cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Range-Controlled floating-gate transistors: a unified solution for unlocking and calibrating analog ICs

Analog Floating-Gate Transistors (AFGTs) are commonly used to fine-tune the performance of analog integrated circuits (ICs) after fabrication, thereby enabling high yield despite component mismatch and variability in semiconductor manufacturing. In this work, we propose a methodology that leverages such AFGTs to also prevent unauthorized use of analog ICs. Specifically, we introduce a locking mechanism that limits programming of AFGTs to a range which is inadequate for achieving the desired analog performance. Accordingly, our solution entails a two-step unlock-&-calibrate process. In the first step, AFGTs must be programmed through a secret sequence of voltages within that range, called waypoints. Successfully following the waypoints unlocks the ability to program the AFGTs over their entire range. Thereby, in the second step, the typical AFGT-based post-silicon calibration process can be applied to adjust the performance of the IC within its specifications. Protection against brute-force or intelligent attacks attempting to guess the unlocking sequence is ensured through the vast space of possible waypoints in the continuous (analog) domain. Feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed solution is demonstrated and evaluated on an Operational Transconductance Amplifier (OTA). To our knowledge, this is the first solution which leverages the power of analog keys and addresses both unlocking and calibration needs of analog ICs in a unified manner.
Maintenance phase of a physical activity intervention in older kidney transplant recipients: A 12-month follow-up.

Abstract Daily walking activities are associated with improving cardiovascular outcomes in older kidney transplant recipients. However, little is known regarding physical activity adherence outcomes in older kidney recipients. The purpose of this randomized controlled trial 12-month follow-up study was to evaluate the feasibility of the intervention (SystemCHANGE™ + activity tracker) during the maintenance period (7-12 months), compared to an attention-control group (activity tracker only) in older kidney recipients (age 60 and older). The sample included 60 participants (n = 30 IG; n = 30 ACG). Adherence rates for wearing the activity tracker daily were 96.5% in the IG and 80.8% in the ACG. The IG demonstrated within-group improvements for blood pressure at 12 months. Overall, there was a decrease in the average daily steps observed in both groups. These data suggest this intervention is feasible and additional boosters should be considered during the maintenance period to encourage physical activity.
Kolmogorov Complexity, Data Compression, and Inference

If a sequence of random variables has Shannon entropy H, it is well known that there exists an efficient description of this sequence which requires only H bits. But the entropy H of a sequence also has to do with inference. Low entropy sequences allow good guesses of their next terms. This is best illustrated by allowing a gambler to gamble at fair odds on such a sequence. The amount of money that one can make is essentially the complement of the entropy with respect to the length of the sequence.
Some Inequalities for the Density of the Area Integral

Let X t be a continuous martingale starting at 0 and set \( X^\ast = \text{sup}\{\left\vert X_t \right\vert : t > 0 \} \) and \( S(X) = \sqrt{\left\langle X \right\rangle_\infty} \), where 〈X〉tis the quadratic variation process at time t. We then define a measure μ on ℝ by \( \mu(E) = d\left\langle X \right\rangle_t (\{t : X_t \in E\}) \), where \( d\left\langle X \right\rangle_t \) is the Riemann-Stieltjes measure on 0,∞) associated to the nondecreasing function 〈X〉t. It is known that μ is absolutely continuous with respect to Lebesgue measure so that there exists a function L(a), (called the local time), so that \( \mu(E) = \int_E L(a)da \) for every Borel set E. More generally, for any Borel function f on ℝ: $$ \int_0^\infty f(X_t)d\left\langle X \right\rangle_t = \int_\mathbb{R} f(a)L(a)da $$ (1.1) Take f = 1 in (1.1) and we obtain: $$ S(X)^2 = \int_\mathbb{R}L(a)da = \int_{-X^\ast}^{X^\ast}L(a)da $$ (1.2) where the last equality follows by noting that \( L(a) = 0 \text{ if} a \notin [-X^\ast, X^\ast] \). We now set \( L^\ast = \text{sup}\{L(a) : a \in \mathbb{R}\} \); L* is called the maximal local time. Then (1.2) trivially yields \( S(X)^2\leq 2L^\ast X^\ast \), and this, the Cauchy-Schwarz inequality, and the Burkholder-Gundy inequality: \( \left \Vert S(X) \right \Vert_p\approx \left \Vert X^\ast \right \Vert_p for\ 0< p< \infty \), then gives \( \left \Vert S(X) \right \Vert_p\leq C_p\left \Vert L\ast \right \Vert_p \text{ for} 0 < p < \infty \). The reverse inequality is more difficult and was shown by Barlow and Yor [4], [5]. In fact, even more is true. The following theorem is essentially to Bass [6] and independently, Davis [12], however, their statements of these results are different than appears here, but a careful analysis of their methods yields these results.
COG6 Interacts with a Subset of the Golgi SNAREs and Is Important for the Golgi Complex Integrity

