cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The effect of free cholesterol on the solubilization of cholesteryl oleate in phosphatidylcholine bilayers: A 13C-NMR study

Abstract The solubilization of cholesteryl oleate in sonicated phosphatidylcholine vesicles containing between 0 and 50 mol% cholesterol was studied by 13C-NMR using isotopically enriched [carbonyl-13C]cholesteryl oleate. The carbonyl-13C chemical shift from cholesteryl oleate in the phospholipid/cholesterol bilayer was significantly downfield from that for cholesteryl oleate in an oil phase and the peak area, relative to that of the phospholipid carbonyl, was used to determine bilayer solubility of the ester. The ester solubility (with respect to phospholipid) in the phospholipid bilayer without cholesterol (2.9 mol%) was only moderately reduced (to 2.3 mol%) at cholesterol levels up to 33 mol% but showed a more marked reduction to 1.4 mol% at 40 mol% cholesterol or 1.2 mol% at 50 mol% cholesterol. Since the vesicles containing 50 mol% cholesterol were larger ( 520±152 A diameter ) than those with no cholesterol ( 291±97 A diameter ), we measured the solubility of cholesteryl oleate in large vesicles with no cholesterol, prepared by extrusion through polycarbonate membrane filters, and found it similar to that in small, sonicated vesicles with no cholesterol. Therefore, the larger size of vesicles was not the factor responsible for the decreased cholesteryl oleate solubility at high cholesterol contents. A more direct effect of cholesterol is envisioned where the ester becomes displaced to deeper regions of the bilayer.
Nested case–control study of occupational physical activity and prostate cancer among workers using a job exposure matrix

We conducted a nested case–control study of 362 cases diagnosed between 1 January 1988 and 31 December 1999, and 1,805 matched controls to examine the association between occupational physical activity and prostate-cancer incidence among workers at a nuclear and rocket engine-testing facility in Southern California. We obtained cancer incidence data from the California Cancer Registry and seven other state cancer registries. Data from company records were used to construct a job exposure matrix (JEM) for occupational physical activity during employment. Conditional logistic regression was used to estimate associations. With adjustment for occupational confounders, including socioeconomic status and trichloroethylene (TCE) exposure, high activity levels at work were inversely associated with prostate-cancer incidence among aerospace workers (odds ratio [OR] = 0.55; 95% CI = 0.32–0.95), but not among radiation workers (OR = 0.95; 95% CI = 0.43–2.1). Our results suggest that adult men who are more continually active at work may have a decreased risk of prostate cancer.
Below-ground organic carbon and decomposition potential in a field-forest glacial-outwash landscape.

Relationships of soil properties to land use and topography may vary among locales because of differences in other controlling factors. We evaluated relationships of below-ground C, defined as soil organic C plus fine-root C, and decomposition potential to site characteristics at Cedar Creek Natural History Area in east-central Minnesota, USA. The landscape, formed in glacial outwash sand, has a complex spatial pattern of grasslands and forests resulting from interactions among cultivation, agricultural abandonment, topography, and fire. Below-ground C was higher in mature forests than in either adjacent abandoned agricultural fields or uncultivated prairie for both the O Horizon (0.57 vs. 0.13 kg m-2) and the underlying 0–10 cm of soil (2.1 vs. 1.0 kg m-2) but was similar at 10–30 cm (2.0 vs. 2.0 kg m-2) and 30–50 cm (1.4 vs. 1.5 kg m-2). The higher C in surface soil under forests contrasted with published observations for finer textured substrates. Below-ground C was constant across forest summit, shoulder, and backslope positions, and increased at the toeslope position. Average fine-root (<2 mm diameter) C at the depth of 0–50 cm was 0.2 kg m-2 and represented 4% of below-ground C. In contrast to an expected trend of monotonically increasing decomposition with increased temperature, cellulose decomposition during a 60-day field incubation increased with temperature on cool forest slopes but decreased with temperature in warm fields. Nutrient availability, water availability, and microbial biomass may confound this relationship. The results indicate diverse controls on decomposition in this field-forest landscape.
Texas water wars: how politics and scientific uncertainty influence environmental flow decision-making in the Lone Star state

In 2007, Texas passed Senate Bill (SB) 3 mandating formation of science and stakeholder committees to make recommendations on the environmental flows (e-flows) needed to maintain the ecological integrity of river basins through a collaborative process designed to achieve consensus. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), the state agency that issues water rights permits, was to promulgate these rec- ommendations and develop e-flow rules. For the first two basins to complete the SB3 process, the Sabine and Neches Basins and Sabine Lake Bay and the Trinity and San Jacinto Basins and Galveston Bay, final e-flow rules did not mimic a natural flow regime, rather, only subsistence flows, one level of base flows, and low flow pulses at a limited number of sites were adopted. In this article, I describe why the SB3 process was derailed for these basins. Science and stakeholder committees were skewed with more members representing short-term economic than ecological and recreational interests in freshwater. Many individuals on the science and stakeholder committees worked for river authorities, semiautonomous state agencies that receive the majority of their funding from surface water sales, and consulting firms that regularly contract with the river authorities. Water rights holders were from the outset distrustful of the SB3 process. There was a high degree of uncertainty associated with e-flow science, and adaptive management was used as justification for making low e-flow recommendations. In the end, TCEQ set environmental flow rules at levels lower than those recommended for protection of environmental benefits by the science teams.
Message-oriented decomposition for supervisory control in manufacturing system

