cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Calculation of intrinsic transport parameters of a double-diffused transistor

Abstract A double diffused transistor having Gaussian impurity distribution is analyzed by using a power-series method. The minority carrier-density distribution and frequency response are investigated. It is shown that the transport factor and intrinsic frequency cutoff characteristics are related to the impurity diffusion length and impurity surface concentration. Theoretical calculation of the cutoff frequency of a commercially available device is in agreement with the measured f T .
Examination of the unintentional effect of stimulus medium and context on preference for psychotherapy

Past research that has examined preferences for different psychotherapy orientations has yielded inconsistent results. This study investigated whether the discrepant results are artifacts of the methods chosen. Stimulus context (therapy session vs. therapy description) and stimulus medium (audiovisual vs. written) were investigated in comparing preferences for the behavioral and person-centered orientations. Over 300 undergraduates rated their preference for both psychotherapy orientations on a 4-item questionnaire. The behavioral orientation received a significantly higher preference score when both orientations were presented audiovisually as a therapy session. Conversely, the person-centered orientation received a higher preference score when both orientations were presented as a written description. Given the current methodology, rated preference for type of therapy may be determined more by how specifically the therapies are presented than by the actual saliency that a particular orientation holds for an individual.
Barrier layer metallization schemes for ULSI technologies

Deep sub micron high aspect ratio contacts used for ULSI require highly conformal Ti and TiN films for W contact plug technology. Collimated Ti sputtering has been shown to enhance the coverage of Ti at the bottom of the contacts which helps obtain low contact resistance. However, insufficient sidewall and bottom corner coverage results in failure of the TiN barrier during subsequent processing. Conformal CVD TiN with collimated Ti is proposed as a technology of choice for obtaining low resistance and highly reliable contacts for advanced ULSI applications.
Steatosis reversibly increases hepatocyte sensitivity to hypoxia-reoxygenation injury.

Background Steatosis decreases survival of liver grafts after transplantation due to poorly understood mechanisms. We examined the effect of steatosis on the survival of liver grafts in a rat liver transplantation model and the viability of cultured rat hepatocytes after hypoxia and reoxygenation. Materials and methods Rats were fed a choline and methionine-deficient diet to induce hepatic steatosis, and the livers were transplanted into recipient rats after 6 h of cold storage. Cultured hepatocytes were made steatotic by incubation for 3 d in fatty acid-supplemented medium. Hypoxia and reoxygenation were induced by placing the cultures in a 90% N2/10% CO2 atmosphere for 4 h, followed by return to normoxic conditions for 6 h. Hepatocyte viability was assessed by lactate dehydrogenase release and mitochondrial potential staining. Results Transplanted steatotic livers exhibited 0% viability compared with 90% for lean liver controls. When donor choline and methionine-deficient diet rats were returned to a normal diet, hepatic fat content decreased while viability of the grafts after transplantation increased. Cultured steatotic hepatocytes generated more mitochondrial superoxide, exhibited a lowered mitochondrial membrane potential, and released significantly more lactate dehydrogenase after hypoxia and reoxygenation than lean hepatocyte controls. When steatotic hepatocytes were defatted by incubating in fatty acid-free medium, they became less sensitive to hypoxia and reoxygenation as the remaining intracellular triglyceride content decreased. Conclusions Hepatic steatosis reversibly decreases viability of hepatocytes after hypoxia and reoxygenation in vitro. The decreased viability of steatotic livers after transplantation may be due to a direct effect of hypoxia and reoxygenation on hepatocytes, and can be reversed by defatting.
2:1:1 Resonance in the Quasi-Periodic Mathieu Equation

We present a small e perturbation analysis of the quasi-periodic Mathieu equation $$ \ddot x + (\delta + \epsilon \cos t + \epsilon \cos \omega t) x=0 $$ in the neighborhood of the point δ = 0.25 and ω = 0.5. We use multiple scales including terms of O(e2) with three time scales. We obtain an asymptotic expansion for an associated instability region. Comparison with numerical integration shows good agreement for e = 0.1. Then we use the algebraic form of the perturbation solution to approximate scaling factors which are conjectured to determine the size of instability regions as we go from one resonance to another in the δ−ω parameter plane.
Passive bilateral feedforward control of linear dynamically similar teleoperated manipulators

Presents a passive bilateral feedforward control scheme for linear dynamically similar (LDS) teleoperated manipulators with kinematic scaling and power scaling. The proposed control law renders the teleoperator as a passive rigid mechanical tool with programmable apparent inertia to the human operator and the work environment by utilizing bilateral force feedforward and kinematic feedback control. The passivity of the closed-loop system is robust to force measurement inaccuracies and model uncertainty. Thus, interaction stability of the teleoperator with any passive environment is guaranteed. Coordination error and the overall motion aspects of teleoperation are controlled individually. The proposed control law is also applicable to general nonlinear robotic teleoperators if sufficiently high kinematic feedback gains are used. The proposed control schemes have been validated experimentally for both LDS and non-LDS systems.
Dip listening or modulation masking? Call recognition by green treefrogs ( Hyla cinerea ) in temporally fluctuating noise

