cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Role of instability in the cis action of the insertion sequence IS903 transposase.

Abstract An unusual subset of DNA-binding proteins, termed cis-acting proteins, has been shown to act preferentially at their site of synthesis; the transposases of several bacterial insertion sequences (ISs) fall into this class. The transposase of IS903 exhibits a strong preference for action in cis: complementation of defective transposons in trans occurs at less than 1%. Furthermore, transposition mediated by transposase acting in cis is extremely sensitive to the distance between the 3' end of the transposase gene and the nearest transposon inverted repeat; we find that an insertion of 1 kilobase of DNA reduces transposition to 1-2% of control levels. Here we show that there is a strong correlation between the stability of transposase and its ability to act in trans. We found that the wild-type transposase is a very unstable protein with a physical half-life of about 3 min. However, a transposase-beta-galactosidase fusion protein has a much greater half-life and can act equally well in cis or in trans. In addition, the native transposase is stabilized in lon- strains of Escherichia coli, and, in these protease-deficient strains, trans action of transposase is increased 10- to 100-fold. These results suggest that instability of the IS903 transposase is a major determinant of its cis action and that the La protease, product of the lon gene, is an important determinant of transposase instability.
Ligand Flexibility and Dual Complexation Modes on Reaction of 1,2- bis (2′-pyridylethynyl)Benzene with Copper(I) Halides

The reaction of the bidentate ligand 1,2-bis(2'-pyridylethynyl)benzene with copper(I) halides reveals the rich coordination chemistry of the ligand. The reaction with copper(I) iodide yields a linear 1D coordination polymer. The polymer features a series of rhomboid CuI2Cu centers bridged by two of the bipyridyl ligands. A tetramer is formed with copper(I) bromide where the ligand adopts two distinct conformations. One pair of ligands bridges two rhomboid CuBr2Cu centers and the second pair of ligands end-caps the two copper centers. The end capping ligands in the copper(I) bromide structure have pyridyl rings flexed with torsional angles of 11 and 28° with respect to the central benzene ring. A 2 : 4 complex is formed on reaction with copper(I) chloride. In this structure both pyridyls complex the same copper atom and are twisted out of planarity with the benzene ring with one alkyne coordinated to the second copper atom.
Constitutional Opinions: Aspects of the Bill of Rights

This collection of essays spans the entire course of American history, focusing primarily on colonial America and the constitutional period. The author covers a broad range of subjects, including free speech in the 17th century, John Lilburne and the rights of the English, Quaker blasphemy and toleration, the Zenger case, the First and Fifth Amendments, Jefferson as civil libertarian, and judicial activism. Levy's previously unpublished works offer new discussions of the history of the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, the establishment of the First Amendment, and the right against self-incrimination.
Discovering overlapping modules and bridge proteins in proteomic networks

We describe a novel algorithm for identifying the modular structure of a protein interaction network by computing overlapping clusters. The network is initially decomposed into a high degree network and a residual subnetwork, and clusters are computed separately in both networks, before highly interconnected clusters in both networks are merged. We propose the concept of bridge proteins, proteins that are connected to multiple clusters, and identify them from the clustering. We show that bridge proteins are more likely to be essential. The clustering algorithm is used to identify modules in a collection of proteomic networks from the yeast, human, and the worm. The new algorithm is efficient at detecting both overlapping clusters and bridge proteins, and performs better than earlier algorithms in various measures of clustering quality.
Dual Pathway Therapy for Secondary Prevention Following Acute Coronary Syndrome

Although dual antiplatelet therapy has served as the standard of care following an acute coronary syndrome (ACS), a significant residual risk of ischemic events and cardiovascular mortality remains. Rather than further targeting the platelet with either a greater number of or more potent therapies, recent emphasis has shifted to treating an alternate pathway, namely thrombin generation, as part of a “dual-pathway” approach to secondary prevention of atherothrombotic events. While early studies combined the administration of antiplatelet agents and vitamin K antagonists and demonstrated a reduction in recurrent MI, there was an unacceptable increase in major bleeding. Combination of antiplatelet agents with novel oral anticoagulants may mitigate this bleeding risk and improve both net clinical outcomes as well as ease of use. The major challenge continues to be the identification of an optimal combination of antiplatelet and anticoagulant agents that strikes a balance between efficacy and bleeding risk. The aims of this article are to review the major clinical trials assessing the safety and efficacy of oral anticoagulants for secondary prevention of atherothrombotic events following ACS and to shed light on future directions in the development of dual-pathway therapy.
Repeatability and comparability of corneal thickness measurements obtained from Dual Scheimpflug Analyzer and from ultrasonic pachymetry.

