cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Multiple small RNA species and the viroid hypothesis for the sunblotch disease of avocado.

Abstract Multiple RNA species (ASV 1–5 ) ranging in size from about 61,000 to 185,000 daltons have been detected in association with sunblotch disease of avocado. The predominant species, ASV 5 , with a molecular weight of 61,000 accumulates to concentration approaching 5 S RNA. All RNA species are detected in extracts from symptomatic tissue of avocado var. Fuerte but not from asymptomatic tissue of the same leaves from which the disease agent can be transmitted to avocado. The probability that the predominant ASV 5 species is either the putative sunblotch “viroid” or a noninfectious “viroid-related” molecule is discussed.
From disruptions to struggles: Theorizing power in ERP implementation projects

Enterprise resource planning (ERP) implementation projects often fail to achieve their objectives. These often problematic projects are frequently the setting for intense and growing power struggles. Existing studies (e.g., Boonstra, 2006; Shepherd, Clegg, & Stride, 2009) have provided researchers with insights about issues of power in these projects. However, existing research has yet to provide a comprehensive picture of power in these projects or insights on how this picture changes with the passage of time. Clegg's (1989) circuits of power framework provides a useful tool for developing this needed comprehensive picture. We use the circuits of power framework as a tool for categorizing existing literature on power in ERP implementations. More importantly, we draw on this framework to provide a comprehensive view of power in the particular context of these projects. Specifically, we analyze the power relations during the implementation of an ERP in an organization. We do so by identifying how disturbances to the circuits of power - power struggles - arise and intensify during the implementation of the ERP. In this way, our work makes both a theoretical and an empirical contribution to the study of power in ERP implementation projects.
MIS research: a profile of leading journals and universities

MIS research is emerging as an electric and diverse body of literature. Frameworks have been developed to define and direct research efforts. Considerable variation in research methodology, however, creates problems of effective comparison and evaluation of merit. In this article, MIS research is reviewed from the perspective of an examination of leading journals in the field. A taxonomy is proposed and tested, illustrating research preference by journals and universities. Significant differences of research methodology and .journal preference are noted between the top publishing universities both within that group and in comparison to the wider body of publishing institutions.
Structural band-gap tuning in g-C3N4

g-C3N4 is a promising material for hydrogen production from water via photo-catalysis, if we can tune its band gap to desirable levels. Using a combined experimental and ab initio approach, we uncover an almost perfectly linear relationship between the band gap and structural aspects of g-C3N4, which we show to originate in a changing overlap of wave functions associated with the lattice constants. This changing overlap, in turn, causes the unoccupied pz states to experience a significantly larger energy shift than any other occupied state (s, px, or py), resulting in this peculiar relationship. Our results explain and demonstrate the possibility to tune the band gap by structural means, and thus the frequency at which g-C3N4 absorbs light.
Outcomes in Mild to Moderately-Severe Hearing Impairment in Children: Recent Research Findings and Clinical Applications

Abstract Work at Boys Town National Research Hospital, in both the Hearing and Amplification Research Laboratory and the Infant Development Laboratory, has focused on the optimization of amplification for infants and young children for many years. In this paper we review recent work, including outcomes in a five-year longitudinal study of children with early-identified hearing loss compared to normal-hearing peers. Findings in studies of hearing-aid bandwidth and noise-reduction strategies also are reviewed, and clinical implications are discussed.
A nearly optimal parallel algorithm for constructing maximal independent set in planar graphs

Abstract This paper presents an efficient parallel algorithm for constructing maximal independent set in planar graphs. The algorithm runs in O(log2n) time with O(n) processors on a PRAM and is within an O(log2n) factor of optimal. The best previously known algorithm for this problem takes O(log2n) time with O(n3) processors. The key subroutine of the algorithm is an O(logn) time, O(n) processor parallel algorithm for constructing a maximal independent set in a one-page planar graph. This subroutine may be of independent interest.
Prostate bed massage as a means to determine the source of a rising prostate specific antigen after radical prostatectomy.

Purpose : To determine the value of prostate bed massage as a means to determine whether a rising prostate specific antigen (PSA) after radical prostatectomy is due to local recurrence or distant metastases. Methods and Materials : Eighteen patients referred for pelvic radiotherapy because of a rising PSA after radical prostatectomy had PSA levels measured immediately before and 5 minutes after a vigorous 30-second massage ofthe prostate bed. Results : Only one ofthe 18 (5%) patients experienced a rise in their PSA following vigorous prostate bed massage. Fifteen of the 18 (83%) patients' PSA levels declined after radiotherapy, suggesting that recurrent prostate cancer had been present in the prostate bed at the time of prostate massage in these patients. Only I of these 15 patients (7%) had a rise in their PSA after massage. Conclusion: Prostate bed massage, as performed in this study, was not helpful to determine whether a rise in PSA after radical prostatectomy was due to local or distant recurrence.
Bovine lactoferricin is anti‐inflammatory and anti‐catabolic in human articular cartilage and synovium

