cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
ChaoLock: Yet Another SAT-hard Logic Locking using Chaos Computing

Logic locking has been widely evaluated as a proactive countermeasure against the hardware security threats within the IC supply chain. However, the introduction of the SAT attack, and many of its derivatives, has raised big concern about this form of countermeasure. In this paper, we explore the possibility of exploiting chaos computing as a new means of logic locking. We introduce the concept of chaotic logic locking, called ChaoLock, in which, by leveraging asymmetric inputs in digital chaotic Boolean gates, we define the concept of programmability (key-configurability) to the sets of underlying initial conditions and system parameters. These initial conditions and system parameters determine the operation (functionality) of each digital chaotic Boolean gate. Also, by proposing dummy inputs in chaotic Boolean gates, we show that during reverse-engineering, the dummy inputs conceal the main functionality of the chaotic Boolean gates, which make the reverse-engineering almost impossible. By performing a security analysis of ChaoLock, we show that with no restriction on conventional CMOS-based ASIC implementation and with no test/debug compromising, none of the state-of-the-art attacks on logic locking, including the SAT attack, could reformulate chaotic Boolean gates while dummy inputs are involved and their parameters are locked. Our analysis and experimental results show that with a low number of chaotic Boolean gates mixed with CMOS digital gates, ChaoLock can guarantee resiliency against the state-of-the-art attacks on logic locking at low overhead.
National Utilization of Imatinib in the Management of Resected Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors.

Imatinib decreases recurrence risk and improves overall survival (OS) in localized gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs); however, the extent to which patients receive appropriate treatment in the US has not been well characterized. Patients with non-metastatic, resectable GIST were included in this study (National Cancer Database, 2010–2015). Those with a low-risk of recurrence were classified as receiving overtreatment or guideline-concordant treatment, while those with a high-risk of recurrence were classified as receiving undertreatment or guideline-concordant treatment. Multivariable logistic regression was used to determine factors associated with non-concordant treatment. The association between non-concordant treatment and OS was evaluated using multivariable Cox regression and propensity score matching. Among 3088 patients with high-risk GIST, 41% were undertreated, and among 3908 patients with low-risk GIST, 18.8% were overtreated. For patients with high-risk GIST, age > 60 years, African American race, and treatment at a community or comprehensive cancer program were associated with undertreatment. Among low-risk patients, small bowel primary, tumor size > 2 cm, and tumors with > 1 mitotic figure per 50 high-power fields were more likely to be overtreated. After propensity score matching, guideline-concordant therapy was associated with an 8.8% improvement in 5-year OS (81.9% vs. 73.1%, p = 0.002) for those with high-risk GIST and decreased risk of death (hazard ratio 0.63, 95% confidence interval 0.47–0.84). There was no statistically significant difference in survival for patients with low-risk GIST with the addition of imatinib overtreatment (overtreatment 93.9% vs. 89.6%, p = 0.053). Nearly 30% of GIST patients do not receive guideline-concordant treatment and future work is needed to understand the factors driving non-concordant treatment.
Exploring the optimal condition-based maintenance policy under the gamma degradation process

Abstract As an industry-wide ongoing effort of the system health management (SHM), condition-based maintenance (CBM) utilizes the modern sensor technology for periodic inspections of a system, and the maintenance actions are made based on the inspection of working conditions of the system unlike traditional methods. It is an effective method to reduce unexpected failures as well as the operations and maintenance costs. Among various stochastic processes to describe degradation paths, the gamma process is characterized by a monotonic degradation evolution, suitable for modeling crack growth and wears for example. Its flexibility and mathematical tractability also ensure the analytical properties of the degradation model. In this work, we discuss the condition-based maintenance/replacement policy with the optimal inspection points under the gamma degradation process. A random effect parameter is used to account for the potential population/environmental heterogeneities and its distribution is continuously updated at each inspection epoch. The observed degradation level along with the system age is utilized for making the optimal maintenance decision. Aiming to minimize the total discounted operational costs, we investigate the structural properties of the optimal policy and determine the optimal inspection intervals. It was realized that the optimal maintenance policy that minimizes the total discounted operational costs is a monotone control limit policy, similar to the cases of Wiener process and inverse Gaussian process.
Fraud, Race Norming, and Delays: How the NFL’s Concussion Settlement Fund is Faring Five Years Later

In April 2016, a U.S. federal appellate court approved the settlement agreement In re: National Football League Players Concussion Injury Litigation, resolving claims by retired football players against the NFL for brain injuries they alleged were caused by game-related head trauma. he comprehensive settlement agreement would potentially cover over 20,000 retired players through an uncapped compensation fund potentially exceeding $1 billion. Five years later, the settlement fund has awarded over $850 million to just 1,263 players. The claims process has been plagued by fraud, delay, and more recently allegations of race discrimination and unfair treatment of claimants. This article takes stock of the NFL concussion settlement agreement five years in, including the administration of its claims process, criticisms of eligibility requirements for compensation, and threats to the integrity of the settlement.
Developing a Shared Meaning of Scholarship to Enable the Revision of Promotion Policy

