cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Intergenerational Religious Participation in Adolescence and Provision of Assistance to Older Mothers.

Objective This investigation examined the association between intergenerational religious activities in adolescence and provision of assistance to older mothers up to 45 years later. Background Guided by perspectives of the life course and intergenerational solidarity, this research tested whether children's early religious participation with mothers predicted the amount of assistance children later provided, whether mothers' disability and widowhood served as moderators of this relationship, and whether any such moderation was mediated by emotional closeness, geographic proximity, and eldercare norms. Method Data derived from 220 adolescents who participated in the Longitudinal Study of Generations in 1971, and up to four follow-up surveys between 1997 and 2016, yielding 608 person-year observations. Multilevel regression predicted the amount of assistance provided to older mothers as a function of early religious participation with mothers, physical and social vulnerability of mothers, and dimensions of intergenerational solidarity with mothers in later life. Results Results revealed elevated levels of assistance provided by children who earlier engaged in intermittent and regular religious activities with mothers. The relationship between regular religious activities and assistance was stronger for assistance to widowed mothers than to married mothers, and this moderation was partially mediated by emotional closeness and geographic proximity. Conclusion This research confirmed that early family conditions structure informal resources available to older parents. Religious socialization during an impressionable period of life produced emergent benefits at a point in the family life-cycle when intergenerational solidarity becomes important for well-being in later life.
Carbon nanofiber generation from the precursor containing unprecedently high percentage of inexpensive coal-derived carbon material

Abstract Anthropogenic activities, especially fossil fuel utilization, have resulted in large emissions of various pollutants, especially carbon dioxide. This research was designed to develop a new alternative technology for utilization of coal in producing a high-value solid material that can not only fix carbon but also serve as a future energy material. Specifically, for the first time, carbon nanofibers were successfully synthesized with the hexane insoluble-toluene soluble component of coal tar produced with renewable, easy-recycled and benign ethanol and supercritical carbon dioxide along with different percentages of polyacrylonitrile by electrospinning, stabilization and carbonization. The tar used for synthesis of the carbon nanofibers contained 25.53 wt% hexane insoluble-toluene soluble component. This component has a high carbon content of 91.99% and a low oxygen concentration of 0.36%. The existence of aromatic structures in this component was proved by Fourier-transform infrared, 1H and 13C nuclear magnetic resonance analyses. The asphaltene concentration of hexane insoluble-toluene soluble component was as high as 60 wt% according to thermogravimetric analysis. The synthesized carbon nanofibers were characterized by different methods, and it was found that the structure of the carbon nanofiber improves with the quantity of hexane insoluble-toluene soluble component used for carbon nanofiber synthesis. Specifically, the surface areas of carbon nanofibers increased from 491.56 m2/g to 618.93 m2/g with the concentrations of hexane insoluble-toluene soluble component in the carbon nanofibers increased from 50 wt% to 70 wt%. Results from transmission electron microscopy and Raman spectra reveal that the fiber with the highest percentage of hexane insoluble-toluene soluble component has the best carbon ordering structure among the synthesized carbon nanofibers.
Exponential convergence of Sobolev gradient descent for a class of nonlinear eigenproblems.

We propose to use the Łojasiewicz inequality as a general tool for analyzing the convergence rate of gradient descent on a Hilbert manifold, without resorting to the continuous gradient flow. Using this tool, we show that a Sobolev gradient descent method with adaptive inner product converges exponentially fast to the ground state for the Gross-Pitaevskii eigenproblem. This method can be extended to a class of general high-degree optimizations or nonlinear eigenproblems under certain conditions. We demonstrate this generalization by several examples, in particular a nonlinear Schrodinger eigenproblem with an extra high-order interaction term. Numerical experiments are presented for these problems.
The Reduction of Methemoglobin in Erythrocytes of a Patient with Congenital Methemoglobinemia, Subjects with Erythrocyte Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase Deficiency, and Normal Individuals

The pathways for the reduction of methemoglobin to hemoglobin that are dependent upon the generation of reduced pyridine nucleotides were studied in normal human erythrocytes, in erythrocytes deficient in G-6-PD activity and in erythrocytes of a subject with congenital methemoglobinemia. Reduction of methemoglobin, produced by treatment with nitrite, occurred at equivalent rates in normal and G-6-PD deficient erythrocytes, but failed to occur in the erythrocytes of the patient with congenital methemoglobinemia upon incubation with glucose or inosine. The DPNH-utilizing diaphorase-like system was normal in hemolysates of G-6-PD deficient erythrocytes, but was markedly deficient in hemolysates of erythrocytes of the subject with congenital methemoglobinemia. The marked acceleration of methemoglobin reduction that occurred upon the addition of methylene blue to normal erythrocytes and to the erythrocytes of the woman with congenital methemoglobinemia did not occur with G-6-PD deficient erythrocytes. The TPNH-utilizing methemoglobin reductase system was normal in hemolysates of erythrocytes of the patient with congenital methemoglobinemia, but was reduced to about 50 per cent of normal activity in hemolysates of G-6-PD deficient erythrocytes. The reduction of methemoglobin to hemoglobin in intact normal and G-6-PD deficient human erythrocytes probably proceeds by way of a DPNH-utilizing, diaphorase-like system that is deficient in the erythrocytes of one type of congenital methemoglobinemia. The TPNH-utilizing methemoglobin reductase appears to be a reserve system that requires an artificial electron carrier, such as methylene blue, to become fully effective in reducing methemoglobin to hemoglobin. The TPNH-methemoglobin reductase system is impaired in G-6-PD deficient erythrocytes not only because of a deficient source of TPNH, but, perhaps, also because of a defect in this methemoglobin reductase system itself.
Abstract A43: Effects of transcriptional dysregulation on the DNA damage response in Ewing’s sarcoma

