cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Insomnia symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic: an examination of biopsychosocial moderators.

Abstract Objective/background Healthy sleep is vital for physical and psychological health, and poor sleep can result in a myriad of negative physical and psychological outcomes. Insomnia symptoms often manifest as a result of acute life stressors or changes, and COVID-19 experiences may be one such stressor. Other known predisposing factors to insomnia may moderate the impact of COVID-19 experiences on sleep. The present study aimed to determine current levels of insomnia severity in a US sample, to investigate the relation of COVID-19 experiences to insomnia symptoms, and to determine which individuals are most susceptible to this association. Methods Data were drawn from a larger online survey investigating sleep and health outcomes across the lifespan. COVID-19 experiences were assessed with the exposure and impact subscales of the CAIR Pandemic Impact Questionnaire (C-PIQ). The Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) measured insomnia symptoms. Biological, psychological, and social moderators were measured using other brief self-report measures. Results Insomnia symptoms prevalence was as follows: moderate-to-severe symptoms (25.5%), subthreshold symptoms (37.7%), and no symptoms (36.7%). Individuals’ COVID-19 experiences significantly predicted insomnia symptom severity [F(1,997) = 472.92, p Conclusions Although negative experiences with COVID-19 are associated with worse insomnia symptoms, this relationship is not the same for everyone.
Opening Marine Long-Term Ecological Science: Lesson Learned From the LTER-Italy Site Northern Adriatic Sea

This work presents a practical case study of the Open Science principles applied to the valorization of a long-term marine dataset collected in the Northern Adriatic Sea, one of the Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER) sites of the LTER-Italy network. The dataset covers a temporal range of 50 years (1965-2015), and it is composed of abiotic, and phyto- and zooplankton data, for a total of 21 parameters. The case study involved many actions, which will be described here, distinguishing between the ones affecting the whole research project workflow and those acting more specifically on the dataset. We evaluate strengths, weaknesses, and possible improvements for each action. The present study pointed out that, despite the initial and still some remaining mistrust, opening research projects is more than a best practice. It is (i) important because it improves research transparency (increasing researchers’ credibility, replicability of science and products reuse), (ii) required by many international initiatives and regulations, and (iii) enriching because it encourages cooperation between scientists across different fields and laboratories.
A case with cytochrome C oxidase deficiency caused by COX10 gene variation

患儿 女，3月龄，因“喂养困难、体重不增3个月，发现重度贫血1 d”就诊，患儿生后1 d起病，以喂养困难、肌张力低、体重不增、发育迟缓为主要临床表现，病情进行性加重，出现输血依赖性贫血、高乳酸血症，于8月龄死亡。基因检查示COX10基因存在c.674C>T（p.Pro225Leu）纯合变异，父母为杂合子，诊断为COX10基因变异相关细胞色素c氧化酶缺陷症。.
NON-SEAWORTHY RISKS OF BULK SHIP ACCIDENTS

Bulk ship safety is an increasing concern as the world's fleet ages and deteriorates. This paper uses detailed data provided by the U.S. Coast Guard on bulk ship accidents to investigate the non-seaworthy risks of bulk ship accidents. Ordered probit estimation results suggest that bulk ship accident non-seaworthiness decreases with ship size, increases with wind speed and is greater for fire/explosion and material/equipment failure accidents than for collisions. However, results do not suggest that non-seaworthiness is positively related to ship age, flag, classification society or cause of accident. Among categorical variables, non-seaworthy risks are the greatest for fire/explosion and material/equipment failure accidents, increasing the probability of ship total loss by .030 and .018 respectively and the probability that seaworthiness is negatively affected, but ship not a total loss, by .365 and .213, respectively. These results indicate that policies to reduce fire/explosion and material/equipment failure accidents may be effective in reducing the non-seaworthiness of bulk ship accidents.
Can CS and EE students coexist in the same logic design laboratory

The author describes the problems and solutions associated with offering a single course entitled Digital Computer Fundamentals that is required in both the CS (computer science) and EE (electrical engineering) degree programs. It is noted that special efforts are required in organizing the laboratory portion of the course to insure that the CS students are not at a competitive disadvantage because of their lesser amount of prior laboratory experience. At the end of the semester, the students were identified by their discipline. The laboratory grade distributions were examined and no significant differences were noted between the two groups. >
Correcting an analysis of variance for clustering

A great deal of educational and social data arises from cluster sampling designs where clusters involve schools, classrooms, or communities. A mistake that is sometimes encountered in the analysis of such data is to ignore the effect of clustering and analyse the data as if it were based on a simple random sample. This typically leads to an overstatement of the precision of results and too liberal conclusions about precision and statistical significance of mean differences. This paper gives simple corrections to the test statistics that would be computed in an analysis of variance if clustering were (incorrectly) ignored. The corrections are multiplicative factors depending on the total sample size, the cluster size, and the intraclass correlation structure. For example, the corrected F statistic has Fisher's F distribution with reduced degrees of freedom. The corrected statistic reduces to the F statistic computed by ignoring clustering when the intraclass correlations are zero. It reduces to the F statistic computed using cluster means when the intraclass correlations are unity, and it is in between otherwise. A similar adjustment to the usual statistic for testing a linear contrast among group means is described.
Why Real Analyticity is Important in Control Theory