To assess the repeatability and comparability of central corneal thickness (CCT) measurements obtained from the Galilei Dual Scheimpflug Analyzer (Galilei-DSA) and from ultrasonic pachymetry (USP) in normal eyes and in eyes following laser refractive surgery. In this prospective observational study, 77 eyes of 39 patients with normal corneas and 39 eyes of 20 patients with prior laser refractive surgery were enrolled. All 116 eyes had three repeated measurements of central CCT with the Galilei-DSA first and then with USP by the same examiner. Reliability of both devices was assessed statistically, and CCT measurements by each were compared. The mean CCT measurement of normal eyes was 549.2 ± 30.5 μm and 548.5 ± 33.1 μm by the Galilei-DSA and USP respectively; the difference between the two modalities was −0.7 ± 7.1 μm (P = 0.365). In post-refractive surgery eyes, the mean CCT measured by the Galilei-DSA and USP was 500.4 ± 44.8 and 494.3 ± 50.3 respectively; the difference between the two devices was −6.2 ± 9.9 μm (P < 0.001). For the three repeated measurements, the mean standard deviation was 2 μm with the Galilei-DSA and 1.8 μm with USP in normal eyes, and 2.4 μm with the Galilei-DSA and 1.9 μm with USP in post-refractive surgery eyes. The Galilei-DSA has high repeatability and excellent to moderate agreement with ultrasonic pachymetry when measuring CCT in normal and post-refractive surgery eyes.
The influence of MA and CA on the attribution of life and life traits to animate and inanimate objects.

Abstract The study centered on the influence of MA and CA on the attribution of life and life traits to animate and inanimate objects. Twenty 11-year-old normals, 20 six-year-old normals, and 20 11-year-old retardates, were randomly selected from two Philadelphia public schools. A 70-item questionnaire was designed to assess the subjects' attribution of life and life traits to four animate and six inanimate objects. The results indicated that neither CA nor MA alone determined the attribution of life and life traits. The attribution of life to animate objects and the attribution of botanical and animal traits to inanimate objects were dependent on the interaction of MA and CA. Analysis of the supplementary answers revealed that for the young normal and retarded children the attribution of life and life traits was highly dependent on perceptual object characteristics. Most of the older normals attributed life and life traits on the basis of a vague or explicit notion of the biological nature of the object ...
Visualizing the Operative and Analytic: Representing the Digital Fabrication Feedback Loop and Managing the Digital Exchange

Digital architecture is process-based and reliant upon a conversation between digital visualization, analysis, and production. With the complexity of information generated in process-based digital practices, we need to effectively manage and exchange the information. Feedback loops are integral to this process/product, and thus require extensive management of complex versions of visual and data related information. Quite a lot of scholarly attention has been focused upon highlighting innovative projects using digital fabrication and serial customization. However, there is a scarcity of scholarly work about innovations in visualizing and representing the design data integral in this feedback loop. This paper will examine innovative representational devices such as the matrix, sectioning, layering, bracketing, nesting, and other new forms of organizing, visualizing, analyzing, and simulating complex data, intent upon communicating multiple levels of operations during the design and fabrication process. With...
The role of rotation in the vibrational relaxation of diatomic molecules

Abstract The mechanism by which molecular rotation enhances vibrational relaxation of a diatomic molecule is examined. Three factors are discussed, lowering by rotational transitions of the vibrational energy defect, coupling due to potential matrix elements off-diagonal in rotational state, and additional phase shifts introduced into the incoming and outgoing waves by anisotropy in the intermolecular potential. The distorted wave solution of the coupled states scattering equations elucidates, for H2(ν = 1)-He and CO(ν = 1)-H2, the importance of each factor. For H2He, rotation plays both an energetic and a dynamical role. In the energetic role, rotation of the H2 lowers the vibrational energy defect and thereby enhances vibrational relaxation. The dynamic contribution takes the form of additional phase shifts introduced into the incoming and outgoing waves by the potential anisotropy. For the relaxation of CO(ν = 1) by H2, rotational enhancement by H2 is almost entirely due to lowering of the vibrational energy defect. Our results suggest that molecular anisotropy, particularly in the region of the classical turning point, is an important factor in the rotational enhancement observed in recent comparisons of CSA and IOSA vibrational relaxation rate constants for the N2He and COHe systems. We further discuss vibrational energy transfer from H2(ν = 1) to CO(ν = 0, 1, 2). In this case, the role played by H2 rotation changes markedly as a function of the final CO vibrational state.
Bayesian dose finding in oncology for drug combinations by copula regression

