cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Electrochemical methods to enhance osseointegrated prostheses

Osseointegrated (OI) prosthetic limbs have been shown to provide an advantageous treatment option for amputees. In order for the OI prosthesis to be successful, the titanium implant must rapidly achieve and maintain proper integration with the bone tissue and remain free of infection. Electrochemical methods can be utilized to control and/or monitor the interfacial microenvironment where the titanium implant interacts with the biological system (host bone tissue or bacteria). This review will summarize the current understanding of how electrochemical modalities can influence bone tissue and bacteria with specific emphasis on applications where the metallic prosthesis itself can be utilized directly as a stimulating electrode for enhanced osseointegration and infection control. In addition, a summary of electrochemical impedance sensing techniques that could be used to potentially assess osseointegration and infection status of the metallic prosthesis is presented.
A 'light-up' intercalator displacement assay for detection of triplex DNA stabilizers.

Here, we developed a coralyne-based, ‘light-up’ intercalator displacement assay to identify molecular stabilizers of triplex DNA using a sequence from a chromosomal breakpoint hotspot in the human c-MYC oncogene. Its potential to identify triplex DNA ligands was demonstrated using BePI and doxorubicin. Identification of triplex-interacting ligands may allow the regulation of genetic instability in human genomes.
Interpreting the Tape of Life: Ancestry-Based Analyses Provide Insights and Intuition about Evolutionary Dynamics.

Fine-scale evolutionary dynamics can be challenging to tease out when focused on the broad brush strokes of whole populations over long time spans. We propose a suite of diagnostic analysis techniq...
Extremal problems for hypergraph blowups of trees

In this paper we present a novel approach in extremal set theory which may be viewed as an asymmetric version of Katona's permutation method. We use it to find more Turan numbers of hypergraphs in the Erdős--Ko--Rado range. An $(a,b)$-path $P$ of length $2k-1$ consists of $2k-1$ sets of size $r=a+b$ as follows. Take $k$ pairwise disjoint $a$-element sets $A_0, A_2, \dots, A_{2k-2}$ and other $k$ pairwise disjoint $b$-element sets $B_1, B_3, \dots, B_{2k-1}$ and order them linearly as $A_0, B_1, A_2, B_3, A_4\dots$. Define the (hyper)edges of $P_{2k-1}(a,b)$ as the sets of the form $A_i\cup B_{i+1}$ and $B_j\cup A_{j+1}$. The members of $P$ can be represented as $r$-element intervals of the $ak+bk$ element underlying set. Our main result is about hypergraphs that are blowups of trees, and implies that for fixed $k,a,b$, as $n\to \infty$ \[ {\rm ex}_r(n,P_{2k-1}(a,b)) = (k - 1){n \choose r - 1} + o(n^{r - 1}).\] This generalizes the Erdős--Gallai theorem for graphs which is the case of $a=b=1$. We also determine the asymptotics when $a+b$ is even; the remaining cases are still open.
Game of Threads: Enabling Asynchronous Poisoning Attacks

As data sizes continue to grow at an unprecedented rate, machine learning training is being forced to adopt asynchronous algorithms to maintain performance and scalability. In asynchronous training, many threads share and update the model in a racy fashion to avoid costly inter-thread synchronization. This paper studies the security implications of these codes by introducing asynchronous poisoning attacks. Our attack influences training outcome---e.g., degrades model accuracy or biases the model towards an adversary-specified label---purely by scheduling asynchronous training threads in a malicious fashion. Since thread scheduling is outside the protections of modern trusted execution environments (TEEs), e.g., Intel SGX, our attack bypasses these protections even when the training set can be verified as correct. To the best of our knowledge, this represents the first example where a class of applications loses integrity guarantees, despite being protected by enclave-based TEEs such as SGX. We demonstrate both accuracy degradation and model biasing attacks on the CIFAR-10 image recognition task, trained on Resnet-style DNNs using an asynchronous training code published by Pytorch. We also perform proof-of-concept experiments to validate our assumptions on an SGX-enabled machine. Our accuracy degradation attacks are capable of returning a converged model to pre-trained accuracy or to some accuracy in between. Our model biasing attack can force the model to predict an adversary-specified label up to ~40% of the time on the CIFAR-10 validation set (whereas the un-attacked model's prediction rate towards any label is ~10%).
100th anniversary of the discovery of ferroelectricity: How it impacted the current day physics

The year 2020 marks hundred years since the watershed discovery of the phenomenon of ferroelectricity although at that time its importance was hardly realized. We provide a historical account of th...
Comportamento térmico da região cutânea dos extensores de punho e dedos durante uma tarefa de digitação

