cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Synthesis of Free-Standing Quasi-Two-Dimensional Polymers

This paper describes a synthesis of free-standing, 10−15-nm-thick polymer films of well-defined lateral size and shape. The three key elements of this procedure are (1) formation by microcontact printing (μCP) of a patterned, self-assembled monolayer (SAM) with hydrophobic regions (alkane-terminated) and adsorption-resistant regions (oligo(ethylene oxide)-terminated); (2) initiation of spatially selective growth of films of poly(electrolyte) multilayers by adsorption on the hydrophobic regions of the patterned SAM; and (3) dry transfer of these films to a water-soluble sacrificial backing, from which the films can be released into solution. This technique exploits the hydrophobic effect as an interaction that can be switched off when it is not needed: during the growth of the films in aqueous buffer, the hydrophobic effect anchors the polymers to the surface; once these films have been dried after synthesis, they are bound to the substrate only by van der Waals interactions and can be transferred nondest...
Transfection ofActinomycesspp. by Genomic DNA of Bacteriophages from Human Dental Plaque

Abstract Bacteriophages that produced turbid or clear zones of lysis in strains ofActinomyceswere isolated from 22 of 124 samples of fresh human dental plaque. All human and nonhuman strains ofActinomyces viscosusorActinomyces naeslundiitested in this study were sensitive to infection by one or more of these phages. In contrast, none of theActinomyces odontolyticus, Actinomyces israelii,orActinomyces bovisstrains tested were susceptible. Results of restriction endonuclease analyses indicated that the genomes of these phages consisted of double-stranded DNA molecules ranging in size between 16 and 60 kbp. Sequence homology under hybridization conditions of high stringency was observed among a few of the isolated phages. A lysogenized isolate ofA. viscosusMG-1 was obtained following infection with a temperate phage, designated φ225. Results of Southern blot analyses indicated that φ225 replicated as a plasmid in the lysogenized strain. Genomic DNA from several lytic phages was used to establish conditions for transfection by electroporation of strains ofActinomycesspp. Efficiencies of DNA transfer ranged from 102to 105plaque-forming units per microgram of DNA were obtained under optimal transfection conditions. The results of these studies demonstrate that transfer of genetic information inActinomycesspp. can be achieved by transfection.
Predation on mud crab megalopae, Panopeus herbstii H. Milne Edwards: effect of habitat complexity, predator species and postlarval densities

Abstract Laboratory experiments were conducted to evaluate the magnitude of predation on megalopae of the Atlantic mud crab, Panopeus herbstii H. Milne Edwards, in four simulated habitats (salt marsh bottom, shell bottom, seaweed patch and sand bottom). Predators included juvenile blue crabs (Callinectes sapidus Rathbun), common killifish (Fundulus heteroclitus (L.)) and grass shrimp (Paleomonetes pugio Holthius). Experiments were run at two different densities of megalopae. Two-way analysis of variance revealed significant effects of predator type and substratum. Proportional mortality was lowest on shell bottom, and blue crabs were the least effective predators, regardless of habitat. Additionally, proportional mortality was lower at low megalopal densities than at high megalopal densities. Decreased predation at low megalopal abundance may afford density-dependent modulation of mud crab populations.
Time-dependent memory deficits of aversively motivated behavior

Abstract Two groups of 24 rats were given 60 trials of active shuttlebox-avoidance training with two CSs, light and tone, which were presented in a pseudorandom order for each S. These groups were subdivided and given retention tests at 5 min, 2 hr, or 24 hr after training. For one group, the contingencies associated with one CS were changed to a passive avoidance condition during testing—if S responded during CS presentation, S was shocked. The contingencies associated with the second stimulus were not changed from original training. The second group was treated the same except that no passive avoidance stimulus was presented during testing. For this group, a typical decrement in avoidance performance was found at the 2-hr retention interval. For the other group, there was an increment in avoidance performance at the 2-hr interval both to the active and to the passive stimuli. These results were interpreted in terms of a memory-decrement hypothesis.
Phasic changes in muscular and reflex activity during non-REM sleep.

Abstract The occurrence of phasic reductions of EMG activity during non-rapid eye movement (non-REM) sleep in man and cat are described, and an analysis of the phenomenon in man is presented. Twelve subjects (ten male, two female) slept a total of 107 nights in the sleep laboratory. Standard recordings were taken of electroencephalographic (EEG), electrooculographic (EOG), and electromyographic (EMG) activity. Suppressions of EMG were observed in all subjects during all stages of non-REM sleep, but occurred with the greatest frequency during stages 2 and 4. The suppressions averaged 250 msec in duration and exhibited a higher frequency in the 10 min immediately prior to REM periods than in the 10 min immediately subsequent to REM periods. The relationship between the H reflex and phasic EMG suppressions was examined in three subjects (two males, one female) who were recorded a total of 9 nights. In addition to standard EEG, EOG, and EMG derivations, the H reflex was elicited by electrical stimulation of the posterior tibial nerve, recorded from the soleus muscle, and viewed on an oscilloscope. The EEG, EMG, and soleus muscle action potentials were recorded on magnetic tape. In all subjects it was found that whenever a stimulus occurred coincidental with a phasic EMG reduction, the reflex response was invariably inhibited. The observation and verification of phasic activity during non-REM sleep in the human subject is related to recent data in the cat, and the application of this physiological event to studies of non-REM mentation is discussed.
A realization of a GaAs FET microwave active filter