In the recent development of nonlinear control theory, properties of real analytic functions and maps, and their associated classes of sets —i.e. analytic, semianalytic and subanalytic sets— have come to play an increasingly important role. The purpose of this survey is to explain why this is so, by outlining some results where analyticity matters, and by giving general reasons why it ought to matter.
Effects of Vitamin B-6 Deficiency during Lactation on the Vitamin B-6 Content of Milk, Liver and Muscle of Rats

Effects of a dietary deficiency of vitamin B-6 imposed during the lactation period on the level of this vitamin in milk, liver and muscle were assessed in rats. A control diet (vitamin B-6 free basal diet supplemented with 10 mg pyridoxine . HCl/kg) was fed to all rats just before and during the gestation period. On day 1 of lactation, dams were randomly assigned to three dietary treatment groups: deficient (vitamin B-6 free basal diet), control or restricted control (control diet restricted in quantity to that consumed by the deficient group). Levels of total vitamin B-6 in milk, liver and muscle were determined by microbiological assay on days 1, 6, 16 and 21 of lactation. On day 6, the concentration of vitamin B-6 in milk of deficient dams was less than 20% of control or restricted control values. The low level of vitamin B-6 in milk of the deficient group continued to be evident on days 16 and 21 whereas in control and restricted control groups the vitamin content increased on days 16 and 21 compared to the values on day 6. In contrast to the low level of vitamin B-6 content observed in milk on day 6 in the deficient group, the vitamin content in liver of this group was approximately 75% of control or restricted control values, and the vitamin content in muscle was not significantly altered by the deficiency. Hence, milk was effected sooner by the deficiency and was an earlier indicator of impending vitamin B-6 deficiency than was liver or muscle tissues.
MM wave mixing in a quantum well IR photo detector

We report on the experimental investigation of combining MM wave mixing with optical heterodyne detection in a quantum well infrared photo detector. The effects of two different non-linear conductances were observed and attributed to the dark conductance and the photo conductance. The bias dependence was found to be similar for each of the conductances.
Recurrent Clostridium difficile infection in intensive care unit patients.

Background The purpose of this study was to assess the 12-week cumulative incidence of recurrent Clostridium difficile infection (rCDI) and identify risk factors for rCDI in patients that acquired index C difficile infection (CDI) while in the intensive care unit (ICU). Methods This retrospective single-center cohort study reviewed adult patients from 6 different ICUs who developed a CDI between February 2010 and September 2013. Results Out of 162 included ICU patients, 34 experienced rCDI. Risk of rCDI was higher in the ICU versus non-ICU group (21% vs 17%, P = .03). The incidence of rCDI was highest in the surgical intensive care unit (SICU) at 43.8%. A multivariable logistic regression model was constructed and identified 5 significant risk factors for rCDI: previous CDI (odds ratio [OR], 8.03; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.90-34.02; P = .005), log10 ICU length of stay in days (OR, 3.67; 95% CI, 1.13-11.85; P = .03), acquisition of CDI in the medical intensive care unit (MICU) (OR, 5.35; 95% CI, 1.60-17.85; P = .006) or SICU (OR, 15.30; 95% CI, 4.09-57.23; P P = .007). Conclusion ICU adults had a significantly higher 12-week incidence of rCDI than non-ICU patients. Risk factors for rCDI after acquisition of infection in an ICU include MICU and SICU patients, previous CDI, COPD, and length of stay.
Men and Women Lobbyists in the American States

This paper compares men and women lobbyists who work in the American states. Both in 1995 and 2005, systematic random samples were selected from official lists of lobbyists in each of the fifty states. Two USPS mailings each year produced sample sizes of 1,559 in 1995 (return rate of 51.4%) and 1,545 (return rate of 49.6%). In 1995, the breakdown of men versus women state lobbyists was 73.2% male and 26.8% female; in 2005, 71.3% and 28.7%. Using appropriate data analysis techniques (regression, crosstabs, analysis of variance) men and women are contrasted across three dimensions. First, the tracks to lobbying are examined, such as prior political office and years of experience lobbying. Second, differences between tactics employed (grassroots, campaign contributions, etc.) by men and women are investigated. Finally, the paper draws a distinction between the attitudes of men and women lobbyists toward lobbying, as well as one social psychological variable, Machiavellianism. Differences between men and women within the three dimensions are found in both sets of data, with changes over time in some instances.
Contingent Political Capital and International Alliances: Evidence from South Korea

Though prior research has suggested that a company's ties to political networks have only a positive value or no value, this study examines whether political network ties can also be a significant ...
Analysis of γ-carboxyglutamic acid via amino acid analysis

Abstract Modifications of the analysis of protein-bound residues of γ-carboxyglutamic acid (Gla) via alkaline hydrolysis are presented. The method described allows easier sample manipulation than that heretofore required and insures quantitative recovery of hydrolyzed amino acids. A possible explanation of the shoulder which sometimes appears near Gla on some amino acid analyzers is presented.
Imagining Eire: History as Fiction in the Novels of Tom Flanagan

