cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The infrared spectrum of the hydrogen bifluoride anion: unprecedented variation with level of theory

Abstract High-quality ab initio theoretical methods have been employed to reinvestigate the infrared of the FHF − and FDF − molecular anions in light of the recent experimental v 3 (σ u + ) assignments of Kawaguchi and Hirota. SCF, CISD, and Davidson-corrected CISD (CIDVD) results were obtained for seven basis sets ranging in quality from double-zeta plus polarization (DZP) to triple-zeta plus triple polarization plus diffuse augmented by hydrogen d functions (TZ3P + R + d). Fundamental frequencies were determined using variational techniques and complete quartic force fields. As the level of theory is increased, unprecedented variations in v 3 (σ u + ) are observed. At the TZ3P + R + d CIDVD level, v (σ g + ) = 617, v 2 (π u ) = 1363, and v 3 (σ u + ) = 1427 cm −1 are predicted for FHF − and v 1 (σ g + ) = 620, v 2 (π u ) = 974, and v 3 (σ u + ) = 983 cm −1 for FDF − . These theoretical v 3 values are in significant disagreement with the 1848 cm −1 (FHF − ) and 1397 cm −1 (FDF − ) experimental v 3 assignments.
Usual source of care and unmet need among vulnerable children: 1998-2006.

Having a usual source of care (USC) has been associated with higher rates of preventive care and fewer acute care visits and hospitalizations.1 These benefits are central to a medical home, defined by the American Academy of Pediatrics as a place promoting access to and coordinating care.2 Other than a medical home, health insurance is also important for children, because differences in insurance are associated with markedly different use of health care and with unmet medical need.3 In turn, lower use of primary care by publicly insured and uninsured children is associated with higher use of emergency department (ED) services for nonurgent illness.4 The primary care safety net in the United States is composed of locally funded hospital outpatient departments, physician offices, and community clinics and health centers that seek to provide accessible, timely, and effective care to medically vulnerable populations.5 Two major federal government programs have been launched with potential implications for the safety net and its role in providing access to a USC for children. The first is the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), instituted in 1997 with an annual federal budget of approximately $4 billion, designed to expand insurance coverage for low-income but non–Medicaid-eligible children with federal and state funds. SCHIP has improved health care use among previously uninsured children.6–8 The second and more recent governmental program is the President’s Health Center Initiative (PHCI), launched in 2002, designed to increase health care access for medically vulnerable children and adults by supporting new health care access points and expanding the medical capacity of federally qualified community health centers in 1200 communities. With a budget of $2 billion by fiscal year 2007, 1236 communities had either new federally qualified community health center sites or expanded capacity at existing sites, with service to >15 million patients in 2006, an increase of >4.7 million since 2001.9,10 Trends in health care use for vulnerable children have not been characterized in light of the PCHI. We hypothesized that the cumulative influence of SCHIP and the PCHI would broadly increase the proportion of children over time who identify a USC. Therefore, the purpose of this analysis was to examine the influence of SCHIP and the PCHI over the past decade on the proportions of publicly insured and uninsured children and adolescents who identify a USC. In addition, we sought to characterize the degree of unmet medical need for publicly insured and uninsured children and adolescents according to insurance status and reported USC. We examined the interaction of insurance status and USC as it bears on unmet medical need, which has not been described previously in the literature.
Molecular transfer and transport in noncovalent microcontact printing.

Microcontact printing is commonly used to create patterned films of molecules covalently bonded to substrates (e.g., thiols on gold). Here we describe microcontact printing of several types of noncovalently bonding molecules on mica. Due to the weaker interaction of the molecules with the substrate, environmental factors such as temperature and relative humidity play an important role. The vapor pressure of the inks also had a large impact on the fidelity of the stamped patterns. Fingering instabilities were observed for monolayers of octadecanol, docosanol, stearylamine, and stearic acid stamped at moderate relative humidity. The fidelity of the stamped pattern generally increased with the headgroup−surface interaction strength. These stamped monolayer films shed light on molecular transfer and two-dimensional spreading mechanisms.
Thermal equation of state of garnets along the pyrope-majorite join

Abstract P-V-T relations of two garnet samples along the pyrope (Py)-majorite (Mj) join (PynMj1−n, where subscripts indicate molar percent) were measured at pressure and temperature conditions up to 11 GPa and 1163 K, respectively, with energy-dispersive synchrotron X-ray diffraction in a cubic-anvil, DIA-6 type apparatus (SAM-85). For each volume measurement, non-hydrostatic stress was determined from relative shifts of the diffraction lines of NaCl, within which the sample was embedded. Heating to ∼ 1100 K reduced the strength of NaCl below 0.1 GPa, making the measurements nearly hydrostatic. The recovered samples were examined by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) to detect irreversible changes that may affect data quality. For the cubic garnet Py62Mj38, no irreversible changes took place during the experiment. A fit using the third-order Birch-Murnaghan equation of state yielded ambient cell volume V0 = 1509.2(3) A3 (113.62 cc/mol), isothermal bulk modulus KT0 = 160(3) GPa, and its pressure derivative K′T0 = 4.9(5). Various thermal equations-of-state analyses gave consistent results for the temperature derivative of bulk modulus ( ∂K T ∂T ) P = −0.020(1) GPa K −1 pressure derivative for thermal expansion ( ∂α ∂P ) T = −7.8 × 10 −7 GPa −1 K −1 , with the ambient volumetric thermal expansion α0 = 2.5 × 10−5 K−1. For the tetragonal sample Py21Mj79, TEM indicated that micro-twin domains were significantly coarsened after the P-V-T experiment. Stress relaxation may have occurred during the coarsening, thereby compromising the P-V-T data. In addition, the tetragonal distortion in this sample was too small to be resolved by the energy-dispersive technique. Therefore, data for the latter sample were not suitable for accurate equation-of-state analysis. Previous data on pyrope were compiled, analyzed, and compared with the new data on the majoritic garnet. The entire data set enabled us to examine systematics of the thermoelastic properties of garnets along the majorite-pyrope join. These data will have important applications for modeling the transition zone of the mantle. Published by Elsevier Science B.V.
Altered thyroid state and changes in nucleoside phosphatase activity in ependymoglial cells of anuran amphibians