A methodology for microwave active filter design has been presented by this author (see ibid., vol.37, no.9, p.1418-24, 1989). The present work serves to verify aspects of this design approach. A practical implementation of a network discussed in that work is given. First, an ideal preliminary design for a second-order bandpass filter is obtained. Next, the nonideal effects of the active devices and the lossy reactive elements are introduced, and then optimization is used to obtain the final design. Finally, the filter is constructed and tested. The measured response is found to agree quite closely with the design specifications. The filter section is constructed in hybrid form with lumped components, and uses two NEC 900100 GaAs FETs. The prototype accurately realizes a second-degree bandpass response with a center frequency of 6 GHz and a pole q of 2.5. >
LISREL modeling: Genetic and environmental influences on IQ revisited

Abstract This article reports a model-fitting analysis of the covariance structure of the world's IQ data as reviewed by Bouchard and McGue (1981). A model is used which includes additive and nonadditive genetic parameters, and shared and nonshared environment parameters that permit different estimates for different types of relatives. The opportunity is taken here to explicate the use of LISREL for such purposes. The results indicate that, when assortative mating is included in the model, nonadditive, as well as additive genetic variance, is important for IQ. Broad heritability is estimated to be .51. Another interesting result is that the influence of shared environment differs in a reasonable way for different types of relatives: twins > siblings > parents and their offspring > cousins.
Diagnostic significance of levels of immunoglobulin a in seminal fluid of patients with prostatic disease

Abstract Immunoglobulin A (IgA) levels in semen and in prostatic fluid of 48 patients with benign and malignant diseases of the prostate were estimated. It is speculated from this small study that the IgA levels rise in benign prostatic hyperplasia; in early adenocarcinoma of the prostate (Stages A and B) the rise is furthered, while in the late stages (Stages C and D) the levels fall.
Adult age differences in the effects of word frequency during visual letter identification

Abstract The experiment reported in this investigation examined whether older adults process both letter-level and word-level information simultaneously during a letter identification task as younger adults apparently do (Allen & Madden, in press; Johnson, Allen, & Strand, in press). Thus, the present study was an attempt to determine if older adults use parallel processing under the same conditions as do young adults. There was a curvilinear relationship between initial-letter identification reaction time (RT) and word frequency for younger adults. That is, letter identification RT for medium-high frequency words was greater than for very-high, medium-low, and low-low frequency words. However, the older adults exhibited longer letter identification RT for low-low frequency words than for very-high and medium-high frequency words. These data are consistent with a model that suggests younger adults process dual representations (i.e., letter-level and word-level) of words, whereas older adults form a unitary, word-level representation of words and then use top-down processing in order to determine the initial letter of words.
Multicomponent structure of the thyrotropin receptor: Relationship to Graves' disease

The thyrotropin receptor is proposed to contain both a glycoprotein and a ganglioside component. Monoclonal antibodies have been developed against soluble thyroid TSH receptor preparations and using Graves' lymphocytes. These show that initial recognition of thyrotropin requires the glycoprotein component, but that monoclonal antibodies to this component block thyrotropin function (blocking antibodies) rather than mimic thyrotropin. Monoclonal antibodies which stimulate thyroid activity in cultured cell systems (cAMP increase) or mouse bioassays, all interact with gangliosides. Using monoclonal antibodies to the glycoprotein component of the thyrotropin receptor, we show that two protein bands, molecular weights 18,000-23,000 and 50,000-55,000, are precipitated from detergent-solubilized preparations. Using a crosslinking procedure with 125I-labeled thyrotropin, we show that thyrotropin binding is related to the disappearance of the 18,000-23,000 molecular weight band on sodium dodecylsulfate gels and the appearance of a 30,000-33,000 molecular weight thyrotropin-membrane component complex. Higher molecular weight thyrotropin-membrane complexes of 75,000-80,000 and 250,000 are visualized when binding studies are performed at pH 7.4 in physiologic medium; larger amounts of the 30,000-33,000 complex are evident at pH 6.0 in a low salt medium. It is thus proposed that the glycoprotein component of the thyrotropin receptor is composed of two subunits with apparent molecular weights of 18,000-23,000 and 50,000-55,000; that the 18,000-23,000 subunit interacts with thyrotropin; and that different receptor subunits can exist depending on in vitro binding conditions. Using monoclonal-stimulating antibodies or natural autoimmune IgG preparations from patients' sera, we show that stimulating antibodies exhibit species-specific binding to human thyroid ganglioside preparations. Individual components or determinants of the thyrotropin receptor structure with specific autoimmune immunoglobulins.
A placebo-controlled trial of memantine for cocaine dependence with high-value voucher incentives during a pre-randomization lead-in period