Summary. Treating patients with a combination of agents is becoming commonplace in cancer clinical trials, with biochemical synergism often the primary focus. In a typical drug combination trial, the toxicity profile of each individual drug has already been thoroughly studied in single-agent trials, which naturally offers rich prior information. We propose a Bayesian adaptive design for dose finding that is based on a copula-type model to account for the synergistic effect of two or more drugs in combination. To search for the maximum tolerated dose combination, we continuously update the posterior estimates for the toxicity probabilities of the combined doses. By reordering the dose toxicities in the two-dimensional probability space, we adaptively assign each new cohort of patients to the most appropriate dose. Dose escalation, de-escalation or staying at the same doses is determined by comparing the posterior estimates of the probabilities of toxicity of combined doses and the prespecified toxicity target. We conduct extensive simulation studies to examine the operating characteristics of the design and illustrate the proposed method under various practical scenarios.
Topical Interleukin 1 Receptor Antagonist for Treatment of Dry Eye Disease: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Importance The immunopathogenic mechanisms of dry eye disease (DED), one of the most common ophthalmic conditions, is incompletely understood. Data from this prospective, double-masked, randomized trial demonstrate that targeting interleukin 1 (IL-1) by topical application of an IL-1 antagonist is efficacious in significantly reducing DED-related patient symptoms and corneal epitheliopathy. Objective To evaluate the safety and efficacy of treatment with the topical IL-1 receptor antagonist anakinra (Kineret; Amgen Inc) in patients having DED associated with meibomian gland dysfunction. Design and Setting Prospective phase 1/2, randomized, double-masked, vehicle-controlled clinical trial. Participants Seventy-five patients with refractory DED. Interventions Participants were randomized to receive treatment with topical anakinra, 2.5% (n = 30), anakinra, 5% (n = 15), or vehicle (1% carboxymethylcellulose) (n = 30) 3 times daily for 12 weeks. Main Outcomes and Measures Primary outcomes were corneal fluorescein staining (CFS), complete bilateral CFS clearance, dry eye–related symptoms as measured by the Ocular Surface Disease Index, tear film breakup time, and meibomian gland secretion quality. Results Topical anakinra was well tolerated compared with vehicle, with no reports of serious adverse reactions attributable to the therapy. After 12 weeks of therapy, participants treated with anakinra, 2.5%, achieved a 46% reduction in their mean CFS score (P = .12 compared with vehicle and P Conclusions and Relevance Treatment with topical anakinra, 2.5%, for 12 weeks was safe and significantly reduced symptoms and corneal epitheliopathy in patients with DED. These data suggest that the use of an IL-1 antagonist may have a role as a novel therapeutic option for patients with DED. Trial Registration clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT00681109
Using the Griess colorimetric nitrite assay for measuring aliphatic β-nitroalcohols.

Our recent studies suggest that aliphatic β-nitroalcohols (BNAs) may represent a useful class of compounds for topical therapeutic corneoscleral cross-linking agents. Thus, this study was undertaken in order to standardize a simple method for nitroalcohol quantitation based on a denitration step followed by colorimetric Griess nitrite assay. Conditions necessary for denitration included a pH of 7-9 and heating for 1 hour at 100°C. Standard curves for two mono-nitroalcohols (2-nitroethanol and 2-nitro-1-propanol), a nitro-diol (2-methyl-2-nitro-1,3-propanediol), and a nitro-triol (2-hydroxymethyl-2-nitro-1,3-propanediol) showed excellent linearity in the 100-500 M range with absorbance values 0.98. The lower limit of detection was ~20 M. Recovery from tissue homogenates (10mg/mL wet weight) of rabbit cornea and sclera as well as solutions of gelatin B (1mg/mL) ranged from 89-103% for scleral tissue, 68-106% for corneal tissue, and 90-99% for gelatin B. The Griess colorimetric nitrite assay can be successfully used for the quantitative determination of BNAs and is simpler to use than conventional chromatographic techniques.
Relapsing arterial aneurysms in juvenile Behçet's disease.

Vascular involvement in Behcet's disease has a wide range of clinical manifestations, the most common being thrombophlebitis and arterial aneurysms. Every major vessel may be involved, but aneurysms of the carotid artery are relatively rare in adults and even rarer in children. We describe here a case of a 13-year-old boy with Behcet's disease with a recurrent carotid artery aneurysm treated with arterial ligation and immunosuppressive therapy who later developed an abdominal aortic aneurysm in the absence of other indications of disease activity. This case underscores the need for continuous monitoring of patients with vascular manifestations of Behcet's disease.
Connected Consumption: The Hidden Networks of Consumption

In this paper, we present the Connected Consumption Network (CCN) that allows a community of consumers to collaboratively sense the market from a mobile device, enabling more informed financial decisions in geo-local context. The mobile application allows one to log one's wish list and itemized list of transactions to form a social network around the list of interests. Individuals can share this data to inform and guide others in a timely, personal and contextual manner when they are shopping for a product or seeking a service. It can also help people connect opportunistically in a local area to make group purchases, to pick up an item for a friend, and to perform reverse auctions. We present the design, architecture and concept prototype. We simulate a social network with three months of existing credit/debit card transaction data in various geographical areas to analyze the mutual information and recommendations that can be shared among networked consumers.
Invariance principles for martingales and sums of independent random variables

On donne des ameliorations des theoremes d'approximation de Strassen dans le cas de margingales
Ocular and systemic manifestations of PHACES (Posterior fossa malformations, Hemangiomas, Arterial anomalies, Cardiac defects and coarctation of the Aorta, Eye abnormalities, and Sternal abnormalities or ventral developmental defects) syndrome.