Vesicular tethers and SNAREs are two key protein components that govern docking and fusion of intracellular membrane carriers in eukaryotic cells. The conserved oligomeric Golgi (COG) complex has been specifically implicated in the tethering of retrograde intra-Golgi vesicles. Using yeast two-hybrid and co-immunoprecipitation approaches, we show that the COG6 subunit of the COG complex is capable of interacting with a subset of Golgi SNAREs, namely STX5, STX6, GS27 and SNAP29. Interaction with SNAREs is accomplished via the universal SNARE-binding motif of COG6. Overexpression of COG6, or its depletion from cells, disrupts the integrity of the Golgi complex. Importantly, COG6 protein lacking the SNARE-binding domain is deficient in Golgi binding, and is not capable of inducing Golgi complex fragmentation when overexpressed. These results indicate that COG6-SNARE interactions are important for both COG6 localization and Golgi integrity.
Phosphonic acids and esters–XVIII

Abstract The base catalyzed condensation of the title compound ( 4 ) with benzaldehyde and a variety of ketones follows a normal Stobbe course yielding β,γ-unsaturated phosphonates, i.e. ethyl hydrogen β-carbethoxy-γ-substituted allylphosphonates ( 5 ). Despite the unsymmetrical nature of 4 , condensation is specific at the position adjacent to the carbethoxy function; neither the isomeric α,β-unsaturated phosphonates nor the dephosphonated (Wittig) products, β,γ-unsaturated carboxylates, are observed. The specificity presumably reflects the greater stabilization afforded an α-anion by a carbonyl function than by a dialkoxyphosphono function. Condensations with unsymmetrical carbonyl components (acetophenone, benzaldehyde) yield mixtures of cis - and trans - 5 in a nonstereoselective manner. Gross structures and stereochemical relationships were assigned on the basis of PMR spectroscopy. In 5 derived from acetophenone and acetone, a long-range (five bond) 31 P 1 H coupling is observed. Based upon studies of these and model compounds (dimethyl γ,γ-dimethylallylphosphonate), it was shown that the transoid 5 J PH is of larger magnitude than the corresponding coupling involving cisoid geometry.
Joint Book Reading and Receptive Vocabulary: A Parallel Process Model

The purpose of the present study was to understand the reciprocal, bidirectional longitudinal relation between joint book reading and English receptive vocabulary. To address the research goals, a nationally representative sample of Head Start children, the Head Start Family and Child Experiences Survey (2003 cohort), was used for analysis. The children were aged 3–4 years at programme entry. The mothers' average age at programme entry was 39 years old. A parallel process model was utilized to examine the growth factors of joint book reading and receptive vocabulary in parallel. Three significant findings emerged: (1) initial levels of English receptive vocabulary and joint book reading positively covaried; (2) English receptive vocabulary and joint book reading were positively and reciprocally related to each other; and (3) slopes for joint book reading and English receptive vocabulary negatively covaried. Results suggest that joint book reading can support and scaffold Head Start children's English receptive vocabulary. Reciprocally, Head Start children's English receptive vocabulary appears to predict the extent to which they engage in joint book reading at home. Moreover, the frequency of joint book reading decreases as the children demonstrate higher levels of English receptive vocabulary. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A symmetry-based study of vibrational decoupling in the crystalline phases of CH3(OCH2CH2)2OCH3LiCF3SO3 and P(EO)3LiCF3SO3

Abstract A symmetry-based analysis of vibrational modes in the crystalline phases of CH 3 (OCH 2 CH 2 ) 2 OCH 3 LiCF 3 SO 3 (diglyme–LiTf) and P(EO) 3 LiCF 3 SO 3 is presented. Raman and infrared vibrational spectra suggest that the intramolecular triflate ion vibrations in the diglyme–LiTf crystal can be appropriately described in terms of a single diglyme–LiTf dimer. By contrast, the diglyme modes can be adequately represented by the vibrations of an individual diglyme molecule. These approximations are extended to consider vibrational modes of the high molecular weight P(EO) 3 LiCF 3 SO 3 crystalline compound.
Liquid biopsies reveal the dynamic nature of resistance mechanisms in solid tumors

Two new studies demonstrate that so-called 'liquid biopsies' may reveal important genomic information needed to monitor treatment responses, forecast tumor recurrences, and provide a rationale for novel therapeutic strategies in patients with lung cancer and colon cancer.
Safety and Efficacy of Catheter Ablation for Ventricular Tachycardia in Elderly Patients With Structural Heart Disease

Abstract Objectives This study sought to determine the safety and efficacy of ventricular tachycardia (VT) ablation in elderly patients with structural heart disease. Background As patients with cardiomyopathy live longer, the number of elderly patients with VT is increasing. Catheter ablation is an effective treatment for VT; however, outcomes may differ among elderly patients. Methods We studied 238 consecutive patients with ischemic or nonischemic cardiomyopathies who underwent catheter ablation for VT refractory to antiarrhythmic medications. Patients were divided into 3 age groups (Group A, 75 years). Results Compared with Groups A and B, patients in Group C were more likely to have ischemic cardiomyopathy, lower left ventricular ejection fraction, longer mean VT cycle length, and less likely to undergo epicardial ablation. Acute procedural success, complications, 28-day survival, and 1-year VT-free survival rates were similar across groups (p = 0.9, 0.3, 0.3, and 0.9, respectively). As expected, Group C patients had worse survival in long-term follow-up (p Conclusions VT ablation can be performed in elderly patients with structural heart disease with similar efficacy and complication rates as in younger patients. VT ablation should not be withheld for older age alone.
Circularly polarized traveling-wave microstrip antenna

