cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Evaluating Thermal Quenching Temperature in Eu3+-Substituted Oxide Phosphors via Machine Learning.

One of society’s grand challenges is to reduce energy usage in ways that are cost-effective, sustainable, and environmentally benign. Replacing incandescent and compact fluorescent light bulbs with...
A homogeneous bioluminescent immunoassay to probe cellular signaling pathway regulation

Monitoring cellular signaling events can help better understand cell behavior in health and disease. Traditional immunoassays to study proteins involved in signaling can be tedious, require multiple steps, and are not easily adaptable to high throughput screening (HTS). Here, we describe a new immunoassay approach based on bioluminescent enzyme complementation. This immunoassay takes less than two hours to complete in a homogeneous "Add and Read" format and was successfully used to monitor multiple signaling pathways' activation through specific nodes of phosphorylation (e.g pIκBα, pAKT, and pSTAT3). We also tested deactivation of these pathways with small and large molecule inhibitors and obtained the expected pharmacology. This approach does not require cell engineering. Therefore, the phosphorylation of an endogenous substrate is detected in any cell type. Our results demonstrate that this technology can be broadly adapted to streamline the analysis of signaling pathways of interest or the identification of pathway specific inhibitors.
Measuring Resilience of Human–Spatial Systems to Disasters: Framework Combining Spatial-Network Analysis and Fisher Information

AbstractImproving urban resilience to disasters becomes well-recognized in both industry and academia, but resilience remains challenging to be operationalized, especially in complex urban contexts...
Design as a Feature of Biomedical Engineering Education-Satisfying ABET and Preparing Students to Address Clinical Needs.

Design is an important aspect of biomedical engineering education. It prepares students to work as part of a team to develop systems that address medical and health-related needs-and it is required to be part of an accredited undergraduate engineering program. This work looks at the history of design requirements in the U.S. and the current state of biomedical engineering curricula with respect to design. As a growing number of programs have expanded their design program beyond the capstone project, some examples of innovative programs are described. There is no single way to address design education within an undergraduate biomedical engineering program. However, intentional development of this component of the curriculum can enhance the impact on student learning and outcomes.
CoSim: A Simulator for Co-Scheduling of Batch and On-Demand Jobs in HPC Datacenters

The increasing scale and complexity of scientific applications are rapidly transforming the ecosystem of tools, methods, and workflows adopted by the high-performance computing (HPC) community. Big data analytics and deep learning are gaining traction as essential components in this ecosystem in a variety of scenarios, such as, steering of experimental instruments, acceleration of high-fidelity simulations through surrogate computations, and guided ensemble searches. In this context, the batch job model traditionally adopted by the supercomputing infrastructures needs to be complemented with support to schedule opportunistic on-demand analytics jobs, leading to the problem of efficient preemption of batch jobs with minimum loss of progress. In this paper, we design and implement a simulator, CoSim, that enables on-the-fly analysis of the trade-offs arising between delaying the start of opportunistic on-demand jobs, which leads to longer analytics latency, and loss of progress due to preemption of batch jobs, which is necessary to make room for on-demand jobs. To this end, we propose an algorithm based on dynamic programming with predictable performance and scalability that enables supercomputing infrastructure schedulers to analyze the aforementioned trade-off and take decisions in near real-time. Compared with other state-of-art approaches using traces of the Theta pre-Exascale machine, our approach is capable of finding the optimal solution, while achieving high performance and scalability.
Node-Voltage Method

This chapter will discuss the node-voltage method to solve for voltages at different points in a circuit. The node-voltage method is to set up KCL equations and to solve for the node voltages.
The dynamic behavior of dilute metallic alloy PdxAu1−x/SiO2 raspberry colloid templated catalysts under CO oxidation

Dilute palladium-in-gold alloys have potential as efficient oxidation catalysts; controlling the Pd surface distribution is critical. Here, the activity for CO oxidation catalyzed by robust dilute Pd-in-Au nanoparticles supported on raspberry-colloid-templated (RCT) silica depends on the pretreatment and gas environment. The activities of oxygen-pretreated catalysts are different in light-off studies versus after long-term use. Transient increases in activity are also induced by flowing CO/He at 553 K. Altogether, these results indicate changes in Pd distribution at the surface induced by reactive gases and that light-off studies alone are not adequate for evaluation of alloy catalyst performance. Kinetic studies show evidence of both isolated and multiple Pd atoms. A dual-site mechanism is operative over Pd0.02Au0.98 RCT-SiO2, whereas a single-site mechanism governs reaction over Pd0.10Au0.90 RCT-SiO2. The distinct mechanisms suggest that tuning the ratio of isolated to clustered Pd sites is possible, underscoring the importance of characterization under reaction conditions.
3D Die-Stack on Substrate (3D-DSS) Packaging Technology and FEM Analysis for $55\ \mu\mathrm{m}-75\ \mu \mathrm{m}$ Mixed Pitch Interconnections on High Density Laminate

