cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Interaction of U2AF65 RS Region with Pre-mRNA of Branch Point and Promotion Base Pairing with U2 snRNA

The mammalian splicing factor U2AF65 binds to the polypyrimidine tract adjacent to the 3' splice site and promotes assembly of U2 small nuclear ribonucleoprotein on the upstream branch point, an interaction that involves base pairing with U2 small nuclear RNA (snRNA). U2AF65 contains an RNA binding domain, required for interaction with the polypyrimidine tract, and an arginine-serine-rich (RS) region, required for U2 snRNP recruitment and splicing. Here it is reported that binding of U2AF65 to the polypyrimidine tract directed the RS domain to contact the branch point and promoted U2 snRNA-branch point base pairing even in the absence of other splicing factors. Analysis of RS domain mutants indicated that the ability of U2AF65 to contact the branch point, to promote the U2 snRNA-branch point interaction, and to support splicing are related activities, requiring only a few basic amino acids. Thus, the U2AF65 RS domain plays a direct role in modulating spliceosomal RNA-RNA interactions.
Measuring inherent load-extension properties of geotextiles for design of reinforced structures

Existing test methods for measuring the load-extension properties, including the stiffness and the ultimate strength, of geotextiles as they are subjected to confining pressures are reviewed and critically evaluated. In addition, a new test method which surmounts the drawbacks of the existing methods is presented. The new method has three distinct characteristics: (1) it is an “element” test, thus the load-extension properties determined from the test are the inherent properties of the geotextile; (2) the test measures the confined stiffness and strength of geotextiles without inducing soil-geotextile interface adhesion, thereby simulating the predominant operational condition in typical geotextile-reinforced soil structures; and (3) the stiffness and strength obtained from the test are conservative values if soil-geotextile interface slippage does occur in a reinforced structure. The new test method offers a unified and more rational method for determining the load-extension properties of geotextiles in the design and specification of geotextile-reinforced soil structures.
1H NMR study of the magnetic properties and electronic structure of the hydroxide complex of substrate-bound heme oxygenase from Neisseria meningitidis: influence of the axial water deprotonation on the distal H-bond network.

The substrate and active site residues of the low-spin hydroxide complex of the protohemin complex of Neisseria meningitidis heme oxygenase (NmHO) have been assigned by saturation transfer between ...
Neuromuscular disorders in critically ill patients: review and update.

AbstractNeuromuscular disorders that are diagnosed in the intensive care unit (ICU) usually cause substantial limb weakness and contribute to ventilatory dysfunction. Although some lead to ICU admission, ICU-acquired disorders, mainly critical illness myopathy (CIM) and critical illness polyneuropat
Comprehensive Two-Dimensional Gas Chromatography with Mass Spectrometric Detection (GC × GC/MS) Applied to the Analysis of Petroleum

Comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometric detection (GC × GC/MS) is a three-dimensional analytical method. In its application to petroleum analysis, the high peak capacity of GC × GC produced chromatographic resolution of over 750 peaks from a marine diesel fuel. The MS detector provided a full-scan mass spectrum for each resolved peak. The integration of an MS detector with GC × GC provides increased capability to identify minor components, determine members of homologous series, and characterize ordered peak patterns of related components that are visible in the GC × GC chromatogram.
Correction of phase offset errors in cardiovascular magnetic resonance using background subtraction from stationary tissue

Phase offset errors from local eddy currents can lead to significant errors in flow assessment on clinical cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) examinations. Phantom correction for phase contrast (PC) errors appears to improve accuracy in flow assessment, but requires additional time and is not free from technical limitations. Background subtraction using a region of stationary tissue has been proposed as an alternative method for the correction of phase offset errors.
Antibody-induced proteinase activation: a proposed mechanism for pemphigus.

Pemphigus is a severe, blistering disease of the skin and mucous membranes which is characterized by the presence of an autoantibody directed against the surface of epidermal cells [43,45]. There are several types of pemphigus which are distinguished by their clinical presentations, histopathology, and immunopathologic findings [37].
Residential proximity of nearest child and older adults’ receipts of informal support transfers in Barbados

This study assesses the probability that an older person in Bridgetown, Barbados receives financial, functional and/or material support from their adult children according to the proximity of their nearest child, adjusting for demographic and socio-economic factors. As in many countries of the developing world, older Barbadians receive much of their support from adult children. Population ageing, smaller family sizes and high rates of out-migration may be placing stress on systems of formal and informal support within the country. Yet, very little research has examined determinants of support within the Caribbean let alone Barbados, one of the most rapidly ageing countries in the region. Data (N = 1,248) come from the 2000 Pan American Health Organization Survey on Health, Well-being and Ageing in Latin America and the Caribbean (SABE). Multivariate logistic regression analyses highlight the overwhelming importance of co-residence in the receipt of informal support transfers. Although there is a lower probability of receiving support as distance to nearest child increases, several indicators of vulnerability, such as having a disability, increases support probabilities among those whose nearest children live outside the neighbourhood. The results have implications for current and future cohorts of older adults in the region given the combination of declining fertility, persistent migration and population ageing within a broader context of social protection systems across the region.
Partnering with a Higher Power: Academic Engagement, Religiosity, and Spirituality of African American Urban Youth.