In the proposed antenna, a high-order mode is used in a double-layer structure to facilitate the radiation process while matching the input impedance. The high-order modes become leaky when the propagation constant is less than that of the free-space wave number. The major technical difficulties for the leaky-wave excitation are the input impedance matching and the suppression of the surface modes. A double-layer structure has been proposed by the authors to vary the field strength at the feed location, thus property matching the input impedance. Once the input impedance is chosen for a particular leaky-wave propagation, the surface modes will be automatically suppressed due to the difference between the impedances of the surface and leaky waves. In order to produce a circularly polarized (CP) radiation, the double-layer microstrip structure is made to a circular shape. As the leaky wave propagates along the circular microstrips of a properly designed double-layer antenna, a good CP radiation results over a wide frequency range.
Use of the Rhodopseudomonas palustris genome sequence to identify a single amino acid that contributes to the activity of a coenzyme A ligase with chlorinated substrates.

Rhodopseudomonas palustris strain RCB100 degrades 3-chlorobenzoate (3-CBA) anaerobically. We purified from this strain a coenzyme A ligase that is active with 3-CBA and determined its N-terminal amino acid sequence to be identical to that of a cyclohexan-ecarboxylate-CoA ligase encoded by aliA from the R. palustris strain (CGA009) that has been sequenced. Strain CGA009 differs from strain RCB100 in that it does not use 3-CBA as a sole carbon source. The aliA gene from the 3-CBA degrading strain differed by a single nucleotide from the aliA gene from strain CGA009, causing the substitution of a serine for a threonine at position 208. Both AliA enzymes, purified as Histagged fusion proteins, had comparable activities with cyclohexanecarboxylate. However, AliA from the 3-CBA degrading strain was 10-fold more active with 3-CBA (kc at /K m of 4.3 x 10 4 M -1 s -1 ) than the enzyme from the sequenced strain (k cat /K m 0.32 × 10 4 M -1 s -1 ). The CGA009 enzyme was not sufficiently active with 3-CBA to complement an RCB100 aliA mutant for growth on this compound. Here, whole genome sequence information enabled us to identify a single nucleotide among 5.4 million nucleotides that contributes to the substrate preference of a coenzyme A ligase.
Relationships of North American members of Rhodiola (Crassulaceae)

Taxa of Rhodiola L. (Crassulaceae) generally grow in arctic or alpine habitats. Some Rhodiola species are used medicinally, one taxon, Rhodiola integrifolia Raf. subsp. leedyi (Rosend. & J.W.Moore)...
Some lessons learned on constructing an automated testbench for evolvable hardware experiments

A testbench is absolutely essential to conducting evolvable hardware research, particularly if intrinsic investigations are conducted. Although testbench design is straightforward, in practice its construction has numerous pitfalls. This work describes the automated testbench used in the Adaptive Systems Laboratory at Portland State University. We identify the problems we encountered in making the testbench operational and how those problems were resolved. Finally, we offer some guidelines others find useful when constructing their own evolvable hardware testbenches.
The effect of starvation, feeding, glucose and ACTH on the liver glycogen levels of Tilapia mossambica.

Abstract 1. 1. Tilapia mossambica responds to starvation by a partial depletion of liver glycogen and by resorption of liver tissue. 2. 2. Short-term injections of ACTH serve to block, in part, the resorption of liver tissue but do not affect the rate of glycogen turnover nor the synthesis of liver glycogen following an intraperitoneal injection of glucose. 3. 3. Chronic injections of ACTH block both the resorption of liver tissue and a net synthesis of liver glycogen following the injection of glucose. Such treatment does, however, markedly stimulate glycogen turnover.
Adolescent alcohol misuse: methodological issues for enhancing treatment research

Aims The objective of this article is to present an overview of the current state of the field of adolescent alcohol treatment research and to discuss several priorities for future research directions. Method The authors identified trends in adolescent alcohol treatment research from multiple sources, including searches of the National Institutes of Health grantee listings, proceedings from annual meetings of the Research Society on Alcoholism and relevant English-language journal articles available in MEDLINE and PSYCHLIT databases over the past decade. Research recommendations This field must build on its major strength, which has been its success in appreciating the unique developmental characteristics of adolescence and meaningfully incorporating them into adolescent alcohol treatment approaches. Priorities for future research include: empirically investigating the potential value of harm reduction approaches for promoting public health and reducing total harm for adolescents; developing efficacious interventions across a wide range of intensities and settings; increasing the reach and relevance of randomized treatment efficacy trials and their products, with a particular focus on enhancing the recruitment and retention of diverse treatment samples; increasing a focus on key individual difference variables such as co-occurring diagnoses, that may serve as the basis for treatment tailoring; and exploration of the potential benefits of transdisciplinary research.
Cytoplasmic fine structure during hormonally controlled differentiation in vaginal epithelium.