Ewing’s sarcoma is a soft-tissue bone malignancy characterized by a translocation event wherein the N-terminal low complexity domain of EWSR1 is fused with the DNA binding domain of the ETS transcription factor Fli1. The resulting EWS-Fli1 fusion protein drives expression of oncogenes and knockdown of tumor-suppressor proteins. More specifically, EWS-Fli1 acts as transcriptional regulator by helping recruit RNA Pol II to promoter regions, which is subsequently phosphorylated by CDK9 to escape initiation into elongation. Interestingly, Ewing’s sarcoma is particularly susceptible to chemotherapy compared to other cancers; however, the underlying reason for this sensitivity to DNA damage has not been elucidated. Given EWS-Fli1’s role in disrupting transcription, it was hypothesized that EWS-Fli1 is concurrently disrupting the DNA damage response. Here, a combination of CDK9 inhibition with DNA damage was found to drastically diminish cell viability in Ewing’s cell lines but not in non-Ewing’s osteosarcoma or HEK293 cells. Ordinarily, after DNA damage γH2A.X phosphorylation occurs on histones near sites of damaged DNA early during the DNA damage response to signal DNA damage repair initiation. Further work has shown Ewing’s cells undergoing the combination treatment above have a marked decrease in the DNA damage marker γH2A.X as compared to non-Ewing’s cells. Together, these results suggest Ewing’s sarcoma cells are sensitized to DNA damage due in part to transcriptional dysregulation. Citation Format: Matthew G. Rollins, Jacob C. Schwartz. Effects of transcriptional dysregulation on the DNA damage response in Ewing’s sarcoma [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on the Advances in Pediatric Cancer Research; 2019 Sep 17-20; Montreal, QC, Canada. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2020;80(14 Suppl):Abstract nr A43.
Ultrahigh temperature sensible heat storage and heat transfer fluids

Abstract This chapter addresses the application, selection criteria, and potential of different ultrahigh temperature heat transfer and sensible storage materials and systems. In some cases a single material may be well suited for both heat transfer and storage, while in many applications using different materials/media for storage and heat transfer is better. Herein, the term “ultrahigh temperature sensible heat storage” is defined as the thermal energy associated with a temperature change of above 1000°C, that is, it is purely associated with the increase/decrease in the kinetic energy of atoms in media. The term sensible is used to distinguish it from latent heat, which involves a phase transition, which can occur at a constant temperature because it is associated with breaking and formation of chemical bonds between atoms. Nevertheless, the material/medium could be solids, liquids, and/or gases. Similarly, ultrahigh temperature heat transfer fluids (HTFs) are defined as materials that are used to transfer heat above 1000°C and include solids transported by fluidized, conveyor, or moving beds, liquids, and gases. Because ultrahigh temperature heat transfer systems tend to incorporate a complex set of technical challenges, it is important to build a simplified, approximate, yet complete performance and cost model early on. Many cost factors rely critically on the chemical compatibility of a storage material and other materials it contacts (e.g., pipe walls, tanks, pumps, and seals) because at ultrahigh temperatures, many chemical reactions/transitions are highly accelerated. Thus this chapter focuses first on general materials considerations as the first filter, which rapidly narrows the range of candidate material pairs (medium and containment) that can be used at ultrahigh temperatures. Subsequently, requirements specific to storage versus HTFs are discussed. Finally, heat exchangers are discussed as the bridge between storage and HTFs.
Spectral Signature of Landscape Channelization

Channel networks increase in complexity as the importance of erosion grows compared to diffusion by soil creep, giving rise to a channelization cascade. In this cascade, smaller channels join to fo...
The Role of Oil and Gas Conductors as Fish Habitat at Two Southern California Offshore Platforms

