cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
At-speed capture power reduction using layout-aware granular clock gate enable controls

Power consumption during the test mode of circuit operation is a major concern for scan based low power circuits. While there are multiple DFT and ATPG techniques proposed in the literature for addressing both shift and capture power reduction, most of the solutions are coarse-grained in nature - in the sense that they attempt to reduce power while being agnostic of the local power density in the power grid and its impact on the local dynamic IR Drop. Hence, such solutions can only fortuitously alleviate any local IR drop issues in the power grid, especially those arising from differences between functional and test mode use case scenarios. With clock gating being at the root of any dynamic power reduction solution in circuits today, it is not surprising that, power consumption during at-speed capture is strongly tied to a test pattern's ability to enable or disable clock gates in the circuit (a key feature of all commercial ATPG tools today). In this paper, our work looks at clock gates critically from the following problem formulations (i) What DFT hooks can enable us to easily and selectively enable or disable clock gates?, (ii) how can DFT hooks be chosen in awareness of the local power density?, and (iii) with the DFT hooks in place, how can ATPG generate low power at-speed patterns with minimal impact on QoR (coverage/pattern count)? We share production solutions/methods developed to tackle the aforementioned problems in the context of a 45nm low power SoC taped out last year, along with various experimental results.
Effect of thermomechanical treatment on 9Cr ferritic–martensitic steels

Abstract High-Cr (9 wt.%) ferritic–martensitic steels are important materials for use in nuclear reactors. This study shows a development activity for this category of steels via thermomechanical treatment (TMT) optimization and alloying element adjustment based on Grade 92 steels. Vickers microhardness and tensile tests were employed to assess the mechanical properties of the materials in the normalized-tempered (N&T) and optimized TMT conditions. The treatment of one of the modified heats produced ∼29% and ∼47% increases in hardness and yield strength, respectively, compared to the Grade 92 in the N&T condition. The TMT-treated alloys showed comparable or superior strength relative to the oxide-dispersion-strengthened steel PM2000. Microstructure analyses by optical and transmission electron microscopy together with thermodynamic calculations identified the strengthening mechanisms of the TMT and precipitates.
Amnesia and second language learning.

The ability of an anterograde amnesic C.S. to learn a second language is assessed. First, her claim that she learned Italian while amnesic was examined in a series of formal tests of Italian. Second, C.S. and her husband were tutored in French and her acquisition was compared to that of her husband's. Third, C.S.'s ability to learn other kinds of verbal material with practice was investigated. The implications of C.S.'s apparent ability to learn a second language in the presence of a severe deficit for memory for other kinds of verbal material is discussed.
How accurate are the 234Th based particulate residence times in the ocean

The residence times of colloidal and particulate matter have been estimated often by using naturally occurring 234Th-238U disequilibria in the surface ocean. However, we show that the conventional 234Th multiple-box models underestimate the actual residence time. Using a one-box 234Th model approach, we calculate about a factor of two to four longer residence times for both colloidal and particulate thorium in the open ocean. This approach also yields very similar residence times between particulate thorium (box model based) and particulate organic carbon (sediment trap based) even with the same data sets previously used for showing a large discrepancy. Our results suggest significant corrections in the application of 234Th based residence times of the colloids and particulate matter to gauge the removal rates of reactive trace elements and organic carbon in the surface ocean.
Generic VLSI platform for system-level optical interconnection insertion

ABSTRACT A barrier which has faced insertion of optical interconnections within MCM environments is the absence of generic system-level building blocks suitable for inclusion by system designers within prototype MCM architectures.To obtain system-level acceptance, a stable digital interface with built-in self test, fault tolerance and relaxation ofoptomechanical alignment must be provided. To accomodate the rapid technology development implied by chip levelrequirements, these generic components must provide this system-level stability while also acting as a technologyplatform from which new generations of optical components and integrated packaging can be evaluated. This paper describes design considerations for a protoype Intelligent Optical Interconnection Module (IOIM) to serve as thisgeneric system-level building block. The utility of the IOIM organization is motivated through exploration of the requirements of an optoelectronic interface for a cryo-electronic communication switch prototype.'
Mixture Kalman filters

In treating dynamic systems, sequential Monte Carlo methods use discrete samples to represent a complicated probability distribution and use rejection sampling, importance sampling and weighted resampling to complete the on-line ‘filtering’ task. We propose a special sequential Monte Carlo method, the mixture Kalman filter, which uses a random mixture of the Gaussian distributions to approximate a target distribution. It is designed for on-line estimation and prediction of conditional and partial conditional dynamic linear models, which are themselves a class of widely used non-linear systems and also serve to approximate many others. Compared with a few available filtering methods including Monte Carlo methods, the gain in efficiency that is provided by the mixture Kalman filter can be very substantial. Another contribution of the paper is the formulation of many non-linear systems into conditional or partial conditional linear form, to which the mixture Kalman filter can be applied. Examples in target tracking and digital communications are given to demonstrate the procedures proposed.
Regulation of glycogen synthase activity in isolated rat adipocytes by levamisole