Abstract Preclinical findings suggest that the inhibition of NMDA glutamatergic neurotransmission may have beneficial effects in the treatment of cocaine dependence. We hypothesized that memantine, a low potency, uncompetitive NMDA receptor antagonist, would be safe and effective in the treatment of cocaine dependence, particularly in preventing relapse to cocaine use in abstinent individuals. Cocaine dependent patients ( N = 112) were enrolled. The trial began with a 2-week placebo lead-in period during which patients received high-value voucher contingency management to induce abstinence. Participants were then randomized to receive either memantine 20 mg bid ( N = 39) or placebo ( N = 42) for 12-weeks in combination with individual relapse-prevention therapy. The randomization was stratified by abstinence status during the lead-in period. The primary outcome was the weekly proportion of days of cocaine use. There were no significant differences in cocaine use outcome between the groups treated with memantine versus placebo. Thus, the efficacy of memantine 40 mg/d for the treatment of cocaine dependence was not supported. Urine-confirmed abstinence during the lead-in period was achieved by 44% of participants, and was a strong predictor of subsequent cocaine abstinence during the trial. This suggests that this clinical trial design, an intensive behavioral intervention during a lead-in period, resolves cocaine dependent patients into two subgroups, one that rapidly achieves sustained abstinence and may not need a medication, and another that displays persistent cocaine use and would most likely benefit from a medication to help induce abstinence. Targeting the latter subgroup may advance medication development efforts.
Comparison of experimental and calculated performance of integral collector-storage solar water heaters

Abstract Experimental measurements of the monthly performance of an integral collector-storage solar water heater for a one-year period are compared with performance predictions using the method of Zollner. The prediction method requires two parameters which were obtained from indoor experiments with a solar simulator. The experimental measurements are also compared with predictions in which the two parameters were obtained from short-term outdoor tests.
Effects of Chronic Nicotine Treatment on the Accumulation of [3H]Tetraphenylphosphonium by Cerebral Cortical Synaptosomes

Abstract: Chronic exposure of rats to nicotine increases the number of [3H]nicotine binding sites in the brain; however, it is not clear whether nicotinic cholinergic receptor function is altered as well. In this study, we have used [3H]tetraphenylphosphonium as a probe of synaptosomal membrane potential to investigate whether exposure to nicotine in vivo alters the ability of cerebral cortical synaptosomes to maintain a potential difference and to depolarize in response to in vitro nicotine. Treatment of rats for 14 days with 0.475 mg of nicotine base/day via subcutaneously implanted minipumps resulted in a decrease in the synaptosomal accumulation of [3H]tetraphenylphosphonium in physiological buffer, corresponding to a decrease in estimated membrane potential from –55 mV to –50 mV. The onset of the decrease in membrane potential occurred after 7 days of in vivo nicotine treatment and was significantly correlated with an increase in [3H]nicotine binding to cerebral cortical synaptosomal (P2) membranes. Nicotine, at in vitro concentrations of 3–1,000 μM, decreased [3H]tetraphenylphosphonium accumulation in cerebral cortical synaptosomes from control animals. When compared to accumulation in buffer alone, in vitro nicotine and other nicotinic agonists did not significantly decrease [3H]tetraphenylphosphonium accumulation in cerebral cortical synaptosomes prepared from rats treated with nicotine in vivo. These studies provide evidence that chronic treatment with nicotine results in an average lower membrane potential in cerebral cortical synaptosomes and in functional down-regulation of the depolarization response to nicotinic cholinergic receptor stimulation.
Constructing a Bridge: An Exploration of Engineering Culture, Design, and Research in Nineteenth-Century France and America

This book investigates how national traditions shape technological communities and their institutions and become embedded in everyday engineering practice. The author examines the work of two suspension bridge designers of the early nineteenth century: the American inventor James Finley and the French engineer Claude-Louis-Marie-Henri Navier. Finley -- who was oriented toward the needs of rural, frontier communities -- designed a bridge that could be easily reproduced and constructed by carpenters and blacksmiths. Navier -- whose professional training and career reflected a tradition of monumental architecture and had linked him closely to the Parisian scientific community -- designed an elegant, costly, and technically sophisticated structure to be built in an elite district of Paris. The author shows how local environments can shape design goals, research practices, and design-to-construction processes.
Voltage collapse prediction using an improved sensitivity approach