Background Occupational diseases are the second leading cause of sick leave in Brazil, among which musculoskeletal disorders are very common especially among workers whose job includes typing tasks. Thermography analyzes the temperature distribution on the skin surface and is used for diagnosis and prevention of musculoskeletal disorders. Objective To investigate the thermal behavior of the skin on the wrist and finger extensor muscle area before, during and after a typing task. Methods Twenty-four workers whose job involves typing were allocated to two groups-with or without elbow, forearm or injury-and performed a 10-minute typing task. Four thermography images were captured from the forearms and fingers at baseline, 0-2, 3-5 and 8-10 minutes and the minimum, maximum and mean temperature was calculated. The data were subjected to factorial ANOVA with software SPSS v 20.0. The significance level was set to 5%. Results Minimum (mean difference-d=1.7), maximum (d=0.8) and mean (d=0.39) temperature was lowest on the elbow of participants with forearm injury; maximum temperature was lower on the right compared to the left side (d=0.39). Temperature did not vary as a function of time. Conclusion There was difference in skin temperature between individuals with or without forearm injury and between the right and left sides, but not as a function of time. In future studies tasks should be longer and/or have set typing speed and goals.
Streaming Video Acquisition Models for Small to Medium Academic Libraries

Streaming video acquisition models have varied widely in the last ten to twenty years as has use and delivery of the format. Recent changes in this format have made it more readily available to lib...
Beyond Heimatsehnsucht: Rammstein’s Approach to Vergangenheitsbewältigung and German Identity

This article explores how the most recent works of the German Neue Deutsche Harte band Rammstein express a Vergangenheitsbewaltigung that is not limited to the history of the Nazi regime and divide...
Evaluation of the acceptability of low glycaemic index preparations, formulated by replicating traditional Chilean culinary preparations with a high glycaemic index

espanolEl objetivo de este estudio fue determinar la aceptabilidad de preparaciones de bajo indice glicemico (IG) disenadas a partir de aquellas de alto IG de consumo habitual en Chile, elaboradas con minimos cambios en sus ingredientes y basandose en tecnicas culinarias que diminuyen el IG. Doce preparaciones tradicionales de alto IG se eligieron para preparar sus homologos de bajo IG. Durante 12 dias, 20 mujeres en buen estado de salud probaron, de forma aleatoria, 2 preparaciones equivalentes por dia (de bajo y alto IG), y evaluaron la aceptabilidad promedio de las ensaladas, los platos principales y los postres, asi como el almuerzo completo, a traves de una escala hedonica de 7 puntos y una de 9 puntos para evaluar aceptabilidad de los atributos: apariencia, sabor, olor y textura. Los almuerzos de alto IG (90 ± 20,5 %) se modificaron cambiando los tipos de ingredientes y/o las tecnicas culinarias, formulando preparaciones homologas de bajo IG (47 ± 5,9 %, p EnglishThe aim of this study was to determine the acceptability of low glycaemic index (GI) preparations, equivalent to the traditional high GI ones in Chile, elaborated with minimal changes in the ingredients and culinary techniques that significantly diminish the GI and maintain acceptability level. Twelve high-GI traditional lunches and their low GI counterparts were prepared. For 12 days, 20 apparently healthy women randomly tasted 2 paired preparations per day (low and high GI). The attributes of appearance, taste, smell, and texture of salads, main course, and desserts, as well as those of the full lunch, were evaluated using a hedonic scale of 7 and 9 points. Lunches with a high GI (90 ± 20.5 %) were modified by changing types of food ingredients, and/or by using culinary techniques to provide a low-GI counterpart with 47 ± 5.9 % GI (p
The Interneuron Class Struggle.

In this issue of Cell, Gouwens et al. establish the state of the art for defining inhibitory cell types in the mouse neocortex. By combining morphological, electrophysiological, and transcriptomic features to classify interneurons in the mouse visual cortex, this work provides a roadmap for understanding the diversity of cell types and their functional role in cortical computations.
Ecotoxicological effects of tetracycline on the growth,antioxidant defense system and gene expression of earthworm Eisenia foetida in soil

A simulated experiment in laboratory was conducted to study the ecotoxicological effects of tetracycline(TC) on the growth,antioxidant defense system and the gene expression of earthworm Eisenia foetida in soil. The results showed that,in the early exposure(≤14 d),the weight and soluble protein(SP) of earthworm stressed by 1- 100 mg·kg- 1TC had no significant difference from the control. However,with the increase of TC concentration and the prolonging of exposure time,the weight of earthworm decreased and the content of SP increased. The balance of the antioxidant system was destroyed by 1- 100 mg·kg- 1TC with the activities of SOD,POD and CAT increased to varying degrees after a 14 d exposure. Moreover,the results of DDRT-PCR showed that 1- 100 mg·kg- 1TC affected the gene expression of earthworm after a28 d exposure. It was suggested that TC had chronic ecotoxicological effects on earthworm and the biomarkers such as antioxidant defense enzyme and the gene expression can be used to estimate the ecotoxicological effects of TC.
Point-of-Care Ultrasound in the Diagnosis of an Incarcerated Inguinal Hernia.

