cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Light-Stimulated Electrical Responses from Skin

When skin is exposed to an intense flash of light, an early electrical response can be detected from its surface. The signals that occur during the first milliseconds after the flash are similar to electrical signals recently observed in the eye from the cell layers containing melanin. Possibly the melanin in skin augments, but does not directly generate, this early electrical response. In addition, a late response, which arises hundreds of milliseconds after the flash, also occurs in skin. Unlike the early response, the late response is sensitive only to violet and shorter wavelengths of light and hence is probably mediated by a pigment other than melanin.
Language Crossings: Negotiating the Self in a Multicultural World

This collection explores the connections between language use, language learning, and one's cultural identity. The essays represent a diversity of cultures, ages and nationalities.
EXPERIMENTAL ROAD DUST MEASUREMENT DEVICE

Most unpaved road dust measuring devices have employed one or more of the air sampling techniques used by atmospheric scientists: sedimentation, filtration, and photometric techniques. The dust measurement quantifications have been for a section of unpaved road either involving the use of moving devices, or at a point along a section involving the use of a stationary device. Devices based on the photometric technique have measured and quantified dust on a real-time basis without laboratory analyses of field data, while devices based on the sedimentation and filtration techniques have relied on laboratory analyses of field data for dust quantification. This paper presents the Colorado State University dustometer, an experimental road dust measurement device based on the filtration technique. The device and technique were developed, field tested, and used in comparative fugitive dust emission studies at Colorado State University and documented by Addo and Sanders. The device, which is basically a moving dust sampler, consists of a standard high volumetric sampler with associated filter media and accessories mounted on the rear of a pickup truck. Many dust measurements can be made in a single day using the dustometer. The dustometer has proved to be a very quantitative, reproducible, and precise measurement device for unpaved road dust measurements.
Bronchoesophageal fistula due to broncholithiasis: a case series

Summary Objective To describe the clinical presentation, diagnostic evaluation, and treatment of bronchoesophageal (BE) fistula due to broncholithiasis, a rare cause of chronic cough with specific therapeutic implications. Methods Retrospective chart review of 9 patients diagnosed with BE fistulae at our tertiary-care institution between 1964 and 2002. Results The median age of patients (3 men, 6 women) was 56 years (range, 34–72 years). Six patients had never smoked. Eight presented with intractable cough typically worse after drinking that was relieved by lying on either side; 1 patient presented with dysphagia. Six patients reported lithoptysis, and most had a history of recurrent pneumonia. Chest findings were nonspecific. Diagnosis was established by radiocontrast studies of the esophagus (5 patients), surgical procedures (3), or bronchoscopy (1). Fistulae were right-sided in 7 patients and left-sided in 2. All patients had surgical repair of the fistulae; 6 patients experienced symptom resolution. Conclusion BE fistula caused by broncholithiasis most commonly affects the right bronchial tree and should be considered in patients with chronic cough associated with drinking, lithoptysis, or recurrent pneumonia. The diagnosis is usually established by radiocontrast studies of the esophagus or incidentally during operations. Surgical repair is required.
The recovery of local transepithelial resistance following single-cell lesions☆

Abstract When single epithelial cells from several organs of the salamander Necturus are destroyed with a microelectrode, the adjacent cells migrate and flatten to fill the deficit within 15–30 min. Voltage-scanning experiments indicate that the cellular apposition coincides with a return of the local transepithelial resistance to control levels. High-resolution experiments confirm that a large portion of transepithelial current flows by a paracellular route across tight junctions; recovery of a normal pattern of current flow indicates that tight junctions are formed between newly apposed cells within 15 min of their meeting.
The syntax of ‘tactic(s)’ in public relations research

Abstract Strategies and tactics are foundational to the teaching of public relations, yet little scholarly reflection on the term ‘tactic(s)’ itself exists in our research. We content analyzed 30 years of research in Public Relations Review for references to the term ‘tactic(s).’ Our research reveals that of the 174 studies reviewed, 13% elaborated on the term, but none defined it. Moreover, the term ‘tactic(s)’ appeared more frequently with ‘strategies’ (31.5%) than in conjunction with ‘ethics’ (2%). We conclude our research note with a call for greater reflection on core concepts related to our public relations teaching and research.
Histopathological and Cytopathological Correlations of Percutaneous Testis Biopsy and Open Testis Biopsy in Infertile Men

AbstractA testis biopsy is used to assess quantitatively testicular spermatogenesis in infertile patients. Recently, several reports have used less invasive, percutaneous methods to obtain testis tissue. Percutaneous testis biopsies and touch imprints, immediately followed by open testis biopsies, were performed on 24 testes (19 patients) to ascertain whether they could provide the same histological information as an open biopsy. The technique of percutaneous testis biopsy using a core biopsy system is described. Comparisons of the percutaneous and open biopsy histological diagnoses revealed a 95 percent correlation. The percutaneous method using 1 pass through the testis failed to provide adequate tissue in 2 of 24 patients. Touch imprints obtained by the percutaneous method also provided a 95 percent correlation compared with the open method (2 of 24 touch imprints were lost during processing and, thus, were not evaluated). Percutaneous testis biopsies and touch imprints provide adequate tissue for hist...
FragGeneScan: predicting genes in short and error-prone reads