Engagement in and transitions between academic institutions may be enhanced for African American urban youth if we consider the role of religiosity, spirituality, and places of worship. This article presents the manner by which African American university students, who attended public high schools, conveyed the influence of their religious and spiritual beliefs on their academic aspirations, engagement, and achievement. Further, these students described how their connections to and support from places of worship assisted them in their educational endeavors. The data from this study, in conjunction with previous research, demonstrate the importance of knowing students’ social and contextual support for academic endeavors beyond the family and school. This type of information has the potential to assist school personnel in knowing, advising, and supporting students.
Importance of Postnatal Age(PNA) in Vancomycin Pharmacokinetics in the Critically-ill Neonate. 317

Dosing recommendations for vancomycin, which has primarily renal elimination, are derived from studies demonstrating that renal function in the human neonate increases significantly at approximately 34 wks postconceptional age(PCA, where PCA = gestational age[GA] + PNA). To examine the independent role of PNA, we calculated vancomycin pharmacokinetics (104 studies) in 79 critically-ill neonates. Elimination rate constant (Kel) and volume of distribution (Vd) were determined. As shown in the Table(mean±SD), infants were divided into three GA groups: ≤30, 31-35, and >35 wks(PCA 31.3±3.2, 35.9±3.9, and 42.8±2.0 wks, respectively). Although Kel was greater in the more mature infants, a significant correlation between PNA and Kel was observed within each gestational age group. Furthermore, for all infants with PCA 29-36 wks, the correlation between PNA and Kel was r=.49, p 35 wks)
Should patients with relapsing multiple sclerosis be given a higher dose and frequency of interferon-β1a?

Should patients with relapsing multiple sclerosis be given a higher dose and frequency of interferon-β1a?
Sonically spatialized screen reading: Aiming to restore spatial information for blind and low-vision users

Blind and low-vision (BLV) individuals utilize systems called “Screen Readers” to navigate the World Wide Web. These systems retrieve the text information from the web pages accessed by a browser and convert this text to speech. However, typical screen readers process only one channel of audio and, therefore, convey the information from the web page in single-track, linearized format, stripping from it the two-dimensional spatial information available to sighted users of the same web page. There is an interest in presenting the sound from screen readers in multiple “virtual auditory columns,” aiming to restore the perception of two-dimensional placement of items on contemporary web pages. In this paper, we explore alternative methods to spatialize sound over five horizontal positions, in front of a computer user. An experimental comparison of two of these sound spatialization methods was statistically evaluated. The results indicate that there is not a statistically significant difference in accuracy achieved by application of the Vector-Based Amplitude Panning (VBAP) or the Linear Panning (LP) methods.
TRANSPIRATION RATES OF SOME FOREST TREE SPECIES DURING THE DORMANT SEASON.

Six individuals of each species, each about three years old, were transplanted from clay pots to cylindrical metal buckets of five-quart capacity. In transplanting the seedlings the entire core of soil containing the root system was transferred intact to reduce disturbance of the roots to a minimum. The soil used was a sandy loam with a field capacity of 23.2 per cent. After transplanting, the specimens were placed outdoors for a week prior to beginning experimental work. To prevent catchment of rain water and evaporation from the soil surface the buckets were sealed with two layers of oil cloth which sloped from the stems to the rims of the metal buckets at an angle of approximately 55 degrees. The oil cloth was heavily coated with a sealing compound consisting of paraffin, tallow, beeswax, and rosin. A glass tube, closed by a cork stopper, was inserted through each cover to permit the addition of water. The experiment was performed on a flat roof where there was a minimum of shading by nearby trees and buildings. The specimens were arranged in six randomized blocks with each block having six plants representing each of the six species. The six blocks were located in a bed containing excelsior packing to prevent excessive changes in soil temperature as well as unnatural freezing. The blocks were so arranged that, although the afternoon shade affected the blocks differently, the plants within each block were shaded to the same extent. This arrangement was made to eliminate withinblock variations due to shading differences. The soil in the buckets at the beginning of each experimental period was at the previously determined field capacity, and the equivalent of the transpired water was replaced immediately after each experimental period. Weather data were obtained with a Friez hygrothermograph. Evaporation rates were obtained with standard Livingston atmometers. Total wind velocity for each experimental period was obtained with a cumulative recording anemometer. The gravimetric method of measuring transpiration was employed using a balance with a sensitivity of one gram. Loss in
Microwave absorption properties of multi-walled carbon nanotube (outer diameter 20-30nm)-epoxy composites from 1 to 26.5GHz

