cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
In vivo three-dimensional tracking of sperm behaviors in the mouse oviduct

ABSTRACT Mammalian sperm evolutionarily acquired complex mechanisms to regulate their behaviors, which are thought to be crucial in navigating through the female reproductive tract toward fertilization. However, all current knowledge of this process is largely extrapolated from in vitro and ex vivo studies, because in vivo analysis of sperm in their native fertilization environment has not been possible. Here, we report a functional optical coherence tomography approach that allows, for the first time, in vivo three-dimensional tracking of sperm behaviors in the mouse oviduct. Motile sperm are identified with their intrinsic dynamic characteristics. Sperm trajectories are reconstructed in three dimensions with a ∼5 µm spatial resolution, allowing for quantitative analysis of the sperm velocity and location relative to the oviduct. Using this method, we found different behavior patterns, including sperm collection by the oviduct epithelium, spatial dependence of sperm velocity, and sperm grouping and separation as the first in vivo evidence of sperm cooperation in the ampulla, the site of fertilization. This approach opens new avenues to study sperm-oviduct interactions in vivo toward a more complete understanding of fertility and reproductive disorders.
Abstract TP274: HMGB1 is Regulated by Microrna in Patients With Ischemic Stroke

Background: High mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) is a strong inducer of inflammatory pathways in ischemic stroke, and a marker of worse neurological outcome at 1 year. As such HMGB1 may contribute to ...
Ethnic differences in progression of islet autoimmunity and type 1 diabetes in relatives at risk

We hypothesised that progression of islet autoimmunity and type 1 diabetes mellitus differs among races/ethnicities in at-risk individuals. In this study, we analysed the data from the Type 1 Diabetes TrialNet Pathway to Prevention Study. We studied 4873 non-diabetic, autoantibody-positive relatives of individuals with type 1 diabetes followed prospectively (11% Hispanic, 80.9% non-Hispanic white [NHW], 2.9% non-Hispanic black [NHB] and 5.2% non-Hispanic other [NHO]). Primary outcomes were time from single autoantibody positivity confirmation to multiple autoantibody positivity, and time from multiple autoantibody positivity to type 1 diabetes mellitus diagnosis. Conversion from single to multiple autoantibody positivity was less common in Hispanic individuals than in NHW individuals (HR 0.66 [95% CI 0.46, 0.96], p = 0.028) adjusting for autoantibody type, age, sex, Diabetes Prevention Trial Type 1 Risk Score and HLA-DR3-DQ2/DR4-DQ8 genotype. In participants who screened positive for multiple autoantibodies (n = 2834), time to type 1 diabetes did not differ by race/ethnicity overall (p = 0.91). In children who were <12 years old when multiple autoantibody positivity was determined, being overweight/obese had differential effects by ethnicity: type 1 diabetes risk was increased by 36% in NHW children (HR 1.36 [95% CI 1.04, 1.77], p = 0.024) and was nearly quadrupled in Hispanic children (HR 3.8 [95% CI 1.6, 9.1], p = 0.0026). We did not observe this interaction in participants who were ≥12 years old at determination of autoantibody positivity, although this group size was limited. No significant differential risks were observed between individuals of NHB and NHW ethnicity. The risk and rate of progression of islet autoimmunity were lower in Hispanic compared with NHW at-risk individuals, while significant differences in the development of type 1 diabetes were limited to children <12 years old and were modified by BMI.
Cancer Survivors and Work

The concerns of cancer survivors in the workplace are increasingly important as the number of cancer survivors increases and as the working population ages. Most cancer survivors work after completing treatment for cancer out of economic necessity and/or a desire to regain normalcy. However, a substantial number of cancer survivors have work-related difficulty. Variables that affect work outcomes include cancer survivor demographics (particularly age, education, and job type), medical characteristics (e.g., cancer site and stage, and symptom level), cognitive and emotional factors (e.g., perceived value of work), and work environment characteristics (e.g., social support at work and work flexibility). This Chapter will assist the researcher and provider in obtaining an up-to-date review of the epidemiological factors that contribute to this public health challenge in the workplace. The Chapter will also provide a working model of cancer and work to assist in the conceptualization of this problem for occupational health. Lastly, the available literature on interventions for one outcome—return-to-work—will be discussed. Some areas for future exploration and potential application are also discussed.
POSTSYNAPTIC MECHANISMS IN SYNAPTIC PLASTICITY

Publisher Summary Sympathetic ganglion has been used as a model for studying the physiology and pharmacology of neurons and synapses. Recently, the sympathetic ganglion of the bullfrog has been found to be well suited for such studies. A long-lasting modulation of the efficacy of synaptic transmission has been found to be associated with changes in the membrane properties of the neurons. Membrane permeability changes that may be related to the regulation of synaptic excitability have been studied. Several factors may contribute to the ability of a fast excitatory postsynaptic potential (EPSP) to elicit an action potential in the postsynaptic neuron and transmit information, as nerve impulses, across the synapse. It has been found that certain types of neurotransmitter actions are capable of producing a long-lasting enhancement of the ability of fast EPSPs to initiate postsynaptic action potentials. Long-lasting PSPs generated by decreases in membrane permeability are capable of augmenting the efficacy of transmission at synapses. The enhancement of fast EPSP amplitude increases the probability of postsynaptic action potential generation, thus increasing the efficacy of impulse transmission at the synapse. The stimulation of one synaptic pathway is capable of increasing the efficacy of synaptic transmission in a second synaptic pathway by a postsynaptic mechanism.
Vitamin A and the Prevention of Morbidity, Mortality, and Blindness