Despite the importance of perceptually separating signals from background noise, we still know little about how nonhuman animals solve this problem. Dip listening, an ability to catch meaningful ‘acoustic glimpses’ of a target signal when fluctuating background noise levels momentarily drop, constitutes one possible solution. Amplitude-modulated noises, however, can sometimes impair signal recognition through a process known as modulation masking. We asked whether fluctuating noise simulating a breeding chorus affects the ability of female green treefrogs (Hyla cinerea) to recognize male advertisement calls. Our analysis of recordings of the sounds of green treefrog choruses reveal that their levels fluctuate primarily at rates below 10 Hz. In laboratory phonotaxis tests, we found no evidence for dip listening or modulation masking. Mean signal recognition thresholds in the presence of fluctuating chorus-like noises were never statistically different from those in the presence of a non-fluctuating control. An analysis of statistical effects sizes indicates that masker fluctuation rates, and the presence versus absence of fluctuations, had negligible effects on subject behavior. Together, our results suggest that females listening in natural settings should receive no benefits, nor experience any additional constraints, as a result of level fluctuations in the soundscape of green treefrog choruses.
Athymic nude mouse model for the study of new antioestrogens in breast cancer

Abstract Endocrine therapy utilizing agents that reduce oestrogen levels or block the oestrogen receptor remains an important modality in breast cancer management. While hormonal treatment are effective in many patients, de novo and acquired resistance are common problems. Model systems are needed that mimic the clinical situation to facilitate studies of the mechanisms of hormonal resistance. We have developed an in vivo model system for studies of endocrine therapy using the ER-positive MCF-7 human breast cancer cells growing subcutaneously in athymic mice. Similar to observations in patients, treatment of these mice by oestrogen withdrawal, tamoxifen, or steroidal antioestrogens (which have a pure antioestrogenic profile), inhibits growth of established tumours for several months. Eventually, tumours develop resistance and progression occurs. The steroidal antioestrogens offer more prolonged tumour control compared to tamoxifen and oestrogen withdrawal. Furthermore, these antioestrogens inhibit tumours that have developed resistance to oestrogen deprivation and/or tamoxifen. Studies from this model system support the hypothesis that pure steroidal antioestrogens may be effective antitumour agents in patients and that they may be useful in patients with tamoxifen resistance.
The Anaphase-promoting Complex Coordinates Initiation of Lens Differentiation

Lens development requires the precise coordination of cell division and differentiation. The mechanisms by which the differentiation program is initiated after cell cycle arrest remains not well understood. Cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors (CKIs), such as p15 and p21, have been suggested to be critical components that inhibit G1 progression and therefore, their activation is necessary for quiescence and important for the onset of differentiation. Regulation of p15 and p21 is principally governed by transforming growth factor (TGF)-β–signaling pathway. We have identified that Cdh1/APC, a critical ubiquitin protein ligase, plays an important role in regulating lens differentiation by facilitating TGF-β–induced degradation of SnoN, a transcriptional corepressor that needs to be removed for transcriptional activation of p15 and p21. The depletion of Cdh1 by RNA interference attenuates the TGF-β–mediated induction of p15 and p21 and significantly blocks lens differentiation. Expression of nondegradable SnoN also noticeably attenuates lens induction. Furthermore, we have shown that Cdh1 and SnoN form a complex at the onset of lens differentiation. In vivo histological analysis confirms our biochemical and genetic results. Thus, Cdh1/APC is crucial to the coordination of cell cycle progression and the initiation of lens differentiation through mediating TGF-β–signaling-induced destruction of SnoN.
A common mode of recognition for methylated CpG

Much is known about vertebrate DNA methylation, however it is not known how methylated CpG within particular sequences is recognized. Two recent structures of C2H2 zinc finger (ZnF) proteins in complex with methylated DNA reveal a common recognition mode for 5-methylcytosine (5mC) that involves a 5mC-Arg-G triad. In the two ZnF proteins, an arginine that precedes the first Zn-binding histidine (RH motif) can interact with a 5mCpG or TpG dinucleotide. Among a family of >300 human Kruppel-associated box (KRAB) domain containing ZnF proteins examined, two-thirds contained at least one ZnF that included an RH motif. We propose that the RH-ZnF motifs provide specificity for 5mCpG, whereas the neighboring Zn fingers recognize the surrounding DNA sequence context.
The Nurse's Role in the Identification of Risks and Treatment of Shoulder Dystocia

Shoulder dystocia is a clinical emergency that requires immediate recognition and prompt treatment to minimize maternal and neonatal sequelae. The nurse's role is to recognize and report associated risk factors for shoulder dystocia, respond with appropriate assistance, and monitor the woman and her newborn after delivery. The nurse's calm demeanor, knowledge of treatment modalities, and prepared response are valuable assets in this clinical dilemma.
Health Characteristics of Mothers of Twins