In "The Decay of Lying," Oscar Wilde sacrificed history and fiction to the art of aphorism: "The ancient historians gave us delightful fiction in the form of fact; the modern novelist presents us with dull facts under the guise of fiction" (qtd. in Ellmann 106). In intention and execution, the historical fictions of Tom Flanagan refute Wilde's paradoxical epigram. Writing of the genre of historical fiction, Flanagan reveals his own purpose and practice: "We reach as far back into the past as luck enables us, as we are enabled by chance, urgency and curiosity; if we are fortunate...we can make out of the past our continuing present" ("Contrasting Fables" 18). For Joyce's alter-ego, Stephen Dedalus, history "is a nightmare from which I am trying to awake" (28). For Tom Flanagan, history begins in mystery, resolves itself into myth and serves as prologue and paradigm for the present state of paralysis in Ireland.1 John Montague detects "a flowering absence" in Ireland (89) and Seamus Heaney evokes the "sunlit absence" of his grandmother's world (North 8). Broken towers, ruined abbeys, razed mansions, empty fields, bottomless bogs and dark tarns: such are the emblems of what has been called the hidden Ireland. Away from the Pale of Anglo-Irish icons, travelling through the West of Ireland, we pause before mysterious circles of rocks, roofless cabins and unmarked fields, where forgotten battles were fought; we brood amid untended turf mounds and wandering sheep; we wonder at the land's lost life. As in Goldsmith's The Deserted Village, in much of Ireland "the long grass o'ertops the mouldering wall" (203). History can tell us what happened there, can inform us about the words and deeds of those who shaped its history, but only poets-or their prose counterparts, novelists-can make the deserted villages of Ireland flower again; they illuminate our imagination with what Heaney calls a "bright nowhere" (The Haw Lantern 32). This is where Flanagan's fiction begins: in reverie over the mysteri
Current-voltage characteristics of thin film and bulk diamond treated in hydrogen plasma

It is shown that the electrical properties of thin film and bulk diamond can be systematically altered by hydrogen plasma treatment under controlled conditions. The concentration of electrically active hydrogen introduced in diamond can be determined from the current-voltage characteristics of hydrogenated samples containing traps. Hydrogen passivation of deep traps in diamond is clearly demonstrated. >
Utilization of purines for nucleic acid synthesis in man.

THE utilization of purines by various species ranges from a utilization of adenine for the synthesis of both polynucleotide adenine and guanine and the utilization of guanine for polynucleotide guanine synthesis only1, to the utilization of guanine for both polynucleotide adenine and guanine synthesis and the utilization of adenine for polynucleotide adenine only2. Between these contrasting patterns there exists a range of qualitative differences among various species3.
Small RNA Profiling of Influenza A Virus-Infected Cells Identifies miR-449b as a Regulator of Histone Deacetylase 1 and Interferon Beta

The mammalian antiviral response relies on the alteration of cellular gene expression, to induce the production of antiviral effectors and regulate their activities. Recent research has indicated that virus infections can induce the accumulation of cellular microRNA (miRNA) species that influence the stability of host mRNAs and their protein products. To determine the potential for miRNA regulation of cellular responses to influenza A virus infection, small RNA profiling was carried out using next generation sequencing. Comparison of miRNA expression profiles in uninfected human A549 cells to cells infected with influenza A virus strains A/Udorn/72 and A/WSN/33, revealed virus-induced changes in miRNA abundance. Gene expression analysis identified mRNA targets for a cohort of highly inducible miRNAs linked to diverse cellular functions. Experiments demonstrate that the histone deacetylase, HDAC1, can be regulated by influenza-inducible miR-449b, resulting in altered mRNA and protein levels. Expression of miR-449b enhances virus and poly(I:C) activation of the IFNβ promoter, a process known to be negatively regulated by HDAC1. These findings demonstrate miRNA induction by influenza A virus infection and elucidate an example of miRNA control of antiviral gene expression in human cells, defining a role for miR-449b in regulation of HDAC1 and antiviral cytokine signaling.
Length minimizing geodesics and the length spectrum of Riemannian two-step nilmanifolds

In the first part of this article, we prove an explicit lower bound on the distance to the cut point of an arbitrary geodesic in a simply connected two-step nilpotent Lie group G with a lieft invariant metric. As a result, we obtaine a lower bound on the injectivity radius of a simply connected two-step nilpotent Lie group with a left invariant metric. We use this lower bound to determine the form of certain length minimizing geodesics from the identity to elements in the center of G. We also give an example of a two-step nilpotent Lie group G such that along most geodesics in this group, the cut point and the first conjugate point do not coincide. In the second part of this article, we examine the relation between the Laplace spectrum and the length spectrum on nilmanifolds by showing that a method developed by Gordon and Wilson for constructing families of isospectral two-step nilmanifolds necessarily yields manifolds with the same length spectrum. As a consequence, all known methods for constructing families of isospectral two-step nilmanifolds necessarily yield manifolds with the same length spectrum.
Systems Engineering: Building Successful Systems