The effect of levamisole on glycogen synthase activity in isolated adipocytes was studied. The addition of levamisole to these cells resulted in an acute concentration-dependent increase in glycogen synthase activity. In contrast, epinephrine, dibutyryl cyclic AMP (DcAMP) and cysteamine decreased glycogen synthase activity. The stimulatory effect of levamisole on the activity of the enzyme was not affected by the presence of epinephrine but was diminished when either DcAMP or cysteamine was present. The results of this study suggest that levamisole increases adipocyte glycogen synthase activity by a mechanism that can be reversed by the elevation of cAMP.
Chronic exposure to stress hormones promotes transformation and tumorigenicity of 3T3 mouse fibroblasts

Epinephrine and norepinephrine are produced during psychological stress and can directly bind to cells to induce DNA damage. These effects may have more long-lasting consequences such as DNA mutations resulting in an increased potential for cellular transformation and/or tumor progression. This study examined the molecular effects of a chronic (24 h) in vitro exposure to these stress hormones on murine 3T3 cells. Long exposures (24 h) in dose-response experiments with norepinephrine or epinephrine induced significant increases in DNA damage in treated cells compared to that of untreated controls as measured by the alkaline comet assay. Pre-treatment with a blocking agent (the β-adrenergic receptor antagonist propranolol) eliminated this increase in damage. In addition, both norepinephrine and epinephrine increased cellular transformation, as assessed by growth in soft agar, and 3T3 cells pre-treated with either norepinephrine or epinephrine induced a more rapid onset of tumors and more aggressive tumor growth in nude mice. In summary, incubation of 3T3 cells with catecholamines results in long-term DNA damage as measured by increased transformed phenotypes and tumor progression, indicating that they are important mediators of stress effects on genomic instability and vulnerability to tumor formation.
Fab forensics: Increasing trust in IC fabrication

Fabrication and design are now performed by different companies as semiconductor fabrication facilities (fabs or foundries) seek to reduce costs by serving multiple clients and consolidating resources. However, lack of immediate control and observation reduces the trust which IC designers have in some fabs. To help fabs increase trust in their processes, we propose an approach for logging forensic information of the fab process and printing the information on chips so that examination of the chip reveals provable deviations from the design. Fab owners can benefit by catching rogue employees and by demonstrating high security standards to their customers. Our proposed solution uses a light runtime system that interacts with a trusted platform module (TPM).
Oxytocin does not act locally in the hypothalamus to elicit norepinephrine release.

Abstract An in vitro brain slice preparation was used to determine whether facilitatory effects of systemically administered oxytocin on hypothalamic norepinephrine release result from direct action of the neuropeptide on noradrenergic terminals. When oxytocin was superfused onto hypothalamic slices from ovariectomized control and ovariectomized, hormone-treated female rats, the neuropeptide failed to influence either basal or electrically evoked release of 3 H-norepinephrine. Thus, it is likely that oxytocin facilitates hypothalamic norepinephrine release by a peripheral mechanism, perhaps vaginocervical contraction.
Syntrophic interactions among anode respiring bacteria (ARB) and Non‐ARB in a biofilm anode: electron balances

We demonstrate that the coulombic efficiency (CE) of a microbial electrolytic cell (MEC) fueled with a fermentable substrate, ethanol, depended on the interactions among anode respiring bacteria (ARB) and other groups of micro-organisms, particularly fermenters and methanogens. When we allowed methanogenesis, we obtained a CE of 60%, and 26% of the electrons were lost as methane. The only methanogenic genus detected by quantitative real-time PCR was the hydrogenotrophic genus, Methanobacteriales, which presumably consumed all the hydrogen produced during ethanol fermentation ( approximately 30% of total electrons). We did not detect acetoclastic methanogenic genera, indicating that acetate-oxidizing ARB out-competed acetoclastic methanogens. Current production and methane formation increased in parallel, suggesting a syntrophic interaction between methanogens and acetate-consuming ARB. When we inhibited methanogenesis with 50 mM 2-bromoethane sulfonic acid (BES), the CE increased to 84%, and methane was not produced. With no methanogenesis, the electrons from hydrogen were converted to electrical current, either directly by the ARB or channeled to acetate through homo-acetogenesis. This illustrates the key role of competition among the various H(2) scavengers and that, when the hydrogen-consuming methanogens were present, they out-competed the other groups. These findings also demonstrate the importance of a three-way syntrophic relationship among fermenters, acetate-consuming ARB, and a H(2) consumer during the utilization of a fermentable substrate. To obtain high coulombic efficiencies with fermentable substrates in a mixed population, methanogens must be suppressed to promote new interactions at the anode that ultimately channel the electrons from hydrogen to current.
Locating Byzantine Attackers in Intra-Session Network Coding Using SpaceMac

Intra-session network coding is known to be vulnerable to Byzantine attacks: malicious nodes can inject bogus packets, which get combined with legitimate blocks at downstream nodes, thus preventing decoding of original packets and degrading the overall performance. In this paper, we provide a novel approach that can identify the precise location of all Byzantine attackers in systems with intra-session network coding. A key ingredient of our approach is a novel homomorphic MAC scheme for expanding subspaces (SpaceMac) that allows to eliminate any uncertainty in identifying attackers via subspace properties. To the best of our knowledge, our scheme is the first that can identify precisely all Byzantine attackers, and at the same time has both low computation (sub- millisecond) and communication overhead (20 bytes per data block). Simulation results show that, even when there are multiple colluding attackers in a network, all of them can be successfully identified in a very short time.
Cost-effectiveness of biological agents used in ulcerative colitis.