Introduction: PHACES syndrome (Posterior fossa malformations, Hemangiomas, Arterial anomalies, Cardiac defects and coarctation of the aorta, Eye abnormalities, and Sternal abnormalities or ventral developmental defects) is a rare neurocutaneous syndrome with only 2 case reports published in the ophthalmic literature. This study was conducted to identify ocular and systemic manifestations of PHACES syndrome. Methods: A retrospective chart review was performed on 8 children with a diagnosis of PHACES syndrome. Information recorded included age at first visit, length of follow-up, gender, race, vision, need for glasses, strabismus, amblyopia, ptosis, proptosis, anterior and posterior segment abnormalities, need for treatment of the hemangioma, type of treatment of the hemangioma, and systemic manifestations. Results: Periocular and ocular findings in patients with PHACES syndrome included hemangioma involving ocular structures (n = 6), strabismus (n = 4), amblyopia (n = 5), proptosis (n = 2), ptosis (n = 5), anterior polar cataract (n = 1), optic atrophy from optic neuropathy (n = 1), heterochromia (n = 1), and refractive error requiring glasses (n = 2). All patients were treated with steroids for the hemangioma. Systemic manifestations of PHACES syndrome included posterior fossa malformation (n = 4), hemangioma (n = 8), arterial anomalies (n = 3), cardiac abnormalities (n = 3), and sternal or ventral deformities (n = 3). Conclusion: Children with PHACES syndrome may have significant ocular and systemic abnormalities and are at increased risk for strabismus and amblyopia. They often require steroid therapy of the hemangioma to prevent and/or treat ocular complications. These patients require careful monitoring by a pediatric ophthalmologist in addition to other subspecialists.
Association between the presence of sperm in the vasal fluid during vasectomy reversal and postoperative patency: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective To investigate the association between the presence of sperm in the vasal fluid during vasectomy reversal (VR) and postoperative patency. Methods We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of the English-language literature reporting on the association between the presence of sperm in the intraoperative vasal fluid (ie, whole or parts vs none) and patency (ie, patent or not) after microsurgical vasovasostomy for men with obstructive azoospermia due to vasectomy. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals were calculated to quantify the strength of the association reported by each study. Meta-analysis was performed using a random-effects model. Results Four case series and 2 retrospective cohort studies of a total of 1293 eligible patients were identified. The mean age at VR was 37.8 years, and the mean obstructive interval was 7.1 years. The unadjusted OR of postoperative patency was 4.1 times higher (95% confidence interval, 2.3-7.3) given the presence of intravasal sperm or sperm parts as opposed to their absence at the time of VR (Q = 3.4; df = 5; P = .6; I2 = 22%). The pooled OR should be interpreted with caution as only the 2 retrospective cohort studies reported meaningful data on this association. Because of inconsistent reporting, analysis of other vasal fluid characteristics (eg, consistency) and outcomes (eg, pregnancy) was not possible. Conclusion The presence of whole sperm or sperm parts in the vasal fluid during VR is positively associated with postoperative patency. Our review highlights the poor methodological quality of existing evidence and underscores the need for more thorough follow up and higher standards of reporting in future studies.
The Sicilian Baroque: Reconciling Postquake Tensions:

Building upon discourses on trauma, art, and architecture, this work examines how the design and construction of buildings mediate the cultural, social, and political changes that occur after a catastrophe. It takes as its case study the reconstruction of Sicily's Val di Noto following an earthquake in 1693 and the role that the Baroque architectural style played in it. In this study, Sicilian Baroque building decoration emerges as a medium that facilitated the reconciliation of tensions that inhered among survivors of the earthquake and their social and material milieus.
Constitutively-active human LH receptors are self-associated and located in rafts.

Abstract Several naturally occurring mutations in human luteinizing hormone receptors (LHR) at position 578 are associated with constitutive activation of the receptor. To determine whether human LHRs that signal in the absence of ligand are self-associated, fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) between receptors was evaluated. Values for FRET between wild type LHR in the absence of ligand were less than 1% and increased significantly to over 11% after exposure to hCG. Constitutively active receptors exhibited 11–15% FRET efficiency in the absence of hormone and these values did not change with hCG treatment. A large fraction of constitutively active LHR-D578H receptors were also associated with so-called plasma membrane rafts. Disruption of these membrane microdomains reduced FRET efficiency but did not affect signalling through cAMP. Thus, in the absence of ligand, constitutively active receptors are self-associated and located in high buoyancy membrane fractions, both characteristics of the hormone-treated wild type receptor.
The biochemical genetics of permethrin resistance in the Learn-PyR strain of house fly.