Abstract In this work, multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) (outer diameters (OD) in the range of 20–30 nm)–epoxy composites were fabricated. The MWCNT loadings in the polymer composites were controlled from 1–10 wt.%. An Agilent PNA Network analyzer was utilized in the measurements of microwave absorption (MA) properties of these MWCNT–epoxy composites over a wide frequency range of 1–26.5 GHz. The measurement results showed that MA strongly depends on MWCNT loadings in the composites. In addition, the microwave reflection, transmission, and dielectric permittivity of the MWCNT–epoxy composites are also investigated. The composite with 8 wt.% MWCNT loading shows high microwave absorption as well as low reflection and transmission. These MWCNT–epoxy composites with 8–10 wt.% MWCNT loadings show a significant potential for microwave technology applications.
A prototyping tool for graphical software engineering tools

The paper introduces (1) a meta system, ERA Meta-Graph System, to define graphical modeling formalisms and to prototype their rule-based graphical editors, and (2) an example usage of the system to prototype some rule-based diagram editors for software designing process.
Effect of dimerization on the transmission of water vapor in the near-infrared☆

Abstract We emphasize the possible importance of dimerization of H 2 O on the optical properties of the atmosphere. A representative estimate for increased absorption is given for the 2.7 υ region.
Photosensitized isomerization-hydration of 5-cholestene.

Abstract Irradiation of 5-cholestene (I) in the ternary solvent system composed of t -butyl alcohol, water and o -xylene (sensitizer) gave 4-cholestene (II) and starting material (I) (7:3 ratio), 5β-cholestan-5-o1 (III) and 5α-cholestan-5-ol (IV). The photosensitized reaction of I in deuterium oxide gave the analogous deuterium-substituted products, with principal labelings at C-4 and C-6. The mechanism of the formation of these compounds is discussed and correlated with the photoreactions of other cycloolefins and of cholesterol.
The net carbon flux due to deforestation and forest re‐growth in the Brazilian Amazon: analysis using a process‐based model

We developed a process-based model of forest growth, carbon cycling and land-cover dynamics named CARLUC (for CARbon and Land-Use Change) to estimate the size of terrestrial carbon pools in terra firme (nonflooded) forests across the Brazilian Legal Amazon and the net flux of carbon resulting from forest disturbance and forest recovery from disturbance. Our goal in building the model was to construct a relatively simple ecosystem model that would respond to soil and climatic heterogeneity that allows us to study the impact of Amazonian deforestation, selective logging and accidental fire on the global carbon cycle. This paper focuses on the net flux caused by deforestation and forest re-growth over the period from 1970 to 1998. We calculate that the net flux to the atmosphere during this period reached a maximum of � 0.35PgCyr � 1 (1PgC 5 1 � 10 15 gC) in 1990, with a cumulative release of � 7PgC from 1970 to 1998. The net flux is higher than predicted by an earlier study (Houghton et al., 2000) by a total of 1PgC over the period 1989‐1998 mainly because CARLUC predicts relatively high mature forest carbon storage compared with the datasets used in the earlier study. Incorporating the dynamics of litter and soil carbon pools into the model increases the cumulative net flux by � 1PgC from 1970 to 1998, while different assumptions about land-cover dynamics only caused small changes. The uncertainty of the net flux, calculated with a Monte-Carlo approach, is roughly 35% of the mean value (1SD).
Evidence of the nature of rotating liquid helium

Earlier experiments by Hall(1) and also by Walmsley and Lane(2) on the angular momentum content of rotating liquid helium II have involved measurements of torque required to set a vessel of liquid into equilibrium rotation. Integrating the resultant torque-time measurements over the angular acceleration (or deceleration) period yielded thereby a measure of the angular momentum acquired by the helium. Since furthermore an integration over the volume of the vessel was involved, such methods produced composite, over all data.
Development of an additive equation for predicting the electrical conductivity of carbon‐filled composites

The electrical conductivity of polymeric materials can be increased by the addition of carbon fillers. The resulting composites can be used in applications such as electrostatic dissipation and interference shielding. Electrical conductivity models are often proposed to predict the conductivity behavior of these materials. The electrical conductivity of carbon-filled polymers was studied here by the addition of three single fillers to nylon 6,6 and polycarbonate in increasing concentrations. The fillers used in this project were carbon black, synthetic-graphite particles, and milled pitch-based carbon fibers. Materials were extruded and injection-molded into test specimens, and then the electrical conductivity was measured. Additional material characterization tests included optical microscopy for determining the filler aspect ratio and orientation. The filler and matrix surface energies were also determined. An updated model developed by Mamunya and others and a new additive model (including the constituent conductivities, filler volume fraction, percolation threshold, constituent surface energies, filler aspect ratio, and filler orientation) fit the electrical conductivity results well. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 88: 2280–2299, 2003
Closed Reduction of a Traumatically Dislocated Testicle

