cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The relationship between intracellular na+ and energy charge potential in the kidney slice of the rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus)

Abstract 1. 1. Cortical kidney ATP concentration and energy charge potential increased significantly when the tissue was transferred from a 10 to a 100 mM Na + medium. 2. 2. Cortical kidney ATP concentration and energy charge potential did not change when the tissue was transferred from a 10 to a 10mM Na + medium. 3. 3. Cortical kidney ATP concentration and energy charge potential were higher in either 10 or 100 mM Na + incubation media containing ouabain than those bathed in like media in the absence of ouabain. 4. 4. Cortical kidney ATP concentration and energy charge potential were severely depressed when 2,4-dinitrophenol was contained in the incubation medium. 5. 5. Cortical kidney ATP concentration and energy charge potential decreased when the tissue was transferred from a 100 to a 10mM Na + medium. 6. 6. Cortical kidney ATP concentration and energy charge potential increased when the tissue was transferred from a 100 to a 100mM Na + medium. 7. 7. Cortical kidney ATP concentration and energy charge potential is directly related to intracellular Na + concentration. 8. 8. Ouabain sensitive, Na + −K + dependent ATPase is the transducer for ATP generation.
Riding More Frequently: Estimating Disaggregate Ridership Elasticity for a Large Urban Bus Transit Network

Stop-level transit elasticities with respect to service frequency are estimated and discussed. Public transportation ridership is typically studied at an aggregate level, with variables influencing ridership averaged over time and space for a metropolitan area. Understanding transit ridership at a finer temporal and spatial level is generally limited to mode choice models. Most aggregate analyses are unable to capture important effects at the parcel or block level. Such analyses also cannot account for variation in demand over time of day, an issue that has been addressed to some extent by time series modeling. Data for the Chicago, Illinois, transit system were used, and results suggest that aggregate analyses overestimate the effect of service frequency on demand. In the context of other disaggregate analyses, these findings suggest that walking quality results in distinct increases in ridership, even after accounting for land use and for population and other demographics. A headway elasticity of riders...
A Comparison of Two Adjustment Methods for Improving the Prediction of Law School Grades.

In this study, two statistical approaches for adjusting grades were tested on data obtained from four American law schools. These approaches were previously validated using data on undergraduates but have not been used in a study of postgraduate performance. Neither method yielded consistent improvements in the predictive validity of Law School Admission Test (LSAT) scores and undergraduate grades. The single exception was for School D, where a significant improvement in the correlation of test scores with law school grades was observed. It is hypothesized that the greater variability of LSAT scores in School D was the main reason for this result.
Therapeutic level of functional human alpha 1 antitrypsin (hAAT) secreted from murine muscle transduced by adeno‐associated virus (rAAV1) vector

Alpha 1 antitrypsin (AAT) is a serine proteinase inhibitor (serpin). One well-known function of this protein is to inactivate neutrophil elastase and other neutrophil-derived proteinases, and prevent the destruction of pulmonary extracellular matrix. Deficiency of AAT can cause emphysema due to degradation of interstitial elastin by elastase. The majority of circulating AAT is secreted from the liver. Muscle-directed gene therapy using recombinant adeno-associated virus 2 (rAAV2) vectors has been tested to increase the serum levels of AAT. However, inefficient transduction of rAAV2 vector makes it difficult to reach therapeutic levels of AAT in clinical trials and it remains unclear as to whether muscle-secreted AAT is functional. In the present study, we evaluated five serotypes (1, 2, 3, 4, and 5) of rAAV vectors for transduction efficiency in mouse muscle. Results from these studies showed that rAAV1 is the most efficient vector among these serotypes and mediated at least 100-fold higher levels of AAT secretion than the rAAV2 vector. Western blot analysis showed that this murine muscle-secreted human AAT (hAAT) formed a complex with human neutrophil elastase in a dose-dependent manner. An anti-elastase activity assay showed that murine muscle-secreted hAAT inhibited elastase with equal capacity as hAAT purified from plasma. These results provide strong support for the functionality of AAT in ongoing clinical studies of muscle-directed AAT gene therapy.
Spike sorting by joint probabilistic modeling of neural spike trains and waveforms

This paper details a novel probabilistic method for automatic neural spike sorting which uses stochastic point process models of neural spike trains and parameterized action potential waveforms. A novel likelihood model for observed firing times as the aggregation of hidden neural spike trains is derived, as well as an iterative procedure for clustering the data and finding the parameters that maximize the likelihood. The method is executed and evaluated on both a fully labeled semiartificial dataset and a partially labeled real dataset of extracellular electric traces from rat hippocampus. In conditions of relatively high difficulty (i.e., with additive noise and with similar action potential waveform shapes for distinct neurons) the method achieves significant improvements in clustering performance over a baseline waveform-only Gaussian mixture model (GMM) clustering on the semiartificial set (1.98% reduction in error rate) and outperforms both the GMM and a state-of-the-art method on the real dataset (5.04% reduction in false positive + false negative errors). Finally, an empirical study of two free parameters for our method is performed on the semiartificial dataset.
Main electrodes alignment for NIST calculable capacitor

