cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
DIETA Y USO DE ANIMALES EN EL POTOSÍ COLONIAL

Resumen es: La colonizacion espanola de la region de Potosi, Bolivia, fue acompanada por cambios en la produccion de alimentos, su distribucion y en las practicas lo...
Multiple domain dynamics simulated with coupled level sets

We adapt the level-set method to simulate epitaxial growth of thin films on a surface that consists of different reconstruction domains. Both the island boundaries and the boundaries of the reconstruction domains are described by different level-set functions. A formalism of coupled level-set functions that describe entirely different physical properties is introduced, where the velocity of each level-set function is determined by the value of the other level-set functions.
HEMATOGENOUS AND OBSTRUCTIVE ICTERUS : EXPERIMENTAL STUDIES BY MEANS OF THE ECK FISTULA.

Normal and Eck fistula dogs react in a similar manner to the intravenous injection of hemoglobin obtained from laked red cells of the same animal. Hemoglobin appears in the urine after a few minutes and bile pigments in one to one and one half hours. In this simple type of hematogenous jaundice the reaction is in no way influenced by shutting out the portal blood from the liver and cutting down its blood supply to about 25 per cent. of normal. In a second type of hematogenous jaundice produced by chloroform anesthesia, which produces central liver necrosis, there is no essential difference between the normal and Eck fistula dog. The Eck fistula dog, as a rule, is more resistant to this poison, but, given a definite liver necrosis, the jaundice developing will reach its maximum on the second day as in the normal animal. This jaundice must be explained in part by capillary biliary obstruction, but in part by a hemolysin formed in the injured liver cells (Joannovics and Pick). Simple obstruction of the common duct when combined with an Eck fistula gives rise to a definite low grade icterus with bile pigment constantly present in the urine. Under these conditions after doubly ligating and cutting the common duct with separation of the cut ends, the lumen of the duct may be established and bile may enter the intestine by means of a fistulous tract between the cut ends of the bile duct. The formation of bile and bile pigments is much less in an Eck fistula dog than in a normal animal and consequently the icterus is much less intense. This is probably due to a lessened activity of the liver cells because of decreased blood supply. This observation does not harmonize with the current view that bile pigments are formed solely from hemoglobin, as there is no evidence of more hemolysis in a normal than in an Eck fistula dog. This suggests that the bile pigment may be formed in part, at least, from other substances than hemoglobin, and, further, that bile pigment formation normally may depend in part upon the functional activity of the liver cell rather than upon the amount of hemoglobin supplied to it.
Leucite content of selected dental porcelains

Leucite is a major crystalline component of dental porcelains. The presence of tetragonal leucite in dental porcelains increases their coefficients of thermal expansion due to its high coefficient of thermal expansion (20-25 x 10(-6)/degrees C). This is particularly useful for those porcelains designed for bonding to precious metals and nickel alloys. The purpose of this study was to determine the leucite content of selected commercial dental porcelains in relation to their coefficient of thermal expansion values. The weight fraction of leucite was determined with quantitative x-ray diffraction using copper as an internal standard. Coefficient of thermal expansion values were determined using a thermal dilatometric analyzer. Five commercial body porcelains were studied. Leucite was not detected in samples of Vitadur N and Duceram LFC. An ANOVA showed that there was a significant difference in the weight fraction of leucite for Silhouette, Ceramco II, and Optec HSP porcelains. Linear regression revealed a correlation (R = 0.91) between weight fraction of leucite and the coefficient of thermal expansion for those samples containing leucite. Duceram LFC, which is recommended by the manufacturer for use with metals and leucite-containing porcelains, had no detectable leucite although the coefficient of thermal expansion was found to be 13.2 +/- 0.4 x 10(-6)/degrees C at 25-472 degrees C. A low glass transition temperature contributed to the high average coefficient of thermal expansion value.
Heel neuroma: the enigma of recalcitrant heel pain and an innovative approach highlighting sixty surgical cases and a review of two hundred and fifty-seven symptomatic but non-surgical cases

Abstract The authors report resolution of recalcitrant heel pain by describing new insights into innervation of the heel. They elucidate biomechanical mechanisms responsible for entrapment of this innervation and explain the diagnostic and therapeutic techniques necessary to manage this etiology, including an innovative therapeutic approach. A one-to-ten year follow-up of the course of 317 heel pain syndrome patients was conducted. The first 216 cases were treated by basic technology providing a cure, with 161 patients responding to a conservative approach and 55 requiring surgery. The final 101 cases received Diapulse i combined with their conservative care and 96 responded while only five required surgery. A 95% success rate of cure was achieved using the new technology without surgery. The sixty surgical cases are proposed as confirmation of the diagnosis because all are accompanied by irrefutable pathological reports. All surgical cases preoperatively were in turn subjected to the same diagnostic and therapeutic protocols as the non-surgical.
A random choice method for the Stefan problem

Abstract A numerical method is presented for the solution of the one-dimentional Stefan problem. Numerical results are presented for examples with straight and curved moving boundary trajectories.
Vimentin phosphorylation by p37mos protein kinase in vitro and generation of a 50-kDa cleavage product in v-mos-transformed cells