Abstract Ulcerative colitis (UC) produces bloody diarrhoea, severe abdominal pain, and need for clinic visits, hospitalizations, and surgeries. UC results in reduced health-related quality of life for patients and large direct medical and indirect costs for health systems and employers. Patients with the most severe disease require the most medical services, and these patients have larger costs than patients with mild or moderate disease. Despite biological therapies being quite expensive, they are indicated for patients unresponsive to initial standard therapies. Future hospitalizations may be reduced by starting a biological treatment. Cost-effectiveness results vary between countries, health systems, and model designs. Since restorative proctocolectomy can be curative, this surgery dominates biological therapy by being both less costly and more effective when measuring health system costs and patient qualityadjusted life years for 20 years. However the dose, duration, and effectiveness of biological treatments significantly impact estimates of their cost-effectiveness.
Emerging ethical issues in pharmacogenomics

Pharmacogenomics holds much promise for the application of genetic information to the improvement of clinical care. Ethical issues for pharmacogenomics arise at the intersection of the spheres of drug development and genetic testing. Clinical drug trial designs which use subject selection based on genotype must consider the features of scientific validity, social value and risk-benefit ratio, and later, the impact of this strategy on post-market studies and clinical use of drugs. Although the testing context for pharmacogenomic tests is different from other genetic tests, decisions to use any new clinical tests in medical practice will require evaluation of not only the benefit linked to improved drug use but also the risks arising in part from the scale of testing, predictive value and collateral potential of the genetic test. Integration of pharmacogenomic information into clinical practice will require clinical trials to assess their clinical usefulness, including the impact of tests on therapeutic outcomes. Trials will also be needed to demonstrate the effectiveness of education, informed consent and counseling.
The generalized triangular decomposition

Given a complex matrix H, we consider the decomposition H = QRP*, where R is upper triangular and Q and P have orthonormal columns. Special instances of this decomposition include the singular value decomposition (SVD) and the Schur decomposition where R is an upper triangular matrix with the eigenvalues of H on the diagonal. We show that any diagonal for R can be achieved that satisfies Weyl's multiplicative majorization conditions: k k K K Π i=1 |r i | ≤ Π i=1 σ ι, 1 ≤ k < K, K, Π i=1 |r i | = Π i=1 σ i , where K is the rank of H, σ i is the i-th largest singular value of H, and r i is the i-th largest (in magnitude) diagonal element of R. Given a vector r which satisfies Weyl's conditions, we call the decomposition H = QRP*, where R is upper triangular with prescribed diagonal r, the generalized triangular decomposition (GTD). A direct (nonrecursive) algorithm is developed for computing the GTD. This algorithm starts with the SVD and applies a series of permutations and Givens rotations to obtain the GTD. The numerical stability of the GTD update step is established. The GTD can be used to optimize the power utilization of a communication channel, while taking into account quality of service requirements for subchannels. Another application of the GTD is to inverse eigenvalue problems where the goal is to construct matrices with prescribed eigenvalues and singular values.
Hydrogen-induced unzipping of single-walled carbon nanotubes

The chemisorption of atomic hydrogen on the single-walled armchair and zigzag carbon nanotubes is studied with ab initio calculations. The binding energy of H adsorption at the exterior of the nanotubes is much greater than that at the interior. We predict that two rows of H atoms chemisorbed on selective sites exterior to the smaller armchair nanotubes can break the nearest-neighbor C-C bonds of the nanotubes through the concerted formation of C-H bonds, leading to the unzipping of the nanotube wall. On the other hand, the larger armchair and zigzag nanotubes are stable against unzipping. We provide insights into the underlying electronic mechanism for the H-induced unzipping, lending strong support to the recent experimental observations for the coalescence of single-walled nanotubes in the presence of atomic hydrogen. Interestingly, H atoms chemisorbed inside the nanotubes do not break the C-C bonds.
Critical Literacy in a Digital Era: Technology, Rhetoric, and the Public Interest, by Barbara Warnick. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, 2002. xi + 146 pp. $39.95 cloth. $18.00 paperback. ISBN 0-805-84115-6.