Mothers of twins, as compared with mothers of singletons, are taller, and for a given height are heavier; they have slightly earlier menarche and menopause. Our recent studies have shown that mothers of DZ twins are at greater risk of cancer of the pancreas (but not for cancers of other sites), as well as of death due to diabetes, other endocrine diseases, and allergies. These findings are consistent with the clinical and epidemiological literature. We have also found that singleton siblings of twins are slightly heavier at birth than children born into sibships consisting of singletons only. The need for further research on the characteristics and long-term health of mothers of twins is indicated.
Adsorption kinetics in fixed beds with nonlinear equilibrium relationships

Previous work by the authors on ion exchange kinetics for systems having nonlinear equilibrium relationships has been extended. Computer studies have produced additional concentration—bed length–time relationships for values of αo 5, 10, and 50. This information and the results obtained previously for values of αo 100 and 1,000 provide an extensive variation of the parameter αo for design applications. The composite results are represented graphically.
D-Methionine and gold chloride alleviate adverse effects of glutamate on motility of ephyrae of Aurelia aurita (Linnaeus, 1758) (Scyphozoa: Semaeostomeae)

Glutamate (MSG) causes low pulse numbers and swimming cessation in Aurelia jellyfish ephyrae. Ephyrae given MSG for 1 h and subsequently maintained in artificial sea water (ASW) were observed at 1, 3, 24, and 48 h intervals. Abnormality of motility was found at all post-treatment periods but some ephyrae resumed swimming and normal pulsing within 48 h. Swimming and pulsing were impaired in a significant number of ephyrae within 15 min of MSG treatment. The mechanism of MSG action on ephyrae motility is unknown, but glutamate damage to neurons and hair cells of higher animals is partly attributed to the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Laser confocal fluorescent microscopy of ephyrae following MSG treatment indicated an increase of calcium and free radicals in the ephyrae as early as 5 min following MSG exposure. To determine whether antioxidants could alleviate MSG effects, we exposed ephyrae to gold chloride before, during, and after treatment with MSG. Ephyrae given gold chloride pre-treatment for 1 h and then transferred into gold chloride plus MSG for 1 h showed statistically significant recovery from MSG impairment of pulsing at the 3, 24, and 48 h post-glutamate time periods and higher numbers of swimmers at 3 h and 24 h. Ephyrae groups given gold plus MSG but without gold pretreatment showed recovery of swimming at 24 h and pulsing at 48 h. D-methionine given simultaneously with MSG significantly improved the pulse numbers and swimming of ephyrae at the 3, 24, and 48 h post-glutamate time periods compared to those receiving MSG alone. Both D-methionine and gold chloride accelerated the time of recovery from glutamate-induced motility impairment, possibly through their antioxidant activities.
Microstrip linear array of EMC dipoles with a corporate feed

The design of a microstrip linear array of electromagnetically coupled (EMC) dipoles with a corporate feed is described. In order to obtain a desired array pattern, the corporate feed is composed of various microstrip junctions which are shaped individually to acquire a specific current distribution in the output ports. The separation between two adjacent microstrip junctions or between one microstrip junction and one dipole is set very far away to avoid unnecessary interference. This results in a very huge dimension of the entire circuit and increases the difficulties in evaluation with the method of moments. Therefore, a compromise is made to evaluate the scattering parameters of each junction rigorously by the method of moments and integrate all the junctions using circuit theory. As an example, a five-element equispaced array with a 20-dB Dolph-Chebyshev pattern is designed to illustrate the developed design procedure. Mutual coupling among dipoles is discussed. >
The Limitations of Reductive Wealth Redistribution Strategies for Curtailing Inequality in the Era of Global Capitalism

Abstract. Poverty and inequality are in all likelihood the most pernicious problems in contemporary life. They contribute greatly to a wide and diverse range of suffering, injustice, and social ills. They have existed since the incipient forms of society emerged, and have plagued nearly every society. They have provoked criticism and resistance across millennia and geographic regions, and were inciting factors for many revolutions and social movements. There is evidence that inequality is rising globally, with economic growth and global capitalism as the primary culprits. Marx’s theory of infinite accumulation and Ricardo’s scarcity principle relate inherent structural qualities of wealth in capitalism to inequality and divergence in income and wealth. Abundant evidence shows that inequality will continue to increase unless there are political and economic measures to oppose it, and that inequality has increased since industrialization. The aims of these strategies is to promote income convergence, usually via reforms to taxes, redistribution, or minimum wage. Two of the most prominent proposals to curtail inequality are Piketty’s global tax rate and Standing’s basic income. However, neither sufficiently accounts for structural limitations in capitalism, such as those described by Marx and Ricardo, as well as Piketty’s study of greater growth rate of capital over income (r>g) and free market ideology. They fundamentally rely upon reductive redistribution and particularly money and income, which do not necessarily contribute to parity in wealth. In structural Marxism, inequality is created and perpetuated by the structural base and super-structure, and both must be somehow reformed or altered to achieve lasting and significant equality. In this paper, I approach inequality with this in mind, and propose a form of paternalism as a means of ensuring wealth redistribution achieves lasting equality.. Keywords. Inequality, Income convergence, Wealth redistribution, Global tax, Basic income, Equality, Structuralism, Paternalism, Capitalism, Structural barriers. JEL. P19, I30, I38, D69, D63, A13, B14.
Review and Synthesis