Abstract Supervisory control in manufacturing systems is achieved through messages between the supervisory controller and processing devices. This paper presents a message-oriented model for supervisory control. The model supports realistic states for processing stations and some material handling devices. The major characteristics of the model are the decomposition of the system into small state models for components that cooperate via messaging as well as the algebraic manipulation for state progression. This paper also presents a definition of controllability meaningful in the design and analysis of supervisory control systems. The modeling and analysis are illustrated with a flow line example and a robotic cell example.
Psychiatric Disorders and Pain Treatment in Community Nursing Homes

Objective Effective pain assessment and pain treatment are key goals in community nursing homes, but residents' psychiatric disorders may interfere with attaining these goals. This study addressed whether (1) pain assessment and treatment obtained by nursing home residents with psychiatric disorders differs from that obtained by residents without psychiatric disorders; (2) this difference is found consistently across the four types of psychiatric disorder most prevalent in nursing homes (dementia, depression, serious mental illness, and substance use disorder); and (3) male gender, non-white, and longer length of stay add to psychiatric disorders to elevate risk of potentially adverse pain ratings and pain treatments. Methods In this cross-sectional study, we examined relationships among National Nursing Home Survey 2004 residents' demographic, diagnostic, pain, and pain treatment characteristics. Results Compared with residents without psychiatric disorders, those with psychiatric disorders were less likely to be rated as having pain in the last 7 days and had lower and more "missing" or "don't know" pain severity ratings. They also were less likely to obtain opioids and more likely to be given only nonopioid pain medications, even after statistically adjusting for demographic factors, physical functioning, and pain severity. These effects generally held across all four types of psychiatric disorders most prevalent in nursing homes and were compounded by male, non-white, and longer-stay status. Conclusion Psychiatric disorders besides dementia may impact pain assessment and treatment in nursing homes. Nursing home residents with psychiatric disorders, especially male, non-white, and longer-stay residents, should be targeted for improved pain care.
The effect of metal cutting economics on the throughput of flexible manufacturing systems

Abstract This paper studies the effects of metal removal rates on the economics of flexible transfer lines and flexible manufacturing systems. Two models, utilizing results from open and closed networks of queues, are developed to evaluate the performance of the aforementioned systems. The models are based on Taylor's formula for tool life as it relates to the respective cutting speeds of the different systems' workstations. The results show that the minimum cost throughput of such systems is governed by the economics of the used cutting tools. Also, they exhibit that the work in process (WIP) inventory cost rates have a limited effect on the product cost.
Comparison of Elementary Students' History Textbooks and Trade Books

Abstract Historical novels and informational trade books for children are attractive alternatives to textbooks as materials for teaching history. In this study, text structure analyses of history textbooks and trade books provided a basis for comparing the comprehensibility of the two kinds of materials. Fifteen passages from four fifth-grade history textbooks and from three historical trade books (two narrative and one informational) were parsed into T-nnits, and predicates were identified as causal, response, alternative, sequence, description, evaluation, evidence, explanation, or adversative. Relations among ideas were shown in tree diagrams. The analyses allowed comparisons of textbooks and trade books in terms of sentence length, sentence complexity, degree and nature of subordination, macro-level use of organizing predicates, and micro-level coherence. Trade book passages contained longer, more complex sentences, achieved deeper elaboration of a smaller subset of topics, and more often used macro-l...
Mechanisms of inactivation of human S-adenosylhomocysteine hydrolase by 5',5',6',6'-tetradehydro-6'-deoxy-6'-halohomoadenosines.