This paper summarizes the current NIST effort to develop a new calculable capacitor, focusing on issues associated with the alignment of the four main electrodes. Results presented demonstrate how precision manufacturing and engineering design concepts have been used to create a compact, stable capacitor the alignment of which can be achieved through the use of simple optical levers.
Resonance photoelectron spectroscopy from autoionization states of CH3I

Abstract Resonance photoelectron spectra of methyl iodide have been taken by exciting individual autoionizing Rydberg states, and measuring the ejected electron energies by a time of flight technique. A number of spectra were obtained from autoionization states which are members of two series, converging respectively to the 2E 1 2 (ν = 0) and 2E 1 2 (ν2 =1) states of the ion. In addition to observing vibrational bands not previously reported, we found that the peak intensities are consistent with Bardsley's formulation of the configuration interaction theory of autoionization.
Quitters referring smokers: a quitline chain-referral pilot study

Background Telephone counseling Quitlines can support smoking cessation, but are under-utilized. We explored the use of smoker peer-referrals to increase use of a Quitline in Mississippi and Alabama.
Nucleating heterogeneities and glass formation

Abstract The kinetic treatment of glass formation is extended by the introduction of continuous cooling (CT) curves to estimate the cooling rates required to form glasses of various materials. The CT curves may be constructed from isothermal time-temperature-transformation curves following the approach originally suggested by Grange and Kiefer. The modified analysis is used to evaluate the effects of nucleating heterogeneities on glass formation. It is found that for the concentrations of such heterogeneities found in most liquids, those characterized by contact angles greater than about 100° have a negligible effect on the cooling rate required to form glasses. Heterogeneities with smaller contact angles, can, however, have a significant effect on glass formation, with the critical cooling rate increasing with decreasing contact angle. The effects on glass formation of changes in the contact angle of nucleating heterogeneities are also compared with the effects of changes in the thermodynamic barrier to nucleation (in the crystal-liquid surface energy).
The association of knowledge and perception of medications with compliance and health states among hypertension patients: a prospective study.

The purposes of this prospective study were () to describe the associations among patients' knowledge of medications and perceptions of side effects and benefits of medications, () to clarify the independent effects of knowledge and perceptions of side effects upon patients' reports of compliance with medications, and (c) to describe the relationship between compliance and patients' health states as measured by a reduction in diastolic blood pressure. Eighty-eight diagnosed hypertensive patients were interviewed at the onset of a medication regimen and at the end of 5 months. Audits of medical records were completed for the entire 5-month period. The results indicated that both knowledge and perceptions of benefits from medications were significantly correlated with patient compliance at the beginning and at the end observations. The partial correlations, however, indicated that knowledge of medications had a greater independent association with compliance at the beginning of the study and that perceptions of benefits from medications had a greater independent association with compliance at the end observation period. Finally, patients who, on the average, complied with their medications more than two-thirds of the time experienced a clinically significant reduction in their diastolic blood pressure. The results of the study suggest that knowledge may serve to stimulate compliance at the beginning of a treatment regimen, whereas perceptions are more effective stimulants once therapy has begun. These findings are discussed in view of the literature on patient knowledge and their implications for primary care providers.
A simplicial complex of 2-stack sortable permutations

For each n, we construct a simplicial complex whose k-dimensional faces are in one-to-one correspondence with 2-stack sortable permutations of length n having k ascents.
Death and taxes: Child health and the state tax freedom race

Abstract Each year the Tax Foundation releases rankings of U.S. states on time to Tax Freedom, or the day that the average taxpayer has met their tax burden. The current analysis sought to contextualize the tax freedom day rankings, by examining the association between state tax burden and key indicators of child wellbeing. The 2009 measure of days to tax freedom by state was correlated with ten key indicators of child wellbeing from the Casey Foundation's KIDS COUNT 2009 data. Each of the wellbeing indicators and the overall composite wellbeing rankings were also regressed on days to Tax Freedom and Gross State Product. As the days to tax freedom decrease, indicating a lighter tax burden, all of the following increase significantly — the infant mortality rate, child and teen death rates, teen birth rate, rates of school dropout and disconnected youth, and numbers of children in poverty. These findings all held even after controlling for Gross State Product. Public attitudes and choices about paying taxes have important consequences for the health of children in our society. The broad appeal of Tax Freedom Day highlights a disconnect between the act of paying taxes and recognition of the benefits to children those taxes provide.
Unlinking of Supercoiled DNA Catenanes by Type IIA Topoisomerases

It was found recently that DNA catenanes, formed during replication of circular plasmids, become positively (+) supercoiled, and the unlinking of such catenanes by type IIA topoisomerases proceeds much more efficiently than the unlinking of negatively (−) supercoiled catenanes. In an attempt to explain this striking finding we studied, by computer simulation, conformational properties of supercoiled DNA catenanes. Although the simulation showed that conformational properties of (+) and (−) supercoiled replication catenanes are very different, these properties per se do not give any advantage to (+) supercoiled over (−) supercoiled DNA catenanes for unlinking. An advantage became evident, however, when we took into account the established features of the enzymatic reaction catalyzed by the topoisomerases. The enzymes create a sharp DNA bend in the first bound DNA segment and allow for the transport of the second segment only from inside the bend to its outside. We showed that in (−) supercoiled DNA catenanes this protein-bound bent segment becomes nearly inaccessible for segments of the other linked DNA molecule, inhibiting the unlinking.
Chronic exposure to low levels of dibromoacetic acid, a water disinfection by-product, adversely affects reproductive function in male rabbits.