Abstract An improved sensitivity model is developed for predicting the proximity of the power system steady state to the voltage stability boundaries. A voltage stability index for evaluating the degree of voltage instability is constructed on the basis of the improved sensitivity model. A voltage collapse predictor for maximum power transfer prediction is modeled using the improved sensitivity model. The improved sensitivity approach can predict voltage collapse and suggest corrective action, thus providing valuable information in both the planning and operating environments. In the model analysis and formulation, the improved sensitivity approach includes the physical constraints on the power system, especially load characteristics, dispatch strategy and reactive power generation limits, which makes the model pertinent to the actual system condition. The model is flexible for different load increase patterns and can be calculated directly using the Newton-Raphson power flow results. Numerical tests indicate the improved sensitivity approach is sensitive and accurate for voltage collapse prediction.
Severe group A streptococcal infection and a pulmonary hemorrhage

Group A beta hemolytic streptococcus (GAS) commonly causes pharyngitis. Antibiotics are used to treat these infections to prevent the development of rheumatic fever. A 4-year old male developed multiple organ system failure, including a life-threatening pulmonary hemorrhage. Blood, urine, and throat cultures were positive for GAS.
Operational control of item flow in versatile manufacturing systems

Analyses of operational control of item flow in versatile manufacturing systems, including control of part-type and mix-ratio, process selection, part entry, and part-to-machine allocation, show significant effects on performance. General principles of operational flow control are indicated.
Modeling of early age loss of lithium ions from pore solution of cementitious systems treated with lithium nitrate

Addition of lithium nitrate admixture to the fresh concrete mixture helps to minimize potential problems related to alkali-silica reaction. For this admixture to function as an effective ASR control measure, it is imperative that the lithium ions remain in the pore solution. However, it was found that about 50% of the originally added lithium ions are removed from the pore solution during early stages of hydration. This paper revealed that the magnitude of the Li{sup +} ion loss is highly dependent on the concentration of Li{sup +} ions in the pore solution and the hydration rate of the cementitious systems. Using these findings, an empirical model has been developed which can predict the loss of Li{sup +} ions from the pore solution during the hydration period. The proposed model can be used to investigate the effects of mixture parameters on the loss of Li{sup +} ions from the pore solution of cementitious system.
Cognitive development, clinical knowledge, and clinical experience related to diagnostic ability.

PURPOSE.To examine the relationship among cognitive development, clinical knowledge, and clinical experience in nursing students. METHODS.A survey of junior and senior baccalaureate nursing students from three Midwestern colleges (N = 55). FINDINGS.Students' diagnostic ability increased as they gained clinical experience and clinical knowledge. However, students failed to identify many nursing diagnoses and demonstrated only moderate levels of cognitive development. CONCLUSIONS.Nurse educators and nursing students need to change their approaches to teaching and learning to enhance students' diagnostic ability and cognitive development.
A Radical Vision of Personal Rights

In the latter half of the twentieth century, Americans' devotion to individualism has dominated the cultural landscape. Narcissistic preoccupations and quests for identity have stressed the individual's psychological life, often at the expense of social structures and political ideals. Selfknowledge and self-awareness have sold more books than sex has. The youth culture has insisted on "doing your own thing" and "finding yourself." Self-realization has replaced religion. In philosophy, a similar resurgence of interest in individualism has developed around the importance of autonomy; in law, around an individual right of privacy. The result has been a turning away from traditional, widely accepted social values, such as the sanctity of the family and the stability of the community. In traditional society, the individual often had to sublimate personal wishes or interests to the broader demands of the group. Insistence on individualism often made one an outsider. The true individual was, then, the exception. This new vision proposes that we are or can be (and should be) a nation of fully realized individuals, rationally pursuing our individual, exciting destinies. In Sex, Drugs, Death and the Law, David A. J. Richards, a professor at New York University School of Law, advocates personal autonomy as a supreme value. Richards's vision of radical autonomyone is tempted to say autonomy unchained and unrestrained-is rooted in nonutilitarian theories of rights, the constitutional right of privacy, and the unwritten constitution. His book brings together and
Polymer micro-heat-pipe for InP/InGaAs integrated circuits

This paper reports a polymer-based technology suitable for implementation of micro-heat-pipes for low temperature InP/InGaAs based processes. Many published approaches for implementing heat pipes at micro scale require wafer-to-wafer bonding and sintering. The temperature required for standard wafer-to-wafer bonding or sintering is normally in excess of 500/spl deg/C and is beyond the thermal budget of many low temperature InP/InGaAs-based processes. This technology enables a heat-pipe to be miniaturized with mainly organic materials at a temperature below 110/spl deg/C, eliminating the needs for high-temperature wafer-to-wafer bonding and sintering. Measurements have been carried out and are presented to substantiate this presentation.
Onset and Progression of Disruptive Behavior Problems among Community Boys and Girls: A Prospective Longitudinal Analysis.