Permethrin resistance in the Learn-PyR strain of house fly was examined in four genetically derived substrains, each being homozygous for a different “resistant” autosome of the Learn-PyR strain. The resistance of these derivative strains was characterized toxicologically and biochemically. The relative levels of resistance to permethrin conferred by each autosome were 5>3>1>2. Three factors were associated with resistance: (1) increased mixed-function oxidase (MFO) activity associated with elevated levels of cytochrome P-450, cytochrome b5, and NADPH-cytochrome c reductase (P-450 reductase) activity; (2) target-site insensitivity (kdr); and (3) decreased cuticular penetration. Permethrin resistance factors on chromosome 1 consisted of a piperonyl butoxide (PB)-suppressible mechanism correlated with increased levels of cytochromes P-450 and b5; on chromosome 2, a PB-suppressible mechanism associated with elevated amounts of cytochrome P-450; on chromosome 3, decreased cuticular penetration, kdr, and increased amounts of P-450 reductase activity; and on chromosome 5, a largely PB-suppressible mechanism correlated with elevated levels of cytochrome P-450 and P-450 reductase activity.
Microwave heating of intravenous fluids

Microwave heating of intravenous (IV) fluids is a viable alternative to heating by conventional means, such as by blood warmer(s) or an on-site warming oven, for administration to hypothermic patients and trauma victims. Three 1-l bags each of lactated Ringer's solution, normal saline solution, 1/2 normal saline solution, and 5% dextrose in water were packaged in parenteral containers and heated in a microwave oven from room temperature (21 degrees C) to 40-42 degrees C in 3 minutes. Little difference between temperatures of the four solutions was detected at each of five intervals up to two hours after heating for 3 minutes. Samples were taken before and after heating to assess any potential alterations in sodium, potassium, chloride, calcium, glucose, and lactate levels; differences were within the range of variation of the methods used. Though the plasticizer in the polyvinyl chloride containers is stable to microwave heating, data on other components is incomplete.
Colorectal carcinoma in the first twenty-five years of life.

A review of 17 patients under 25 years of age suffering adenocarcinoma of the colon or rectum indicates that the disease is characterized by sudden onset, short duration of symptoms, early dissemination and a high grade of malignancy. The ultimate prognosis and survival is poor.
Women or feminists? Assessing women's group consciousness

Social psychological research often relies on measures of group identification in assessing levels of group consciousness. However, for women, the relationship between gender identification and group consciousness may not be a straightforward one. Questionnaire data were used to examine the relationships between measures of group identity and group evaluations with other attitudinal, phenomenological, and developmental measures of feminist consciousness. Research participants were 234 undergraduate women; the majority (75%) were white and from middle-to upper-middle-class backgrounds. The results supported the hypothesis that use of the reference group “feminists,” rather than the more general group “women,” would be more strongly related to other dimensions of group consciousness in women.
Toward a theory of optimal economic systems

Abstract This paper develops a framework for theoretical analysis of optimal economic systems that synthesizes and extends many common themes found in the works of both theorists and comparativists. An economy's institutional characteristics are abstractly represented by three structures (the information, decision-making, and incentive structures) comprising the economic system. Attention is given to the fact that economic systems influence both the objective functions of, and the strategies employed by, an economy's members. Existence theorems on optimal economic systems are presented to show that the framework is not vacuous and to illustrate the problems involved in selecting an optimal economic system.
Effects of Laser Surface Modification on Secondary Electron Emission of Copper

The effects of surface roughness on secondary electron emission (SEE) are investigated for copper. The surface of the copper samples was modified using a high-power neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet laser, where the degree of surface modification depended on the duration and intensity of the laser exposure. Four different levels of modification were tested, in addition to the unmodified sample. Minor modification resulted in the biggest effect, significantly reducing the SEE. However, this effect only holds true for very low electron dose, where dose is the incident charge per unit area. For higher dose levels, those that are commensurate with “technical materials” in applied situations, there was a negligible effect of surface roughness on SEE. The data set presented here seeks to quantify the effect of surface roughness with further gradations than what is accounted for in the semiempirical formulas in the literature.
Cough and weight loss in a patient with cystic fibrosis.