Previous studies have shown that vimentin, an intermediate filament protein, is reduced in amount in cells acutely infected with Moloney mouse sarcoma virus (Mo-MuSV). In this report, we provide evidence for specific alteration of vimentin in Mo-MuSV-transformed cells and demonstrate specific phosphorylation of vimentin by the p37mos protein kinase in vitro. Specificity of the phosphorylation reaction was demonstrated by using viral mos proteins encoded by various isolates of Mo-MuSV and p37mos produced in yeast. A phosphotransfer domain mutant lacking the ability to autophosphorylate p37mos failed to phosphorylate vimentin. Similarly, vimentin was not phosphorylated by the temperature-sensitive P85gag-mos kinase derived from infected cells maintained at the restrictive temperature. In ts110 MuSV-transformed NRK cells, vimentin was phosphorylated at both the permissive and nonpermissive temperatures for transformation. However, at the permissive temperature, an altered form of vimentin (about 50 kDa) with a more basic isoelectric point and lower apparent molecular weight was detected. This 50-kDa product was highly phosphorylated as compared to the bulk of the normal 55-kDa form of vimentin. On the basis of its mobility in two-dimensional gels, the 50-kDa form of vimentin should lack the carboxy terminus. This type of alteration could conceivably modulate the function of vimentin filaments in the transformed cell.
Flow measurements in an atherosclerotic curved, tapered femoral artery model of man.

Flow visualization and pressure measurements were made for physiological conditions in a model derived from a femoral angiorgram of a patient with lesion localization on the inner curvature wall and with vessel taper. Effects of curvature and taper were evaluated separately in other curved, tapered, smooth and straight, tapered, smooth models. Double helical secondary flow patterns were modified by plaque on the inner wall, and flow separations were observed between plaques at higher flow rates and Reynolds numbers. Pressure drop data for the plaque simulation model were similar in trend with Reynolds number as for the smooth model, but flow resistances were 25 to 40 percent higher. Significant pressure drops were measured due to the mild taper which could be estimated from momentum considerations, and smaller increased pressure drops were found due to curvature effects at the higher Dean numbers. Flow resistances for in vivo pulsatile flow simulation were about 10 percent higher than for steady flow for the plaque model, whereas no differences were observed for the smooth model.
Requirements of biological detection technologies by municipal water laboratories

Most of the biodetection technologies available on the market have the potential to test water samples for pathogens. Yet municipal water laboratories have been challenging markets for biodetection systems. This manuscript will provide an overview of biodetection technologies that might be useful to municipal water facilities, the types of pathogens and indicators that water laboratories are generally interested in detecting and hardware requirements for biological detection systems that may potentially be used in a municipal water laboratory.
Plasma cholecystokinin levels in Prader-Willi syndrome and obese subjects.

The cardinal feature of individuals with Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) is severe hyperphagia-mediated obesity resulting from a faulty satiety mechanism. PWS is the most common genetic cause of marked obesity. Cholecystokinin (CCK) is a 33-amino-acid peptide found in high levels in the gut and brain involved in mediating the satiety response to meals. Free fatty acids (FFA) are responsible for the stimulation of CCK release after a fatty meal, and CCK and plasma FFA levels rise in tandem in normal individuals. Fasting plasma CCK levels were measured by radio-immunoassay in 33 PWS subjects with a mean age of 22.2 years +/- 8.1 years and 24 obese control subjects without a known cause of their obesity with a mean age of 28.7 years +/- 12.9 years. Consistent with previous findings, neither fasting plasma FFA levels (617.5 versus 486.8 microm/mL) or CCK levels (21.0 versus 19.1 pg/mL) were significantly different in PWS or control subjects, respectively. However, there was a significant correlation between fasting plasma FFA and CCK levels in obese subjects (r = 0. 64, P < 0.01), this correlation was completely lacking in PWS subjects (r = -0.06, P = 0.79). This difference in correlation coefficients constitutes a large effect. There were no significant effects observed for genetic subtypes (15q11-q13 deletion or maternal disomy 15), body mass index, percentage of fat, plasma levels of insulin, C-peptide, glucagon or leptin, age, or gender on CCK levels in our PWS subjects. These results suggest that differences in the peripheral CCK response to FFA levels may be a factor contributing to the altered satiety response in PWS subjects.
Experience of Hurricane Katrina and Reported Intimate Partner Violence