Traumatic testicular dislocation is an uncommon event, with fewer than 60 cases having been reported in the literature. It is imperative that the emergency physician be aware of the possibility of testicular dislocation following perineal trauma and either seek emergent urologic consultation or attempt relocation of the testicle immediately. Testicular dislocation (following a motorcycle crash) that was successfully managed by closed reduction in the emergency department (ED) is presented. Following a benign course during subsequent observation, the patient was released with close urologic follow-up.
High Reynolds number flow through cubic arrays of spheres: steady-state solution and transition to turbulence

A five-mode truncation of the Navier—Stokes equation for incompressible flow through a cubic array of spheres is analyzed for its stationary and time-dependent solutions. Under the imposed symmetry requirements, the stationary solutions accurately depict the appearance of a vortex pair, and the volume-averaged velocity is in excellent agreement with the Ergun equation up to Re = 250. At the point the deviation from empirical data begins, the unique stationary solution destabilizes via a Hopf bifurcation point. A numerical analysis of the resulting periodic solution shows that for a certain range of imposed pressure gradient the system exhibits chaotic behavior, approached through a period-doubling subharmonic bifurcation sequence.
The pituitary gland: a brief history

The functions of the pituitary gland as an important constituent of the endocrine system were not understood until the latter part of the nineteenth century and the first half of the 20th century. At one time, the pituitary was deemed to be the "leader of the endocrine orchestra," but more recent studies have shown that its secretions are influenced by external stimuli and that it is largely under the control of the hypothalamus.
Multi-period rent-seeking contests with carryover: Theory and experimental evidence

This paper develops and experimentally tests a model in which a player’s effort affects the probability of winning a contest in both the current and future periods. Theory predicts that rent-seeking effort will be shifted forward from later to earlier periods, with no change in overall rent-seeking expenditures relative to the static contest. Experimental results indicate a significant shift forward when “carryover” is present and that the amount shifted is directly related to the carryover rate. Finally, although experimental expenditures are greater than the equilibrium predictions, overall rent-seeking effort in the carryover contests is lower than in similar static contests.
Failure of concrete T-beam and box-girder highway bridges subjected to cyclic loading from traffic

Abstract Concrete cast-in-place T-beam highway bridges are often constructed by casting the girders and the deck separately, creating a cold joint between the girders and the deck. Under certain circumstances, cracking and visible slippage can occur in this joint, resulting in fracture of the reinforcing steel crossing the joint, greatly reducing the composite action between the flange and the web. After observing the movement of this joint at some bridges, a detailed evaluation was performed on 12 five-girder T-beam bridges on Interstate 40 (I-40) in the southwestern US, and a potential failure mechanism was identified in all of them. In addition, alkali silica reaction (ASR) had been known to affect bridges in the area; therefore the study evaluated whether ASR had contributed to the failures. Several factors were identified as contributors to the failure mechanism, including a limited recognition in the original design standard of cyclic loading, high volume of heavy truck traffic, and transverse moments caused by unbalanced wheel loading. After the investigation, recommendations were made for instituting special inspections of construction joints in similar existing bridges.
Use in-line AFM to monitor STI profile in 65-nm technology development

In the 65nm process development, use traditional top-view SEM and off-line XSEM and TEM to monitor STI profile became insufficient and inefficient. How to find one non-destructive, in-line monitor method to monitor trench depth, step height, and micro-planarity of STI (Shallow Trench Isolation) module profile become more important and challenge than before. In-line AFM just cover this challenge during 65nm process development stage. In this paper, we report how to use in-line Atomic Force Microscope (AFM) technology to monitor STI module profile. Use of this technology on profile step-height and critical dimension in production facilities offers superior precision, accuracy, non-destructive. high throughput and cost effective measurement result. Meanwhile, this paper outlines the implementation of AFM based metrology in an automatic production facility. We focus on the process step just after nitride removed, two key applications on this step, one is to monitor the step height difference and the other is to monitor divot depth at the interfaces height difference between the active area and the isolation area within the STI module. Because the STI step height and divot after oxide fill might dominate the device threshold voltage value(Vt), we check the step height and divot of STI from SiN removed step to the step of thin gate oxide AEI. Then we check and trace where these defect occurred. We also measured 11 points on 300mn wafer to come out one wafer-level topographic chart to monitor its cross-wafer uniformity. Besides, we compared and correlated the AFM measurement result with FA TEM data. It shows good correlation result between X3D AFM and FA TEM. It means this in-line measurement method could efficient act as one important role on advanced STI module process development.
An animal model for small-diameter arterial grafts.