Cells of the vaginal epithelium of ovariectomized mice undergo differentiation in response to estrogen or progesterone injection. Estrogen causes an increase in number of cytoplasmic filaments in the basal and newly formed spinous layer and mucification of surface cells already present. The cells derived from the basal layer under estrogen influence later form a keratinized epithelium. Progesterone causes heightening and mucification of surface cells and invasion of leucocytes into the epithelium without mucification or keratinization of other cells. When estrogen is followed two days later by progesterone, spinous and more superficial cells are lost and replaced my mucous cells derived from the basal layer. Although the fine structure of basal and spinous cell cytoplasm looks identical, the spinous cells do not form mucous cells under progesterone influence. The reverse sequence of progesterone followed by estrogen produces a low epithelium which is then replaced by a keratinized epithelium. The surface mucous cells present during progesterone influence do not keratinize, however. Thus, fine structural features of basal cells typical for the influence of a given hormone do not limit or characterize the potential of daughter cells derived from that layer. Conversely, when hormones are used in sequence, cells which leave the basal layer under the influence of one hormone do not acquire the fine structural features characteristically produced by the second hormone used, even though basal cells are readily altered.
Transplantation in the Fontan Patient

The failing Fontan circulation presents difficult treatment challenges. When Fontan revision and or intervention for treatable arrhythmias is not feasible, heart transplantation is the only therapeutic option. Particular challenges presented by these patients include limited ability to assess hemodynamics, complex anatomy, multiple prior procedures, and unique underlying pathologic states. These issues complicate the decision-making process for further surgical intervention verses transplantation. The pre-transplant evaluation, transplant operation, and post-operative management are more problematic for these patients compared with most patients undergoing transplantation. Consequently, failing Fontan patients constitute one of the highest risk heart transplant subsets.
Collimator performance evaluation for In-111 SPECT using a detection/localization task

In SPECT, the collimator is a crucial element in controlling image quality. We take a task performance approach to collimator performance evaluation in which an ideal observer is applied to the raw camera data without regard to the subsequent reconstruction stage. The clinical context of our collimator study is one of searching for and detecting neuroendocrine tumor metastases in the liver as seen in In-111 Octreotide SPECT. Our task involves detection and localization of a signal and thus differs from the conventionally used detection-only task. The scalar task performance metric is ALROC, the area under the localization receiver operating characteristic curve. Since In-111 emits photons at both 171 and 245 keV, the higher energy emissions can contribute significant septal scatter and penetration. Our collimator evaluations address a question previously considered by Mahler et al (2012 IEEE Trans. Nucl. Sci. 59 47–53) who used a different methodology: does allowing a limited amount of septal scatter and penetration yield improved task performance? We used simulation methods to evaluate five parallel-hole collimators. The collimators had roughly equal geometric sensitivity and resolution but a range of contributions from septal effects leading to variations in total sensitivity and resolution. We found that the best performance was obtained with a collimator that allowed a moderate amount of septal scatter and penetration.
Language Use and Language Learning in CLIL Classrooms edited by DALTON-PUFFER, CHRISTIANE, TARJA NIKULA, & UTE SMIT

The article reviews the book "Language Use and Language Learning in CLIL Classrooms," edited by Christiane Dalton-Puffer, Tarja Nikula, and Ute Smit.
An entropy-theoretic proof of the Sucheston zero-one law

Abstract The purpose of this note is to provide a new proof to the following reformulation of the Sucheston zero-one law: An automorphism T of a Lebesgue space X is mixing if and only if, for every subsequence A of the sequence of natural numbers and every partition α of X having finite entropy, there exists a subsequence B = { b ( j )} of A such that Λ r = 1 ∞ V j = r ∞ T b ( j ) ( α ) is the trivial partition.
Formative Assessment: Assessment Is for Self-regulated Learning

The article draws from 199 sources on assessment, learning, and motivation to present a detailed decomposition of the values, theories, and goals of formative assessment. This article will discuss the extent to which formative feedback actualizes and reinforces self-regulated learning (SRL) strategies among students. Theoreticians agree that SRL is predictive of improved academic outcomes and motivation because students acquire the adaptive and autonomous learning characteristics required for an enhanced engagement with the learning process and subsequent successful performance. The theory of formative assessment is found to be a unifying theory of instruction, which guides practice and improves the learning process by developing SRL strategies among learners. In a postmodern era characterized by rapid technical and scientific advance and obsolescence, there is a growing emphasis on the acquisition of learning strategies which people may rely on across the entire span of their life. Research consistently finds that the self-regulation of cognitive and affective states supports the drive for lifelong learning by: enhancing the motivational disposition to learn, enriching reasoning, refining meta-cognitive skills, and improving performance outcomes. The specific purposes of the article are to provide practitioners, administrators and policy-makers with: (a) an account of the very extensive conceptual territory that is the ‘theory of formative assessment’ and (b) how the goals of formative feedback operate to reveal recondite learning processes, thereby reinforcing SRL strategies which support learning, improve outcomes and actualize the drive for lifelong learning.
Induction therapy for rectal carcinoma