Intimate partner violence (IPV) has been associated with stress, but few studies have examined the effect of natural disaster on IPV. In this study, the authors examine the relationship between experience of Hurricane Katrina and reported relationship aggression and violence in a cohort of 123 postpartum women. Hurricane experience is measured using a series of questions about damage, injury, and danger during the storm; IPV was measured using the Conflict Tactics Scale (CTS-2). Multiple log-poisson regression was used to calculate relative risks (RRs), adjusted for potential confounders. Most participants report that they and their partners had explained themselves to each other, showed each other respect, and also insulted, swore, or shouted during conflicts with each other. A few participants report physical violence, sexual force, or destroying property, though in each case at least 5% endorse that it had happened at least once in the last 6 months. Another few report that they and their partners had carried out these actions. Experiencing damage due to the storm is associated with increased likelihood of most conflict tactics. Strong RRs are seen for the relationship between damage due to the storm and aggression or violence, especially being insulted, sworn, shouted, or yelled at (adjusted relative risk [aRR] = 1.23, 95% CI = 1.02-1.48); pushed, shoved, or slapped (aRR = 5.28, 95% CI = 1.93-14.45); or being punched, kicked, or beat up (aRR = 8.25, 95% CI = 1.68-40.47). Results suggest that certain experiences of the hurricane are associated with an increased likelihood of violent methods of conflict resolution. Relief and medical workers may need to be aware of the possibility of increased IPV after disaster.
A proposed method for polarizing liquid3He

We investigate the possibility of using the techniques of dynamic nuclear polarization on liquid3He. We calculate the polarization rate resulting from the saturation of the electron spin resonance in a substrate immersed in the liquid. For metallic substrates, the rate will be too slow to overcome relaxation at the walls of the container. For insulating substrates, liquid polarizations enhanced by a factor μB/μN≈103 can be achieved on the order of seconds.
Structural investigation of an arabinan from cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata)

Abstract An arabinan has been isolated from the hot water-soluble pectic substances of cabbage cell wall material. Methylation analysis involving GC-MS of methylated alditol acetates formed from the methylated arabinan has shown that the parent polysaccharide is highly branched and of the same structural type as other arabinans associated with seed pectins.
Empirical likelihood analysis of the Buckley--James estimator

The censored linear regression model, also referred to as the accelerated failure time (AFT) model when the logarithm of the survival time is used as the response variable, is widely seen as an alternative to the popular Cox model when the assumption of proportional hazards is questionable. Buckley and James [Linear regression with censored data, Biometrika 66 (1979) 429-436] extended the least squares estimator to the semiparametric censored linear regression model in which the error distribution is completely unspecified. The Buckley-James estimator performs well in many simulation studies and examples. The direct interpretation of the AFT model is also more attractive than the Cox model, as Cox has pointed out, in practical situations. However, the application of the Buckley-James estimation was limited in practice mainly due to its illusive variance. In this paper, we use the empirical likelihood method to derive a new test and confidence interval based on the Buckley-James estimator of the regression coefficient. A standard chi-square distribution is used to calculate the P-value and the confidence interval. The proposed empirical likelihood method does not involve variance estimation. It also shows much better small sample performance than some existing methods in our simulation studies.
Effects of radiation on CCD devices

We have studied the effects of radiation on the performance characteristics of CCD devices. The CCDs were exposed to radiation of the continuous electron beam of the Lehigh University Van de Graaff Radiation Facility.
A direct comparison of the consequences of plant genotypic and species diversity on communities and ecosystem function

Biodiversity loss is proceeding at an unprecedented rate, yet we lack a thorough understanding of the consequences of losing diversity at different scales. While species diversity is known to impact community and ecosystem processes, genotypic diversity is assumed to have relatively smaller effects. Nonetheless, a few recent studies suggest that genotypic diversity may have quantitatively similar ecological consequences compared to species diversity. Here we show that increasing either genotypic diversity of common evening primrose (Oenothera biennis) or species diversity of old-field plant species resulted in nearly equivalent increases (approximately 17%) in aboveground primary production. The predominant mechanism explaining this effect, niche complementarity, was similar for each type of diversity. Arthropod species richness also increased with both types of plant diversity, but the mechanisms leading to this effect differed: abundance-driven accumulation of arthropod species was important in plant genotypic polycultures, whereas resource specialization was important in plant species polycultures. Thus, similar increases in primary productivity differentially impacted higher trophic levels in response to each type of plant diversity. These results highlight important ecological similarities and differences between genotypic and species diversity and suggest that genotypic diversity may play a larger role in community and ecosystem processes than previously realized.
Analysis, design, and construction of a broadband balun for coaxial‐to‐planar transmission lines

For microwave signals within the 0.5 to 10.5 GHz range, we present an integrated broadband balun that carries signals from coaxial cable to microstrip to parallel-plate line. We use this arrangement as the feed line for a broadband double-sided antenna, and this antenna feed is presented as an application of the integrated balun. In addition, we devise a testing method for the balun, which is demonstrated. Through this testing method, the transmission, reflection, and radiation losses associated with the balun are readily determined. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 44: 501–504, 2005; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.20679
The Overall Percentile Rank versus the Individual Percentile Ranks

Abstract An interesting phenomenon occurs when the percentile rank of the sum of two scores is expressed as a function of the percentile ranks of individual scores. The article discusses their interrelationships under two separate models for the bivariate distribution.
Obesity Studies in Bogalusa

Obesity is a determinant of cardiovascular risk factors in childhood, adolescence, and adulthood. Since the inception of the Bogalusa Heart Study, various anthropometric measures of body size and mass have been obtained. Attention is given to identifying the distribution for various obesity measures, secular trends in obesity, clustering of obesity with other risk factors, and obesity during childhood as a predictor of risk factors during young adulthood. Race, gender, and age differences offer clues to etiology of future clinical disease and cardiovascular risk. Innovative programs are needed to alter the secular trend over the past 20 years toward increased obesity. General wellness must include a reduction in obesity.
Survival of children with infratentorial neuroglial tumors. The Childhood Brain Tumor Consortium.