ABSTRACT: Four groups (minimum of 10/dose group) of male Dutch-belted rabbits were treated daily with dibromoacetic acid (DBA) via drinking water beginning in utero from gestation day 15 to adulthood; target dosages were 1, 5, and 50 mg DBA/kg body weight. Developmental, prepubertal as well as postpubertal reproductive sequelae were evaluated. One (out of 22), 2 (out of 32), and 1 (out of 21) male offspring in the 1, 5, and 50 mg DBA/kg groups were unilaterally cryptorchid. There were no significant differences in serum follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, and testosterone (basal concentrations or in response to exogenous gonadotropin-releasing hormone) in both prepubertal and adult rabbits. Chronic exposure to DBA adversely affected the mating abilities of some rabbits. The number of sperm produced was not affected, but spermiogenesis was disrupted, resulting in unique sperm acrosomal-nuclear malformations even at the 1-mg dose level. Concentrations of SP22, a specific sperm membrane fertility protein, in detergent extracts of ejaculated sperm were significantly lower (P < .05) in all DBA-treated groups compared with controls. The conception rates following artificial insemination of a constant number of sperm for 1, 5, and 50 mg DBA/kg groups were 55% (10/18), 65% (13/20), and 55% (9/16), respectively, vs 85% (17/20) for control group. Histologic lesions in testes characterized by spermatogenic arrest predominantly at the round spermatid stage, pyknosis of differentiating germ cells, and ultimate degeneration and desquamation leaving focal vacuolation in seminiferous epithelium were evident in DBA-treated groups. Thus, male rabbits exhibit reproductive toxicity with exposure to DBA during reproductive development at dosages as low as 1 mg/kg body weight.
Garlic compounds protect vascular endothelial cells from hydrogen peroxide-induced oxidant injury

Oxygen radical injury and lipid peroxidation have been suggested as major causes of cancer, atherosclerosis and the aging process. In this study, we determined in vitro the effect of aged garlic extract (AGE) and one of its components, S-allyl cysteine (SAC), on hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-induced oxidant injury using bovine pulmonary artery endothelial cells (PAEC). After overnight preincubation with AGE or SAC, PAEC monolayers were exposed to H2O2 for 3 h. Cell viability, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release and lipid peroxidation were measured to assess oxidant injury. Pretreatment with AGE at 2–4 mg/mL or SAC at 4 mg/mL significantly reversed the loss of cell viability induced by 50 and 100 μm of H2O2. AGE or SAC also exhibited a dose-dependent inhibition of both LDH release and lipid peroxidation induced by 50 μM of H2O2. The results show that both AGE and SAC can protect vascular endothelial cells from oxidant injury. The data thus suggest that these compounds may be useful for retardation of the aging process and for prevention of cancer and atherosclerosis.
Rh–Pt Clusters and Aggregates on MgO: Catalysts for Toluene Hydrogenation

The authors have used [PtRh{sub 5}(CO){sub 15}]{sup {minus}} to prepare supported Pt-Rh cluster catalysts, having chosen this precursor because it can be prepared in high yield on MgO. Extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) and infrared data characterizing the structures of the catalysts and their formation from the precursor have been reported; performance of the catalysts for toluene hydrogenation and EXAFS data characterizing the used catalysts are reported here. The new data show that extremely small supported Pt-Rh clusters have been made that are active, stable catalysts; the data show that aggregated clusters are markedly more active than the clusters.
Optical imaging of functional domains in the cortex of the awake and behaving monkey

As demonstrated by anatomical and physiological studies, the cerebral cortex consists of groups of cortical modules, each comprising populations of neurons with similar functional properties. This functional modularity exists in both sensory and association neocortices. However, the role of such cortical modules in perceptual and cognitive behavior is unknown. To aid in the examination of this issue we have applied the high spatial resolution optical imaging methodology to the study of awake, behaving animals. In this paper, we report the optical imaging of orientation domains and blob structures, approximately 100–200 μm in size, in visual cortex of the awake and behaving monkey. By overcoming the spatial limitations of other existing imaging methods, optical imaging will permit the study of a wide variety of cortical functions at the columnar level, including motor and cognitive functions traditionally studied with positron-emission tomography or functional MRI techniques.
Education of the Minimally Brain Damaged Child by Computer and by Teacher.

