julilili42/papers huggingface dataset:
Influence of temperature on HSQ electron-beam lithography
2007-11-01

The authors present a study of the influence of temperature on hydrogen silsesquioxane (HSQ) e-beam lithography during drying, developing, and postdevelopment baking. In accordance with the observation that tempering at relatively low temperatures can already lead to noticeable cross-linking, comparable to the effect of e-beam exposure, the authors find that decreasing the prebake temperature below 90°C and drying the HSQ resist at room temperature in vacuum yields better resolution compared with resist that was dried in a furnace or on a hotplate at 90°C or above. Developing the exposed resist not at room temperature (23°C) but at 60°C results in significant contrast enhancement. Further solidification of the developed resist is obtained by baking the material above 300°C. Correlations between these findings and IR data are presented.
Management of Chronic Low Back Pain: Rationales, Principles, and Targets of Imaging-guided Spinal Injections
2007-11-01

If low back pain does not improve with conservative management, the cause of the pain must be determined before further therapy is initiated. Information obtained from the patient's medical history, physical examination, and imaging may suffice to rule out many common causes of chronic pain (eg, fracture, malignancy, visceral or metabolic abnormality, deformity, inflammation, and infection). However, in most cases, the initial clinical and imaging findings have a low predictive value for the identification of specific pain-producing spinal structures. Diagnostic spinal injections performed in conjunction with imaging may be necessary to test the hypothesis that a particular structure is the source of pain. To ensure a valid test result, diagnostic injection procedures should be monitored with fluoroscopy, computed tomography, or magnetic resonance imaging. The use of controlled and comparative injections helps maximize the reliability of the test results. After a symptomatic structure has been identified, therapeutic spinal injections may be administered as an adjunct to conservative management, especially in patients with inoperable conditions. Therapeutic injections also may help hasten the recovery of patients with persistent or recurrent pain after spinal surgery.
IL-6 and Maturation Govern TLR2 and TLR4 Induced TLR Agonist Tolerance and Cross-Tolerance in Dendritic Cells
2007-11-01

Abstract Stimulation of naive mouse dendritic cells (DC) with LPS or Pam3CSK4 (P3C) induces production of TNF-α via TLR4- or TLR2-signaling. Although tolerance in macrophages has been studied in detail, we investigated the role of TLR agonist concentration and IL-6 for tolerance in DC. P3C- or LPS-primed DC were nonresponsive to P3C or LPS restimulation in terms of TNF-α but not IL-6 production. The mechanisms involved in tolerance were dependent on the concentration of the TLR ligand used for DC priming. DC primed with LPS or P3C at high concentrations developed a maturation dependent, IL-6 independent tolerance associated with inhibition of TLR signaling upstream of IκB as indicated by decreased IκB degradation. In contrast, priming of DC with LPS or P3C at low concentrations resulted in IL-6-dependent tolerance, which was abolished in IL-6 deficient DC, and was not accompanied by maturation of DC or by down-regulation of TLR2 or TLR4. In homotolerogenic DC primed with LPS or P3C at high concentrations, degradation of IκB upon restimulation with LPS or P3C was inhibited suggesting tolerance mechanism(s) upstream of IκB; in contrast, cross-tolerance in DC primed with LPS or P3C at low concentrations was not associated with reduced IκB degradation suggesting tolerance mechanisms downstream of IκB. Our data indicate that in naive DC TLR4- and TLR2-stimulation results in homo- and cross-tolerance; the mechanisms involved in tolerance depend on the concentration of the TLR agonist used for DC priming and are governed by IL-6 and maturation.
Reproductive morphology, mating behavior, and spawning ecology of cephalaspid sea slugs (Aglajidae and Gastropteridae)
2007-11-01