Abstract Investigations into the role of thyroid hormone in brain development were conducted in Rana pipiens larvae surgically thyroidectomized early in life, in larvae rendered hyperthyroid by the administration of high levels of exogenous hormone, and in normally metamorphosing controls. In the absence of the thyroid, the growth of neuronal elements is retarded. In thyroidectomized animals, a marked depression of glycose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and of NADPH (TPNH) diaphorase has been reported in ependymoglial cells (tanycytes) of the medulla oblongata and in centripetal processes of these cells. The administration of exogenous thyroxine increased enzymatic activity of these elements. In the present investigation, under similarly altered hormonal conditions, marked changes in the activities of thiamine pyrophosphatase and inosine diphosphatase are demonstrated in tanycytes but not in neurons. These hydrolases, at the light-microscope level, are markers of the Golgi apparatus. The degree of activity of these enzymes probably reflects the level of Golgi membrane transport. In my histochemical preparations, activity was low in thyroidectomized larvae and markedly elevated in the hyperthyroid state. In thyroxine-stimulated animals, Golgi lamellae were hypertrophied, and large Golgi vacuoles were frequent in centrifugally directed fibers. These observations suggest that thyroxine may accelerate tanycyte transport of materials between the cerebrospinal fluid filled ventricle and neurons and capillaries deeper within the brain. Additional observations are discussed, suggesting that lipoid material may be among the materials transported by these cells. Ependymal tanycytes constitute a major portion of the neuroglial population in anurans. It is proposed that neuronal responses to alterations in thyroidal state may be mediated by neuroglial elements.
Promoting Social Skill Development in Children With Pervasive Developmental Disorders: A Feasibility and Efficacy Study

A randomized controlled design was employed to evaluate a social skills intervention for children with pervasive developmental disorders. Aims included evaluating the acceptability of the program and gathering preliminary evidence on efficacy. Forty-four children, ages 8-11 years, were randomly assigned to treatment or wait list. Treatment consisted of a 16-week group intervention designed to teach appropriate social behavior. Between group comparisons showed that children in treatment were rated as improved on the primary outcome measure, (unblinded parent report), but not on the secondary outcome measure, a parent questionnaire. Parents reported a high level of satisfaction with the intervention. The study supports the feasibility of this intervention to families and highlights challenges for future research in social skills intervention.
Cationic Ir(III) alkyl and hydride complexes: stoichiometric and catalytic CH activation by Cp∗(PMe3)Ir(R)(X) in homogeneous solution

This report details our work in the area of C–H activation by cationic Ir(III) complexes. We highlight the previously reported chemistry of transition metal complexes of the type Cp ∗ (PMe3)Ir(R)(X) (Cp ∗ is pentamethylcyclopentadienyl or η 5 -C5Me5; R = alkyl, hydrido; X = OSO2CF3, B(3,5-(CF3)2C6H3)4)), and disclose new results concerning the production of these complexes using Lewis acids (LAs). Additionally, new work aimed at examining the mechanism of C–H activation by these complexes is presented. © 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
Modulation of Turbulence by a Dispersed Phase

The results of an earlier investigation that demonstrated the significance of the particle diameter/fluid length scale ratio in determining whether or not the addition of a dispersed phase would cause an increase or decrease in the carrier phase turbulent intensity are extended to radial locations other than the centerline.
Assessing and Assisting the Persons with Dementia

This paper acknowledges the difficulties of assessing the patient with dementia and presents three outcome goals of an evaluation. The Model of Human Occupation is presented as a framework within which to interpret assessment data for treatment planning. Specific formal and informal assessment tools are suggested and discussed, including the Barthel Self-care Index and Household Management Screening Assessment.
What is a hidden Markov model

Statistical models called hidden Markov models are a recurring theme in computational biology. What are hidden Markov models, and why are they so useful for so many different problems?
VEGETATION MAPPING IN AFRICA

(1960). VEGETATION MAPPING IN AFRICA. Annals of the Association of American Geographers: Vol. 50, No. 1, pp. 74-83.
The use of additional imaging increased specificity and decreased sensitivity in screening mammography