In an effort to design more specific and potent inhibitors of S-adenosylhomocysteine (AdoHcy) hydrolase, we investigated the mechanisms by which 5',5',6', 6'-tetradehydro-6'-deoxy-6'-halohomoadenosines (X = Cl, Br, I) inactivated this enzyme. The 6'-chloro (a) and 6'-bromo (b) acetylenic nucleoside analogues produced partial ( approximately 50%) loss of enzyme activity with a concomitant ( approximately 50%) reduction of E-NAD(+) to E-NADH. In addition, Ade and halide ions were released from the inhibitors in amounts suggestive of a process involving enzyme catalysis. AdoHcy hydrolase, which was inactivated with compound a, was shown to contain 2 mol of the inhibitor covalently bound to Lys318 of two subunits of the homotetramer. These data suggest that the enzyme-mediated water addition at the 5' position of compound a or b produces an alpha-halomethyl ketone intermediate, which is then attacked by a proximal nucleophile (i.e., Lys318) to form the enzyme-inhibitor covalent adduct (lethal event); in a parallel pathway (nonlethal event), addition of water at the 6' position produces an acyl halide, which is released into solution and chemically degrades into Ade, halide ion, and sugar-derived products. In contrast, compound c completely inactivated AdoHcy hydrolase by converting 2 equiv of E-NAD(+) to E-NADH and causing the release of 2 equiv of E-NAD(+) into solution. Four moles of the inhibitor was shown to be tightly bound to the tetrameric enzyme. These data suggest that compound c inactivates AdoHcy hydrolase by a mechanism similar to the acetylenic analogue of Ado described previously by Parry et al. [(1991) Biochemistry 30, 9988-9997].
Determining market power exertion between buyers and sellers

Empirical techniques commonly used in industrial organization to measure market power exertion typically assume imperfectly competitive behaviour by firms on only one side of the market. Firms on the other side are assumed to be perfectly competitive. In this paper we extend traditional NEIO methods by developing a method to estimate market power exertion when firms on both sides have potential market power. Using Monte Carlo simulations, we find that the model correctly estimates market power exercised by firms on either or both sides of a market and also correctly estimates firms' technology parameters. When applied to the US leaf tobacco market, findings indicate that cigarette manufacturers exert some monopsony power in purchasing leaf tobacco while producers, organized as a cartel, exhibit no countervailing monopoly market power. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
U.S. solar energy research program

The plans and policies of the National Solar Energy Program are focused on the general objective of developing, at the earliest feasible time, those applications of solar energy that can be made economically attractive and environmentally acceptable as alternative energy sources. The program plans are adjusted to reflect continuing critical reviews based on new information and understanding, assessments of priorities, identification of research and technology needs, and levels of funding and research capabilities. The general objectives of the solar energy program are (1) to provide the research and technology base required for economic terrestrial applications of solar energy; (2) to foster the implementation of practical systems to the state required for commercial utilization; and (3) to provide a firm technical environmental, social, and economic basis for evaluating the role of solar energy utilization in U.S. energy planning.
Dimensionality and mechanical properties of inorganic polymers

Of the many crystalline inorganic substances that are polymers, most are three-dimensional networks in their chemical structure. Those inorganic polymers that are not three-dimensional deserve special attention, since they may be expected to have unusual mechanical properties. Polymeric sulfur, a linear polymer, is elastic over a very narrow temperature range. Cadmium iodide, a sheet polymer, can readily be cleaved forming lamellar sheets as thin as 40 microns. The response of the sheets to tension would be expected to follow the trellis mathematics ofWeissenberg, although this has not been demonstrated. Gold iodide (AuI), which has been described as a linear polymer, is not in fact linear. The Au-I-Au-I-zig-zags formed by chemical bonds are fixed together by planes of metallically bonded gold atoms, so that the total structure is that of a two-dimensional network. The observed mechanical properties are consistent with this structure.
Fumerton's Puzzle for Theories of Rationality

Richard Foley has presented a puzzle purporting to show that all attempts in trying to find a sufficient condition of rationality are doomed. The puzzle rests on two plausible assumptions. The first is a level-connecting principle: if one rationally believes that one's belief that p is irrational, then one's belief that p is irrational. The second is a claim about a structural feature shared by all promising sufficient conditions of rationality: for any such condition, it is possible that one's belief satisfies it and yet one rationally believes that it doesn’t. With the two assumptions, Foley argues that a sufficient condition of rationality is impossible. I explain how exactly the puzzle goes and I try to offer a solution. If my solution works, all theorists of rationality who accept certain level-connecting principles need to add an extra condition to their favourite rationality-making condition.
Surface defect studies of flexible media using magnetoresistive sensors

The thermal spike frequency of magnetoresistive sensors is investigated as a function of average head/tape flying height. A qualitative relationship between particular thermal spikes and surface defects is shown to exist and insight is gained into the nature of "flying" at submicron spacings. Results for clear and oxide coated surfaces of varying surface topography are discussed.
Factors related to enrollment in the breast cancer prevention trial at a comprehensive cancer center during the first year of recruitment