Abstract Similar principles underlie computer assisted instruction (CAT) and special education, yet CAI studies have generally ignored children requiring special education. In a repeated measures design, six, nine to eleven‐year‐old special education students received periods of tutorial instruction for six weeks. During three randomly ordered two week blocks, tutorials were presented by (a) a teacher, (b) a computer, and (c) a combination of teacher and computer. Attention to the task was uniformly high in all three conditions. Similar gains in performance followed instruction by the teacher and by the teacher and computer combined, and both methods were superior (p<0·05) to computer instruction alone.
Gas solubility and Henry's law near the solvent's critical point

It has been experimentally observed, for water and nonaqueous solvents alike, that Henry's constant passes through a maximum and then declines as the temperature is raised from the triple point to the critical point. From classical and nonclassical models, we derive exact relations for the value of Henry's constant and its temperature dependence at the solvent's critical point, showing that the decline of this constant is a universal phenomenon. We demonstrate that the limiting temperature dependence of Henry's constant can be predicted from the thermodynamic properties of the pure solvent and the initial slope of the critical line. The validity of our prediction is tested by comparing it with experimental solubility data for several gases in high-temperature water and benzene. Our predictive model appears valid over a temperature range of at least 15% in temperature below the critical point of the solvent.
Preliminary biocompatibility screening of several biodegradable phosphate fiber reinforced polymers.

This article describes preliminary biocompatibility screening of three degradable phosphate fibers containing K+, Ca+2/Na+ and Na+/Ca+2/Al+3 ions in the polymer chain, and of several different degradable polymers reinforced with these fibers. Biodegradable phosphate fibers of calcium–sodium–metaphosphate (CSM) and sodium–calcium–aluminum–polyphosphate (NCAP) were acutely nontoxic in cellular, tissue, and whole animal evaluations, as determined by standard acute toxicity tests. Histological studies of bone implants sites fabricated from composites of copolymers of poly(E-caprolactone/L-lactide) and poly(ortho ester) reinforced with either CSM or NCAP fibers showed these composite materials to be nontoxic, with no abnormal inflammatory response. However, histological evaluation of muscle implants sites revealed the appearance of necrotic foci associated with implant sites in 12 of 22 NCAP containing composite specimens (p < 0.05). Results of this preliminary biocompatibility screening suggest CSM fibers may be useful in reinforcing degradable polymers for production of completely biodegradable composites for implant use. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Glycosylation characterization of Human IgA1 with differential deglycosylation by UPLC–ESI TOF MS

Differential deglycosylation was introduced as an effective technique to characterize glycosylation in glycoprotein containing both N-linked and O-linked glycans at both protein and peptide levels. Human IgA1 was used as a model glycoprotein to demonstrate this technique. The glycans attached to Human IgA1 were removed from their attachment sites by an array of enzymes. After reduction by DTT, the resulting deglycoproteins were analyzed by UPLC-ESI TOF MS to estimate the numbers of N-glycan and O-glycan sites through differential masses. The deglycoproteins and unmodified glycoprotein were further digested to deglycopeptide through trypsin digestion. The glycopeptides and deglycopeptides were identified by UPLC-ESI TOF MS. Two N-glycan and four O-glycan sites were identified and confirmed at peptide levels. These results matched those from deglycoproteins. The N-glycosylation site and N-glycan sequence confirmation were also demonstrated in this study.
Memory codes in pigeon short-term memory: Effects of varying the number of sample and comparison stimuli☆

Abstract In a delayed conditional discrimination task, pigeons can remember either some aspect of the conditional stimulus (i.e., they can code retrospectively) or some aspect of the stimulus to which they will respond at the end of the delay (i.e., they can code prospectively). To determine the nature of the memory code, we varied the number of possible sample stimuli (two or four) and the number of possible comparison stimuli (two or four) factorially across groups. Birds in all four groups were initially trained on a zero-delay, conditional discrimination with lines (vertical and horizontal) and/or shapes (circle and triangle), and were then tested with longer delays between sample offset and comparison onset. Acquisition of the conditional discrimination was affected by both the number of sample and comparison stimuli: birds were slower to reach criterion the greater the number in either stimulus set. During delay testing, however, only the number of comparisons affected performance. Overall, retention was poorer with four comparisons than with two. These data provide evidence for prospective coding in pigeon short-term memory.
Sb/GaAs(110) interface: A reevaluation.

The influence of thermal annealing on Sb/GaAs(110) interfaces is studied in situ by high-resolution photoemission spectroscopy. A detailed line-shape analysis of the Sb 4d core-level spectra shows that Sb deposition at room temperature (RT) does not lead to perfectly ordered growth of the first monolayer (ML), as was assumed so far. Annealing at 330 \ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}C results in a highly ordered overlayer that is desorption limited to 1 ML. The degree of order affects the barrier height at the interface drastically: While RT deposition pins the Fermi level 0.6 eV above valence-band maximum for p-type GaAs, we find a reduction in the band bending by a factor of 2 after annealing.
Towards a unified framework for modeling, dispatching, and interpreting uncertain input