Abstract Background and Objectives To examine the use of additional imaging after standard mammographic screening views to better understand the value of these additional testing in improving accuracy. Materials and Methods Statewide population data on screening mammography were used to report accuracy measures at screening and after additional imaging tests. Pathology data from biopsies performed within 1 year following the screening mammogram were used to determine cancer outcome (489 in situ and invasive cancers). Pathologic and population characteristics of women receiving different types of imaging were assessed by chi-square or t -tests. Similar tests compared women with the same imaging and differing outcomes. Results Of 77,799 women with screening mammograms 9.9% had additional imaging. Additional imaging reduced false positives from 7,765 (100/1,000 mammograms) to 1,112 (14/1,000 mammograms). The majority of false negatives (82%) occurred in women receiving only screening views, and additional imaging increased the number of false negatives from 82 (1/1,000 mammograms) to 115 (1.5/1,000 mammograms). Conclusion Additional imaging can reduce unnecessary biopsy but at the cost of some additional false negatives. Additional imaging's potential for improving the sensitivity of screening is limited because most missed cancers occur in women who do not have additional imaging.
Unique fluorophores in the dimeric archaeal histones hMfB and hPyA1 reveal the impact of nonnative structure in a monomeric kinetic intermediate.

Homodimeric archaeal histones and heterodimeric eukaryotic histones share a conserved structure but fold through different kinetic mechanisms, with a correlation between faster folding/association rates and the population of kinetic intermediates. Wild-type hMfB (from Methanothermus fervidus) has no intrinsic fluorophores; Met35, which is Tyr in hyperthermophilic archaeal histones such as hPyA1 (from Pyrococcus strain GB-3A), was mutated to Tyr and Trp. Two Tyr-to-Trp mutants of hPyA1 were also characterized. All fluorophores were introduced into the long, central α-helix of the histone fold. Far-UV circular dichroism (CD) indicated that the fluorophores did not significantly alter the helical content of the histones. The equilibrium unfolding transitions of the histone variants were two-state, reversible processes, with ΔG°(H2O) values within 1 kcal/mol of the wild-type dimers. The hPyA1 Trp variants fold by two-state kinetic mechanisms like wild-type hPyA1, but with increased folding and unfolding rates, suggesting that the mutated residues (Tyr-32 and Tyr-36) contribute to transition state structure. Like wild-type hMfB, M35Y and M35W hMfB fold by a three-state mechanism, with a stopped-flow CD burst-phase monomeric intermediate. The M35 mutants populate monomeric intermediates with increased secondary structure and stability but exhibit decreased folding rates; this suggests that nonnative interactions occur from burial of the hydrophobic Tyr and Trp residues in this kinetic intermediate. These results implicate the long central helix as a key component of the structure in the kinetic monomeric intermediates of hMfB as well as the dimerization transition state in the folding of hPyA1.
Recent Developments in the Assessment and Treatment of Pediatric Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Although tremendous strides have recently been made in the development of assessment and treatment methods for pediatric obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), more accurate methods for diagnosis, more effective treatments, and more refined instruments for monitoring progress during therapy are still needed. The present commentary highlights the papers in this series of articles. The excellent work by the contributors to this special edition highlights critical elements and limitations of the assessment process for OCD, the importance of monitoring symptom changes, and possible augmentation strategies for treatment refractory cases. The findings from these studies will almost certainly impact the management of pediatric OCD and lead to further refinements.
STICKY WAGES REVISITED: ORGANIZATIONAL RESPONSES TO A DECLINING MARKET-CLEARING WAGE

Although employers traditionally have maintained existing real wages in the face of a declining market-clearing (equilibrium) wage (the “sticky wages” phenomenon), it has recently been observed that some firms reduce real wages in this situation. In order to understand the varied ways in which employers respond to a decline in the clearing wage, this article develops a framework integrating perspectives from efficiency wage theory with perspectives from human resource management, institutional economics, and strategic management. The framework suggests that such varied responses result from variation in factors likely to inhibit reductions, even when reductions would be efficient and variation in factors likely to affect the efficiency of reducing wages. The implications of the framework for research and practice are also discussed.
Direct power control of doubly-fed generator based wind turbine converters to improve Low Voltage Ride-Through during system imbalance

A novel control technique using direct active and reactive power control called Direct Power Control (DPC) is discussed for Low Voltage Ride Through (LVRT) of DFIG based wind turbine converters. This controller eliminates the conventional current loops and uses delta modulation comparators, which yields a faster response. The switching of the converter is done using a simple optimum switching table. This control achieves real and reactive power stability with simple active and reactive power control variables. A modified DPC algorithm is proposed to eliminate the current harmonics created by DPC during system disturbances. The practical verification of DPC is carried out by a scaled converter. The control is coded in C and implemented on a TMS320F2812 DSP. The converter using DPC is tested for system unbalance conditions created by an Industrial Power Corruptor (IPC) in the laboratory.
Modeling approaches for nanomanufacturing risk assessment