Induction, or preoperative therapy for rectal carcinoma, is a controversial topic which appears to have clinical utility in a number of distinct settings that range from early stage to locally advanced disease. Common to all treatment scenarios is the intent of reducing the likelihood of recurrence in the pelvis following surgery. An additional and evolving role is a reduction in the extent of surgery following a complete or partial clinical response to the induction regimen. While radiation as a single modality can lead to downstaging and, perhaps, a reduction in local recurrence, combined modality with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and radiation appears to have a greater therapeutic benefit that may be further enhanced by the administration of leucovorin.
Destruction of microorganisms on chicken carcasses by steam and boiling water immersion

Abstract A thermal destruction end point of 2 was achieved on broiler chicken carcass skin by boiling water (95 °C) immersion or flowing steam (96–98 °C) at 3 min, beyond which increasing exposure time up to 8 min did not further decrease estimated aerobic plate count (EAPC). Cross-contamination of deboned subcutaneous meat was not significantly ( P >0.05) affected by exposure time of whole carcasses to boiling water or flowing steam. EAPC of deboned subcutaneous meat was positively correlated ( P R 2 =0.751) and flowing steam ( R 2 =0.857). These processing intervention procedures would provide whole poultry carcasses for commercial further processing that would not be a source of cross-contamination of further processed, value-added poultry meat products and would enhance the food safety of these products.
A finite element method for free and forced convection heat transfer

A new finite element method is presented. This new method contains several novel features including a streamline upwind formulation for the advection terms and equal order interpolations for all variables: velocities, pressure, temperature and other fluid properties. This new formulation uses an iterative solution method greatly reducing the computer storage requirements. The validity of the new finite element method was tested on both a natural convection problem, a thermally driven cavity, and a forced convection problem, a heated cylinder in cross-flow. The predicted results compared favourably with a benchmark solution for the cavity and an empirical correlation for the cylinder in cross-flow.
The Almon Lag Technique and the Monetary Versus Fiscal Policy Debate

Abstract This article discusses possible problems associated with the Almon lag technique, caused by misspecification of the length of the lag or the degree of the polynomial. It is argued that the choice of the lag length is particularly treacherous. Finally, two studies of the relative importance of fiscal and monetary policy are reexamined, and it is shown how insufficient attention to these problems has significantly affected their conclusions.
Pointing control using a moving base of support

The purposes of this study were to determine whether gaze direction provides a control signal for movement direction for a pointing task requiring a step and to gain insight into why discrepancies previously identified in the literature for endpoint accuracy with gaze directed eccentrically exist. Straight arm pointing movements were performed to real and remembered target locations, either toward or 30° eccentric to gaze direction. Pointing occurred in normal room lighting or darkness while subjects sat, stood still or side-stepped left or right. Trunk rotation contributed 22–65% to gaze orientations when it was not constrained. Error differences for different target locations explained discrepancies among previous experiments. Variable pointing errors were influenced by gaze direction, while mean systematic pointing errors and trunk orientations were influenced by step direction. These data support the use of a control strategy that relies on gaze direction and equilibrium inputs for whole-body goal-directed movements.
The System Shell As A Construct for Mitigating the Impact of Changing Contexts by Creating Opportunities for Value Robustness

One of the primary goals in developing systems is to create a system that delivers desired capabilities, or value, to system stakeholders. In practice, system development requires both creative design for meeting the system objectives on paper, as well as technical competence to ensure system value delivery in practice. At least several failure mechanisms exist that may prevent a system from delivering value in practice. These mechanisms include poor concept design, failure in design implementation, changes in system operating context, and changes in stakeholder expectations. Whereas traditional robust design deals with changes in operating context, designing for Value Robustness is a technique to ensure value delivery in spite of changes in a more generalized context and expectations. The concept of system shell is introduced as a value robust construct for mitigating the effect of changes in context and expectations by decoupling the system from the sources of change. The system shell consists of two parts: the system mask and the system shelter. The system mask changes how the system is "seen" by the external context and stakeholders. The system shelter changes how the system "sees" its external context and stakeholders. Examples of system shell applications are presented, as implemented in both software and hardware, and across applications from consumer products to aerospace systems. Implications for the design of systems and systems of systems are discussed, including customizing perception of value delivery, integrating legacy components, and balancing changeability with robustness. Given uncertainty in future system context and use, the purposeful addition of system shells as a part of system design is proposed as a cost-effective approach to maintaining system value in spite of changes in context and stakeholder expectations.
Nonlinear control of a twin-lift helicopter configuration

Significant pilot work load involved in flying a twin-lift helicopter configuration necessitates the development of highly augmented flight control systems for satisfactory performance. Two nonlinear control philosophies based on feedback linearization are advanced for this configuration. The controller performance, together with the sensitivity to a few parameter variations, is studied in a nonlinear simulation. Controller implementation aspects are discussed.
Reproducibility of ventricular fibrillation characteristics in patients undergoing implantable cardioverter defibrillator implantation.

