cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Oxygen diffusion barriers using a new sacrificial design concept for future high-density memory devices

We emphasize the importance of the new design concept for diffusion barriers in high-density memory capacitors. RuTiN and RuTiO films are proposed as sacrificial oxygen diffusion barriers. They showed much lower sheet resistance up to 800 °C than various barriers including binary and ternary nitrides, reported by others. The contact resistance for both the Pt/RuTiN/TiSix/n++poly-plug/n+channel layer/Si and the Pt/RuTiO/RuTiN/TiSix/n++poly-plug/n+channel layer/Si contact structures, the most important electrical parameter for the diffusion barrier in the bottom-electrode structure of capacitors, exhibited values as low as 5 kΩ, even after annealing up to 750 °C. When each RuTiN and TiN film is inserted as a glue layer between the bottom electrode Pt layer in the CVD–BST simple stack-type structure, the thermal stability of the RuTiN glue layer is observed to be 150 °C higher than that of the TiN glue layer. Moreover, the capacitance of the PVD–BST simple stack-type structure with a TiN glue layer initially degrades after annealing at 500 °C, and thereafter failed completely. In the case of RuTiN and the RuTiO/RuTiN glue layers, however, the capacitance continuously increased up to 550 °C. These new experimental results accommodate the introduction of the sacrificial design concept of diffusion barriers against oxygen in high-density memory capacitors.
The Presidency, The Vote, and The Formation of New Coalitions

The 2008 presidential election can be said to suffer from an audacity of analysis, a rush to place the Barack Obama presidency in historical perspective before the Obama presidency actually makes history. Some historical facts are irrefutable, such as the election of the first African-American president and the smashing of campaign finance records. But other aspects of the 2008 election remain to be proven, such as whether a permanent Democratic majority has emerged and an electoral realignment has taken place. Another audacious aspect of the discussion of this election has been the crediting of a permanent shift in electoral and governing coalitions to the strategic efforts of a presidential candidate, that is, to link the presidency to structural changes in the vote and the formation of a new Democratic Party coalition. This paper identifies the questions that must be answered to prove such conclusions, and cautiously tenders some answers. First, what indications are there that the Obama coalition is a sustainable coalition or a permanent shift in the vote? Second, what might be the role of a presidential candidate and a sitting president in building and maintaining a majority party coalition?
Staged repair significantly reduces paraplegia rate after extensive thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm repair.

Objective Paraplegia remains a devastating, and still too frequent, complication after repair of extensive thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms. Strategies to prevent ischemic spinal cord damage after extensive segmental artery sacrifice—or occlusion, essential for endovascular repair—are still evolving. Methods Ninety patients who underwent extensive segmental artery sacrifice (median, 13; range, 9–15) during open surgical repair from June 1994 to December 2007 were reviewed retrospectively. Fifty-five patients (mean age, 65 ± 12 years; 49% were male), most with extensive Crawford type II thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms, had a single procedure (single-stage group). Thirty-five patients (mean age, 62 ± 14 years; 57% were male) had 2 procedures (2-stage group), usually Crawford type III or IV repair after operation for Crawford type I descending thoracic aneurysm. The median interval between the 2-stage procedures was 5 years (3 months to 17 years). There were no significant differences between the groups with regard to age, gender, cause of the aneurysm, hypertension, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, urgency, previous cerebrovascular accidents, year of procedure, or cerebrospinal fluid drainage. In single-stage procedures, hypothermic circulatory arrest was used in 29% of patients, left-sided heart bypass was used in 40% of patients, and partial cardiopulmonary bypass was used in 27% of patients. Somatosensory-evoked potentials were monitored in all patients, and motor-evoked potentials were monitored in 39% of patients. Cerebrospinal fluid was drained in 84% of patients. Results Overall hospital mortality was 11.1%. There were no significant differences in mortality, stroke, postoperative bleeding, infection, renal failure, or pulmonary insufficiency between the groups. However, 15% of patients in the single-stage group had permanent spinal cord injury versus none in the 2-stage group ( P = .02). The significantly lower rate of paraplegia and paraparesis in the 2-stage group occurred despite a significantly higher number of segmental arteries sacrificed in this group: a median of 14 (11–15) versus 12 (9–15) ( P Conclusion A staged approach to extensive thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm repair may reduce the incidence of spinal cord injury. This is of particular importance in designing strategies involving hybrid or entirely endovascular procedures.
Extrapharyngeal group A Streptococcus infection: diagnostic accuracy and utility of rapid antigen testing.