Bovine lactoferricin (LfcinB) is a multi-functional peptide derived from proteolytic cleavage of bovine lactoferrin. LfcinB was found to antagonize the biological effects mediated by angiogenic growth factors such as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF-2) in endothelial cells. However, the effect of LfcinB on human articular cartilage remained unknown. Here, our findings demonstrate that LfcinB restored the proteoglycan loss promoted by catabolic factors (interleukin-1β) IL-1β and FGF-2 in vitro and ex vivo. Mechanistically, LfcinB attenuated the effects of IL-1β and FGF-2 on the expression of cartilage-degrading enzymes (MMP-1, MMP-3, and MMP-13), destructive cytokines (IL-1β and IL-6), and inflammatory mediators (iNOS and TLR2). LfcinB induced protective cytokine expression (IL-4 and IL-10), and downregulated aggrecanase basal expression. LfcinB specifically activated ERK MAPK and Akt signaling pathways, which may account for its anti-inflammatory activity. We also revealed that LfcinB exerted similar protective effects on human synovial fibroblasts challenged by IL-1β, with minimal cytotoxicity. Collectively, our results suggest that LfcinB possesses potent anti-catabolic and anti-inflammatory bioactivities in human articular tissues, and may be utilized for the prevention and/or treatment of OA in the future.
A polyhedral branch-and-cut approach to global optimization

A variety of nonlinear, including semidefinite, relaxations have been developed in recent years for nonconvex optimization problems. Their potential can be realized only if they can be solved with sufficient speed and reliability. Unfortunately, state-of-the-art nonlinear programming codes are significantly slower and numerically unstable compared to linear programming software.In this paper, we facilitate the reliable use of nonlinear convex relaxations in global optimization via a polyhedral branch-and-cut approach. Our algorithm exploits convexity, either identified automatically or supplied through a suitable modeling language construct, in order to generate polyhedral cutting planes and relaxations for multivariate nonconvex problems. We prove that, if the convexity of a univariate or multivariate function is apparent by decomposing it into convex subexpressions, our relaxation constructor automatically exploits this convexity in a manner that is much superior to developing polyhedral outer approximators for the original function. The convexity of functional expressions that are composed to form nonconvex expressions is also automatically exploited.Root-node relaxations are computed for 87 problems from globallib and minlplib, and detailed computational results are presented for globally solving 26 of these problems with BARON 7.2, which implements the proposed techniques. The use of cutting planes for these problems reduces root-node relaxation gaps by up to 100% and expedites the solution process, often by several orders of magnitude.
Quantitative similarities in the several actions of cyanide on prostaglandin H synthase.

Abstract The effects of a heme ligand, cyanide, on pure ovine prostaglandin H synthase have been examined in detail as one approach to elucidating the role of the heme cofactor in cyclooxygenase and peroxidase catalysis by the synthase. Cyanide bound to the synthase heme with an affinity (Kd) of 0.19 mM, and inhibited the peroxidase activity of the synthase, with a K I value of 0.23 mM. Cyanide increased the sensitivity of the cyclooxygenase to inhibition by the peroxide scavenger, glutathione peroxidase. This increased sensitivity to inhibition reflect and increase in the level of peroxide required to activate the cyclooxygenase, from 21 nM in absence of cyanide to over 300 nM when 2.5 mM cyanide was present. The increase in peroxide activator requirement with increasing cyanide concentration closely paralleled the formation of the holoenzyme-cyanide complex. These effects of low levels of cyanide suggest that the heme prosthetic group of the synthase participates in the efficient activation of the cyclooxygenase by peroxide. Cyanide blocked the stimulation of cyclooxygenase velocity by phenol, but not the phenol-induced increase in overall oxygen consumption. This blockade by cyanide was noncompetitive with respect to phenol and was characterized by a K I of 4 mM. The higher K I value for this effect suggests that cyanide can also interact at a site other than the heme prosthetic group. The role of the heme prosthetic group in promoting efficient activation of the cyclooxygenase by peroxide appears to be central to the ability of the synthase to amplify the ambient peroxide concentration rapidly.
Should patients with chronic hepatitis C infection be transplanted

Chronic hepatitis C (HCV) infection affects more than 170 million people throughout the world and 2 to 3 million Americans. End-stage liver disease secondary to chronic HCV infection is the most frequent indication for liver transplantation in this country. Currently, the gold standard for treatment for immunocompetent patients is a combination of peginterferon (PEG-IFN) and ribavirin for 6 to 12 months depending on the genotype. This treatment achieves a sustained virological response (SVR) in 54% to 61% of patients overall. Almost 50% of patients do not respond or have recurrences posttreatment and progress in over 10 to 20 years into chronic liver disease and its complications. Liver transplantation is the only therapeutic modality that impacts on quality of life and survival of these patients. However, recurrence of HCV in the new allograft is universal with accelerated progression to cirrhosis in 5 to 10 years. Response to treatment is usually low (20% to 30%), and associated with significant side effects and depression. A significant percentage of patients with recurrent HCV after transplantation require retransplantation to control the complications of end-stage liver disease. Other solid organ transplants recipients already HCV-positive, or infected at the time of transplantation from blood transfusions or an infected graft, develop accelerated, progressive liver disease facilitated by the adverse effects of immunosuppression in addition to HCV replication. To prevent morbidity, mortality, and high costs related to the consequences of HCV infection, all solid organ transplant candidates should be tested for HCV infection and treated appropriately with PEG-IFN and ribavirin prior to transplantation.
Chlorophyll a/b proteins of Photosystem I