Studies of trace gases in the atmosphere, their sources, sinks, and mechanisms of transport, have developed rapidly in the last few decades. This has been driven partly by increasing recognition that particular gases are associated with problems such as acidification, eutrophication, and global warming, but also by the developing enthusiasm for multidisciplinary research in which scientists from many disciplines collaborate to explore biological, geochemical, and atmospheric cycles and to understand how human action disturbs such cycles. Major international programs such as the International Biological Program (IBP) and the International Geosphere-Biosphere Program (IGBP) have been very influential in generating and encouraging this new way of working. To answer these complex environmental research questions, scientists have needed to develop new field instrumentation, or at least to modify instruments normally used in the laboratory. Equally, mathematical simulation models are increasingly being used at scales ranging from cellular to global to allow complex computations that would have been unthinkable even a decade ago. The papers in this proceedings illustrate some of the exciting developments taking place in the study of the exchange of trace gases between the atmosphere and the land. They describe new understanding of the processes in soils, plants and the atmosphere that control gases important in the carbon and nitrogen cycles, they summarize new techniques and instrumentation that allow field studies at scales ranging from soil grains to landscapes, and they present results of mathematical models that allow us to explore consequences of global changes that may yet come.
Identification of forbidden transitions in the nu(4) band of (14)NH(3) by intracavity laser-Stark spectroscopy.

These transitions are forbidden in the sense that they follow the selection rule delta K = + or - 2, which violates the usual rule that delta K = + or - 1 for a perpendicular band of a symmetric top, where K is the projection of the total angular momentum onto the molecular symmetry axis. The assignments are based for the most part on laser-Stark measurements made with a CO laser and an intracavity Stark cell. The procedure followed in making the assignments is described. Attention is called to the significance of these new lines in the analysis of the nu-4 vibrational state and in an improved determination of the ground-state rotational and centrifugal distortion constants.
A neuroendocrine role in cocaine reinforcement

Cocaine stimulates the secretion of corticosterone and ACTH, probably through a CRF-related mechanism, indicating that the drug activates the HPA axis. Indeed, cocaine has been reported to produce anxiety and to precipitate episodes of panic attack during chronic use and withdrawal in humans and to induce anxiogenic behavior in animals. Cocaine also alters benzodiazepine receptor binding in discrete regions of the rat brain. Some of these changes in binding are obviously related to the convulsions and seizures which are often observed in an acute cocaine overdose. However, data from behavioral studies have suggested that some of these effects may be related directly to cocaine reinforcement since receptor changes also were observed when binding in the brains of rats that self-administered cocaine was compared with that from animals that had received identical yoked, but non-contingent infusions of the drug. In this regard, pretreatment with the benzodiazepine receptor agonists chlordiazepoxide and alprazolam decreased cocaine self-administration without decreasing food-reinforced responding, suggesting that these effects were specific for cocaine. Since this attenuation of self-administration was reversed by increasing the unit dose of cocaine, it is likely that these drugs were decreasing cocaine reinforcement. In contrast, exposure to stress increases vulnerability to self-administer psychostimulants. In these experiments, low-dose cocaine self-administration was related directly to stress-induced increases in plasma corticosterone, such that plasma corticosterone was always greater than 150 ng/ml for rats which subsequently self-administered cocaine at doses of 0.125 mg/kg/infusion or lower, suggesting a threshold for the hormone in cocaine reinforcement. In other experiments, bilateral adrenalectomy completely abolished the acquisition of intravenous cocaine self-administration in naive rats, while metyrapone decreased ongoing self-administration. In addition, ketoconazole pretreatment resulted in patterns of self-administration that were virtually indistinguishable from that observed during saline extinction, suggesting that plasma corticosterone is not only important, but may even be necessary for cocaine reinforcement. The mechanisms through which adrenocorticosteroids alter cocaine reinforcement remain to be determined, but there is increasing evidence that the mesocorticolimbic dopaminergic system is involved. In particular, the medial prefrontal cortex appears to be at least one brain region where dopamine and adrenocorticosteroids may interact to affect cocaine reinforcement.
Silicon-on-sapphire mid-IR wavefront engineering by using subwavelength grating metasurfaces

Subwavelength high-contrast gratings (sub-λ HCGs) were pursued to design mid-IR optical devices based on wavefront engineering. Unlike metallic counterparts, dielectric and semiconductors offer low-loss operation over a wide spectral range. Silicon gratings on sapphire substrate are proposed here as the device platform due to their transparency at near-IR to mid-IR wavelengths. The proposed generic methodology manipulates the wavefront of the reflected wave based on the phase and magnitude of reflectivity for unit cells with different dimensions. To demonstrate the capability of generating an arbitrary wavefront profile, several design examples are shown: (1) a reflective mirror with ∼100% power efficiency and broad bandwidth of >1 μm as reflectivity >90%; (2) a blazed grating with a reflection peak automatically aligned with its +1st diffraction order at 19.5°; (3) a focusing mirror with a focal length of 35 μm and diffraction-limited focus; (4) a sinusoidal phase profile with a periodicity of 8860 nm.
Brain 4: a novel mammalian POU domain transcription factor exhibiting restricted brain-specific expression.