Many new input technologies (such as touch and voice) hold the promise of more natural user interfaces. However, many of these technologies create inputs with some uncertainty. Unfortunately, conventional infrastructure lacks a method for easily handling uncertainty, and as a result input produced by these technologies is often converted to conventional events as quickly as possible, leading to a stunted interactive experience. Our ongoing work aims to design a unified framework for modeling uncertain input and dispatching it to interactors. This should allow developers to easily create interactors which can interpret uncertain input, give the user appropriate feedback, and accurately resolve any ambiguity. This abstract presents an overview of the design of a framework for handling input with uncertainty and describes topics we hope to pursue in future work. We also give an example of how we built highly accurate touch buttons using our framework. For examples of what interactors can be built and a more detailed description of our framework we refer the reader to [8].
Rapid removal of terrigenous dissolved organic carbon over the Eurasian shelves of the Arctic Ocean

Abstract The fate of terrigenous dissolved organic carbon (tDOC) delivered to the Arctic Ocean by rivers remains poorly constrained on both spatial and temporal scales. Early reports suggested Arctic tDOC was refractory to degradation, while recent studies have shown tDOC removal to be an active but slow process. Here we present observations of DOC, salinity, δ18O, and 228Ra/226Ra in the Polar Surface Layer (PSL) over the outer East Siberian/Chukchi shelf and the adjacent Makarov and Eurasian basins of the eastern Arctic Ocean. This off-shelf system receives meteoric water, introduced by rivers, after a few years residence on the shelf. Elevated concentrations of DOC (> 120 μM C) were observed in low salinity (~ 27) water over the Makarov Basin, suggesting inputs of tDOC-enriched river water to the source waters of the Transpolar Drift. The regression of DOC against salinity indicated an apparent tDOC concentration of 315 ± 7 μM C in the river water fraction, which is significantly lower than the estimated DOC concentration in the riverine sources to the region (724 ± 55 μM C). To obtain the timescale of removal, estimates of shelf residence were coupled with measurements of dissolved 228Ra/226Ra, an isotopic tracer of time since shelf residence. Shelf residence time coupled with DOC distributions indicates a first order tDOC removal rate constant, λ = 0.24 ± 0.07 yr-1, for the eastern Arctic, 2.5–4 times higher than rates previously observed in the western Arctic. The observed removal of tDOC in the eastern Arctic occurs over the expansive shelf area, highlighting the initial lability of tDOC upon delivery to the Arctic Ocean, and suggests that tDOC is composed of multiple compartments defined by reactivity. The relatively rapid remineralization of tDOC on the shelves may mitigate the strength of the Arctic Ocean atmospheric CO2 sink if a projected increase in labile tDOC flux occurs.
Early role of Fsp1 in epithelial-mesenchymal transformation

A seamless plasticity exists among cells shifting between epithelial and mesenchymal phenotypes during early development and again later, in adult tissues, following wound repair or organ remodelin...
On the tones and pressure oscillations induced by flow over rectangular cavities

Experimental measurements of the frequencies of discrete tones induced by flow over rectangular cavities were carried out over a range of low subsonic Mach numbers to provide a reliable data base for (aircraft wheel well) cavity noise consideration. A mathematical model of the cavity tones and pressure oscillation phenomenon based on the coupling between shear layer instabilities and acoustic feedback is developed to help in understanding the tone generation mechanism. Good agreement is found between discrete tone frequencies predicted by the model and experimental measurements over a wide range of Mach numbers. Evidence of tones generated by the cavity normal mode resonance mechanism at very low subsonic Mach numbers is also presented.
The use of rhDNAse in severely ill, non-intubated adult asthmatics refractory to bronchodilators: A pilot study ☆

Summary Introduction Mucous plugging is associated with fatal asthma and may have a causative role for non-fatal cases of severe acute asthma. However, mucolytic agents have not been found effective in reversing the obstruction of acute asthma. We test the hypothesis that rhDNAse, an agent that reduces viscoelasticity of sputum in patients with cystic fibrosis, has a therapeutic role in acute asthma. Methods Symptomatic asthmatics aged 18–55 years presenting to an Emergency Department with an FEV 1 1 at 6 h was the primary study endpoint. Results 50 patients were enrolled. There were no significant differences in FEV 1 % predicted between the rhDNAse and placebo patients at any of the post-randomization time points. The dose of rhDNAse administered did not influence response. In a post-hoc stratification, patients with the lowest pre-randomization FEV 1 tended to improve more from rhDNAse, particularly at times 60 and 120 min post-randomization. Conclusion In this pilot study rhDNAse did not cause clinical improvement among severely ill adults refractory to standardized care. The observed trend to higher FEV 1 among the most severely obstructed patients is an exploratory finding that may warrant further study. This clinical trial was registered as NCT00169962 under the name “Study of Pulmozyme to Treat Severe Asthma Episodes”.
Analysis of Conductor Galloping Field Observations - Single Conductors