The advances of next-generation sequencing technology have facilitated metagenomics research that attempts to determine directly the whole collection of genetic material within an environmental sample (i.e. the metagenome). Identification of genes directly from short reads has become an important yet challenging problem in annotating metagenomes, since the assembly of metagenomes is often not available. Gene predictors developed for whole genomes (e.g. Glimmer) and recently developed for metagenomic sequences (e.g. MetaGene) show a significant decrease in performance as the sequencing error rates increase, or as reads get shorter. We have developed a novel gene prediction method FragGeneScan, which combines sequencing error models and codon usages in a hidden Markov model to improve the prediction of protein-coding region in short reads. The performance of FragGeneScan was comparable to Glimmer and MetaGene for complete genomes. But for short reads, FragGeneScan consistently outperformed MetaGene (accuracy improved ~62% for reads of 400 bases with 1% sequencing errors, and ~18% for short reads of 100 bases that are error free). When applied to metagenomes, FragGeneScan recovered substantially more genes than MetaGene predicted (>90% of the genes identified by homology search), and many novel genes with no homologs in current protein sequence database.
Factor XIII deficiency mistaken for battered child syndrome: case of "correct" test ordering negated by a commonly accepted qualitative test with limited negative predictive value.

We report herein a case of Factor XIII deficiency that remained undiagnosed until 2 years of age. Part of the delay in diagnosis was a consequence of testing that was performed on a blood sample obtained after plasma transfusion therapy for a life-threatening bleeding episode. Due to insufficient family follow-up after discharge from the hospital, the diagnosis was delayed 1 year until the child was rehospitalized and a pre-transfusion plasma sample was tested. The commonly accepted approach of using only a qualitative test for the diagnosis of factor XIII deficiency is challenged by this case report.
Pitman closeness comparison of linear estimators:a canonical form

A general form is presented for the comparison of two linear estimators of a common parameter by means of the Pitman measure of closeness. Several asymptotic results are given. The case in which the estimators are linear combinations of the order statistics is discussed. The asymptotic comparison of the sample mean versus the sample median is derived for the Laplace distribution, and two other examples are given.
Analytical Reflections on the Economic Impact Assessment of Conventions and Special Events

Abstract Over the past decades, the growth of the convention and event industry has enhanced an awareness of its economic significance to local, state, and national economies. Accordingly, many industry and academic studies have introduced various methods for accurately assessing the direct and indirect economic impacts of conventions and special events. Among them, the input-output (I-O) model is widely used for the economic impact assessments. This article first reviews economic impact studies in the convention and event tourism sector and then discusses issues related to the I-O model framework.
Parallel Threshold Voting

Voting on large collections of input objects is becoming increasingly important in data fusion, signal and image processing applications, learning algorithms, and distributed computing. To achieve high speed in voting, the multiple processing resources typically available in such applications should be utilized; hence the need for parallel voting algorithms. We develop efficient parallel algorithms for threshold voting which generalize and extend previous work on both sequential threshold voting and parallel majority voting. Our discussion centers on unweighted threshold (m-out-of-n) voting. However, we observe that under certain conditions, the results can be extended to efficient weighted threshold voting. We show how a known O(n)-time sequential algorithm for m-out-of-n voting can be parallelized through a simple divide-and-conquer strategy. When m = θ(n), the resulting algorithm has O(log 2 n) time complexity on n-processor PRAM and hypercubic computers and O(k 2 n 1/k ) time complexity on a k-dimensional mesh with n processors. We also analyze the time complexity of the algorithm for m = o(n) and its special case of m = θ(1).
Recognizing People From Their Movement

Human observers demonstrate impressive visual sensitivity to human movement. What defines this sensitivity? If motor experience influences the visual analysis of action, then observers should be most sensitive to their own movements. If view-dependent visual experience determines visual sensitivity to human movement, then observers should be most sensitive to the movements of their friends. To test these predictions, participants viewed sagittal displays of point-light depictions of themselves, their friends, and strangers performing various actions. In actor identification and discrimination tasks, sensitivity to one's own motion was highest. Visual sensitivity to friends', but not strangers', actions was above chance. Performance was action dependent. Control studies yielded chance performance with inverted and static displays, suggesting that form and low-motion cues did not define performance. These results suggest that both motor and visual experience define visual sensitivity to human action.
Changes in rates of hysterectomy and uterine conserving procedures for treatment of uterine leiomyoma.