A rabbit model was developed to study small-diameter arterial grafts. A total of 158 2-mm-diameter polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) grafts und 35 autogenous carotid artery (AA) grafts were interposed...
Roles of Calcium Binding Domains 1 and 2 in Ca2+ Regulation of the Na+-Ca2+ exchanger

The crystal structures of two Ca2+ binding domains (CBDs) in the Na+-Ca2+ exchanger (NCX) have been recently resolved. We generated full-length NCXs with mutations in CBD1 and CBD2 to determine their roles in Ca2+-dependent regulation of NCX.The effects of regulatory Ca2+ on the mutant exchangers were measured in giant excised patches. Currents were elicited by applying Na+ to the cytoplasmic side of the patch in the presence of different regulatory Ca2+ concentrations. The pipette contained Ca2+ at all times. Under these conditions, NCX current peaks and then decays due to inactivation triggered by high cytoplasmic Na+. Regulatory Ca2+ relieves this inactivation.Glu 385 coordinates one (Ca3) of the four Ca2+ found in CBD1. Peak NCX current of mutant E385A displayed a 4-fold decrease in Ca2+ affinity demonstrating the important role of Ca3. NCX-M7 has mutations at 7 of the 10 amino acids that coordinate Ca2+ binding to CBD1 which should eliminate Ca2+ binding to this region. This mutant showed a further decrease in apparent Ca2+ affinity but retained regulation confirming a contribution of CBD2 to Ca2+ regulation. Addition of the mutation K585E (located in CBD2) into the NCX-M7 background resulted in an increase in apparent Ca2+ affinity. K585E appears to increase Ca2+ binding-affinity of CBD2.Additional mutations within CBD2 were also tested. Previously we have shown that NCX mutants E516L, D578V and E683V lack Ca2+ regulation. Introduction of a positive charge either at position 516 or 683 partially rescued NCX Ca2+ regulation. The positive charge may mimic Ca2+. These results stress the importance of CBD2 in NCX Ca2+ regulation. Additional mutants (including D578R) are under investigation. Our final goal is to gain a better understanding of the interaction between CBD1 and CBD2.
Elastic scattering of zero-energy electrons by helium atoms

Scattering lengths and their reciprocals for elastic collisions between zero-energy electrons and helium atoms have been calculated using Kohn's variational method. The trial function used makes explicit allowance for correlation between the incident electron and the atomic electrons, and is properly antisymmetrized to allow for electron exchange. In addition the trial wave function depends upon three exponential parameters as well as a number of linear parameters. The `best' values obtained are 1.10 a0 for the scattering length, and (1.11 a0)-1 for the reciprocal of the scattering length. Our value for the scattering length is slightly lower than the 1965 experimentally determined value 1.15 a0 of Golden and Bandel, but is very close to the value 1.097 a0 calculated by LaBahn and Callaway in 1966.
Social desirability, personality questionnaires, and the “better than average” effect

Abstract It is well established that respondents are much more likely to rate themselves highly on personality questionnaire items with high social desirability (SD) than on items with low SD. However, conflicting explanations have been offered for this phenomenon. In the present study, 286 participants were randomly assigned to four groups that rated 119 items from two well-known personality questionnaires. One group of participants rated themselves, a second group rated their family and friends, a third rated “people in general,” and a fourth rated the items’ SD. It was found that mean SD ratings of personality items were highly correlated with mean self-ratings and with mean ratings of family and friends for the same items (all r s > .800), but not with mean ratings of “people in general.” In other words, participants strongly tended to rate themselves, their family, and their friends as high on socially desirable qualities, but this tendency did not extend to ratings of people in general. These results support the conclusion that respondents’ personality ratings of themselves, their family and friends, but not of people in general, are influenced by the form of self-serving bias known as the “better than average effect.”
Discovery of Biomarker Genes from Earthworm Microarray Data by Discriminant Analysis and Clustering

Monitoring, assessment and prediction of environmental risks that chemicals pose demand rapid and accurate diagnostic assays. One important goal of microarray experiments is to discover novel biomarkers for toxicity evaluation. A variety of toxicological effects have been associated with explosive compounds 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) and 1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazacyclohexane (RDX). Here we developed a discriminant analysis and cluster (DAC) pipeline to analyze a 248-array dataset with 15,208 non-redundant earthworm (Eisenia fetida) gene probes on each array. Our objective was to identify biomarker genes that can separate earthworm samples into three groups: control (untreated), TNT-treated, and RDX-treated. First, the class comparison statistical algorithm implemented in BRB-ArrayTools was used to infer a total of 869 genes that significantly changed relative to controls as a result of exposure to TNT or RDX at various concentrations for 4 or 14 days. Then, nine tree-based supervised machine learning algorithms were applied to generate classification rules and a set of 286 classifier genes. These classifier genes were ranked by their overall weight of significance in the nine classification methods, and were used to build support vector machines (SVM). A SVM containing all 286 classifier genes had the highest classification accuracy (91.5%). Results of unsupervised clustering show that the use of the top 100 classifier genes can assign the largest number of the 248 worm samples into the three reference clusters obtained by using all the 14,188 filtered genes, suggesting that these top-ranked genes may be potential candidates for biomarkers. This study demonstrates that the DAC pipeline can be used to identify a small set of biomarker genes from high dimensional datasets and generate a reliable SVM classification model for multiple classes.
Elastic 3-D alignment of rat brain histological images