Background Antigen tests have been well-studied and are widely used in pediatric practice for rapid detection of group A Streptococcus (GAS) infections in the throat, but they have not been examined sufficiently for the detection of infection of skin sites, such as the perineal region or impetiginous lesions. Methods During the 3-year period 1999 to 2002, we evaluated 239 patients with suspected GAS skin infection, in 5 pediatric practices, using 3 Dacron swabs for each site. The first swab was tested in the pediatric office laboratory with an antigen detection kit. For the first 91 patients, the Abbott Test Pack Plus antigen detection test (ADT) was used. The Abbott Signify Strep A ADT was used to test subsequent patients. The second swab was tested with BD Directigen 1-2-3 ADT in the hospital laboratory. The third swab was placed in modified Stuart's transport medium for comparison of recovery of GAS from culture in broth or on agar. A positive culture served as the reference standard. Test performance and test accuracy were determined for each ADT. Results Of the 247 ADTs and cultures performed on 239 patients, 91 with suspected skin infection were tested with the Test Pack Plus test, 149 with the Signify Strep A test and 247 with the Directigen test. Eighty-six (35%) cultures were positive, 73 from perineal sites (54 rectal, 13 vaginal, 6 penile) and 13 from impetiginous lesions. There was 100% concordance for the 86 cultures positive for GAS in a comparison between dry Dacron swabs and swabs that had been placed in modified Stuart's transport medium. Test Pack Plus and Signify Strep A ADTs had similar performance characteristics for skin infections: sensitivity, 92 and 88%; specificity, 99 and 97%; positive predictive value, 96 and 94%; and negative predictive value, 97 and 93%. Directigen ADT had sensitivity 78%, specificity 100%, positive predictive value 100% and negative predictive value 89%. Accuracy for the tests varied from 92 to 97%. Conclusion Tests designed to detect GAS carbohydrate antigen in patients with pharyngitis can be used rapidly and accurately to detect GAS antigen in patients with cutaneous lesions suspected of GAS infection.
Data mining with unsupervised clustering using photonic micro-ring resonators

Data is commonly moved through optical fiber in modern data centers and may be stored optically. We propose an optical method of data mining for future data centers to enhance performance. For example, in clustering, a form of unsupervised learning, we propose that parameters corresponding to information in a database are converted from analog values to frequencies, as in the brain's neurons, where similar data will have close frequencies. We describe the Wilson-Cowan model for oscillating neurons. In optics we implement the frequencies with micro ring resonators. Due to the influence of weak coupling, a group of resonators will form clusters of similar frequencies that will indicate the desired parameters having close relations. Fewer clusters are formed as clustering proceeds, which allows the creation of a tree showing topics of importance and their relationships in the database. The tree can be used for instance to target advertising and for planning.
Studies on the Use of the Brine Shrimp Artemia salina (Leach) as a Test Organism for Bioassay

Attempts were made to utilize a fresh water form of the order Cladocera, two common forms of hydra, Petmatohydra oligactis and Hydra viridissima , and the brine shrimp, Artemia salina (Leach), to determine insecticide residues. The brine shrimp was the only one that proved to be suitable for use in bioassay work. Tests were conducted to determine the optimum type and amount of food, optimum type and concentration of salt solution in which the specimens were reared, and the temperature that would consistently give brine shrimp of equivalent size and susceptibility to insecticide concentrations at various stages of development. For cultures of approximately 500 individuals, 150 mgs. per day of “Food for Brine Shrimp” appeared to be the optimum amount. Of three forms of salt, aquarium salt, table salt, and rock salt, the latter consistently proved to be the best, and was used in rearing all cultures employed in bioassay work. The optimum snit concentration was 3.5%. The optimum temperature was 27.5°C Mortality of the brine shrimp was determined after 5 hours exposure to the test solution with the aid of a counting device designed for that purpose. Insecticides used in the tests were DDT, parathion and dieldrin. All compounds were run simultaneously on each of 6 days against a given instar, using approximately 30 brine shrimp for each insecticide concentration. Check mortality was negligible. The susceptibility of the brine shrimp to DDT, parathion, and dieldrin was: DDT>parathion>;dieldrin. The results indicate brine shrimp was less sensitive to insecticides than larvae of Aedes aegypti (L.).
Robustness of reputation-based trust: boolean case

We consider the problem of user agents selecting processor agents to processor tasks. We assume that processor agents are drawn from two populations: high and low-performing processors with different averages but similar variance in performance. For selecting a processor, a user agent queries other user agents for their high/low rating of different processors. We assume that a known percentage of "liar" users, who give inverse estimates of processors. We develop a trust mechanism that determines the number of users to query given a target guarantee threshold likelihood of choosing high-performance processors in the face of such "noisy" reputation mechanisms. We evaluate the robustness of this reputation-based trusting mechanism over varying environmental parameters like percentage of liars, performance difference and variances for high and low-performing agents, learning rates, etc.
Four new chelating agents containing vicinal thioether groups

Abstract Four new chelating agents containing vicinal thioether groups have been prepared by the addition of the appropriate thiols to acetylenedicarboxylic acid. These new compounds are 4,5-Dicarboxy-3,6-dithiaoctanedioic acid, 2,9-Diamino-5,6-dicarboxy-4,7-dithiadecanedioic acid, 3,6-Dithiaoctanediamine-4,5-dicarboxylic acid dihydrochloride, and Disodium-3,6-dithia-1,8-octanediol-4,5-dicarboxylate. Reasonably stable complexes are formed with several divalent metal ions, through precipitation interfered with the complete characterization of the mercury(II) complexes in some cases. For all of these, the stability constants of the mercury(II) complexes were appreciably lower than the stability constants of structurally similar complexes containing vicinal mercaptal groups and the degree of selectivity for mercury(II) was also less. These chelating agents exhibit a very minimal tendency to bind calcium ions.
Fluorescence tomography characterization for sub-surface imaging with protoporphyrin IX