Objective The purpose of this study was to investigate treatment of uterine leiomyoma by hysterectomy and uterine conserving procedures (UCPs). Study Design Data from Kaiser Permanente Northern California members undergoing hysterectomy, myomectomy, uterine artery embolization (UAE) and endometrial ablation (EA) for uterine leiomyoma from 1997-2003 were collected. Statistical analysis included trend tests and survival analysis. Results Hysterectomy rates for leiomyoma decreased significantly from 2.13 per 1000 to 1.91 ( P P = .17 and .26, respectively), whereas rates for UAE increased significantly from P P = .95). Rate of hysterectomy after UCP increased over time, and at 6 years reached 11.5%, 17.7%, and 7.9% for EA, UAE, and myomectomy, respectively. Conclusion Whereas rate of hysterectomy for leiomyoma decreased, total rate of invasive treatment remained stable. Increase in rate of UAE had the greatest impact on treatment, possibly replacing hysterectomy.
A Regulatory Pathway of Thermogenesis in Brown Fat Through Retinoic Acid

Thermogenesis in brown adipose tissue is achieved by the enzyme that uncouples the respiratory chain from oxidative phosphorylation. This enzyme is regulated by the sympathetic nervous system and, as recently discovered, by transcriptional regulation through retinoic acid (RA). Thus, RA is involved in heat production and, hence, in the regulation of energy balance.
Cross-cutting category membership with role assignment: A means of reducing intergroup bias

Two experiments evaluated the effect of role assignment on intergroup bias. A social categorization model (Brewer & Miller, 1984) predicts a reduction in bias when the basis for assignment to task roles or subgroup composition in a contact situation is category independent (cross-cut) rather than category related (convergent). Conversely, a model based on social identity theory (Brown & Wade, 1987; Deschamps & Brown, 1983) suggests that when distinct task role assignments converge with category membership, threat to group identity and consequent intergroup bias will be reduced. To clarify these conflicting predictions, we created a cooperative contact setting in which members of two experimentally created groups worked together as a team. During the team membership phase, work roles either converged with or cross-cut initial group membership. Experiment 1 supported the predictions of the social categorization model; subjects in the cross-cut condition perceived greater similarity among team members and, in turn, showed less intergroup bias in reward allocation, than did those in the convergent condition. Two variables hypothesized to account for this outcome were the absence of negative task attitudes and the opportunity for personalization. In Expt 2, procedures likely to increase negative task attitudes and reduce personalization were inserted into the procedure of both conditions in an experimental design that paralleled that of Expt 1. Under these conditions, the differential effects of role assignment were eliminated. Taken together, these studies suggest that cross-cutting role assignment will reduce intergroup bias when it is implemented in a manner that does not arouse negative task attitudes but does provide opportunity for personalization of team mates.
The impact of drug pricing policies on the health of the elderly.

Abstract Background: Prices for prescription drugs vary widely in the United States, from the prices charged by retail pharmacies to 50% below average wholesale prices (AWP), depending on the purchaser’s bargaining power. At higher drug prices, expenditures for essential preventive interventions, such as those aimed at hypertension and hypercholesterolemia, buy less health for the elderly. The magnitude of this effect, however, is unknown. Methods: Cost-effectiveness analyses of drug interventions, which estimate their health effects and costs, sometimes include analyses of the impact of drug prices. We use results from studies of preventive drugs used by the elderly to calculate the life-years that could be purchased for $1 million of expenditure at the AWP, and at prices 20% and 40% below the AWP. This range reflects the range of prices in the United States today. Results: Drug prices have a substantial effect on the amount of health that can be purchased for $1 million, especially among elderly people with several health conditions. For example, at 40% below the AWP, $1 million spent on statins yields 90 years of life for patients aged 75 to 84 with a history of myocardial infarction. At the AWP, the number of life-years for $1 million drops to 48—a loss of 42 life-years. Conclusions: A Medicare drug benefit program that supports prices at the high end of the current range could yield substantially less health for the elderly, and one that promotes differential pricing could promote unequal access to preventive medications—and thus to health—by Medicare beneficiaries across the country.
Sequences Downstream of the Translation Initiation Codon Are Important Determinants of Translation Efficiency in Chloroplasts

The objective of this study was to determine if mRNA sequences downstream of the translation initiation codon are important for translation of plastid mRNAs. We have employed a transgenic approach, measuring accumulation of the neomycin phosphotransferase (NPTII) reporter enzyme translationally fused with 14 N-terminal amino acids encoded in the rbcL or atpB plastid genes. NPTII accumulation from wild-type and mutant rbcL and atpB segments was compared. We report that silent mutations in the rbcL segment reduced NPTII accumulation 35-fold. In contrast, mutations in the atpB mRNA reduced NPTII accumulation only moderately from approximately 7% (w/w) to approximately 4% (w/w) of the total soluble cellular protein, indicating that the importance of sequences downstream of the translation initiation codon are dependent on the individual mRNA. Information provided here will facilitate transgene design for high-level expression of recombinant proteins in chloroplasts by translational fusion with the N-terminal segment of highly expressed plastid genes or by introduction of silent mutations in the N-terminal part of the coding region.
Detection of targets in bandlimited and spatially correlated clutter