In this work, a 3D Die-Stack on Substrate (3D-DSS) bonding process has been developed to demonstrate a 3D die stack that has been joined to a mixed pitch ( $5\ \mu\mathrm{m}\ /\ 75\ \mu \mathrm{m}$ ) high density interconnect laminate. By using the 3D-DSS process with thermal compression bonding, the thin bottom die with the TSVs can be bonded to a thick top die by being held flat with a silicon vacuum stage. This study used a semiconductor die that consisted of mixed pitch ( $55\ \mu\mathrm{m}\ /\ 75\ \mu \mathrm{m}$ ) Cu pillars with a SnAg solder cap. The dimension of the high-density laminate was $35 \text{mm} \times 35\ \text{mm}$ and it had thin film high density layers on standard build up layer. The thin film layers are directly integrated to one side of a conventional substrate. A major challenge for this technology lies in the interconnection reliability. To address that, sub-modeling of the interconnects was performed. The stresses in the solder micro-bump, back-end-of-the-line (BEOL) and the vias in the wiring level is presented. A selective cross-sectional analysis was used to study the geometry of the micro-bump connections after forming the 3D die stack on the advanced ground rule laminate. The analysis confirmed that mixed pitch solder joints along the perimeter of chips were joined with full wetting and no bridging.
Modeling and observation of low-frequency propagation into warm core ring on the New England shelf slope

Analytical and computational modeling is used to examine propagation of low-frequency sound into a warm core ring oceanic front. When the source is placed outside the front and the receiver is placed inside it, the sound field consists of the refracted path and the horizontal lateral wave, which decays exponentially into the front. The analytical solution is presented in 2D (x, y) assuming an adiabatic vertical mode solution in z, wherein the vertical mode-dependence of the propagation paths into the front are considered. A 3D computational acoustic model examines the additional effects of sloping bathymetry and frontal geometry. The modeled results are compared to experimental measurements of into-front propagation during the March 2021 New England Shelf Break Acoustics Experiment using a low-frequency (fc = 115 Hz), shallow towed chirp signal received on an L-shape vertical and horizontal hydrophone array. [Work supported by the Office of Naval Research.]
Grand Unification II: Hot Accretion and AGN Jets

We show that a quasi-spherical (QS) hot accretion flow is expected to operate in all SMBHs, with its rate being capped at dot m_QS,max~0.001 (M/1E8Msun) in units of the Eddington rate. It is then proposed that AGN jet power is proportional to the product of the hot accretion rate and a SMBH spin-dependent efficiency for energy extraction in the form of jets. Predictions from this model include (1) while radio jets should emerge from all SMBHs, the maximum jet power goes with SMBH mass approximately as 1E43.6(M/1E8Msun)^{2}erg/s, (2) even although there are two separate underlying populations of radio-quiet (RQ) and radio-loud (RL) AGNs, any bimodality in the observed AGN radio loudness distribution is likely due to a selection effect, such as some imposed optical magnitude limits, (3) the RL fraction of quasars is expected to decrease with redshift in the cold dark matter model, (4) host galaxies of RQ and RL quasars should be drawn from the same underlying elliptical galaxy population, although RL quasars may have SMBHs that are somewhat more massive than their RQ counterparts and RL quasars may reside predominantly in core elliptical galaxies, (5) RL low-luminosity AGNs and LINERs may represent the long, declining "trailing" phase following the initial, more luminous AGN phase, (6) a broad anti-correlation between radio- loudness and disk accretion rate is expected, (7) RL AGNs may be expected to be more abundant in Type Ia supernovae than RQ AGNs, (8) among RL AGNs a correlation between radio power and clustering strength is predicted, and (9) RQ and RL AGNs should have, on average, similar IR-optical-UV properties. ~
Cardioprotective role of sodium thiosulfate on chronic heart failure by modulating endogenous H2S generation

Sodium thiosulfate (STS) has been shown to be an antioxidant and calcium solubilizer, but the possible cardioprotective role of STS remains unclear. We created heart failure (Arterio-venous fistula; AVF) in mice and supplemented those animals with STS in drinking water. Groups were: Sham, AVF, Sham + STS and AVF + STS. M-mode echocardiograms showed ventricular contractile dysfunction with reduced aortic blood flow in AVF mice, whereas STS treatment prevented the decline in cardiac function. Ventricular collagen, MMP-2, -9 and TIMP-1 were found to increase with a decreasing trend in ACVI expression; however, STS supplement reversed these effects in AVF mice. Among two endogenous H2S producing enzymes, the CSE expression attenuated in AVF mice with no changes in CBS expression. Analyses of ventricular H2S production revealed that AVF mice had less H2S production compared to control; however, the H2S production was normalized with STS supplement. Moreover, cardiac tissues were more responsive to H2S when AVF...
Kleine gramnegative Bakterien