Worldwide, all oil and gas offshore platforms contain conductors, a series of closely spaced vertical pipes, that carry oil and gas from the wells. During decommissioning, these conductors are usually removed. However, worldwide, there has been no research on the relationship between conductor arrays and fish densities. During summer and fall of 2017 and 2018, at Platforms Holly and A, in the Santa Barbara Channel, California, we conducted visual scuba surveys of the fish densities associated with 1) conductors, 2) crossbeams, and 3) blue (open) water under these platforms. A minimum of 14 species were observed at Platform Holly and 14 species at Platform A. Substantially more fishes, and higher densities, were observed at Holly (17,533, 636 per 100 m–2, respectively) than at A (1,185, 171 per 100 m2). Although there were similarities, the dominant species at the two platforms were distinct. Rockfishes (genus Sebastes), particularly Sebastes hopkinsi, dominated the Holly assemblage, while the damselfish, Chromis punctipinnis, was the most abundant at A. Overall, at both platforms, there was no statistical difference between fish densities at conductors and at crossbeams and fish densities were higher at both conductors and crossbeams when compared to those in blue water. The species assemblage among three habitats were similar, although there were two survey occasions where no fish were observed in blue water. Our research strongly suggests that, to the extent possible, retaining conductors during partial removal will likely have a positive influence on both fish diversity and fish abundance, during at least some years.
Evaluating performance of covariate-constrained randomization (CCR) techniques under misspecification of cluster-level variables in cluster-randomized trials.

Abstract Covariate constrained randomization (CCR) is a method of controlling imbalance in important baseline covariates in cluster-randomized trials (CRT). We use simulated CRTs to investigate the performance (control of imbalance) of CCR relative to simple randomization (SR) under conditions of misspecification of the cluster-level variable used in the CCR algorithm. We use data from a Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI)-funded CRT evaluating the Mothers and Babies (MB) intervention (AD-1507-31,473). CCR methodology was used in the MB study to control imbalance in, among other baseline variables, the percent minority (i.e., non-White) participants at each study site. Simulation schemes explored variation in degree of misspecification in the baseline covariate of interest, and include correct report, observed misspecification, and a range of simulated misspecification for intervals within and beyond that observed in the MB study. We also consider three within-site sample size scenarios: that observed in the MB study, small (mean 10) and large (mean 50). Simulations at every level of baseline covariate misspecification suggest that use of the CCR strategy provides between-arm imbalance that is simultaneously lower and less variable, on average, than that produced from the SR strategy. We find that the gains to using CCR over SR are nearly twice as high with accurate reporting (Δ = −5.33) compared to the observed study-level misspecification (Δ = −3.03). Although CCR still outperforms SR as the level of misspecification increases, the gains to using CCR over SR decrease; thus, every effort should still be made to obtain high-quality baseline data.
Pb(II) adsorption from aqueous solution by an aluminum-based metal organic framework–graphene oxide nanocomposite

This article is motivated by the promise of emerging nanocomposites and reports for the first time the adsorption performance of an aluminum-based MOF (MIL-53(Al)) and GO nanocomposite for Pb(II) removal from aqueous solutions.
Structural capital and capital structure: assessing horizontal ownership concentration

This paper reports an assessment of horizontal ownership concentration, contingent on congeneric acquisitions, on firm-level strategic behaviour in the telecommunications sector. Consequent to deal...
Yet another application of a binomial recurrence. Order statistics

We investigate the moments of the maximum of a set of i.i.d geometric random variables. Computationally, the exact formula for the moments (which does not seem to be available in the literature) is inhibited by the presence of an alternating sum. A recursive expression for the moments is shown to be superior. However, the recursion can be both computationally intensive as well as subject to large round-off error when the set of random variables is large, due to the presence of factorial terms. To get around this difficulty we develop accurate asymptotic expressions for the moments and verify our results numerically.
Factors Governing Expression of the Herpes Simplex Virus Gene for Thymidine Kinase in Clonal Derivatives of Transformed Mouse L Cells

Abstract The cells used in this study are sublines of a transformed mouse L cell line (designated H2) that carries the herpes simplex virus (HSV) gene for thymidine kinase (tk) as well as other viral genetic information acquired after exposure of the parental Ltk- cells to UV-irradiated HSV type 1. These sublines of the H2 cell line were isolated by cloning under nonselective conditions and were shown to express widely different levels of viral tk. Selective media were used to isolate phenotypically tk- and tk+ variants in sequence from one of the clonal derivatives. As previously reported, superinfection of the tk+ cell lines with tk- HSV type 1 resulted in enhancement of tk activity. A new finding was that viral tk activity could be induced by superinfection in at least 30% of cells from the phenotypically tk- sublines, indicating that a functional viral tk gene was retained in a significant proportion of the cells. Experiments were designed to test for the presence of regulatory factors that could influence tk expression in the nonsuperinfected sublines of H2. Absence of freely diffusible regulatory factors was indicated by the finding that the fusion of phenotypically tk- and tk+ cells and untransformed cells in appropriate combinations did not affect the levels of tk detected. Moreover, there was no evidence for the presence in phenotypically tk+ transformed cells of HSV-specific regulatory factors that could influence expression of tk from a superinfecting viral genome. Phenotypically tk+ sublines of H2 were found to differ from the phenotypically tk- sublines and from untransformed cells in that the tk+ cells synthesized viral proteins earlier and produced greater yields of infectious HSV progeny after superinfection with wild-type tk+ virus. We can conclude that the absence of tk expression in the tk- H2 sublines cannot be accounted for by rearrangements or loss of DNA sequences encoding the enzyme itself or of sequences necessary for induction of the gene by superinfecting HSV. Moreover, it appears that the expression of tk in the tk+ H2 sublines correlates with the presence of some factor that can enhance (or the absence of some factor that can depress) HSV replication and gene expression.
Micro‐Computed Tomography Assessment of Human Alveolar Bone: Bone Density and Three‐Dimensional Micro‐Architecture

