factor of 30 improvement over the previously established limit. In addition, we search for the exclusive decay mode {tau}- {yields} 2{omega}{pi}-{nu}{sub {tau}} with the further decay of {omega} {yields} {pi}-{pi}+{pi}{sup 0}. We observe 1 event, expecting 0.4{sup +1.0}{sub -0.4} background events, and calculate the upper limit {beta}{tau}-{yields} 2{omega}{pi}-{nu}{sub {tau}} < 5.4 x 10{sup -7} at the 90% confidence level. This is the first upper limit for this mode.
Millimeter wave isolator based on thin film magnetized semiconductors in fully-planar waveguide

This paper demonstrates the possibility of designing a fully planar slotline isolator based on magnetized semiconductor substrates at room temperature. Semiconductors magnetized with dc magnetic bias can be used to overcome some of the limitations of ferrites. The design is based on the non-reciprocal field displacement effect, and is intended for the V and W frequency bands. Two configurations will be proposed and then accessed using 2D (eigenvalue) and 3D finite element based simulations
Social networking and the third age

Difficulties with access to ICT and an inadequate use of them risk to increase exclusion of the elderly population and to make the socio-cultural and inter-generational gap greater than it has ever been. Online learning environments based on social networking could not only give an opportunity for individual cultural growth, but also for conceiving a range of practical applications of great social significance such as conscientious access, search and use of information, fruition of a multitude of web services, socialization within online communities, and the sharing of experiences and resources. This article aims at verifying to what extent targeted initiatives of e-learning, like the one referred to here, may facilitate the elderly to gain benefits from what the present knowledge society offers, enabling them to be aware of and at the same time active participants in the current innovative processest.
Evaluation of the Mitochondrial Respiratory Chain and Oxidative Phosphorylation System Using Blue Native Gel Electrophoresis

The oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) system consists of five multimeric complexes embedded in the mitochondrial inner membrane. They work in concert to drive the aerobic synthesis of ATP. Mitochondrial and nuclear DNA mutations affecting the accumulation and function of these enzymes are the most common cause of mitochondrial diseases and have also been associated with neurodegeneration and aging. For this reason, several approaches for the assessment of the OXPHOS system enzymes have been progressively developed. Based on the methods described elsewhere, we present here the use of blue native gel electrophoresis (BNGE) techniques to routinely assess the OXPHOS system and screen for enzymatic defects in homogenates or mitochondrial preparations from tissues or cultured cells.
The Context of Open Systems Interconnection Within Computer-Based Information Systems

The current development within ISO on the “Reference Model of Open Systems Interconnection” and the supportive Service and Protocol Specifications represent a major contribution, which this paper attempts to place into the larger context of computer-based information systems and to show its relationship to complementary functional sub-architectures.
Myelodysplastic syndromes: from French-American-British to World Health Organization: a commentary.

Nosslinger and coworkers[1][1] are to be complimented on a carefully conducted retrospective survival study of 431 patients with primary myelodysplastic syndromes (MDSs) comparing the original French-American-British (FAB) proposals[2][2] and the recently published World Health Organization (WHO)
Layer-thickness dependence of the conductive properties of Mo/Si multilayers

We report new measurements of the conductance and superconducting transition temperature of a set of Mo/Si multilayers, as a function of the metal layer thickness (from 7\char21{}85 \AA{}) for a constant semiconductor layer thickness of 22 \AA{}. Unlike previously reported measurements, we do not observe oscillations in either the resistivity, resistivity ratio, or the superconducting transition temperature with the metal layer thickness. Rather, we observe monotonic variations in the transport properties as the metal layer thickness increases. The sheet conductance and its change between 10 and 300 K both vary approximately linearly with the metal layer thickness, above a threshold thickness. The conductance starts to grow with metal layer thickness at approximately 10 \AA{}, whereas the temperature coefficient of resistance changes sign at approximately 25 \AA{}, exhibiting a Mooij correlation with a crossover resistivity of 125 \ensuremath{\mu}\ensuremath{\Omega} cm. The observed temperature dependence of the conductance rules out localization as the origin of the negative temperature coefficient of resistance. The conductance data are analyzed using a simple phenomenological model involving transport in interfacial and metallic layers, whose relative contribution to the conductance depends on the metal layer thickness and the temperature. The model is applied to separate two competing contributions that determine the overall temperature dependence of the conductance. We attribute the differences between our measurements and previous measurements to differences in bulk metallic conductivities and interface morphologies, due to differences in thermal evaporation versus sputtering fabrication processes. Our results show that the level and nature of disorder is an important ingredient in any theory that explains the cause of the observed oscillations.
MEMS variable-capacitor phase shifters part II: Reflection-type phase shifters