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, oppositional defiant disorder, and conduct disorder are the most common forms of psychopathology seen among community youth. This study investigated prospective symptomatology of these disruptive behavior disorders from ages 5 though 14 in an at-risk community-based sample of 170 boys and girls born to adolescent mothers. The prevalence of problems was elevated, with boys and girls generally experiencing equally high prevalence rates. Intraindividual instability was common, and rates of co-occurrence were low. The fluctuating symptomatology in this community-based sample was in contrast to the clinical literature, which indicates higher rates of stability and comorbidity. Findings are discussed in terms of the unique set of results that stemmed from this prospectively assessed at-risk community-based sample of boys and girls.
Reconstructing the subject of human rights

Recent philosophical criticisms of individual rights and the post modern deconstruction of the sovereign subject raise serious questions for the defense of universal human rights. This paper critic...
Quantitative modeling of the neural representation of adjective-noun phrases to account for fMRI activation

Recent advances in functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) offer a significant new approach to studying semantic representations in humans by making it possible to directly observe brain activity while people comprehend words and sentences. In this study, we investigate how humans comprehend adjective-noun phrases (e.g. strong dog) while their neural activity is recorded. Classification analysis shows that the distributed pattern of neural activity contains sufficient signal to decode differences among phrases. Furthermore, vector-based semantic models can explain a significant portion of systematic variance in the observed neural activity. Multiplicative composition models of the two-word phrase outperform additive models, consistent with the assumption that people use adjectives to modify the meaning of the noun, rather than conjoining the meaning of the adjective and noun.
Imipramine-Associated Hyperpigmentation

OBJECTIVE:To inform clinicians of the potential for severe and persistent facial hyperpigmentation with the long-term use of imipramine.CASE SUMMARY:A 65-year-old white male veteran with a history of paranoid schizophrenia was referred to the psychiatry service by a dentist who thought that the patient was both cyanotic and psychotic. The history and biopsy results indicated the possibility of imipramine-associated hyperpigmentation, only the second reported case in a male patient. The presentation was complex, with a history of neuroleptic exposure and multiple signs of parkinsonism. A brain single photon-emission computed tomography scan demonstrated frontal lobe hypermetabolism and bilateral caudate hypermetabolism, which normalized 14 months later. Despite discontinuation of imipramine, the patient continued to appear cyanotic, leading to worsening social isolation. He became known as “the man with the purple face.” On his rare ventures outside the home, he was embarrassed by sporadic calls to 911 by ...
Breaking through a phylogenetic impasse: a pair of associated archaea might have played host in the endosymbiotic origin of eukaryotes

For over a century, the origin of eukaryotes has been a topic of intense debate among scientists. Although it has become widely accepted that organelles such as the mitochondria and chloroplasts arose via endosymbiosis, the origin of the eukaryotic nucleus remains enigmatic. Numerous models for the origin of the nucleus have been proposed over the years, many of which use endosymbiosis to explain its existence. Proposals of microbes whose ancestors may have served as either a host or a guest in various endosymbiotic scenarios abound, none of which have been able to sufficiently incorporate the cell biological as well as phylogenetic data which links these organisms to the nucleus. While it is generally agreed that eukaryotic nuclei share more features in common with archaea rather than with bacteria, different studies have identified either one or the other of the two major groups of archaea as potential ancestors, leading to somewhat of a stalemate. This paper seeks to resolve this impasse by presenting evidence that not just one, but a pair of archaea might have served as host to the bacterial ancestor of the mitochondria. This pair may have consisted of ancestors of both Ignicoccus hospitalis as well as its ectosymbiont/ectoparasite ‘Nanoarchaeum equitans’.
A comparison between optically active CdZnSe/ZnSe and CdZnSe/ZnBeSe self-assembled quantum dots: effect of beryllium

The composition and size of optically active CdxZn1KxSe/ZnSe quantum dots are estimated with a previously developed method. The results are then compared with those obtained for CdxZn1KxSe/Zn0.97Be0.03Se QDs. We show that introducing Be into the barrier material enhances both Cd composition and quantum size effect of optically active quantum dots.
Conjunctival amelanotic malignant melanoma arising in primary acquired melanosis sine pigmento

Background: The authors describe an amelanotic malignant melanoma of the conjunctiva in association with primary acquired melanosis (PAM) sine pigmento, and highlight the clinical and pathologic features of this rare entity. Methods: Histopathologic and immunohistochemical studies were performed on a conjunctival tumor in a 54-year-old white woman. Study Design: Case report. Results: Histopathologic examination revealed an invasive amelanotic melanoma of the conjunctiva, with anterior orbital extension arising from intraepithelial dysplastic melanocytes that lacked melanin pigment (PAM sine pigmento). Both the malignant melanoma cells and the intraepithelial dysplastic melanocytes in the areas of PAM exhibited S-100 and HMB-45 positivity. The patient underwent an orbital exenteration that disclosed tumor within the anterior orbit inferiority. Conclusions: Amelanotic invasive malignant melanoma can arise in association with PAM sine pigmento, as seen in our patient who had orbital invasion necessitating exenteration. This aggressive form of conjunctival melanoma is often associated with a poor prognosis and risk of metastatic disease. Absence of conjunctival pigmentation in PAM sine pigmento prevents early clinical detection of this variant of PAM. This lack of pigmentation also makes clinical diagnosis virtually impossible, and diagnosis can only be established histopathologically. Awareness of this nonpigmented variety of PAM is crucial for early recognition and appropriate management of the associated melanoma.
Prevalence of Tree Regeneration by Sprouting and Seeding Along a Rainfall Gradient in Hawai'i