Groups communicate about scholarship on the tacit assumption that there is a mutual understanding of the term. Yet the process of policy development is often hampered as different meanings attached to the term become evident. This paper uses culturalinterpretive and interactionist conceptual frameworks to analyze a specific case of redefining the shared meaning of scholarship and codifying these meanings in promotion and tenure policy. Data was collected through interviews, observation and document analysis. The six significant groups involved in this policy revision invested the term scholarship with different meanings, including viewing it as problematic, as a creative process, as currency of exchange, as a status indicator, as a mission, and as a matter of ethics. Four major strategies were employed by participants in this study to bridge these different meanings: reviewing model policies, developing examples, articulating precise language, and having face-to-face meetings. Understanding how the groups used these strategies to steer the process in a productive direction will inform those who promote policy revision.
Chapter 6 Fundamentals of cluster analysis using simulated annealing

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses fundamentals of cluster analysis by using simulated annealing. Clustering algorithms implement the rules that will guide the discovery of structure in the data. Once implemented, these clustering algorithms allow for the rapid organization of large quantities of data according to their underlying rules. Three requirements exist for the implementation of clustering algorithms—namely, a data structure used to define clusters, a measure of similarity or distance between objects in clusters, and an internal clustering criterion based on the similarity or distance measure. Clustering problems can have numerous formulations depending on the choices for data structure, similarity/distance measure, and internal clustering criterion. Partitioning is most appropriate when subsets or clusters are considered, while hierarchical decomposition is most applicable when similarity relationships are to be shown between clusters. Each leaf of the dendrogram contains only one element of Q , and all elements have a leaf node.
A comparison of channel indium content in low noise metamorphic HEMTs with In/sub x/Ga/sub 1-x/As (0.3<X/spl les/0.6)

GaAs metamorphic HEMTs promise to be the next generation of transistor technology to fill the emerging demand for high performance millimeter-wave low noise devices. This paper will present the first exploration of InGaAs HEMTs with various indium contents between 19% to 60%. F/sub min/ and associated gain data from pHEMTs with 19% indium and MHEMTs with 33%, 43%, 53% and 60% indium channels will be presented.
Macrophage mediation of the inhibitory effects of elevated intracellular levels of adenosine-3':5' cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) on macrophage-Trypanosoma cruzi association.

Abstract Presence of theophylline and dibutyryl- c AMP—agents which cause elevation of intracellular levels of c AMP—in in vitro systems in which murine macrophages interact with virulent blood forms of Trypanosoma cruzi resulted in a marked inhibition of cell-parasite association (i.e., decreased surface binding and/or internalization). This effect was evidenced in terms of significant reductions in both the percentage of infected macrophages and the average number of trypanosomes per 100 macrophages. Pretreatment of the macrophages with these agents produced a similar inhibition whereas pretreatment of the parasites had no significant consequence on the interaction. The inhibitory effect was transient since it was no longer seen after 30 min of incubation of the treated macrophages in fresh medium. Thus, the inhibitory effect is exerted through a transient effect on the macrophage.
Product Release Is the Major Contributor tok cat for the Hepatitis C Virus Helicase-catalyzed Strand Separation of Short Duplex DNA

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) helicase catalyzes the ATP-dependent strand separation of duplex RNA and DNA containing a 3' single-stranded tail. Equilibrium and velocity sedimentation centrifugation experiments demonstrated that the enzyme was monomeric in the presence of DNA and ATP analogues. Steady-state and pre-steady-state kinetics for helicase activity were monitored by the fluorescence changes associated with strand separation of F21:HF31 that was formed from a 5'-hexachlorofluorescein-tagged 31-mer (HF31) and a complementary 3'-fluorescein-tagged 21-mer (F21). kcat for this reaction was 0.12 s-1. The fluorescence change associated with strand separation of F21:HF31 by excess enzyme and ATP was a biphasic process. The time course of the early phase (duplex unwinding) suggested only a few base pairs ( approximately 2) were disrupted concertedly. The maximal value of the rate constant (keff) describing the late phase of the reaction (strand separation) was 0. 5 s-1, which was 4-fold greater than kcat. Release of HF31 from E. HF31 in the presence of ATP (0.21 s-1) was the major contributor to kcat. At saturating ATP and competitor DNA concentrations, the enzyme unwound 44% of F21:HF31 that was initially bound to the enzyme (low processivity). These results are consistent with a passive mechanism for strand separation of F21:HF31 by HCV helicase.
Guidance and Navigation for Solar Electric Interplanetary Missions

Algorithm for trajectory analysis in closed loop terminal guidance of solar electrically thrusted interplanetary spacecraft
The Hagedorn Transition and the Number of Degrees of Freedom of String Theory

Abstract Extending recent discussions of the Hagedorn transition in string theory, we argue that this transition is a first-order phase transition with a very large heat (corresponding to a genus-zero contribution to the free energy that appears above the critical temperature). Formally analyzing the k-loop contributions to the free energy at temperatures far above the Hagedorn temperature leads to a number of interesting speculations about the underlying degrees of freedom in string theory.
The gospel of knowledge management in and out of a professional community