Key Points Vitamin A deficiency remains a leading cause of morbidity, mortality, and blindness among preschool children in developing countries worldwide. Consequences of vitamin A deficiency include impaired immune function, growth retardation, anemia, xerophthalmia, and blindness. The impaired immunity resulting from vitamin A deficiency results in increased morbidity and mortality from some infectious diseases such as measles, diarrheal disease, and human immunodeficiency virus infection. Periodic high-dose vitamin A capsule distribution has been implemented by some developing countries as a short-term strategy to prevent vitamin A deficiency among preschool children. Diverse long-term strategies, including nutrition education, food fortification, and homestead food production, are needed to prevent vitamin A deficiency in developing countries. Ultimately, family-based approaches are required to address vitamin A deficiency, because pregnant women and women of childbearing age are at high risk of vitamin A deficiency in many countries and are not reached by vertical programs such as vitamin A capsule distribution.
Ultrastructure of Smooth Muscle

Identification of the anatomical sources of the increased intracellular free calcium that activates contraction in smooth muscle has been a major objective of cell pharmacology. The extracellular fluid, the space between the basement membrane and the plasma membrane, the plasma membrane itself, and intracellular organelles each has been considered as a possible source and sink of calcium during, respectively, excitation and inhibition (for reviews see Bohr, 1964; Daniel, 1965; Goodford, 1965; A. P. Somlyo and Somlyo, 1968; 1970; Hurwitz and Suria, 1971; Johansson, 1971). In the striated (twitch skeletal) muscles the sarcosplasmic reticulum is the intracellular “site” that accumulates calcium during relaxation and from which the calcium that activates contraction is released by the action potential (for reviews see Bianchi, 1968; A. F. Huxley, 1971). Recent studies have shown that some smooth muscles can be stimulated to contract even if the extracellular calcium concentration is reduced below the levels that can activate contraction (Bozler, 1969; A. P. Somlyo and Somlyo, 1970; A. P. Somlyo et al., 1971b; Devine, Somlyo, and Somlyo, 1972; Keatinge, 1972), indicating the existence of an intracellular source of activator calcium. Recent electron microscopic studies have therefore been directed toward determining whether there is in smooth muscles a sarcoplasmic reticulum that may serve as an intracellular calcium storage site.
Rational Therapeutic Options for Patients with Myeloproliferative Neoplasms

Patients with advanced forms of primary myelofibrosis (PMF) have an average survival of 4 to 5 years. At present, the standard of care for these patients is largely palliative, including supportive measures and the use of a variety of therapeutic agents, each of which's directed toward reducing transfusion requirements or decreasing the degree of splenomegaly. Currently, allogeneic stem-cell transplantation remains the only potentially curative approach for PMF. Although the administration of Janus Kinase 2 (JAK2) inhibitors to patients with PMF often dramatically reduces the degree of splenomegaly and improves in systemic symptoms, these drugs do not correct the cytopenias associated with PMF, nor do they reverse abnormalities of BM architecture or substantially influence the JAK2V617F allele burden. Furthermore, the effects of such small-molecule therapy on the natural history of PMF and the rate of its evolution to acute myeloid leukemia (AML) remain uncertain. Recently, additional genetic alterations that precede or accompany JAK2V617F in PMF have been documented. These findings indicate that therapies directed against a single genetic lesion such as JAK2V617F are unlikely to be curative of PMF. These observations have led us to consider alternative therapeutic targets for drug development. The dysregulation of the hematopoietic microenvironment in PMF provides an attractive therapeutic target. Novel agents capable of correcting the abnormalities seen in PMF would probably be used in combination with the currently available therapeutic armamentarium, including the JAK2 inhibitors, to treat patients with PMF, which would represent a paradigm shift in the management of such patients.
Riemannian regression and classification models of brain networks applied to autism

Functional connectivity from resting-state functional MRI (rsfMRI) is typically represented as a symmetric positive definite (SPD) matrix. Analysis methods that exploit the Riemannian geometry of SPD matrices appropriately adhere to the positive definite constraint, unlike Euclidean methods. Recently proposed approaches for rsfMRI analysis have achieved high accuracy on public datasets, but are computationally intensive and difficult to interpret. In this paper, we show that we can get comparable results using connectivity matrices under the log-Euclidean and affine-invariant Riemannian metrics with relatively simple and interpretable models. On ABIDE Preprocessed dataset, our methods classify autism versus control subjects with 71.1% accuracy. We also show that Riemannian methods beat baseline in regressing connectome features to subject autism severity scores.
Efficient Live Migration of Edge Services Leveraging Container Layered Storage