The chlorophyll a/b-protein complex (LHCPI) associated with Photosystem I (PS I) has been isolated from spinach thylakoids and further fractionated into two chlorophyll-containing complexes by sucrose gradient centrifugation. The lighter fraction contains two polypeptides with relative molecular masses of 23 and 22 kDa and has been designated as LHCPIa. The denser fraction is enriched in a 20 kDa polypeptide and has been named LHCPIb. Both fractions have a chlorophyll a/b ratio of 3.5 ± 0.5. The absorption spectra and 77 K fluorescence emission spectra of the fractions show distinct characteristics with LHCPIb having a fluorescence maximum at 730 nm at 77 K while LHCPIa shows a maximum at 680 nm. The optical activities of the chlorophyll a/b complexes and the antenna-depleted PS I have been examined by circular dichroism (CD) in the near-UV and visible regions of the spectrum. All the LHCPI complexes show strong CD signals at 648, 485 and 340 nm which are absent in the antenna-depleted PS I complex.
Investigating the Archaeological Consequences of Short-Duration Occupations

Contemporary research in settlement archaeology often concentrates on inferring how people used landscapes. This research focus has prompted archaeologists to explore the interpretive potential of the full range of archaeological remains, including surface artifact scatters. One difficulty, however, is the identification of distinct occupations, especially those of short duration. Unless archaeologists isolate the remains of individual occupations, inferences about prehistoric land use may be unreliable because they would be based on conflated data. An approach for surmounting this problem is illustrated with the analysis of material recovered from the Voigt Mesa site in east-central Arizona. A key element of the approach consists of procedures for establishing units of spatial analysis (subsite areas) for partitioning surface artifact scatters. Statistical tests performed on several key technological variables common to the debitage assemblages of the subsite areas support the partitioning. Additional discussion explores how models of settlement-system change can be evaluated once artifact scatters have been separated into their constituent occupations.
4×4 MIMO Experimental Test-bed using COTS at ISM Band

This paper presents the implementation of a 4times4 multiple input multiple output (MIMO) test-bed that is employed for channel characterization using virtual MIMO indoor channel sounding technique. The 4times4 MIMO operates at ISM frequency of 2.45 GHz with 5 MHz of bandwidth using low cost commercially available off-the-shelf components (COTS). The system benefits from direct conversion transceiver units, reported before. Channel propagation measurements were performed in a rich multi-path environment by employing a virtual MIMO indoor wireless channel sounding as well as a direction of arrival (DOA) estimation algorithms. The channel sounding technique employs sequential switching of 1times4 single input multiple output (SIMO) channels to realize a virtual 4times4 MIMO experiments in a stationary channel environment. A hardware calibration method is also developed as a critical part of the MIMO evaluation. The DOA experiment, which employs a linear four-element patch antenna array at the receiver and a single patch antenna at the transmitter, provides a maximum of 15 degrees offset using Bartlett algorithm. The measured channel response matrix is also verified through comparison with other published results
The Illegality Trap: The Politics of Immigration & the Lens of Illegality

The focus on undocumented immigrants in contemporary U.S. immigration debates, often at the expense of other immigration issues, has led to an illegality trap. This situation has serious negative consequences for both U.S. immigration policy and immigrants, including an overwhelming emphasis on enforcement; legislative gridlock and the failure of comprehensive immigration reform; constitutional conflict resulting from tensions between national, state, and local approaches to dealing with undocumented immigration; and the puzzling absence of federal policies addressing immigrant integration. This essay argues for a reframing of “illegality” as a contingent rather than categorical status, building on the insights of Plyler v. Doe and notions of implied contract and attachment to U.S. society. Doing so, we contend, will shift the terms of the immigration debate, enabling more fruitful policy discussions about both immigration and immigrant integration.
Nicotine sensitization in adult male and female rats quinpirole-primed as neonates

Rationale Increases in dopamine D2-like receptor function are common in several psychological disorders that demonstrate a four to five fold increase in nicotine abuse compared to the general population.
Effects of rosiglitazone on abnormal lipid kinetics in HIV-associated dyslipidemic lipodystrophy: a stable isotope study