Knowledge management (KM) remains an anomaly in most corporations today. Critics call KM a fad of the 1990s, whereas supporters claim KM is actively evolving. Our work examines the disciplinary rhetoric of KM: how is it that practitioners of KM seek to legitimize their field in the corporate world? We focus on practitioners in the aerospace industry and their forum. We argue that this forum serves as a hub for constructing KM's legitimacy. Our two year ethnography traces the rhetorical strategies utilized by informants in and out of a professional community to legitimize KM as discipline in the aerospace industry.
Coaxial Injection Under Supercritical Conditions

Abstract : This work reports on findings from the initial phase of a coaxial injection process under both subcritical and supercritical conditions. The results presented here are part of a systematic investigation of common rocket engine injectors, such as impinging and coaxial designs. Liquid nitrogen (LN2) is injected through a large length-to-diameter ratio circular hole and exposed at the exit to an annular jet of different gases including nitrogen, helium, and argon. The length-to-diameter ratio is sufficiently large to ensure fully-developed turbulent pipe flow at the exit plane. The behavior of the central LN2 jet has already been analyzed extensively and reported in our earlier published works, for example, Cheliroudi et al. 1, 2. Experiments were conducted by injecting LN2 into a room temperature, high-pressure chamber with full optical access from four directions. The stainless steel chamber can withstand pressures and temperatures of up to 13.6 MPa and 473 K, respectively. Liquid nitrogen is used to cool and/or liquefy the gaseous nitrogen passing through the cryogenic cooler prior to injection. The mass flow rate of the injectant is measured and regulated by way of a mass flowmeter, and a precision micrometer valve. A model K2 Infinity long distance microscope is used to form images of the injected jets on a high resolution CCD camera by the Cooke Corporation.
Hot spot MRI emerges from the background

Magnetic resonance imaging of fluorine-labeled cells allows specific detection of cells in vivo without endogenous background signal.
Spatial and Temporal Variability in the Ecosystem Metabolism of a High-elevation Lake: Integrating Benthic and Pelagic Habitats

We characterized spatial and temporal variability in net ecosystem production (NEP), community respiration (CR), and gross primary production (GPP) over an ice-free season in an oligotrophic high-elevation lake using high-frequency measurements of dissolved oxygen. We combined the use of free-water and incubation chamber measurements to compare pelagic and benthic habitats and estimate their relative contributions to whole-lake metabolism. Despite a brief period of predominant heterotrophy after snowmelt, both free-water and incubation chamber measurements confirmed autotrophy of the epilimnion in all habitats throughout the ice-free season. In contrast, benthic incubation chambers showed the benthos to be consistently heterotrophic. Although temperature was the strongest seasonal driver of benthic metabolism, bacterioplankton density and indexes of organic matter quality explained the most variability in pelagic metabolism. Driven largely by benthic metabolism, free-water measurements of GPP and CR were twice as high in littoral than pelagic habitats. However, rates of water column primary production overlying the littoral benthos were high enough to overcome net benthic heterotrophy, and seasonal mean NEP in littoral habitats remained positive and not significantly different from pelagic habitats. Benthic rates averaged about 25% of whole-lake metabolism. Pelagic metabolism measurements were affected by littoral rates about half the time, with the degree of isolation between the two a function of advection and water column stability. These results emphasize the importance of characterizing spatial and temporal variability in metabolism within the context of physical dynamics and challenge the notion that benthic metabolism will necessarily be larger than pelagic metabolism in oligotrophic lakes.
Lp System of Plasma in Individuals at Risk of Developing Coronary Disease

The Lp system of human plasma represents a genetic polymorphism of beta lipoprotein (BLp). KAHLICH KOENNER showed an increased BLp in Lpa(+) individuals compared to Lpa(–) persons. We have produced an antiserum to Lpa in order to investigate the possibility that Lpa(+) children are more likely to develop coronary artery disease as adults than Lpa(–) children. Lpa factor was isoloated from a single normal Lpa(+) donor, an Lpa(–) donor and from an Lpa(+) donor who has type II hyperbetalipoproteinemia (II BLp). The procedure for Lpa isolation included : (1) a modification of the method of Berg using 0.65 MKPO4 elution form hydroxalapatite and (2) ultracentrifugation flotation gradient at a density of 1.100 in KBR modified from Schultz. Anti-Lpa was produced by immunizing rabbits followed by absorption with Lpa(–) serum. Immunelectrophoresis revealed a pure antiserum. Anti-BLp was also prepared in order to quantitate BLp by radial immunodiffusion. Sera were typed for Lpa by agarose immunodiffusion. Investigation of 240 members of a family with II BLp revealed that segregation of Lpa was independent of the segregation of II BLp. This indicates that the BLp associated with Lpa(+) factor and the BLp associated with II BLp was controlled by different genetic loci. The presence of Lpa(+) was less of a determinant of coronary disease than II BLp. The production of anti Lpa now makes it possible to investigate other populations with various risks of coronary disease.
Efficacy of Ampicillin Plus β-Lactamase Inhibitor (CP-45,899) in Experimental Endocarditis Due to Staphylococcus aureus