Mobile users across edge networks require seamless migration of offloading services. Edge computing platforms must smoothly support these service transfers and keep pace with user movements around the network. However, live migration of offloading services in the wide area network poses significant service handoff challenges in the edge computing environment. In this paper, we propose an edge computing platform architecture which supports seamless migration of offloading services while also keeping the moving mobile user “in service” with its nearest edge server. We identify a critical problem in the state-of-the-art tool for Docker container migration. Based on our systematic study of the Docker container storage system, we propose to leverage the layered nature of the storage system to reduce file system synchronization overhead, without dependence on the distributed file system. In contrast to the state-of-the-art service handoff method in the edge environment, our system yields a 80 percent (56 percent) reduction in handoff time under 5 Mbps (20 Mbps) network bandwidth conditions.
The Phospho-Code Determining Circadian Feedback Loop Closure and Output in Neurospora

In the negative feedback loop driving fungal and animal circadian oscillators, negative elements (FREQUENCY [FRQ], PERIODS [PERs], and CRYPTOCHROMES [CRYs]) are understood to inhibit their own expression, in part by promoting the phosphorylation of their heterodimeric transcriptional activators (e.g., White Collar-1 [WC-1]-WC-2 [White Collar complex; WCC] and BMAL1/Circadian Locomotor Output Cycles Kaput [CLOCK]). However, correlations between heterodimer activity and phosphorylation are weak, contradictions exist, and mechanistic details are almost wholly lacking. We report mapping of 80 phosphosites on WC-1 and 15 on WC-2 and elucidation of the time-of-day-specific code, requiring both a group of phosphoevents on WC-1 and two distinct clusters on WC-2, that governs circadian repression, leading to feedback loop closure. Combinatorial control via phosphorylation also governs rhythmic WCC binding to the promoters of clock-controlled genes mediating the essential first step in circadian output, a group encoding both transcription factors and signaling proteins. These data provide a basic mechanistic understanding for fundamental events underlying circadian negative feedback and output, key aspects of circadian biology.
Japan’s Most Beloved Suicide Bombers: The Nikudan-san’yūshi Phenomenon (1932–1945)

In 1932, three Japanese soldiers died in the line of duty during the Shanghai Incident. Battlefield gossip blamed their deaths on incompetence. Sensational newspaper reports lauded them as suicide ...
Phosphorous behavior and its effect on secondary phase formation in high refractory content powder-processed Ni-based superalloys

Abstract The behavior of phosphorous and its effect on the microstructure of a powder-processed, high refractory content, Ni-based superalloy was studied and compared to a P-free variant. Transmission electron microscopy and atom probe tomography were used to identify the crystal structure of the five topologically close packed (TCP) and geometrically close packed (GCP) phases that formed, assess phase compositions, and determine any elemental segregation to phase boundaries. The results revealed strong phosphorous segregation to grain boundaries, moderate solubility in TCP and MC phases, limited solubility in the γ matrix and no solubility in the γ′ phase or any other Ni3X type GCP phases. The phosphorus segregation to the grain boundaries of the P-doped alloy lowered the incipient melting temperature, thereby eliminating the processing window, and led to the formation of (Ni,Co,Cr,P)2(Nb,Mo) laves phases along grain boundaries during supersolvus heat treatment. Interestingly, APT revealed segregation of P to Al2O3 oxide surfaces, explaining the frequent observation of laves precipitates nucleating on such impurities. Due to the low stability of the C14–Ni2Nb laves phase, it was prone to phase separation, and served as the nucleation point for μ, intergrown η/δ, and Nb3P phosphide phases.
A comment on the state of I.T. in South Africa

When I was asked to comment on this subject, my first reaction was a desire to obliterate the historic perception of South Africa being the poor cousin of the West that patiently waits for the Christmas "hand-me-downs" from Europe and the US. On reflection I came to two key realisations. Firstly, proof of us no longer being the "poor cousin" can be found via a quick trip to Dubai Duty Free - iPads there cost the same as back home - with a guarantee restricted to the UAE only! More importantly though, my second realisation was that there is significant activity around IT - in all sectors of our economy - but with very little tangible progress in areas that matter. So, like any good consultant - my thoughts have been framed in terms of key indicators and relative scores.
Teaching the staircase model of relationships through social media browsing

Courses: Interpersonal Communication; Relational Communication.Objectives: Students who complete this activity should be able to (1) understand the staircase model of relationships; (2) explain how...
Abstract 08: Heterogeneity in Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factor Prevalence Among Whites, African Americans, African Immigrants and Afro-Caribbeans: Insights From the 2010-2018 National Health Interview Survey

Introduction: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death in the U.S. Blacks are disproportionately affected by CVD risk factors, compared to whites. However, Blacks are not monolith...
The Cultural Perceptions of Healthy Eating in Mexican American Children: A Focused Ethnography:

Introduction: Obesity in Mexican American children is reaching epidemic proportions. Improved understanding of children's healthy eating perceptions in culturally diverse populations is needed. The purpose was to describe the meanings and experiences associated with healthy eating from the perspective of Mexican American children. Methodology: The design was a focused ethnography. Midwestern children, aged 11 to 13 years, were interviewed in home and school settings. Leininger's four phases of qualitative data analysis was used to analyze data. Parental consent/child assent was obtained. Results: Twenty-one children were interviewed. Two themes emerged: (a) Mexican American children connect healthy eating with familiar foods in the context of their ethnic culture; and (b) foods that provide feelings of happiness and well-being are associated with healthy eating. Discussion: This study provides a clear understanding of the meaning and perceptions of healthy eating from the perspective of Mexican American children and offers data to promote culturally congruent care.
Nanostructured Ni-Cu Electrocatalysts for the Oxygen Evolution Reaction.