HISTORY OF PRESENT ILLNESS The patient was a 26-year-old man who was diagnosed as having CF at the age of 20 years after a 3-year history of recurrent respiratory infections, chronic cough, and weight loss. Three initial sweat chloride tests produced results each greater than 60 mmol/L. A fourth test result was in the intermediate range at 47 mmol/L. At the time of diagnosis, the patient’s sputum yielded Haemophilus influenza and Staphylococcus aureus. Spirometry revealed a forced vital capacity (FVC) of 2.94 L (59% of predicted) and a forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV 1 ) of 1.93 L (46% of predicted) with no demonstrable bronchodilator effect. Since his diagnosis, the patient has experienced 1 lower respiratory tract illness per year. In the previous 4 months, however, he had 5 illnesses characterized by fever, cough productive of green sputum, diaphoresis, fatigue, and a 42-lb weight loss. His physician treated him with multiple courses of antibiotics (ciprofloxacin and cefuroxime), but symptoms promptly recurred after discontinuation of antiobiotic therapy. Because of treatment failure and progressive weight loss, he was referred to a pulmonologist and CF specialist, who admitted him for intravenous antibiotics. His review of symptoms was notable for decreased appetite and occasional hemoptysis and the absence of dysphagia, night sweats, chills, sinus problems, headache, joint aches, rashes, polyuria, polydipsia, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. He had 2 formed, nonoily bowel movements daily. He was a healthy child until the age of 17 years when he developed cough. At the time of his CF diagnosis, he was noted to have hepatosplenomegaly by examination, and the results of a full gastrointestinal workup, including upper and lower endoscopy and biopsy, were negative. His medical history was otherwise remarkable for psoriasis, nasal polyposis, and a nonspecific learning disability. His medications included dornase alfa, salmeterol, vitamin E, and a multivitamin. He had no drug allergies. He had no siblings, and there was no known family history of CF, atopy, immunodeficiencies, or autoimmune disease. He was unemployed, was a lifelong nonsmoker, and did not drink alcohol or use any illicit substances.
Terahertz spectroscopic properties of three-dimensional split-ring resonator arrays

In this work, three-dimensional, stacked split ring resonator arrays exhibiting characteristics at Terahertz frequencies have been designed, simulated, and fabricated. The effects of the ring spatial dimensions on resonant absorption frequencies and relative absorption strength are investigated and reported.
On the relationship between digital Hilbert transformers and certain low-pass filters

Designs of symmetric Hilbert transformers are shown to be easily derived from corresponding designs for symmetric half-band low-pass filters, and vice versa. The latter filter type is particularly useful for interpolation or smoothing in sample-rate alteration.
Tuning principal component weights to individualize HRTFs

Prior research has investigated development of virtual auditory displays (VADs) using low-dimensional models of head related transfer functions (HRTFs) as a function of a finite number of principal components (PCs) and associated weights (PCWs). This paper investigates the effect of PCWs on horizontal plane HRTFs derived from a database of HRIRs through analytical optimization experiments. The experiments investigate whether average HRTFs can be tuned to match individual HRTFs. Results provide insight on the effect of tuning PCWs on spectral features of the HRTF. A reduced order modeling technique is used to compactly represent each HRTF. Subject testing results are provided, showing that a human can conduct the tuning procedure and reduce localization errors.
The Spectral Theory of Upper Triangular Matrices with Entries in a Banach Algebra

Assume that T is an upper triangular square matrix with entries in a unital Banach algebra. The main question studied here is: Under what conditions on the entries in T is it true that the spectrum of T is the union of the spectra of the diagonal entries of T? Also some results are proved concerning the Fredholm theroy of matrices with operator entries.
Recurrent sampling models for the Helmholtz machine

Many recent analysis-by-synthesis density estimation models of cortical learning and processing have made the crucial simplifying assumption that units within a single layer are mutually independent given the states of units in the layer below or the layer above. In this article, we suggest using either a Markov random field or an alternative stochastic sampling architecture to capture explicitly particular forms of dependence within each layer. We develop the architectures in the context of real and binary Helmholtz machines. Recurrent sampling can be used to capture correlations within layers in the generative or the recognition models, and we also show how these can be combined.
Effectiveness of a Transfer Function Method for Evaluating Vibration Isolation Performance of Gloves When Used With Chipping Hammers

Anti-vibration gloves have been used as personal protective equipment to reduce the exposure intensity of hand-transmitted vibration. Although a method based upon the measured transfer function has been recently proposed to predict the tool-specific anti-vibration performance of these gloves, its validity for real tool applications has not been sufficiently evaluated. In this study, the effectiveness of the proposed prediction method was examined using two typical vibration-attenuation gloves when used in conjunction with two different pneumatic chipping hammers. Six adult male subjects were employed in the experiments involving measurement of gloves transmissibility while operating the selected tools. A comparison of the measured vibration transmissibility with the predicted values revealed that the transfer function method provides a reasonably good prediction of the vibration isolation performance of the gloves. The differences between the predicted and measured mean values of the weighted transmissibi...
Building experimental virtual routers with network processors

In this paper we describe the design and implementation of a system that uses network processors to support virtual and overlay routing. Because they are difficult to program and software development environments do not allow easy update, network processors are typically used as a replacement for hardware that performs fixed, well-known functions such as layer 3 forwarding. In contrast, experimental networking (e.g., overlay networks or multiple logical routers on a given interface) mandates rapid dynamic update of protocol software running on a network processor. To solve the problem, we created an underlying framework and programming interface that allows the dynamic extension of network processor forwarding capabilities without requiring the creation of an entirely new software image. The paper reports experience implementing our scheme.
Two Defenses of Common‐Sense Ontology