OBJECTIVE : The goal of this study is the improvement of the prognostic information associated with conventional diagnoses. Our previous factor analysis of 26 reliably identified histological features in infratentorial childhood neuroglial tumors yielded five interpretable, uncorrelated, quantitative histological factors that we named spongy, fibrillary, proliferative, nuclear, and ring. Five quantitative scores, one for each of the five factors, provide an objective method for quantifying the histological heterogeneity of a tumor. The scores, alone or in conjunction with conventional diagnoses, identify groups of histologically homogeneous tumors. METHODS : Multivariate Cox proportional hazards models were developed to assess the contribution of each factor to survival prognosis, after allowing patient-specific demographic and clinical data in the models as covariates. Hazard ratios, estimated for each statistically significant factor and covariate in the multivariate model, provide the basis for the determination of the prognosis. The hazard ratio is the ratio of the hazard function for subjects with an attribute, e.g., an age of 10 years, to the hazard function for subjects who have some chosen baseline attribute, e.g., an age of 1 year. The important criterion of this ratio is β, a statistic estimated from the survival data in the Childhood Brain Tumor Consortium database of infratentorial neuroglial tumors. Kaplan-Meier survival curves were used to investigate differences in the survival of factor-determined subgroups of patients with various diagnoses. RESULTS : An increased likelihood of survival is associated with older age, more tumor removal, more recent decade of surgical intervention, and high spongy and fibrillary factor scores. A decreased likelihood of survival is associated with high nuclear, proliferative, and ring factor scores. Gender, location within the infratentorial compartment, and subsequent treatment did not add prognostic information. For certain subgroups of astrocytoma and for ependymoma and medulloblastoma, factors are important in predicting survival with greater accuracy. CONCLUSION : Factor scores provide clinically useful quantitative estimates of survival probability that are more specific and accurate than the general estimates based on the conventional diagnosis alone.
The involvement of titanocene and related species in the reduction of dinitrogen and olefins

Four sequential products have been spectrally detected in the reduction by sodium of dicyclopenta-dienyltitanium(IV) dichloride: [(π-Cp)2TiCl]2, [(π-Cp)2Ti]1–2, [(π-Cp)(C5H4)TiH]x, and (π-Cp)(C5H4)TiH2Ti(C5H4)(π-Cp)(“stable titanocene”); the second of these reacts rapidly and reversibly with N2 to give a dark blue complex reducible to ammonia and appears to catalyse the cyclopentadienyltitanium-promoted rapid, room temperature-atmospeheric pressure hydrogenation of olefins.
New weather radar coming

What would you call the next generation of radar for severe weather prediction? NEXRAD, of course. A prototype for the new system was recently completed in Norman, Okla., and by the early 1990s up to 195 stations around the United States will be tracking dangerous weather and sending faster, more accurate, and more detailed warnings to the public. NEXRAD is being built for the Departments of Commerce, Transportation, and Defense by the Unisys Corporation under a $450 million contract signed in December 1987. Th e system will be used by the National Weather Service, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and the U.S. Air Force and Navy. The NEXRAD radar tower in Norman is expected to be operational in October.
On optimal design of a lane change controller

This paper is concerned with automated lane change maneuvers. We first consider the time optimal open loop lane change controller design with nonlinear constraints on the design parameters. Then, we combine the open loop design with a modified closed loop lane following controller so that the closed loop system accomplishes the maneuver as in the open loop case. The performance of the overall controller is demonstrated by simulation examples.
Viral induction, transmission and apoptosis among cells infected by a Human Intracisternal A-type retrovirus

Sjogren's Syndrome, a systemic autoimmune disease, is characterized by lymphocytic infiltration of the salivary or lacrimal glands, producing xerostomia or xerophthalmia. Although definitive proof of viral etiology has not been established, a cell line containing viral particles termed Human Intracisternal A-type Particles (HIAP) resulted from co-culture with patient lip biopsies. We stimulated these chronically infected cells with phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) in an effort to enhance production of viral particles for further characterization. We report that the virus present in the HIAP cell line can be induced to become lytic when subjected to PMA and that there is a difference in the effects of PMA on H9 and HIAP cell groups, with apparent protection from apoptosis due to PMA being exerted by viral presence. Delayed apoptosis may prolong exposure of the foreign/self complex, thus enhancing an autoimmune response. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) revealed the presence of new peptides in pellets of supernatants of PMA-stimulated HIAP cells, with prominent bands at 55 and 43 kDa, and several fainter ones. HIAP infection was transferred by cell-free filtered supernatants from stimulated cells to H9 cells, which became identical to parent HIAP cells by PAGE and fluorescence activated cell sorter.
A fludarabine, topotecan, and cytarabine regimen is active in patients with refractory acute myelogenous leukemia.