Abstract The POU domain gene family of transcription factors share a conserved bipartite DNA binding domain, and exhibit distinct temporal and spatial patterns of expression during development, particularly in the forebrain. A cDNA encoding a new member of the POU-III class of the POU domain gene family, referred to as Brn-4, was isolated from a rat hypothalamic cDNA library. Like other mammalian POU-III genes previously characterized (Brn-1, Brn-2, Tst-1), Brn-4 transcripts are initially widely expressed at all levels of the developing neural tube, but in contrast to other previously described POU-III genes, are subsequently restricted to only a few regions of the adult forebrain, including the supraoptic and paraventricular nuclei of the hypothalamus. Brn-4 was shown to bind to DNA sequences containing the octamer motif and to trans-activate promoters containing this DNA binding motif, based on the actions of a unique N-terminal information. This ontogenic pattern of Brn-4 expression in concert with that of Oct-2 and Pit-1, indicates that certain POU domain genes potentially exert their primary functions widely during early neural development, and in a very limited set of neurons in the mature brain.
Tax Court's Decision in Bank One Raises More Questions than It Answers

Two items dealing with mark-to-market valuations of swaps were released on the same day: the IRS's advance notice of proposed rulemaking asking for comments on a safe harbor for valuations under section 475, and the decision in Bank One Corporation v. Commissioner regarding the propriety of the valuation methodology for marking swaps to market used by First National Bank of Chicago (FNBC), part of an affiliated group that is the predecessor to Bank One Corporation. Practitioners and industry participants alike had eagerly awaited the release of both items. The article summarizes the case, with particular attention to lingering questions about some of the holdings in the decision that may cause securities dealers or practitioners particular concerns. Part I of this article provides an overview of the market for interest rate and currency swaps, the main types of derivatives addressed in the Bank One litigation. This Part serves to introduce and define the terminology used throughout the Bank One decision and this article to discuss the relevant valuation issues. Part II provides a description of the statutory provision governing mark-to-market accounting and briefly describes the issues at stake from the perspectives of each of the parties. Part III summarizes Judge Laro's decision and highlights a number of areas of concern for securities dealers while they await definitive guidance from Treasury.
A New Species of Lysurus

Mature plant 1-1.5 (2.2) cm. high, color of volva and stipe dull white, gleba dark brown with a faint tint of olive, odor fetid but not strong; button subspherical, 4-6 mm. thick, largely covered with soil particles, attached at base by one to several strong white, ropy strands which soon branch into a delicate complex, or by more delicate and numerous filaments. Stipe 7-18 mm. high, 2.5-3.5 mm. thick, terete, attenuated below, surface delicately wrinkled, hollow, wall about % mm. thick, very uneven within, the flesh chambered with a single row of irregular cavities, not constricted above, where it divides into 3-4 (5) bluntly pyramidal, entirely separate, but closely folded, vertical or irregular curved arms which may or may not form a regularly pointed apex, the arms bluntly ridged on the back, the ridge with a shallow central furrow that broadens below and is continuous with the stem; arm surface entirely covered both within and without, except for the ridge furrow, and a little of the base on the inner surface, with irregular, horizontal wrinkles which support the gleba, these folds and gleba running over the apex of the stipe between the bases of the arms so as to connect them. Gleba dark brown with a faint tint of olive, firm, smooth, the tramal cavities as usual very small and irregular. Basidia multi-
Markov Chain Monte Carlo Inference of Parametric Dictionaries for Sparse Bayesian Approximations

Parametric dictionaries can increase the ability of sparse representations to meaningfully capture and interpret the underlying signal information, such as encountered in biomedical problems. Given a mapping function from the atom parameter space to the actual atoms, we propose a sparse Bayesian framework for learning the atom parameters, because of its ability to provide full posterior estimates, take uncertainty into account and generalize on unseen data. Inference is performed with Markov Chain Monte Carlo, that uses block sampling to generate the variables of the Bayesian problem. Since the parameterization of dictionary atoms results in posteriors that cannot be analytically computed, we use a Metropolis–Hastings–within-Gibbs framework, according to which variables with closed-form posteriors are generated with the Gibbs sampler, while the remaining ones with the Metropolis Hastings from appropriate candidate-generating densities. We further show that the corresponding Markov Chain is uniformly ergodic ensuring its convergence to a stationary distribution independently of the initial state. Results on synthetic data and real biomedical signals indicate that our approach offers advantages in terms of signal reconstruction compared to previously proposed Steepest Descent and Equiangular Tight Frame methods. This paper demonstrates the ability of Bayesian learning to generate parametric dictionaries that can reliably represent the exemplar data and provides the foundation towards inferring the entire variable set of the sparse approximation problem for signal denoising, adaptation, and other applications.
Blood-borne and sexual transmission of human herpesvirus 8 in women with or at risk for human immunodeficiency virus infection