In a series of publications, Eli Hirsch has presented a sustained defense of common-sense ontology. Hirsch's argument relies crucially on a meta-ontological position sometimes known as ‘superficialism’. Hirsch's argument from superficialism to common-sense ontology is typically resisted on the grounds that superficialism is implausible. In this paper, I present an alternative argument for common-sense ontology, one that relies on (what I argue is) a much more plausible meta-ontological position, which I call ‘constructivism’. Note well: I will not quite argue that constructivism is true; merely that it is significantly more plausible than superficialism, and consequently affords a safer route to common-sense ontology. Thus my main goal in the paper is not quite to establish common-sense ontology, nor for that matter to refute Hirsch's argument for it. My goal is, in a way, more expressive than argumentative: I wish to articulate a novel meta-ontological position, one that I take to be in no way obviously less plausible than already familiar positions, and to point out that the position probably leads to common-sense ontology. I open, in section 1, with a discussion of Hirsch's argument and the main objection to it. I then develop, in section 2, a sketch of the alternative meta-ontology I have in mind. I close, in section 3, with the argument that this alternative meta-ontology, too, leads to common-sense ontology.
Identifying Relationships between Self-Report Measures of Personality and the Type a Behavior Pattern

Relationships between self-report measures of personality and the Type A behavior pattern (TABP) were examined in a sample of eighty-eight male and female adults. TABP categorization was based on the Jenkins Activity Survey (JAS). Personality traits were measured by the Self-Monitoring Scale (SM), the Self-Deception Scale (SD), and the Impression Management Scale (IM). Predictions were that Type As would report lower scores than Type Bs on the SM and IM scales, but higher scores than Type Bs on the SD scale. Results indicated that independent of individual differences on other measures, age of subject, sex of subject, or social desirability responding that predictions were supported, with the exception that Type As reported lower scores than Type Bs on the SD scale. This suggests that self-report measures may be used to identify relationships between personality traits and TABP, and that Type As may be distinguished from Type Bs by trait tendencies toward low self-monitoring, low self-deception, and low i...
Dependence of the Fracture of PowerTrench MOSFET Device on Its Topography in Cu Bonding Process

Dependence of the fracture-resistance of a PowerTrench MOSFET device on its topography in Cu bonding process was investigated. Two different topographies, namely dimple and round, have been tested. A significantly higher cratering rate has been clearly observed on dimple topography. The dimple topography exhibited a cratering rate of 371 k ppm levels compared to 0 ppm in round topographies. Three-dimensional nonlinear finite-element analysis has shown that the largest compressive and shear stresses and their locations were identified, respectively, in borophosphosilicate glass (BPSG)/barrier metal layers of the dimple topography. The round topography had the smallest stress in BPSG/barrier metal layers. The higher compressive stress transferred to silicon in the dimple topography during the bonding process can induce a local crack, consequently causing silicon fracturing during the shearing processes. A significant improvement in the cratering performance was observed when the Al bond pad metal layer was reinforced by adding a barrier layer sandwiched in the Al metal layers. The cratering rate decreased to 1300 ppm levels. Additionally, the change in composition of a BPSG layer caused cratering was briefly discussed and an oxygen rich BPSG film in round topography was confirmed by the energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) of a cross-sectional TEM sample. It has been found that the cratering rate on dimple topography significantly increased from 1 k ppm to 100 k ppm levels, when the resulting residual Al pad thickness is less than 0.65 mum for Cu bonding performed with different ultrasonic (US) power and bond forces.
Scaling and Scheduling to Maximize Application Performance within Budget Constraints in Cloud Workflows

It remains a challenge to provision resources in the cloud such that performance is maximized and financial cost is minimized. A fixed budget can be used to rent a wide variety of resource configurations for varying durations. The two steps - resource acquisition and scheduling/allocation - are dependent on each other and are particularly difficult when considering complex resource usage such as workflows, where task precedence need to be preserved and the budget constraint is assigned for the whole cloud application instead of every single job. The ability to acquire resources dynamically and trivially in the cloud - while being incredibly powerful and useful - exacerbates this particular resource acquisition and scheduling problem. In this paper, we design, implement and evaluate two auto-scaling solutions to minimize job turnaround time within budget constraints for cloud workflows. The scheduling-first algorithm distributes the application-wide budget to each individual job, determines the fastest execution plan and then acquires the cloud resources, while the scaling-first algorithm determines the size and the type of the cloud resources first and then schedules the workflow jobs on the acquired instances. The scaling-first algorithm shows better performance when the budget is low while the scheduling-first algorithm performs better when the budget is high. The two algorithms can reduce the job turnaround time by 9.6% - 45.2% compared to choosing a fixed general machine type. Moreover, they show good tolerance (between -10.2% and 16.7%) to inaccurate parameters (±20% estimation error).
The Pig Is an Appropriate Model for Human Biotin Catabolism as Judged by the Urinary Metabolite Profile of Radioisotope-Labeled Biotin