This book provides an overview of systems engineering, its important elements, and aspects of management that will lead in the direction of building systems with a greater likelihood of success. Emphasis is placed upon the following elements: - How the systems approach is defined, and how it guides the systems engineering processes - How systems thinking helps in combination with the systems approach and systems engineering - Time lines that define the life cycle dimensions of a system - System properties, attributes, features, measures and parameters - Approaches to architecting systems - Dealing with requirements, synthesis, analysis and cost effectiveness considerations - Life cycle costing of systems - Modeling, simulation and other analysis methods - Technology and its interplay with risk and its management - Systems acquisition and integration - Systems of systems - Thinking outside the box - Success and failure factors - Software engineering - Standards - Systems engineering ma agement Together, these top-level aspects of systems engineering need to be understood and mastered in order to improve the way we build systems, as they typically become larger and more complex. Table of Contents: Definitions and Background / The Systems Approach / Systems Thinking / Key Elements of Systems Engineering / The Life Cycle Dimension / System Properties, Attributes and Features (PAFs) / Measures and Parameters / Architecting / Functional Decomposition / Requirements Engineering / Synthesis / Analysis / Cost-Effectiveness / Life Cycle Costing / Modeling and Simulation / Other Analysis Relationships / The Role of Technology / Risk Management / Testing, Verification, and Validation / Integration / Systems Engineering Management / Project Management / Software Engineering / Systems Acquisition / Systems of Systems / Thinking Outside the Box / Ten Failure Factors / A Success Audit / Standards
Tissue structure and connexin expression of canine pulmonary veins

Objective: Rapid electrical activity in pulmonary veins (PVs) has been proposed as a mechanism for focal atrial fibrillation. The way in which the myocardial sleeve inside PVs can form a substrate for focal activity is not well understood. Therefore, we have studied tissue structure and connexin distribution at the veno-atrial transition in the dog. Methods: In adult mongrel dogs, the anatomy of the PV area was studied. Tissue structure in individual veins was assessed in formalin fixed sections using Masson's Trichrome staining. Gap junction protein distribution was examined using antibodies against connexin40 (Cx40) and connexin43 (Cx43). The ultrastructure of myocytes in myocardial sleeves was studied using electron microscopy. Results: Individual PVs in the dog had a gross morphology similar to that observed in the human, with myocardial sleeves extending into the veins for 4–20 mm. In all veins examined, myocytes in myocardial sleeves had a normal atrial morphology and anti-desmin staining pattern. Cx43 was expressed throughout the sleeve at levels comparable to normal atrial myocardium. By contrast, Cx40 expression was lower in myocardial sleeves than in the rest of the left atrium. Myocytes in the sleeve, which were ultrastructurally similar to normal atrial myocytes, were predominantly organized in a circumferential pattern. Conclusions: PVs in the dog and various canine models of heart disease will be a suitable model for (patho)physiology of the veno-atrial transition. Myocytes in myocardial sleeves are similar to normal atrial myocytes. The circumferential orientation of these myocytes may provide a substrate for rapid circular reentry.
Advancing learning goals: Linda arouses a sleeping barber

This paper presents an approach that gives students insights into parallelism and exposure to discrete-event simulation techniques without requiring that they have formal courses in either. I apply the rather curious Linda coordination model to the classic Sleeping Barber Problem used frequently to illustrate inter-process communication activities in operating system courses. Normally, customers seeking haircuts are represented as processes spawned as faceless entities with no regard to inter-arrival times or proper ordering of departures for those who get cuts. This paper uses elementary discrete-event simulation techniques to introduce this sought for realism while preserving the original motivation of using the Sleeping Barber to demonstrate process concurrency.
‘A GREAT THEOLOGIAN OF OUR TIME’: MÖHLER ON SCHLEIERMACHER

Au cours des quinze annees de sa carriere universitaire, Johann Adam Mohler s'est interesse et a critique la theologie de Schleiermacher. Dans Einheit in der Kirche, Mohler tente de repondre au besoin d'une nouvelle direction ecclesiologique catholique apres l'echec des theorie de l'Aufklarung comme le josephisme. En utilisant d'abord le modele des relations Dieu-hommes developpe par Schleiermacher, Mohler s'est convaincu rapidement que cette relation avait ete detruite et que l'identite en avait pris la place. Ses dernieres oeuvres sont consacrees a la modelisation des elements divins et humains dans toute experience religieuse
An Integrated Model of Eicosanoid Metabolism and Signaling Based on Lipidomics Flux Analysis

There is increasing evidence for a major and critical involvement of lipids in signal transduction and cellular trafficking, and this has motivated large-scale studies on lipid pathways. The Lipid Metabolites and Pathways Strategy consortium is actively investigating lipid metabolism in mammalian cells and has made available time-course data on various lipids in response to treatment with KDO(2)-lipid A (a lipopolysaccharide analog) of macrophage RAW 264.7 cells. The lipids known as eicosanoids play an important role in inflammation. We have reconstructed an integrated network of eicosanoid metabolism and signaling based on the KEGG pathway database and the literature and have developed a kinetic model. A matrix-based approach was used to estimate the rate constants from experimental data and these were further refined using generalized constrained nonlinear optimization. The resulting model fits the experimental data well for all species, and simulated enzyme activities were similar to their literature values. The quantitative model for eicosanoid metabolism that we have developed can be used to design experimental studies utilizing genetic and pharmacological perturbations to probe fluxes in lipid pathways.
Synthesis of pentenoic acid analogs as potential anti-influenza agents