Background Human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8), the causal agent of Kaposi's sarcoma, is transmitted sexually among homosexual men, but little is known of its transmission among women. Although HHV-8 has been detected in blood, there has been no clear evidence of blood-borne transmission. Methods We identified risk factors for HHV-8 infection in 1295 women in Baltimore, Detroit, New York, and Providence, Rhode Island, who reported high-risk sexual behavior or drug use. HHV-8 serologic studies were performed with two enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Results In univariate analyses, HHV-8 was associated with black race, Hispanic ethnic background, a lower level of education, and infection with syphilis, the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), or hepatitis C virus (HCV). The risk of seropositivity for HHV-8 increased with the frequency of injection-drug use (P<0.001); HHV-8 seroprevalence among the women who used drugs daily was three times that among women who never injected drugs. Among ...
Reading in the Dark: Lost Books, Literacy, and Fifteenth-Century German Literature

While the invention of print has often been treated as a media revolution, a reconsideration of the type and page formats of early printed books suggests considerable continuity in physical makeup, and in book markets as well, between manuscript and print. This continuity in turn suggests that recent research on lost books and missing editions, which points towards a much higher number of lost fifteenth-century editions than previously believed, is also relevant for the study of late medieval manuscripts, especially for smaller vernacular works. Shifting the perspective from the books and manuscripts that survive today to those that likely once existed compels a reconsideration of late medieval literacy and the literary context for smaller works, such as the Stricker’s Pfaffe Amis , that were printed in the fifteenth century.
Urinary Bladder Carcinoma

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), a component of the World Health Organization (WHO), estimated that there were 356,557 new cases of bladder carcinoma worldwide in 2002 [1]. The IARC also estimated that there were 145,009 deaths due to this cause in 2002 [1].
Personal Perspectives on Mathematics and Mechanics

These days especially, provocative questions confront a socially conscious scientist when he begins to contemplate where applications of his work might lead. As one whose main work has been in pure mathematics, and who is beginning to concern himself with areas of applied mathematics such as electrical circuit theory, I wonder to what extent I should explicitly direct my work toward socially positive goals. Many issues on the relations of the profession of a scientist to the social crises of this time deserve a format, for example, at various professional meetings and conferences, as well as in the departments of universities. There are strong pressures on the scientist, from the sources of funding research, scientific tradition, and a basic conservatism of maintaining the status quo, which act to prevent discussion of these issues. Although I am not going to pursue such a discussion here, I feel that mathematicians and scientists in general must face these questions in a much more serious way than they have done to date (myself included).
Beyond the mechanics of spreadsheets: using design instruction to address spreadsheet errors

ABSTRACTGiven that the usage and complexity of spreadsheets in the accounting profession are expected to increase, it is more important than ever to ensure that accounting graduates are aware of the dangers of spreadsheet errors and are equipped with design skills to minimize those errors. Although spreadsheet mechanics are prevalent in accounting curricula, less attention has been given to design considerations that can reduce the incidence of spreadsheet errors. The extant literature provides evidence of the most common types of spreadsheet errors and explanations as to why they occur. Using the work of Panko and others, this paper outlines a three-step approach for introducing spreadsheet design practices to novice spreadsheet developers. To facilitate design instruction, this paper provides a summary of foundational readings related to spreadsheet errors as well as specific teaching strategies for addressing the most common spreadsheet errors identified in the literature.
Expression of the inhibitory receptor NKG2A correlates with increased liver and splenic NK cell response to activating receptor engagement

Introduction Natural killer (NK) cells play a critical role in the innate immune response to viruses and tumors, and comprise a large proportion of the hepatic lymphocyte population. They must remain tolerant to non-pathogenic antigens while protecting the host from harmful agents. Herein, we investigate how the NK cell response to activation receptor engagement is altered in the liver. Methods In this study, we assess IFN-γ production and degranulation of splenic NK cells and selected subsets of liver NK cells. Flow cytometry (FCM) was used to asses IFN-γ production and degranulation following stimulation of the NK cells with plate bound antibodies to activating receptors. Results We show that smaller percentages of hepatic NK cells produce interferon (IFN)-γ and/or degranulate than do splenic NK cells upon stimulation through activating receptors. We also found that smaller percentages of the circulating NK (cNK) cells in the liver produce IFN-γ and/or degranulate, compared to the liver tissue resident NK (trNK) cells. In addition, IFN-γ production by liver cNK cells is not increased in IL-10 deficient mice, suggesting that their hyporesponsiveness is not mediated by the presence of this anti-inflammatory cytokine in the hepatic microenvironment. On the other hand, liver trNK cells express higher levels of the inhibitory receptor NKG2A than do cNK cells, correlating with their increased IFN-γ production and degranulation. Conclusions Liver cNK cells' hyporesponsiveness to stimulation through activating receptors is independent of IL-10, but correlates with decreased NKG2A expression compared to trNK cells. In addition, we demonstrate that liver NK cells become further hyporesponsive upon continuous engagement of an activating receptor on their cell surface.
Response by Lubitz et al to Letter Regarding Article, "Stroke as the Initial Manifestation of Atrial Fibrillation: The Framingham Heart Study".