Barbara Warnick, a well-known scholar in rhetoric and communication who has of late begun applying her skills in rhetorical theory to the Internet, takes a broad look at the Internet in this book, ...
No Financial Disincentive for Choosing More Healthful Entrées on Children’s Menus in Full-Service Restaurants

Children are eating restaurant foods more than ever before, and price is among the top considerations for food choices. We categorized and enumerated entrees on children’s menus from 75 full-service restaurant chains to compare prices of more healthful and less healthful entrees to test the assumption that more healthful food is more expensive. The mean (standard deviation) price of more healthful entrees ($5.38 [$2.01]) was not significantly different from the price of less healthful entrees ($5.27 [$2.04]). In contrast to research demonstrating that more healthful foods tend to be more expensive in grocery stores, more healthful entrees on children’s menus in restaurants were not more expensive than less healthful entrees.
Travelling wavefronts in combustion and chemical reaction models

Travelling wavefronts for a system of two reaction–diffusion equations are studied. The existence of a family of wavefronts (one for each wave speed) as well as the existence of the minimal speed (in the case that the Lewis number is greater than $1$ ) are proved. Asymptotic formulae for the wavefronts are established. New results are obtained when applying the main theorems to an isothermal autocatalytic chemical reaction system.
Youth Program Quality Survey: Youth Assessment of Program Quality

The Youth Program Quality survey, a 24-item survey of youth participant perceptions of program quality, based on program elements identified by the National Research Council (NRC) and Institute of Medicine, was developed and piloted with 614 younger teens (ages 10–13 years) and 486 older teens (ages 14–17 years) who attended 4-H camps and conferences. Evidence is presented for content and construct validity. In addition, the overall instrument demonstrated high reliability, as measured by Cronbach's alpha, generally ranging from .70 to .96, and moderate subscale reliability of .60 or higher on four factors in the younger sample (α=.60 or higher on four factors in the older sample). Results are discussed in terms of goodness of fit to the National Research Council model, the significance of youth voice in assessment of program quality, developmental differences in perceptions of quality, and programming design. Recommendations are offered for practice, research, and policy.
Reading and Interpretive Response to Literary Text: Drawing Upon Sociocultural Perspective

Students read text through the sociocultural perspective from which they emerge. They interpret the text that is read through personal and cultural cues, through experiences acquired within a particular cultural context. When no cultural cues are familiar, students have difficulty identifying with and understanding literary text. In literacy-related activities, the meaning derived by one reader may differ drastically from the meaning gleaned by another. This article reports on a study designed to ascertain whether diverse students draw upon their sociocultural perspective during oral reading and during interpretive responses of literary text. Findings of this study suggest the need to make room for students’ personal interpretations of literary text as evidence of African American students’ engagement, metacognition, and draw upon sociocultural perspective. Discussion centers on the importance of sociocultural perspective in documenting reading performance and academic progress.
Antagonism of the responses to isoproterenol in the rat hippocampal slice with subtype-selective antagonists.

The electrophysiological and cAMP responses to the β-adrenoceptor agonist isoproterenol were measured in the in vitro hippocampal slice preparation. Subtype-selective antagonists were used to evaluate the specificity of these responses. The β1-selective antagonist ICI 89,406 was 60-fold more potent than was the β2-selective antagonist ICI 118,551 at antagonizing the electrophysiological response. ICI 89,406 was 200 times more potent in its antagonism of the cAMP response. These results suggest that the electrophysiological and cAMP responses in this preparation are primarily mediated by β1-adrenoceptors.
Trace-element variations at Summer Coon volcano, San Juan Mountains, Colorado, and the origin of continental-interior andesite

The Oligocene Summer Coon center, an eroded continental-interior volcano of the eastern San Juan Mountains, Colorado, was the source of magmas ranging in composition from basaltic andesite to rhyolite. Previous Pb and Sr isotope studies indicate derivation of the magmas from an isotopically homogeneous source. This study presents new data for rare-earth elements (REE), U, Th, Ba, Sr, Rb, and Ni from 10 samples of the Summer Coon sequence. Alkali elements are high in all rocks; as SiO 2 increases, Ba increases from 900 to 2,000 ppm, Rb increases from 35 to 90 ppm, Sr decreases from 900 to 350 ppm, K/Rb decreases slightly, Ba/Sr increases, U increases from 0.5 to 2.5 ppm, and Th increases from 2 to 7 ppm. Chondrite-normalized REE patterns are strongly fractionated in comparison with oceanic-arc andesite-dacite sequences. La is 80 to 120 times chondritic abundance, but Yb and Lu are less than 10 times chondritic abundance. Small negative Eu anomalies characterize the rhyolites. Nickel in the andesites is 40 to 70 ppm. The origin of the andesite is interpreted in terms of nonmodal partial melting of a trace-element—enriched garnet-bearing source, possibly subducted crust that has converted to eclogite. Rhyodacite and rhyolite are interpreted as low-pressure crystal-fractionation products of silicic andesite, in which crystallizing phases are hornblende rich in REE and plagioclase.
The histone acetyltransferase PCAF regulates p21 transcription through stress-induced acetylation of histone H3