HIV-associated dyslipemic lipodystrophy (HADL) is a heterogeneous syndrome of fat redistribution, hypertriglyceridemia, and insulin resistance, associated with markedly accelerated rates of lipolysis, intraadipocyte and intrahepatic reesterification, and very low-density lipoprotein-triglyceride synthesis and release. The objective of the study was to determine if rosiglitazone can ameliorate these lipid kinetic defects in patients with HADL. Infusions of [(13)C(1)]palmitate and [(2)H(5)]glycerol were used to measure total and net lipolysis, adipocyte and hepatic reesterification, and plasma free fatty acid (FFA) oxidation in 9 men with HADL, before and after 3 months of treatment with rosiglitazone (8 mg/d). Rosiglitazone treatment significantly increased both total lipolysis (R(a) FFA(total) from 3.37 ± 0.40 to 4.57 ± 0.68 mmol FFA per kilogram fat per hour, P < .05) and adipocyte reesterification (1.25 ± 0.35 to 2.43 ± 0.65 mmol FFA per kilogram fat per hour, P < .05). However, there was no change in net lipolysis (R(a) FFA(net) 2.47 ± 0.43 to 2.42 ± 0.37 mmol FFA per kilogram fat per hour), plasma FFA oxidation (0.30 ± 0.046 to 0.32 ± 0.04 mmol FFA per kilogram lean body mass per hour), or FFA flux available for hepatic reesterification (0.59 ± 0.07 to 0.56 ± 0.10 mmol FFA per kilogram fat per hour). There were significant decreases in fasting plasma insulin concentrations and insulin resistance, but not in fasting plasma lipid or glucose concentrations. There was a significant decrease in waist to hip ratio (0.98 ± 0.02 to 0.95 ± 0.02, P < .05) consistent with a significant increase in hip circumference (0.93 ± 0.02 to 0.95 ± 0.02 m, P < .05), without change in waist circumference. Rosiglitazone significantly increased adipocyte reesterification and improved insulin sensitivity, but the potential benefit of these changes was compromised by increase in total lipolysis. Combining rosiglitazone with agents designed to blunt lipolysis could expand depleted peripheral adipose depots in patients with HIV lipodystrophy.
Turbulent Convection in a Czochralski Silicon Melt

The individual and combined effects of buoyancy, crystal rotation, and crucible rotation are reported in this paper for axisymmetrically averaged melt convection in a large Czochralski crystal growth system for silicon. These body force effects are characterized by the respective parameters of Grashof number, Gr, rotational Reynolds number, Rer , and the Marangoni number, Ma. The range investigated consists of 108 ≤ Gr ≤ 1010 , 103 ≤ Re ≤ 3 × 104 , and 103 ≤ Ma ≤ 104 , which is appropriate for the real Czochralski system. The studies are based on a multizone, adaptive, finite volume calculation. Validations of the numerical procedures are presented, including a grid convergence study. The effects of buoyancy and rotation on melt convection are discussed in detail. When the crystal and crucible both rotate at the same speed, but in opposite directions, without buoyancy, the effect of the crucible rotation is stronger. The rotation induces turbulence, contrary to what the literature suggests. For the combined effects, the intensity of turbulence and the average Nusselt number at the crucible wall are largest when buoyancy is slightly dominant over rotation. High rotation rates generate temperature oscillations in the presence of high Grashof numbers. Because of the consequence of oscillation for crystal quality, a dynamic adjustment of the rotation rate might be necessary in order to obtain desirable growth conditions.
Effects of xylanase pretreatment procedures on nonchlorine bleaching

The pretreatment of softwood kraft pulps with endo-xylanase expressed from Streptomyces lividans (pIAF18) was shown to have beneficial effects on bleaching with selective oxygen-based bleaching reagents. Optimal biobleaching results were achieved with ozone which exhibited enhanced bleaching selectivity and brightness gains. Enzyme pretreatment also improved brightness and delignification of peracetic acid-bleached pulps. The potential role of xylanase in future commercial applications is discussed.
Variable fidelity modeling in closed loop dynamical systems

In the early stages of control system development, designers often require multiple iterations for purposes of validating control designs in simulation. This has the potential to make high fidelity models undesirable due to increased computational complexity and time required for simulation. As a solution, lower fidelity or simplified models are used for initial designs before controllers are tested on higher fidelity models. In the event that unmodeled dynamics cause the controller to fail when applied on a higher fidelity model, an iterative approach involving designing and validating a controller’s performance may be required. In this paper, a switched-fidelity modeling formulation for closed loop dynamical systems is proposed to reduce computational effort while maintaining elevated accuracy levels of system outputs and control inputs. The effects on computational effort and accuracy are investigated by applying the formulation to a traditional vapor compression system with high and low fidelity models of the evaporator and condenser. This sample case showed the ability of the switched fidelity framework to closely match the outputs and inputs of the high fidelity model while decreasing computational cost by 32% from the high fidelity model. For contrast, the low fidelity model decreases computational cost by 48% relative to the high fidelity model.Copyright © 2014 by ASME
Ultrasound 3D volume reconstruction from an optically tracked endorectal ultrasound (TERUS) probe