This paper describes the preliminary analysis of an unconventional approach for detecting targets in band limited clutter that exhibits some degree of spatial correlation from range bin to range bin. The receiver processing chain utilizes a lattice predictor (LP) filter to remove clutter at the output of a Doppler filter bank. Subsequently, an order-statistic (OS) constant false alarm rate (CFAR) processing stage is used to threshold the data and a binary integrator creates a binary image of threshold crossings accumulated over several coherent processing intervals (CPIs). A novel technique is applied for removing noise from the binary image using morphological filters, thereby exposing tracks created by any moving targets. Once a track has been detected, the corresponding target is declared present. Test results based on measured clutter data will be presented that suggest the proposed processing techniques may improve detection performance in a clutter environment.
Cyclic-cumulant based identification of almost periodically time-varying systems: parametric methods

Identification of known order (almost) periodically time-varying autoregressive moving average (ARMA) models is addressed using cyclic cumulants of output only, or, input/output data. Several approaches are presented under different modeling assumptions and their relative merits are discussed. Both linear and nonlinear algorithms are derived in time- and cyclic-domains and optimality issues are considered. All the algorithms utilize consistent single record estimators, are phase sensitive and are shown to be insensitive to any stationary noise as well as additive (perhaps nonstationary) Gaussian noise of unknown covariance. >
Use of Schema for Evaluating Consumer Response to an Apparel Product

This investigation focused upon exploration of category-based processing strategies used by consumers when evaluating an apparel product. Three exploratory studies were conducted. The category chos...
Estradiol induces gene proximity and MLL-MLLT3 fusion in an activation-induced cytidine deaminase-mediated pathway

AbstractEpidemiological data have linked birth control formulations to an increased risk of infant acute leukemia involving MLL rearrangements. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) studies showed that 10 nM estradiol enhanced MLL transcription in addition to its common translocation partners, MLLT2 (AF4) and MLLT3 (AF9). The same concentration of estradiol triggered MLL and MLLT3 co-localization without affecting the interaction of genes located on the same chromosomes. Estradiol also stimulated the generation of MLL–MLLT3 fusion transcripts as seen by RT-PCR. RNAi knockdown of activation-induced cytidine deaminase (AICDA) suppressed the induction of MLL–MLLT3 fusion transcript formation observed with estradiol. Additionally, chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) analysis showed estradiol dependent localization of AICDA in MLL intron 11, upstream of a hotspot for both DNA cleavage and rearrangement, but not downstream within intron 12. Combined, these studies show that levels of estradi...
Presence of double-stranded RNAs in human and calf isolates of Cryptosporidium parvum

We examined the occurrence of 2 virus-like double-stranded (ds)RNAs in human and calf isolates of Cryptosporidium parvum senso latu and other microorganisms, including 7 other members of the genus. A total of 32 isolates of C. parium, 16 from humans (5 from acquired immune deficiency syndrome patients) and 16 from calves, were analyzed. Ethidium bromide staining, or Northern blot analysis, or reverse transcription/polymerase chain reaction, or all 3 methods, revealed that both genotype 1 and genotype 2 isolates of C. parvum possessed these dsRNAs. No other Cryptosporidium spp. or other organisms examined possessed these dsRNAs. Comparison analysis of partial cDNA sequences of dsRNAs from human and calf isolates revealed a high degree of similarity (>92% and >93% identical nucleotides for large and small dsRNAs, respectively). Slight, consistent differences in nucleotide sequences could be seen at select sites and were associated with an isolate being either genotype 1 or 2. Because of the widespread distribution of the dsRNAs, the similarity of these molecules between isolates, and high host specificity, these nucleic acids may prove to represent species-specific molecular markers for C. parvum. Evidence also suggests that the dsRNA can be utilized for molecular genotyping of C. parvum.
Beam dynamics in wigglers: tracking in PEP with damping wigglers and measurements at SPEAR

Results of tracking with PATRICIA for PEP (Positron-Electron Project) with damping wigglers are presented. Experimental measurements of tune shift with amplitude in a SPEAR wiggler are also included. Tracking with PATRICIA for SPEAR with the rotated sextupole and octupole components included in the 15-period wiggler indicates that the dynamic aperture may be inside the physical aperture. >
A new solution for the problem of plane wave diffraction by a 2-D aperture in a ground plane

In this paper, we develop novel closed-form representations for the diffraction integrals associated with the classical problem of plane wave diffraction by a two-dimensional aperture in a ground plane. After approximating the aperture field by the incident field, spectral-domain techniques are used to represent the diffracted fields as inverse Fourier transforms, which are often referred to as the angular spectrum. The resulting inverse Fourier transforms are integrated analytically by using contour deformation techniques, thereby yielding closed-form representations for the diffracted fields that only involve rapidly-computable special functions. The diffracted fields that are computed using the closed-form representations are validated by comparing with results obtained by direct numerical integration of the diffraction integrals.
Recent Advances in Treatment of Primary Central Nervous System Lymphoma