Reproducibility of VF Characteristics. Introduction: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the immediate reproducibility of local electrogram characteristics recorded during repeated episodes of induced ventricular fibrillation (VF) in patients undergoing implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) implantation. Methods and Results: Power spectral analysis (using a fast Fourier transform algorithm) of electrograms recorded during 3 seconds of VF were analyzed in 24 patients undergoing ICD implantation using a Medtronic Transvene lead. Patients had 2 to 7 episodes of VF that were induced during defibrillation threshold testing. VF was induced by burst pacing (n = 20) or T wave shock (n = 4). Simultaneous electrograms during VF were recorded from a Medtronic Transvene lead with the following configurations: (1) a narrow spaced (12 mm) dedicated bipole used clinically for sensing; (2) a unipolar electrogram from the right ventricular coil; and (3) a widely spaced (18.3 mm) integrated bipole using the distal tip and the coil. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) were determined to examine the reproducibility of these VF characteristics among VF episodes in each patient. Recordings from both bipolar configurations had ICCs from 0.40 to 0.55, whereas unipolar recordings ICCs were below 0.40. Reproducibility was similar for dedicated and integrated recordings. Conclusions: Frequency characteristics of repeated episodes of VF induced in the same subjects show fair-to-good but not excellent reproducibility. Bipolar recordings were far more reproducible than unipolar recordings, but both bipolar configurations had similar reproducibility. These findings have implications for both the pathophysiology of induced VF and the design of VF detection algorithms.
Viral calciomics: interplays between Ca2+ and virus.

Ca2+ is one of the most universal and versatile signaling molecules and is involved in almost every aspect of cellular processes. Viruses are adept at utilizing the universal Ca2+ signal to create a tailored cellular environment that meets their own demands. This review summarizes most of the known mechanisms by which viruses perturb Ca2+ homeostasis and utilize Ca2+ and cellular Ca2+-binding proteins to their benefit in their replication cycles. Ca2+ plays important roles in virion structure formation, virus entry, viral gene expression, posttranslational processing of viral proteins and virion maturation and release. As part of the review, we introduce an algorithm to identify linear “EF-hand” Ca2+-binding motifs which resulted in the prediction of a total of 93 previously unrecognized Ca2+-binding motifs in virus proteins. Many of these proteins are nonstructural proteins, a class of proteins among which Ca2+ interactions had not been formerly appreciated. The presence of linear Ca2+-binding motifs in viral proteins enlarges the spectrum of Ca2+–virus interplay and expands the total scenario of viral calciomics.
Ethnic and religious diversity and corruption

Abstract I analyze the effects of ethnic and religious diversity on corruption. Using data from US states, I find a positive and linear relationship between ethnic/religious polarization and corruption and an inverse-U-shaped relationship between ethnic/religious fractionalization and corruption.
Apelin retards the progression of diabetic nephropathy

Apelin and its receptor APJ have pleiotropic effects in mice and humans and play a protective role in cardiovascular diseases at least partially by inhibiting oxidative stress. Our objective was to study the effect of apelin on the progression of kidney disease in mice with established type 1 diabetes. Ove26 mice with type 1 diabetes received daily subcutaneous injections of apelin for 2 or 14 wk. APJ localizes in the glomeruli and blood vessels of kidneys. Renal APJ expression was reduced in diabetic mice but increased after treatment with apelin. Apelin treatment did not affect glycemia, body weight, or blood pressure in diabetic mice. Whole kidney and glomerular hypertrophy, as well as renal inflammation, including monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 and vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 expression, NF-κB activation, and monocyte infiltration, was inhibited after short and long treatment with apelin. Apelin administration significantly reduced albuminuria at 6 mo. Short treatment with apelin was sufficient to reverse the downregulation of the antioxidant enzyme catalase. Expression of angiotensin II and angiotensin type 1 receptor (AT1) in kidneys from diabetic mice treated was not affected by apelin. These findings show for the first time that apelin exerts a protective effect on the diabetic kidney. Short administration is sufficient to reduce kidney and glomerular hypertrophy as well as renal inflammation, but prolonged treatment is required to improve albuminuria. This effect was independent of the activation of the renin angiotensin system but correlated with upregulation of the antioxidant catalase. Apelin may represent a novel tool to treat diabetic nephropathy.
EVI1 induces myelodysplastic syndrome in mice