Abstract. Several recent experimental studies have assessed the behavioral reproductive ecology of four opisthobranch species belonging to the families Aglajidae and Gastropteridae (Cephalaspidea). In order to extend the scope of this earlier work, here we document the reproductive morphology and behavior of 36 taxa belonging to the same two sea slug families. Measurements focus on insemination patterns, spawning characteristics, as well as the size and shape of male and female reproductive organs (i.e., prostate, penis, bursa copulatrix, seminal receptacle). We found that behavioral and morphological traits vary considerably between species, even between closely related taxa. Mating behavior covers the full spectrum from unilateral to simultaneously reciprocal insemination and includes putatively antagonistic mechanisms such as hypodermic injection in some cases. With respect to morphology, particularly great variation was present in traits related to the male sexual function, such as prostate size and penis type. In traits associated with the female function, noticeable variation in those traits accessible for measurement was limited to the relative size of the sperm‐digesting bursa copulatrix. These data provide the basis for future comparative analyses on the evolution of reproductive characters in a phylogenetic context. We further explore the relationship between characteristics and body size. Our data corroborate previous findings that in species with exclusively planktotrophic development, investment per embryo (using mean egg diameter per species as a proxy) is independent of mean species body size. In contrast to egg size, spawn weight and the number of eggs per spawn tightly increased with body size, both within and among species. Hence, larger individuals among planktotrophs increased reproductive investment by increasing offspring quantity rather than investing more into each single offspring. Comparably large eggs with few eggs per spawn in our only two species with facultatively intracapsular metamorphosis are also consistent with findings in other opisthobranchs.
The 228 Incident and the Taiwan Independence Movement's Construction of a Taiwanese Identity
2007-11-01

After the Second World War, Taiwan was returned to Chinese authority after 50 years of Japanese colonial rule. Only 18 months later, the local inhabitants of the island revolted against the new Chinese rulers of the KMT regime, demanding a greater degree of autonomy. After a brief period of feigned negotiations, this uprising was brutally suppressed by military reinforcements from the mainland. This 228 Incident of 1947 came to play a pivotal role in the struggle of the Taiwan independence movement. One of the major tasks of the movement was to create and propagate a distinct Taiwanese identity, which would legitimate the strife for an independent Taiwanese nation. In the course of the last 60 years, however, these attempts to create a Taiwanese “We” group distinct from China have not been static, but have had to be redefined and renegotiated according to a changing international and domestic environment. These alterations of group demarcation have necessitated reinterpretations of the 228 Incident, as a means of maintaining its legitimizing power for the Taiwan independence movement. As could be observed in the spectacular 228 hand-in-hand rally in 2004, redefinition and renegotiation are still unfolding to this day.
Dynamic Multipath Onion Routing in Anonymous Peer-To-Peer Overlay Networks
2007-11-01

Although recent years provided many protocols for anonymous routing in overlay networks, they commonly rely on the same communication paradigm: Onion Routing. In Onion Routing a static tunnel through an overlay network is build via layered encryption. All traffic exchanged by its end points is relayed through this tunnel. In contrast, this paper introduces dynamic multipath Onion Routing to extend the static Onion Routing paradigm. This approach allows each packet exchanged between two end points to travel along a different path. To provide anonymity the first half of this path is selected by the sender and the second half by the receiver of the packet. The results are manifold: First, dynamic multipath Onion Routing increases the resilience against threats, especially pattern and timing based analysis attacks. Second, the dynamic paths reduce the impact of misbehaving and overloaded relays. Finally, inspired by Internet routing, the forwarding nodes do not need to maintain any state about ongoing flows and so reduce the complexity of the router. In this paper, we describe the design of our dynamic Multipath Onion RoutEr (MORE) for peer-to-peer overlay networks, and evaluate its performance. Furthermore, we integrate address virtualization to abstract from Internet addresses and provide transparent support for IP applications. Thus, no application-level gateways, proxies or modifications of applications are required to sanitize protocols from network level information. Acting as an IP-datagram service, our scheme provides a substrate for anonymous communication to a wide range of applications using TCP and UDP.
Knowledge transfer by sharing task templates: two approaches and their psychological requirements
2007-11-01

This paper considers two paradigms of process-aware information systems (PAIS) that are used to share knowledge about planning and executing tasks. The case-based task management (CBTM) system is based on the transduction of execution protocols, so-called cases; and the pattern-based task management (PBTM) system is based on task patterns that are derived from cases but yield more abstract information. As user motivation to contribute to a collaborative task management system is a crucial factor for its success, we consider the different motivational requirements of CBTM and PBTM from a psychological point of view. Based on experimental findings about different factors that have been shown to enhance people's motivation to contribute their knowledge to a shared pool, we compare the two approaches and assess which one is more appropriate with respect to motivation.
Region-based routing algorithm for Network-on-Chip architectures
2007-11-01