Brucella bildet kleine, aerobe, gramnegative Kokkobazillen. Sie sind unbeweglich, bilden keine Sporen und haben einen relativ geringen Stoffwechsel. Sie sind obligate Parasiten fur Menschen und Tiere. Charakteristisch ist ihre intracellulare Lagerung. Typisch fur Br. melitensis ist die Infektion von Ziegen, fur Br.suis die Infektion von Schweinen und fur Br. abortus die Infektion von Kuhen. Die menschliche Erkrankung, die Brucellose (Febris undulans, Malta-Fieber), ist durch eine akute septicamische Phase charakterisiert, auf die ein chronisches Stadium folgt, das sich uber mehrere Jahre erstrecken kann. Viele Gewebe sind beteiligt.
Sacrifice and Commitment: American Volunteers in the Spanish Civil War

The Spanish Civil War (1936-1939) was the last European war before the start of World War II. The war, an ideological struggle between Francisco Franco and his nationalist supporters, aided by the Germans and Italians, sought to remove from power the Spanish Republic, which was aided by the Soviet Union. On both sides of the conflict were volunteers from many countries, including the United States of America. American volunteers fought on both sides of the war, yet more chose the side of the Republicans. Many, but not all, were motivated by political beliefs. Others wanted the perceived romance and excitement of battle, or the sense that they were being of help. The volunteers discussed in this study came from all of these categories, with the ones having political motivation the largest group. They detailed their experiences and their views of the war to their friends, families and comrades back home in the United States. These letters, which come from the Abraham Lincoln Brigade Archives at New York University, form the main part of the study and provide a deeper insight into what these men and women were thinking, as well as providing insight into their desire to fight in Spain. Through their eyes it is possible to gain a deeper understanding of their experiences and their motivations. For many of them, their experiences in Spain formed an important part of their journey in life. Some of them remained loyal to the Communist ideology throughout their lives, while others changed their views as the ruthlessness of Stalin became better known. A modern audience can benefit from a chance to read their thoughts and ideas in an attempt to better understand the events that helped drive the world into the Second World War.
ILG1: A New Integrase-like Gene that is a Marker of Bacterial Contamination by the Laboratory Escherichia coli Strain TOP10F′

Identification of differentially expressed genes between normal and diseased states is an area of intense current medical research that can lead to the discovery of new therapeutic targets. However, isolation of differentially expressed genes by subtraction often suffers from unreported contamination of the resulting subtraction library with clones containing DNA sequences not from the original RNA samples. Subtraction using cDNA representational difference analysis (RDA) was performed on human B cells from normal or common variable immunodeficiency patients. The material remaining after the subtraction was cloned and individual clones were sequenced. The sequence of one clone with similarity to integrases (ILG1, integrase-like gene-1) was used to obtain the full length cDNA sequence and as a probe for the presence of this sequence in RNA or genomic DNA samples. After five rounds of cDNA RDA, 23.3% of the clones from the resulting subtraction library contained Escherichia coli DNA. In addition, three clones contained the sequence of a new integrase, ILG1. The full length cDNA sequence of ILG1 exhibits prokaryotic, but not eukaryotic, features. At the DNA level, ILG1 is not similar to any known gene. At the protein level, ILG1 has 58% similarity to integrases from the cryptic P4 bacteriophage family (S clade). The catalytic domain of ILG1 contains the conserved features found in site-specific recombinases. The critical residues that form the catalytic active site pocket are conserved, including the highly conserved R-H-R-Y hallmark of these recombinases. Interestingly, ILG1 was not present in the original B cell populations. By probing genomic DNA, ILG1 could only be detected in the E. coli TOP10F′ strain used in our laboratory for molecular cloning, but not in any of its precursor strains, including TOP10. Furthermore, bacteria cultured from the mouth of the laboratory worker who performed cDNA RDA were also positive for ILG1. In the course of our studies using cDNA RDA, we have isolated and identified ILG1, a likely active site-specific recombinase and new member of the bacteriophage P4 family of integrases. This family of integrases is implicated in the horizontal DNA transfer of pathogenic genes between bacterial species, such as those found in pathogenic strains of E. coli, Shigella, Yersinia, and Vibrio cholera. Using ILG1 as a marker of our laboratory E. coli strain TOP10F′, our evidence suggests that contaminating bacterial DNA in our subtraction experiment is due to this laboratory bacterial strain, which colonized exposed surfaces of the laboratory worker. Thus, identification of differentially expressed genes between normal and diseased states could be dramatically improved by using extra precaution to prevent bacterial contamination of samples.
Effect of oral decontamination with chlorhexidine on the incidence of nosocomial pneumonia: a meta-analysis