Abstract As fludarabine, topotecan and cytarabine (ara-C) are effective in acute myeloid leukemia (AML), a pilot study of these three agents combined (FTA) was conducted. FTA consisted of topotecan 1.25 mg/m 2 by CIV days 1–5, fludarabine 15 mg/m 2 and ara-C 0.5 g/m 2 IV, BID, on days 2–6. Seventeen patients (6 primary resistant, 11 relapsed) with AML received 33 courses of FTA. Six patients (35%) achieved complete remission. Seven patients (41%) developed grade 3 or 4 diarrhea. FTA was effective and warrants further study in patients with refractory AML.
Welcome and introduction

Welcome to the Sketch-Based Interfaces course at SIGGRAPH 2007. The organizer of this course is Joseph LaViola from the University of Central Florida. In this lecture, you will meet the other presenters, get an overview of the topics we will cover during the course, and see some examples of sketch-based interfaces.
Design of wide-field arrays

The development of generic optical designs for supporting wide-field imagery from an array of individual telescopes is presented. These systems will be employed to gather imagery over a total field of 0.5 to 1.0 degree. Various design possibilities are studied assuming the use of a square field, with the option of utilizing a slit field. A general optical design concept that can be transferred to a reasonable number of fairly closely packed arrays is examined, evaluating the promising three- or five-mirror arrangements.
Generation and cycloaddition of semi-stabilized 2-azaallyllithiums via electrocyclic ring-opening or cycloreversion reactions

Semi-stabilized 2-azaallyl anions, i.e., those bearing aryl groups, have been generated by either the electrocyclic ring-opening of N-lithioaziridines or the 1,3-anionic cycloreversion of N-lithio- imidazolidines.
Direct effect of cortisol and cortisone on insulin and glucagon secretion

The direct effects of cortisol and cortisone on insulin and glucagon secretion by the isolated perfused rat pancreas were examined. Cortisone, but not cortisol, in a final concentration of 10(-4) M acutely and strongly inhibited both phases of glucose- and arginine-induced insulin secretion. In repeated pulse administrations, the second infusion of cortisone elicited an inhibition of insulin release equal to the first response. Glucagon output was slightly suppressed by cortisol and more significantly by cortisone in a glucose-free medium. The blockade of alpha-adrenergic receptors by phentolamine attenuated, but did not prevent, the strong inhibitory action of cortisone on insulin secretion.
2-Dimensional cellular automata approach for robot grid formations

One potentially cost-effective approach to harvesting solar power from space is the use of thousands of individual robots moving in formation, each with a piece of solar panel attached, to form a solar panel array. In previous work, we demonstrated an algorithm that treats a group of robots as a 1-dimensional cellular automaton, which is able to establish formations defined by a single mathematical function. We now extend the algorithm to establish grid formations.
Spatial Variation in Office Rents within the Atlanta Region

Hedonic office rent models are estimated using data for Atlanta that span the years 1990-96. Controlling for typical building characteristics and lease terms, we find that variables measuring locational differences in wage rates, transport rates and proximity to concentrations of support services and office workers play an important role in explaining spatial variation in office rents. No evidence is found in support of the hypothesis that technological advances in telecommunications have diminished the role played by face-to-face agglomeration economies in determining the intra-metropolitan location of office firms.
Biotin homeostasis during the cell cycle.

Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) accumulate biotin by a Na-dependent energy-requiring transporter. This transporter might be the so-called Na-dependent multivitamin transporter, but kinetic observations suggest the existence of a second, more specific, biotin transporter. PBMC respond to proliferation by increased uptake of biotin; the increase is probably mediated by an increased number of transporters on the cell surface. The inferred increase in the biotin transporter synthesis is relatively specific. The increased uptake of biotin into proliferating PBMC is consistent with the hypothesis that these cells have an increased demand for biotin. Indeed, proliferating PBMC increase expression of genes encoding � methylcrotonyl-CoA carboxylase and propionyl-CoA carboxylase, generating a quantitatively significant increased demand for biotin as a coenzyme in newly-synthesized carboxylases. Moreover, expression of the holocarboxylase synthetase gene increases, consistent with the synthesis of new holocarboxylases. In addition, proliferating PBMC increase both the density of biotinylation of histones and the mass of biotinylated histones per cell, suggesting a potential role for biotin in transcription and replication of DNA. Biotin: Cell cycle: Peripheral blood mononuclear cells: Na-dependent
Diagnostic yield and selection criteria in complete intraoral radiography

Data from the initial radiographic, examinations of 243 patients were compared with new radiographic surveys, to determine the benefits such a survey can provide. Determining the potential benefit of radiographic surveys need not be empirical
Characterization of Epoxy-Functionalized Silsesquioxanes as Potential Underfill Encapsulants