A novel design procedure for reflection-type phase shifters using capacitive devices is developed. Using this approach, a phase shifter for operation at 26.5 GHz is developed using MEMS variable capacitors reported in Part I of this article. A design optimization procedure is discussed. Design of a CPW hybrid at 26.5 GHz (as needed for this phase shifter) is also discussed. Experimental results validate the design procedure and yield a phase shift of 179.30° at 26.5 GHz. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J RF and Microwave CAE 13: 415–425, 2003.
Clinical application of microarray-based comparative genomic hybridization in prenatal diagnosis

Karyotype analysis on amniotic fluid samples or chorionic villi has limited resolution and there is a delay between sampling and results. Therefore, invasive prenatal diagnosis has been reserved for pregnancies that are at increased risk for a defined genetic disorder, or for common aneuploidies found in liveborns. However, more than 70 disorders are now known to be associated with birth defects or developmental problems that are caused by deletion or duplication of a small chromosomal segment. These conditions and aneuploidies can be detected by array-based comparative genomic hybridization (CGH), which can evaluate the copy number of thousands of genomic regions simultaneously in a single assay. We review current knowledge on benign and pathological genomic copy number variants, principles of array CGH and its use for discovery and diagnosis of genetic diseases. Array CGH has already revolutionized genetic diagnosis in children and adults and is being used increasingly for prenatal diagnosis.
Gas permeabilities in thermally grown silicon dioxide films

Abstract The permeability characteristics of six gases, argon, helium, oxygen, nitrogen, carbon dioxide and hydrogen, in thermally grown silicon dioxide films have been evaluated. By studying the dependence of permeabilities on temperature, pressure and molecular weigth, it has been established that the controlling mechanism of transport is viscous flow through micropores. This implies, contrary to what is commonly assumed, that gas permeabilities in thermally grown silicon dioxide films decreases with an increase in temperature, and suggests that annealing temperatures should be low for favorable gas fluxes.
Polymer waveguide cointegration with microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) for integrated optical metrology

The merging of Microelectromechanical (MEM) devices and optics to create Microoptoelectromechanical (MOEM) systems provides opportunity to create new devices and to expand the functionality and applications of MEMS technology. Planar optical waveguide co-integration with surface micromachined (SMM) structures and inclusion of diffractive optical systems within 3D MEMS chip stack architectures have the potential to enable integrated optical test, metrology, and state feedback functions for complex MEM systems. This paper presents the results of research developing a fabrication process for co-integrating polymer optical waveguides with prefabricated MEMS devices. Multimode air superstrate rectangular optical waveguides have been fabricated using Ultradel optical polyimides over unreleased MEMS dice fabricated using the MultiUser MEMS Process Service (MUMPS) SMM process. These structures serve as the basic building block for exploration of guided wave integrated optical metrology functions for MEMS. Specially designed `split- comb' linear resonator devices enabling coupling of waveguide output to the resonator stage for position measurement are one class of a set of prototype MEMS function MUMPS testbeds under development for both guidance and evaluation of waveguide and free-space IOM efforts. Recently initiated work analytically and experimentally evaluating through-wafer free-space micro-optical systems for IOM will also be outlined.
FRET-based Structural Measurements of the Type 1 Ryanodine Receptor using Site-Specific Fluorophore Labeling to Tetracysteine Motifs