Background: Micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) is a valuable means to evaluate and secure information related to bone density and quality in human necropsy samples and small live animals. Purpose: The aim of this study was to assess the bone density of the alveolar jaw bones in human cadaver, using micro-CT. The correlation between bone density and three-dimensional micro architecture of trabecular bone was evaluated. Materials and Methods: Thirty-four human cadaver jaw bone specimens were harvested. Each specimen was scanned with micro-CT at resolution of 10.5 μm. The bone volume fraction (BV/TV) and the bone mineral density (BMD) value within a volume of interest were measured. The three-dimensional micro architecture of trabecular bone was assessed. All the parameters in the maxilla and the mandible were subject to comparison. The variables for the bone density and the three-dimensional micro architecture were analyzed for nonparametric correlation using Spearman's rho at the significance level of p < .05. Results: A wide range of bone density was observed. There was a significant difference between the maxilla and mandible. All micro architecture parameters were consistently higher in the mandible, up to 3.3 times greater than those in the maxilla. The most linear correlation was observed between BV/TV and BMD, with Spearman's rho = 0.99 (p = .01). Both BV/TV and BMD were highly correlated with all micro architecture parameters with Spearman's rho above 0.74 (p = .01). Conclusions: Two aspects of bone density using micro-CT, the BV/TV and BMD, are highly correlated with three-dimensional micro architecture parameters, which represent the quality of trabecular bone. This noninvasive method may adequately enhance evaluation of the alveolar bone.
Mobile Phone Usability Questionnaire (MPUQ) and Automated Usability Evaluation

The mobile phone has become one of the most popular products amongst today's consumers. The Mobile Phone Usability Questionnaire (MPUQ) was developed to provide an effective subjective usability measurement tool, tailored specifically to the mobile phone. Progress is being made in the HCI research community towards automating some aspects of the usability evaluation process. Given that this effort is gaining traction, a tool for measurement of subjective usability, such as MPUQ, may serve as a complement to automated evaluation methods by providing user-centered values and emotional aspects of the product. Furthermore, experimental comparison of MPUQ assessments and automated usability analysis may enable researchers to determine whether automated usability tools generate metrics that correlate with user impressions of usability.
Throughfall alterations by degree of Tillandsia usneoides cover in a southeastern US Quercus virginiana forest

Alterations to forest canopy structure directly affect the hydrology and biogeochemistry of wooded ecosystems. Epiphytes alter canopy structure, thereby intercepting rainwater, reducing penetration of rain to the surface (as throughfall), modifying throughfall chemistry, and changing throughfall responses to storm conditions. These processes are well established for epiphyte presence versus absence; yet, it is unknown how epiphyte–throughfall interactions change across an epiphyte cover continuum (important information for prediction of ecological changes with epiphyte establishment or decline from disturbance). To fill this gap, we monitored throughfall water and dissolved ions (Na+, NH4+, K+, Mg2+, Ca2+, Cl–, NO3–, PO43–, SO42–) beneath a common epiphyte (Tillandsia usneoides L.) across cover percentages (0%–20%, 21%–40%, 41%–60%, 61%–80%, 81%–100%) for 47 storms. Throughfall amount inversely responded to epiphyte cover while increasing salt wash-off and intracellular leaching. Greater epiphyte cover re...
Suppression of Resistance-Breaking Beet necrotic yellow vein virus Isolates by Beet oak-leaf virus in Sugar Beet.

Liu, H.-Y., and Lewellen, R. T. 2008. Suppression of resistance-breaking Beet necrotic yellow vein virus isolates by Beet oak-leaf virus in sugar beet. Plant Dis. 92:1043-1047. Rhizomania, a serious disease of sugar beet (Beta vulgaris), is caused by Beet necrotic yellow vein virus (BNYVV). Resistance allele Rz1 has been widely incorporated into commercial cultivars. Recently, resistance-breaking isolates of BNYVV (RB-BNYVV) were identified and characterized. When the occurrence of RB-BNYVV was surveyed throughout the sugar-beetgrowing areas in the United States, most soil samples contained Beet oak-leaf virus (BOLV) as well. BNYVV and BOLV often occurred in the same field and sometimes in the same sugar beet plant. The possibility of interactions between these two Polymyxa betae-transmitted sugar beet viruses was tested. Plants grown in soils infested with aviruliferous P. betae or carrying RBBNYVV and BOLV, alone and in combination, were compared with plants grown in noninfested soil for differences in plant fresh weight and virus content as measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Rz1 and Rz2 resistance genes that condition resistance to BNYVV did not confer resistance to BOLV. BNYVV ELISA values were significantly higher in single infections than in mixed infections with BOLV in both the rhizomania-resistant and -susceptible cultivars. In contrast, ELISA values of BOLV were not significantly different between single and mixed infections in both the rhizomania-resistant and -susceptible cultivars. Results indicate that BOLV may suppress BNYVV in mixed infections. Soils infested with P. betae significantly reduced fresh weight of sugar beet seedlings regardless of whether they were with or without one or both viruses or resistance genes.
Atoms in high intensity mid-infrared pulses