In this paper, we present a novel approach for a region-based extension for a fully adaptive and fault-tolerant routing algorithm for Network-on-Chips (NoCs) called Force-Directed Wormhole Routing (FDWR) [T. Schonwald et al., 2007]. The proposed extension for the FDWR reduces the size of the routingtable of a switch and therefore the hardware costs. Despite the region-based extension the FDWR can be used for different NoC topologies like mesh, torus, and hypercube. The region-based extension is integrated into the Transaction Level Model (TLM) of the switch. We show how the proposed extension for the FDWR reduces the size of the routingtable. Simulation results depict that the traffic is distributed uniformly across the entire network despite the region-based extension. Furthermore, it is shown that in case of faulty switches the area around that switches is not overloaded and that the traffic is uniformly distributed across the entire network.
The multifocal pattern electroretinogram (mfPERG) and cone-isolating stimuli
2007-11-01

The number of L cones in the retina normally exceeds that of the M cones. Because normal color vision does not depend on the ratio of L- and M-photoreceptors, their signals must undergo an alteration in gain before being analyzed in the cortex. Previous studies have shown that this gain must take place before the cortex, but after the bipolar/amacrine cell layer of the retina. The aim of this study was to obtain topographical information about L- and M-cone activity at the ganglion cell layer using multifocal pattern electroretinography (mfPERG). A standard (black and white) stimulus was used, as well as stimuli modulating only the long wavelength-sensitive (L) or only the middle wavelength-sensitive (M) cones. The L:M ratio was calculated from the amplitude of the L-cone isolating mfPERG to that of the M-cone isolating mfPERG of 10 trichromats. Both the positive and negative components of the waveform were analyzed. Additional recordings of single cone modulated mfERGs were obtained from nine of the 10 subjects. We also recorded from one protanope and one deuteranope. The L:M cone amplitude ratios for both deflections of the mfPERG in the trichromats were around unity (medians 1.18 and 1.16, respectively) for the central 8° of retina. In the peripheral retina between 12.8° and 26°, this ratio increased to 1.42 for the positive component, and 1.37 for the negative component. The median L:M cone amplitude ratios for the mfPERG were higher and ranged between 1.00–2.78 in the central 8° and 1.29–2.78 in the periphery. The results indicate that a major gain adjustment of the retinal signals takes place at the ganglion cell level, and that the ratio is higher at eccentric locations than in the central retinal area.
Synthesis and Antibacterial Potency of 4-Methyl-2,7-dioxo-1,2,3,4,7,10- hexahydropyrido[2,3-ƒ]quinoxaline-8-carboxylic acid, Selected [a]-Fused Heterocyles and Acyclic Precursors
2007-11-01

The reaction of 7-chloro-1-cyclopropyl-6-fluoro-8-nitro-4-oxo-1,4-dihydroquinoline-3-carboxylic acid (7) with each of sarcosine and (±)-pipecolinic acid afforded the corresponding N-(4- oxoquinolin-7-yl)-α-amino acids 8 and 9. Reductive lactamization of the latter with sodium dithionite gave hexahydropyrido[2,3- f ]quinoxaline (10) and octahydrodipyrido[1,2-a : 2,3- f ]quinoxaline (11) derivatives, respectively. Compounds 8 - 11 and their homologs 1 - 6, accessible from (S)-proline, (2S, 4R)-4-hydroxyproline and (S)-tetrahydroisoquinoline-3-carboxylic acid exhibit good to excellent antibacterial activities against E. coli and S. aureus.
Natural attenuation of naphthalene and benzene at a former gasworks site
2007-11-01

Naphthalene and benzene are ubiquitously found at former gasworks sites. In order to demonstrate that monitored natural attenuation (MNA) is an alternative strategy for remediation of groundwater at the investigated site, biodegradation was characterized by: (1) reduction of contaminants; (2) correlation of contaminants concentration changes with geochemical parameters; (3) enumeration of anaerobic microorganisms and correlation with geochemical data; (4) laboratory assays with site-specific enrichment cultures and naphthalene as the sole carbon source and electron donor; (5) modeling plume extension of naphthalene along the centerline and (6) carbon stable isotope (CSIA) analysis. The study demonstrated that naphthalene attenuation mainly depends on high sorption on aquifer material. In contrast, benzene is predominantly attenuated by biodegradation.
Household and community transmission of the Asian influenza A (H2N2) and influenza B viruses in 1957 and 1961.
2007-11-01