Endorectal Ultrasound (ERUS) is essential for the accurate staging of rectal cancer. Staging is important to the treatment of patients with rectal cancer because it will determine whether the patient receives preoperative radiotherapy for the purpose of tumor downstaging. ERUS images are intrinsically different from images taken by Computed Tomography (CT) or Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) in that ultrasound provides 2D images while CT and MRI provide 3D data sets that can be rendered into volumes and then re-sliced and viewed as 2D images in any desired orientation. This fundamental difference between ultrasound and tomographic imaging modalities creates a problem when a direct comparison between ultrasound and CT or MRI is desired. To accomplish the goal of following tumor volume over time, an accurate ultrasound volume must be constructed. By optically tracking the ERUS probe as data is collected, the intensity value for each pixel is saved and then inserted into the nearest voxel in the ERUS volume matrix. We validate the accuracy of volume reconstruction by finding the 3D coordinates of targets that are inside of the ERUS volume and comparing them to their known physical locations.
Alcoholic beverage choice and risk of coronary artery disease mortality: Do red wine drinkers fare best?

Abstract Several population studies have described a lower coronary artery disease (CAD) mortality risk in alcohol drinkers (vs abstainers). 1–3 Those studies showed no consensus that any specific beverage type (wine, liquor or beer) is likely to be more protective than are the others. 3 The importance of allowing for other traits and habits related to wine, liquor or beer use when studying beverage choice is now clear. 4 Recent media attention (e.g., “60 Minutes,” CBS Television Network, 7:00 p.m. , November 17, 1991) concerning the “French paradox” (lower CAD incidence in France than in the United States) has focused on the possible benefits of red wine in particular. Isolated reports suggest a possible role of tannins 5 or phenolic compounds 6 in red wine. In this report, we present data from a large prospective population study that are pertinent to the possible role of preference for wine, liquor or beer in CAD mortality risk.
Suicide and Homicide: A Test of a Role Theory of Destructive Behavior

This paper reviewed major sociological and social psychological bodies of theory on murder and suicide: social integration theory, social loss theory, frustration-aggression theory, and role theory. A synthesis of these theoretical approaches focusing on the processes of reciprocity and unreciprocity in role playing was advanced and an empirical test was conducted. It was found that suicide victims tend to experience significantly more reciprocity and homicide offenders significantly more unreciprocity in their role relationships. In addition, when social role loss increased already high levels of social integration, suicide was probable. When social role loss decreased low levels of social integration, homicide was a more likely consequence.
Disclosure of Combat Events by Afghanistan and Iraq War Veterans

Previous research shows a somewhat inconsistent relationship between symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and disclosing combat events to others. The current work details the results of two studies of combat event disclosure in veterans of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) and Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF). In the first study, an Internet sample of OEF/OIF veteran service members (n = 71) completed self-report measures of PTSD symptoms, social support, combat exposure, and whether or not specific combat events had been discussed with another person. In the second study, OEF/OIF veteran service members from the Utah National Guard and Reserves (n = 85) completed the same measures but specified with whom they had discussed each combat event. In both cases, service members reported that they had discussed the majority of combat events with another person. Results from both studies further showed that event-specific disclosures interact with levels of social support in predicting PTSD symptoms. Gr...
Thermostabilizing mutations in reovirus outer-capsid protein μ1 selected by heat inactivation of infectious subvirion particles

The 76-kDa mu1 protein of nonfusogenic mammalian reovirus is a major component of the virion outer capsid, which contains 200 mu1 trimers arranged in an incomplete T=13 lattice. In virions, mu1 is largely covered by a second major outer-capsid protein, sigma3, which limits mu1 conformational mobility. In infectious subvirion particles, from which sigma3 has been removed, mu1 is broadly exposed on the surface and can be promoted to rearrange into a protease-sensitive and hydrophobic conformer, leading to membrane perforation or penetration. In this study, mutants that resisted loss of infectivity upon heat inactivation (heat-resistant mutants) were selected from infectious subvirion particles of reovirus strains Type 1 Lang and Type 3 Dearing. All of the mutants were found to have mutations in mu1, and the heat-resistance phenotype was mapped to mu1 by both recoating and reassortant genetics. Heat-resistant mutants were also resistant to rearrangement to the protease-sensitive conformer of mu1, suggesting that heat inactivation is associated with mu1 rearrangement, consistent with published results. Rate constants of heat inactivation were determined, and the dependence of inactivation rate on temperature was consistent with the Arrhenius relationship. The Gibbs free energy of activation was calculated with reference to transition-state theory and was found to be correlated with the degree of heat resistance in each of the analyzed mutants. The mutations are located in upper portions of the mu1 trimer, near intersubunit contacts either within or between trimers in the viral outer capsid. We propose that the mutants stabilize the outer capsid by interfering with unwinding of the mu1 trimer.
NEEDED BUT UNWANTED: BLACK MILITIAMEN IN VERACRUZ, MEXICO, 1760-1810

(1992). Needed but Unwanted: Black Militiamen in Veracruz, Mexico, 1760–1810. The Historian: Vol. 55, No. 2, pp. 259-276.
Central Retinal Artery Occlusion During Cardiac Catheterization