Ni-Based materials are promising electrocatalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) for water splitting in alkaline media. We report the synthesis and OER electrocatalysis of both Ni–Cu nanoparticles (20–50 nm in diameter) and Ni–Cu nanoclusters (<20 metal atoms). Analysis of mass spectral data from matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization and electrospray ionization techniques demonstrates that discrete heterobimetallic Ni–Cu nanoclusters capped with glutathione ligands were successfully synthesized. Ni–Cu nanoclusters with a 52 : 48 mol% Ni : Cu metal composition display an OER onset overpotential of 50 mV and an overpotential of 150 mV at 10 mA cm−2, which makes this catalyst one of the most efficient nonprecious metal OER catalysts. The durability of the nanocluster catalysts on carbon electrodes can be extended by appending them to electrodes modified with TiO2 nanoparticles. Infrared spectroscopy results indicate that the aggregation dynamics of the glutathione ligands change during catalysis. Taken together, these results help explain the reactivity of a novel class of nanostructured Ni–Cu OER catalysts, which are underexplored alternatives to more commonly studied Ni–Fe, Ni–Co, and Ni–Mn materials.
Does Forthcomingness Matter? The Impact of Investment Horizon on Management's Long-Term Reporting Credibility

This study develops and tests a model of manager reporting credibility in an earnings guidance setting. Specifically, I use an experiment to examine whether short horizon investors differ from long horizon investors in their sensitivity to forthcoming disclosure regarding negative earnings news. I find that short horizon prospective investors exhibit an incremental sensitivity to forthcoming disclosure regarding negative earnings news in comparison with long horizon current investors. Consistent with prior research I also find that long horizon current investors’ assessments of management’s reporting credibility are unresponsive to forthcoming earnings guidance. Similarly, I find that short horizon current investors also exhibit differential sensitivity to forthcoming disclosure regarding negative news in comparison with long horizon current investors. Overall, the results suggest that management forthcomingness can have a positive impact on managers’ long-term reporting credibility and this effect is greatest for investors with short investment horizons when earnings news is negative. The results should inform managers who are interested in maximizing the effectiveness of their earnings guidance.
Capnocytophaga canimorsus Bloodstream Infection Associated with an Urticarial Exanthem.

Background. Capnocytophaga canimorsus is a fastidious, slow-growing, Gram-negative rod that is a commensal bacterium in normal gingival flora of canine and feline species. Infection with the organism may cause disease ranging from flu-like symptoms to disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), fulminant sepsis, meningitis, and endocarditis with an overall fatality rate of 6–26%. Risk factors for infection from C. canimorsus include immunosuppression, alcoholism, and asplenia. Case Presentation. We describe an unusual case with a relatively indolent clinical course and an urticarial exanthem in an otherwise young immunocompetent patient with a history of type 1 diabetes. The patient presented to the Emergency Department (ED) with a <1-day history of rhinorrhea, fever, and dyspnea. He met sepsis criteria on initial presentation, but left against medical advice and returned to the ED the following day, with new arthralgias and a diffuse rash, multiple erythematous, tender macules scattered across his trunk and extremities, and tonsillar erythema. He had not taken the doses of the prescribed amoxicillin. Blood cultures two days later signaled positive for growth with the Gram stain showing a Gram-negative rod. Three 7-8 cm tender targetoid lesions with central clearing were identified on the patient’s back. The patient reported two nonengorged ticks crawling on his body a week prior and sustaining a dog bite to his ear three weeks before presentation. Ultimately, the organism was identified as C. canimorsus through MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry and additional biochemical testing. He was given appropriate antibiotics and improved clinically thereafter. Despite the patient’s bacteremia, he never progressed to fulminant sepsis and followed a mild clinical course with several unusual characteristics. C. canimorsus is an uncommon cause of illness in humans, but is an important pathogen to consider when evaluating a patient with a dog bite, known risk factors, and an urticarial exanthem as empiric treatment may prevent severe outcomes.
Cyclic Pile-Soil Interaction Effects on Load-Displacement Behavior of Thermal Pile Groups in Sand