Background. Using an a priori theoretic model of behavior change, factors predicting enrollment in a randomized chemoprevention trial during the first year of recruitment were assessed prospectively. Methods. Eligible participants were asked to complete a 90-item semistructured questionnaire after attendance at an informational meeting. Components of the Health Belief Model (including perceived susceptibility, perceived severity, perceived benefits and barriers, cues to action, and health motivation), health status, preventive health behaviors, and social influence were assessed in relation to enrollment. Results. Overall, 331 women attended one of the meetings, and 73% completed a questionnaire ; 45% enrolled on the trial and 55% did not. In bivariate analyses, all but one of the perceived barriers were associated negatively with enrollment ; however, items assessing perceived susceptibility, perceived severity, and perceived benefits were not. Nonparticipants also were more likely to be over 49 years of age, to be currently or to have been on estrogen replacement therapy, and to have had hot flashes. In logistic regression analysis, not being able to take estrogen replacement therapy was the strongest predictor of nonparticipation (odds ratio [OR], 12.13, 95% confidence interval[CI], 3.63, 40.60). Other factors associated with nonparticipation were concern about side effects of tamoxifen (OR, 5.06 ; CI, 2.37, 10.80) ; the possibility of getting a placebo (OR, 7.75 ; CI, 1.51, 39.67) ; the costs associated with the trial (OR, 3.21 ; CI, 1.12, 9.24) ; and absence of concern that significant others would be reassured if the respondent was taking tamoxifen (OR, 2.58 ; CI, 1.04, 6.41). Conclusions. These findings support the view that recruitment efforts for chemoprevention trials should address barriers specific to their circumstances. In addition, increasing the support available from personal social networks may enhance recruitment to chemoprevention trials for breast cancer. Cancer 1995 ; 76 :46-56.
Correlates of Depression in Mothers of Young Children

The relationship between maternal depression and two sets of risk factors—social environmental characteristics and child-rearing factors—were examined in mothers of young children from two socioeconomic groups. Overall rates of depression were lower than previously reported by British investigators. Mothers with episodes of depression occurring during the child-rearing years were less positive in both their environmental perceptions and their evaluations of themselves as mothers compared to those without depression or with depressive episodes confined to pre-child-rearing years. Subclinical symptomatology was more strongly correlated with marital conflict than with friendship support or child-rearing factors.
Use of Ultrasound in Breast Surgery

The use of ultrasound has grown tremendously since it was introduced in 1951. This article describes use of this modality in patients who have breast disease.
Plasma L-5-oxoproline kinetics and whole blood glutathione synthesis rates in severely burned adult humans.

Compromised glutathione homeostasis is associated with increased morbidity in various disease states. We evaluated the kinetics of l-5-oxoproline, an intermediate in the γ-glutamyl cycle of glutath...
Enhanced-resolution Michelson interferometer for displacement measurement

Intensity division interferometers have been long used in displacement measurement with resolution down to 0.01 micron. However, commercial multi-frequency laser interferometers are very expensive and difficult to be embedded in motion control experiments. In this paper, a single frequency Michelson interferometer combined with an 128 X 1 intensity integration photodiodes to produce a high resolution and wide range displacement detection is presented. With the digital signal microprocessor, plus signal filtering technique, the displacement changes to wavelength/2 has been measured by using PZT stack with high voltage driver. With the He-Ne laser as the light source, the precision is about 0.3 micron, the change pattern of the peak maximum of the fringes corresponding to the change pattern of the PZT driving signal, and the best results are obtained with sine-wave at different frequencies. This system has the features of high resolution, broadband, non- contact measurement. Because of lower cost, easier implementation, faster DSP processing, it is very likely to be embedded in the concurrent control system.© (1999) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Photoacoustic imaging and characterization of the microvasculature

Photoacoustic (optoacoustic) tomography, combining optical absorption contrast and highly scalable spatial resolution (from micrometer optical resolution to millimeter acoustic resolution), has broken through the fundamental penetration limit of optical ballistic imaging modalities-including confocal microscopy, two-photon microscopy, and optical coherence tomography-and has achieved high spatial resolution at depths down to the diffusive regime. Optical absorption contrast is highly desirable for microvascular imaging and characterization because of the presence of endogenous strongly light-absorbing hemoglobin. We focus on the current state of microvascular imaging and characterization based on photoacoustics. We first review the three major embodiments of photoacoustic tomography: microscopy, computed tomography, and endoscopy. We then discuss the methods used to characterize important functional parameters, such as total hemoglobin concentration, hemoglobin oxygen saturation, and blood flow. Next, we highlight a few representative applications in microvascular-related physiological and pathophysiological research, including hemodynamic monitoring, chronic imaging, tumor-vascular interaction, and neurovascular coupling. Finally, several potential technical advances toward clinical applications are suggested, and a few technical challenges in contrast enhancement and fluence compensation are summarized.
Can birth trauma be confused for abuse

An unexpected infant death is usually investigated with a complete autopsy. If evidence of prior trauma is found at autopsy in these cases, suspicion is raised for nonaccidental trauma. In a young infant, the residua of trauma received during birth has the potential to be incorrectly interpreted as nonaccidental trauma. We report a the findings of a 4 1/2-month-old-infant that died unexpectedly with a healing linear skull fracture and a circular lesion over the calvarium found at autopsy. Though this lesion was concerning, the remainder of the autopsy and the histological findings did not support a diagnosis of recent trauma. Review of the literature describing birth injuries made the diagnosis of healing, residual birth trauma more convincing in this case.
A linearized kinetic formulation including a second-order slip model for an impulsive start problem at arbitrary Knudsen numbers