ALTHOUGH nanotechnology holds enormous promise in energy, technology, medicine, electronics, consumer products, and other applications, significant uncertainty exists regarding associated occupational, consumer, and environmental health and safety (EHS) risks. Of the few toxicity studies to date, several suggest engineered nanomaterials may pose potential risks to human health, due to their small size and large surface area, allowing them to penetrate dermal barriers, cross cell membranes, breach gas exchange regions in lungs, travel throughout the body, and interact at the molecular level [1]. For example, critical reviews of single wall carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) toxicity found damage to mice lung tissue [2], [3], although further research is necessary to understand risks to humans. In response, several authors and regulatory bodies have advocated more research on nanotechnology EHS [4], including the U.S Environmental Protection Agency and National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health [5], [6]. The U.S National Nanotechnology Initiative also outlined an overall strategy for needed nanomaterial EHS research [7].
A mixed-methods approach to evaluating student nurses changing answers on multiple choice exams

Using a mixed methods approach, the purpose of this study was to examine the perceptions and patterns of nursing student’s changing answers on multiple choice exams. The sample of 86 students enrolled in an undergraduate nursing program were surveyed after their first exam of the semester. Exam response forms were examined for erasure marks to determine the answer changes on the exam grade; additionally, the relationship between self-reported school performance and frequency of changing answers, and self-reported anxiety and frequency of changing answers was examined. A qualitative exploration of two open-ended items included examining student perceptions about changing answers on unit exams. Five themes emerged from the qualitative exploration of how students felt about changing test answers: Educated gamble, confidence, anxiety learned, gut instinct and ambivalence. Three themes emerged from the analysis of the reasons students changed answers: Uncertainty, light bulb effect, and testing errors. The study’s quantitative results indicated that although the student indicated anxiety regarding changing answers, a majority did so anyway. Moreover contrary to students’ negative feelings regarding answer changing, most answer changing resulted in a modest improvement in their grade.
DOCUMENTATION PARSER TO EXTRACT SOFTWARE TEST CONDITIONS

This project concerns building a document parser that can be used as a software engineering tool. A software tester's task frequently involves comparing the behavior of a running system with a document describing the behavior of the system. If a problem is found, it may indicate an update is required to the document, the software system, or both. A tool to generate tests automatically based on documents would be very useful to software engineers, but it requires a document parser which can identify and extract testable conditions in the text.
Mechanisms of Formation of Vinoxy Radicals in the Reaction of O(3P) with Terminal Alkenes

When an O(3P) atom reacts with a terminal alkene, RCHCH2, a vinoxy radical can be produced by one of two mechanisms: (a) attachment of the oxygen atom to C1 followed by migration of a hydrogen ato...
Variation in Pediatric Care at US Hospitals

* Abbreviations: ED — : emergency department The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services recently released information regarding the amount hospitals charge for various treatments and conditions as part of the Obama administration’s effort to make our health care system more accountable and affordable.1 These data demonstrate wide variation in charges among institutions for the care of common inpatient conditions; differences that cannot be accounted for by regional differences in cost of living. Three articles in this month’s issue of Pediatrics demonstrate the widespread variation in resource utilization among children cared for in children’s hospitals in the United States. Tieder et al observed wide variation in the care provided to children hospitalized with diabetic ketoacidosis, as well as differences among hospitals in resource utilization, length of stay, costs, and rates of readmission.2 Another article in this month’s issue of Pediatrics by Florin observed significant variation in the management of children with pneumonia cared for in the emergency department (ED) setting.3 Adjusting for the severity … Address correspondence to Mark I. Neuman, MD, MPH, Boston Children’s Hospital, Division of Emergency Medicine, 300 Longwood Ave, Boston, MA 02115. E-mail: mark.neuman{at}childrens.harvard.edu
A Broadband Quasi-Optical Terahertz Detector Utilizing a Zero Bias Schottky Diode

A quasi-optical broadband terahertz detector using a zero bias Schottky diode mounted on a self-complimentary sinuous antenna has been developed. Design and characterization of this detector are described. Measurements show that a responsivity of 300-1000 V/W covering the frequency range of 150-440 GHz has been achieved. The detector performance has been compared to waveguide detectors covering four frequency bands up to 600 GHz. A recent measurement at 600-900 GHz yielded the same output voltage as a waveguide detector. The noise equivalent power level of this detector is estimated to be 5-20 pW/√(Hz) based on the measurements of similar detectors.
Neuropsychiatric Assessment of Patients With Hyperkinetic and Hypokinetic Movement Disorders