This paper highlights the cyclic pile-soil interactions and load-displacement behavior of thermal piles in friction and end-bearing pile groups. Numerical investigations of pile groups with different pile arrangement have been performed under equal magnitudes of mechanical and thermal loading. The concrete piles and pile cap are considered as thermo-elastic material and sand is simulated as elasto-plastic material. Parametric studies have been performed for different rigidity of end-bearing stratum and different pile cap thickness. Results are presented for base displacement-time response of piles, load-displacement response of piles, temperature evolution and thermally induced displacements in surrounding soil, vertical stresses along pile depth, and load distribution in piles through the pile cap. The results conclude that thermal piles experience increased pile head uplift in successive thermal heating cycles which is significant for the piles supported over rigid rock stratum. The thermal uplift of piles results in soil heave near the pile-soil interface. The set-up of higher soil temperature after cyclic heating and cooling of the piles is also noted. Cyclic thermal interactions among thermal piles and surrounding soil induce variations in load-displacement pattern of these piles which need consideration for ensuring structural safety requirements.
Consistent depiction of the acidic ischemic lesion with APT MRI—Dual RF power evaluation of pH-sensitive image in acute stroke

Purpose Amide proton transfer-weighted (APTw) MRI provides a non-invasive pH-sensitive image, complementing perfusion and diffusion imaging for refined stratification of ischemic tissue. Although the commonly used magnetization transfer (MT) asymmetry (MTRasym ) calculation reasonably corrects the direct RF saturation effect, it is susceptible to the concomitant semisolid macromolecular MT contribution. Therefore, this study aimed to compare the performance of MTRasym and magnetization transfer and relaxation-normalized APT (MRAPT) analyses under 2 representative experimental conditions. Methods Multiparametric MRI scans were performed in a rodent model of acute stroke, including relaxation, diffusion, and Z spectral images under 2 representative RF levels of 0.75 and 1.5 µT. Both MTRasym and MRAPT values in the ischemic diffusion lesion and the contralateral normal areas were compared using correlation and Bland-Altman tests. In addition, the acidic lesion volumes were compared. Results MRAPT measurements from the diffusion lesion under the 2 conditions were highly correlated (R2 = 0.97) versus MTRasym measures (R2 = 0.58). The pH lesion sizes determined from MRAPT analysis were in good agreement (178 ± 43 mm3 vs. 186 ± 55 mm3 for B1 of 0.75 and 1.5 µT, respectively). Conclusions The study demonstrated that MRAPT analysis could be generalized to moderately different RF amplitudes, providing a more consistent depiction of acidic lesions than the MTRasym analysis.
317 An immunosuppressive tumor population drives global and regional patterns of immune infiltration in heterogeneous tumors

Background Intratumoral heterogeneity (ITH) is cellular and molecular diversity within a tumor. ITH is linked to failure of immunotherapy in multiple cancer types. One of the suggested mechanisms of this failure is the absence of a productive immune response, which can be driven by the dominance of a tumor population that creates immunosuppressive microenvironment. However, the molecular mechanisms that mediate such dominant immunosuppressive effects and how a dominant immunosuppressive tumor population affects the efficacy of immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapy are poorly understood. Methods We generated a library of squamous skin cell carcinoma cell lines derived from DMBA+TPA carcinogen-treated mice. Upon transplantation into immunocompetent mice, two cell lines (CF6 and CF9) gave rise to highly and poorly immune-infiltrated tumors, respectively. These two cell lines were tagged with YFP and RFP, respectively, mixed at a 1:1 ratio and injected subcutaneously. The resulting mixed tumors contained a patchwork of distinct regions that are predominantly occupied with YFP (CF6) cells, occupied with RFP (CF9) cells, or are a mixture of YFP and RFP cells. These mixed tumors were microdissected into YFP, RFP, and mixed regions, and the immune infiltrate in each region was analyzed by flow cytometry. Results We found mixed tumors were ”cold” on a whole-tumor level. However, regional analysis showed a higher frequency of total and CD4 T cells in YFP regions compared to RFP regions. In contrast, macrophages exhibited a preferential localization to RFP regions. This suggests that local factors unique to each region drive the immune infiltration patterns of CD4 T cells and macrophages. Interestingly, although CD8 T cells showed a low frequency in all regions, a majority of CD8 T cells from YFP regions produced IFNgamma in response to PMA/Ionomycin stimulation while IFNgamma+ CD8 T cells from RFP regions made up a small fraction. This suggests that the presence of CF9-RFP regions inhibits infiltration of CD8 T cells throughout the tumor, but may not affect the anti-tumoral potential of CD8 T cells that succeed in infiltrating CF6-YFP regions. Conclusions An immunosuppressive tumor population rendered our model heterogeneous tumors ”cold” on the whole. Nonetheless, we observed regional patterns in the quantity and quality of immune infiltrates, with local immune infiltration being shaped by the tumor cells present in that region. Understanding how these immune infiltration patterns impact the response of each region to ICB therapy will provide insights into the mechanism by which ITH poses barriers to immunotherapy.
Single vs. Multiple Layer Critical Areas