We investigate the time evolution of an impulsive start problem for arbitrary Knudsen numbers ( $\hbox{\it Kn}$ ) using a linearized kinetic formulation. The early-time behaviour is described by a solution of the collisionless Boltzmann equation. The same solution can be used to describe the late-time behaviour for $\hbox{\it Kn}\,{\gg}\,1$ . The late-time behaviour for $\hbox{\it Kn}\,{ is captured by a newly proposed second-order slip model with no adjustable parameters. All theoretical results are verified by direct Monte Carlo solutions of the nonlinear Boltzmann equation. A measure of the timescale to steady state, normalized by the momentum diffusion timescale, shows that the timescale to steady state is significantly extended by ballistic transport, even at low Knudsen numbers where the latter is only important close to the system walls. This effect is captured for $\hbox{\it Kn}\,{ by the slip model which predicts the equivalent effective domain size increase (slip length).
Developing a dissemination model to improve intervention reach among West Virginia youth smokers

The not-on-tobacco program is an evidence-based teen smoking cessation program adopted by the American Lung Association (ALA). Although widely disseminated nationally via ALA Master Trainers, in recent years, adoption and implementation of the N-O-T program in West Virginia (WV) has slowed. WV, unfortunately, has one of the highest smoking rates in the US. Although it is a goal of public health science, dissemination of evidence-based interventions is woefully understudied. The present manuscript reviews a theoretical model of dissemination of the not-on-tobacco program in WV. Based on social marketing, diffusion of innovations, and social cognitive theories, the nine-phase model incorporates elements of infrastructure development, accountability, training, delivery, incentives, and communication. The model components as well as preliminary lessons learned from initial implementation are discussed.
InSb infrared photodetectors on Si substrates grown by molecular beam epitaxy

The InSb infrared photodetectors grown heteroepitaxially on Si substrates by molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) are reported. Excellent InSb material quality is obtained on 3-in Si substrates (with a GaAs predeposition) as confirmed by structural, optical, and electrical analysis. InSb infrared photodetectors on Si substrates that can operate from 77 K to room temperature have been demonstrated. The peak voltage-responsitivity at 4 /spl mu/m is about 1.0/spl times/10/sup 3/ V/W and the corresponding Johnson-noise-limited detectivity is calculated to be 2.8/spl times/10/sup 10/ cm/spl middot/Hz/sup 1/2//W. This is the first important stage in developing InSb detector arrays or monolithic focal plane arrays (FPAs) on silicon. The development of this technology could provide a challenge to traditional hybrid FPA's in the future.
Increased Catch of Female Codling Moth (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) in Kairomone-Baited Clear Delta Traps

The relative performance of a clear delta trap baited with individual or combination sex pheromone and kairomone lures for codling moth, Cydia pomonella L., was evaluated against three vertical clear pane and colored delta traps in field trials within apple, Malus domestica (Borkhausen). The clear caught significantly more moths of each sex than an orange delta trap when baited with ethyl (E,Z)-2,4-decadienoate (pear ester) and acetic acid (PE+AA) and performed similarly to oil-coated pane traps. The clear caught significantly more females than the orange delta trap with pear ester alone, pear ester plus (E,E)-8,10-dodecadien-1-ol (codlemone) (PE-PH), or a combination of PE-PH and acetic acid. Male moth capture was similar in both clear and colored delta traps with all codlemone lures tested. Seasonal moth catches of female moths were higher in clear than either white (second flight, 2008) or orange (first and second flights, 2009) traps baited with PE-PH. Total moth catch was significantly higher in clear than white traps in 2008 and did not differ between clear and orange traps in 2009. Clear traps baited with acetic acid but not with pear ester, PE-PH, or when unbaited caught significantly more nontarget moths than colored traps. These studies suggest that the use of clear traps with their higher captures of female codling moths could improve both monitoring programs and the development of lure and kill strategies.
Preparation of high-quality hexaferrite thick films by an improved liquid phase epitaxy deposition technique

In this paper, we report on the deposition of thick and high-quality films of BaM on (111) gadolinium gallium garnet (GGG) and m-plane, (11_00) or (101_0), sapphire (Al/sub 2/O/sub 3/) substrates. The deposition rate is sufficiently high to allow for large batch production. The total thickness ranged from 50 to 200 /spl mu/m for 2 h of the liquid phase epitaxy deposition. Therefore, the growth rate of the films ranged from /spl sim/25 to /spl sim/100 /spl mu/m/h. In previous work, growth rates in BaM films were quite small. Equally important, the ferrimagnetic resonance (FMR) linewidth (/spl Delta/H) was /spl sim/0.068 kOe at 58 GHz for the BaM films on (111) GGG and /spl sim/0.08 kOe at 59.9 GHz for the BaM film on m-plane sapphire substrates. The FMR linewidth films of thick BaM films deposited by pulsed laser deposition in earlier work ranged from 0.5 to 1.2 kOe.
Device and Architecture Cooptimization for FPGA Power Reduction