Background: The role of the basal ganglia in neuropsychiatric behaviors is not well known. Anatomical, neurophysiological, and neurochemical evidence supports the notion of parallel direct and indirect basal ganglia thalamocortical motor systems, the differential involvement of which accounts for the hypokinesia or hyperkinesia observed in basal ganglia disorders. Objectives: To evaluate the neuropsychiatric manifestations of patients with a hyperkinetic movement disorder, such as Huntington disease (HD), vs a hypokinetic disease, such as progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP). To verify if patients with HD show a greater frequency of hyperactive behaviors (eg, agitation, irritation, euphoria, or anxiety), while those with PSP exhibit hypoactive behaviors (eg, apathy). Patients and Methods: The Neuropsychiatric Inventory, a tool with established validity and reliability, was administered to 29 patients with HD (mean ± SD age, 43.8 ± 2 years) and 34 with PSP (mean ± SD age, 66.6 ± 1.2 years), matched for education, symptom duration, and overall degree of dementia. Results: There was no difference between the groups in the total Neuropsychiatric Inventory scores. However, there was a double dissociation in behaviors: patients with HD exhibited significantly more agitation (45%), irritability (38%), and anxiety (34%), whereas patients with PSP exhibited more apathy (82%) (P,.01). Euphoria was present only in patients with HD. Conclusions: We found that patients with HD manifested predominantly hyperactive behaviors, while those with PSP manifested hypoactive behaviors. Based on our findings and the anatomical lesions known to occur in these disorders, we suggest that the hyperactive behaviors in HD are secondary to an excitatory subcortical output through the medial and orbitofrontal cortical circuits, while in PSP the hypoactive behaviors are secondary to hypostimulation. Arch Neurol. 1998;55:1313-1319
Full-chip characterization of compression algorithms for direct-write maskless lithography systems

Future lithography systems must produce more dense microchips with smaller feature sizes while maintaining throughput comparable to today's optical lithography systems. This places stringent data-handling requirements of up to 12 Tb/s on the design of any maskless lithography system. In past work, we have developed data-path architectures for such throughput and shown that lossless compression algorithms play a key role in such systems. We currently investigate the effectiveness of the Block C4 lossless layout compression algorithm in increasing throughput of direct-write maskless lithography systems. In particular, we characterize the compression efficiency of Block C4 on 1024×1024 blocks of select layers of two 65-nm chips: a state-of-the-art microprocessor chip and a low-density parity code chip used commonly in wireless communication applications. Overall, we have found that compression efficiency varies significantly from design to design, from layer to layer, and even within parts of the same layer. We propose a number of ways to cope with the variation of compression ratios within a layer and characterize the way each method affects the overall wafer layer throughput.
Uniqueness theorems for displacement fields with locally finite energy in linear elastostatics

Uniquencess theorems are proved for the fundamental boundary value problems of linear elastostatics in bodies of arbitrary shape. The displacement fields are required to have finite strain energy in bounded portions of the bodies and satisfy the principle of virtual work. For bounded bodies, the total strain energy is finite and uniquencess is proved without additional hypotheses. In particular, no restrictions other than the energy condition are placed on the field singularities that may occur at sharp edges and corners. For unbounded bodies, uniqueness can be proved as in the bounded case if the total strain energy is finite. Sufficient conditions for this are shown to be the finiteness of the strain energy in bounded portions of the body together with the growth restriction % MathType!MTEF!2!1!+-% feaafiart1ev1aaatCvAUfeBSjuyZL2yd9gzLbvyNv2CaerbuLwBLn% hiov2DGi1BTfMBaeXafv3ySLgzGmvETj2BSbqef0uAJj3BZ9Mz0bYu% H52CGmvzYLMzaerbd9wDYLwzYbItLDharqqr1ngBPrgifHhDYfgasa% acOqpw0xe9v8qqaqFD0xXdHaVhbbf9v8qqaqFr0xc9pk0xbba9q8Wq% Ffea0-yr0RYxir-Jbba9q8aq0-yq-He9q8qqQ8frFve9Fve9Ff0dme% GabaqaaiGacaGaamqadaabaeaafiaakeaadaWdraqaaiaabwhadaWg% aaWcbaGaaeyAaaqabaGccaGGOaGaaeiEaiaacMcacaqG1bWaaSbaaS% qaaiaabMgaaeqaaOGaaiikaiaabIhacaGGPaGaaeizaiaabIhacaqG% 9aGaaGimaiaacIcacaqGYbGaaiykaiaacYcacaqGYbGaeyOKH4Qaey% OhIukaleaacqGHPoWvdaWgaaadbaGaaeOCaiaacYcacqaH0oazaeqa% aaWcbeqdcqGHRiI8aaaa!5E73!\[\int_{\Omega _{{\text{r}},\delta } } {{\text{u}}_{\text{i}} ({\text{x}}){\text{u}}_{\text{i}} ({\text{x}}){\text{dx = }}0({\text{r}}),{\text{r}} \to \infty } \] on the displacement fieldu i , where Ωr, δ is the portion of the body that lies between concentric spheres with radiir andr+δ and δ>0. This research was supported by the Air Force Office of Scientific Research. Reproduction in whole or part is permitted for any purpose of the United States Government.
Fast and exact transistor sizing based on iterative relaxation

This paper presents MINFLOTRANSIT, a new transistor sizing tool for fast sizing of combinational circuits with minimal cost. MINFLOTRANSIT is an iterative relaxation-based tool that has two alternating phases. For a circuit with |V| transistors and |E| wires, the first phase (D-phase) is based on minimum cost network flow, which in our application, has a worst case complexity of O(|V/spl par/E| log(log(|V|))). The second phase (W-phase) has a worst case complexity of O(|V/spl par/E|). In practice, during our simulations both the D-phase and W-phase show a near linear run-time dependence on the size of the circuit, comparable to TILOS. Simulation results show excellent run-time behavior for MINFLOTRANSIT on all the ISCAS85 benchmark circuits. For reasonable delay targets, MINFLOTRANSIT shows up to 16.5% area savings (in relatively large circuits) over a circuit sized using a TILOS-like algorithm. In our opinion, the primary contribution of this paper is to take advantage of the structure of the transistor sizing problem and devise an iterative relaxation based gradient descent approach (D-phase) that has excellent convergence properties.
Aspects of Fungal Pathogenesis in Humans