In electronics packaging, underfill encapsulants are needed to improve package reliability in flip-chip devices. The underfill generally consists of an epoxy resin highly filled with silica particles and is designed to reduce the stress arising from the difference in the thermal expansion between the solder bumps and the substrate. Currently, concerns about the flow of the silica particles and surface phenomena are arising as electronics packages reduce in size. Newly developed epoxy-functionalized octameric silsesquioxanes provide an intriguing alternative to current formulations. These single-phase inorganic/organic hybrid materials may have properties similar to filled materials without the complications from the rheology of filled materials. The physical properties of the functionalized silsesquioxanes are measured with respect to the critical parameters for underfill materials. Measurements of properties such as the coefficient of thermal expansion and density are performed to evaluate the suitability of these materials as potential underfill encapsulants.
Addiction therapeutics: obstacles and opportunities.

Research over the past 2 decades has led to a fundamental understanding of the neurobiological bases of addiction (1). These insights have resulted in the identification of multiple targets (2), many already proven drugable, that could potentially revolutionize the treatment of substance use disorders (SUDs). Nonetheless, the goal of developing highly effective medications to treat SUDs remains largely unmet. Thus, there are no medications approved to treat either stimulant or cannabis use disorders, and the efficacy of available therapies for other SUDs (e.g., opiates, tobacco, alcohol) is far from ideal. The dearth of innovative medications to treat SUDs has been attributed to a low level of interest by the pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors, a problem exacerbated by the retrenchment in psychiatry research and development (3). However, both the number of potential targets (2) and the molecules that have either failed in other psychiatric indications or are now parked for strategic reasons make SUDs an attractive rescue indication. In this commentary, we will briefly summarize some of the principal obstacles to developing medications for SUDs (reviewed in [4]), as well as some recent developments, including the report by Mariani et al. (5), that offer new therapeutic opportunities.
Treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis with Ambrisentan: A parallel, randomized trial

BACKGROUND Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is characterized by formation and proliferation of fibroblast foci. Endothelin-1 induces lung fibroblast proliferation and contractile activity via the endothelin A (ETA) receptor. OBJECTIVE To determine whether ambrisentan, an ETA receptor-selective antagonist, reduces the rate of IPF progression. DESIGN Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, event-driven trial. (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT00768300). SETTING Academic and private hospitals. PARTICIPANTS Patients with IPF aged 40 to 80 years with minimal or no honeycombing on high-resolution computed tomography scans. INTERVENTION Ambrisentan, 10 mg/d, or placebo. MEASUREMENTS Time to disease progression, defined as death, respiratory hospitalization, or a categorical decrease in lung function. RESULTS The study was terminated after enrollment of 492 patients (75% of intended enrollment; mean duration of exposure to study medication, 34.7 weeks) because an interim analysis indicated a low likelihood of showing efficacy for the end point by the scheduled end of the study. Ambrisentan-treated patients were more likely to meet the prespecified criteria for disease progression (90 [27.4%] vs. 28 [17.2%] patients; P = 0.010; hazard ratio, 1.74 [95% CI, 1.14 to 2.66]). Lung function decline was seen in 55 (16.7%) ambrisentan-treated patients and 19 (11.7%) placebo-treated patients (P = 0.109). Respiratory hospitalizations were seen in 44 (13.4%) and 9 (5.5%) patients in the ambrisentan and placebo groups, respectively (P = 0.007). Twenty-six (7.9%) patients who received ambrisentan and 6 (3.7%) who received placebo died (P = 0.100). Thirty-two (10%) ambrisentan-treated patients and 16 (10%) placebo-treated patients had pulmonary hypertension at baseline, and analysis stratified by the presence of pulmonary hypertension revealed similar results for the primary end point. LIMITATION The study was terminated early. CONCLUSION Ambrisentan was not effective in treating IPF and may be associated with an increased risk for disease progression and respiratory hospitalizations. PRIMARY FUNDING SOURCE Gilead Sciences.
The four causes of hypnosis.

Aristotle's model of comprehension involves the description of a phenomenon and identification of its efficient causes (triggers), material cause (substrate), formal cause (models of structure), and final cause (function). This causal analysis provides a framework for understanding hypnosis and the hypnotic state. States are constellations of parameters within specified ranges; they name, but do not explain, a phenomenon. Concerns about reification of states are matters of semantics and pragmatics, not ontology. Isolation of efficient causes (e.g., procedure, context, social variables) is but one component of understanding. Experimental, technical, and conceptual advances have carried us into a century where the substrates and functions of hypnosis may be represented in synoptic theories that comprise all 4 causes of hypnosis.
Identification of New Antileishmanial Leads from Hits Obtained by High-Throughput Screening