This study analyzed the distribution of the number of cases in households of various sizes, reconsidering previous survey data from the Asian influenza A (H2N2) pandemic in 1957 and the influenza B epidemic in 1961. The final size distributions for the number of household cases were extracted from four different data sources (n = 547, 671, 92 and 263 households), and a probability model was applied to estimate the community probability of infection (CPI) and household secondary attack rate (SAR). For the 1957 Asian influenza pandemic, the CPI and household SAR were estimated to be 0.42 [95% confidence intervals (CI): 0.37, 0.47] and 7.06% (95% CI: 4.73, 9.44), respectively, using data from Tokyo. The figures for the same pandemic using data from Osaka were 0.21 (95% CI: 0.19, 0.22) and 9.07% (95% CI: 6.73, 11.53), respectively. Similarly, the CPI and household SAR for two different datasets of influenza B epidemics in Osaka in 1961 were estimated as 0.37 (95% CI: 0.30, 0.44) and 18.41% (95% CI: 11.37, 25.95) and 0.20 (95% CI: 0.13, 0.28) and 10.51% (95% CI: 8.01, 13.15), respectively. Community transmission was more frequent than household transmission, both for the Asian influenza pandemic and the influenza B epidemic, implying that community-based countermeasures (eg, area quarantine and social distancing) may play key roles in influenza interventions.
Unemployment insurance savings accounts and collective wage determination
2007-11-01

Unemployment Insurance Savings Accounts (UISAs) entitle workers to unemployment benefits at the expense of future pension payments. Therefore, such accounts make unemployment less attractive, intensify job search, and raise employment. In the present paper the wage and employment consequences of UISAs are investigated in a model of collective wage determination. In the basic set-up, UISAs induce a trade union to lower wages. This effect can also arise if (1) balanced-budget repercussions are taken into account, (2) individual job search is incorporated, and (3) wage-dependent pensions are allowed for. However, the requirements for negative wage effects to arise become stricter than in the base model. Thus, collective bargaining creates additional impediments for the positive employment consequences of UISAs.
Candidate Amino Acids Involved in H+ Gating of Acid-sensing Ion Channel 1a
2007-11-03

Acid-sensing ion channels are ligand-gated cation channels, gated by extracellular H(+). H(+) is the simplest ligand possible, and whereas for larger ligands that gate ion channels complex binding sites in the three-dimensional structure of the proteins have to be assumed, H(+) could in principle gate a channel by titration of a single amino acid. Experimental evidence suggests a more complex situation, however. For example, it has been shown that extracellular Ca(2+) ions compete with H(+); probably Ca(2+) ions bound to the extracellular loop of ASICs stabilize the closed state of the channel and have to be displaced before the channel can open. In such a scheme, amino acids contributing to Ca(2+) binding would also be candidates contributing to H(+) gating. In this study we systematically screened more than 40 conserved, charged amino acids in the extracellular region of ASIC1a for a possible contribution to H(+) gating. We identified four amino acids where substitution strongly affects H(+) gating: Glu(63), His(72)/His(73), and Asp(78). These amino acids are highly conserved among H(+)-sensitive ASICs and are candidates for the "H(+) sensor" of ASICs.
Cell Wall Carbohydrate Compositions of Strains from the Bacillus cereus Group of Species Correlate with Phylogenetic Relatedness
2007-11-03