Therapeutic options are limited in primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) with no uniform consensus on optimal management and few published, randomized trials. High-dose methotrexate in combination with other chemotherapeutic agents forms the mainstay of treatment. There hasn’t been much progress beyond high-dose methotrexate in this disease, and although results from trials using high-dose chemotherapy and autologous stem-cell transplant seem promising, these need to be further validated. Moreover, the role of whole brain radiation in the upfront setting remains to be determined. However, international efforts in this direction are underway, with ongoing randomized trials in newly diagnosed PCNSL, more research on the molecular pathogenesis and biomarkers, and the use of novel agents in salvage therapy. There also is emphasis on quality of life parameters and neurocognitive status. Future treatment options should optimize high-efficacy rates while minimizing the risk of neurotoxicity.
Hollow structure formation in the dense core in nanosecond wire explosion

The existence of long-lived dense cores within lower density coronal plasmas during nanosecond explosions of single wires or multiwire arrays is now well established. However, the physical state of the core material and the processes occurring there is still a matter of conjecture. Using the technique of high resolution x-ray radiography,1 a complex small-scale structure has been observed in the exploding wire cores of both single-wire and multiwire loads.2,3 The radiographs show features implying that the core has become a foam-like, liquid-vapor mixture that is a result of cavitation of the molten metal by tensile stress exceeding the tensile strength of the liquid metal. In recent experiments on the COBRA pulser with Ni wire arrays, hollow structures were observed in the dense cores. The same structures were found in earlier experiments with single wire explosions. In order to simulate fast radial expansion of molten metal and processes induced by strong tensile stress, the molecular-dynamics (MD) approach was applied using an interatomic potential suitable for simulation of metals in extreme conditions.4 The MD simulations of the explosion of a small-diameter metal cylinder shows that cavitation of the cylinder core results in formation of foam surrounded by a liquid cylindrical shell at early stage. Later the foam decays and yields a mixture of vapor and liquid droplets, but the liquid shell survives considerably longer. Simulated density profiles demonstrate good qualitative agreement with the experimental data.
Phenotype, distribution and alloreactive properties of memory T cells from cynomolgus monkeys.

The high frequency of memory T cells present in primates is thought to represent a major barrier to tolerance induction in transplantation. Therefore, it is crucial to characterize these memory T cells and determine their functional properties. High numbers of memory T cells were detected in peripheral blood and all lymphoid tissues except lymph nodes, which were essentially the site of naive T cells. The majority of CD8+ memory T cells were effector memory cells located in the blood and bone marrow while most CD4+ memory T cells were central memory cells present in the spleen. Next, memory T cells from over 100 monkeys were tested for their response to alloantigens by ELISPOT. Memory alloreactivity mediated via direct but not indirect allorecognition was detected in all animals. The frequency of allospecific memory T cells varied dramatically depending upon the nature of the responder/stimulator monkey combination tested. MHC gene matching was generally associated with a low-memory alloreactivity. Nevertheless, low anamnestic alloresponses were also found in a significant number of fully MHC-mismatched monkey combinations. These results show that selected donor/recipient combinations displaying a low memory alloresponsiveness can be found. These combinations may be more favorable for transplant tolerance induction.
In situ sum frequency generation vibrational spectroscopy observation of a reactive surface intermediate during high-pressure benzene hydrogenation

Sum frequency generation surface vibrational spectroscopy and kinetic measurements using gas chromatography have been used to identify a reactive surface intermediate in situ during hydrogenation of benzene on a Pt(111) single crystal surface at Torr pressures. Upon adsorption at 310 K, both chemisorbed and physisorbed benzene coexist on the surface, a result which has not previously been observed. Kinetic measurements show a linear compensation effect for the production of both cyclohexane and cyclohexene. From these data the isokinetic temperature was identified and correlated to the chemisorbed benzene species, which were probed by means of vibrational spectroscopy. Additionally, chemisorbed benzene was determined to be a reactive intermediate, which is critical for hydrogenation.
An In Vivo IL-7 Requirement for Peripheral Foxp3+ Regulatory T Cell Homeostasis