Optical imaging of fluorescent objects embedded in a tissue simulating medium was characterized using non-contact based approaches to fluorescence remittance imaging (FRI) and sub-surface fluorescence diffuse optical tomography (FDOT). Using Protoporphyrin IX as a fluorescent agent, experiments were performed on tissue phantoms comprised of typical in-vivo tumor to normal tissue contrast ratios, ranging from 3.5:1 up to 10:1. It was found that tomographic imaging was able to recover interior inclusions with high contrast relative to the background; however, simple planar fluorescence imaging provided a superior contrast to noise ratio. Overall, FRI performed optimally when the object was located on or close to the surface and, perhaps most importantly, FDOT was able to recover specific depth information about the location of embedded regions. The results indicate that an optimal system for localizing embedded fluorescent regions should combine fluorescence reflectance imaging for high sensitivity and sub-surface tomography for depth detection, thereby allowing more accurate localization in all three directions within the tissue.
Analysis of plane failures in compound slopes

ABSTRACT Plane failure in rock and soil slopes is usually caused by the intersection of a discontinuity plane with a slope face. This discontinuity can be any one of many different types of faulting, fracturing, bedding, foliation, schistosity, etc. Generally, these discontinuities are weaker than the surrounding intact material and provide a surface along which movement can occur. When designing a stable slope, it is often desirable to find the worst conditions for a particular slope configuration and base the final design around those conditions. The worst case for most dry slopes usually includes a tension crack at an unknown location. This paper focuses on plane failure analyses of compound slopes using limit equilibrium techniques. It provides new equations to calculate the position of tension cracks in compound slopes.
Shallow buried channel gated BJT on TFSOI substrate

The gated BJT structure is inherently suitable for SOI BiCMOS technology. However, being a surface channel device, it suffers higher noise and degraded carrier transport. In this study, a novel shallow buried channel design on TFSOI is proposed. Devices with various geometries have been fabricated with a simple CMOS-compatible process. These devices have low turn-on voltage, ideal BJT I-V characteristics with current gain higher than 1000, and a maximum transconductance of 290 mS/mm for a 0.5 /spl mu/m channel length and 15 nm gate oxide. Careful measurements show that an order of magnitude improvement in noise performance can be expected from the buried channel operation. These devices are suitable for various BiCMOS applications. >
An adaptive planner

This paper is about an approach to the flexible utilization of old plans called adaptive planning. An adaptive planner can take advantage of the details associated with specific plans, while still maintaining the flexibility of a planner that works from general plans. Key elements in the theory of adaptive planning are its treatment of background knowledge and the introduction of a notion of planning by situation matching.
A new software technique for sub-orbital invocation

Direct-executing ENHANCED DESIRE simulation on PC/XT/AT and compatible personal computers employs a new method for declaring and invoking sub-model macros and user-defined functions in the DYNAMIC program segment representing the simulation model. Submodel and function invocations are not true macros but compiler procedures; like all of the DYNAMIC segment, they compile into fast in-line code, and no extra translator pass is needed.
Study and Application of Gray Method on Manager Selection

The text focus on the factor of manager selection and design the evaluation using Gray Method, supplemented by the AHP's weight set characteristics to bring forward manager selection method, and giving out the concrete examples of calculation steps and analysis. () 2 ( . Manager selection process involves many factors, both quantitative and qualitative issues. In reality, the selection is more often on qualitative assessment but less on quantitative assessment. Some of the conventional methods of evaluation may lead unfair, subjective and even can not comprehensive evaluated the candidates, making the manager selection process merely formal. This paper use the gray-level decision-making theory combined with the principles of AHP's weight analysis to help analysis and choosing the manager. The selection of evaluation methods followed the effectiveness, simple and maneuverability way, which also combined the universal and professional principle. II. APPRAISAL SYSTEM Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) is proposed by the well-known United States operations research expert T.L.Saaty, it is a multi-criteria decision-making method, converting a complex problem into interrelated levels of structure. Make an order of the Decision-making program's superiority via the experts' comparison, judgment and calculation between the two relevant elements ) 3 ( . AHP
Priority pollutant degradation by the facultative methanotroph, Methylocystis strain SB2