ABSTRACT Members of the Bacillus cereus group contain cell wall carbohydrates that vary in their glycosyl compositions. Recent multilocus sequence typing (MLST) refined the relatedness of B. cereus group members by separating them into clades and lineages. Based on MLST, we selected several B. anthracis , B. cereus , and B. thuringiensis strains and compared their cell wall carbohydrates. The cell walls of different B. anthracis strains (clade 1/Anthracis) were composed of glucose (Glc), galactose (Gal), N -acetyl mannosamine (ManNAc), and N -acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc). In contrast, the cell walls from clade 2 strains ( B. cereus type strain ATCC 14579 and B. thuringiensis strains) lacked Gal and contained N -acetylgalactosamine (GalNAc). The B. cereus clade 1 strains had cell walls that were similar in composition to B. anthracis in that they all contained Gal. However, the cell walls from some clade 1 strains also contained GalNAc, which was not present in B. anthracis cell walls. Three recently identified clade 1 strains of B. cereus that caused severe pneumonia, i.e., strains 03BB102, 03BB87, and G9241, had cell wall compositions that closely resembled those of the B. anthracis strains. It was also observed that B. anthracis strains cell wall glycosyl compositions differed from one another in a plasmid-dependent manner. When plasmid pXO2 was absent, the ManNAc/Gal ratio decreased, while the Glc/Gal ratio increased. Also, deletion of atxA , a global regulatory gene, from a pXO2 − strain resulted in cell walls with an even greater level of Glc.
Nisin-Triggered Activity of Lys44, the Secreted Endolysin from Oenococcus oeni Phage fOg44
2007-11-03

ABSTRACT The intrinsic resistance of Oenococcus oeni cells to the secreted endolysin from oenophage fOg44 (Lys44) was investigated. Experiments with several antimicrobials support the hypothesis that the full activity of Lys44 requires sudden ion-nonspecific dissipation of the proton motive force, an event undertaken by the fOg44 holin in the phage infection context.
Geometric π Josephson junction in d-wave superconducting thin films
2007-11-05

A novel way to realize a π Josephson junction is proposed, based on a weak link in an unconventional d-wave superconductor with appropriately chosen boundary geometry. The critical current of such a junction is calculated from a fully self-consistent solution of microscopic Eilenberger theory of superconductivity. The results clearly show that a transition to a π Josephson junction occurs for both low temperatures and small sizes of the geometry.
HESS observations and VLT spectroscopy of PG 1553+113
2007-11-06

Aims.The properties of the very high energy (VHE; GeV) γ-ray emission from the high-frequency peaked BL Lac PG 1553+113 are investigated. An attempt is made to measure the currently unknown redshift of this object.&#13;\\nMethods.VHE Observations of PG 1553+113 were made with the High Energy Stereoscopic System (HESS) in 2005 and 2006. (1.45-2.45 μm) spectroscopy of PG 1553+113 was performed in March 2006 with SINFONI, an integral field spectrometer of the ESO Very Large Telescope (VLT) in Chile.&#13;\\nResults.A VHE signal, ~10 standard deviations, is detected by HESS during the 2 years of observations (24.8 h live time). The integral flux above 300 GeV is 10-12 cm-2 s-1, corresponding to ~3.4% of the flux from the Crab Nebula above the same threshold. The time-averaged energy spectrum is measured from 225 GeV to ~1.3 TeV, and is characterized by a very soft power law (photon index of ). No evidence for any flux or spectral variations is found on any sampled time scale within the VHE data. The redshift of PG 1553+113 could not be determined. Indeed, even though the measured SINFONI spectrum is the most sensitive ever reported for this object at near infrared wavelengths, and the sensitivity is comparable to the best spectroscopy at other wavelengths, no absorption or emission lines were found in the H+K spectrum presented here
Phenotypic variability in Meesmann's dystrophy: clinical review of the literature and presentation of a family genetically identical to the original family
2007-11-07

Abstract. Purpose: To describe the phenotypic variability in Meesmann's microcystic dystrophy of the corneal epithelium based on a review of the literature and the presentation of a Danish family. Methods: We carried out a clinical examination of the family and genetic sequencing of DNA. Results: Subjective symptoms often include blurred vision and ocular irritation. Typical cases may be entirely free of complaints. Intermittent pain episodes, such as occur in recurrent erosion syndrome, are not the rule. Genetic sequencing indicated a familial relationship with the originally described Meesmann family. Clinical variability was similar. Approximately 85% of cases showed microcysts in the entire epithelium. The remaining 15% demonstrated variants with microcysts in the upper or lower part of the cornea, or in the central or peripheral cornea, as well as subepithelial opacities. Conclusions: Meesmann's dystrophy occurs worldwide. The largest family described is the original German one, now supplemented with a Danish branch. Despite the presence of an identical genetic defect, the clinical phenotype varies. This suggests that non‐KRT12‐related mechanisms are responsible for the variation.