The activity of p53 as a tumor suppressor primarily depends on its ability to transactivate specific target genes in response to genotoxic and other potentially mutagenic stresses. Several histone acetyl transferases (HATs), including p300, CBP, PCAF and GCN5 have been implicated in the activation of p53-dependent transcription of the cyclin-dependent kinase (cdk) inhibitor p21 as well as other target genes. Here we show that PCAF, but not CBP or p300, is a critical regulator of p53-dependent p21 expression in response to multiple p53-activating stresses. PCAF was required for the transcriptional activation of p21 in response to exogenous p53 in p53-null cells, nutlin-3, DNA damaging agents and p14ARF expression, suggesting a broad requirement for PCAF in p53 signaling to p21 after stress. Importantly, cells lacking PCAF failed to undergo cell cycle arrest in response to nutlin-3 treatment or p14ARF expression, consistent with a physiologically important role for PCAF in this p53 function. Surprisingly, the role for PCAF in induction of p21 was independent of p53 lysine 320 acetylation, a previously suggested target of PCAF-mediated acetylation. Though p21 promoter occupancy by p53 was not altered by PCAF knockdown, activation of p21 transcription required an intact PCAF HAT domain, and induction of chromatin marks acetyl-H3K9 and acetyl-H3K14 at the p21 promoter by p53 was dependent upon physiologic levels of PCAF. Together, our experiments indicate that PCAF is required for stress-responsive histone 3 acetylation at the p21 promoter, p53-directed transcription of p21 and the resultant growth arrest.
All Good Works Are Not Created Equal: Employee Sensemaking of Corporate Philanthropy

As part of a larger project exploring philanthropy in the workplace, this qualitative case study examined the ways in which employees made sense of their employer's charitableness. As participants reflected on the philanthropic values and practices of the financial institution where they were employed, four recurring, in vivo themes emerged: (a) to whom much is given, much is expected, (b) that's what this company is about, (c) it's the right thing to do, and (d) it's just satisfying. Corporate motives and participants' own charitable giving values were part and parcel of the sensemaking process and the meaning they ascribed to corporate giving. Consequently, employees' value-based social construction of corporate giving may be at odds with the current corporate shift toward strategic philanthropy, suggesting that all good works are not created equal and that corporate attempts to rationalize philanthropy may be met with uncertainty and resistance.
Inhibition of androgen binding in human foreskin fibroblasts by antiandrogens.

Abstract Antiandrogen effects on androgen receptor binding and androgen metabolism were studied in cultured human newborn foreskin fibroblasts. Three different antiandrogens were tested in this system: (a) cyproterone acetate (CA); (b) RU23908; and (c) R2956. CA and R2956 were eqnipotent inhibitors of androgen binding to its intracellular receptor. The magnitude of this action was nearly twice as great against the endogenous androgen ligands, dihydrotestosterone (DHT) or testosterone (T), than with the synthetic ligand, methyltrienolone (R1881). Whereas the relative binding affinities of CA and R2956 were approximately 5–10 times less than T or DHT, RU23908 was another order of magnitude less effective as an inhibitor of androgen binding. The lower relative binding affinity determined for RU23908 could not be explained on the basis of a requirement for metabolic activation. Subcellular fractionation studies and sucrose density gradient analysis further confirmed the rank order of antiandrogenic potency. None of the antiandrogens influenced the rate or profile of metabolites from cellular metabolism of T or DHT. We propose that cultured human genital skin fibroblasts may serve as a valuable system for the future evaluation of antiandrogens in intact cells under physiologic conditions.
On the Motions of Electrons in Gases

Motion of electrons through gases when electric field and pressure are such that collisions are elastic.---For electron speeds below a critical value characteristic of each gas, the collisions with molecules are probably as between elastic spheres, since neither ionization nor radiation is produced. The average fraction of its energy lost in elastic collision with a molecule of mass $M$, by an electron of mass $m$, is $f=2(\frac{m}{M})(1\ensuremath{-}\frac{\ensuremath{\Omega}}{U})$, where $\ensuremath{\Omega}$ and $U$ are the average kinetic energies of molecules and electrons. But while, if $Ug\ensuremath{\Omega}$, the electrons lose energy at collisions, they gain energy from the field between collisions, so the kinetic energy tends to increase or decrease to a terminal energy. Assuming Langevin's equation for mobility, we find ${U}_{t} (\mathrm{in}\mathrm{volts})=.66 \frac{\mathrm{El}}{\ensuremath{\surd}f}$ where $\mathrm{El}$ is the product of field strength and mean free path. In the case of plane parallel electrodes the number of collisions per cm and also the ratio of the speed at any point to the terminal speed, are both found to be independent of the field strength. In the case of a straight filament cathode surrounded by a coaxial cylindrical anode, the electrons may acquire their maximum speed near the cathode and subsequently lose speed while approaching the anode, their speed being greater than the terminal speed for this region. Curves are given for various cases. Substituting the value of terminal speed in Langevin's equation leads to the following expression for electron mobility: $\ensuremath{\mu}=\frac{0.815l\ensuremath{\surd}(\frac{\frac{1}{2}e}{m})}{{[\frac{1}{2}\ensuremath{\Omega}+{(\frac{{\ensuremath{\Omega}}^{2}}{4}+{W}^{2})}^{\frac{1}{2}}]}^{\frac{1}{2}}}$ where the energy due to the field is $eW=\frac{\mathrm{leE}}{1.506\ensuremath{\surd}f}$. This expression is somewhat similar to that given by Loeb (corrected for numerical error) but leads to values 0 to 10 per cent higher. When the collisions are inelastic the mobility is shown to be greater.
A general solution of the diffusion equation for semiinfinite geometries