The synthesis of (2Z,4RS)-5-acetamido-4-guanidino-2-benzamidopent-2-enoic acid (sodium salt) 5 is reported. Wittig–Horner olefination of diamino protected propionaldehyde 8 with phosphonoglycine trimethyl ester 11 provided (Z)-olefin methyl ester 12. The methyl ester was converted to allyl ester 15 by initial hydrolysis with lithium hydroxide followed by reaction with allyl bromide. Target compound 5 was prepared from allyl ester 15 by initial formation of bis(Boc)guanidino ester 16 followed by treatment with tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)palladium(0). The product was evaluated for activity against influenza neuraminidase and was found to be weakly active.
Use of beam propagation modeling of Beamlet and Nova to ensure a safe National Ignition Facility laser system design

An exhaustive set of Beamlet and Nova laser system simulations were performed over a wide range of power levels in order to gain understanding about the statistical trends in Nova and Beamlet`s experimental data sets, and to provide critical validation of propagation tools and design ``rules`` applied to the 192-arm National Ignition Facility (NIF) at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL). The experiments considered for modeling were at 220-ps FWHM duration with unpumped booster slabs on Beamlet, and 100-ps FWHM with pumped 31.5-cm and 46-cm disk amplifiers on Nova. Simulations indicated that on Beamlet, the AB (the intensity pendent phase shift parameter characterizing the tendency towards beam filamentation) for the booster amplifier stage without pumping, would be nearly identical to the AB expected on NIF at the peak of a typical 20-ns long shaped pulse intended for ICF target irradiation. Therefore, with energies less than I kJ in short-pulses, we examined on Beamlet the comparable AB-driven filamentation conditions predicted for long ICF pulseshapes in the 18 kJ regime on the NIF, while avoiding fluence dependent surface damage. Various spatial filter pinhole configurations were examined on Nova and Beamlet. Open transport spatial filter pinholes were used in some experiments to allow the direct measurement of the onset of beam filamentation. Schlieren images on Beamlet of the far field irradiance measuring the scattered light fraction outside of 33-{micro}radians were also obtained and compared to modeled results.
High-performance free-space optical modem hardware

This paper describes key aspects of modem hardware designed to operate in free space optical (FSO) links of up to 200 km. The hardware serves as a bridge between 10 gigabit Ethernet client data systems and FSO terminals. The modem hardware alters the client data rate and format for optimal transmission and reception over the FSO link by applying forward error correction (FEC) processing and differential phase shift keying (DPSK) modulation. Optical automatic gain control (OAGC) is also used. The result of these features provide sensitivities approaching -48 dBm with 60 dB of error-free dynamic range while in the presence of turbulent optical conditions to deal with large dynamic range optical power fades.
Evolution of the server processor/platform architecture and the critical role of interconnect and future challenges

Peering at the next decade, will explore the processor and platform architecture challenges, as to what areas are undergoing enormous changes, while surveying the learning over the past two decades.While exploring the next decade, will look at the processor internal interconnect evolution along with on chip resources starting with cache, memory controller and now being followed by IO integration vis-a-vis interchip multisocket interconnect at the platform level. Doing this, will outline the lessons learnt, what are the key challenges at macro and micro architecture level from the current perspective, where it is trending and some projections. I will describe the daily challenges and how we find sweet spots and surmount these in the interconnect area.The talk will emphasize the three key vectors architects wrestle with Power, Performance and Cost at the processor and platform level and the critical role played by interconnect. The interconnect matters in architecting server that include power, flexibility, bandwidth and latency at macro and micro level. Interconnect could make or break in the product continuity and is a matter of serious consequence. We will explore how these affect the picture at a bigger level be it rack or cluster or data center.With the current trend on Chip Multiprocessing mostly homogeneous that we have, will discuss the growth challenges that industry will face, what are the murky areas and state of SW and computing Industries key challenges. Will explore Heterogeneous computing, power and parallelization aspects and where we need a lot of research and focus.
CATION DISTRIBUTION IN MIXED ALKALI DISILICATE GLASSES

We have investigated the structure of five disilicate glass compositionsK2O·2SiO2, (Na0.25K0.75 )2O·2SiO2, (Na0.50K0.50 )2O·2SiO2, (Na0.75K0.25)2O·2SiO2, and Na2O·2SiO2using 2D 17O Dynamic Angle Spinning (DAS) Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR). The nonbridging and bridging oxygen sites can be resolved in the isotropic 17O DAS spectrum. The bridging oxygen isotropic resonance shifts from 16.1 ppm in K2O·2SiO2 to 11.8 ppm in Na2O·2SiO2 and remains almost identical in width. The nonbridging oxygen isotropic line shapes in the mixed compositions are broader with a maximum intensity that continuously shifts from the position found in the pure potassium composition to the position found in the pure sodium composition. The evolution of the nonbridging oxygen isotropic line shape with changing alkali composition is consistent with a model of the glass structure where four alkali cations are distributed in random combinations around each nonbridging oxygen.
A Game Theoretic Approach to Identify Critical Components in Networked Systems