The recent development of intense, ultrashort, table top lasers in the mid-infrared opens new avenues for research in strong field atomic physics. Electrons submitted to such radiation acquire huge quiver energies, even at moderate intensity and interesting properties arise: first, the wavelength offers a convenient experimental knob to tune the ionisation regime by controlling the Keldysh parameter. Second, many processes like above-threshold ionisation or high harmonic generation, whose characteristics depend directly on this energy, can be pushed to unprecedented limits. Third, the wavelength controls the spectral phase of the harmonics and hence the possibility to improve the generation of pulses in the attosecond regime. Recent studies of rare gas and alkali atoms' photoelectron spectra and harmonic generation at 2 and 3.6 μm have begun to confirm the theoretical predictions. However, unexpected features have also been found showing that strong field interaction still keeps some secrets after more th...
Quantum waves: the proper basis for low dissipation quantum computing

The promise of more effective computation led to quantum computers, which are supposed to surpass binary, digital computers. This is an outgrowth of the search for dissipation-free computation, in which the bit state is switched 'adiabatically.' Implementations in which the two local minima are at different energy levels are unstable. Using super-symmetric quantum mechanics, we show that natural transitions occur between degenerate eigenstates. Then we can write, quite generally, that the qubit should satisfy the Hamiltonian H = k2 > 0, and we associate k with the 'momentum' in Hilbert space. That is, the fundamental structure of the quantum qubit should be that of a quantum plane wave.
The air pollution labyrinth

Cutting through the morass of details, combustion effluents are considered the single major cause of air pollution throughout the world. Without the vast energy input, civilization would come to a grinding halt. Presently the world per capita average consumption of energy is 1.5 kilowatts thermal (kwt); for the United States, the average is almost seven‐fold greater—10.05 kwt. For the future, the combustion problem will become more acute as developing countries become more industrialized. To control combustion products from fossil or atomic fuels for a rising world population and affluence, a more regimented society is visualized. In the future society, scientists must play a leading role in evaluating the total effects of all new technological developments—including as yet unforeseen sources of energy. The scientist must join forces with men from other disciplines for a global systems analysis to attack and to solve urban environmental problems.
On T waves normal in size and direction but abnormal in contour.

Abstract In normal subjects the polarity and contour of the T waves are relatively constant. Atypical T waves of normal polarity occur only occasionally in the tracings of normal subjects, but are common in the electrocardiograms of patients with heart disease. In many instances the behavior of these atypical T waves and the previous or subsequent clinical status of the patient indicate that the myocardium is abnormal. During carotid sinus stimulation and after long postextrasystolic diastoles, many of these atypical upright T waves become inverted. On the other hand, many inverted T waves are converted into atypical upright T waves by exertion or angina pectoris. In some cases atypical upright T waves furnish the only objective evidence that the heart is not normal.
Management of Tuberculosis

The treatment and prevention of tuberculosis have gained importance as the number of cases continues to increase worldwide and the ability of the disease to pass from one area to another becomes progressively greater.
Document structure and digital libraries: how researchers mobilize information in journal articles

This paper explores how academic researchers disaggregate and reaggregate scientific journal articles in both print and digital environments. Journal article disaggregation refers to the ability to access and manipulate individual components of a document, such as its figures, conclusions or references. In reaggregation, article components are compiled and integrated into a new written work. Data gathered in the NSF/DARPA/NASA Digital Libraries Initiative (DLI) project at the University of Illinois are analyzed to describe how components are mobilized in the work of researchers as they identify, retrieve, read and use material in articles of interest. Results lead to a discussion of the nature of metadata, the role of context in constraining component use, the complex assemblage of information system use and implications for digital library system design and user education.
An efficient protection scheme for wireless mesh networks

Network coding is a promising technique that allowed a lot of enhancements to many traditional network applications. In this paper, we study the problem of utilizing network coding to provide protection against a single link failure to a many-to-one flow in a wireless mesh network with a single sink node. We show that by using network coding proactive protection can be achieved using around 50% of the resources used if network coding was not allowed. In addition, we prove the NP-completeness of the problem for networks with limited minimum cuts. Also, to make the coding and decoding efficient, we show how to do these operations over a binary field. Finally, the performance of the coding-based scheme is compared with traditional approaches, and it is shown that in the case of a failure our approach will be better than the standard approaches.
Immediate versus Delayed Consequences of Stuttering Responses

Frequency of stuttering under three conditions was studied. Twelve young adult stutterers read a list of 50 sentences five consecutive times. In one condition, electric shock was administered conti...
Rearing Newts in the Laboratory for Experimental Purposes

I HAVE always considered the methods employed in the rearing of newts in the laboratory as too time-consuming. The newts are generally maintained in finger bowls; the water is usually changed once a day, and during the summer months a cool room is required, or the water is changed several times a day.
Configurable multi-product floorplanning