The efficacy of combined therapy with ampicillin and a beta-lactamase inhibitor, CP-45,899, for experimental endocarditis due to Staphylococcus aureus was evaluated. Three strains of beta-lactamase-producing S. aureus were used, and intramuscular doses of antibiotics were selected to produce serum levels in rabbits similar to those expected in humans. Sera from animals treated with ampicillin plus CP-45,899, but not from those treated with nafcillin plus gentamicin, had bactericidal activity against two nafcillin-resistant strains of S. aureus at 1 hr. The combination of ampicillin plus CP-45,899 was as effective as nafcillin in treatment of endocarditis due to one nafcillin-sensitive strain and was superior to nafcillin against two nafcillin-resistant strains (P less than 0.001). In a short-term treatment experiment using the nafcillin-sensitive strain, ampicillin plus CP-45,899 sterilized vegetations as rapidly as nafcillin plus gentamicin. Thus, ampicillin plus a beta-lactamase inhibitor may be effective treatment for bacteremic infections due to S. aureus, even when the strain is nafcillin-resistant.
Hydrogen peroxide mediated killing of bacteria

Polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) or neutrophils have multiple systems available for killing ingested bacteria. Nearly each of these incorporates H2O2 indicating the essential nature of this reactive oxygen intermediate for microbicidal activity. Following ingestion of bacteria by PMN, H2O2 is formed by the respiratory burst which consumes O2 and generates H2O2 from O2 .-. H2O2 is deposited intracellularly near bacteria within phagocytic vacuoles where it can react with the MPO-H2O2-halide system to form toxic hyperchlorous acid (HOCl) and/or possibly singlet oxygen (1O2). H2O2 can also react with O2 .- and/or iron (Fe++) from lactoferrin or bacteria to form the highly toxic hydroxyl radical (.OH). These mechanisms appear important since deficiencies of H2O2 production, myeloperoxidase or lactoferrin frequently increases their owner's susceptibility to infection. In particular, examination of PMN from infection prone patients with chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) most clearly demonstrates the importance of H2O2 in killing of bacteria. CGD PMN lack the capacity to effectively generate H2O2 and subsequently have impaired ability to kill catalase positive (H2O2 producing) but not catalase negative (not H2O2 producing) bacteria. PMN also have catalase and glutathione peroxidase systems in their cytoplasms to protect themselves from the toxicity of H2O2. Finally, while H2O2 is critical for host defense, it can also be released extracellularly and thereby play a significant role in PMN mediated tissue injury.
Ground State of a Bose System of Hard Spheres

It is shown that the pseudopotential method can be extended to yield further terms in the low-density expansion of the ground-state energy of a system of Boltzmann or Bose particles with hard-sphere interaction. Two terms beyond the known result are found, and the expansion is no longer a power series in ${({a}^{3}\ensuremath{\rho})}^{\frac{1}{2}}$. Other related properties of the system are discussed.
Chronic hyperglucagonemia in rats: effects on insulin, substrates, and hepatic enzymes of intermediary metabolism.

Abstract The effects of chronic exogenous hyperglucagonemia were evaluated in 120–140 g rats given 0.8 or 0.4 mg glucagon per day for seven days by constant infusion through the use of subcutaneously implanted, osmotically driven minipumps. Untreated animals, with and without dietary restriction, served as controls. Glucagon infusion resulted in plasma glucagon concentrations ranging from 1000 to more than 4000 pg/mL. The experimental animals had decreased food intake resulting in poor weight gain. Plasma insulin, glucose, and β-hydroxybutyrate concentrations were unchanged in the experimental animals. Glucagon administration was associated with generalized hypoaminoacidemia (75% reduction from the control mean total amino acid concentration). Hepatic glycogen content decreased to the level seen in the dietary-restricted animals, which were matched for weight gain. In vitro activities of total hepatic glycogen phosphorylase, pyruvate kinase (measured at saturating PEP concentrations), acetyl-CoA carboxylase and fatty acid synthase were decreased in the experimental animals. Total glycogen synthase and PEP carboxykinase activities increased. These results are not consistent with previously described effects of glucagon mediated through enzyme phosphorylation and are interpreted as suggesting changes in total enzyme content. From these studies we conclude that chronic hyperglucagonemia of 1 week's duration in young rats has persistent metabolic effects. It does not, however, result in persistent changes in plasma glucose or β-hydroxybutyrate concentrations when insulin secretion is preserved. The observed hypoaminoacidemia is analogous to that seen in the glucagonoma syndrome. Long-term effects of glucagon on in vitro hepatic enzyme activities are possibly due to changes in enzyme protein content and not protein phosphorylation.
Cooperative Phenomena in Solid Electrolytes

A theory of cooperative effects in ionic solids is presented, which points to the ionic carrier density as the main source of the anomalous behavior found in solid electrolytes. Depending on the parameter values, it predicts either an exponential increase of the conductivity with temperature, or a discontinuous change of the conductivity with an associated peak in the excess specific heat. The predicted behavior corresponds to that found in most solid electrolytes, particularly Rb${\mathrm{Ag}}_{4}$${\mathrm{I}}_{5}$.
Element-free Galerkin methods for dynamic fracture in concrete