ABSTRACT A previous screen of ∼200,000 compounds from the PubChem database identified 70 compounds possessing 50% effective concentrations (EC 50 s) below 1 μM against Leishmania major promastigotes that were not toxic to mammalian epithelial cancer cells at this concentration (E. Sharlow et al., PLoS Negl. Trop. Dis. 3:e540, 2009). Based on availability and chemical exclusion criteria, 31 of these compounds were purchased from commercial suppliers and evaluated for in vitro activity against intracellular L. donovani and L. amazonensis parasites. Benzothiazole cyanine compounds (PubChem 16196319 and 16196223) displayed potent activity against intracellular amastigotes, prompting a search for commercially available compounds that were structurally related. Pubchem 123859 (the cyanine dye thiazole orange) showed exceptionally potent activity against intracellular L. donovani in vitro (50% inhibitory concentration [IC 50 ] = 21 ± 12 nM) and low cytotoxicity against Vero cells (IC 50 = 7,800 ± 200 nM). Administration of 123859 and 16196319 at a dose of 1 mg/kg of body weight intraperitoneally (i.p.) daily for 5 days resulted in 44% ± 4% and 42% ± 3% suppression of liver parasitemia in L. donovani-infected BALB/c mice, respectively, compared to the untreated control group (the reductions in liver parasitemia were 30% ± 5% and 27% ± 4%, respectively, compared to the (2-hydroxypropyl)-β-cyclodextrin solution (HPβCD) vehicle control, which itself displayed some antileishmanial activity). Benzothiazole-containing cyanine dyes are thus potential lead compounds for the discovery of novel antileishmanial agents.
Basal Hippocampal Activity and Its Functional Connectivity Predicts Cocaine Relapse

Abstract Background Cocaine-induced neuroplastic changes may result in a heightened propensity for relapse. Using regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) as a marker of basal neuronal activity, this study assessed alterations in rCBF and related resting state functional connectivity (rsFC) to prospectively predict relapse in patients following treatment for cocaine use disorder (CUD). Methods Pseudocontinuous arterial spin labeling functional magnetic resonance imaging and resting blood oxygen level-dependent functional magnetic resonance imaging data were acquired in the same scan session in abstinent participants with CUD before residential treatment discharge and in 20 healthy matched control subjects. Substance use was assessed twice weekly following discharge. Relapsed participants were defined as those who used stimulants within 30 days following treatment discharge ( n = 22); early remission participants ( n = 18) did not. Results Voxel-wise, whole-brain analysis revealed enhanced rCBF only in the left posterior hippocampus (pHp) in the relapsed group compared with the early remission and control groups. Using this pHp as a seed, increased rsFC strength with the posterior cingulate cortex (PCC)/precuneus was seen in the relapsed versus early remission subgroups. Together, both increased pHp rCBF and strengthened pHp-PCC rsFC predicted relapse with 75% accuracy at 30, 60, and 90 days following treatment. Conclusions In CUD participants at risk of early relapse, increased pHp basal activity and pHp-PCC circuit strength may reflect the propensity for heightened reactivity to cocaine cues and persistent cocaine-related ruminations. Mechanisms to mute hyperactivated brain regions and delink dysregulated neural circuits may prove useful to prevent relapse in patients with CUD.
A computer-aided audit system for respiratory therapy consult evaluations: description of a method and early results.

BACKGROUND: Use of respiratory therapist (RT)-guided protocols enhances allocation of respiratory care. In the context that optimal protocol use requires a system for auditing respiratory care plans to assure adherence to protocols and expertise of the RTs generating the care plan, a live audit system has been in longstanding use in our Respiratory Therapy Consult Service. Growth in the number of RT positions and the need to audit more frequently has prompted development of a new, computer-aided audit system. METHODS: The number and results of audits using the old and new systems were compared (for the periods May 30, 2009 through May 30, 2011 and January 1, 2012 through May 30, 2012, respectively). In contrast to the original, live system requiring a patient visit by the auditor, the new system involves completion of a respiratory therapy care plan using patient information in the electronic medical record, both by the RT generating the care plan and the auditor. Completing audits in the new system also uses an electronic respiratory therapy management system. RESULTS: The degrees of concordance between the audited RT9s care plans and the “gold standard” care plans using the old and new audit systems were similar. Use of the new system was associated with an almost doubling of the rate of audits (ie, 11 per month vs 6.1 per month). CONCLUSIONS: The new, computer-aided audit system increased capacity to audit more RTs performing RT-guided consults while preserving accuracy as an audit tool. Ensuring that RTs adhere to the audit process remains the challenge for the new system, and is the rate-limiting step.
Generative communication in Linda

Generative communication is the basis of a new distributed programming langauge that is intended for systems programming in distributed settings generally and on integrated network computers in particular. It differs from previous interprocess communication models in specifying that messages be added in tuple-structured form to the computation environment, where they exist as named, independent entities until some process chooses to receive them. Generative communication results in a number of distinguishing properties in the new language, Linda, that is built around it. Linda is fully distributed in space and distributed in time; it allows distributed sharing, continuation passing, and structured naming. We discuss these properties and their implications, then give a series of examples. Linda presents novel implementation problems that we discuss in Part II. We are particularly concerned with implementation of the dynamic global name space that the generative communication model requires.
Chirality and bianisotropy effects in plasmonic metasurfaces and their application to realize ultrathin optical circular polarizers