This chapter presents a comparative study for yield prediction based on critical area extractions of single and multiple layers. The objective is to show how much error is incurred by using an SDSL model and a given layout design style. Disadvantages of SDSL models were mentioned in previous chapters and are now briefly recalled. i)The calculated critical areas account only for short/break type of faults, ii) All patterns in every layer are considered only as interconnectors, even when in real artworks some portions of those “connectors” are also part of devices like transistors. iii) The effect of layers like the implant-layers of an NMOS process, or the p-well-layers of a CMOS process are not considered. iv) It is a “single-layer” theory; no interdependence between layers is considered, as could be the case of a poly-metal via where three different layers are involved. Nevertheless, SDSL models are good to evaluate the safeness of the artwork as a function of the probability of failure of its layers, that is, whether the patterns can undesirably be broken or joined. In the long trajectory of yield modeling, it was found that by obtaining the critical areas, a more realistic yield prediction can be achieved [83]. However, it has been conjectured that the extraction of single-layer critical areas can be inaccurate in predicting yield [53,60]. The case study presented in this chapter is intended to disclose these conjectures by quantifying the existing differences in yield prediction [65].
A Parallel Grasp for the Data Association Multidimensional Assignment Problem

Data association multidimensional assignment problems appear in many applications such as MultiTarget MultiSensor Tracking, and particle tracking. The problem is characterized by the large input data and is very difficult to solve exactly. A Greedy Randomized Adaptive Search Procedure (GRASP) has been developed and computational results show good quality solutions can be obtained. Furthermore, the efficiency of the GRASP can be easily improved by parallelization of the code in the MPI environment.
A tracking mode receiver for joint channel estimation and detection of asynchronous CDMA signals

A tracking mode receiver for asynchronous CDMA is presented based on the extended Kalman filter (EKF). The EKF updates the delays and complex amplitudes of the received CDMA waveforms, and provides a modified minimum mean-square error (MMSE) estimate of the user data. In order to obtain a practical algorithm, each user signal is tracked individually, with the remaining users modeled as colored Gaussian noise. However, the EKFs are coupled through the multiple access interference (MAI) covariance estimates. The performance of the EKF tracking receiver is evaluated through a combination of simulation and bit-error rate (BER) analysis.
Human liver mitochondrial monoamine oxidase. I. Kinetic studies of model interactions.

Abstract Kinetic data have been obtained concerning model interactions of partially purified monoamine oxidase preparations prepared from human liver mitochondria with the use of Triton X-100 or sonic treatment. The effect of pH upon apparent Michaelis and inhibitor constants of benzylamines and n-alkylamines indicates that the nonprotonated species of these substrates are bound by the enzyme. Ammonia competitively inhibits the enzyme. Primary aliphatic alcohols, which are electronic analogues of nonprotonated monoamines, are also competitive inhibitors. Alcohol inhibitor constants do not vary with pH. The inhibitory effects of mixtures of ammonia and benzyl alcohol suggest that hydroxy and amino groups of interactants are bound at the same enzyme site. The affinities of both the n-alkylamine substrates and the l-hydroxy-n-alkane inhibitors for the enzyme depend upon the number of methylene residues in these interactants. The effects of the chain lengths of the n-alkylamines and the alcohol analogues upon enzyme affinities are remarkably similar. In the case of both types of l-substituted n-alkanes with less than 6 methylene residues, the contribution of each methylene residue to the change in standard free energy that determines the alkane-enzyme complex at 25° is constant and amounts to - 1.3 kcal per mole. We interpret these data as evidence that the enzyme active center contains both electrophilic and hydrophobic binding sites. Substrate inhibitions observed with high concentrations of benzylamine and n-butylamine are consistent with this hypothesis. The kinetic data obtained with Triton X-100 preparations agree with data obtained with sonically treated preparations. We were unable to detect discrepancies in the kinetic data of either preparation, which might have suggested the presence of multiple monoamine oxidase activities. On the other hand, the mitochondrial activity differed in several respects from that of the monoamine oxidase of human plasma.
Extracorporeal photopheresis for graft-versus-host disease: the role of patient, transplant, and classification criteria and hematologic values on outcome—results from a large single-center study

Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) remains the most frequent complication after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT).1 First described as a “secondary disease” in mice,2 the syndrome was shown to be triggered by immunocompetent donor cells.3,4 Despite improvements in posttransplant immunosuppression, up to 30% of HLA-identical graft recipients and up to 90% of recipients of unrelated donor graft still develop significant acute GVHD (aGVHD). Prednisone has been shown to be effective as the first-line therapy in the treatment of established aGVHD, resulting in complete response (CR) rates of 25% to 54%.5,6 However, patients not responding to steroids are at a high risk of death.7,8 Furthermore, despite better donor selection, GVHD prophylaxis, and treatment, chronic GVHD (cGVHD) affects 50% of long-term transplant survivors and is lethal in 20% to 40% of affected patients.9 Primary therapy for extensive cGVHD usually includes steroids and calcineurin inhibitors,10–18 but the probability of cGVHD response is highly variable.19–23 Extracorporeal photopheresis (ECP) was introduced nearly 30 years ago to treat cutaneous T-cell lymphoma and autoimmune diseases, such as scleroderma. This procedure has proved effective in the treatment of acute lung, heart, and kidney allograft rejection and in the past 15 years for the treatment of aGVHD and cGVHD, gaining levels of evidence of C for skin aGVHD, B for skin cGVHD, and C for nonskin aGVHD and cGVHD.24 Although the mechanisms of ECP are not fully understood, recent evidence suggests how the T-, B-, and dendritic cells compartment may be regulated by ECP.25–27 In this study we report our clinical experience on 71 consecutive patients with GVHD treated with ECP.
Michael Field’s “A Dance of Death”