Introduction Nosocomial pneumonia is a significant cause of in-hospital morbidity and mortality. Oral care interventions have great potential to reduce the occurrence of nosocomial pneumonia. Studies using topical antiseptic agents yielded mixed results. We hypothesized that the use of chlorhexidine for oral decontamination would reduce the incidence of nosocomial pneumonia in patients requiring mechanical ventilation.
Patterns of mRNA prevalence and expression of B1 and B2 transcripts in early mouse embryos

Considerable evidence indicates that the 2-cell stage is a critical period of mouse embryo development when a transition from maternal to zygotic genomic control takes place. The overall changes in the structure of the mRNA population as a result of this transition were explored using a random cDNA library of 69 clones derived from late 2-cell embryos. The prevalence of the cloned sequences was analysed by dot hybridization of the cDNA clones with labelled cDNA probes synthesized to poly(A)+ RNA from different stages of development from 1-cell through blastocyst. The number of copies of individual transcripts was quantitatively estimated by comparison to standard clones of known prevalence. About one half of the transcripts that gave a measurable reaction at the 2-cell and later stages were not represented detectably in egg RNA, suggesting that a large set of zygote-specific genes not included in the maternal gene set becomes transcriptionally active in the 2-cell embryo. Six of the cDNA clones represented B1 and B2 repeat sequences. As measured by hybridization with labelled cDNA, B1 and B2 transcripts were abundantly expressed throughout cleavage, being represented by about 10(5) to 10(6) copies per embryo. However, the developmental pattern of prevalence was different for the two transcripts suggesting that their expression is regulated independently. The results of this study corroborate previous evidence derived from protein synthetic patterns and in vitro translation experiments that a major qualitative shift in the mRNA population occurs in the 2-cell embryo.
Antennas on high-impedance ground planes

A new type of metallic electromagnetic structure has been developed that is characterized by having high surface impedance. Unlike normal conductors, this new surface does not support propagating surface currents, and it reflects electromagnetic waves with no phase reversal. This unique material can serve as the ground plane for new kinds of low-profile antennas.
Self-Determination, the Right to Die, and Culture: A Literature Review

Self-determination is a primary ethical principle underlying social work practice in health care settings. Since the 1970s, a right-to-die movement that shares the social work commitment to self-determination has grown and influences end-of-life care decisions. However, the role of culture is notably absent in discussions of the right to die. A literature review was conducted to explore self-determination and the role of culture in the context of the history of the right-to-die movement. A total of 54 articles met the criteria for inclusion in the review. Of the total, 21 related to self-determination, and 12 related to ethnicity and culture at the end of life. A history based on the review of the right-to-die movement is presented. The review found that social workers support passively hastening death and that views of self-determination are affected by both law and culture. In response, social workers will face three tasks: (1) becoming more public in their support for client self-determination as an important standard in end-of-life care, (2) being more explicit in support of diverse cultural traditions in end-of-life decision making, and (3) expanding their traditional educational and bridging roles between families and medical personnel.
Working in Groups: identification and Treatment of Students' Perceived Weaknesses:

The ability to work in groups is vital for today's workforce, yet the existence of the necessary skills among students is questionable. Although group activities are now common, specific classroom ...
Proton NMR studies of the structure of trans-(CH) x

Abstract The proton NMR line width in undoped and AsF 5 doped polyacetylene shows an abrupt change as a function of temperature, indicative of motional narrowing. The characteristic temperature for the onset of narrowing decreases with increasing AsF 5 concentration. The results are discussed in terms of large amplitude librational or translational motions of the trans -(CH) x chains. The magnitudes obtained for the second moment at temperatures below and above the narrowing transition are used to obtain information on the chain packing of trans -(CH) x within the three-dimensional crystal structure.
Male parental care and female choice in the bicolor damselfish, Stegastes partitus : bigger is not always better

Female mate choice and patterns of clutch loss were investigated in a natural population of the bicolor damselfish, Stegastes partitus, in an attempt to link criteria used by females in mate choice with male or territory characteristics that enhance egg survival. Previous studies of mate choice in fish species with paternal care have demonstrated the importance of male size and the brood size defended by males in determining female choice. In the present study, neither male size nor brood size influenced male mating success. Of the measured male and territory characteristics, females chose males solely on the basis of their courtship rate. The lack of a female preference for large males and for males with relatively larger broods appeared to result from the patterns of clutch loss. Egg-hatching success was unrelated to either male size or brood size. Future work will determine whether males with high courtship rates provide superior parental care.
Amphiphilic peptide-polymer conjugates based on the coiled-coil helix bundle.