Methylocystis strain SB2, a facultative methanotroph capable of growth on multi-carbon compounds, was screened for its ability to degrade the priority pollutants 1,2-dichloroethane (1,2-DCA), 1,1,2-trichloroethane (1,1,2-TCA), and 1,1-dichloroethylene (1,1-DCE), as well as cis-dichloroethylene (cis-DCE) when grown on methane or ethanol. Methylocystis strain SB2 degraded 1,2-DCA and 1,1,2-TCA when grown on either substrate and cis-DCE when grown on methane. Growth of Methylocystis strain SB2 on methane was inhibited in the presence of all compounds, while only 1,1-DCE and cis-DCE inhibited growth on ethanol. No degradation of any chlorinated hydrocarbon was observed in ethanol-grown cultures when particulate methane monooxygenase (pMMO) activity was inhibited with the addition of acetylene, indicating that competition for binding to the pMMO between the chlorinated hydrocarbons and methane limited both methanotrophic growth and pollutant degradation when this strain was grown on methane. Characterization of Methylocystis strain SB2 found no evidence of a high-affinity form of pMMO for methane, nor could this strain utilize 1,2-DCA or its putative oxidative products 2-chloroethanol or chloroactetic acid as sole growth substrates, suggesting that this strain lacks appropriate dehydrogenases for the conversion of 1,2-DCA to glyoxylate. As ethanol: (1) can be used as an alternative growth substrate for promoting pollutant degradation by Methylocystis strain SB2 as the pMMO is not required for its growth on ethanol and (2) has been used to enhance the mobility of chlorinated hydrocarbons in situ, it is proposed that ethanol can be used to enhance both pollutant transport and biodegradation by Methylocystis strain SB2.
Characterization of a Ca2+-stimulated lipid peroxidizing system in the sea urchin egg.

Addition of calcium chloride to an egg homogenate of Strongylocentrotus purpuratus stimulates O2 consumption which is not inhibited by millimolar cyanide. Results strongly suggest that Ca2+-stimulated O2 consumption is at least partially the result of polyunsaturated fatty acid oxidation. First, addition of arachidonic acid (AA), or other polyunsaturated fatty acids, to the homogenate enhance Ca2+-stimulated O2 consumption; this enhancement, by AA, being coupled to its oxidation to a hydroxy fatty acid. Second, calcium stimulates a lipase activity in the homogenate that is capable of releasing free fatty acids. Third, Ca2+-stimulated O2 consumption and AA oxidation have virtually identical calcium requirements and pH optima. The sequence of events then is that upon calcium addition to the homogenate, lipase activity is increased which liberates free fatty acids. At the same time calcium also activates a polyunsaturated fatty acid oxygenase, possibly lipoxygenase, that converts the free fatty acids to hydroxy fatty acids. The possible physiological importance of this reaction is underscored by the high affinity for Ca2+ [approximately 10−7M], an ion known to increase above the required levels at fertilization. The pH activity profile also suggests possible physiological modulation because a pH change of 6.8 increasing to 7.2, as suggested to occur after fertilization, yields almost a twofold increase in O2 consumption. Egg homogenates from many other invertebrate species have the ability to oxidize AA in a Ca2+-dependent fashion. For the investigated species, the presence of Ca2+-stimulated O2 consumption and AA oxidation correlates with the presence of cyanide insensitive respiration in the intact egg.
Effects of perfluorocarbon infusion in an anesthetized swine decompression model.

Introduction. Decompression illness (DCI) results from sudden changes in ambient pressure leading to super-saturation and bubble formation in tissues and the blood stream. Perfluorocarbon emulsions (PFC) increase both oxygen and nitrogen solubility when infused into the blood stream. This study hypothe- sized that PFC would increase N2 removal as well as O2 delivery to tissues. Materials and Methods. Juvenile swine (20kg) were anesthetized and highly instrumented with arterial monitoring, pulmonary artery catheterization, EDAC ultrasound bubble detection, and end tidal N2 by mass spectrometry. Blood gases were monitored in both the mixed venous and arterial circulation. Full hemody- namics were calculated using standard equations. Four groups of animals were randomized to be either sham controls or compressed and to receive either saline or PFC at 4.5 ml/kg. Animals were dry com- pressed to 6.8 ATA for 30 minutes of time on the bottom and then rapidly decompressed. Animals were moni- tored for 120 minutes after surfacing, then euthanized. Results. DCI was created by the dive profile but the severity was variable. Sham animals had no signifi- cant changes except that those who received PFC de- veloped significant pulmonary hypertension and de- creased cardiac output. This held true for those that also underwent DCI. Respiratory N2 washout was not significantly different with and without PFC. How- ever, O2 delivery to tissues was improved with PFC and EDAC bubble count was dramatically less with PFC. Conclusions. PFC decreased bubble generation but the data was confounded by a species specific pulmo- nary hypertensive response. Even with this as a prob- lem O2 delivery to tissues was enhanced by PFC. Future work with PFC in different species will help to further understand the contribution of these two mechanisms to treatment efficacy by PFC in DCI. © 2009 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
MobiSN: Semantics-Based Mobile Ad Hoc Social Network Framework

Mobile ad hoc social networks are self-configuring social networks that connect users using mobile devices, such as laptops, PDAs, and cellular phones. These social networks facilitate users to form virtual communities of similar interests or commonalities. This paper proposes a concrete, generalized, and novel framework to develop a fully functional mobile ad hoc social network. The proposed framework provides effective and efficient solutions to social network construction, semantics-based user profile matching, and multi-hop semantics-based routing. Moreover, the proposed framework because of its generality is applicable in applications of critical importance, such as disaster-recovery, homeland security, and personnel control. Furthermore, the proposed framework is rigorously benchmarked using an elaborate simulation setup and released as a prototype system that can be run on cellular phones.
Least-cost disjoint paths with dependent cost structure in wavelength continuous optical WDM networks