Before VLSI design starts, it is strategically important to do product planning for targeted market segments that need specific applications, and to optimally reuse at different levels to save design and silicon costs with shorter time-to-market schedule. Conventional ASIC or SoC design floorplan usually targets for one single product; and, high efforts in re-floorplan and re-convergence for different products are still required if there is no pre-design stage multi-product planning. Therefore, the problem of designing floorplans at product or market planning stage that simultaneously optimizes multiple products, or Multi-product Floorplanning, is introduced. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first work in literature that addresses this newly emerged and financially important problem. We start with the necessary number of basic functional blocks to accommodate all the products, and pack them using a simulated annealing (SA) based floorplanner that can easily incorporate other costs (e.g., product finance weights). Given a candidate floorplan, we provide both an O(n3) exact algorithm and a O(n) greedy heuristic to identify the Minimum Feasible Region for each product, where n is the number of basic blocks in this floorplan. These identification procedures are integrated into the SA framework to generate a floorplan that favors the configurable multi-product design. The effectiveness of our approach is validated by promising results on several data sets derived from industrial test cases.
The fate of the mb/mτ mass relation in superstring theories

We consider the low energy limit of the E8 × E8′ heterotic superstring theory compactified on non-simply connected Calabi-Yau manifolds. We then determine what the consequences are of requiring that the mb/mτ mass relation be due to a Clebsch-Gordan relation as it is in traditional grand unified models.
Wave-Coherent Air–Sea Heat Flux

Abstract Air–sea fluxes of heat and momentum play a crucial role in weather, climate, and the coupled general circulation of the oceans and atmosphere. Much progress has been made to quantify momentum transfer from the atmosphere to the ocean for a wide range of wind and wave conditions. Yet, despite the fact that global heat budgets are now at the forefront of current research in atmospheric, oceanographic, and climate problems and despite the good research progress in recent years, much remains to be done to better understand and quantify air–sea heat transfer. It is well known that ocean-surface waves may support momentum transfer from the atmosphere to the ocean, but the role of the waves in heat transfer has been ambiguous and poorly understood. Here, evidence is presented that there are surface wave–coherent components of both the sensible and the latent heat fluxes. Presented here are data from three field experiments that show modulations of temperature and humidity at the surface and at 10–14 m a...
Almond Moth: gamma radiation effects on the life stages

Effects of 6 gamma radiation dosages from 5 to 100 krad on all metamorphic stages of Cadra cautella (Walker) were studied. Development of adults from treated eggs and larvae was prevented by 30 and 20 krad, respectively. Some adults emerged from treated pupae at all levels except 100 krad, but radiation greatly reduced their lifespan. Irradiated adults paired with untreated adults paired fewer eggs than pairs of unirradiated adults, and these eggs had reduced hatch and developmental success. Females were sterilized by 30 had and males by 100 Krad. Progeny of irradiated adults inherited genetic damage that affected their reproductive ability.
Renal Failure Associated with Laxative Abuse

Eating disorder patients often abuse laxatives in an attempt to purge excess food. Laxative abuse can cause hypokalemia and volume depletion. Hypokalemia, in turn, can lead to rhabdomyolysis. Laxative-induced hypokalemia and volume depletion have been previously reported to cause renal insufficiency, but not severe enough to require hemodialysis. A 27-year-old woman with a long history of laxative abuse presented with severe renal failure associated with hypokalemia and volume depletion. She required acute hemodialysis for worsening acidosis (pH 7.05) despite assisted ventilation. A prior episode of hypokalemic rhabdomyolysis at age 23 had resulted in only mild renal insufficiency. Her later episode of severe renal failure was linked to profound volume depletion (blood urea nitrogen 135 mg/dl). This patient calls attention to a potentially life-threatening complication of laxative abuse and indicates that volume depletion can exacerbate laxative-associated renal failure.
Improved outcome of young children on nightly automated peritoneal dialysis

We reviewed our center’s experience with nightly automated peritoneal dialysis (APD) as maintenance renal replacement therapy (RRT) for infants and children under the age of 5 years and compared it with national dialysis and transplant data. A retrospective chart review of 19 consecutive patients with the onset of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) before 5 years of age (mean = 1.8 years) between June 1988 and June 1994 was performed. All patients received nightly APD, supplemental feedings, calcitriol, erythropoietin, and 10 of 19 were on growth hormone (rhGH) therapy. The growth of our patients was maintained or improved during the study period, with the 10 of 19 on rhGH gaining a mean of one standard deviation in height when followed for 2 years. Our school-age children were all in age-appropriate classes. There were no deaths in our group; the incidence of peritonitis was lower than in national data. We conclude that APD is a realistic option for the treatment of ESRD in the 0- to 5-year-old child. Because of the improved graft and patient survival in older children, APD in a specialized center might be the RRT of choice in this age group, allowing good growth and development while maximizing the chances of an eventual and successful renal transplant.
Probe Data Sampling Guidelines for Characterizing Arterial Travel Time