Amphiphilic peptide−polymer conjugates can lead to hierarchically structured, biomolecular materials. Because the peptide structure determines the size, shape, and intermolecular interactions of these building blocks, systematic understanding of how the peptide structure and functionality are affected upon implementing hydrophobicity is required to direct their assemblies in solution and in the solid state. However, depending on the peptide sequence and native structure, previous studies have shown that the hydrophobic moieties affect peptide structures differently. Here, we present a solution study of amphiphilic peptide−polymer conjugates, where a hydrophobic polymer, polystyrene, is covalently linked to the N-terminus of a coiled-coil helix bundle-forming peptide. The effect of conjugated hydrophobic polymers on the peptide secondary and tertiary structures was examined using two types of model, coiled-coil helix bundles. In particular, the integrity of the binding pocket within the helix bundle upon h...
Recent Developments in Measurement and Possible Applications to the Measurement of Psychomotor Behavior

Abstract The relatively recent development and successful implementation of item response theory, or IRT for the solutions to measurement problems in the cognitive and affective behavior domains should provide the incentive for physical educators to begin to apply IRT procedures to mental test data and opinion or attitude measurements in the near future. IRT offers distinct advantages to the measurement of these behaviors that the more traditional, classical procedures either cannot provide or cannot provide easily. The primary advantage of IRT procedures is to be able to obtain an estimate of the examinee's true but unknown ability (i.e., the latent trait of interest) and to estimate this ability in such a way that this estimate does not depend on other examinees or on the particular test administered. These are the so-called invariance principles of IRT, making it possible to design tests specifically for the estimation of the ability of a given examinee. These adaptive tests provide estimates of abilit...
Comparison of yolk production in seven pyralid moth species

Summary The yolk proteins of six pyralid moths were analyzed and compared with the yolk proteins of Plodia interpunctella (Hubner). When cross-reacted in an Ouchterlony double immunodiffusion with antiserum raised to either total yolk proteins or purified vitellin from P. tnterpunctella, the yolk proteins of Anagasta kuehniella (Zeller), Cadra cautella (Walker), C. figulilella (Gregson), and Ephestia elutella (Hubner), closely related members of the subfamily Phycitinae, showed strong precipitation lines that consisted of four major yolk polypeptides (YPs). The yolk proteins from Amyelois transitella (Walker) were only weakly reactive, whereas yolk proteins from Galleria mel-lonella (L.) were not precipitated by either antiserum. Abdominal body walls (containing primarily fat body) from late pharate adult females were incubated in vitro and they secreted two major polypeptides that had molecular masses similar to the vitellogenins (YP1 and YP3) from P. interpunctella. In addition, ovarioles from late phar...
High-curvature outwardly propagating flames

Abstract A model describing the evolution of laminar, high-curvature outwardly propagating flames is presented. The model, valid in the limit of large chemical activation energies, can be useful for simulations of the evolution of flame kernels shortly after ignition when flame curvature is high and significantly modifies the local normal burning speed of the flame. Profiles of temperature across the flame as a function of flame radius are presented. The model predicts are reduction in the outward propagation rate of the flame in proportion to the reduction of reactant mass flux across the flame resulting from flame curvature. The burning speed of the flame is similarly reduced as well.
Injury surveillance at the 1985 National Boy Scout Jamboree

Few studies have examined the rate of injuries for those attending summer camps and other recreational facilities. We developed a surveillance system for the 1985 National Boy Scout Jamboree to determine the incidence, nature, and cause of injuries among participants. To characterize the more severe injuries among scouts, we monitored referral visits to an onsite Army hospital. During the 9 day event there was a total of 179 injuries requiring referral visits among the 24,885 scouts, for an overall incidence of 8.5 injuries per 10,000 person-days. Twenty-eight injuries (16%) involved fractures. Ten injuries required hospitalization, for an overall rate of 0.5 per 10,000 person-days. Thirty-six (20%) of the injuries occurred during six organized athletic activities. Of these six, two new Jamboree activities, the bucking bronco and bicycle motocross racing, had the highest event-specific rates, 14.4 and 11.4 injuries per 10,000 participants, respectively. These two events also accounted for one-third of all fractures. In contrast, there were no firearm-related injuries among the 32,616 participants in riflery events. This simple and inexpensive surveillance system provided a mechanism for monitoring activity modifications, as well as useful information for the selection and planning of organized activities at future Jamborees and similar recreational events.
Client language as a mediator of motivational interviewing efficacy: where is the evidence?