Emergency physicians can use point-of-care ultrasound to diagnose inguinal hernias as well as their potential complications, including small bowel obstruction, incarceration, and even strangulation. We provide an overview of the sonographic appearance of inguinal hernias, as well as the diagnostic criteria of serious complications. In this case report, point-of-care ultrasound findings included a non-reducible inguinal hernia associated with significant bowel dilation in multiple loops without signs of intestinal ischemia or necrosis.
Utility of Functional and Volumetric Left Atrial Parameters Derived From Preprocedural Cardiac CTA in Predicting Mortality After Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement.

Please see the Editorial Comment by Arzu Canan discussing this article. Background: Cardiac CTA is required for preprocedural workup before transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) and can be ...
A Theory of Index for Cell Functions

In this chapter we present a theory of index for cell functions. The development will be based on the utilization of simplicial structures discussed in the last chapter and the index theory for N-dimensional vector fields discussed in Section 2.8.
Theoretical investigations of surface reconstruction on C nanodiamonds and cubic-BN nanoparticles

Abstract Using first-principles DFT calculations, we have investigated morphology effects on the properties due to surface reconstruction of C nanodiamond and cubic-BN nanoparticles. Geometry optimization of simple sphere-like nanoparticles leads to spontaneous formation of nanocages on the particle surfaces. Differences are seen at B and N 3-fold surface sites, which are flat and pyramidal, respectively. Thermal annealing using quantum molecular dynamics simulations shows nanocage formation in both materials, primarily on (111) surfaces.
Modeling and Understanding Intrinsic Characteristics of Human Mobility

Humans are intrinsically social creatures and our mobility is central to understanding how our societies grow and function. Movement allows us to congregate with our peers, access things we need, and exchange information. Human mobility has huge impacts on topics like urban and transportation planning, social and biologic spreading, and economic outcomes. So far, modeling these processes has been hindered by a lack of data. This is radically changing with the rise of ubiquitous devices. In this chapter, we discuss recent progress deriving insights from the massive, high resolution data sets collected from mobile phone and other devices. We begin with individual mobility, where empirical evidence and statistical models have shown important intrinsic and universal characteristics about our movement: we, as human, are fundamentally slow to explore new places, relatively predictable, and mostly unique. We then explore methods of modeling aggregate movement of people from place to place and discuss how these estimates can be used to understand and optimize transportation infrastructure. Finally, we highlight applications of these findings to the dynamics of disease spread, social networks, and economic outcomes.
Totally blind channel estimation for OFDM over fast varying mobile channels

A blind channel estimation scheme for OFDM is proposed. The algorithm is based on the ML-principle and features a very fast convergence rate. No reference symbols are needed to resolve the phase ambiguity. Simulations show the performance in mobile environments at high Doppler frequencies and short to medium delay spreads. The proposed approach maximizes the spectral efficiency by avoiding any reference symbols or pilots, and it minimizes the BER by using a non-differential modulation scheme.
Condensing the CC-2001 core in an integrated curriculum

Ingrid Russell, CS Department, University of Hartford, irussell@hartford.edu Michael Georgiopoulos, EECS, University of Central Florida, michaelg@mail.ucf.edu Jose Castro, EECS, University of Central Florida, jcastro@mail.ucf.edu Todd Neller, CS Department, Gettysburg College, tneller@gettysburg.edu Daniel McCracken, CS Department, City College of New York, ccnyddm@aol.com Laurie King, CS Department, College of the Holy Cross, la@radius.holycross.edu Dennis Bouvier, CS Department, Saint Louis University, bouvierd@slu.edu
Use of an economical wheelchair in India and Peru: impact on health and function.