The type 1 ryanodine receptor (RyR1) is an intracellular Ca2+ release channel that mediates skeletal muscle excitation contraction coupling. While the overall shape of RyR1 has been elucidated using cryo electron microscopic reconstructions, fine structural details remain elusive. To better understand the structure of RyR1, we have previously used a fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET)-based method using a fused green fluorescent protein (GFP) donor and a fluorescent acceptor, Cy3NTA that binds specifically to short poly-histidine ‘tags' engineered into RyR1. However, the large size of the GFP fusions and the need to permeabilize cells expressing these constructs (to allow Cy3NTA entry) limits interpretation of the resulting FRET data. To overcome these problems, we used a dodecapeptide sequence containing a tetracysteine (Tc) motif to target the bi-arsenical fluorophores, FlAsH and ReAsH to RyR1. These compounds freely cross intact cell membranes where they then bind covalently to the tetracysteine motif. First, we used this system to conduct FRET measurements in intact cells by fusing a YFP FRET donor to the N-terminus of RyR1 and then targeting the FRET acceptor, ReAsH to an adjacent Tc tag. High levels of energy transfer (∼50%) were observed whereas incubation of ReAsH with a YFP-RyR1 fusion protein lacking the Tc tag resulted in no detectable FRET. We also developed a FRET-based system that did not require GFP fusions into RyR1 by labeling N-terminal Tc-tagged RyR1 with FlAsH, a FRET donor and then targeting the FRET acceptor Cy3NTA to an adjacent His tag. A high degree of energy transfer (∼70%) indicated proper binding of both compounds to these unique recognition sequences in RyR1. Thus, these two systems provide unprecedented flexibility in FRET-based structural determinations of RyR1. Supported by NIH grant R01AR059124.
Multivariate Analysis of Pension Plan Mortality Data

Abstract This paper uses the logistic regression model to examine private pension plan data for 1989–95 collected by the Retirement Plans Experience Committee of the Society of Actuaries. When only one explanatory variable, such as annuity class size, is used in modeling mortality rates, the model provides a reasonable fit to the data. Multiple explanatory variables give less satisfactory results.
Los conflictos etnoambientales de “Pampa Colorada” y “El Tatio” en el salar de Atacama, norte de Chile. Procesos étnicos en un contexto minero y turístico transnacional

En el segundo lustro del 2000, las poblaciones indigenas del salar de Atacama (norte de Chile) fueron protagonistas de dos emblematicos conflictos conocidos como “Pampa Colorada” y “la Defensa del Tatio”. Analizamos en este articulo las relaciones entre los procesos etnicos de los anos noventa experimentados en el salar y las economias transnacionales de enclave, como la mineria y el turismo, que ingresaron en ese mismo periodo a esta region, producto de un cambio en el marco juridico y legal impuesto durante el regimen militar. Nos aproximamos a la complejidad socioetnica del salar desde una perspectiva historica y antropologica con el fin de etnografiar las formas hegemonicas y resistidas de una globalizacion transnacional, la cual –y esa es nuestra tesis central– proviene de las presiones por constituir y reivindicar simultaneamente al salar de Atacama como territorio indigena, minero y turistico.During the second half of the 2000s, indigenous populations of the Salar de Atacama (Northern Chile) played a main role fighting in two significant environmental conflicts known as "Pampa Colorada" and "The Tatio Defense". Both struggles erupted after a decade of multicultural and patrimonial public policies, strategies that run parallel to the enactment process of indigenous and environmental laws during Post-dictatorship Chile. Taking into account these historical events, this paper analyses the relationships amidst ethnic processes experienced by the Salar during the 90s and transnational economies embedded in a complex phenomena of production such as mining and tourism. These production processes were installed there as a consequence of changes within the legal framework during the military regime. From historical and anthropological perspectives, the author of this paper seeks a different approach to understand the social and ethnic complexity of the Salar, doing ethnography of hegemonic and resistance forces which compose a significant part of the transnational globalization. The main thesis of this paper is to reveal the pressure struggles between agenda and structure with the purpose of establishing mechanisms to vindicate the Salar de Atacama as an indigenous and mining/tourist territory at the same time.
Inexpensive stimulus artifact suppressor/signal inverter for use while recording unit activity.