Abstract The solution of the time-dependent diffusion equation in a semiinfinite planar, cylindrical, or spherical geometry with common initial and asymptotic boundary conditions is considered. It is shown that this boundary value problem may be described by a single equation which involves only a first order spatial derivative and a half order time derivative. The replacement is exact in the planar and spherical geometry cases but approximate in the cylindrical case. This replacement permits the solution of the original boundary value problem to be written for any boundary condition at the origin. It also leads to a simple relationship between the boundary flux and the boundary intensive variable, which does not require a calculation of the intensive variable at all positions and times.
Role of pharmacogenomics in dialysis and transplantation.

Purpose of reviewPharmacogenomics is the study of differences in drug response on the basis of individual genetic background. With rapidly advancing genomic technologies and decreased costs of genotyping, the field of pharmacogenomics continues to develop. Application to patients with kidney disease
The late behavior of supernova 1987A. I - The light curve. II - Gamma-ray transparency of the ejecta

Observations of the late (t = 20-1500 days) bolometric light curve and the gamma-lines and X-rays from supernova 1987A are compared to theoretical models. It is found that 0.073 + or - 0.015 solar masses of freshly synthesized Ni-56 must be present to fit the bolometric light curve. The results place limits on the luminosity and presumed period of the newly formed pulsar/neutron star. In the second half of the paper, the problem of computing the luminosities in gamma-ray lines and in X-rays from supernova 1987A is addressed. High-energy observations suggest the development of large-scale clumping and bubbling of radioactive material in the ejecta. A model is proposed with a hydrogen envelope mass of about 7 solar masses, homologous scale expansion velocities of about 3000 km/s, and an approximately uniform mass distribution.
Clinical and molecular epidemiology of sporadic and clustered cases of nosocomial Clostridium difficile diarrhea.

Abstract purpose: A prospective clinical and molecular epidemiologic study was conducted to define the frequency of nosocomial Clostridium difficile patient-to-patient transmission in an urban tertiary referral hospital. patients and methods: Over a 6-month period, environmental cultures for C difficile were obtained from patients with new positive stool cytotoxin assay (index cases); stool samples were obtained from selected patient contacts (the roommate, occupants of adjacent rooms, and the patient occupying the index room after discharge of the index case); and hand cultures were obtained from personnel contacts. C difficile isolates were analyzed by pulse-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) or, for isolates that were nontypeable by PFGE, by restriction enzyme analysis. results: During the study period, we identified 98 index cases of C difficile toxin-associated diarrhea, including focal outbreaks on two wards totaling 26 cases within a 2-month interval. Environmental contamination was detected at ≥1 sites in 58% of rooms and often involved wide dispersed areas. Among 99 prospectively identified patient contacts, C difficile was cultured from the stool of 31 (31%), including 12 with diarrhea and 19 who were asymptomatic. C difficile was cultured from the hands of 10 (14%) of 73 personnel. Molecular analysis resolved 31 typing profiles among the index isolates; the most common profile (designated strain D1) was represented by 30 isolates. Among the isolates from patient contacts, 5 of 12 from symptomatic contacts matched the corresponding index isolate, and only 1 of 19 from asymptomatically colonized contacts matched. Transmission to personnel or patient contacts of the strain cultured from the corresponding index case was correlated strongly with the intensity of environmental contamination. Strain D1 was frequently represented among isolates associated with heavy environmental contamination, with personnel carriage, and with development of symptomatic illness among prospectively identified contacts. conclusions: Intense environmental contamination and transmission to close personnel and patient contacts represented coordinated properties of an individual epidemic strain. For most epidemiologically linked contacts, positive cultures for C difficile did not result from transmission from the presumed index case.
Vaginal Lacerations from Consensual Intercourse in Adolescents.

Abstract Objective (1) To describe lacerations of the vaginal fornices, an injury known to be associated with consensual sexual intercourse, including known complications and treatment course, (2) to contrast these injuries with injuries sustained during sexual assault, and (3) to discuss the assessment of adolescent patients for sexual injuries. Methods We present a case series of 4 female adolescent patients seen at a children's hospital over a period of 6 months. Each patient developed significant vaginal bleeding after sexual intercourse, and 3 of the patients presented to the emergency department with vital signs consistent with compensated shock. Results Each patient was evaluated by pediatric surgery, and found to have a laceration of the vagina. Three of the patients described consensual intercourse prior to the onset of bleeding, and had lacerations of the vaginal fornices; these patients were determined to have injuries resulting from consensual sexual intercourse. The fourth patient reported sexual assault as the cause of her injuries, and was treated for longitudinal lacerations of the vaginal wall. Conclusions Lacerations of the upper vagina are not frequently reported in forced vaginal intercourse, but are occasionally reported as injuries sustained during consensual coitus. In the absence of reported sexual assault, a severe vaginal fornix laceration is consistent with the diagnosis of coital injury from consensual intercourse. Diagnosis and treatment of this injury can be delayed due to the sensitive nature of these injuries. Bleeding can be profuse, leading to hemorrhagic shock, and these injuries may require transfusion of blood products and surgical repair in some cases. Complications may include hemoperitoneum, pneumoperitoneum, or retroperitoneal hematoma, even in the absence of complete vaginal perforation. Practice implications Knowledge of the consensual sexual injuries that may occur in adolescent patients can guide diagnosis, treatment, and counseling for the patient and her family, preventing long-term medical complications and legal consequences.
A Second-Order Closure Model for the Effect of Averaging Time on Turbulent Plume Dispersion