Background: The overall impact of a wheelchair on its user must be evaluated in light of both benefit and risk. Evaluation should include not only physical function, but also overall quality of life, integration into society, and cost effectiveness. The current study examined the impact of a donated, inexpensively made wheelchair on recipients in 2 different countries. Material/Methods: 188 recipients of the Free Wheelchair Mission (FWM) wheelchair in India and Peru were surveyed in their local setting and language by social workers. Results were entered and transferred electronically for analysis. Results: At the time of the survey, the wheelchairs had been in use for an average of 18 months. 93.1% of recipients used their wheelchair more than 1 hour/day. Receipt and use of the FWM chair resulted in a significant shift toward independent function in 5 of 6 areas drawn from the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health. The greatest maintenance problem was with the tires (19.7%), similar in frequency to reported U.S. users. There was an unexpected 11.7% decrease in the incidence of pressure ulcers with use of the wheelchair, most likely associated with increased mobility. Reported pain levels were not believed by participants to be related to use of the wheelchair. The impact on health and quality of life was generally viewed as positive. Monetary cost of the wheelchair is minimal. Conclusions: In summary, recipient evaluation of the Free Wheelchair Mission wheelchair in 2 different countries has shown a positive, cost-effective benefit to both health and function without unusual risk.
Dissolving International Politics: Reflections on the Nation-State

The diminishing salience of territorial issues, the restraints imposed by the nuclear balance, the shift away from the primacy of military-strategic elements of power to the primacy of economic elements, the day-to-day realities of economic interdependence, and changes in the nature of the nation-state have produced a new international order which resembles in important ways the domestic political systems prevalent in the industrialized noncommunist part of the world. This leads to the “domestication” of international politics. At the same time competitive nationalism, the vitality of the nation-state, differing perceptions of the proper role of government in the economy, and other considerations allow not much more than a tenuous coordination of foreign policies even among similar nation-states, making it unlikely that the European Economic Community and the Atlantic alliance will proceed beyond existing structures toward tighter integration.
Impact of Alternating Manure Removal Schedules on Pest Flies (Diptera: Muscidae) and Associated Predators (Coleoptera: Histeridae, Staphylinidae; Acarina: Macrochelidae) in Caged-Layer Poultry Manure in Southern California

Pest fly larvae and adults (Musca, Fannia spp.) and key predator arthropods (Macrocheles mites, Carcinops adults and Histeridae larvae, Staphylinidae larvae) were monitored for 2 yr on 3 southern California caged-layer poultry facilities. In each manure cleanout cycle, all manure rows were removed initially in normal removal houses (Normal), while half of the manure was left undisturbed in alternate removal houses (Alternate). After 1 mo the remaining rows of manure were removed in the Alternate houses. In each cycle the manure fauna was sampled before removal, 1 wk after initial removal, 4 wk after initial removal (before secondary removal in Alternate houses), and 8 wk after initial removal (4 wk after secondary removal in Alternate houses). Cleanout caused significant decreases in key predator taxa 1 wk afterward and increased numbers of pest flies for 1-2 mo. Cleanout between March and May usually resulted in a resurgence of Fannia spp., whereas late summer cleanouts could cause M. domestica problems. Presence of undisturbed manure within the Alternate houses did not result in increased numbers of predaceous Coleoptera in nearby disturbed manure relative to Normal houses. Numbers of Macrocheles in disturbed manure after cleanout were higher when undisturbed manure was immediately adjacent. Pest flies following a cleanout were not reduced in Alternate houses relative to Normal houses. In these open-sided poultry houses, which leave a dry base manure pad at cleanout, any slight advantage of fly control afforded by alternate manure removal probably is overshadowed by the increased time and effort involved.
On relational support for XML publishing: beyond sorting and tagging

In this paper, we study whether the need for efficient XML publishing brings any new requirements for relational query engines, or if sorting query results in the relational engine and tagging them in middleware is sufficient. We observe that the mismatch between the XML data model and the relational model requires relational engines to be enhanced for efficiency. Specifically, they need to support relation valued variables. We discuss how such support can be provided through the addition of an operator, GApply, with minimal extensions to existing relational engines. We discuss how the operator may be exposed in SQL syntax and provide a comprehensive study of optimization rules that govern this operator. We report the results of a preliminary performance evaluation showing the speedup obtained through our approach and the effectiveness of our optimization rules.
Detection of Human Serum Antibodies to the BFRF3 Epstein-Barr Virus Capsid Component by Means of a DNA-Binding Assay