Mixed-mode dynamic crack propagation in concrete is studied using the element-free Galerkin (EFG) method. The EFG methodology allows for arbitrary crack growth in terms of direction and speed. A fracture process zone (FPZ) model is used for fracture in concrete. Comparisons are made to mode I and mixed-mode experiments on concrete three-point-bend specimens. Good agreement is acheived with the experimental results.
Systems design means process precision, but emphasizes culture, value, and results

The issue: What does a comprehensive internal dispute resolution system look like? The problems: Is it current? Is it responsive? Is it effective? The perspective:Melanie Lewis, of Atlanta, describes how Coca-Cola Enterprises Inc. assesses its conflict resolution needs, as well as how it implements, operates, and monitors its program–including provisions to redesign for new developments
Molecular biology: DNA twists and flips

DNA can shape itself into many forms to achieve its purposes in life. The crystal structure of the junction between two of its forms provides insight into how DNA might accomplish some of these acrobatics.
Continuum Simulation of Hypersonic Flows using the Quantum-Kinetic Chemical Reaction Model.

The Quantum-Kinetic (Q-K) chemical reaction model is implemented in a Navier-Stokes solver, US3D, and tested on the Bow Shock UltraViolet ight experiments. The chemical reaction rates predicted by the Q-K model are compared to a commonly used Park model for ows in thermal non-equilibrium. The results show that in thermal equilibrium the reaction rates between these two models are comparable. The Q-K model predicts greater rates for some chemical reactions and lesser rates for other reactions in an ve species air chemistry model. In thermal non-equilibrium, the Q-K model maintains comparable rates near thermal equilibrium, while avoiding issues of strong thermal non-equilibrium seen in the Park model. The application of the Q-K model to the Bow Shock UltraViolet ight experiments show that the model remains consistent with previous Navier-Stokes and DSMC computations over altitudes ranging from 53.5 km up to 87.5 km despite the enforcement of translational-rotational equilibrium. The commonly used Park model was unable to match this performance.
Patrolling Your Blind Spots: Introspection and Public Catharsis in a Medical School Faculty Development Course to Reduce Unconscious Bias in Medicine

Cultural competence education has been criticized for excessively focusing on the culture of patients while ignoring how the culture of medical institutions and individual providers contribute to health disparities. Many educators are now focusing on the role of bias in medical encounters and searching for strategies to reduce its negative impact on patients. These bias-reduction efforts have often been met with resistance from those who are offended by the notion that "they" are part of the problem. This article examines a faculty development course offered to medical school faculty that seeks to reduce bias in a way that avoids this problem. Informed by recent social-psychological research on bias, the course focuses on forms of bias that operate below the level of conscious awareness. With a pedagogical strategy promoting self-awareness and introspection, instructors encourage participants to discover their own unconscious biases in the hopes that they will become less biased in the future. By focusing on hidden forms of bias that everyone shares, they hope to create a "safe-space" where individuals can discuss shameful past experiences without fear of blame or criticism. Drawing on participant-observation in all course sessions and eight in-depth interviews, this article examines the experiences and reactions of instructors and participants to this type of approach. We "lift the hood" and closely examine the philosophy and strategy of course founders, the motivations of the participants, and the experience of and reaction to the specific pedagogical techniques employed. We find that their safe-space strategy was moderately successful, largely due to the voluntary structure of the course, which ensured ample interest among participants, and their carefully designed interactive exercises featuring intimate small group discussions. However, this success comes at the expense of considering the multidimensional sources of bias. The specific focus on introspection implies that prior ignorance, not active malice, is responsible for biased actions. In this way, the individual perpetrators of bias escape blame for their actions while the underlying causes of their behavior go unexplored or unaccounted for.
Regional anesthesia: advancing the practice of medicine; the 2008 Gaston Labat Award lecture.

The Gaston Labat Award and its lecture were established in 1977 by the American Society of Regional Anesthesia (ASRA) to honor the memory of Gaston Labat, a pioneer in the field of regional anesthesia and a man who was instrumental in defining anesthesiology as the practice of medicine. I am extremely honored to receive this award and its recognition of my contributions to regional anesthesia. ASRA retains an apprenticeship culture in the greatest tradition of medicine, and I particularly thank Gerald Ostheimer, MD, a former Editor of this journal, who brought me into the ASRA family and mentored me on how to best serve the organization. I also want to take this opportunity to express my thanks and love to Patricia, the woman I married in the same year that this award was founded. She has and continues to lead me in a lovely path through life and in raising our wonderful children, Laurel and David.
Cyber-Eco Technology: Engineering of Ecological Systems [Point of View]

The Earth's human population and per capita use of resources have grown dramatically in the past century. Rapid conversion of land from wilderness to agricultural and urban use, air and water pollution, drawdown of potable water resources, overfishing, and increased use of fossil-based fuels have changed the Earth's natural systems, as indicated by increasing average global temperatures, invasions of exotic species, modification of the level and chemistry of our oceans, and rapidly declining biodiversity. Examines the impact to the global ecosystems and discusses initiatives to manage and control the terrestrial, aquatic, and martime systems impacted.
In the Absence of Writhe, DNA Relieves Torsional Stress with Localized, Sequence-Dependent Structural Failure to Preserve B-form