Fungal diseases have become increasingly important in the past few years. Because few fungi are professional pathogens, fungal pathogenic mechanisms tend to be highly complex, arising in large part from adaptations of preexisting characteristics of the organisms' nonparasitic lifestyles. In the past few years, genetic approaches have elucidated many fungal virulence factors, and increasing knowledge of host reactions has also clarified much about fungal diseases. The literature on fungal pathogenesis has grown correspondingly; this review, therefore, will not attempt to provide comprehensive coverage of fungal disease but focuses on properties of the infecting fungus and interactions with the host. These topics have been chosen to make the review most useful to two kinds of readers: fungal geneticists and molecular biologists who are interested in learning about the biological problems posed by infectious diseases, and physicians who want to know the kinds of basic approaches available to study fungal virulence.
Modeling Data with Flat Densities

In this article, a simple probability distribution for modeling data with flat densities is introduced and used to model real world assessment data. The new distribution is a mixture of three distributions, two truncated normals, and a uniform. The parameters are estimated by using the sample percentiles because the likelihood and the method of moment approaches result in complicated forms. The proposed method is mainly based on the shape of the empirical density. The proposed method looks promising for modeling flat densities that are similar to the one used in the study.
Wildland fire emissions, carbon, and climate: Wildland fire detection and burned area in the United States

Biomass burning is a major source of greenhouse gases, aerosols, black carbon, and atmospheric pollutants that affects regional and global climate and air quality. The spatial and temporal extent of fires and the size of burned areas are critical parameters in the estimation of fire emissions. Tremendous efforts have been made in the past 12 years to characterize the variability of fire locations and burned areas using high frequency satellite observations (e.g., MODIS, GOES) and improved ground-based reports. We describe and compare the major global and regional (e.g., western United States) burned area products and summarize their major findings. The various ground-based reporting systems and the data quality on fire characteristics and burned areas are examined, and we summarize the major knowledge gaps and recommend further improvements in our understanding of fire activity and burned areas.
“Primum non nocere”: the addition of granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor to alemtuzumab in chronic lymphocytic leukemia

In the article “ Addition of granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor does not improve response to early treatment of high-risk chronic lymphocytic leukemia with alemtuzumab and rituximab, ” Zent and colleagues treated 33 patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) in a small, but important phase II clinical trial [1]. Th e current study followed an earlier clinical trial at the Mayo clinic in which 30 patients with CLL meeting the same eligibility criteria were treated with the combination of rituximab and alemtuzumab, without granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) [2]. Th is report outlines the clinical responses and toxicities seen in the current study (MC0785) and compares the results to those seen in the prior study (MC038G). Th e main hypothesis of the current study was that the addition of GM-CSF would increase the number of circulating immune eff ector cells to potentially improve the effi cacy of rituximab and alemtuzumab by enhancing antibody dependent cell-mediated cytotoxity (ADCC). Unexpectedly, combination immunotherapy with GM-CSF in patients with early stage high-risk CLL resulted in lower response rates compared to those obtained with rituximab and alemtuzumab alone, and the addition of GM-CSF increased the incidence of cytomegalovirus (CMV) reactivation. Th is trial was designed with the idea that GMCSF improves response rates to immunotherapy. In studies evaluating rituximab in CLL and follicular lymphoma, the addition of GM-CSF does appear to improve responses [3,4]. In contrast, a prior clinical trial reported by Lin et al ., evaluating the combination of G-CSF and alemtuzumab in CLL, did not yield encouraging results and also was associated with higher than expected rates of CMV reactivation [5]. Th e results of the current study support this earlier experience, indicating that myeloid growth factors are deleterious when combined with alemtuzumab. Why did the response rate fall when GM-CSF was added to the combination of alemtuzumab and rituximab? Of course, the two Mayo Clinic phase II studies were not designed to be compared in this fashion. Th is possibility aside, the addition of GM-CSF may have reduced the effi cacy of alemtuzumab, for example by reducing CD52 expression on CLL cells, increasing circulating free CD52, altering the number or activity of eff ector cells, or shifting the immune
Approximate models for aggregate data when individual-level data sets are very large or unavailable

In this article, we study a Bayesian hierarchical model for profiling health-care facilities using approximately sufficient statistics for aggregate facility-level data when the patient-level data sets are very large or unavailable. Starting with a desired patient-level model, we give several approximate models and the corresponding summary statistics necessary to implement the approximations. The key idea is to use sufficient statistics from an approximate model fitted by matching up derivatives of the models' log-likelihood functions. This derivative matching approach leads to an approximation that performs better than the commonly used approximation given in the literature. The performance of several approximation approaches is compared using data on 5 quality indicators from 32 Veterans Administration nursing homes.
How Can I Be Politically Involved in Radiology? A Report of the Florida Radiology Resident's Challenge