Myelodysplasia is a hematological disease in which genomic abnormalities accumulate in a hematopoietic stem cell leading to severe pancytopenia, multilineage differentiation impairment, and bone marrow (BM) apoptosis. Mortality in the disease results from pancytopenia or transformation to acute myeloid leukemia. There are frequent cytogenetic abnormalities, including deletions of chromosomes 5, 7, or both. Recurring chromosomal translocations in myelodysplasia are rare, but the most frequent are the t(3;3)(q21;q26) and the inv(3)(q21q26), which lead to the inappropriate activation of the EVI1 gene located at 3q26. To better understand the role of EVI1 in this disease, we have generated a murine model of EVI1-positive myelodysplasia by BM infection and transplantation. We find that EVI1 induces a fatal disease of several stages that is characterized by severe pancytopenia. The disease does not progress to acute myeloid leukemia. Comparison of in vitro and in vivo results suggests that EVI1 acts at two levels. The immediate effects of EVI1 are hyperproliferation of BM cells and downregulation of EpoR and c-Mpl, which are important for terminal erythroid differentiation and platelet formation. These defects are not fatal, and the mice survive for about 10 months with compensated hematopoiesis. Over this time, compensation fails, and the mice succumb to fatal peripheral cytopenia.
Concerns, Considerations, and New Ideas for Data Collection and Research in Educational Technology Studies

AbstractIn the following pages, we examine some common methodological challenges in educational technology research and highlight new data collection approaches using examples from the literature and our own work. Given that surveys and questionnaires remain widespread and dominant tools across nearly all studies of educational technology, we first discuss the background and limitations of how researchers have traditionally used surveys to define and measure technology use (as well as other variables and outcomes). Through this discussion, we introduce our own work with a visual analog “sliding” scale as an example of a new approach to survey design and data collection that capitalizes on the technology resources increasingly available in schools. Next, we highlight other challenges and opportunities inherent in the study of educational technology, including the potential for computer adaptive surveying, and discuss the critical importance of aligning outcome measures with the technological innovation, co...
Estimating habitat value using forest inventory data: The fisher (Martes pennanti) in northwestern California

Abstract Managing forests for multiple objectives requires balancing timber and vegetation management objectives with needs of sensitive species. Especially challenging is how to retain the habitat elements for species that are typically associated with late-seral forests. We develop a regionally specific, multivariate model describing habitat selection that can be used – when linked to an institutional forest inventory program – to assess, monitor and forecast habitat conditions for a key wildlife species. We use the fisher (Martes pennanti) in northwestern California as our example and develop a predictive model for resting habitat that is created using data from the specific region where it will be used. We explore how this resting habitat model differs from a similar model developed for the Sierra Nevada and consider the implications for forest management. We developed the model using MaxEnt by comparing vegetation data at 99 randomly selected fisher resting structures on public and tribal lands in northwestern California with 883 Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) plots within the same ecoregion. A total of 58 alternative vegetation models were specified and the top 10 were nearly identical in their performance (Gain > 1.08; Area Under the Curve [AUC] > 0.89). We chose a five-variable model (canopy closure, tree age, total basal area, volume of “large” wood and basal area of hardwoods) because it included the fewest variables and included only those that could be affected by management. This model was similar to the Sierra Nevada model, but did not include topographic features (e.g., slope) nor did it include a variable representing the density of small trees. The absence of variables related to topography may make it easier for managers to affect positive change in resting habitat suitability since all variables can be influenced by management actions. Moreover, the model indicates that small trees appear to be less important (compared to southern Sierra Nevada) and therefore the probability of producing high-value resting habitat without higher fire risk is greater. We also created a spreadsheet that simplifies the process of generating habitat predictions from new data. Since metrics of stand structure and wildlife habitat are sensitive to sample design, collecting new data with FIA protocols will provide the most accurate estimates of predicted habitat with this model. Together, the Sierra Nevada and northwest California models provide managers in California a quantitative means to assess and monitor resting habitat suitability using current and future data that are part of an institutionally supported program to inventory forest vegetation.
The Effects of Achievement Goals and Self-Regulated Learning Behaviors on Reading Comprehension in Technology-Enhanced Learning Environments.

Studies examining students’ achievement goals, cognitive engagement strategies and performance have found that achievement goals tend to predict classes of cognitive strategy use which predict performance on measures of learning. These studies have led to deeper theoretical understanding, but their reliance on self-report data limit the conclusions that can be drawn. We employed a behavioral approach instead and assessed learning processes by logging learners’ behaviors as they used educational technology. We examined the relationship between achievement goals, strategy use, and comprehension scores of 160 undergraduates who studied a hypertext passage in a technology-enhanced learning environment (TELE) equipped with tools that support learning behaviors including highlighting, taking notes, review of annotations, seeking additional information and monitoring understanding. Results of a path analysis indicated that higher mastery goals predicted more information-seeking and note-taking and marginally more monitoring of learning. Performance avoidance goals negatively predicted note-taking and information-seeking. Performance approach goals did not predict the behaviors we traced. Of the behaviors we traced, highlighting and monitoring predicted increases in comprehension scores. A behavioral approach to assessing learning processes confirmed only a subset of paths from achievement goals to learning processes to learning outcomes originally discovered with self-report data.
Nanosecond Pulsed Uniform Dielectric Barrier Discharge for Living Tissue Sterilization and Blood Coagulation