Probe data are emerging as an important source for characterizing transportation systems. Travel time distributions have traditionally been characterized by the mean and standard deviation. These statistics work well to characterize uncongested freeway systems, which have travel time distributions that are approximately normal. When congested conditions or interrupted-flow facilities are encountered, the travel time distributions become more complex. Recently some additional travel time reliability indexes have been developed to quantify these travel time distribution characteristics. This study develops mathematical techniques for determining the sample size required for estimating the underlying travel time distributions that can be used for assessing changes in travel time distributions associated with operational changes of traffic signal controller offsets. The example provided shows that while gross changes in offsets require approximately 7 probe vehicle samples per study interval, subtle changes i...
Nonlinear coupling of stimulated Raman and Brillouin scattering in laser-plasma interactions.

Detailed agreement with the experiments of Walsh, Villeneuve, and Baldis is obtained from a theory of the coupling of stimulated Raman scattering and stimulated Brillouin scattering which incorporates the nonlinear physics of the Zakharov model.
Performance of Uncoated Weathering Steel Highway Bridges Throughout the United States

Because uncoated weathering steel (UWS) bridges have been in use in the United States for nearly 50 years, the long-term performance of these structures can now be assessed. An assessment was completed by surveying the varied experiences of 52 U. S. transportation agencies and analyzing the data on all UWS bridges known within these and other agencies, which totaled nearly 10,000 structures. It was established that the superstructure condition ratings system (based on a standard national rating system) of these structures was a valid means of assessing UWS performance in a quantitative manner on the basis of a comparison of these ratings to qualitative information received from bridge owners in the 52 agencies surveyed. Of the most significant findings from the analysis, first, was that the superstructure condition ratings of the majority of UWS bridges were classified as excellent or very good, on the basis of the national criteria for these qualitative descriptors. Second, a comparison of the ratings of...
A village would be nice but ... it takes a long-acting contraceptive to prevent repeat adolescent pregnancies.

Abstract Objective: To determine which components of a comprehensive, multidisciplinary, adolescent-oriented maternity program help teenage mothers delay subsequent pregnancies. Design/ Setting/ Patients: A cohort of 373 participants in a comprehensive, multidisciplinary, adolescent-oriented maternity program was studied. Intervention: The program was designed to prevent rapid subsequent pregnancies directly by simplifying access to contraceptives and indirectly by discouraging school drop-out and encouraging the pursuit of careers incompatible with closely spaced childbearing. Parents and children were seen together; nine visits were scheduled during the first postpartum year and four visits during the second year. Main Outcome Measure: Repeat adolescent pregnancy. Results: The repeat pregnancy rate was 14% at 1 year and 35% at 2 years. Teenage mothers who became pregnant exhibited significantly more repeat pregnancy risk factors but were as compliant with clinic visits as their nonpregnant peers. The contraceptive choices the teenagers made during the puerperium had the most profound effect on their subsequent fertility. A logistic regression analysis identified failure to use Norplant during the puerperium as the strongest predictor of repeat pregnancy during the first 2 postpartum years (relative risk [RR]=8.89; 95% confidence interval [CI]=2.80–28.50). Exhibiting nine or more repeat pregnancy risk factors (RR=2.37; 95% CI=1.38–4.06) and not using Depo-Provera during the puerperium (RR=2.30; 95% CI=1.60–3.29) also predicted repeat conception, but clinic visits and return to school postpartum did not. Conclusions: Using a long-acting hormonal contraceptive during the puerperium was associated with pregnancy prevention during the first 2 postpartum years, but frequent clinic visits, contact with supportive healthcare and social service providers, and return to school were not.
DNase I sensitivity of nuclear DNA measured by flow cytometry

The DNase I digestion kinetics of DNA in isolated nuclei (from HeLa or murine mammary carcinoma, 67 cells) were assayed flow cytometrically by measuring the changes in ethidium bromide (EtBr) fluorescence following various digestion time intervals. The DNase I digestion curve was characterized by an initial 25-30% increase in fluorescence upon addition of the enzyme, a rapid reduction in fluorescence to approximately 50-55% in 30 minutes, and a limit digest of 45-50% beyond 45 minutes. Throughout digestion, the DNA histogram retained its characteristic bimodal shape, showing that histogram rearrangement was not responsible for the changes in EtBr fluorescence. Irradiation with 5 X 10(6) rads (137Cs-gamma-rays) or exposure to 50 mM EDTA caused an increase in EtBr fluorescence similar to that caused by DNase I, suggesting that DNA nicking and/or chromatin loosening were responsible for this increase. Residual DNA assayed by the solubilization of 14C-TdR (thymidine)-labeled DNA indicated a similar kinetic pattern without the initial increase. However, at the limit digest, the fraction of DNA remaining trichloroacetic acid (TCA) insoluble (10%) was smaller than that measured by loss of EtBr fluorescence (50% of initial, 40% of maximum). Part of this difference was due to the presence of TCA soluble DNA trapped within the nuclear matrix (15-20%). This trapped DNA was released when the digested nuclei were exposed to 0.5-1.0 M NaCl just prior to EtBr staining. Exposure of HeLa cells to three agents that are believed to cause changes in chromatin structure resulted in alterations in the DNase I digestion kinetics measured flow cytometrically.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
A selective CVD tungsten-strapped polysilicon local interconnection technology