In this paper we develop a rigorous analytical theory relating the effective impedance of plasmonic metasurfaces to a generalized form of polarizability, which compactly describes the electric, magnetic and magneto-electric response of the individual inclusions and the overall array coupling. We apply this theory to the design of plasmonic metasurfaces composed of lithographically printed planar inclusions, showing that their inherent chiral and bianisotropic response may be exploited to produce ultrathin optical circular polarizers. Bianistropic effects, particularly relevant to enhance the response to circularly polarized light, may be maximized in specific incidence planes, as a function of the inclusion symmetries.
Calmodulin as a Target for New Chemotherapeutic Strategies

AbstractCalmodulin is a ubiquitous calcium-binding protein that mediates many cellular functions through its critical participation in one of the two branches of the calcium messenger system (1,2). Before reviewing the role of calmodulin in cellular proliferation, we will present a brief overview of this second-messenger system.
Bargaining and Opinion Assignment on the U.S. Supreme Court

We formulate a new game-theoretic model of bargaining on the U.S. Supreme Court. In the model, a degree of monopoly power over policy endogenously accrues to the assigned writer despite an "open rule" for the other justices. We assume justices are motivated ultimately by a concern for judicial policy, but that the policy impact of an opinion depends partly on its persuasiveness, clarity, and craftsmanship - its legal quality. The effort-cost of producing a high quality opinion creates a wedge that the assignee can exploit to move an opinion from the median without provoking a winning counter-offer. We use this bargaining model as the foundation for a formal analysis of opinion assignment. Both the bargaining and opinion assignment models display rich and tractable comparative statics, allowing them to explain well-known empirical regularities as well as generate new propositions, within a unified and internally consistent framework.
Le Génie d’Edgar Poe et le Goût Français

Un des aspects les plus curieux et les plus inattendus des affinites seculaires qui lient la France et les Etats-Unis, et qui, aux heures tragiques ou glorieuses de l’histoire, ne se sont jamais dementies car elles tiennent a des imponde­rables spirituels et non a des interets materiels, c’est bien la veritable naturali­sation d’Edgar Poe en France et l’extraordinaire celebrite qui entoura son nom dans ce pays. Fait unique, sans exemple, dans les annales des lettres, et qui apparait par la-meme comme paradoxal! Alors que l’Amerique, sa propre patrie, lui a toujours fait froide mine et l’a considere comme un poete mineur et un conteur de second ordre, qu’elle l’a traite de son vivant de fumiste, de mystificateur, de maniaque, de “jingle man”2 qui fait sonner ses grelots pour amuser les enfants, une espece de fou ivrogne et cocainomane, qui releve de la psychiatrie, alors que la publication de son ceuvre n’a provoque que scan­dale et horreur et s’est heurtee a une incomprehension tetue;3 en France, au contraire, il a ete proclame d’emblee un ecrivain de genie et un poete hors pair; son ceuvre a declenche un immense retentissement, s’est integree har-monieusement et sans le moindre heurt au mouvement litteraire et au patri­moine national, et sa renommee a egale celle des plus grands ecrivains du XIXe siecle. Cet enthousiasme collectif et cette popularite tapageuse dont il jouit depuis plus d’un siecle comme conteur, poete et critique, l’influence profonde qu’il a exercee sur tous les ecrivains de l’epoque, ne cessent d’eton­ner le lecteur qui reflechit sur le destin des gloires litteraires.
Game Theoretic Modeling to Enforce Security Information Sharing among Firms

Robust CYBersecurity information EXchange (CYBEX) infrastructure is envisioned to protect the firms from future cyber attacks via collaborative threat intelligence sharing, which might be difficult to achieve via sole effort. The executive order from the U. S. federal government clearly encourages the firms to share their cybersecurity breach and patch related information among other federal and private firms for strengthening their as well as nation's security infrastructure. In this paper, we present a game theoretic framework to investigate the economic benefits of cyber-threat information sharing and analyze the impacts and consequences of not participating in the game of information exchange. We model the information exchange framework as distributed non-cooperative game among the firms and investigate the implications of information sharing and security investments. The proposed incentive model ensures and self-enforces the firms to share their breach information truthfully for maximization of its gross utility. Theoretical analysis of the incentive framework has been conducted to find the conditions under which firms' net benefit for sharing security information and investment can be maximized. Numerical results verify that the proposed model promotes such sharing, which helps to relieve their total security technology investment too.
On the Order Structure of the Set of Sufficient Subfields

In [5], the concept of statistical sufficiency is studied within a general probability setting. The study is continued here. The notation and definitions of [5] are used. Here we give an example of sufficient statistics t 1 and t 2 such that the pair (t 1 , t 2 ) is not sufficient. The example also has the property that, in a sense to be made precise, no smallest sufficient statistic containing t 1 and t 2 exists. In Example 4 of [5], sufficient subfields A1and A2are exhibited such that A1 ۷ A2, the smallest subfield containing A1and A2, is not sufficient. Such an example is given here with the even stronger property that no smallest sufficient subfield containing A1 and A2 exists.