One of the important issues in establishing a fault tolerant connection in a wavelength division multiplexing optical network is computing a pair of disjoint working and protection paths and a free wavelength along the paths. While most of the earlier research focused only on computing disjoint paths, in this work we consider computing both disjoint paths and a free wavelength along the paths. The concept of dependent cost structure (DCS) of protection paths to enhance their resource sharing ability was proposed in our earlier work. In this work we extend the concept of DCS of protection paths to wavelength continuous networks. We formalize the problem of computing disjoint paths with DCS in wavelength continuous networks and prove that it is NP-complete. We present an iterative heuristic that uses a layered graph model to compute disjoint paths with DCS and identify a free wavelength.
Charge amplification by impact ionization in charge-coupled devices

Charge-coupled device (CCD) image sensors remain limited in their ability to detect low photon fluxes by the noise of the output charge detection stage, particularly at high output data rates, where the video bandwidths are large. This suggests that some form of predetection charge amplification would be desirable to overcome the output circuit noise. The authors have studied a method of charge and amplification using impact ionization in the high-field region between adjacent CCD gates and have measured avalanche-induced gain and noise on small charge packets. Of particular interest is that the noise data agrees well with theoretical expectations, which suggests that a CCD imager could be made to operate in a photon-counting mode. Neglecting hole ionization, the authors have derived an expression for the avalanche-generated noise which depends on the initial packet size, the noise on the packet before avalanching, and the total gain. The measured data agreed well with the theoretical expression. Using the theory, they have obtained an improvement in the postdetection signal-to-noise ratio for small packets that have undergone avalanche multiplication. The experimental data also revealed that electrons other than from impact ionization were being added to the packet during the gain procedure. These electrons were subsequently avalanched along with the initial packet of interest, giving rise to an enhanced dark-current effect. >
Oxidant stress evoked by pacemaking in dopaminergic neurons is attenuated by DJ-1

Parkinson’s disease is a pervasive, ageing-related neurodegenerative disease the cardinal motor symptoms of which reflect the loss of a small group of neurons, the dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta1 (SNc). Mitochondrial oxidant stress is widely viewed as being responsible for this loss2, but why these particular neurons should be stressed is a mystery. Here we show, using transgenic mice that expressed a redox-sensitive variant of green fluorescent protein targeted to the mitochondrial matrix, that the engagement of plasma membrane L-type calcium channels during normal autonomous pacemaking created an oxidant stress that was specific to vulnerable SNc dopaminergic neurons. The oxidant stress engaged defences that induced transient, mild mitochondrial depolarization or uncoupling. The mild uncoupling was not affected by deletion of cyclophilin D, which is a component of the permeability transition pore, but was attenuated by genipin and purine nucleotides, which are antagonists of cloned uncoupling proteins. Knocking out DJ-1 (also known as PARK7 in humans and Park7 in mice), which is a gene associated with an early-onset form of Parkinson’s disease, downregulated the expression of two uncoupling proteins (UCP4 (SLC25A27) and UCP5 (SLC25A14)), compromised calcium-induced uncoupling and increased oxidation of matrix proteins specifically in SNc dopaminergic neurons. Because drugs approved for human use can antagonize calcium entry through L-type channels, these results point to a novel neuroprotective strategy for both idiopathic and familial forms of Parkinson’s disease.
Sex and the cardiovascular system: the intriguing tale of how women and men regulate cardiovascular function differently

The ability to recognize and appreciate from a reproductive standpoint that males and females possess different attributes has been long standing. Only more recently have we begun to look more deeply into both the similarities and differences between men and women, as well as between boys and girls, with respect to the structure and function of other organ systems. This article focuses on the cardiovascular system, with examples of sex differences in the control of coronary function, blood pressure, and volume. Recognizing the differences between the sexes with respect to cardiovascular function facilitates understanding of the mechanisms whereby homeostasis can be achieved using different contributions or components of the living system. Furthermore, recognition of the differences as well as the similarities permits the design of appropriate diagnostic instruments, recognition of sex-specific pathophysiology, and implementation of appropriate treatment of cardiovascular disease in men and women.
Upgrading Discussions of Cognitive Enhancement

Advocates of cognitive enhancement maintain that technological advances would augment autonomy indirectly by expanding the range of options available to individuals, while, in a recent article in this journal, Schaefer, Kahane, and Savulescu propose that cognitive enhancement would improve it more directly. Here, autonomy, construed in broad procedural terms, is at the fore. In contrast, when lauding the goodness of enhancement expressly, supporters’ line of argument is utilitarian, of an ideal variety. An inherent conflict results, for, within their utilitarian frame, the content of rational, hence autonomous, choices is quite restricted. Further, advocates do not clearly indicate their relative emphasis between the often conflicting goals of maximizing benefit and avoiding harm. In practice, their construction of harms is highly expansive, for disabilities include any constraints that “rational” people would decline if it were technically possible to do so. For advocates, this means that where enhancement measures are available, those constraints become avoidable limitations, and not to remove them is to harm. The centrality of harm-avoidance and their ideal utilitarian frame entail sociopolitical requirements that enhancement defenders disallow when trumpeting autonomy in the vein of individual choice. Advocates have thus not done enough to support the claim that their views are wholly separate from earlier eugenics.
Abstract PR04: Targeting super-enhancer driven oncogene transcription through cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors

Cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) with primary roles in transcription regulation are emerging as tractable therapeutic targets in cancers driven by the aberrant expression of oncogenic transcription factors. Our goal is to disrupt the myriad and pleomorphic features of oncogenic MYC through inhibiting CDKs involved in its transcriptional amplifier role. CDK7 participates in transcription initiation by phosphorylating the carboxy-terminal domain (CTD) of RNA polymerase (Pol) II and also functions as a CDK-activating kinase, while CDK12 functions in transcription elongation and RNA processing. Using a novel covalent CDK7 inhibitor, THZ1, we demonstrated striking activity and selectivity in neuroblastoma (NB) cells driven by high MYCN expression. This response translated to significant tumor regression in a mouse model of high-risk NB, without introducing discernible toxicity. We determined that this effect was associated with global inhibition of MYCN-dependent transcriptional amplification. THZ1 led to preferential downregulation of Pol II occupancy at super-enhancer-associated genes, including MYCN and other master transcription factors critical to neuronal development such as PHOX2B, GATA2, and DBH. Similarly, inhibition of CDK12 activity using a novel, first-in-class small molecule inhibitor, THZ-5-31-1, resulted in potent antitumor activity in MYCN-overexpressing NB cells. THZ-5-31-1 doses sufficient to induce PARP cleavage did not lead to significant inhibition of global transcription elongation. Rather, cytotoxicity was associated with preferential downregulation of RNA processing factors and a higher percentage of immature mRNA transcripts. Together, these results suggest that transcriptional CDK inhibitors, by affecting different aspects of the transcription machinery, may inhibit the growth of cancers driven by oncogenic transcription factors such as MYC. Citation Format: Malgorzata Krajewska, Nathan F. Moore, Edmond Chipumuro, Tinghu Zhang, Eugenio Marco, Clark Hatheway, Bandana Sharma, Nicholas Kwiatkowski, Guo-Cheng Yuan, Richard A. Young, Nathanael S. Gray, Rani E. George. Targeting super-enhancer driven oncogene transcription through cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Chromatin and Epigenetics in Cancer; Sep 24-27, 2015; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(2 Suppl):Abstract nr PR04.
Control of Certain Cotton Pests with a New Systemic Insecticide, UC-21149

An experimental systemic insecticide, Union Carbide UC-21149 (2-methyl-2- (methylthio) propionaldehyde O- (mcthylcarbamoyl) oxime), was compared with Di-Syston® ( 0,0 -dicthyl 5-[2- (ethylthio) ethyl] phosphorodithioate), and phorate in granular formulations applied at planting as in-furrow treatments for control of early-season cotton insects. Additional tests were conducted with UC-21149 as seed treatment or sidedress applied at various stages of cotton plant growth for control of the boll weevil, Anthonomus grandis Boheman. In the in-furrow treatments at planting, Di-Syston and phoratc adversely affected stands of cotton; but UC-21149 did not. UC-21149 was as effective as Di-Syston and phorate against a thrips complex [flower thrips, Frankliniella tritici (Fitch) ; F. exiguia Hood; tobacco thrips, F. fusca (Hinds); and grain thrips, Limothrips cerelium (Haliday)]; the cotton aphid, Aphis gossypii Glover; and an artificially induced infestation of the carmine spider mite, Tetranychus cinnabarinus (Boisduval). Mortality of overwintered boll weevils was significantly greater with UC-21149 and phorate than with Di-Syston. UC-21149 applied as a seed treatment reduced stands and was ineffective against the cotton aphid. Sidedress treatments produced significant mortality of boll weevil larvae developing within the squares and bolls, and of adults feeding on terminal growth. It also controlled the cotton aphid and carmine spider mite. However, UC-21149 was ineffective against the bollworm, Heliothis zea (Boddie), and cabbage looper, Trichoplusia ni (Hubner). Bollworms increased in 1 test, apparently owing to a lack of beneficial insects. Phytotoxicity was observed at the high rates shortly after treatment, but it did not appear to persist on subsequent plant growth.
Processing the Word Red can Enhance Women’s Perceptions of Men’s Attractiveness

Prior research has shown that for women viewing men, perceiving the color red can enhance attractiveness judgments in some contexts. Additionally, an association exists between the processing of color words and the perception of color stimuli. The present studies examined whether processing the word red would lead to similar psychological effects of perceiving color stimuli. Specifically, we tested whether reading a description of a man wearing a red shirt (relative to other colors) can enhance women’s perceptions of the man’s attractiveness. Experiments 1, 2, and 3 provided support for this effect for red-gray and red-green contrasts. The findings are discussed with regard to grounded theories of cognition, which suggest that knowledge about color and experience of perceiving color are integrated in a multimodal fashion. Practical implications of the red effect for interpersonal perception and interaction are discussed along with general implications in the domain of color psychology.
Floor Behavior in the U.S. Congress: Committee Power Under the Open Rule