A practical model for the effect of averaging time on the turbulent dispersion of a continuous plume is presented. The model is based on a second-order turbulence closure scheme, but is applied to the integrated spatial moments of the plume to provide a Gaussian spread prediction. Velocity fluctuation variances are used directly by the closure model to predict the dispersion, and are partitioned into meandering and diffusive scales based on the instantaneous spread of the plume. Finite time averaging is represented by a simple estimate of the turbulent energy spectrum. The model is compared with short-duration atmospheric measurements for dispersing clouds.
Dissecting Roles of Cav1.2 (α1C) Intracellular Loops in Cardiac Excitation-Contraction Coupling

Cardiac excitation-contraction (EC) coupling relies on Ca2+-induced Ca2+ release (CICR) enabled by an intimate relationship between L-type (CaV1.2) channels and ryanodine receptors (RyRs) at dyadic junctions. The determinants underlying CaV1.2/RyR functional proximity responsible for effective CICR are unknown, but likely entail protein interactions involving one or more intracellular loops of CaV1.2 pore-forming α1C subunit. We hypothesized that over-expressing α1C intracellular loops that play a critical role in CaV1.2/RyR communication would disrupt CICR in cardiomyocytes. We used adenoviruses to overexpress CFP-tagged α1C intracellular loops and termini (NT, I-II, II-III, III-IV, CT) in cardiomyocytes and determined their impact on field-stimulation-evoked rhod-2-reported Ca2+ transients. Over-expressed NT, II-III, and III-IV loops had minimal effect on CICR. By contrast, over-expressed I-II and CT produced dramatic disruption of EC coupling characterized by two distinct signatures: a sharp augmentation in CICR failure, and an increased propensity for arrhythmic Ca2+ transients. The defective EC coupling was not due to a gross misalignment of CaV1.2 and RyR as reported by co-immunolocalization assays. Surprisingly, overexpressed I-II had no impact on CaV1.2 current (ICa,L), whereas CT strongly suppressed ICa,L. The results identify a dominant role for I-II and CT in establishing CaV1.2/RyR functional interrelationship, and suggest a new approach to dissect molecular components and interactions critical for CICR in the heart.
Regulation of the Transcription Factor E75 by 20-Hydroxyecdysone and Juvenile Hormone in the Epidermis of the Tobacco Hornworm,Manduca sexta,during Larval Molting and Metamorphosis

Abstract The homolog of the ecdysteroid-induced transcription factor E75A inDrosophila melanogasterwas cloned from the tobacco hornworm,Manduca sexta,and its developmental expression and hormonal regulation were analyzed. Both E75A and E75B mRNAs were found in the abdominal epidermis during both the larval and the pupal molts, with E75A appearing before E75B, coincident with the rise of ecdysteroid. Exposure of either fourth or fifth instar epidermis to 20Ein vitrocaused the rapid, transient induction of E75A RNA with a peak at 6 and 3 h, respectively, followed by maintenance at low levels until 24 h. Epidermis from fourth instar larvae with high endogenous juvenile hormone (JH) showed a 10-fold higher sensitivity to 20E (EC50= 2 × 10−8M for fourth instar and 2 × 10−7M for fifth instar epidermis). The presence of the protein synthesis inhibitor anisomycin had no effect on the induction but prevented the decline, indicating that E75A RNA was directly induced by 20E, but its down-regulation depended on protein synthesis. Exposure of day 2 fifth instar epidermis to 20E in the presence of JH I, which prevents the 20E-induced pupal commitment, caused an increased accumulation of E75A RNA throughout the culture period although the temporal pattern was unaffected. These findings show for the first time that JH plays a role in 20E-induced early gene expression and suggest that the higher levels of E75A may be required for maintenance of larval commitment of this epidermis.
Potentiation of antifungal activity of amphotericin B by azithromycin against Aspergillus species.