Abstract An inexpensive artifact suppressor/signal inverter has been developed for use with commercially available window discriminators in unit recordings. This device provides a triggered blockade of the signal to prevent erroneous triggering of the window discriminator by the stimulus artifact. The unit is also capable of inverting the signal for easier unit discrimination when the positive component is too close to baseline or there is more than one positive component present.
Guns or Butter: The Presidency of Lyndon Johnson

The presidency of Lyndon Johnson was a pivotal moment in twentieth-century American history. From the decisive social programs of the Great Society, to the triumph of the Civil and Voting Rights Acts, to the catastrophe of the Vietnam War and domestic unrest, it was an era of dramatic accomplishment and wrenching tragedy. In Guns or Butter, renowned historian Irving Bernstein brings those five climactic years of the sixties vividly to life, from the moment Lee Harvey Oswald aimed a rifle from the window of the Texas School Depository to the tense ballot-counting that put Richard Nixon in the White House in 1968. Bernstein's book is a narrative masterpiece, filled with sharply drawn character sketches and swiftly moving accounts of events that range from deals cut in the Senate cloakroom, to police charging after protesters on the streets of Selma, to Vietcong commandos bursting into the American embassy in Saigon. We see Johnson ordering aides Bill Moyers and Richard Goodwin to strip and join him for a skinny-dip in the White House pool, where they formulate the Great Society. And we see a tired, distracted president pacing in his bathrobe around a table model of the besieged Khe Sanh garrison, examining aerial photographs and casualty reports. Equally important, Bernstein offers a deft assessment of Johnson's successes and failures, from his legislative programs to his futile pursuit of the war in Vietnam to his failure to boost Hubert Humphrey's presidential campaign in 1968. The author not only retells the maneuvering that brought the president's plans into law, he also analyzes and explains their impact, from the Voting Rights Act to Medicare. The Great Society, Bernstein concludes, was a triumph, but Johnson's attempt to have both guns and butter, to pursue massive domestic initiatives together with a bitter undeclared war, led to runaway inflation that ultimately undermined his presidency. From the dark moments after Kennedy's assassination in 1963, to the heady days of legislative victories of 1965, to the bloody crescendo of riots, assassinations, and military battles in 1968, Johnson's administration was a defining moment in modern American history. In Guns or Butter, Irving Bernstein brilliantly captures both the events and the meaning of those momentous years. Aside from its historical value, this book has major current significance. The legislative program Newt Gingrich and his Republican colleagues introduced in 1995 was designed to repeal the Great Society. Before doing so, members of Congress and the interested public should understand Lyndon Johnson's vision and the legislation that was enacted during the sixties. Guns or Butter provides that critical information.
Verapamil and Multifocal Atrial Tachycardia

Excerpt To the editor: Although Salerno and coworkers (1) suggest intravenous verapamil may be effective for the treatment of multifocal atrial tachycardia, several notes of caution should be sound...
Electrostatic Interactions Mediate Binding of Obscurin to Small Ankyrin 1: Biochemical and Molecular Modeling Studies

Abstract Small ankyrin 1 (sAnk1; also known as Ank1.5) is an integral protein of the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) in skeletal and cardiac muscle cells, where it is thought to bind to the C-terminal region of obscurin, a large modular protein that surrounds the contractile apparatus. Using fusion proteins in vitro , in combination with site-directed mutagenesis and surface plasmon resonance measurements, we previously showed that the binding site on sAnk1 for obscurin consists, in part, of six lysine and arginine residues. Here we show that four charged residues in the high-affinity binding site on obscurin for sAnk1 (between residues 6316 and 6345), consisting of three glutamates and a lysine, are necessary, but not sufficient, for this site on obscurin to bind to sAnk1 with high affinity. We also identify specific complementary mutations in sAnk1 that can partially or completely compensate for the changes in binding caused by charge-switching mutations in obscurin. We used molecular modeling to develop structural models of residues 6322–6339 of obscurin bound to sAnk1. The models, based on a combination of Brownian and molecular dynamics simulations, predict that the binding site on sAnk1 for obscurin is organized as two ankyrin-like repeats, with the last α-helical segment oriented at an angle to nearby helices, allowing lysine 6338 of obscurin to form an ionic interaction with aspartate 111 of sAnk1. This prediction was validated by double-mutant cycle experiments. Our results are consistent with a model in which electrostatic interactions between specific pairs of side chains on obscurin and sAnk1 promote binding and complex formation.
Development of optical multi-channel connector for rigid waveguide — Fiber optical interconnection