Phase-to-phase clearances often are increased in the design of overhead lines to minimize flashovers caused by galloping of ice-coated conductors in regions where that occurs. A collection of reports of the observed galloping behavior of operating lines has been analyzed with the objective of formulating improved guides for selection of increased clearances. Results of the analysis show the effects on galloping amplitudes of such line design parameters as span length and tension.
Gated-V/sub dd/: a circuit technique to reduce leakage in deep-submicron cache memories

Deep-submicron CMOS designs have resulted in large leakage energy dissipation in microprocessors. While SRAM cells in on-chip cache memories always contribute to this leakage, there is a large variability in active cell usage both within and across applications. This paper explores an integrated architectural and circuit-level approach to reducing leakage energy dissipation in instruction caches. We propose, gated-V/sub dd/, a circuit-level technique to gate the supply voltage and reduce leakage in unused SRAM cells. Our results indicate that gated-V/sub dd/ together with a novel resizable cache architecture reduces energy-delay by 62% with minimal impact on performance.
Interplay of Spatial Reuse and SINR-Determined Data Rates in CSMA/CA-Based, Multi-Hop, Multi-Rate Wireless Networks

In CSMA/CA-based, multi-hop, multi-rate wireless networks, spatial reuse can be increased by tuning the carrier-sensing threshold (Tcs) to reduce the carrier sense range (dcs). While reducing dcs enables more concurrent transmissions, the transmission quality suffers from the increased accumulative interference contributed by concurrent transmissions outside dcs. As a result, the data rate at which the transmission can sustain may decrease. How to balance the interplay of spatial reuse and transmission quality (and hence the sustainable data rate) so as to achieve high network capacity is thus an important issue. In this paper, we investigate this issue by extending Cali's model and devising an analytical model that characterizes the transmission activities as governed by IEEE 802.11 DCF in a single-channel, multi-rate, multi-hop wireless network. The systems throughput is derived as a function of Tcs, SINR, beta, and other PHY/MAC systems parameters. We incorporate the effect of varying the degree of spatial reuse by tuning the Tcs. Based on the physical radio propagation model, we theoretically estimate the potential accumulated interference contributed by concurrent transmissions and the corresponding SINR. For a given SINR value, we then determine an appropriate data rate at which a transmission can sustain. To the best of our knowledge, this is perhaps the first effort that considers tuning of PHY characteristics (transmit power and data rates) and MAC parameters (contention backoff timer) jointly in an unified framework in order to optimize the overall network throughput. Analytical results indicate that the systems throughput is not a monotonically increasing/decreasing function of Tcs, but instead exhibits transitional points where several possible choices of Tcs can be made. In addition, the network capacity can be further improved by choosing the backoff timer values appropriately.
Initial shear wave particle motions and stress constraints at the Anza Seismic Network

SUMMARY We use focal plane solutions to constrain principal stress directions in the vicinity of six Anza Network stations which show evidence for shallow shear wave anisotropy in the vicinity of the Anza seismic gap region of the San Jacinto fault. Faulting near all stations is consistent with approximately N-S maximum compressive stress. Five of these stations show nearly N-S initial particle motion alignment, consistent with the anisotropy-stress relationship expected for stress-aligned microcracks. However, one station (KNW) has a well-defined preferred initial shear wave polarization direction of N40°W. Although this polarization direction differs dramatically from the local maximum compressive stress direction, it is consistent with the anisotropy expected due to a local alignment of anisotropic bedrock minerals, particularly biotite. Thus, anisotropy observed at this station most likely reflects a fixed, palaeostrain alignment of anisotropic minerals and/or microcracks and does not require a dependence on the current stress field.
The Iranian economy under the Islamic Republic: institutional change and macroeconomic performance (1979–1990)

This paper examines developments in economic institutions and the macroeconomic performance of Iran since the 1979 revolution. The Iranian revolution is interpreted as a populist movement aimed at income and wealth redistribution and at restructuring in a rentier economy. Subsequently, the macroeconomic performance of Iran since the revolution is analyzed. While recognizing the significant impact of the revolutionary disruptions, the decline in oil revenues, and the war with Iraq, it is argued that the prevailing economic conditions in Iran are largely the outcome of populist economic policies adopted by the Iranian government. (c) 1996 Academic Press Limited Copyright 1996 by Oxford University Press.
Fulminant hepatitis B virus : recurrence after liver transplantation in two patients also infected with hepatitis delta virus

Liver transplantation for hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related liver disease is complicated by HBV recurrence and, consequently, poor patient and graft survival. Patients transplanted for hepatitis delta virus (HDV)-related cirrhosis are reported to have a diminished incidence of HBV recurrence and improved graft survival. However, only a few reported HDV-infected patients had active HBV replicative disease before liver transplantation. In our experience, we transplanted two HDV-infected patients, both of whom had active HBV replication before liver transplantation. In one patient, hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) recurred four months after transplantation. Two months later, Hepatitis Be antigen (HBeAg) and HBV-DNA became positive, and the patient died of fulminant recurrent hepatitis B and hepatitis delta. In the other patient, HBV persisted after transplantation, and 2 months later the patient required retransplantation for fulminant recurrent hepatitis B and hepatitis delta. With the second graft, the patient remained free of HBV infection for 1 year. Thereafter, the patient experienced HBV recurrence with active replication and died of fulminant hepatitis B and delta recurrence. In the first case and in the second graft of the second case, hepatitis B immunoglobulin (HBIG) immunoprophylaxis was administered in an attempt to prevent recurrence of HBV. The literature suggests that an HDV infection inhibits the replication of HBV and therefore plays a role in preventing the recurrence of HBV and improving survival. Our experience with two patients suggests that HDV infection, in the presence of active HBV replication, may not play a protective role.
Non-destructive IC defect localization using optical beam-based imaging