A local interconnection technology utilizing polysilicon strapped with selective-chemical-vapor-deposited (CVD) tungsten has been developed. Both n- and p-channel MOS transistors have been successfully fabricated using this technology. Tungsten deposited on polysilicon is an attractive gate shunt and local interconnection material because of its low resistivity, immunity to dopant segregation and diffusion, and resistance to electromigration. A potential problem of this technology is the excessive diode leakage current associated with strapping shallow source/drain diodes with tungsten. The leakage is attributed to defects induced by the heavy source/drain implant, which can be effectively eliminated with a proper annealing procedure. >
Evaluation of the potential of geopolymer mortar in the rehabilitation of buried infrastructure

Concrete pipes represent the backbone of the wastewater collection systems in many cities across North America. These pipes are in various stages of deterioration, generally due to microbiological induced corrosion and/or mechanical loading. A common method of rehabilitating these structures is the use of cementitious coatings. This paper describes the development and testing of three novel geopolymer mix designs prepared using metakaolin and fly ash (class C and F) precursors. Specimens prepared using Portland cement-silica fume blend were also tested for comparison purposes. The specimens were placed in several concentrations of sulphuric acid for a period of eight weeks. The corrosion resistance and remaining compressive strength of geopolymer mortar made from class F fly ash precursor were found to be substantially higher compared with the enhanced OPC formulation. The other geopolymer mix designs were found to perform equally or better compared with the OPC binary blend.
On Generalized Gaussian Quadratures for Exponentials and Their Applications

Abstract We introduce new families of Gaussian-type quadratures for weighted integrals of exponential functions and consider their applications to integration and interpolation of bandlimited functions. We use a generalization of a representation theorem due to Caratheodory to derive these quadratures. For each positive measure, the quadratures are parameterized by eigenvalues of the Toeplitz matrix constructed from the trigonometric moments of the measure. For a given accuracy ϵ, selecting an eigenvalue close to ϵ yields an approximate quadrature with that accuracy. To compute its weights and nodes, we present a new fast algorithm. These new quadratures can be used to approximate and integrate bandlimited functions, such as prolate spheroidal wave functions, and essentially bandlimited functions, such as Bessel functions. We also develop, for a given precision, an interpolating basis for bandlimited functions on an interval.
Fluorescent localization of calcium at sites of cell attachment and spreading

Chlorotetracycline (CTC), a calcium-chelating fluorescent probe identifies and localizes calcium when applied to cultured neural crest cells. The fluorescence occurs at specific membrane regions involved in cell attachment and spreading as well as with the formation of cytoskeletal stress fibers (actin microfilament bundles). The observed CTC reaction indicates that calcium sequestration and the development of these membrane-cytoskeletal features share a temporal and spatial pattern. Thus, the selective availability of calcium may be an important determinant of cell morphogenesis.
Holocene Paleohydrology of the Tropical Andes from Lake Records

Two century-scale time series in northern Bolivia constrain the ages of abrupt changes in the physical, geochemical, and biological characteristics of sediments obtained from lakes that formed during deglaciation from the late Pleistocene glacial maximum. The watersheds of Laguna Viscachani (16°12′S, 68°07′W, 3780 m) and Lago Taypi Chaka Kkota (16°13′S, 68°21′W, 4300 m), located on the eastern and western slopes of the Cordillera Real, respectively, contain small cirque glaciers. A high-resolution chronology of the lake sediments is provided by 23 AMS14C dates of discrete macrofossils. Late Pleistocene glaciers retreated rapidly, exposing the lake basins between 10,700 and 970014C yr B.P. The sedimentary facies suggest that after 890014C yr B.P. glaciers were absent from the watersheds and remained so during the middle Holocene. An increase in the precipitation–evaporation balance is indicated above unconformities dated to ∼230014C yr B.P. in both Lago Taypi Chaka Kkota and Laguna Viscachani. An abrupt increase in sediment accumulation rates after 140014C yr B.P. signals the onset of Neoglaciation. A possible link exists between the observed millennial-scale shifts in the regional precipitation–evaporation balance and seasonal shifts in tropical insolation.
Locating the transgenic landscape: Animal biotechnology and politics of place in Massachusetts

Abstract The first major wave in the conflict over modern biotechnologies took place in the United States at the federal level. Biotechnology proponents were able to capture the federal regulatory structure, so today, a second wave of anti-biotech activism focused at the local and state levels is emerging. This article examines what enables or constrains place-based anti-biotech activism through a case study of the conflict over genetically engineered (GE) animals in Massachusetts. I demonstrate how, in spite of a highly visible animal advocacy and anti-GE presence, GE animal proponents have mobilized effective politics of place strategies to suppress local debate by exercising territorial control in relation to two places – the state of Massachusetts as a whole and the animal research laboratory specifically.