The 1912 poem "A Dance of Death" by Michael Field (pen name of Katherine Bradley and her niece Edith Cooper) depicts Salome in an alternate version of the biblical story: this Salome dances on a frozen river, falls through the ice, and is decapitated on a jagged edge. Nonetheless, her beautiful head continues dancing over the frozen river. This poem is highly unusual, especially in the context of the other poems in the postconversion volume Poems of Adoration , because it questions, rather than submits to, authority. In re-writing a familiar Christian tale, as well as a familiar decadent theme, Field uses the poem to assert the supremacy of their artistic vision, which (despite their ardent Catholicism) cannot be subject to any law outside themselves. Like the continually dancing head of Salome, which continues to create beauty even after nature (and perhaps God) has struck it down, the poet is subjugate only to her own law and creates without boundaries or restrictions on her art. Bradley and Cooper were acutely aware of their authorial persona (actively taking not only a masculine but also a singular poetic identity), and their mode of reconciling the apparent contradictions of this identity are mirrored in their presentation of Salome in a "Dance of Death."
Theorizing Diplomacy and Diplomats on Their Own Terms

Diplomatic Theory of International Relations. By Paul Sharp. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2009. 339 pp., $90.00 hardcover (ISBN-13: 978-0-521-76026-3), $32.99 paperback (ISBN-13: 978-0-521-75755-3). Sharp's basic thesis in Diplomatic Theory of International Relations is that it is possible to identify a specifically diplomatic tradition of thinking, or theory, about international relations, one that contributes to international relations in particular and to human relations in general. Sharp grounds this unconventional notion of diplomatic theory, which is more tacit than explicit, in the leading ideas of diplomats and those who study them, arguing that it arises from “what diplomats themselves have had to say about international relations” (p. 7). In other words, diplomatic theory is “a coherent and distinctive set of propositions about international relations” (p. 7) that emerges organically from the diaries, histories, and memoirs of diplomats. In developing his thesis, Sharp challenges the supremacy of state-based realism. He also deals with the enduring problem that, even for students of international relations, diplomacy and diplomats remain something of a mystery, one that is compounded by the paradoxical inability of diplomats to “provide much insight into how and why diplomacy works” (p. 2). Sharp, however, chooses not to explicate and demystify diplomacy and diplomats by seeking easy solutions in universal claims. Rather, he chooses an unorthodox path, inviting us to consider the limits and complexities inherent in thinking and acting diplomatically. In Part One, Sharp's theoretical framework draws directly on English School theory and method, with assessments of how diplomacy and diplomats …
Efficient Use of Materials and Energy

The efficient use of materials and energy is at the core of energy and environmental challenges. At the company level, environmentally preferable supply chains is a key area in which operations research can make significant contributions. At the global level, key challenges relate to the dynamics of technology, economics, and environmental impacts, including the potential for material and energy efficiency, the relation of technological and economic development to changes in consumption patterns, and the potential for technology to reduce environmental impacts and constraints. Keywords: environment; energy; sustainability; industrial ecology; energy efficiency
Multimedia implementation on Ethernet

The objective is to implement multimedia communications on the existing Ethernet networks. The main problem with transmission of voice and video (synchronous data) on the Ethernet protocol is that Ethernet is a packet network protocol with unpredictable delays-which makes it difficult to send data at fixed intervals. The paper presents a method to transfer voice and video over Ethernet networks with reasonable quality.
Sex Differences in the Stability of Conditioned Pain Modulation (CPM) among Patients with Chronic Pain

Objectives To examine the temporal stability of conditioned pain modulation (CPM), formerly termed diffuse noxious inhibitory controls, among a sample of patients with chronic pain. The study also examined the factors that might be responsible for the stability of CPM. Design, Subjects, and Methods In this test-retest study, patients underwent a series of standardized psychophysical pain-testing procedures designed to assess CPM on two separate occasions (i.e., baseline and follow up). Patients also completed self-report measures of catastrophizing (Pain Catastrophizing Scale [PCS] and negative affect [NA]). Results Overall, results provided evidence for the stability of CPM among patients with chronic pain. Results, however, revealed considerable sex differences in the stability of CPM. For women, results revealed a significant test-retest correlation between baseline and follow-up CPM scores. For men, however, the test-retest correlation between baseline and follow-up CPM scores was not significant. Results of a Fisher's Z-test revealed that the stability of CPM was significantly greater for women than for men. Follow-up analyses revealed that the difference between men and women in the stability of CPM could not be accounted for by any demographic (e.g., age) and/or psychological factors (PCS and NA). Conclusions Our findings suggest that CPM paradigms possess sufficient reliability to be incorporated into bedside clinical evaluation of patients with chronic pain, but only among women. The lack of CPM reproducibility/stability observed among men places limits on the potential use of CPM paradigms in clinical settings for the assessment of men's endogenous pain-inhibitory function.
The effect of rejuvenation heat treatments on the repair weldability of wrought Alloy 718