Background: Identifying in-session indicators of client outcomes is important in determining the mechanisms of psychotherapeutic treatments, including Motivational Interviewing (MI). The current studies sought to determine if clinician behavior influences client speech, and the extent to which client speech predicted treatment outcome in clients receiving treatment for substance abuse. Methods: Study 1 examined 38 sessions from 5 sites in Project MATCH. Sessions were coded using the Sequential Code for Process Exchanges (SCOPE) behavioral coding system. Transition probabilities and inter-rater reliability were calculated. Study 2 examined 45 sessions from the New Mexico site in Project MATCH. Sessions were coded using the MISC 1.0 behavioral coding system. Distal outcome measures were calculated for proportion of days abstinent (PDA) and drinks per drinking day (DDD). Hierarchical multiple regression and hierarchical logistic regression were used to characterize the relationship between client speech and outcome. Results: In Study 1, inter-rater reliability estimates indicate that coders reliably distinguished between the categories within the SCOPE. Behaviors consistent with MI (MICO) were significantly likely to be followed by client Change Talk (CT) and behaviors inconsistent with MI (MIIN) were significantly likely to be followed by Counterchange Talk (CCT). There was also a significant negative transition probability between MICO and CCT. In Study 2, CT was found to account for significant portions of outcome variability beyond that attributable to baseline measures of problem severity. Conclusions: Client speech during early therapy sessions appears to be a powerful predictor of substance abuse outcome. The pattern of therapist behaviors and subsequent client language found in this data supports the intervention test in the causal chain we have described for motivational interviewing. These studies provide preliminary support for a causal chain between therapist behaviors, subsequent client speech, and drinking outcomes within motivational interviewing sessions. The results of both studies provide further support to the proposition that client speech impacts the likelihood of behavioral change, and that the occurrence of such speech is influenced by the therapist.
Routine Tail Suspension Husbandry Facilitates Onset of Seizure Susceptibility in EL Mice

Summary: Purpose: Tail suspension can elicit seizures in susceptible EL mice, a model of idiopathic, multifactorial epilepsy. Further, repeated tail suspension hastens the lifetime onset of seizure susceptibility in these mice. The present study tested the hypothesis that curtailing human handling during development would delay the onset of seizure susceptibility relative to EL mice handled regularly by using tail suspension for standard laboratory husbandry. Methods: Control mice were handled by the tail for bedding changes, whereas unhandled mice bedding was changed by using specially designed connector cages that allowed mice to transfer without handling to a cage containing clean bedding. Seizure susceptibility was tested beginning at 70, 80, 90, 100, or 140 days of age by using a handling-induced seizure-susceptibility paradigm. Results: Among handled mice, more than half of the sample exhibited seizures by age 80 days relative to fewer than one fourth of unhandled mice. In addition, each group was tested a second time 10 days after the initial seizure-susceptibility test to detect potential experience-induced increases in seizure susceptibility. Once again, a higher frequency of handled mice expressed seizures at significantly younger ages relative to unhandled mice. Conclusions: Although it was already known that repeated tail suspension could speed the onset of seizure susceptibility in EL mice, the present results are the first to demonstrate the converse finding that decreasing routine human handling can delay significantly the onset of seizure susceptibility. This suggests that removal of nonconsensual aspects of human–animal contact may delay or prevent the onset of seizure susceptibility.
Timing-Aware Decoupling Capacitance Allocation in Power Distribution Networks

Power supply noise increases the circuit delay, which may lead to performance failure of a design. Decoupling capacitance (decap) addition is effective in reducing the power supply noise, thus making the supply network more robust in presence of large switching currents. Traditionally, decaps have been allocated in order to minimize the worst-case voltage drop occurring in the power grid. In this paper, we propose an approach for timing-aware decap allocation which uses global time slacks to drive the decap optimization. Non-critical gates with larger timing slacks can tolerate a relatively higher supply voltage drop as compared to the gates on the critical paths. The decap allocation is formulated as a non-linear optimization problem using Lagrangian relaxation, and modified adjoint method is used to efficiently obtain the sensitivities of objective function to decap sizes. A fast path-based heuristic is also implemented and compared with the global optimization formulation. The two approaches have been implemented and tested on ISCAS85 benchmark circuits and with grids of different sizes. Compared to uniformly allocated decaps, the proposed approach utilizes 35.5% less total decap to meet the same delay target. For the same total decap budget, the proposed approach is shown to improve the circuit delay by 10.1% on an average.
Low-cost, high-resolution, single-structure array telescopes for imaging of low-Earth-orbit satellites.

Telescopes that are designed for the unconventional imaging of near-earth satellites must follow unique design rules. The costs must be reduced substantially over those of the conventional telescope designs, and the design must accommodate a technique to circumvent atmospheric distortion of the image. Apertures of 12 m and more along with altitude-altitude mounts that provide high tracking rates are required. A novel design for such a telescope, optimized for speckle imaging, has been generated. Its mount closely resembles a radar mount, and it does not use the conventional dome. Costs for this design are projected to be considerably lower than those for the conventional designs. Results of a design study are presented with details of the electro-optical and optical designs.
A five-membered lactone prodrug of CBI-based analogs of the duocarmycins.