A massive embolus of the central retinal artery occurred during cardiac catheterization and selective coronary angiography. Anterior chamber paracentesis and coughing resulted in restoration of retinal blood flow and vision within two hours. In two other cases retinal arteriolar embolization was observed in patients who had minimal or no ocular symptoms after cardiac catheterization.
Multi objective optimization of BEoL and fBEOL structure in flip chip package during die attach process

Semiconductor industry has recognized the need to replace traditional Al/SiO2 interconnects with Cu/Low-k interconnects in the mainstream electronics devices following the latter's impact on power, RC delay, and cross-talk reduction. However due to lower elastic modulus, strength, and poor adhesion characteristic, reliability of the Cu/Low-k interconnects turns out to be a concern for its integration in the back-end-of-line (BEoL). Flip-chip attachment process (cooling from ~200C to room) can result in critical damage in nano-scale Cu/Low-k interconnects. The objective of this study is to improve the reliability of Cu/Low-k interconnects during die attach reflow process for a specific die to substrate size ratio by varying a group of design parameters such as substrate thickness and solder bump footprint. Preliminary parametric study has shown that the variation in the concerned design variables has a significant effect on the solder bump (fBEoL) and low-k layer damage (BEoL) [1]. However, there is a trade-off between the solder bump and the dielectric damage with bump footprint, thereby arising a need to perform a multi-objective design optimization. A simulation based multi-objective design optimization has been carried out to improve BEoL/fBEoL reliability under reflow loading by minimizing the following objective functions 1) strain energy in the solder bump and 2) peeling stress in dielectric (low-k layers). This work is of immense importance from process integration standpoint. It can provide a quantitative upstream guideline to the process/electrical team on the BEoL/fBEoL damage.
Intrinsically switchable thin film ferroelectric resonators utilizing electric field induced piezoelectric effect

This paper presents bulk acoustic wave resonators using the ferroelectric materials barium titanate and barium strontium titanate. The electric field induced piezoelectric effect in these materials is utilized in the design of various types of intrinsically switchable bulk acoustic wave resonators. Both thickness mode and lateral mode resonator results, which have been demonstrated recently, are summarized in this paper. Significantly improved quality factors by means of forming a ferroelectric-on-silicon structure are also demonstrated.
Laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding versus laparoscopic gastric bypass for morbid obesity: a single-institution comparison study of early results.

Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGB) and laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB) are common surgical procedures for morbid obesity, but few studies have compared LRYGB and LAGB. All patients who underwent LRYGB and LAGB by a single surgeon at Legacy Health System were identified from a prospectively maintained database. Preoperatively, most patients were allowed to choose between LRYGB and LAGB. Age, sex, body mass index (BMI), complications, mortality, and weight loss were examined. From October 2000 to November 2003, 219 patients underwent LRYGB and 154 patients underwent LAGB. Mean preoperative BMI was 49.5 ± 6.6 and 50.9 ± 9.4 kg/m2, respectively (P = 0.10). Mean age was 42 ± 9 and 47 < 11 years (P < 0.001). The LAGB group had a higher proportion of male patients (21% versus 7%, P < 0.001). Patients undergoing LRYGB had longer operative times (134 versus 76 minutes, P < 0.001), more blood loss (43 versus 28 ml, P < 0.01), and longer hospital stays (2.6 versus 1.3 days, P < 0.001). Excess weight loss was 35% for LRYGB versus 19% for LAGB at 3-month follow-up (P < 0.001), 49% versus 25% at 6 months (P < 0.001), 64% versus 36% at 12 months (P < 0.001), 70% versus 45% at 24 months (P < 0.001), and 60% versus 57% at 36 months (P = 0.85). Major complications occurred in 7% and 6% (P < 0.58) and minor complications occurred in 18% and 20% (P = 0.65) of patients, respectively. Reoperation occurred in 21 patients (10%) after LRYGB and 31 (20%) patients after LAGB (P < 0.01). Of patients undergoing reoperation, eight (38%) LRYGB patients and one (3%) LAGB patient required open laparotomy. One death occurred in each group. Patients undergoing laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding have shorter operative times, less blood loss, and shorter hospital stays compared with laparoscopic gastric bypass patients. The incidence of major and minor complications is similar; however, morbidity after LRYGB is potentially greater and the reoperation rate is higher in the LAGB group. Early weight loss is greater with gastric bypass, but the difference appears to diminish over time.
Towards a reconceptualization of written language development

Abstract Researchers interested in written language development have tended to explore a single “layer” of written language growth, for example, the structural complexity of children's textual worlds or the orthographic sophistication of their first encoded words. But young children's actions suggest that these multiple layers are actually multiple dimensions of their symbolic acts: Textual words and worlds are dynamically linked with each other. More broadly, researchers and educators often conceive of written language as an extension of oral language development. But young children's participation in “literacy” events illustrates the complex links between written language growth and the development of children's entire symbolic repertoires and changing social relationships. Thus, through a critical consideration of existent research and an interpretive analysis of a child's early school experiences, this article aims to contribute to an authentic, more childlike vision of literacy growth. This vision preserves the links between the multiple dimensions of literate activity and the multiple symbolic tools of young children. Moreover, this article argues that such a vision yields new ways of thinking about, and potentially taking advantage of, the diverse symbolic resources of children in our schools.
Cellular manufacturing control