Networked systems are pervasive in the current Internet age and they manifest in several ways such as online and enterprise social networks, data center networks, cloud service networks, and global business networks. Such networked systems generally consist of entities and connections (or edges) among these entities. As services or applications are deployed over these networks, the success of any service or application is crucially dependent on the high availability of the components (namely, entities and connections) in the network. This calls for an important problem of identifying the critical components in the network to improve the quality of the services offered over these networks. We propose a novel and generic game theoretic framework to identify critical components with respect to a given task (or service or application) in the network. In particular, we apply the proposed generic game theoretic framework to determine critical edges in the context of $k$-edge connectivity between certain pairs of nodes in a given network. We call a pair of nodes in a network $k$-edge connected if there exists $k$ edge disjoint (shortest) paths between these nodes. Identifying critical edges in the setting of the $k$-edge connectivity is an extremely important problem especially in the context of data center networks and cloud service networks. The following are the specific contributions of this paper: (1) We first formally define a game theoretic model for the $k$-edge connectivity between certain pairs of nodes in the network. We refer to this as $k$-edge connectivity game. We then define the criticality of any edge to be the value of its Banzhaf power index in the $k$-edge connectivity game. In this setting, identifying critical edges boils down to the computation of Banzhaf power index in the $k$-edge connectivity game; (2) We then show that computing the Banzhaf power index for any edge in the $k$-edge connectivity game is \#P-complete. We show this result by reducing the problem of counting the number of perfect matchings in a given graph to an instance of computing the Banzhaf power index for an edge in the $k$-edge connectivity game. This implies that the computation of Banzhaf power index for an edge in the $k$-edge connectivity game is computationally hard; (3) To alleviate this computational issue, we propose an approximation algorithm and also we present a simple heuristic based on the notion of Shapley value in cooperative game theory; (4) We then derive a closed form expression for computing the Banzhaf power index of any edge in the $k$-edge connectivity game, when the network structure is a tree; and (5) We finally evaluate the proposed approach using thorough experimentation on certain real world network data sets.
CKI isoforms α and ε regulate Star–PAP target messages by controlling Star–PAP poly(A) polymerase activity and phosphoinositide stimulation

Star-PAP is a non-canonical, nuclear poly(A) polymerase (PAP) that is regulated by the lipid signaling molecule phosphatidylinositol 4,5 bisphosphate (PI4,5P(2)), and is required for the expression of a select set of mRNAs. It was previously reported that a PI4,5P(2) sensitive CKI isoform, CKIα associates with and phosphorylates Star-PAP in its catalytic domain. Here, we show that the oxidative stress-induced by tBHQ treatment stimulates the CKI mediated phosphorylation of Star-PAP, which is critical for both its polyadenylation activity and stimulation by PI4,5P(2). CKI activity was required for the expression and efficient 3'-end processing of its target mRNAs in vivo as well as the polyadenylation activity of Star-PAP in vitro. Specific CKI activity inhibitors (IC261 and CKI7) block in vivo Star-PAP activity, but the knockdown of CKIα did not equivalently inhibit the expression of Star-PAP targets. We show that in addition to CKIα, Star-PAP associates with another CKI isoform, CKIe in the Star-PAP complex that phosphorylates Star-PAP and complements the loss of CKIα. Knockdown of both CKI isoforms (α and e) resulted in the loss of expression and the 3'-end processing of Star-PAP targets similar to the CKI activity inhibitors. Our results demonstrate that CKI isoforms α and e modulate Star-PAP activity and regulates Star-PAP target messages.
The effects of infection of thermal injury by Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 on the murine cytokine response.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection, one of the major complications of burn wounds, may lead to sepsis and death. Using the Multi-Probe Template/RNase protection assay, we have compared the expression of different cytokine genes within the skin and livers of thermally injured mice infected with P. aeruginosa PAO1. Thermal injury alone enhanced or up-regulated certain cytokines, including macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF), interleukin 1 (IL-1)RI, IL-1 beta, macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP)-1 beta and MIP-2; while PAO1 challenge alone up-regulated tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) and transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) expression. The combination of thermal injury plus PAO1 infection enhanced the expression of several pro-inflammatory and haematopoietic cytokines [stem cell factor (SCF), leukocyte inhibitory factor (LIF), IL-6 and TNF-alpha]; induced the expression of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and G-CSF by 5 h and the expression of additional cytokines, including TGF-beta, TNF-beta, lymphotoxin beta (LT-beta), interferon gamma (IFN-gamma), and IFN-beta by 40 h post-burn/infection. While the most intense cytokine expression occurred in the skin, the majority of cytokines tested were also expressed in the liver by 40 h post-burn/infection. These results suggest that in P. aeruginosa infection of burn wounds: (1) up-regulation of the expression of different cytokines, locally and within the livers of burned mice, is an indication of P. aeruginosa -induced sepsis; and (2) IL-6 and G-CSF play an important role in the host response mechanism.
Decomposition of emergent macrophytes in a Wisconsin marsh