The preparation, characterization, and examination of the CBI-based 5-membered lactone 5 capable of serving as a prodrug or protein (antibody) conjugation reagent are disclosed along with its incorporation into the corresponding CC-1065 and duocarmycin analog 6, and the establishment of their properties.
Steady-shear rheology of block copolymer melts and concentrated solutions: Defect-mediated flow at low stresses in body-centered-cubic systems

We investigate the low-deformation-rate behavior of sphere-forming block copolymers in the microphase-separated state by both creep and dynamic viscoelastic measurements. Polystyrene-polyisoprene and polystyrene-poly(ethylene-alt-propylene) diblock, triblock, and starblock systems of varying molecular weights and compositions, all of which form a polycrystalline body-centered-cubic (bcc) mesophase, are studied as melts and as concentrated solutions in a matrix-selective solvent. At low stresses, the bcc lattice is preserved, and steady-shear measurements reveal a Newtonian viscosity behavior. Following models for high-temperature creep in metals and ceramics, and incorporating the thermodynamic barrier for endblock pullout from spherical microdomains, we have been able to collapse the zero-shear viscosity versus temperature data for diblock melts of a given composition onto a master curve. By analogy with the behavior of polycrystalline metals and ceramics, we anticipated a substantial effect of thermal history on viscosity, through its impact on the grain size. However, only a modest thermal history effect was observed.
Use of a novel transluminal balloon accessotome in transmural drainage of pancreatic pseudocyst (with video).

Background Endoscopic transmural pseudocyst drainage is a multistep procedure. Objective Our purpose was evaluation of a new device, the transluminal balloon accessotome (TBA) in transmural drainage of pancreatic pseudocysts. Design Case series. Setting Subspecialty tertiary care center. Patients and Interventions Between September and October 2007, all consecutive patients with symptomatic pancreatic pseudocysts in whom TBA was used for pseudocyst drainage were included. Through a therapeutic duodenoscope, the pseudocyst was punctured with the needle-knife of the TBA at the point of maximal bulge. After the cyst cavity was entered, the needle-knife and the handle of the TBA device were withdrawn and a 0.035-inch guidewire was passed into the cavity. The tract was dilated with the inflatable balloon of the TBA device, and a 10F double-pigtail was inserted. Results Six patients, all male, median age 35 years, underwent transmural pancreatic pseudocyst drainage with TBA during this period. All procedures were completed successfully. There were no major complications during or after the procedure except for fever in 1 patient, which responded to parenteral antibiotics. At 6-week follow-up, the pseudocyst cavity had completely collapsed, and stents could be extracted in all patients. Limitations Single-center experience, small sample size. Conclusions TBA is a safe, useful, and easy-to-use device for transmural drainage of pancreatic pseudocysts.
Inverse Box–Cox: The power-normal distribution

Abstract Box–Cox transformation system produces the power normal (PN) family, whose members include normal and lognormal distributions. We study the moments of PN and obtain expressions for its mean and variance. The quantile functions and a quantile measure of skewness are discussed to show that the PN family is ordered with respect to the transformation parameter. Chebyshev–Hermite polynomials are used to show that the correlation coefficient is smaller in the PN scale than the original scale. We use the Frechet bounds to obtain expressions for the lower and upper bounds of the correlation coefficient. A numerical routine is used to compute the bounds. The transformation parameter of the PN family is used to investigate the effects of model uncertainty on the upper quantile estimates.
Binding by Asynchrony: The Neuronal Phase Code

Neurons display continuous subthreshold oscillations and discrete action potentials. When action potentials are phase-locked to the subthreshold oscillation, we hypothesize they represent two types of information: the presence/absence of a sensory feature and the phase of subthreshold oscillation. If subthreshold oscillation phases are neuron-specific, then the sources of action potentials can be recovered based on the action potential times. If the spatial information about the stimulus is converted to action potential phases, then action potentials from multiple neurons can be combined into a single axon and the spatial configuration reconstructed elsewhere. For the reconstruction to be successful, we introduce two assumptions: that a subthreshold oscillation field has a constant phase gradient and that coincidences between action potentials and intracellular subthreshold oscillations are neuron-specific as defined by the "interference principle." Under these assumptions, a phase coding model enables information transfer between structures and reproduces experimental phenomenons such as phase precession, grid cell architecture, and phase modulation of cortical spikes. This article reviews a recently proposed neuronal algorithm for information encoding and decoding from the phase of action potentials (Nadasdy 2009). The focus is given to the principles common across different systems instead of emphasizing system specific differences.
Microanalytical measurements of insulin-stimulated glucose transport in single cells

Abstract Ultrasensitive microanalytical methods provide a means to measure insulin-stimulated glucose transport in single cells, and have allowed investigation of the functional relationships between GLUT4 and hexokinase. Results obtained using microanalysis demonstrate that depending on the insulin concentration either glucose transport or glucose phosphorylation may limit glucose metabolism in cardiac myocytes. Evidence for coordinate regulation of GLUT4 and hexokinase expression in skeletal muscle fibers has also been obtained. In combination with microinjection, microanalysis is proving useful in investigating the signal transduction pathways involved in the stimulation of glucose transport and glycogen synthase by insulin.
Genetic and Maturational Variation in Bilirubin (B) Oxidation by Brain Mitochondrial Membranes (MM). 105