A three-dimensional wavelet-based algorithm for nonlinear registration of an elastic body model of the brain is developed. Surfaces of external and internal anatomic brain structures are used to guide alignment. The deformation field is represented with a multiresolution wavelet expansion and is modeled by the partial differential equations of linear elasticity. A progressive estimation of the registration parameters and the usage of an adaptive distance map reduce algorithm complexity, thereby providing computational flexibility that allows mapping of large, high resolution datasets. The performance of the algorithm was evaluated on rat brains. The wavelet-based registration method yielded a twofold improvement over affine registration.
Configuration of a boundary scan chain for optimal testing of clusters of non boundary scan devices

Testing of boards containing a mixture of boundary scan components and clusters of non-boundary scan devices is an interesting problem. If a tester cannot contact the non-scan circuitry, the inputs and outputs of onboard boundary scan devices may be used as virtual tester pins. In this case, the time for testing the cliuters depeds on how the boundary scan chips are connected into a longer scan chain. This paper presents a technique for configuring a chain of boundary scan chips to minimize the test time for cliuters.
A new method for preparing aqueous solutions of trialkylsulfonium and trialkylsulfoxonium hydroxides

Abstract Aqueous solutions of low molecular weight trialkylsulfonium and trialkylsulfoxonium hydroxides are prepared in quantiative yields from tetrabutylammonium hydroxide and trialkylsulf(ox)onium iodides using an extractive procedure.
An appropriate device figure of merit for bipolar CML

The effects of base resistance, base transit time, and junction capacitances play a key role in the propagation delay of high-speed bipolar logic gates. A simple device figure of merit for transistors used in current mode logic (CML) circuits, based on minimum propagation delay, is developed. This delay is derived from the large-signal 3-dB cutoff frequency of the CML gate. Results are shown to be applicable for a wide range of device and circuit parameters. >
Hidden in plain sight: medical visit companions as a resource for vulnerable older adults.

Background Sicker patients are less satisfied with the quality of health care they receive than their healthier counterparts. Methods A sample of 12 018 community-dwelling Medicare beneficiaries 65 years or older from the 2004 Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey was studied. Multivariate regression was used to describe whether beneficiaries' self-reported satisfaction with their usual-care physician was related to the presence or functions assumed by visit companions. Results Overall, 38.6% of beneficiaries reported being typically accompanied to routine medical visits. Accompanied beneficiaries were older, less educated, and in worse health than their unaccompanied counterparts. More than 60% of companions facilitated visit communication by recording physician instructions (44.1%), providing information regarding patients' medical conditions or needs (41.6%), asking questions (41.1%), or explaining physicians' instructions (29.7%). After controlling for sociodemographic and health differences, accompanied beneficiaries were more highly satisfied with their physician's technical skills (odds ratio [OR], 1.15; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.02-1.30), information giving (OR, 1.19; 95% CI, 1.05-1.35), and interpersonal skills (OR, 1.18; 95% CI, 1.03-1.35) than unaccompanied beneficiaries. Accompanied beneficiaries whose visit companions were more actively engaged in communication rated physician information giving (OR, 1.42; 95% CI, 1.14-1.77) and interpersonal skills (OR, 1.29; 95% CI, 1.05-1.59) more favorably. This relationship was strongest among beneficiaries with the worst self-rated health. Conclusions Visit companions are commonly present in older adults' routine medical encounters, actively engaged in care processes, and influential to patients' satisfaction with physician care. More systematic recognition and integration of visit companions in health care processes may benefit quality of care for a particularly vulnerable patient population.
Modeling comet ion trails

Summary form only given. The goal of this paper is to model the interaction of electromagnetic (EM) waves with the ion tail of a comet using ICEPIC (Improved Concurrent Electromagnetic Particle-In-Cell) code. In order to simplify this complicated system as much as possible, a uniform, low-density, two-dimensional plasma was used. This plasma was placed in a vacuum and surrounded by PML (wave-absorbing material). The radius of the plasma was set at 2*10/sup 7/ meters (the estimated size of an actual ion tail) and the plasma was placed in the x-y plane. Initially, a plane wave generator was used to send EM waves through the plasma, with the electric field polarized in the z-direction. When a frequency sweep was run between 4 and 22 Hz and |E/sub z/| was plotted vs. frequency for specific points in the system, oscillations were observed. The most violent of these occurred on the left edge of the plasma. Three frequencies were chosen for further analysis: 4.68 Hz at a peak, 7.29 Hz at the next trough, and the intermediate frequency, 5.98 Hz.
Architectural study for an integrated fixed and floating-point VLSI-ASIC processor

The architecture of a single-chip processor with integrated fixed and floating-point execution units is presented. A single-chip implementation is enabled by current ASIC (application-specific integrated circuit) technology offering well in excess of 50000 gates per chip and delays on the order of 600 ps per gate. The basic principles of RISC (reduced-instruction-set-computer) architecture are used, and a fast floating-point processor is included as an integral part of the chip. The architecture is intended to make the processor attractive for a wide range of scientific computing when it is implemented as part of a special-purpose machine. The architecture takes advantage of the high level of integration and low power assumption of CMOS technology. The integration of the execution units and an efficient interunit communication protocol avoid off-chip delay penalties. >
Hearing sensitivity in perinatally HIV-infected children