Because the rat model of biotin deficiency and biotin metabolism has important limitations, we sought to determine whether the urinary profile of biotin and its metabolites in pigs is similar to that in humans. Biotin labeled with either 3 H on the side chain or 14 C on the ureido ring was administered intravenously to 2-moold male pigs. Biotin and its metabolites were identified and quantified by HPLC and radiometric flow detection. At tracer doses of [ 3 H]biotin, 12 ± 6% (mean ± SD, n = 3) of total administered radioactivity was excreted within 72 h; at a physiologic dose of [ 14 C]biotin, 47 ± 2% (n = 5) of the administered radioactivity was excreted within 72 h. Biotin was the major form excreted, as it was in humans. Substantial amounts of bisnorbiotin and biotin sulfoxide, two known biotin metabolites, were also excreted. Bisnorbiotin methyl ketone and biotin sulfone, two biotin metabolites recently identified in human urine, were also present in pig urine. This study provides evidence that biotin metabolism in pigs resembles that in humans.
Dexamethasone Inhibits Transforming Growth Factor-β Receptor (TβR) Messenger RNA Expression in Hamster Preantral Follicles: Possible Association with NF-YA

To evaluate the site(s) and mechanism(s) of glucocorticoid-inhibition of transforming growth factor (TGF) beta receptor (TbetaR) mRNA expression in ovarian cells, steady-state levels of TbetaR mRNA in hamster preantral follicles exposed to FSH or estradiol with or without dexamethasone were determined by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and Southern hybridization. The effect of dexamethasone on follicular DNA and steroid synthesis and the expression of NF-Y and Sp3 were also investigated. Dexamethasone differentially inhibited FSH- or estradiol-induced expression of TbetaR mRNA in preantral follicles at all stages. Dexamethasone also strongly inhibited FSH-induced but not TGFbeta2-induced follicular DNA synthesis, and the inhibition was completely reversed by TGFbeta2. However, TGFbeta2 markedly attenuated FSH + dexamethasone-stimulated progesterone and FSH-induced follicular estradiol synthesis. Both FSH and estradiol upregulated NF-YA expression, but the effect was significantly attenuated by dexamethasone. Our results suggest that suppression of NF-YA levels is one of the mechanisms whereby dexamethasone reduces hormone-induced TbetaRI and TbetaRII mRNA levels in hamster preantral follicles. Dexamethasone potentiates the effect of FSH on granulosa cell steroidogenesis, whereas TGFbeta counteracts the effect. These data indicate that glucocorticoid and TGFbeta may form an important regulatory loop to modulate FSH regulation of preantral follicular growth and differentiation.
Ant Community Structure: Effects of Predatory Ant Lions

This study examined the responses of ground-foraging ants to larval ant lions (Neuroptera: Myrmeleontidae). In central Oklahoma, these sit-and-wait arthropod predators are restricted by abiotic factors to sheltered cliff bases. A high-density ant lion zone forms an effective "minefield" of predation for local ant assemblages. The density of ant-nest entrances and the number of pitfall-trap captures of ant foragers were signifi- cantly lower in the ant lion zone than in the adjacent forest or grassland. Differences in ant abundance could not be attributed to differences in thermal microhabitat within and outside the ant lion zone. Over a 24-h period, ants foraged continuously at tuna-fish baits placed on the forest floor, but never utilized baits placed within the ant lion zone. Field behavioral tests with individual ant foragers confirmed that the risk of predation from ant lions was high for common ant species in the assemblage. Among species, predation risk was negatively correlated with worker body mass. Manipulative field experiments tested whether ants use biotic or abiotic cues to avoid ant lion aggregations. Ants foraged readily at baits on the forest floor and baits placed in the center of experimental sand patches, but they avoided baits placed in sand patches that contained ant lions. Ant- foraging was also substantially lower in patches from which ant lions had been removed 3 h prior to the start of the experiment. Ant foraging was slightly reduced in patches with artificial ant lion pits that had never contained predators. These experiments suggest that ants use biotic cues associated with the presence or recent presence of predators. Previous studies have not implicated predation as an important factor struc- turing ant communities. This study suggests that predators can have important community- wide impacts on the distribution, abundance, and behavior of ground-foraging ants.
Adult day services: A service platform for delivering mental health care

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to understand the degree to which mental health services targeting anxiety and depression disorders are offered by adult day services (ADS) centers in the US. In addition, researchers wanted to determine whether staffing and organizational characteristics are associated with the provision of medication management, individual counseling, and group counseling for participants with anxiety or depression. Method: Data were drawn from the MetLife National Study of ADS. Hierarchical logistic regression analyses were conducted to determine which staffing and organizational factors were associated with the provision of services to treat anxiety and depression. Results: Approximately, three in four adult day programs provided medication management for the treatment of anxiety and depression while 38% provided individual counseling and almost 30% group counseling. Programs offering medication management were more likely to have more registered nurse (RN) service hours avail...