Summary form only given. Sterilization of living tissue and sensitive biomaterials require non-thermal plasma. Although there are many ways to generate non-thermal plasma at low pressure of different gases, for living tissue sterilization and blood coagulation uniform plasma in air at atmospheric pressure is crucial. On the other hand, when generating plasma at atmospheric pressure, such as by using RF power, a question arises about temperature. Most kinds of plasmas tend to have higher temperature than safe to use for sensitive treatment because of significant power deposition. Dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) is a very easy and cheap method for building systems and generating non-thermal atmospheric pressure plasma. This technique has been used for ozone production for more than one and a half century. Nevertheless, conventional atmospheric pressure DBDs in air may also have some difficulties to be used for medical treatment. When ignited in air at atmospheric pressure, they assume a filamentary structure because of streamers. These filaments are undesired for sensitive treatments due to having strong local heating effect. Thus DBD has to be more uniform. Latter can be done by applying pulsed power with pulse duration shorter than streamer formation time. To generate atmospheric pressure uniform plasma in air for living tissue sterilization and blood coagulation, we have developed a new nanosecond pulsed DBD system with only few tens of nanosecond pulse width, using point to plane configuration with customized circuit. Nanosecond pulsed DBD was characterized by electrical and spectroscopic analyses. Voltage pulse width was obtained approximately 20 ns at the half height and with 3 kV/ns front. Uniformity of the nanosecond pulsed DBD has been measured qualitatively by using photofilm where Lichtenberg figures of single pulses do not show any trace of filament. Additionally it was observed that discharge ignites uniformly over large range of gap distances (0.1-4 mm). Further details on characterization and results about new uniform DBD will be presented.
Ru-Based Olefin Metathesis Catalysts Bearing pH-Responsive N-Heterocyclic Carbene (NHC) Ligands: Activity Control via Degree of Protonation

Olefin metathesis catalysts (H2ITap)(PCy3)Cl2Ru=CHPh (4) and (H2ITap)Cl2Ru=CH-(C6H4-O-iPr) (5) [H2ITap = 1,3-bis(2′,6′-dimethyl-4′-dimethylaminophenyl)-4,5-dihydroimidazol-2-ylidene] were used for the ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) of exo-7-oxanorbornene derivative 7 in the presence of various amounts of acid. Upon gradual protonation of the NMe2 groups of the H2Tap ligand, the metathesis activity of both catalysts were gradually reduced due to electronic changes of the N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ligand donor capability. The investigation of the ROMP polymer 8, DFT calculations and measurements of the initiation kinetics prove that the reduced activity is solely due to reduced rates of propagation.(© Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2009)
Is bariatric surgery an option for women with gynecologic cancer? Examining weight loss counseling practices and training among gynecologic oncology providers.

Objective The objective of this study was to evaluate gynecologic oncology provider (GOP) practices regarding weight loss (WL) counseling, and to assess their willingness to initiate weight loss interventions, specifically bariatric surgery (WLS).
Beliefs About Knowledge and Knowing: Integrating Domain Specificity and Domain Generality: A Response to Muis, Bendixen, and Haerle (2006)

In their review of the empirical research, Muis, Bendixen, and Haerle (2006) bring closure to the debate between domain specificity and domain generality of epistemic beliefs and provide a framework for future research. In response to their review, this article comments on issues that remain for those who wish to examine the nature of the interaction between epistemic domain specificity and domain generality and its relation to learning. These issues include methodological concerns, philosophical contributions, terminology, epistemology beyond academic domains, and educational implications.
Drug Abuse Prevention Programming: Do We Know What Content Works?.

This article summarizes the theoretical underpinnings, substantive contents, and limitations of comprehensive social-influences-based drug abuse prevention programming. This type of programming has produced the most consistently successful preventive effects. There is some evidence that one major part of these programs, changing social norms, is an essential ingredient for successful drug abuse prevention programming. Research suggests that these effects may not be contingent on the use of refusal assertion training, a prototype activity of social-influences-based prevention programs. Because programs, when disseminated to the public, often contain only a subset of lessons from the social influences curriculum, there remains the potential error of implementing a combination of lessons that may not be effective. Further, there is evidence that other types of prevention programming, such as physical consequences programming, may be successful in some situations. Finally, social-influences-based programming may not be as effective with some subpopulations such as high-risk youths.
Renal Cell Carcinoma

RENAL CELL CARCINOMA (RCC) accounts for approximately 3% of adult malignancy and 90% to 95% of neoplasms arising from the kidney. It is the sixth leading cause of cancer death in the United States. Approximately 31200 new cases of RCC were diagnosed in the United States in 2000 and more than 11900 affected individuals died. This disease often presents with few symptoms but it can have diverse paraneoplastic manifestations. It displays relative resistance to radiation and chemotherapy, although there have been occasional durable responses to interleukin 2 (IL-2)–based immunotherapy. Recent insights into the genetic changes associated with RCC have provided new targets for therapy.