Research on the effects of perinatal human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) exposure on hearing sensitivity is increasing. This is important because hearing loss can delay language and communication development in young children. The purpose of this project was to evaluate hearing sensitivity characteristics in HIV+ and HIV- children.
Ocean modeling with flexible initialization for improved coupled tropical cyclone-ocean model prediction

This paper introduces the Message Passing Interface Princeton Ocean Model for Tropical Cyclones (MPIPOM-TC), created at the University of Rhode Island (URI). MPIPOM-TC is derived from a combination of the parallelized version of the Princeton Ocean Model (POM), called the Stony Brook Parallel Ocean Model (sbPOM), and URI's non-parallelized POM for Tropical Cyclones (POM-TC), which has been used for many years as the ocean component of NOAA's and the U.S. Navy's operational hurricane forecast models. In addition to parallelization, the flexible initialization capabilities of MPIPOM-TC and other elements of its architecture will facilitate further improvements to the ocean component of research-based and operational tropical cyclone (hurricane) forecast models worldwide. Display Omitted MPIPOM-TC is a new, parallelized ocean model that merges POM-TC and sbPOM.MPIPOM-TC has flexible initialization options and worldwide regional domains.MPIPOM-TC can be used for both research-based and operational hurricane prediction.MPIPOM-TC can be configured and initialized for both real and idealized hurricanes.MPIPOM-TC can be configured with full 3-D dynamics or simplified 1-D dynamics.
Demonstrated command-triggering of a plasma opening switch

The addition of command triggering to the high energy density of inductive energy storage could have applications to very precisely synchronized pulsers or multi-module drivers. This paper describes an experiment to test the concept of command triggering, and to measure the trigger energy required under well-defined conditions. The opening switch reliably triggers over a wide range-the storage inductor quarter-cycle time. Results from the pulsed power testing, calculations of the magnetic field in the plasma acceleration region, and results from the initial experiments with the triggered stage are shown here. Initial experiments demonstrate triggering over a range of a factor of 16 difference in conducted charge.
New constraints on the width of the zone of active faulting on the East Pacific Rise 8° 30′ N – 10° 00′ N from Sea Beam Bathymetry and SeaMARC II Side-scan Sonar

Sea Beam bathymetry and SeaMARC II side-scan sonar data are used to constrain the width of the zone of active faulting (plate boundary zone) to be ∼90 km (∼0.8 Ma) wide along the East Pacific Rise 8° 30′ N – 10° 00′ N. Fault scarps, identified on the basis of contoured, shaded relief and slope intensity maps of bathymetry, are measured. These scarp measurements, used in conjunction with data from a separate near-axis study, show that both inward- and outward-facing fault scarps increase in height away from the ridge axis, reaching average heights of ∼100 m at 0.8±0.2 Ma, 45±10 km from the ridge axis. Beyond this distance, there is no significant increase in scarp height. Earlier studies had suggested that the width of the zone of active faulting for outward-dipping faults might be significantly narrower than for inward-dipping faults. A lower crustal decoupling zone between brittle crust and strong upper mantle is predicted to exist out to ∼20–200 km from the ridge based on previously published lithospheric models. Such a decoupling zone may explain why outward-dipping faults continue to be active as far off-axis as inward-dipping faults. If the width of the zone of active faulting is controlled by the width of a lower crustal decoupling zone, our observations predict an ∼90 km wide decoupling zone in the lower oceanic crust at this location.
The Upper Critical Magnetic Field of Superconducting YBa2(Cu1-xNix)3O7

The upper critical magnetic field of a series samples of YBa2(Cu1-xNix)3O7 is measured. Other related parameters, such as the lower critical magnetic field Hc1, the Ginsberg-Landau parameter k, the jump in the specific heat ∆C/Tc, the superconducting coherence length ξ, and the penetration depth λ, are calculated from Tc, dHc2/dT and dM/dH. The results show that Hc2(0), and consequently ξ(0), are essentially constant, but Hc and ∆C/Tc decrease with increasing Ni content.
Working Toward Social Justice: Center for Research on Minority Health Summer Workshop on Health Disparities

Health disparities research encompasses a complex web of areas of cross-disciplinary expertise from fields such as health policy, public health, economics, sociology, psychology, anthropology, communications, genetics, biology, environmental science, ethics, and law. Dissemination of health disparities research is paramount to educating and training professionals, academics, community leaders, students and others about the subject area, and providing them with the necessary tools to affect change and eliminate health disparities. This paper chronicles the development of a unique health disparities and social justice research educational program held annually by The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Center for Research on Minority Health. The program is composed of a college semester course and summer workshop, which in the past five years, has become a preeminent program in the United States. The program's impetus, premise, evaluation, and future directions are discussed.
Implementing and maintaining a private pharmacokinetics practice