To understand how underwinding and overwinding the DNA helix affects its structure, we simulated 19 independent DNA systems with fixed degrees of twist using molecular dynamics in a system that does not allow writhe. Underwinding DNA induced spontaneous, sequence-dependent base flipping and local denaturation, while overwinding DNA induced the formation of Pauling-like DNA (P-DNA). The winding resulted in a bimodal state simultaneously including local structural failure and B-form DNA for both underwinding and extreme overwinding. Our simulations suggest that base flipping and local denaturation may provide a landscape influencing protein recognition of DNA sequence to affect, for examples, replication, transcription and recombination. Additionally, our findings help explain results from single-molecule experiments and demonstrate that elastic rod models are strictly valid on average only for unstressed or overwound DNA up to P-DNA formation. Finally, our data support a model in which base flipping can result from torsional stress.
Temperature Control of an Ill-Conditioned Thermal Process Using Regularization

New regularization embedded nonlinear control designs are proposed for the temperature control of an ill-conditioned thermal process. A classic nonlinear controller applied to such a process is shown to provide good temperature tracking but generates physically unreasonable actuator solutions. Tikhonov and truncated singular value decomposition (TSVD) methods, embedded in the design of feedback linearizing controllers (FBL) and sliding mode controllers (SMC), also provide good temperature tracking and generate physically reasonable and actuator-constraint-satisfying solutions for the ill-conditioned system, in spite of the modeling errors inherent in applying regularization. These nonlinear controllers are also robust to changes in process parameters of the ill-conditioned process.Copyright © 2002 by ASME
Synthesis of chlorinated dibenzofurans and chlorinated amino-dibenzofurans from the corresponding diphenyl ethers and nitro-diphenylethers

Abstract The synthesis of five chlorinated dibenzofurans and three chlorinated animodibenzofurans from easily available diphenyl ethers is described. Also reported is the preparation of the diphenyl ethers. The 1 H-NMR and mass spectra data for the compounds are also reported.
Effects of repeated minimal electroshock seizures on NGF, BDNF and FGF-2 protein in the rat brain during postnatal development

Repeated brief seizures, such as those induced by electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), markedly elevate neurotrophic factor levels in the adult rat brain, but it is not known whether a similar response to seizures occurs in immature animals. To address this question, we evoked brief seizures with electroconvulsive shock (ECS) in rat pups at different stages of postnatal development and examined basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF-2), nerve growth factor (NGF), and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) proteins in selected brain regions in which these trophic factors are known to increase in the adult rat following ECS-induced seizures. ECS treatments were administered daily (3 episodes/day) over 7 days to rat pups of three different ages: postnatal day (P)1-7, P7-13, or P14-20. Protein levels were measured 6h after the last ECS using Western blotting for FGF-2 in rhinal cortex, ELISA for BDNF and NGF in hippocampus, and NGF in frontal cortex. 7 days of repeated ECS-induced seizures during P1-7 did not alter protein levels for BDNF, FGF-2, or NGF. The repeated seizures during P7-13 affected only BDNF protein, causing a significant elevation of 40% in hippocampus over sham-treated controls. In P14-20 pups, the repeated seizures resulted in a significant increase in BDNF in hippocampus (162% over controls) and FGF-2 in rhinal cortex (34% over controls), while NGF protein did not show a significant change in either hippocampus or frontal cortex. The results suggest that during the first postnatal week there is a resistance to seizure-induced increase in neurotrophic factors, but by the third postnatal week, both BDNF and FGF-2 are elevated substantially in response to repeated seizures. This time-dependent profile suggests that synthesis of these proteins is initially activity-independent, becoming subject to activity-dependent regulation by 3 weeks of age. This maturation of seizure-evoked changes in trophic factors may be important for understanding the impact of ECT and seizures in childhood.
Familial diffuse polyposis of the colon and rectum: supplementary report on three pedigrees.

Our study illustrates the variation in the severity of familial polyposis and the unpredictability of its course as found in members of related and unrelated families. After the onset of polyposis, the symptoms which emerge are dependent upon the rate of increase in the number and/or size of the adenomas and/or development of adenocarcinoma. Documented cases of familial diffuse polyposis which have had their onset (appearance of polyps) after the second decade of life are rare. In our studies of a limited number of affected families, onset of the disease in the first two decades of life was common; while of those who failed by examination to show the onset of polyposis in the first and second decades of life and who had follow-up studies extending into the third and fourth decades, none was found to manifest the disease. In all reported studies, including ours, too few members of affected families have been examined throughout consecutive decades of life, especially during the second, third, and fourth, to determine the time of onset of familial polyposis. Beyond the “teen-age,” each additional decade of freedom from the onset of familial polyposis greatly increases the probability that a member of an affected family has escaped the inherited disease. An affected member cannot be assured that he is free of the risk of recurrence of polyps and/or development of adenocarcinoma so long as he retains any remnant of the large intestine.
The preterm prediction study: can low-risk women destined for spontaneous preterm birth be identified?