We thank Drs Sposato, Fridman, and Saposnik for their thoughtful comments. We agree that the relations between stroke and atrial fibrillation may be bidirectional and warrant further study. As the investigators mentioned, in some cases, stroke has been cited as a cause of atrial fibrillation. Clinical clues such as coronary artery disease status, cardiac dimensions and function, brain magnetic resonance imaging, …
The Natural and Anthropogenic Acidification of Peatlands

Peatlands are ubiquitous in northern landscapes, and decomposition of their plant remains produces complex, coloured organic acids that acidify their waters and those of the streams and lakes into which they drain. Fens with weakly acid surface waters (pH about 6) and low alkalinity (about 40 μeq.L−1) are vulnerable to rapid change, and may be acidified by invasion of carpet-forming Sphagnum mosses that bring about major alterations in their biotic communities. The plant communities of such fens include a mixture of species characteristic of both minerotrophic and ombrotrophic peatlands.
Cobalt Porphyrin-Polypyridyl Surface Coatings for Photoelectrosynthetic Hydrogen Production.

Hybrid materials that link light capture and conversion technologies with the ability to drive reductive chemical transformations are attractive as components in photoelectrosynthetic cells. We show that thin-film polypyridine surface coatings provide a molecular interface to assemble cobalt porphyrin catalysts for hydrogen evolution onto a visible-light-absorbing p-type gallium phosphide semiconductor. Spectroscopic techniques, including grazing angle attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, confirm that the cobalt centers of the porphyrin macrocycles coordinate to pyridyl nitrogen sites of the organic surface coating. The cobalt porphyrin surface concentration and fraction of pyridyl sites coordinated to a cobalt center are quantified using complementary methods of ellipsometry, inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. In aqueous solutions under simulated solar illumination the modified cathode is photochemically active for hydrogen ...
On the importance of electron impact processes in excimer-pumped alkali laser-induced plasmas

The excimer-pumped alkali laser (XPAL) system has recently been demonstrated in several different mixtures of alkali vapor and rare gas. Without special preventive measures, plasma formation during operation of XPAL is unavoidable. Recent advancements in the availability of reliable data for electron impact collisions with atoms and molecules have enabled development of a complete reaction mechanism to investigate XPAL-induced plasmas. We report on pathways leading to plasma formation in an Ar/C2H6/Cs XPAL sustained at different cell temperatures. We find that depending on the operating conditions, the contribution of electron impact processes can be as little as bringing the excitation of Cs(P2) states to higher level Cs** states, and can be as high as bringing Cs(P2) excited states to a full ionization. Increasing the input pumping power or cell temperature, or decreasing the C2H6 mole fraction leads to electron impact processes dominating in plasma formation over the energy pooling mechanisms previously reported in literature.
Complete Genome Sequences of Plasmid-Bearing Campylobacter coli and Campylobacter jejuni Strains Isolated from Retail Chicken Liver.

ABSTRACT Complete genome sequences of Campylobacter coli strains WA333, YF2105, BG2108, MG1116, and BP3183 and Campylobacter jejuni strain IF1100 isolated from retail chicken liver showed the presence of 1,841,551-, 1,687,232-, 1,695,638-, 1,665,146-, 1,695,360-, and 1,744,171-bp circular chromosomes, respectively. These isolates also contained plasmids ranging in size from 5,209 to 55,122 bp.
A Summary of Sulfur Deactivation, Desorption, and Regeneration Characteristics of Mono- and Bimetallic Pd-Pt Methane Oxidation Catalysts: Pd:Pt Mole Ratio and Particle Size Dependency

Complete CH4 oxidation (combustion) studies were conducted with fresh (small particle size) and sintered (large particle size) Pd/Pt bimetallic, Al2O3 supported catalysts before and after exposure to SO2. Temperature-programmed oxidation, reduction, and desorption as models for potential catalyst regeneration were evaluated in terms of CH4 oxidation performance recovery. Temperature-programmed desorption studies show that Pd/Pt catalysts with little Pt substitution or small particle sizes tended to form aluminum sulfate species at low temperatures. Aluminum sulfate species thermally decompose at high temperatures, thus requiring high-temperature conditions to recover catalytic activity lost due to sulfate formation. In contrast, Pd/Pt catalysts with higher Pt content or larger particle sizes were less effective at sulfate formation at low temperatures. In this case, low-temperature decomposing sulfur species inhibited the CH4 oxidation reaction over a broader temperature range. For Pd/Pt catalysts with high Pt content and small particle size, the associated sintering effects from the temperature-programmed reduction and desorption methods were more detrimental to catalytic activity than the sulfur exposure used in this study. Sintering bimetallic samples increased the particle size and provided some resistance to further sintering. Sintered, SO2-exposed Pd/Pt catalysts with low Pt content recovered all activity via temperature-programmed desorption regeneration, whereas those with high Pt content catalysts only recovered some activity. Regardless of particle size, the effectiveness of the temperature-programmed desorption regeneration method decreased with increasing Pt content.
Cervical Radiculopathy as the Initial Presentation for Lyme neuroborreliosis (P1.311)