Abstract Extensive precipitation of needle- and plate-shaped δ-phase in the γ-nickel matrix of wrought Alloy 718 is the major microstructural change resulting from multiple weld repair/post weld heat treatment (PWHT) cycles. Isothermal heat treatments at 954 °C for times up to 100 h were used to simulate the multiple PWHTs in laboratory samples. Grain size did not change appreciably during these heat treatments owing to δ-phase pinning of the grain boundaries (GBs). The susceptibility of Alloy 718 to heat-affected-zone (HAZ) liquation cracking degraded as a result of these heat treatments. This degradation is due to the short time, high temperature GB liquation caused by the combined effects of δ-phase dissolution, boron carbide constitutional liquation, and GB segregation. A rejuvenation treatment (1010 °C/2 h) effectively restored the degraded weldability by removing the adverse influence of δ-phase through dissolution above the δ-phase solvus. This heat treatment also promoted a spontaneous grain refinement and increase in the fraction of special GBs owing to the elimination of δ-phase pinning of GBs. The combined effects of δ-phase, grain size and fraction of special GBs are discussed in the context of HAZ liquation cracking that occurs during repair welding of Alloy 718.
Properties of humic acids developed during humification process of post-harvest plant residues

Abstract The objective of the study was to determine elemental composition and spectrometric properties of humic acids (HAs) developed in the process of decomposition of post-harvest residues of wheat, lucerne, and maize. The selected plant materials differed in their chemical composition. HAs were extracted before and after 30 and 360 d of incubation. Properties of the HAs studied depended on chemical composition of post-harvest residues used. The correlation coefficients between elemental composition and spectrometric properties of HAs from post-harvest residues indicated that correlation dependencies commonly accepted for humic soil substances are not relevant in case of plant residues. In the case of the plant material derivated HAs, no significant correlation between the absorbance values in the visible light spectrum and the carbon content was noted. Additionally, no significant correlation between the absorbance coefficients and the H:C ratio was found.
Trypanosoma brucei: nearest neighbor analysis on the major variable surface coat glycoprotein--crosslinking patterns with intact cells.

Abstract Cleavable Crosslinking reagents were used to study interactions among proteins of the surface coat of Trypanosoma brucei . The proteins were resolved by two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in sodium dodecyl sulfate. When intact cells were treated with dithio bis (succinimidylpropionate), we obtained extensive intermolecular Crosslinking of major variable surface coat glycoprotein (VSCG) molecules. This reagent generated no apparent crosslinks between VSCG and other membrane-associated proteins. Complete conversion to oligomers equal to or greater than octamers occurred within 20 min. When purified VSCG in solution was treated with dithio bis (succimidylpropionate), dimers were found. A complex of Cu 2+ and 1,10-phenanthroline was used to catalyze air oxidation of adjacent sulfhydryls to disulfide bonds; however, no crosslinking among VSCG molecules nor between VSCG and other proteins was observed. The results presented indicate that VSCG in solution exists predominately in the form of dimers. Whether VSCG in situ also occurred as dimers could not be determined; however, since we observed trimeric and tetrameric forms of VSCG when untreated cells were analyzed, it is likely that weak interactions occur among the protein molecules. These interactions are less stable than the dimer association observed with purified VSCG. Finally, the analysis indicated that VSCGs of this stock of T. brucei , derived from UGANDA/ 60/TREU/164[ETat3], contained at least one intramolecular disulfide bond. We examined T. brucei stocks 427 and EATRO 110 and obtained similar results. Thus, it appears that intramolecular disulfide bonding is a general feature of T. brucei VSCGs.
Direct Printing of Contour Maps of Facies Data by Computer: ABSTRACT

A Burroughs 220 computer is being used at Stanford for fitting contour maps to facies data. The computer fits a smoothly curving parabolic surface to the data and then prints a contour map of the surface. Human error in fitting the contours is virtually eliminated. The method is particularly useful where direct contouring of data values is difficult or meaningless because of appreciable random fluctuations and error. The map printed by the computer smooths over the irregularities and shows the general trends. The contoured surface is fitted so that the sum of the squares of the numerical differences of the actual data above and below the surface is the least possible. This method has been useful in mapping facies variations in a Pennsylvanian limestone bed in New Mexico and variations of modern unconsolidated carbonate sediments in the Gulf of Mexico and adjacent coastal swamps of the Everglades in southern Florida. Ratios, percentages, and average grain diameters mapped in these applications revealed systematic trends that were previously obscure. Areas mapped by this method must be rectangles, but sampling localities, which may be measured stratigraphic sections, oil wells, or places where sediment samples were obtained, can be arranged irregularly within a rectangle. An arbitrary geographic coordinate system is established so that each locality is described by two coordinate values. The coordinate units may be feet, miles, or, as has been proved convenient, tenths of an inch scaled off the map. The coordinate values and the value to be contoured for each locality form the basic data fed to the computer. The general instructions for the method are fed from paper tape into the computer's memory before the computation begins. In addition, the computer must be instructed as to the contour interval and the dimensions of the map that it is to print. The contours printed out by the computer consist of individual bands of a letter or symbol, such as A, B, and $. Each band spans one contour interval, and blank bands alternate with printed bands. End_of_Article - Last_Page 268------------