Abstract Objective: Half of all preterm births occur in women without clinical risk factors. Our goal was to assess fetal fibronectin assay, Bishop score, and cervical ultrasonography as screening tests to predict which low-risk pregnancies will end in preterm birth. Study Design: We performed a secondary analysis of data collected at 22 to 24 weeks’ gestation from low-risk subjects enrolled in the Preterm Prediction Study, an observational study of risk factors for preterm birth conducted by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Maternal-Fetal Medicine Units Network. Analysis was limited to primigravid women and to women who did not have a history of preterm birth or spontaneous pregnancy loss at
GENETIC DIFFERENTIATION AND BIOCHEMICAL POLYMORPHISM AMONG TRICHOMONADS

Isoenzyme electrophoresis was used to study levels of genetic differentiation among strains and clones of Trichomonas gallinae, Trichomonas vaginalis, Tritrichomonas foetus, Tetratrichomonas gallinarum, and Pentatrichomonas hominis. Strain variation was found within T. gallinae, T. vaginalis, and T. foetus, however, levels of enzyme polymorphism were greater in T. gallinae than in T. vaginalis or T. foetus. Isoenzyme genotypes were not a stable property of T. gallinae clones cultivated in vitro. Retrospective studies of T. gallinae SG and JB6 clones revealed that mutation occurred during in vitro cultivation. Heterozygotes of hexokinase-1 and phosphoglucomutase displayed 2 allomorphs in equal dosage, indicating that trichomonads are diploid for these protein loci. Phenetic clustering of the biochemical data suggests that levels of genetic divergence among the species studied are extensive.
Applications of Small Molecule Probes in Dissecting Mechanisms of Bacterial Virulence and Host Responses

Elucidating the molecular and biochemical details of bacterial infections can be challenging because of the many complex interactions that exist between a pathogen and its host. Consequently, many tools have been developed to aid the study of bacterial pathogenesis. Small molecules are a valuable complement to traditional genetic techniques because they can be used to rapidly perturb genetically intractable systems and to monitor post-translationally regulated processes. Activity-based probes are a subset of small molecules that covalently label an enzyme of interest based on its catalytic mechanism. These tools allow monitoring of enzyme activation within the context of a native biological system and can be used to dissect the biochemical details of enzyme function. This review describes the development and application of activity-based probes for examining aspects of bacterial infection on both sides of the host-pathogen interface.
Cultivation and characterization of the gut symbionts of honey bees and bumble bees: description of Snodgrassella alvi gen. nov., sp. nov., a member of the family Neisseriaceae of the Betaproteobacteria, and Gilliamella apicola gen. nov., sp. nov., a member of Orbaceae fam. nov., Orbales ord. nov., a sister taxon to the order 'Enterobacteriales' of the Gammaproteobacteria.

Gut-associated bacteria were isolated in axenic culture from the honey bee Apis mellifera and the bumble bees Bombus bimaculatus and B. vagans and are here placed in the novel genera and species Snodgrassella alvi gen. nov., sp. nov. and Gilliamella apicola gen. nov., sp. nov. Two strains from A. mellifera were characterized and are proposed as the type strains of Snodgrassella alvi (type strain wkB2T = NCIMB 14803T = ATCC BAA-2449T = NRRL B-59751T) and Gilliamella apicola (type strain wkB1T = NCIMB 14804T = ATCC BAA-2448T), representing, respectively, phylotypes referred to as ‘Betaproteobacteria’ and ‘Gammaproteobacteria-1’/‘Gamma-1’ in earlier publications. These strains grew optimally under microaerophilic conditions, and did not grow readily under a normal atmosphere. The predominant fatty acids in both strains were palmitic acid (C16 : 0) and cis-vaccenic acid (C18 : 1ω7c and/or C18 : 1ω6c), and both strains had ubiquinone-8 as their major respiratory quinone. The DNA G+C contents were 41.3 and 33.6 mol% for wkB2T and wkB1T, respectively. The Snodgrassella alvi strains from honey bees and bumble bees formed a novel clade within the family Neisseriaceae of the Betaproteobacteria , showing about 94 % 16S rRNA gene sequence identity to their closest relatives, species of Stenoxybacter , Alysiella and Kingella . The Gilliamella apicola strains showed the highest 16S rRNA gene sequence identity to Orbus hercynius CN3T (93.9 %) and several sequences from uncultured insect-associated bacteria. Phylogenetic reconstruction using conserved, single-copy amino acid sequences showed Gilliamella apicola as sister to the order ‘Enterobacteriales’ of the Gammaproteobacteria . Given its large sequence divergence from and basal position to the well-established order ‘Enterobacteriales’, we propose to place the clade encompassing Gilliamella apicola and O. hercynius in a new family and order, Orbaceae fam. nov. and Orbales ord. nov.
A variational technique for source localization based on a sparse signal reconstruction perspective

We propose a novel non-parametric technique for source localization with passive sensor arrays. Our approach involves formulation of the problem in a variational framework where regularizing sparsity constraints are incorporated to achieve super-resolution and noise suppression. Compared to various source localization schemes, our approach offers increased resolution, significantly reduced sidelobes, and improved robustness to limitations in data quality and quantity. We demonstrate the effectiveness of the method on simulated data.
Soft X-ray spectroscopy of solar flares : an overview