Loss of both dry weight and nutrients during decomposition was measured using litter bags, both in a natural marsh and in controlled experiments. At 348 days dry weight remains of Typha latifolia, Sparganium eurycarpum, Scirpus fluviatilis shoot litter in the marsh were 47.5, 26.9, 51.4% respectively, and for the rootrhizome litter were 59.1, 42.1, 27.8% (Scirpus > Sparganium > Typha). Under controlled conditions both temperature and type of water produced significant effect on dry weight loss of Typha leaves. Sterilization and antibiotics effectively inhibited the growth and activities of decomposers. Initial weight, N, P, Ca, and Mg losses resulted chiefly from leaching. These elements accumulated in spring and summer; N exhibited the highest accumulation. In the laboratory, N accumulation occurred within 15 days, as a result of microorganisms inhabiting the litter. Increase in P, Ca, Mg in later stages of decomposition were attributed to microorganisms, epiphytes, and precipitation from solution. High C : N ratios and relatively low P, Ca, Mg in original standing crop may be the cause of low herbivore consumption, whereas the relative increases in N, P, Ca, Mg in decomposed litter provide a more nutrient-rich substrate for detritivores. Much of the nutrient uptake in the annual cycle is via microbial and detritivore growth rather than by macrophyte producers.
The effect of delaying radiation on wound healing

The effect of postwounding local radiation was measured in an animal model. Tensile strength and histologic appearance of wounds irradiated on Day 0, 3, and 5 were studied. The irradiated wounds were all significantly weaker than the nonirradiated wounds, but delaying the radiation did not benefit wound healing.
Electron scattering by TIF dimer

Abstract The scattering of low energy (0.8 to 15.6 eV) electrons by TIF beans has been measured by beam recoil. Monomer concentrations are calculated and an overestimate of the monomers scattering is subtracted off. Analysis of the dimer component scattering indicates an instantaneous dipole moment of several debye. This result is not easily reconciled with a stiff symmetric linear structure for the dimer.
Insurance expansion in Massachusetts did not reduce access among previously insured Medicare patients

Critics of Massachusetts’s health reform, a model for the Affordable Care Act, have argued that insurance expansion probably had a negative spillover effect leading to worse outcomes among already insured patients, such as vulnerable Medicare patients. Using Medicare data from 2004 to 2009, we examined trends in preventable hospitalizations for conditions such as uncontrolled hypertension and diabetes—markers of access to effective primary care—in Massachusetts compared to control states. We found that after Massachusetts’s health reform, preventable hospitalization rates for Medicare patients actually decreased more in Massachusetts than in control states (a reduction of 101 admissions per 100,000 patients per quarter compared to a reduction of 83 admissions). Therefore, we found no evidence that Massachusetts’s insurance expansion had a deleterious spillover effect on preventable hospitalizations among the previously insured. Our findings should offer some reassurance that it is possible to expand acces...
Use of balloon inflation to decrease risk of airway compression from esophageal expandable metal stents (EMS)

Use of balloon inflation to decrease risk of airway compression from esophageal expandable metal stents (EMS)
What's in a Name? Distinguishing between SaaS and SOA

Considerable confusion arises in distinguishing between software as a service (SaaS) and service-oriented architecture (SOA). Zachman's framework can help to try to make sense of the alphabet soup of Web services and utilities that form the basis for both SOA and SaaS. The difference between SaaS and SOA is that the former is a software-delivery model whereas the latter is a software-construction model. A better way to illuminate the differences between these two concepts is to use the well-known Zachman architectural model. In this article, we briefly examine the concepts of SaaS and SOA, followed by a brief history of software architectural models. We use the Zachman model to differentiate the two architectural approaches to building software. Because the Zachman model is so intuitive, the approach we take to describe the differences between SaaS and SOA works well even with non-IT professionals.
CONVEXITY OF DOMAIN FUNCTIONALS

Abstract : A rigorous theory is developed for variation of domain functions in a space of 3 dimensions as well as in the plane. The classical Hadamard variational formulas in space are discussed, and the so-called interior variational method is generalized to 3 dimensions. Interior variations of a 3- dimensional domain D are defined by means of differential mappings of D which depend on a small parameter Epsilon. The first-order shifts in terms of Epsilon of the Green's function, Neumann's function, and eigen-values, which result from this variation of D, are calculated rigorously by referring all varied quantities back to the original D through the infinitesimal mappings. Since proof is possible that the varied domain functions can be expanded in powers of Epsilon, the perturbation method is employed to calculate the second variations of these functions. Second variation expressions are obtained for the capacity, virtual mass, and eigenvalues corresponding to various particular ways in which D can be shifted. The variational theory is specialized to the case of 2 independent variables to show the existence of vortex sheets in axially symmetric, irrotational flow of an incompressible fluid. An external characterization of vortex sheets in 3-dimensional space without symmetry of any kind is sketched heuristically. In a study of the eigen functions and eigenvalues of the vibrating membrane, the second variation is used to show that under certain conformal mappings of a domain, which depend on a suitable parameter, the inverse square of the principal frequency of the domain becomes a convex function of the parameter.
Search for anomalous spin-dependent forces with a polarized-mass torsion pendulum.