Drought stress in tropical dry forests is thought to result in greater asexual regeneration via vegetative sprouting (e.g., basal, root, and branch layering) than occurs in moister tropical forests. We tested this hypothesis by examining the prevalence of tree sprouting and seeding in tropical forests located along a rainfall gradient on the island of Hawai’i. Additionally, we examined the potential for novel disturbance, feral pig Sus scrofa rooting and trampling, to alter patterns in tree regeneration mode. We found greater sprouting (in terms of relative density and basal area) in dry forests than in mesic and wet forests, supporting the hypothesis. We also found that feral pig disturbance is negatively correlated with the relative density and basal area of seedlings in wet forests, but is positively correlated with the relative importance of sprouting, and the richness and diversity of sprouting species. Our results suggest rainfall regimes may be an important factor controlling broad-scale patterns in tree regeneration mode, and that exotic ungulates can significantly modify such patterns with potential consequences for the structure and dynamics of tree populations and communities.
Anonymity-Preserving Location Data Publishing

The advances in wireless communication and positioning technology have made it possible to collect large volumes of personal location data. While such data are useful to many organizations, making them public accessible is generally prohibited, because location data may imply sensitive private information. This paper investigates the challenges of publishing location data while preserving the location privacy of data subjects. Since location data itself may lead to subject reidentification, simply removing user identity of location data is not sufficient for anonymity preservation. To address this problem, this paper presents a novel technique that reduces location resolution to achieve a desired level of anonymity protection. The new scheme ensures K-anonymity protection and allows location data to be published as accurate as possible. More importantly, it is designed to support efficient publishing of large volumes of location data.
The CaaX Proteases, Afc1p and Rce1p, Have Overlapping but Distinct Substrate Specificities

Many proteins that contain a carboxyl-terminal CaaX sequence motif, including Ras and yeast a-factor, undergo a series of sequential posttranslational processing steps. Following the initial prenylation of the cysteine, the three C-terminal amino acids are proteolytically removed, and the newly formed prenylcysteine is carboxymethylated. The specific amino acids that comprise the CaaX sequence influence whether the protein can be prenylated and proteolyzed. In this study, we evaluated processing of a-factor variants with all possible single amino acid substitutions at either the a1, the a2, or the X position of the a-factor Ca1a2X sequence, CVIA. The substrate specificity of the two known yeast CaaX proteases, Afc1p and Rce1p, was investigated in vivo. Both Afc1p and Rce1p were able to proteolyze a-factor with A, V, L, I, C, or M at the a1 position, V, L, I, C, or M at the a2 position, or any amino acid at the X position that was acceptable for prenylation of the cysteine. Eight additional a-factor variants with a1 substitutions were proteolyzed by Rce1p but not by Afc1p. In contrast, Afc1p was able to proteolyze additional a-factor variants that Rce1p may not be able to proteolyze. In vitro assays indicated that farnesylation was compromised or undetectable for 11 a-factor variants that produced no detectable halo in the wild-type AFC1 RCE1 strain. The isolation of mutations in RCE1 that improved proteolysis of a-factor-CAMQ, indicated that amino acid substitutions E139K, F189L, and Q201R in Rce1p affected its substrate specificity.
Unc119, a Novel Activator of Lck/Fyn, Is Essential for T Cell Activation

The first step in T cell receptor for antigen (TCR) signaling is the activation of the receptor-bound Src kinases, Lck and Fyn. The exact mechanism of this process is unknown. Here, we report that the novel Src homology (SH) 3/SH2 ligand–Uncoordinated 119 (Unc119) associates with CD3 and CD4, and activates Lck and Fyn. Unc119 overexpression increases Lck/Fyn activity in T cells. In Unc119-deficient T cells, Lck/Fyn activity is dramatically reduced with concomitant decrease in interleukin 2 production and cellular proliferation. Reconstitution of cells with Unc119 reverses the signaling and functional outcome. Thus, Unc119 is a receptor-associated activator of Src-type kinases. It provides a novel mechanism of signal generation in the TCR complex.
Some architectural and compilation issues in the design of hierarchical shared memory multiprocessors

Latency and synchronization overheads have been identified as two fundamental problems in large-scale shared memory multiprocessors. The authors discuss architectures based on hierarchical memories which exploit the notion of partial sharing of variables to significantly reduce latency and synchronization overheads. They examine a particular class of architectures, the tree-structured hierarchical memory multiprocessor architectures (THMM), by suggesting an implementation and considering the compile-time parallelization of nonnested iterative loops with constant dependence distance and unit stride. They compare speedup figures for parallelized loops on the THMM and on a conventional memory multiprocessor. >
Structural and optical properties of 70-keV carbon ion beam synthesized carbon nanoclusters in thermally grown silicon dioxide