Abstract This paper presents a discussion of the variables affecting the control of a group technology, cellular manufacturing system. The control function is partitioned into cell loading and cell scheduling. The variables affecting the control of a cellular manufacturing system include the characteristics that describe the physical cellular system and the characteristics that describe the jobs. In addition, the paper reviews many of the advantages and disadvantages of cellular manufacturing, and the implied assumptions. Finally, a brief discussion of the problems associated with the techniques for the successful loading and scheduling of the cellular manufacturing system is presented.
Anxiety and Response to Reading Intervention among First Grade Students

For school-aged children with reading difficulties, an emerging and important area of investigation concerns determining predictors of intervention response. Previous studies have focused exclusively on cognitive and broadly defined behavioral variables. What has been missing, however, are studies examining anxiety, which is among the most commonly experienced difficulty for youth. The present study examined anxiety among children classified as typically achieving or showing inadequate/adequate response following an intervention for reading problems. Participants were 153 ethnically-diverse children (84 male, 69 female) evaluated in the winter and spring of their first-grade academic year. Children completed several standardized measures of reading achievement involving decoding and fluency along with a multidimensional anxiety rating scale. Repeated measures ANOVA revealed significant main effects for time and scale and significant interactions for time × scale and group × scale. Logistic regression examined whether anxiety predicted response to intervention (Y/N) at the end of the school-year. Results showed overall decreases in anxiety over time, with the exception of the harm avoidance area which increased and also interacted with group (children with decoding/fluency difficulties reported less harm avoidance than typically achieving children). The harm avoidance area was most pertinent across analyses highlighting the potential importance of targeting this area; however, none of the anxiety scales predicted response group at the end of the intervention. Ongoing research is needed in this area in order to identify characteristics of inadequate responders to reading intervention programs and/or inform interventions that incorporate these socioemotional factors.
Campylobacter jejuni survives within epithelial cells by avoiding delivery to lysosomes.

Campylobacter jejuni is one of the major causes of infectious diarrhea world-wide, although relatively little is know about its mechanisms of pathogenicity. This bacterium can gain entry into intestinal epithelial cells, which is thought to be important for its ability to persistently infect and cause disease. We found that C. jejuni is able to survive within intestinal epithelial cells. However, recovery of intracellular bacteria required pre-culturing under oxygen-limiting conditions, suggesting that C. jejuni undergoes significant physiological changes within the intracellular environment. We also found that in epithelial cells the C. jejuni–containing vacuole deviates from the canonical endocytic pathway immediately after a unique caveolae-dependent entry pathway, thus avoiding delivery into lysosomes. In contrast, in macrophages, C. jejuni is delivered to lysosomes and consequently is rapidly killed. Taken together, these studies indicate that C. jejuni has evolved specific adaptations to survive within host cells.
Redox proteomics: understanding oxidative stress in the progression of age-related neurodegenerative disorders.

Redox proteomics is an approach that can be applied to the brain to delineate mechanisms of pathogenesis of age-related neurodegenerative disorders. In addition, redox proteomics can also play role...
Localization of radiolabeled antibody in SVT2 tumor increases with immunosuppression of the host.

The localization of radiolabeled tumor-specific antibodies to an SV40-transformed mouse tumor was analyzed in immunosuppressed (X-ray and cortisone) and nonimmunosuppressed mice. (C57B1/6 x Balb/c)F/sub 1/ mice were immunized with the SVT2 tumor of Balb/c origin. Radiolabeled antibody was isolated from /sup 125/I-labeled immune gamma globulin by adsorption onto SVT2 cells, and elution from these cells using citrate buffer. The radiolabeled antibodies were injected into normal (C57B1/6 x Balb/c)F/sub 1/ mice. The purified antibodies present in this serum bound specifically in vitro to SV40-transformed cell lines. In vivo, the /sup 125/I-labeled antibodies localized preferentially in the SVT2 tumor in immunosuppressed mice. Significantly less /sup 125/I-labelled antibody localized in the SVT2 tumor in nonimmunosuppressed mice.The localization of /sup 125/I-labeled antibody in SVT2 tumor in immunosuppressed mice was reduced significantly by passive administration of anti-SVT2 serum.
Erratic behavior of CAT(0) geodesics under G-equivariant quasi-isometries

We show that, given any connected, compact space \({Z \subset \mathbb{R}^n}\), there exists a group G acting geometrically on two CAT(0) spaces X and Y, a G-equivariant quasi-isometry \({f\colon X\rightarrow Y}\), and a geodesic ray c in X such that the closure of f (c), intersected with \({\partial Y}\), is homeomorphic to Z. This characterizes all homeomorphism types of “geodesic boundary images” that arise in this manner.
On the Nature of Moral Values