The open rule in the House is a complex set of restrictions, limiting, for example, the number of motions and the order of recognition. By incorporating constraints based on the actual set of rules into a model, I show that legislative outcomes appear more predictable than was previously thought. These rules nearly always allow the proponents of legislation to respond to an opponent's amendment, mitigating the potential damage of the latter. An advantage of the approach is that it provides a new interpretation of the changes in floor activity observed in the postreform period.
Curvature Analysis of Estrogen Receptor Positive Breast Cancer Under PI3K Inhibition

In this note, we re-examine the work of Bosch et al. from a network point of view. In particular, we employ an extended definition of Ollivier-Ricci curvature that allows us to study graphs with both positive and negative weights. This is done by utilizing a dual formulation of the Wasserstein metric, allowing us to extend the Earth Mover's Distance to signed measures. The resulting curvature may be applied study the robustness properties of general networks modeled as weighted graphs. In this note, we apply the theory to elucidate the robustness and therefore possible mechanisms of resistance of estrogen receptor positive breast cancer under PI3K inhibition.
WHAT IS PSYCHOTHERAPY

The psychotherapist endeavors to alter, if not abolish, pathologic adaptive and defensive mechanisms of the personality. The expressive-exploratory approach relies on improvement through resolution of buried conflicts; assistance is given through interpretations of irrational emotional reactions. In contract, the aim of suppressive-supportive psychotherapy, in which interpretation is minimized, is repression through a substitution of new defensive and adaptive technics. Flexibility is essential in psychotherapy in order to apply the most appropriate technics in a given situation. A unique feature of all psychotherapeutic efforts is the use of self.
Fluorescent indicators of membrane potential: microspectrofluorometry and imaging

Publisher Summary The electric potential difference between the interior of a cell and the extracellular medium has long known to play an important role in the mediation, regulation, and delivery of many transmembrane signals. Fluorescent indicators of membrane potential have been developed over the past 15 years to achieve this end. Dyes have been broadly classified as either fast or slow, depending on whether they are suitable for the measurements of millisecond changes in excitable cells or smaller cell physiological changes occurring in the minute time scale. The fast dyes are applied to cases where AC coupling and/or signal averaging can be employed to extract a small potential-dependent optical response from a large light background. The slow dyes are much more sensitive but are applicable mainly to experiments with large populations of cells in a fluorometer. This chapter discusses the application of a fast dye in the measurements of both the spatial and temporal distribution of membrane potential induced by an external electric field. It also describes a new series of slow dyes that allow the measurement of membrane potential in individual cells through the microscope.
Pseudo-Spectral Method

This chapter elaborates about pseudo-spectral method applicable to most commonly hyperbolic equations with periodic boundary conditions. A numerical scheme for calculating the spatial derivatives is obtained. A numerical finite Fourier transform (FFT)can be used to obtain difference schemes that are of infinite order. Methods of arbitrary high order may be constructed. For higher order methods, more points surrounding the point x k will be utilized. The fast Fourier transforms is a fast numerical technique for determining the FFT of a function that is defined on a set of equally spaced grid points. The derivative at every point in the grid can be computed by taking an FFT, multiplying by the discrete analogue of iω , and then taking an inverse FFT.
Electricity Demand and Population Dynamics Prediction from Mobile Phone Metadata

Energy efficiency is a key challenge for building modern sustainable societies. World’s energy consumption is expected to grow annually by 1.6 %, increasing pressure for utilities and governments to fulfill demand and raising significant challenges in generation, distribution, and storage of electricity. In this context, accurate predictions and understanding of population dynamics and their relation to electricity demand dynamics is of high relevance.
Optimized effective potentials at a glance: the effective exchange potential of Becke–Johnson applied to molecules

A brief review of the optimized effective potential method in density functional theory is outlined. Some implications of replacing the true Kohn–Sham potential by a functional derivative with respect to the Kohn–Sham one-electron orbitals are revisited in regard to functionals beyond the generalized gradient approximation level. Focusing on the simple but accurate effective exchange potential proposed by Becke and Johnson, sample tests of its self-consistent implementation are presented on a set of atoms and molecules with thoughts of how to improve its efficiency for molecular applications.
Double Heck Route to a Dibenzoxepine and Convergent Suzuki Cross-Coupling Strategy for the Synthesis of an MR Antagonist

A practical pilot plant convergent synthesis of MR antagonist LY2623091 was established. For synthesis convergence, a vinyl bromide geometric isomer and chiral alaninol derivative were required building blocks. Key to the synthesis route development is a stereoselective synthesis of the E-vinyl bromide via a sequential double Heck reaction, Suzuki–Miyaura cross-coupling of the vinyl bromide, a selective nitro reduction, and a highly sensitive cyanamide hydrolysis to the urea. Improvements in yield and processing were accomplished by two sets of telescoping methods which decreased the manufacturing time and provided purity enhancements.
CRISPR–Cas9-targeted fragmentation and selective sequencing enable massively parallel microsatellite analysis