All T cells are dependent on IL-7 for their development and for homeostasis. Foxp3(+) regulatory T cells (Tregs) are unique among T cells in that they are dependent on IL-2. Whether such IL-2 dependency is distinct from or in addition to an IL-7 requirement has been a confounding issue, particularly because of the absence of an adequate experimental system to address this question. In this study, we present a novel in vivo mouse model where IL-2 expression is intact but IL-7 expression was geographically limited to the thymus. Consequently, IL-7 is not available in peripheral tissues. Such mice were generated by introducing a thymocyte-specific IL-7 transgene onto an IL-7 null background. In these mice, T cell development in the thymus, including Foxp3(+) Treg numbers, was completely restored, which correlates with the thymus-specific expression of transgenic IL-7. In peripheral cells, however, IL-7 expression was terminated, which resulted in a general paucity of T cells and a dramatic reduction of Foxp3(+) Treg numbers. Loss of Tregs was further accompanied by a significant reduction in Foxp3(+) expression levels. These data suggest that peripheral IL-7 is not only necessary for Treg survival but also for upregulating Foxp3 expression. Collectively, we assessed the effect of a selective peripheral IL-7 deficiency in the presence of a fully functional thymus, and we document a critical requirement for in vivo IL-7 in T cell maintenance and specifically in Foxp3(+) cell homeostasis.
Composite Pseudo-Associative Cache for Mobile Processors

Multi-core trends are becoming dominant, creating sophisticated and complicated cache structures. Also, the bigger shared level-2 (L2) caches are demanded for higher cache performance. One of the easiest ways to design cache memory for increased performance is to double the cache size. However, the big cache size is directly related to the area and power consumption. Especially in mobile processors, simple increase of the cache size may significantly affect its chip area and power. In this paper, we propose a composite cache mechanism for L2 cache to maximize cache performance within a given cache size. This technique can be used without increasing cache size and set associativity by emphasizing primary way utilization and pseudo-associativity. Based on our experiments with the sampled SPEC CPU2000 workload, the proposed cache mechanism shows the remarkable reduction in cache misses. The variation of performance improvement depends on cache size and set associativity, but the proposed scheme shows more sensitivity to cache size increase than set associativity increase.
High-temperature superconducting current leads

The author reviews major high-temperature superconductor (NTS) current-lead concepts and presents several new considerations that should affect design of HTS leads. Considerable advantage is achieved by operating these leads with an intermediate-temperature heat sink. The HTS part of the lead can be made from pressed and sintered powder. Powder-in-tube fabrication is also possible, but the normal metal part of the lead acts as a thermal short and cannot provide much stabilization without increasing the refrigeration requirement. For lead stability, designs with low current density are favored. Such leads can be manufactured with today's technology, and refrigeration requirements are lower for the same allowable burnout time. Higher current densities result in lower helium boil-off for the same lead length, but burnout times can be very short. In comparing experiment to theory in open systems, the density of helium vapor must be accounted for in calculating the expected boil-off. For very-low-loss leads, two-dimensional heat transfer and the state of the dewar near the leads may play dominant roles in lead performance. >
Latin American Globalization in Historical Perspective Human Reality and the First and Second ‘Global’ Eras

This article places the current era of globalization in its larger historical perspective by looking at present trends through the lens of the first wave of globalization in the 16th and 17th centuries and the second wave that extended from the middle of the 19th century through the First World War or even until the crisis of modern capitalism known as the great depression. It draws special attention to issues of forced and free labor, forced and free migration, the efforts to rip apart traditional ways of life and resistance to these efforts by the oppressed, and the unequal distribution of wealth due to national and international class interests and the need to keep the wage bill low in the developing world.
Spot size measurement of the DARHT First Axis radiographic source

Summary form only given. DARHT is the dual axis radiographic hydrodynamic test facility at Los Alamos National Laboratory. The radiographic spot size is a critical parameter in the performance of the facility to produce quality radiographs. Images of the radiographic spot of the first axis of the DARHT facility have been acquired using a pinhole geometry, scintillator, and CCD framing cameras. The experimental setup, data acquisition and analysis of the time integrated radiographic spot size will be presented.
REEL REALITY: Science Consultants in Hollywood

Carl Sagan would have been proud of the film’s scientific accuracy if he had lived to see the film through to its conclusion … (Dennis Schwartz writing on Contact in Ozus’ World Movie Reviews). Find me a scientist! A geologist! Someone who can tell me what the hell is going on! [Mike Roark (Tommy Lee Jones) in Volcano]. Surprisingly enough, when Tommy Lee Jones shouts out this line during the eruption of Mt. Wilshire in Volcano ,h eactually echoes the cries of some of the most powerful people in Hollywood. Twenty per cent of the top grossing films of all time have had scientific or technical consultants, 1 as did the 2000 and 2001 Best Picture Oscar winners (Gladiator and A Beautiful Mind), several of the top-rated television shows of recent years (C.S.I.: Crime Scene Investigation and The X-Files among them), and a prodigious number of other entertainment industry products. This is a paper about the experience of science consultants in Hollywood. It examines the process through which their input is secured and incorporated by filmmakers, and how that knowledge is part of a process of commodification of scientific knowledge through which those filmmakers play with the concept of reality as part of the industry and craft of the dream factory. It interrogates the idea of reality as viewed through native eyes: as social scientists, when the producer of the movie Spider-Man says during an interview that his movie is very accurate scientifically, our duty is not to stare back at him in disbelief, but to take that sentiment and try to understand the cultural framework that enables him not just to say this with a straight face, but to mean it.
Life-Course Events, Social Networks, and the Emergence of Violence among Female Gang Members.