An overview of the current status of high spectral resolution soft X-ray observations of solar flares is given. The review concentrates primarily on recent results and interpretations of results obtained from orbiting Bragg crystal spectrometers flow during the last solar maximum on the US DoD P78-1 spacecraft, the NASA SMM, and the ISAS Hinotori spacecraft. Results and several key issues regarding interpretation of the spectra are presented. Specifically, the dynamics of coronal flare plasmas as revealed by X-ray line profiles and wavelength shifts are discussed. Recent results concerning the theory of chromospheric evaporation are given. The temperature of coronal flare plasma is discussed within the context of a differential mission measure. Results concerning electron density measurements, nonequilibrium processes, and relative element abundances are also reviewed.
What are the concerns of older adults living with epilepsy

Abstract Purpose The goal of this work was to examine the concerns of living with recurrent seizures as expressed by older adults with epilepsy (OAE). Methods Thirty-three community-dwelling adults over the age of 60 (mean age = 65, range 60–80) were surveyed as to their concerns living with epilepsy. All patients were being treated for intractable partial epilepsy (mean age at seizure onset = 37, range 1–77) and all were receiving antiepileptic drugs (AEDs). Patients were given a blank sheet of paper and asked to list any concerns they had about living with epilepsy. Each patient listed his or her concerns in order of importance. Results Twenty-eight different areas of concern were listed by the OAE (range 1–6 per patient). Concerns about driving/transportation (64%) and medication side effects (64%) were the most frequently listed concerns. Other concerns listed by >20% of patients included personal safety (39%), AED costs (29%), employment (26%), social embarrassment (21%), and memory loss (21%). Driving/transportation and AED side effects were the two most important concerns. Conclusions Quality-of-life issues in OAE appear similar in content to those of younger epilepsy groups. Driving/transportation, role restriction (i.e., grandparenting role), employment, social embarrassment, and safety are major concerns expressed by older adults. However, medication side effects appear more concerning to older adults as compared with earlier studies with younger patients. This study highlights the substantial burden of living with epilepsy in older adults and points to the challenges clinicians have when addressing them.
Extraction techniques for the decellularization of tissue engineered articular cartilage constructs

Several prior studies have been performed to determine the feasibility of tissue decellularization to create a non-immunogenic xenogenic tissue replacement for bladder, vasculature, heart valves, knee meniscus, temporomandibular joint disc, ligament, and tendon. However, limited work has been performed with articular cartilage, and no studies have examined the decellularization of tissue engineered constructs. The objective of this study was to assess the effects of different decellularization treatments on articular cartilage constructs, engineered using a scaffoldless approach, after 4 wks of culture, using a two-phased approach. In the first phase, five different treatments were examined: 1) 1% SDS, 2) 2% SDS, 3) 2% Tributyl Phosphate, 4) 2% Triton X-100, and 5) Hypotonic followed by hypertonic solution. These treatments were applied for either 1 h or 8 h, followed by a 2 h wash in PBS. Following this wash, the constructs were assessed histologically, biochemically for cellularity, GAG, and collagen content, and biomechanically for compressive and tensile properties. In phase II, the best treatment from phase I was applied for 1, 2, 4, 6, or 8 h in order to optimize the application time. Treatment with 2% SDS for 1 h or 2 h significantly reduced the DNA content of the tissue, while maintaining the biochemical and biomechanical properties. On the other hand, 2% SDS for 6 h or 8 h resulted in complete histological decellularization, with complete elimination of cell nuclei on histological staining, although GAG content and compressive properties were significantly decreased. Overall, 2% SDS, for 1 or 2 h, appeared to be the most effective agent for cartilage decellularization, as it resulted in decellularization while maintaining the functional properties. The results of this study are exciting as they indicate the feasibility of creating engineered cartilage that may be non-immunogenic as a replacement tissue.
Role of iodate ions in chemical mechanical and electrochemical mechanical planarization of Ta investigated using time-resolved impedance spectroscopy

Abstract Chemical mechanical planarization (CMP) is currently used in the processing of Cu/Ta interconnect structures. Electrochemical mechanical planarization (ECMP) is an emerging extension of CMP that can potentially allow low down-pressure planarization of newer interconnect structures containing easily breakable porous dielectrics. In both CMP and ECMP of Ta, it is necessary to chemically (or electrochemically) form a “soft” surface film that can be easily removed by minimum mechanical abrasion. Alkaline KIO 3 solutions appear to serve this purpose in CMP of Ta and, as we show in this work, may also be utilized in ECMP of Ta. Using time-resolved impedance spectroscopy we study here the relevant surface reactions of IO 3 − that lead to a structurally weak surface film of soluble hextantalate [(Ta 6 O 19 ) 8− ] embedded in (native or electro-generated) Ta 2 O 5 on Ta. Catalytic reduction of IO 3 − on Ta 2 O 5 enhances the local pH at the oxidized surface and promotes the conversion of Ta 2 O 5 to (Ta 6 O 19 ) 8− . The chemical role of iodate ions in material removal through these reactions is similar to that of hydrogen peroxide in CMP of Ta in alkaline media.