Device optimization considering supply voltage Vdd and threshold voltage Vt has little chip-area increase but a great impact on power and performance in the nanometer technology. This paper studies simultaneous evaluation of device and architecture optimization for field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs). We first develop an efficient yet accurate timing and power evaluation method called a trace-based model. By collecting trace information from a cycle-accurate simulation of placed and routed FPGA benchmark circuits and reusing the trace for different Vdds and Vts, we enable device and architecture cooptimization considering hundreds of device and architecture combinations. Compared to the baseline FPGA architecture, which uses the Versatile Place and Route architecture model and the same lookup table and cluster sizes as those used by the Xilinx Virtex-II, Vdd suggested by the International Technology Roadmap for Semiconductor, Vt optimized with respect to the preceding architecture, and Vdd architecture and device cooptimization can reduce the energy-delay product (ED) by 20.5% and the chip area by 23.3%. Furthermore, considering the power gating of unused logic blocks and interconnect switches (in this case, sleep transistor size is a parameter of device tuning), our co-optimization reduces ED by 55.0% and the chip area by 8.2% compared to the baseline FPGA architecture. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first in-depth study in the literature on architecture and device cooptimization for FPGAs.
Low-cost low actuation voltage copper RF MEMS switches

This paper presents the design, fabrication and testing of capacitive copper RF MEMS switches with various hinge geometries, fabricated on high-resistivity silicon substrates. The switches were fabricated using a simple low-cost four-mask process and 0.6-1.0 /spl mu/m thick membranes were made out of sputtered copper. The capacitive airgap in between the membrane and the signal line is 1.5-2.0 /spl mu/m. The lowest actuation voltage measured on the fabricated switches is 9 V. The measured insertion loss of a fabricated switch and its associated transmission time was 0.9 dB (mainly contributed by the transmission line itself) and the isolation was measured to be 25 dB at 40 GHz.
Preparation of tripyrrane analogues from resorcinol and 2-methylresorcinol for applications in the synthesis of new benziporphyrin systems.

Acid catalyzed condensation of resorcinol or 2-methylresorcinol with 2 equiv. of an acetoxymethylpyrrole gave bis(pyrrolylmethyl)benzene derivatives in moderate yields; these afforded a series of novel aromatic benziporphyrins using the MacDonald “3 + 1” methodology.
Stepparents and the Law: Knowledge for Counselors, Guidelines for Family Members

This literature-based article will acquaint family counselors with the relevant family law statutes to better guide their counseling with stepfamilies and to help stepparents better understand the current laws regarding their status. The article will specifically address stepparent status, postdivorce custody, visitation, financial support plus inheritance.
A crystallizable form of RIIβ regulatory domain obtained by limited proteolysis

The type RIIβ regulatory subunit of protein kinase A is primarily expressed in adipose tissue and brain. Knockout mice suggest a role for RIIβ in regulating energy balance and adipose-tissue content, thus making it a potential target for therapeutic intervention in obesity. A truncated version of the RIα subunit has been used in a crystallographic study and was used here to design an analogous RIIβ construct. Despite substantial screening, conditions were not found for the crystallization of the truncated RIIβ subunit. However, limited proteolysis of the full-length RIIβ subunit identified boundaries of the `hinge' region and a fragment containing the two cAMP-binding domains which did crystallize. A recombinant version of the fragment was expressed and crystallized for X-ray diffraction studies. The crystals belong to the orthorhombic space group C222, with unit-cell parameters a = 91.6, b = 105.9, c = 85.8 A, and diffracted to at least 2.3 A.
Enhancements to Ziv-Lempel data compression

A description is given of several modifications to the Ziv-Lempel data compression scheme that improve its compression ratio at a moderate cost in run time (J. Ziv, A. Lempel, 1976, 1977, 1978). The best algorithm reduces the length of a typical compressed text file by about 25%. The enhanced coder compresses approximately 2000 bytes of text every second before optimization, making it fast enough for regular use. >
Estimating Equilibrium Housing Demand for “Stayers”

Abstract This study models demand by owner-occupied housing “stayers.” Most consumers do not move routinely in response to small changes in income or housing price, so the “own–rent” and “move–stay” decisions are modeled as multiperiod optimization in the presence of transaction costs. The empirical section uses the “American Housing Survey” to provide a panel of household stayers for a metropolitan area. Results indicate that income and value-rent measures in different years have separable and significant impacts on housing demand. Estimated conditional income elasticities are between 0.40 and 0.45.
Dynamic arm swinging in human walking

Humans tend to swing their arms when they walk, a curious behaviour since the arms play no obvious role in bipedal gait. It might be costly to use muscles to swing the arms, and it is unclear wheth...
An Increase in Endothelial Intracellular Calcium and F‐Actin Precedes the Extravasation of Interleukin‐2‐Activated Lymphocytes