Using data gathered from a multi-year field study, this article identifies specific life-course events shared by gang-affiliated women. Gangs emerge as a cultural adaptation or pro-social community response to poverty and racial isolation. Through the use of a social-network approach, data show that violence dramatically increases in the period between gang affiliation and first pregnancy and decreases with pregnancy and childbirth. Policy recommendations addressing the delivery of services are offered within the context of gang women’s personal networks. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Human Cytomegalovirus pUL29/28 and pUL38 Repression of p53-Regulated p21CIP1 and Caspase 1 Promoters during Infection

During infection by human cytomegalovirus (HCMV), the tumor suppressor protein p53, which promotes efficient viral gene expression, is stabilized. However, the expression of numerous p53-responsive cellular genes is not upregulated. The molecular mechanism used to manipulate the transcriptional activity of p53 during infection remains unclear. The HCMV proteins IE1, IE2, pUL44, and pUL84 likely contribute to the regulation of p53. In this study, we used a discovery-based approach to identify the protein targets of the HCMV protein pUL29/28 during infection. Previous studies have demonstrated that pUL29/28 regulates viral gene expression by interacting with the chromatin remodeling complex NuRD. Here, we observed that pUL29/28 also associates with p53, an additional deacetylase complex, and several HCMV proteins, including pUL38. We confirmed the interaction between p53 and pUL29/28 in both the presence and absence of infection. HCMV pUL29/28 with pUL38 altered the activity of the 53-regulatable p21CIP1 promoter. During infection, pUL29/28 and pUL38 contributed to the inhibition of p21CIP1 as well as caspase 1 expression. The expression of several other p53-regulating genes was not altered. Infection using a UL29-deficient virus resulted in increased p53 binding and histone H3 acetylation at the responsive promoters. Furthermore, expression of pUL29/28 and its interacting partner pUL38 contributed to an increase in the steady-state protein levels of p53. This study identified two additional HCMV proteins, pUL29/28 and pUL38, which participate in the complex regulation of p53 transcriptional activity during infection.
Detergent induced inhibition of eukaryotic RNA polymerase B activity and amanitin binding.

Abstract We studied the effect of detergents on the binding of amanitin to RNA polymerase and on enzymatic activity. SDoS, Sarkosyl and deoxycholate were most inhibitory. Cholate and non-ionic detergents were less inhibitory. Evidence is presented that Sarkosyl inhibits chain elongation. The inhibition of amanitin binding was most influenced by the hydrophilicity of the detergent.
Hardware Runtime Monitoring for Dependable COTS-Based Real-Time Embedded Systems

COTS peripherals are heavily used in the embedded market, but their unpredictability is a threat for high-criticality real-time systems: it is hard or impossible to formally verify COTS components. Instead, we propose to monitor the runtime behavior of COTS peripherals against their assumed specifications. If violations are detected, then an appropriate recovery measure can be taken. Our monitoring solution is decentralized: a monitoring device is plugged in on a peripheral bus and monitors the peripheral behavior by examining read and write transactions on the bus. Provably correct (w.r.t. given specifications) hardware monitors are synthesized from high level specifications, and executed on FPGAs, resulting in zero runtime overhead on the system CPU. The proposed technique, called BusMOP, has been implemented as an instance of a generic runtime verification framework, called MOP, which until now has only been used for software monitoring. We experimented with our technique using a COTS data acquisition board.
An Introduction to the Special Issue on Peer Relations in Youth With Chronic Illness

Although estimates of the number of children afflicted with chronic illness vary widely, in part due to the difficulty in defining what constitutes a chronic illness, it is clear that most chronic illnesses are on the rise among children (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2009; Van Cleave, Gortmaker, & Perrin, 2010). By definition, these illnesses persist; thus, it is important to examine factors that influence how children live with and manage chronic disease. One potential determinant is the social environment. According to Bronfenbrenner’s social ecological theory (1986), there are different contextual levels of the social environment, ranging from the immediate social environment to the macrosystem, which emphasizes the larger cultural context. Within the microsystem, the social context most often studied in relation to childhood chronic illness is the family. There is a substantial body of research showing that the family plays an important role in how a child adjusts to different chronic illnesses (Helgeson & Palladino, 2012; Kazak, Schneider, & Kassam-Adams, 2010). Another important facet of that microsystem that is widely acknowledged by researchers to play a role in children’s adjustment to chronic illness is peer relationships. Despite widespread agreement that peer relationships are important to children and become increasingly important as the child moves through adolescence into adulthood (Fuligni, Eccles, Barber, & Clements, 2001; Larson & Verma, 1999), there is much less research on the role of peer relationships in childhood chronic illness. This dearth of research was the impetus for this special section. There are two primary questions one can ask in regard to the role of peer relationships in chronic illness. First, what is the impact of chronic illness on peer relationships specifically and social functioning more broadly? Second, what is the impact of peer relationships on psychological and physical health for those with chronic illness? The articles in the present issue address these two questions.
Alternaria and Cladosporium Fungal Allergen Epitopes are Denatured by Sodium Hypochlorite.