The structural and optical properties of carbon nanoclusters formed in thermally grown silicon dioxide film via the ion beam synthesis process have been investigated. A low-energy (70 keV) carbon ion beam (C−) at a fluence of 3 × 1017 atoms/cm2 was used for implantation into a thermally grown silicon dioxide layer (500 nm thick) on a Si (100) wafer. Several parts of the implanted samples were subsequently annealed in a gas mixture (4 % H2 + 96 % Ar) at 900 °C for different time periods. The as-implanted and annealed samples were characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and photoluminescence spectroscopy (PL). The carbon ion implantation depth profile was simulated using a widely used Monte Carlo-based simulation code SRIM-2012. Additionally, the elemental depth profile of the implanted carbon along with host elements of silicon and oxygen were simulated using a dynamic ion–solid interaction code T-DYN, which incorporates the effects of the surface sputtering and gradual change in the elemental composition in the implanted layers due to high-fluence ion implantation. The elemental depth profile obtained from the XPS measurements matches closely to the T-DYN predictions. Raman measurements indicate the formation of graphitic phases in the annealed samples. The graphitic peak (G-peak) was found to be increased with the annealing time duration. In the sample annealed for 10 min, the sizes of the carbon nanoclusters were found to be 1–4 nm in diameter using TEM. The PL measurements at room temperature using a 325-nm laser show broad-band emissions in the ultraviolet to visible range in the as-implanted sample. Intense narrow bands along with the broad bands were observed in the annealed samples. The defects present in the as-grown samples along with carbon ion-induced defect centers in the as-implanted samples are the main contributors to the observed broad-band luminescence centered around 2.4 and 2.9 eV. The intense narrow peaks observed in the PL spectra centered on ~2.67 and 2.8 eV with full width at half maxima ≤ 150 meV are believed to be mainly due to the quantum size effects of the carbon nanoclusters formed in the annealed samples. The relative intensities of the narrow peaks are seen to be changing with the annealing time interval. This may be due to the change in the size distribution of the carbon nanoclusters.
Computational electromagnetics for a retinal prosthesis to restore partial vision in the blind

This paper addresses the latest advancements in the application of computational electromagnetics and smart telemetry systems to the development of a retinal prosthesis to restore the sight in the blind. Numerical methods and models have been developed to: (a) accurately characterize the thermal increase in the human head and eye associated with the operation of the retinal prosthesis; (b) determine the current spread in the retinal tissue associated with the implanted microstimulator array; and (c) design a high data rate smart telemetry system with extended capabilities with respect to traditional telemetry systems.
Permselectivity Characteristics of Supported Ceramic Alumina Membranes

Abstract Supported gamma-Al2O3 ceramic membranes have been prepared by sol-gel techniques from alkoxide precursors. Permeability and rejection characteristics of these membranes have been used to determine the effect of sol concentration on membrane thickness. Rejection coefficients of poylethyleneglycols of different molecular weights and of several protein streams of possible industrial interest were also determined. Permeabilities were also measured for several feedstocks. Initial studies of protocols for regenerating membranes have been carried out.
Is Response to Intervention Good Policy for Specific Learning Disability

AbstractThe reauthorized Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEA) established new provisions for specific learning disability (SLD) identification, including: (a) no longer requiring consideration of IQ–achievement discrepancy and (b) permitting response to intervention (RTI) as part of SLD evaluation procedures. We discuss several policy implications of these new regulations by considering the original construct of SLD, the still “experimental” status and implementation of RTI, the closer alignment of RTI objectives with No Child Left Behind than former IDEA regulations, and the shift in focus from serving as a special education identification procedure to a general education instructional procedure. We conclude by proposing several recommendations for the appropriate inclusion of both RTI and psychometric evaluation within the continuum of SLD identification procedures.
Hematologic malignancies and Klinefelter syndrome. a chance association

Klinefelter syndrome was first described in 1942 as an endocrine disorder characterized by gynecomastia, hypogonadism, small testes, and elevated levels of follicle-stimulating hormone. An extra X chromosome (i.e., 47,XXY) was subsequently demonstrated in these patients and an increased incidence of leukemia and lymphoma has been described. We report a retrospective study of a series of unselected patients with Klinefelter syndrome diagnosed by cytogenetic studies and the occurrence of hematologic malignancies. The literature is also reviewed.
Simplifying the Complex Complicates Our Findings: Understanding Marriage, Singlehood, and Health

Using a sample of same-sex and different-sex couples, Umberson and Kroeger (in chapter “Gender, Marriage, and Health for Same-Sex and Different-Sex Couples: The Future Keeps Arriving”) explore gendered patterns of marriage, marital quality, and health. Understanding the social and political milieu in which individuals, families, and couples are embedded is a critical component of family science, thus, upon reading Umberson and Kroeger’s work, context immediately came to mind. Context was largely missing. This chapter focuses on context, and it also addresses singlehood , longevity of married couples, and diversity. Although those issues are distinct, all could easily fall under the umbrella of context. Relationships are best understood when the context in which they are embedded is taken into consideration. A salient component of context, as related to the study presented by Umberson and Kroeger is generational effects; the sample consists of a mixture of Generation Xers and baby boomers . These two distinct generations were likely influenced by the prevailing sociopolitical attitudes of their respective times regarding sexuality, sex, and gender roles. Generational differences in attitudes and beliefs can be stark, and therefore must be considered.
How engineering students define ‘Social Responsibility’