Objective:Interleukin-2 (IL-2) induces protein leakage from the microcirculation and activates lymphocytes; yet it is unclear how it alters endothelial barrier function. Here, we report of a new continuous monitoring system that allows for the continuous measurement and correlation of endothelial calcium, permeability to albumin, and extravasation of lymphocytes. Methods:IL-2 activated lymphocytes (IL-2 LYMPH) or unstimulated lymphocytes (LYMPH) were co-incubated with human microvascular endothelial cells (HMVEC). Endothelial albumin permeability, lymphocyte extravasation, intracellular calcium mobilization, and f-actin distribution were examined using a new continuous monitoring system. Results:The clearance rate of fluorescein isothiocyanate-labeled-human serum albumin (FITC-HSA) in the presence of IL-2 LYMPH peaked at 20 minutes, whereas the clearance rate of LYMPH peaked at 40 minutes. Approximately 40 minutes after the peak in the clearance rate to albumin, extravasation of carboxyfluorescein-labeled...
Manufacturing a Feminized Siege Mentality Hindu Nationalist Paramilitary Camps for Women in India

This article examines the discursive and embodied processes employed at Hindu nationalist paramilitary camps for women that transform traditional, middle-class Hindu women into committed, active participants in the powerful, right-wing Hindu Nationalist Movement in India. Based on ethnographic research on the Rashtra Sevika Samiti (the Samiti), a core women's organization in the movement, I argue that the Samiti effectively manufactures a feminized siege mentality. This mentality is a learned disposition in which female members of a community perceive themselves as potential prey to male members of a community of "outsiders." The discursive practices include entwined discourses of Hindu women's victimization by Muslim men and empowerment by the Samiti. The embodied practices include a paramilitary physical training program that masquerades as self-defense training but in fact manufactures a fear of sexual attacks by Muslim men in the public sphere, while deflecting from sources of violence within the private sphere.
An intracellular anion channel critical for pigmentation

Intracellular ion channels are essential regulators of organellar and cellular function, yet the molecular identity and physiological role of many of these channels remains elusive. In particular, no ion channel has been characterized in melanosomes, organelles that produce and store the major mammalian pigment melanin. Defects in melanosome function cause albinism, characterized by vision and pigmentation deficits, impaired retinal development, and increased susceptibility to skin and eye cancers. The most common form of albinism is caused by mutations in oculocutaneous albinism II (OCA2), a melanosome-specific transmembrane protein with unknown function. Here we used direct patch-clamp of skin and eye melanosomes to identify a novel chloride-selective anion conductance mediated by OCA2 and required for melanin production. Expression of OCA2 increases organelle pH, suggesting that the chloride channel might regulate melanin synthesis by modulating melanosome pH. Thus, a melanosomal anion channel that requires OCA2 is essential for skin and eye pigmentation.
Amino-acid composition of maturing wheat.

Amino-acids were determined in hydrolysates of two wheat varieties harvested at various stages of maturity, and in flours milled from the wheat samples. During maturation, the concentration in protein of lysine, aspartic acid, glycine. alanine and valine decreased; and concentrations of glutamic acid and proline increased. Milling of wheat into flour reduced the concentrations of lysine, arginine, aspartic acid, threonine, glycine and alanine. Concentrations of glutaniic acid and proline were higher in flour than in wheat proteins. Concentrations of cationic side-chains in amino-acids were higher in wheat than in flour, and in both decreased with maturity. Total carboxyl and amide groups were higher in flour than in wheat, and their concentrations increased as the wheat matured. About 84% of the dicarboxylic acids were in amide form. Small changes were observed in concentrations of amino-acid residues with hydroxylic or hydrophobic groups, and in cystine.
Case report Thoracic pain in a collegiate runner

This case study describes the process of examination, re-examination, and intervention for a collegiate runner with mechanical thoracic pain preventing athletic participation and limiting daily function. Unimpaired function fully returned in less than 3 weeks with biweekly sessions to re-establish normal and painfree thoracic mechanics via postural hygiene, exercise, mobilization, and manipulation. The outcome of this case study supports the original hypothesis that the pattern of impairments was in fact responsible for the functional limitations and disability in this athlete. At the time of publication the athlete was without functional limitations and had fully returned to competitive sprinting for the university track team.
The EPIC study: a lesson to learn.