The potential role of azithromycin in combination with amphotericin B against 25 clinical isolates ofAspergillus was assessed. The MIC of amphotericin B was 1 μg/ml for 44% of the isolates, 0.5 μg/ml for 48%, and 0.25 μg/ml for 8%. All isolates were resistant to azithromycin. Synergism, defined as a ≥ twofold reduction in the MIC of both drugs upon combination, was demonstrated between amphotericin B and azithromycin for all 25 isolates. To prove that azithromycin exerts its antifungal effect by inhibiting protein synthesis, we studied [35S]-methionine incorporation into protein inone Aspergillus isolate. Neither amphotericin B at 0.125 μg/ml (fourfold below its MIC) nor azithromycin at 16 μg/ml (≥ 16-fold below its MIC) had any effect on protein synthesis when tested alone. Upon combination, however, a 68% inhibition in protein synthesis was evident by the inhibition of [35S]-methionine incorporation.
Appearances are not skin deep: On the status of de yangzi as an inferential marker in colloquial Mandarin discourse

This paper investigates the functions of a previously neglected collocation, the nominalizer 的 de and the noun 樣子 yangzi ‘appearance’ (DYZ) in colloquial Mandarin discourse. DYZ is shown to be either denotational or non-denotational. In the denotational use, yangzi denotes various entity concepts, including bodily appearances, behavioral demeanor, and visual percepts of an event. In the non-denotational use, however, yangzi does not denote, but instead, in tandem with the nominalizer de, functions as an inferential marker, meaning a grammatical device that indicates inference or assumption on the part of the speaker while at the same time signaling the speaker’s medium epistemic certainty about a statement. The underlying mechanism of recruiting the noun for “appearance” to mark inferentials may be attributable to the widespread conceptualization of basing the epistemology of perception on “how things look” (Lyons 2005).
Mechanical strength of durable press finished cotton fabric part V: Poly(vinyl alcohol) as an additive to improve fabric abrasion resistance

Multifunctional carboxylic acids, such as 1,2,3,4-butanetetracarboxylic acid (BTCA), are effective crosslinking agents for cotton cellulose and have become the most promising nonformaldehyde durable press (DP) finishing agents to replace the traditional formaldehyde-based dimethyloldihydroxylethyleneurea (DMDHEU) and its derivatives. DP finishing imparts wrinkle resistance to cotton fabrics and also severely reduces the strength and abrasion resistance of finished fabrics. In this research, we investigated the use of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) as an additive to improve the abrasion resistance of the cotton fabric crosslinked by BTCA. We found that addition of PVA improves the abrasion resistance of the crosslinked cotton fabric when the concentration of PVA exceeds 0.6% in the finish solution. We also found that the use of PVA as an additive has no negative effect on the wrinkle recovery angle (WRA), DP rating, and tensile strength of the treated cotton fabric. This is probably because the molecules of PVA stay on the surfaces of the cotton fibers due to their large molecular sizes. PVA competes with cellulose to esterify BTCA, thus reducing the number of crosslinkages formed on the cotton fiber surface. The reaction of PVA and BTCA may also form a protective layer on the fiber surface, thus reinforcing the mechanically weak points on the fiber surface. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 91: 3940–3946, 2004
Prostate cancer in men with serum PSA of <4 ng/ml: under-diagnosed or over-treated?

With the introduction of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening two decades ago, early diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer has become widespread. Largely based on an unproven notion that early detection may lead to reduction in cancer mortality, the policy of routinely administering a PSA test and digital rectal examination to men aged 50 yr has been adopted in many countries as part of the medical checkup. In 2001, approximately 75% of men in this age group in the United States reported that they had undergone PSA screening, and 54% reported receiving regular annual PSA tests [1]. Prospective, preferably population-based, randomized trials are needed to determine whether early detection of prostate cancer ultimately reduces cancer mortality rates. At the present time, two large-scale randomized trials are under way: the Prostate, Lung, Colon, and Ovarian (PLCO) Cancer Screening Trial in the United States and the European Randomized Study of Screening for Prostate Cancer (ERSSPC) in eight European countries. The first analysis of the central end point of these trials— cancer-related mortality—is not scheduled until 2008. Thus, to date, evidence is insufficient to support or discourage routine or opportunistic PSA screening for prostate cancer [2]. The primary goal of cancer screening is to identify the disease at a stage in its natural history when treatment can be implemented to prevent the onset of symptoms and, ultimately, death. Applying this tenet to prostate cancer is somewhat problematic
Population biology of the parasitic phase of trichostrongylid nematode parasites of cattle and sheep

This paper reviews the previous mathematical and conceptual models for the parasitic phase of a range of trichostrongylid nematode parasites of cattle and sheep. It reassesses the results of single and trickle infection experiments and suggests as a working hypothesis that the common trichostrongylids are essentially identical with respect to the processes that determine their survivorship in the host. Parasite abundance in the parasitic phase is explained in terms of immune exclusion, which acts on recently ingested third stage larvae, and mortality of established (fifth stage) parasites. The functional forms used to describe immune exclusion and the mortality of fifth stage worms are defined, respectively, as a declining sigmoid and an asymptotic curve.
Introduction to forum: the 2000 presidential election and the Florida debacle in geographic context

Abstract This short essay provides a brief introduction to the 2000 U.S. presidential election as well as overviews of the five essays which follow. The purpose of this forum section is to provide a geographic context and evaluation of the 2000 presidential election while emphasizing the role of the State of Florida.