We propose a newly developed optical multi-channel connector to connect a rigid optical waveguide array and an optical fiber array for an on-board optical interconnection. The prototype of a 24-channel optical card edge connector to connect between a rigid multimode waveguide array fabricated onto a substrate and a multi-mode fiber array is manufactured, and two types of optical connection losses are defined and evaluated by the direction of the optical signal. The optical connection losses from the waveguide to the fiber as transmitting function and from the fiber to the waveguide as receiving function, are less than 0.7 dB and 0.6 dB, respectively.
Synaptic and behavioral interactions of oseltamivir (Tamiflu) with neurostimulants

Oseltamivir (Tamiflu), a neuraminidase inhibitor, is widely used for treatment of influenza. Because abnormal behaviors have been observed in some Japanese teenagers following oseltamivir use, its safety has been questioned. Oseltamivir is known to alter neuronal function and behavior in animals, particularly when administered in combination with ethanol. Based on this, it has been hypothesized that interactions of oseltamivir with other drugs may result in altered CNS excitability in this study. It has been found that injection of ephedrine and caffeine overcame inactivity induced by oseltamivir and ethanol but did not alter changes in novelty seeking behavior in a Y-maze test. In ex-vivo hippocampal slices, oseltamivir carboxylate (OTC), an active form of oseltamivir, alters excitability in the absence of ethanol. In slices pretreated with OTC, long-term depression (LTD), a form of synaptic plasticity that is correlated with Y-maze performance was not altered if caffeine or ephedrine was administered individually. However, LTD could not be induced in slices pretreated with OTC if caffeine and ephedrine were administered simultaneously. These observations suggest that combination of oseltamivir with other neurostimulants may alter synaptic plasticity and this may contribute to behavioral changes associated with the drug.
A novel forming technology for tailor-welded blanks

Abstract A promising approach to reduce manufacturing costs, decrease vehicle weight, and improve the quality of automotive body components is through the use of tailor-welded blanks. This term refers to blanks where multiple sheets of material are welded together to create a single blank prior to the forming process. The welding process creates formability concerns in a traditional forming process due to material property changes in the weld and in the heat-affected zone adjacent to the weld. In this paper, a newly contrived clamping method along the weld line of the tailor-welded blank during forming is proposed. Numerical simulation results demonstrate the effectiveness and feasibility of the proposed technology, which reduced the maximum strains along the weld line by approximately one-fifth in the part examined.
Selective slow pathway ablation does not alter enhancement of vagal tone on sinus and atrioventricular nodal function

Abstract In summary, the intact response of the sinus and AV nodes to edrophonium and phenylephrine supports the safety of selective slow pathway ablation in patients with AVNRT.
Listen before you talk, but on the frequency domain

WiFi networks adopt a random backoff mechanism to mediate channel contention. Although effective, backing off has been shown to reduce channel utilization. This is because backing off occurs in the time domain, forcing the channel to remain idle for multiple time slots. This poster proposes to break away from convention, and recreate the time domain operations in the frequency domain. Our basic idea is to pretend that OFDM subcarriers are integer numbers, and hence, counting down from a random backoff value may be equivalent to transmitting on a randomly chosen subcarrier. By looking at all active subcarriers and comparing with one's own chosen subcarrier, it is possible to select the winner of the contention. In fact, a logical ordering among nodes is feasible, enabling a train of scheduled transmissions from only one round of contention. We develop these ideas into a T2F protocol and prototype it on a small testbed of 5 USRPs. Early experimental results confirm its feasibility, along with promising throughput gains of up to 50%.