A torsion pendulum experiment employing spin-polarized masses provides an upper limit for the strength of an anomalous interaction of the dipole-monopole form at ranges from 1 to 100 cm.
Combinatorial fabrication and study of white organic light-emitting devices based on non-doping ultrathin 5,6,11,12-tetraphenylnaphthcene (rubrene) yellow-emitting layer

Non-doping white organic light-emitting devices (WOLEDs) based on an ultrathin yellow-emitting layer of rubrene inserted between the blue-emitting layer 4,4'-bis(2,2'-diphenylvinyl)-1,1'-biphenyl (DPVBi) and the electron transport layer tris-(8-hydroxyquinoline)aluminum (Alq 3 ) fabricated by combinatorial sliding shutter technique are reported. Three of the the sixteen devices made had Commission Internationale de l'Eclairage (CIE) coordinates within the white region at 8 - 16 V, ranging from (0.31, 0.38) to (0.34, 0.42). All three devices had a 5-nm thickness of DPVBi layer and an ultrathin rubrene layer of thickness of 0.05-, 0.10-, and 0.15 nm, respectively. A maximum luminance of 12,900 cd/m 2 at 17 V and an efficiency of 5.5 cd/A at 8.5 V were obtained in the devices with 0.05 nm rubrene layer. These devices can be fabricated rather easily due to their simple device structure and they are very appealing to low-cost general lighting applications.
Chiral Ansa Zirconocene Compounds with [Me2Si] and [Me4Si2] Bridges and with tert-Butyl Ring Substituents: Synthesis and Structural Characterization of the Racemo Complexes rac-[Me2Si(C5H2-2,4-But2)2]ZrCl2 and rac-[Me4Si2(C5H2-2,4-But2)2]ZrCl2

A series of chiral ansa zirconocene compounds that feature (i) [Me2Si] and [Me4Si2] bridges and (ii) two tert-butyl substituents on each cyclopentadienyl ring, namely, rac-[Me2Si(CpBut2)2]ZrCl2, ra...
Disease regulation of age-structured host populations

A lethal, contagious disease can generate a density-dependent regulation of its host, provided the hosts' contact rate grows with population size. The condition for disease-induced population control is that the expected number of offspring of an infected newborn be less than one. In vertebrates that acquired immunity if they survive infection, the disease changes the age structure of its host population. The steady-state age structure of a disease-regulated host with age-dependent fecundity is computed. Local stability analysis indicates that the equilibrium age structure is always stable. However, when the usual exponentially distributed duration of the disease is replaced by a constant duration, the population can exhibit oscillations with a long period.
Na+ site in blood coagulation factor IXa: effect on catalysis and factor VIIIa binding.

During blood coagulation, factor IXa (FIXa) activates factor X (FX) requiring Ca 2+ , phospholipid, and factor VIIIa (FVIIIa). The serine protease domain of FIXa contains a Ca 2+ site and is predicted to contain a Na + site. Comparative homology analysis revealed that Na + in FIXa coordinates to the carbonyl groups of residues 184A, 185, 221A, and 224 (chymotrypsin numbering). Kinetic data obtained at several concentrations of Na + and Ca 2+ with increasing concentrations of a synthetic substrate (CH 3 -SO 2 - d -Leu-Gly-Arg- p -nitroanilide) were fit globally, assuming rapid equilibrium conditions. Occupancy by Na + increased the affinity of FIXa for the synthetic substrate, whereas occupancy by Ca 2+ decreased this affinity but increased k cat dramatically. Thus, Na + -FIXa-Ca 2+ is catalytically more active than free FIXa. FIXa Y225P , a Na + site mutant, was severely impaired in Na + potentiation of its catalytic activity and in binding to p -aminobenzamidine (S1 site probe) validating that substrate binding in FIXa is linked positively to Na + binding. Moreover, the rate of carbamylation of NH 2 of Val16, which forms a salt-bridge with Asp194 in serine proteases, was faster for FIXa Y225P and addition of Ca 2+ overcame this impairment only partially. Further studies were aimed at delineating the role of the FIXa Na + site in macromolecular catalysis. In the presence of Ca 2+ and phospholipid, with or without saturating FVIIIa, FIXa Y225P activated FX with similar K m but threefold reduced k cat . Further, interaction of FVIIIa:FIXa Y225P was impaired fourfold. Our previous data revealed that Ca 2+ binding to the protease domain increases the affinity of FIXa for FVIIIa ∼15-fold. The present data indicate that occupancy of the Na + site further increases the affinity of FIXa for FVIIIa fourfold and k cat threefold. Thus, in the presence of Ca 2+ , phospholipid, and FVIIIa, binding of Na + to FIXa increases its biologic activity by ∼12-fold, implicating its role in physiologic coagulation.
Ultra-Sensitive Absorption Measurements Using Cavity-Enhanced Frequency Modulation Spectroscopy

We use cavity-enhanced frequency modulation absorption spectroscopy in the first measurement of the sixth overtone band of NO near 797 nm. The high detection sensitivity achieved (2·10-10 cm-1Hz-1/2) shows promise for trace gas monitoring applications.