Optical beam failure analysis methods provide unique capabilities to identify and localize defect types that would be difficult or impossible by other methods. by understanding the physics of signal generation, the user gains the insight necessary to optimize technique performance.
Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D and parathyroid hormone are independent determinants of whole-body insulin sensitivity in women and may contribute to lower insulin sensitivity in African Americans

Background: Circulating 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] and parathyroid hormone (PTH) concentrations have been shown to be associated with insulin sensitivity; however, adiposity may confound this relation. Furthermore, African Americans (AAs) have lower insulin sensitivity and 25(OH)D concentrations than do European Americans (EAs); whether these differences are associated in a cause-and-effect manner has not been determined. Objectives: The objectives of this study were to examine the relation of 25(OH)D and PTH concentrations with whole-body insulin sensitivity and to determine whether lower 25(OH)D concentrations in AAs compared with EAs contribute to the lower insulin sensitivity of AAs relative to that of EAs. Design: This was a cross-sectional study of 25 AA and 25 EA women. We determined the whole-body insulin sensitivity index (SI) with an intravenous glucose tolerance test and minimal modeling. Percentage body fat was determined with dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, and intraabdominal adipose tissue (IAAT) was determined with computed tomography. Results: Multiple linear regression analysis indicated that 25(OH)D and PTH concentrations were independent determinants of SI [standardized β = 0.24 (P = 0.04) and −0.36 (P = 0.002), respectively] after adjustment for age, race, and IAAT. The mean ethnic difference in SI decreased from 2.70 [· 10−4 · min−1/(μIU/mL)] after adjustment for IAAT and percentage body fat to 1.80 [· 10−4 · min−1/(μIU/mL)] after further adjustment for 25(OH)D and PTH concentrations. Conclusions: 25(OH)D and PTH concentrations were independently associated with whole-body insulin sensitivity in a cohort of healthy women, which suggested that these variables may influence insulin sensitivity through independent mechanisms. Furthermore, ethnic differences in 25(OH)D concentrations may contribute to ethnic differences in insulin sensitivity.
Performance analysis of a generic naval C/sup 2/ battle group system by use of timed Petri nets

This paper addresses the modeling and performance analysis of a generic naval C2 (command and control) battle group system. This work comprises three goals:Identification of human, equipment, and organizational factors that make up a C2 system of a naval battle group that consists of at least one command ship together with several co-operation platforms such as ships, submarines and aircraft.Modeling of a generic naval C2 battle group system as an asynchronous concurrent system.Performance analysis for this system according to dynamic response time, with system resources being limited by the capacity of the system and the maximum throughput rate of the generic naval C2 battle group system and execution schedule, which determine the earliest instant at which the different tasks can occur in the C2 system.Using a model that simulates these measures, we compare systems and determine an optimal naval C2 battle group system within limited constraints.
Scaffold-Based Three-Dimensional Human Fibroblast Culture Provides a Structural Matrix That Supports Angiogenesis in Infarcted Heart Tissue

Background—We have developed techniques to implant angiogenic patches onto the epicardium over regions of infarcted cardiac tissue to stimulate revascularization of the damaged tissue. These experiments used a scaffold-based 3D human dermal fibroblast culture (3DFC) as an epicardial patch. The 3DFC contains viable cells that secrete angiogenic growth factors and has previously been shown to stimulate angiogenic activity. The hypothesis tested was that a viable 3DFC cardiac patch would stimulate an angiogenic response within an area of infarcted cardiac tissue. Methods and Results—A coronary occlusion of a branch of the left anterior descending coronary artery was performed by thermal ligation in severe combined immunodeficient mice. 3DFCs with or without viable cells were sized to the damaged area, implanted in replicate mice onto the epicardium at the site of tissue injury, and compared with animals that received infarct surgery but no implant. Fourteen and 30 days after surgery, hearts were exposed and photographed, and tissue samples were prepared for histology and cytochemistry. Fourteen and 30 days after surgery, the damaged myocardium receiving viable 3DFC exhibited a significantly greater angiogenic response (including arterioles, venules, and capillaries) than nonviable and untreated control groups. Conclusions—In this animal model, viable 3DFC stimulates angiogenesis within a region of cardiac infarction and can augment a repair response in damaged tissue. Therefore, a potential use for 3DFC is the repair of myocardial tissue damaged by infarction. (Circulation. 2001;104:2063-2068.)
An analytical model for 1/f noise in polycrystalline silicon thin films