Microsatellites are multi-allelic and composed of short tandem repeats (STRs) with individual motifs composed of mononucleotides, dinucleotides or higher including hexamers. Next-generation sequencing approaches and other STR assays rely on a limited number of PCR amplicons, typically in the tens. Here, we demonstrate STR-Seq, a next-generation sequencing technology that analyses over 2,000 STRs in parallel, and provides the accurate genotyping of microsatellites. STR-Seq employs in vitro CRISPR-Cas9-targeted fragmentation to produce specific DNA molecules covering the complete microsatellite sequence. Amplification-free library preparation provides single molecule sequences without unique molecular barcodes. STR-selective primers enable massively parallel, targeted sequencing of large STR sets. Overall, STR-Seq has higher throughput, improved accuracy and provides a greater number of informative haplotypes compared with other microsatellite analysis approaches. With these new features, STR-Seq can identify a 0.1% minor genome fraction in a DNA mixture composed of different, unrelated samples.
Silver-hydroxyapatite composite coatings with enhanced antimicrobial activities through heat treatment

Abstract Silver nanoparticles deposited on hydroxyapatite coatings (Ag-HA) by a two-stage electrochemical method were found to impart inconsistent antibacterial properties to the bioactive coatings. To test the hypothesis that oxidation of the silver nanoparticles would enhance antimicrobial activity, the coatings were heated in air at 170° C for 8 h. Following heat treatment, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy confirmed the formation of silver oxide on the surface of the silver nanoparticles. The heat treatment did not cause any measurable change in the crystal structure of the coating as determined by X-ray diffraction. Bacterial culture tests revealed that the heated Ag-HA coatings were able to kill Escherichia coli (E. coli) more consistently than non-heated coatings. It is believed that silver nanoparticles in the heated Ag-HA coatings can release more Ag+ ions into the bacterial suspension, since Ag+ ions play a significant role in antibacterial activity. The heat treatment temperature of 170° C is high enough for dry heat sterilization protocols, yet low enough to allow hydroxyapatite crystals to remain stable. The heat treatment process therefore offers a simple technique to ensure consistent antimicrobial activity from the bioactive Ag-HA composite coatings.
The 2017 joint mathematics meetings exhibition of mathematical art

‘The final abstract expression of every art is number’.– Wassily Kandinsky (1866–1944) [3, p. 73]In January 2017, Atlanta hosted the Joint Mathematics Meetings of the American Mathematical Society ...
“Developing That Balance”: Preparing and Supporting Special Education Teachers to Work With Paraprofessionals:

The prominence of paraprofessionals in the education of students with severe disabilities highlights the importance of ensuring special education teachers provide effective supervision and support....
Pharmacological stimulation of red blood cell metabolism for high altitude preadaptation.

A decrease in erythrocyte oxygen affinity is held to be an important component of high altitude adaptation. Ordinarily at 10–11,000 feet, a four to five day period or longer of exposure to high altitude is required to build-up the 2,3-diphosphoglyccrate (DPG) levels of red cells which brings about the decrease in oxygen affinity. It is during this early period of altitude exposure that symptoms (acute mountain sickness) related chiefly to the central nervous system are frequently experienced.
Fullerene stabilized gold nanoparticles supported on titanium dioxide for enhanced photocatalytic degradation of methyl orange and catalytic reduction of 4-nitrophenol

Abstract A facile method for the synthesis of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) supported on TiO2 is reported. The average size of the TiO2 supported AuNPs was found to be about 8 nm, which was measured by the transmission electron microscopy. The TiO2 supported AuNPs exhibited enhanced photocatalytic degradation of methyl orange (MO) and catalytic reduction of 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) in water. Both the photocatalytic degradation of MO and the catalytic reduction of 4-NP were influenced by the size and the percent AuNPs loading. Compared to the pristine TiO2 the nanocomposite having 4.76 wt% AuNPs showed about twice and 132 times faster activity in the photodegradation of MO and the reduction of 4-NP, respectively The cyclic stability of the nanocomposite was examined for ten cycles and it was found that the catalyst is fairly active throughout the cycles. Further, the photocatalytic generation of hydroxyl radical ( OH) was confirmed through the terephthalic acid photoluminescence tests.
Do education and income drive energy audits? A socio-spatial analysis of New York State

Abstract To inform energy policy on energy efficiency for buildings, we examine socio-spatial tendencies and temporal trends for home energy audits in the State of New York. In doing so, we provide an interdisciplinary perspective of energy research by drawing upon the social sciences and geography. Using demographic data and proxies for green behavior from a sample of 1670 zip codes, we test for spatial clustering of the per capita incidence of the home energy audit. Consistent with 35 years of research, and attempts at correction, we find that the social distribution of the energy audit is skewed toward zip codes with higher levels of education. We also find that when controlling for other demographic and spatial factors, affluence (as characterized by median home income and home value) is either inconsequential or negatively associated with the aggregate incidence of the home energy audit, indicating that higher-income household owners are likely less interested in a home energy audit. Finally, we find a significant positive association for zip codes that have more registered Undeclared and Green-affiliated voters and a negative association for “other” political affiliation.