Fungal allergens are ubiquitous; however, little progress has been made understanding fungal allergenic material removal from indoor environments. We investigated removal of environmental allergenic material derived from Alternaria and Cladosporium using sodium hypochlorite in vivo and in vitro. Freeze dried allergen extract from Alternaria alternata and Cladosporium herbarum was treated with hypochlorite concentrations of 322, 88, 38, 16, 3, 0.3, and 0 mM, respectively. Remaining native allergenic material was quantified using enzyme immunoassay and remaining viable fungal material was evaluated. The results of treating Alternaria or Cladosporium extract with sodium hypochlorite are immediate and obvious. Concentrations greater than 100 mM remove color and concentrations between 100 and 38 mM partially uncolored the extract. Immunoassay for total antigenic and allergenic material remaining after treatment with sodium hypochlorite including 2 concentrations recommended for killing fungus confirmed a general destruction of antigenic and allergenic material at concentrations of 38 mM or greater. This work confirms the ability of solutions of sodium hypochlorite to denature fungal allergenic material from common outdoor and indoor fungi A. alternata and C. herbarum. Destruction of recognized antigenic and allergenic epitopes occurs at hypochlorite concentrations commonly used for household cleaning.
Back pain in children and adolescents

Abstract Back pain in childhood and adolescence is a common presentation. While the majority of cases have a benign aetiology, it can represent serious disease requiring prompt diagnosis and treatment. We aim to give an overview of the assessment of a child or adolescent presenting with back pain and the clinical features of the common and serious diagnoses. This article will provide practical advice on the approach to clinical assessment, investigation and management of back pain in children and young people.
On known unknowns: Fluency and the neural mechanisms of illusory truth

The "illusory truth" effect refers to the phenomenon whereby repetition of a statement increases its likelihood of being judged true. This phenomenon has important implications for how we come to believe oft-repeated information that may be misleading or unknown. Behavioral evidence indicates that fluency, the subjective ease experienced while processing information, underlies this effect. This suggests that illusory truth should be mediated by brain regions previously linked to fluency, such as the perirhinal cortex PRC. To investigate this possibility, we scanned participants with fMRI while they rated the truth of unknown statements, half of which were presented earlier i.e., repeated. The only brain region that showed an interaction between repetition and ratings of perceived truth was PRC, where activity increased with truth ratings for repeated, but not for new, statements. This finding supports the hypothesis that illusory truth is mediated by a fluency mechanism and further strengthens the link between PRC and fluency.
Trunk muscle size and composition assessment in older adults with chronic low back pain: An intra-examiner and inter-examiner reliability study

Objective . To evaluate intra- and inter-examiner reliability for the assessment of relative cross-sectional area, muscle-to-fat infiltration indices, and relative muscle cross-sectional area, i.e., total cross-sectional area minus intramuscular fat, from T1-weighted magnetic resonance images obtained in older adults with chronic low back pain. Design . Reliability study. Subjects . n = 13 (69.3 ± 8.2 years old) Methods . After lumbar magnetic resonance imaging, two examiners produced relative cross-sectional area measurements of multifidi, erector spinae, psoas, and quadratus lumborum by tracing regions of interest just inside fascial borders. Pixel-intensity summaries were used to determine muscle-to-fat infiltration indices; relative muscle cross-sectional area was calculated. Intraclass correlation coefficients were used to estimate intra- and inter-examiner reliability; standard error of measurement was calculated. Results . Intra-examiner intraclass correlation coefficient point estimates for relative cross-sectional area, muscle-to-fat infiltration indices, and relative muscle cross-sectional area were excellent for multifidi and erector spinae across levels L2-L5 (ICC = 0.77–0.99). At L3, intra-examiner reliability was excellent for relative cross-sectional area, muscle-to-fat infiltration indices, and relative muscle cross-sectional area for both psoas and quadratus lumborum (ICC = 0.81–0.99). Inter-examiner intraclass correlation coefficients ranged from poor to excellent for relative cross-sectional area, muscle-to-fat infiltration indices, and relative muscle cross-sectional area. Conclusions . Assessment of relative cross-sectional area, muscle-to-fat infiltration indices, and relative muscle cross-sectional area in older adults with chronic low back pain can be reliably determined by one examiner from T1-weighted images. Such assessments provide valuable information, as muscle-to-fat infiltration indices and relative muscle cross-sectional area indicate that a substantial amount of relative cross-sectional area may be magnetic resonance-visible intramuscular fat in older adults with chronic low back pain.