Noise calculations based on Hooge's empirical mobility fluctuation model are presented for mobility fluctuations occurring in the quasi-neutral and the depletion-barrier regions of low to moderately doped polycrystalline silicon resistors. Comparing the theoretical predictions with the experimental results, it is concluded from the bias dependence and the magnitude of the noise density that the 1/f noise in polysilicon is depletion-region dominant. The limiting role of grain boundaries, the noise correlation between depletion regions on both sides of a grain boundary, and a noise source weight function are taken into account. The Hooge parameter found from the model and data is 1.45*10/sup -3/. >
Getting on the Program

Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is a large, well-known self-help organization. A coherent set of beliefs forms the core of what AA members call “The Program.” These beliefs offer alcoholics a path to recovery. My purpose here is to examine the convergence of two aspects of recovery from alcoholism. The first aspect is the process by which alcoholics begin to restructure their identities and reinterpret their experiences in terms of the AA ideology. The second aspect is the physiological event occurring during the early stages of sobriety, when most AA members first come to the organization. My approach will be to show how the AA meeting constitutes a dramatic performance that is tailored to the biological state of alcoholics in early recovery.
Mechanically Stiff Nanocomposite Hydrogels at Ultralow Nanoparticle Content

Although hydrogels are able to mimic native tissue microenvironments, their utility for biomedical applications is severely hampered due to limited mechanical stiffness and low toughness. Despite recent progress in designing stiff and tough hydrogels, it is still challenging to achieve a cell-friendly, high modulus construct. Here, we report a highly efficient method to reinforce collagen-based hydrogels using extremely low concentrations of a nanoparticulate-reinforcing agent that acts as a cross-link epicenter. Extraordinarily, the addition of these nanoparticles at a 10 000-fold lower concentration relative to polymer resulted in a more than 10-fold increase in mechanical stiffness and a 20-fold increase in toughness. We attribute the high stiffness of the nanocomposite network to the chemical functionality of the nanoparticles, which enabled the cross-linking of multiple polymeric chains to the nanoparticle surface. The mechanical stiffness of the nanoengineered hydrogel can be tailored between 0.2 an...
The Role of Potassium in Stroke, Cardiovascular Disease, and Hypertension

Dietary potassium reduces the incidence of cerebrovascular accident (CVA) not only by lowering blood pressure (BP) directly, but also through BP-independent mechanisms. Dietary potassium intake has been demonstrated to significantly lower BP in a dose-responsive manner in both hypertensive and nonhypertensive patients in observational studies, clinical trials, and several meta-analyses. In hypertensive patients, the linear dose–response relationship is a 1.0-mmHg reduction in systolic BP and a 0.52-mmHg reduction in diastolic BP per 0.6 g/day increase in dietary potassium intake that is independent of baseline potassium deficiency. The average reduction in BP on 4.7 g (120 mmol) of dietary potassium per day is 8.0/4.1 mmHg depending on race, pretreatment BP, gender, cormorbid conditions, type of potassium used, exercise level, duration of use, and the relative intakes of other minerals, such as sodium, magnesium, and calcium. If the dietary sodium chloride intake is high in the presence of increased dietary potassium, the BP reduction is more prominent. Blacks have a greater decrease in BP compared to Caucasians with an equal potassium intake. Potassium-induced reduction in BP significantly lowers the incidence of CVAs, coronary heart disease, myocardial infarction (MI), cardiac arrhythmias, sudden death, renal disease, proteinuria, hyperglycemia, left ventricular hypertrophy, diastolic dysfunction, and other cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). However, potassium also reduces the risk of CVA independent of the decrease in BP. Some of the proposed mechanisms for CVA reduction independent of the BP include improved endothelial dysfunction with vasodilation, increased vascular nitric oxide, reduction in asymmetric dimethyl arginine, decreased vascular intracellular calcium and sodium, alteration in DNA synthesis and proliferation in the cerebral vascular smooth muscle, decrease in vascular neointimal formation, decrease in TGB-beta, lower thrombosis risk, reduction in oxidative stress and NADPH oxidase, and decrease in vascular inflammation. Increasing the consumption of potassium to 4.7 g/day predicts lower event rates for future CVDs with estimated decreases in CVAs of 8–15% and myocardial infarction of 6–11%.
A report from the 2014 American College of Rheumatology/Association of Rheumatology Health Professionals Annual Meeting (November 14-19 - Boston, Massachusetts, USA)

With freezing cold temperatures outside but great excitement for new research inside Boston's Convention and Exhibition Center, clinical research on recently launched and investigational small molecular drugs and biologics as well as preclinical research with novel compounds acting on new targets that are paving the way to future developments in the therapeutic armamentarium against rheumatoid arthritis and other bone and joint diseases focused the attention of researchers and clinicians attending this year's scientific sessions of the American College of Rheumatology. The conference started with a full-blast poster session during which significant research advancements were disclosed, but parallel abstract sessions were not far behind in attendance, hooking the interest of attendees from across the world.