The development and maintenance of a private-practice pharmacokinetics service is described. A contracted pharmacokinetics service has been in place at Georgia Baptist Medical Center, a 525-bed hospital, for the past eight years. Physician support, inhouse study results, and literature documentation of the benefits of scheduling drug concentration determinations were used to convince hospital administrators of the value of a pharmacokinetics service. Services were reimbursed by increasing the fee charged for each drug concentration determination, with payment made to the pharmacokinetics service on a monthly basis. The service is associated with the pathology department for administrative purposes. Each member of the pharmacokinetics service is credentialed by the medical staff. The group trains part-time personnel to provide services when needed. Services provided by the group but not required by the contract include collecting quality assurance data, conducting research, serving on hospital committees, writing newsletter articles, conducting inservice-education programs, and providing clinical interventions for nonconsultation patients. This private-practice pharmacokinetics service provides high-quality services and is well accepted within the institution.
Destructive upper-crustal earthquakes of Central America since 1900

We have compiled a catalog of 51 destructive upper-crustal earthquakes in Central America since 1900. An event is included if it caused casualties or heavy damage of Modified Mercalli (MM) intensity ≧ VII. All events larger than magnitude Ms 5.7 are found to be destructive. We believe the catalog is complete for events of Ms ≧ 6 along the volcanic front. The catalog includes estimates of epicentral coordinates, depth, magnitude, and casualties for all events and presents MM intensity VII contours for most events. Data in this catalog place severe constraints on the spatial, temporal, and magnitude distribution of destructive upper-crustal earthquakes in Central America. The catalog contains 30 events of Ms ≧ 6. Depths of well-constrained mainshock hypocenters range from 5 to 15 km. The most striking feature of the catalog is the spatial alignment along the volcanic front of 23 of the 30 events; volcanic-front earthquake-source mechanisms for such events show east-west tension and are compatible with a model of the volcanic front as a zone of right-lateral strike-slip faulting. Volcanic-front earthquake magnitudes do not exceed Ms 6.5, except in southeastern Guatemala where they reach Ms 6.9; maximum earthquake magnitudes are apparently related to the distance between adjacent Holocene volcanic centers. Destructive events occur at offsets in the volcanic chain as isolated mainshock-aftershock sequences. However, within linear segments, destructive earthquakes have a strong tendency to cluster and are often preceded by significant foreshock activity. Although the volcanic front is the locus of both destructive earthquakes and volcanism, we find no temporal correlation between the two. Of the seven events of Ms ≧ 6 that did not originate near the volcanic front, six originated near the transcurrent Caribbean-North American plate boundary, including the Ms 7.5 Guatemala earthquake of 1976. Along the volcanic front, destructive upper-crustal earthquakes have occurred at a rate of about one event every 2 1 2 years during this century, much more frequently than along either the Caribbean-North American plate boundary or the subduction zone. In Central America since 1900, about 17,000 people have died from volcanic-front earthquakes, but only about 2000 people are known to have died from subduction-zone earthquakes. Although subduction zone earthquakes can have larger magnitudes and produce more widespread damage, destructive volcanic-front earthquakes pose the greater hazard because they are more frequent and originate much closer to the bulk of Central America's population, which is concentrated along the volcanic front.
Hiding in Plain Sight: Education Reform in Indiana

This chapter discusses the particular systems we know best. It thus discusses plans to revitalize the Indianapolis public schools and throughout the entire state of Indiana by means of pervasive education reform. In particular, we discuss the lessons that have been learned, and still need to be learned. Reviewing the lessons gives us another chance to witness the role that the Jungian framework has to play in evaluating complex social experiments.
From Practice to Theory & from Theory to Praxis

The journey started when I was “initiated” into critical pedagogy through Pedagogy of the Oppressed, Paulo Freire’s major work (Freire, 1970). This initiation happened in Manaus, in the heart of Amazonia, during a high school sociology class where the teacher assigned this work as required reading. Reading Pedagogy of the Oppressed resonated with me immediately and laid a foundation for which I returned when I attended university as a graduate student in the field of education.
Emotional Solidarity with Destination Security Forces

Immigration crises are of increasing concern around the globe. Although most of these immigrants are fleeing violence and seeking a better life, residents and tourists to these destinations in crisis are concerned about crime and violence associated with an increase in such migration. Consistent with this increase, recent scholarly attention has begun to focus on the dynamics of group relations in the context of immigration crises. Using multigroup partial least squares to examine differences between residents and tourists to the Lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas, we examined the relationships between the perceived effectiveness of the security forces deployed to handle the crisis on emotional solidarity, emotional solidarity on perceived safety, and the relationship between perceived safety on likelihood to recommend the destination. We find a complex relationship for our proposed model where most relationships are significant for destination residents and for migrant tourists.