BACKGROUND We all know the importance of learning when it comes to our future as radiologists. That is what we do every day in residency, and we are, collectively, very good at it. Although there are well-defined systems for acquiring the knowledge required to be excellent radiologists, little attention is paid to the forces that create the professional environment in which radiologists work and receive financial compensation. With that background, it was our intention both to raise awareness among Florida radiology residents of professional and governmental regulatory forces at work locally and nationally and to propose an efficient, accessible method to have an impact on these forces through the Resident’s Challenge. Where did this desire to effect change begin? In May 2011, a group of residents from across the state of Florida attended the AMCLC in Washington, DC. At the conference, we became aware of the issues facing the practice of radiology, including reimbursement, accountable care organizations, and the potential impact of new and proposed legislation. Moreover, the discussion involving a great number of these issues, which directly affect our ability to work and to receive compensation, does not include radiologists, hospitals, or insurers. Instead, legislators in both Washington, DC and our respective state capitals make many of the decisions. We had the opportunity to visit with our state legislators and their staff members to voice our concerns directly. During the visit, we were provided with ample evidence that if radiologists do not speak up, others will gladly make the decisions for them, often to their detriment. Thus, we knew that we wanted to become more involved because grassroots efforts from residents are essential to the political success of our organizations and profession [1].
Effects of immunosuppression on encephalitis virus infection in the house finch, Carpodacus mexicanus

Immunosuppression of house finches was attempted by blood feeding Culex tarsalis Coquillett mosquitoes or by injecting birds with the corticosteroid dexamethasone or the immunosuppressant drug cyclophosphamide before and after inoculation with western equine encephalomyelitis or St. Louis encephalitis viruses. Mosquito bites (8-37 females blood feeding on each bird over a 3-d period) did not enhance the viremia response or increase the frequency of chronic infection. In contrast, dexamethasone and cyclophosphamide enhanced the amplitude and duration of the viremia response, but had no consistent effect on the antibody responses as measured by enzyme immunoassay or plaque reduction neutralization assay. Elevated viremias were followed by increases in the frequency of chronic infections with St. Louis encephalitis, but not western equine encephalomyelitis. Immunosuppression may provide a useful tool to study the chronic infection process of flaviviruses in vertebrates.
Silvestrol induces early autophagy and apoptosis in human melanoma cells

Silvestrol is a cyclopenta[b]benzofuran that was isolated from the fruits and twigs of Aglaia foveolata, a plant indigenous to Borneo in Southeast Asia. The purpose of the current study was to determine if inhibition of protein synthesis caused by silvestrol triggers autophagy and apoptosis in cultured human cancer cells derived from solid tumors. In vitro cell viability, flow cytometry, fluorescence microscopy, qPCR and immunoblot was used to study the mechanism of action of silvestrol in MDA-MB-435 melanoma cells. By 24 h, a decrease in cyclin B and cyclin D expression was observed in silvestrol-treated cells relative to control. In addition, silvestrol blocked progression through the cell cycle at the G2-phase. In silvestrol-treated cells, DAPI staining of nuclear chromatin displayed nucleosomal fragments. Annexin V staining demonstrated an increase in apoptotic cells after silvestrol treatment. Silvestrol induced caspase-3 activation and apoptotic cell death in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, both silvestrol and SAHA enhanced autophagosome formation in MDA-MB-435 cells. MDA-MB-435 cells responded to silvestrol treatment with accumulation of LC3-II and time-dependent p62 degradation. Bafilomycin A, an autophagy inhibitor, resulted in the accumulation of LC3 in cells treated with silvestrol. Silvestrol-mediated cell death was attenuated in ATG7-null mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) lacking a functional autophagy protein. Silvestrol potently inhibits cell growth and induces cell death in human melanoma cells through induction of early autophagy and caspase-mediated apoptosis. Silvestrol represents a natural product scaffold that exhibits potent cytotoxic activity and could be used for the further study of autophagy and its relationship to apoptosis in cancer cells.
The Pathogenesis of Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura

Chronic idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) is a human disease manifested by destructive thrombocytopenia due to a circulating antiplatelet antibody. The antibody is of IgG type and is produced primarily in the spleen and bone marrow. After binding of the antibody to a platelet-associated antigen, phagocytosis is triggered either via the Fc portion of the attached antibody or as a consequence of fixation of the third component of complement (C3). The spleen is the prime area of platelet destruction due to its unique milieu. The large intrasplenic platelet pool is subjected to high local antiplatelet antibody concentrations in an environment teeming with phagocytic cells. In addition, the stagnant blood-flow characteristics of the spleen allow ample time for antibody sensitization and phagocytosis. Similar circumstances may occur in the bone marrow. In patients with "severe" disease and high antibody titers, the liver also becomes an important area of platelet destruction. The nature of the platelet-associated antigen is presently unknown but may differ from patient to patient. A pathogenetic model is proposed on the basis of presently available data.
Enhanced surface third harmonic generation from gold nanorods

We use a tightly focused ultrashort laser pulse to produce a third harmonic signal from an air-dielectric interface containing gold nanorods. When the fundamental frequency is resonant with the longitudinal plasmon of the nanorods, the third harmonic signal can be enhanced by more than 3 orders of magnitude.
A novel multiplex isothermal amplification method for rapid detection and identification of viruses