Objective: To emphasize the importance of a Lyme neuroborreliosis as one of the deferential diagnosis in the assessment of cervical radiculopathies. Background: The musculoskeletal and neurological manifestations of Lyme disease can mimic other conditions, making the diagnosis difficult in the setting of low clinical suspicion. Classic symptoms of Lyme neuroborreliosis include radiculoneuritis, cranial nerve abnormalities, and meningitis. Without a higher clinical suspicion for Lyme disease or other concomitant signs or symptoms, the diagnosis can be easily missed. Literature case reports helps highlight the different clinical presentations. Design/Methods: Case Report Results: 21-year-old male with no past history of spinal or neurological disease, presented with acute right cervical neck pain radiating to the right trapezius and right occipital and temporal regions. Lyme studies showed the IgM antibody level for Borrelia burgdorferi elevated with normal IgG levels. Oral Doxycycline 100mg twice a day was started. The following day, the patient re-presented to the ED with acute right lower motor neuron facial droop. Other symptoms included intermittent fevers, myalgias, and neck stiffness. Lumbar puncture demonstrated cell count of 268 with lymphocytic predominance. Protein level was elevated at 114. IgM antibody level for Borrelia burgdorferi was positive. He was diagnosed with Lyme disease complicated by neurological symptoms and meningitis and started on 2gm of ceftriaxone IV daily. His hospital stay was unremarkable, and he was discharged in two days with follow-up for remaining antibiotics course and with outpatient clinic. Conclusions: Although mechanical causes are high in the differential diagnosis of cervical radiculopathy, Lyme disease is well-known to have symptoms of radiculitis and should be considered in the assessment of cervical pain. A typical early syndrome due to neuroborreliosis has been characterized as a triad of the symptoms mentioned above including radicular pain, cranial or peripheral paresis, and lymphocytic meningitis and is called “Bannwarths syndrome” (Bannwarth, 1941). Disclosure: Dr. Hannoun has nothing to disclose. Dr. Gudin has received personal compensation for activities with Purdue, Endo, Astra Zeneca, Daiichi Sankyo, Collegium, and Kaleo Pharmaceuticals as a consultant.
Stimulus-dependent hemodynamic response timing across the human subcortical-cortical visual pathway identified through high spatiotemporal resolution 7T fMRI.

Abstract Recent developments in fMRI acquisition techniques now enable fast sampling with whole-brain coverage, suggesting fMRI can be used to track changes in neural activity at increasingly rapid timescales. When images are acquired at fast rates, the limiting factor for fMRI temporal resolution is the speed of the hemodynamic response. Given that HRFs may vary substantially in subcortical structures, characterizing the speed of subcortical hemodynamic responses, and how the hemodynamic response shape changes with stimulus duration (i.e. the hemodynamic nonlinearity), is needed for designing and interpreting fast fMRI studies of these regions. We studied the temporal properties and nonlinearities of the hemodynamic response function (HRF) across the human subcortical visual system, imaging superior colliculus (SC), lateral geniculate nucleus of the thalamus (LGN) and primary visual cortex (V1) with high spatiotemporal resolution 7 Tesla fMRI. By presenting stimuli of varying durations, we mapped the timing and nonlinearity of hemodynamic responses in these structures at high spatiotemporal resolution. We found that the hemodynamic response is consistently faster and narrower in subcortical structures than in cortex. However, the nonlinearity in LGN is similar to that in cortex, with shorter duration stimuli eliciting larger and faster responses than would have been predicted by a linear model. Using oscillatory visual stimuli, we tested the frequency response in LGN and found that its BOLD response tracked high-frequency (0.5 Hz) oscillations. The LGN response magnitudes were comparable to V1, allowing oscillatory BOLD signals to be detected in LGN despite the small size of this structure. These results suggest that the increase in the speed and amplitude of the hemodynamic response when neural activity is brief may be the key physiological driver of fast fMRI signals, enabling detection of high-frequency oscillations with fMRI. We conclude that subcortical visual structures exhibit fast and nonlinear hemodynamic responses, and that these dynamics enable detection of fast BOLD signals even within small deep brain structures when imaging is performed at ultra-high field.
Applying the technology in practice

This chapter elaborates the main goals of pinch technology and provides an understanding of the important factors regulating the energy consumption of a process. It allows approximate but meaningful energy targets to be set using shortcut calculations and pre-optimizes the most promising schemes before embarking on the costly and time-consuming detailed design phase. The first essential step in a process integration study is to form a consistent heat and mass balance, with all heat losses and leaks accounted for, but it is very rare to find that one is available. Extraction of stream data from a plant flowsheet is the biggest source of difficulties in a process integration study. Mixing of streams is done isothermally to achieve the best energy targets. Many streams on a plant have fixed supply and target temperatures, as they run between two unit operations working at definite temperatures. However, some temperatures may be variable to the surroundings. The Problem Table method is easy to implement, given the set of stream data. Although hand calculation is generally too difficult, the algorithm is straightforward and can be transformed relatively easily into a simple computer program. Oil refining and bulk chemicals are major traditional areas for pinch analysis.