This paper presents results from engineering student responses to the open ended question “Write a few sentences explaining how you define ‘Social Responsibility’.” Through emergent coding methods it was found that students were most likely to use a disassociated, third person voice in their definitions, as opposed to a first person voice where they included themselves in the group that help the responsibility. The responsibility that students talked about was most commonly held toward a general community or society, and occasionally toward the environment or the world as a whole. In describing how the responsibility manifested itself, students talked most often about giving back or helping others, but also about a responsibility to conduct acts of service or charity. Finally, students infrequently directly cited a source of the responsibility, though some described ethical or moral foundations while others talked about an obligation due to possessing certain skills or privileges. Few differences were found in these definitions based on gender, academic rank, or major. Understanding how engineering student's view their social responsibility as both citizen and engineer is crucial towards shaping educational approaches to develop holistic engineers, able to work across disciplinary and cultural divides toward solutions of complex social issues.
Security-Aware Design Methodology and Optimization for Automotive Systems

In this article, we address both security and safety requirements and solve security-aware design problems for the controller area network (CAN) protocol and time division multiple access (TDMA)-based protocols. To provide insights and guidelines for other similar security problems with limited resources and strict timing constraints, we propose a general security-aware design methodology to address security with other design constraints in a holistic framework and optimize design objectives. The security-aware design methodology is further applied to solve a security-aware design problem for vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communications with dedicated short-range communication (DSRC) technology. Experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness of our approaches in system design without violating design constraints and indicate that it is necessary to consider security together with other metrics during design stages.
Insight into Varied Reaction Pathways for O–H and N–H Bond Activation by Bis(imino)pyridine Complexes of Al(III)

The activation of O–H bonds in alcohol substrates is the initial step in acceptor-less catalytic dehydrogenation of alcohols. At room temperature, the bis(imino)pyridine-ligated aluminum hydride compound, denoted as (PhI2P2–)AlH (1), activates O–H bonds in alcohols through a metal–ligand cooperative pathway to afford the phenoxide and benzyloxide complexes with protonated ligand: (PhHI2P1–)Al(OR)H, where R = Ph, Bn. Thermochemical measurements indicate that the amido nitrogen of the protonated ligand in (PhHI2P1–)Al(OPh)H is far more basic (pKa = 36–45) than the analogous proton for the previously reported (PhHI2P1–)Al(NHPh)H (pKa = 10–14), and this is consistent with reactivity we observe, where (PhHI2P1–)Al(OPh)H complexes do not intramolecularly liberate H2. The inability of (PhHI2P1–)Al(OR)H to release H2 upon heating precludes access to a four-coordinate Al center and results in an inability of 1 to dehydrogenate benzyl alcohol to benzaldehyde. These observations also lend further support to the mech...
Association of Serum Erythropoietin With Cardiovascular Events, Kidney Function Decline, and Mortality The Health Aging and Body Composition Study

Background— Studies suggest that in patients with heart failure (HF), high serum erythropoietin is associated with risk of recurrent HF and mortality. Trials of erythropoietin-stimulating agents in persons with kidney disease have also suggested an increased incidence of adverse clinical events. No large studies of which we are aware have evaluated the association of endogenous erythropoietin levels with clinical outcomes in the community-living older adults. Methods and Results— Erythropoietin concentration was measured in 2488 participants aged 70–79 years in the Health, Aging and Body Composition Study. Associations of erythropoietin with incident HF, coronary heart disease, stroke, mortality, and ≥30% decline in estimated glomerular filtration rate were examined using Cox proportional hazards and logistic regression over 10.7 years of follow-up. Mean (SD) age was 75 (3) years and median (quartile 1, quartile 3) erythropoietin was 12.3 (9.0, 17.2) mIU/mL. There were 503 incident HF events, and each doubling of serum erythropoietin was associated with a 25% increased risk of incident HF 1.25 (95% confidence interval 1.13, 1.48) after adjusting for demographics, prevalent cardiovascular disease, cardiovascular disease risk factors, kidney function, and serum hemoglobin. There was no interaction of serum erythropoietin with chronic kidney disease or anemia ( P >0.50). There were 330 incident coronary heart disease events, 161 strokes, 1112 deaths, and 698 outcomes of ≥30% decline in estimated glomerular filtration rate. Serum erythropoietin was not significantly associated with these outcomes. Conclusions— Higher levels of endogenous erythropoietin are associated with incident HF in older adults. Studies need to elucidate the mechanisms through which endogenous erythropoietin levels associate with specific outcomes.