A rapid multiplex isothermal amplification assay has been developed for detection and identification of multiple blood-borne viruses that infect millions of people world-wide. These infections may lead to chronic diseases or death if not diagnosed and treated in a timely manner. Sets of virus-specific oligonucleotides and oligofluorophores were designed and used in a reverse-transcription loop-mediated multiplexed isothermal amplification reaction for detection and gel electrophoretic identification of human Immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis-B virus (HBV), hepatitis-C virus (HCV), hepatitis-E virus (HEV), dengue virus (DENV), and West Nile (WNV) virus infection in blood plasma. Amplification was catalyzed with two thermostable enzymes for 30-60 minutes under isothermal condition, utilizing a simple digital heat source. Electrophoretic analysis of amplified products demonstrated simultaneous detection of 6 viruses that were distinctly identified by unique ladder-like banding patterns. Naked-eye fluorescent visualization of amplicons revealed intensely fluorescing products that indicated positive detection. The test demonstrated a 97% sensitivity and a 100% specificity, with no cross-reaction with other viruses observed. This portable detection tool may have clinical and field utility in the developing and developed world settings. This may enable rapid diagnosis and identification of viruses for targeted therapeutic intervention and prevention of disease transmission.
Determination of natural frequencies of vibration of a sandwich plate

In this paper, an expression is derived for the natural frequencies of vibration of a simply supported sandwich plate. Experimental procedures and results for the subject problem are presented. The experimental data obtained are in good agreement with the theoretical results. A literature survey1, 2 shows that no work has been done on the experimental determination of natural frequencies of vibration of sandwich plates. A general analysis of flexural vibrations of elastic sandwich plates was presented by Yu in Ref. 3. The vibration analysis based upon this theory is, in general, very complicated due to the high order of the equations. It was then simplified4 for low-frequency ranges and for ordinary sandwich plates.
Lanthanide- and actinide-mediated terminal alkyne hydrothiolation for the catalytic synthesis of markovnikov vinyl sulfides

The Markovnikov-selective lanthanide- and actinide-mediated, intermolecular hydrothiolation of terminal alkynes by aliphatic, benzylic and aromatic thiols using Cp*2LnCH(TMS)2 (Cp* = C5Me5; Ln = La, Sm, Lu), Ln[N(TMS)2]3 (Ln = La, Nd, Y), Cp*2An(CH2TMS)2, and Me2SiCp′′2An(CH2R)2 (Cp′′ = C5Me4; An = Th, R = TMS; An = U, R = Ph) as precatalysts is studied in detail. These transformations are shown to be Markovnikov-selective, with selectivities as high as >99%. Kinetic investigations of the Cp*2SmCH(TMS)2-mediated reaction between 1-pentanethiol and 1-hexyne are found to be first-order in catalyst concentration, first-order in alkyne concentration, and zero-order in thiol concentration. Deuterium labeling of the alkyne −C≡C−H position reveals kH/kD = 1.40(0.1) and 1.35(0.1) for the organo-Sm- and organo-Th-catalyzed processes, respectively, along with evidence of thiol-mediated protonolytic detachment of the vinylic hydrothiolation product from the Sm center. Mechanistic findings indicate turnover-limiting ...
The Sound of Silence: How Memory Becomes Text in TINA DE ROSA'S Paper Fish

Many Italian American women have emphasized the need to break the silence which envelopes their culture by writing about their experiences, thus making themselves heard within the American literary canon. Tina De Rosa's beautiful and complex novel Paper Fish demonstrates the pain of this silence by focusing on an Italian American family that is suffering within a society that views them as “Other.” Carmolina is the girl at the center of the novel, and the relationship she has with her Italian grandmother allows her to achieve independence as a young woman without sacrificing the culture of the past. The following essay examines how the Italian American tradition is preserved through memory and then committed to text through Carmolina's character in Paper Fish. As a third generation Italian American, Carmolina struggles to develop a solid sense of identity despite inhabiting an “in-between space,” a situation that causes anxiety for many children of immigrants because they are part of two different culture...
Essential osteolysis with nephropathy. A review of the literature and case report of an unusual syndrome

1. The literature pertaining to essential osteolysis with nephropathy is reviewed.2. A case of essential osteolysis with nephropathy is presented with roenitgenographic and histological documentation.3. Pertinent literature dealing with other idiopathic osteolytic processes is discussed and a distin
NetMOD Version 2.0 Parameters

NetMOD ( Net work M onitoring for O ptimal D etection) is a Java-based software package for conducting simulation of seismic, hydroacoustic and infrasonic networks. Network simulations have long been used to study network resilience to station outages and to determine where additional stations are needed to reduce monitoring thresholds. NetMOD makes use of geophysical models to determine the source characteristics, signal attenuation along the path between the source and station, and the performance and noise properties of the station. These geophysical models are combined to simulate the relative amplitudes of signal and noise that are observed at each of the stations. From these signal-to-noise ratios (SNR), the probability of detection can be computed given a detection threshold. This document describes the parameters that are used to configure the NetMOD tool and the input and output parameters that make up the simulation definitions.