Introduction Inhibitory antibodies to factor VIII occur in about 30% of previously untreated patients (PUPs) and are the most serious complication of haemophilia A. It is unclear why some patients develop inhibitors and others do not. Aims The Early Prophylaxis Immunologic Challenge (EPIC) study was designed to test the hypothesis that inhibitor incidence in PUPs with severe or moderately severe haemophilia A could be reduced when a once-weekly FVIII prophylaxis starts with 25 IU kg−1 rAHF-PFM before 1 year of age and immunological danger signals are minimized. Methods These signals were minimized by avoiding: surgery; the first FVIII infusion during severe bleeding or an infection; central venous access devices and administering vaccinations intramuscularly 3–4 days before or after FVIII. Results Eight of the 19 treated subjects (42.1%) developed confirmed inhibitors. Eleven of the 19 treated subjects were PUPs without any prior exposure to FVIII. Three of them (27.3%) developed a confirmed inhibitor together with FVIII-binding antibodies. The study was stopped because the likelihood to reach the primary objective was minimal, a decision endorsed by the data safety monitoring board. Conclusion Because of early termination, the EPIC study hypothesis could not be corroborated. Nonetheless, our data analyses indicate that the current definition of an inhibitor only based on plasma inhibitor activity ≥0.6 BU mL−1 may not always reflect the presence of FVIII-neutralizing antibodies. The findings of this study teach us that low-level inhibitor activity results need in addition a confirmatory test and/or the assessment of the therapeutic response.
What’s Wrong with Argumentum ad Baculum? Reasons, Threats, and Logical Norms

A dialogue-based analysis of informal fallacies does not provide a fully adequate explanation of our intuitions about what is wrong with ad baculum and of when it is admissible and when it is not. The dialogue-based analysis explains well why mild, benign threats can be legitimate in some situations, such as cooperative bargaining and negotiation, but does not satisfactorily account for what is objectionable about more malicious uses of threats to coerce and to intimidate. I propose an alternative deriving partly from virtue theory in ethics and epistemology and partly from Kantian principles of respect for persons as ends-in-themselves. I examine some specific kinds of social relations, e.g., parent-child and partner relationships, and ask what kinds of threats are permissible in these relationships and especially what is wrong with the objectionable threats. My explanation is framed in terms of the good character and contributing virtues of the ideal parent or partner on the one hand, and the bad character and contributing vices of the abusive parent or violent partner on the other. This analysis puts the discussion of theats in the context of virtue theory, of human flourishing, and of the kind of social relations it is best to have. In general, what's wrong with argumentum ad baculum should be explained in terms of the intentions, purposes, and character of threateners, and the differences in intentions and purposes for which threats are made. The characters of those who make the threats will provide the criteria for distinguishing benign and malicious threats.
Relation of Milk Production to the Twinning Tendency

Upon first thought it seems unreasonable to think of any relation between high milk production and multiple births in cattle. However, when we reflect that twinning in cattle is but one of the evidences of high fertility and that high fertility has been found to be closely correlated with high milk production (1), such a relationship does not seem so unreasonable. The writer, in order to determine whether or not such a relationship does exist has made a study of a random sample of 357 dams of multiple offspring in the Holstein-Friesian breed. In this study are included the dams of all the male twins in volume 35 of the herd-book, and the dams of all the female twins indicated in volume 40, up to number 474,273. There were a total, then, of 165 dams of male twins or male and freemartin, and a total of 192 dams of female twins. The two groups were kept separate as the males are selected more rigorously than the females, and thus the dams of registered males axe more likely to have records than the dams of registered females. The A. R. O. records of the dams of the twins were compiled, the problem being, "Do the dams of twins produce more milk than the dams of singles." Of course, if one" group did produce more than the other, it would be indicated, not by a higher average A. R. O. production, but by a larger number of animals making the A. R. O. requirements. The table given below shows the results of the study:
Parenting Practices and Child Adjustment in Different Types of Households A Study of African American Families

This article uses a sample of 867 African American households to investigate differences in parenting practices and child outcomes by type of household. Results indicate that mothers provide similar levels of parenting regardless of family structure. Secondary caregivers, however, show a great deal of variation in quality of parenting. Fathers and grandmothers engage in the highest quality parenting, stepfathers the poorest, with other relatives falling in between. These differences in parenting do not explain family structure differences in child behavior problems. Results suggest that children do best when there are two caregivers in the household, although stepfathers are an exception to this rule. Child behavior problems are found to be no greater in either mother-grandmother or mother-relative families than in households with two biological parents. In terms of risk for child behavior problems, these family forms seem to be functionally equivalent.
Quantitation of lower esophageal sphincter competence.

Summary Normal subjects and patients with incompetent gastroesophageal sphincters have been studied by open-tipped catheter techniques. The two groups could not be separated on the basis of pressures measured by conventional methods. The best explanation for this failure is that the sphincters sealed the recording orifice. However, the addition of a constant external fluid infusion to the recording system prevented this sealing and allowed the recording of pressures which did appear to be related to the competence of the sphincter.
State Paternalism: The Punitive Push to Fight the Obesity Epidemic

This article discusses an overview of the obesity epidemic in the United States and the state of the current legal fight. There is a dichotomy in proposed solutions -- where some believe that the government should have a strong hand in compelling healthy behavior through paternalism, and others believe that healthy behavior should be left to individual choice. The author examines both of these points of view and determines that the proper foundation has not yet been laid to compel healthy behavior through punitive, paternalistic measures.