Imagine a dog idling in the foreground, a tree in the middle distance, and a turnip lying on the ground behind the tree. Either of two hypotheses, or a combination of them, may be advanced to explain the dog’s inaction with respect to the turnip: perhaps he is not aware that it is there, and perhaps he does not want a turnip. Such is the bipartite nature of motivation: belief and valuation intertwined. It is the deep old duality of thought and feeling, of the head and the heart, the cortex and the thalamus, the words and the music.
Coordinate Based Empirical Likelihood-Like Estimation in Ill-Conditioned Inverse Problems

In the context of a semiparametric regression model with underlying probability distribution unspecified, an extremum estimator formulation is proposed that makes use of empirical likelihood and information theoretic estimation and inference concepts to mitigate the problem of an ill-conditioned design matrix. A squared error loss measure is used to assess estimator performance in finite samples. In large samples, the estimator can be designed to be consistent and asymptotically normal, so that limiting chi-squared distributions provide a basis for hypothesis tests and confidence intervals. Empirical risk results based on a large-scale Monte Carlo sampling experiment suggest that the estimator has, relative to traditional competitors, superior finite-sample properties under a squared error loss measure when the design matrix is ill-conditioned.
Spatially Explicit Models of Striped Bass Growth Potential in Chesapeake Bay

Abstract Fish growth rate potential is defined as the expected growth rate of a predator if placed in a particular volume of water having known physical and biological characteristics. We used the concept of fish growth rate potential to evaluate the seasonal and spatial growth patterns of striped bass Morone saxatilis across a midsection of the Chesapeake Bay. The growth rate potential of a 4-year-old (1.9-kg) striped bass was assessed by integrating spatially explicit field data on prey sizes, prey densities, and water temperature with a foraging model and a species-specific bioenergetics model offish growth rate, Prey sizes and densities were measured bimonthly at a high spatial resolution along a west–east transect of the bay with a 120-kHz dual-beam acoustic system. Along the transect, the water column was divided by columns and rows into a grid of cells 30 m long and 0.5 m deep. Growth and foraging models were implemented in each cell to calculate expected striped bass growth rate, Two-dimensional (...
Implementation and innovation in total synthesis

This article investigates how understanding the theory of organic chemistry facilitates the total synthesis of organic compounds. After locating the philosophical significance of this question within the methodology or epistemology of applied science, I summarize the results of previous work on this issue—roughly that theoretical organic chemistry underwrites a sequence of heuristic policies that help to isolate plausible synthetic routes from the array of possibilities provided by structural or descriptive organic chemistry. While this prior account makes a solid start, it does not capture all of the ways that the theory of organic chemistry contributes to total synthesis. This article aspires to enrich this account by exploring some additional ways that theory contributes. More specifically, I investigate how understanding the theory of organic chemistry can facilitate both the development of novel synthetic reactions and the implementation of a synthetic plan. The role of theory in these aspects of total synthesis will be explored by considering a particular, novel synthesis of longifolene.
Hormonal influences on osteoporosis

Abstract Osteoporosis has recently received increased attention in both the medical and lay literature. It is estimated that there are more than one million osteoporosis-related fractures yearly in the United States, which are responsible for between three and four billion dollars in health care expenditures. A discussion of osteoporosis requires consideration of both the physiology and pathophysiology of bone tissue. In a structural sense, bone exists in two forms, the outer compact cortex accounting for 80 percent of total bone volume, and the more porous inner trabecular bone. Bone-forming osteoblasts and bone-resorbing osteoclasts are responsible for the ongoing, life-long process of formation and resorption of bone. Sex hormone deficiency, as well as chronic illness, malnutrition, and childhood immobilization, has deleterious effects on growth and modeling, ultimately reducing peak bone mass and setting the stage for osteoporosis in later life. Estrogen is known to have a protective effect on the female skeleton. The mechanisms of this effect are unknown, although estrogen may protect against parathyroid hormone-mediated bone loss. There may be a particular subset of post-menopausal women who are particularly susceptible to estrogen deficiency. Calcitonin levels, which decrease postmenopausally, return to normal with estrogen; other hormones may also play important roles. Osteoporosis is not the result of a single hormonal deficiency or excess; it must be considered in relation to other pathogenetic and risk factors.
An object-oriented intracolonial and population level model of honey bees based on behaviors of European and Africanized subspecies

Abstract A computer-based simulation model of a population of honey bee colonies, based on the biology of European and African races of Apis mellifera L., is described. The intracolonial dynamics of each colony are simulated each day based on parameters internal and external to the colony. The honey bee population is the collection of all colonies in the model at a particular point in time. Since most of the model development centers on structure and dynamics of the individual colony, the majority of the discussion will be at the intracolonial level. Nevertheless, there is no logical limit to the number of colonies that can be simulated simultaneously. Colonial birth and death processes cause the addition and deletion of colonies to the model as needed. A sample simulation is presented to illustrate both the intracolonial and population level dynamics.