Background/aim: We have recently confirmed that B is oxidized by brain MM. As this might represent a protective mechanism against B neurotoxicity, it was of interest to examine if, and to what extent, this activity was dependent upon such factors as genetic background and postnatal age.
Electron correlation theories and their application to the study of simple reaction potential surfaces

This paper serves two purposes. The first is to describe an implementation of the coupled cluster theory with double substitutions (CCD) previously developed by Cizek. The second is to apply this method and closely related fourth-order perturbation methods to some simple molecules and reaction potential surfaces. These studies show that CCD theory gives results close to those of a Moller-Plesset perturbation treatment to fourth order in the space of double and quadruple substitutions MP4(DQ). Addition of contributions from single substitutions at fourth order makes little change in predicted relative energies. Preliminary results on the potential surfaces for 1,2-hydrogen shifts in C2H2, HCN, CH2O, and N2H2 are discussed and compared with previous studies.
Metabolism of benzo[a]pyrene and DNA adduct formation in cultured human epidermal keratinocytes.

Cultured human epidermal cells which require no feeder layer were used to study metabolism of benzo[a]pyrene (BP) and DNA adduct formation. The cultures were prepared from a single cell suspension and maintained at a pH of 5.9--6.2. At 2 microM BP some cell toxicity was observed, and substantial cell death occurred at 4 microM BP. The metabolism and DNA binding of BP were followed from 6 to 48 h of incubation. High pressure liquid chromatography (h.p.l.c.) revealed that BP was metabolized into 9,10-diol, 7,8-diol, quinones, phenols and tetraols of BP. The DNA binding levels increased linearly up to 28 h of incubation. At 18 h, the level of DNA binding at 0.4 microM BP was 1.5 x 10(-6) mol BP/mol DNA and increased to 6.0 x 10(-6) mol BP/mol DNA at a dose of 4 microM BP. Analysis of the DNA adducts by h.p.l.c. indicates that the 2'-deoxy-N2-(7,8,9,10-tetrahydro-7 beta-,8 alpha, 9 alpha-trihydroxybenzo[a]pyrene-10-yl) guanosine was the predominant adduct formed in cells exposed to BP. The prevalence of the minor DNA adducts varies as a function of the source of the primary skin cells. These results confirm that human cells with no feeder layer metabolize BP and the resultant DNA damage is similar to that found in other mammalian systems.
Regression of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy after modified konno procedure

Background. Septal myotomy-myectomy has been known to decrease the incidence of sudden death and produce regression in hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy. Use of β-blockers or calcium-channel blockers generally does not cause regression of the disease. Methods. Having successfully performed modified Konno procedures in 13 patients with effective relief of diffuse subaortic stenosis, we applied the procedure in 2 patients with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy. Both patients (18 and 12 years old, respectively) presented with syncope, angina at rest, and dyspnea despite being on calcium channel blocker therapy. The echocardiographic outflow gradients were 66 mm Hg and 88 mm Hg, respectively, with moderate mitral regurgitation. Results. Both patients had uneventful postoperative course. At 2 years and 1.5 years postoperatively, both patients were free of angina and syncopal episodes. Echocardiography showed absence of outflow gradients and mitral regurgitation. In 1 patient the septal and posterior wall thickness decreased from 3.4 and 1.7 cm preoperatively to 2.6 and 0.9 cm, respectively, postoperatively. In the other patient, the thickness decreased from 2.4 and 0.9 cm preoperatively to 0.8 and 0.7 cm, respectively, postoperatively. Left atrial diameter decreased from 5.4 to 4.7 cm in 1 patient, 3.5 to 2.6 cm in the other. Conclusions. We believe that the modified Konno procedure could produce more effective relief of obstruction and, therefore, significant regression and further reduction in sudden death in hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy. On the basis of our experience, albeit limited, we encourage its application.
Social Networks and Corporate Governance

We analyse frameworks that link corporate governance and firm values to governing boards' social networks and innovations in technology. Because agents create social networks with individuals with whom they share commonalities along the dimensions of social status and income, among other attributes, CEOs may participate in board members' social networks, which interferes with the quality of governance. At the same time, social connections with members of a board can allow for better evaluation of the members' abilities. Thus, in choosing whether to have board members with social ties to management, one must trade off the benefit of members successfully identifying high ability CEOs against the cost of inadequate monitoring due to social connections. Further, technologies like the Internet and electronic mail that reduce the extent of face-to-face networking cause agents to seek satisfaction of their social needs at the workplace, which exacerbates the impact of social networks on governance. The predictions of our model are consistent with recent episodes that appear to signify inadequate monitoring of corporate disclosures as well as with high levels of executive compensation. Additionally, empirical tests support the model's key implication that there is better governance and lower executive compensation in firms where networks are less likely to form.