A novel assay for antibodies to an immunodominant component of the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) capsid antigen (VCA) complex was developed by creation of a chimeric protein containing the DNA-binding domain of the yeast GAL4 protein fused to the capsid antigen encoded by the BFRF3 gene of EBV. GAL4-BFRF3 antigen fusion protein bound specifically to a duplex DNA oligonucleotide containing GAL4-binding sites. Antibodies to the antigen were revealed by retardation of the electrophoretic mobility of the DNA-protein complex. Antibodies to the BFRF3 component of VCA became detectable approximately 2 months after onset of infectious mononucleosis. Kinetics of the antibody response to BFRF3 were identical using supershift or immunoblotting assays. Concordance between the DNA-binding assay and the classical indirect immunofluorescence assay for antibody to VCA was 97%. The GAL4 epitope assay is applicable for detection of antibodies to many cloned gene products.
On Pinedo's Conjecture for Scheduling in a Stochastic Flow Shop

Pinedo has conjectured that, in a stochastic flow shop with m machines, n-2 deterministic jobs with unit processing time, and two stochastic jobs each with mean one, the sequence minimizing the expected makespan would schedule one of the stochastic jobs first and the other last. We prove that Pinedo's conjecture is almost true: either Pinedo's sequence or a sequence with the stochastic jobs adjacent at one end of the sequence minimizes the expected makespan. Our result does not require the stochastic jobs to have an expected value of 1, nor even to be independent and identically distributed. We show that our result cannot be improved in the sense that, in some cases, one sequence is strictly optimal, and in some other cases, the other sequence is strictly optimal.
Age-structured predator-prey models

Abstract We present an age-time description of a system of two interacting species. Existence and uniqueness as well as boundedness of the solutions are established. Numerical examples then reveal the existence of limit cycles suggesting that these models are completely different from the classical predator-prey ones.
Image synthesis from nonimaged laser-speckle patterns: experimental verification.

We have performed laboratory experiments that demonstrate that unspeckled images of coherently illuminated, diffuse objects can be formed from measurements of backscattered laser-speckle intensity. We show that images revealing gross target features can be successfully recovered with relatively few snapshots of the observed laser-speckle pattern.
Molecular interactions in mixed monolayers: Existence of a 1:2 molecular association between stearic acid and stearyl alcohol in mixed monolayers

Abstract Surface pressures and surface potentials of mixed monolayers of stearic acid and stearyl alcohol were determined on the following subsolutions: HCl or HCl + CaCl2 at pH 2.0 and NaCl or CaCl2 at pH 6.0. Average area and average potential per molecule for the mixed monolayers follow the simple additivity rule at pH 2.0 in the presence or absence of CaCl2 in the subsolution. At pH 6.0, the average area per molecule follows the additivity rule for subsolutions of NaCl, but shows a considerable expansion of monolayers (except for 1:1 molar ratio) for subsolutions of CaCl2. At the same pH, the average potential per molecule shows a deviation from the additivity rule for both NaCl and CaCl2 subsolutions. The deviation for subsolutions of NaCl suggests an ion-dipole interaction between the hydroxyl and ionic carboxyl groups in the mixed monolayers whereas that on subsolutions of CaCl2 suggests a molecular association in a molar ratio 1:2 between stearic acid and stearyl alcohol.
Lattice QCD at finite density

We discuss the behavior of the zero temperature limit of lattice field theories with finite chemical potential. The finite chemical potential lattice formalism is applied to the free fermion theory and the Gross-Neveu model where results can be compared with analytic solutions. Problems occuring in the application of this formalism in numerical simulations of lattice QCD are discussed.
ELECTROCHEMICAL QUARTZ CRYSTAL MICROBALANCE, VOLTAMMETRY, SPECTROELECTROCHEMICAL, AND MICROSCOPIC STUDIES OF ADSORPTION BEHAVIOR FOR (7E,7'Z)-DIPHENYL -7,7'-DIAPOCAROTENE ELECTROCHEMICAL OXIDATION PRODUCT

Polymeric products, which are formed by reaction of the dications of (7E,7‘Z)-diphenyl-7,7‘-diapocarotene (I) generated by electrochemical oxidation in dichloromethane with the neutral carotenoid, are adsorbed on various electrode surfaces. An apparent average molar mass of 5400 g/(mol electrons) was calculated from simultaneous electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance (EQCM) measurements, and the green, fiber-like structure observed by optical microscopy confirms the formation of polymers. X-ray microanalysis of the surface composed of an uneven, layered structure indicates that electrolyte counter anions PF6- are associated with the deposited material. Cathodic stripping voltammetry indicates that the film thickness ranges from 0.16 to 0.84 μm as the charge increases from 10.0 to 51.1 μC. Cation radicals of I show no adsorption behavior nor do the dications of carotenoids terminally substituted with one cyclohexene ring (V) or containing a triple bond at C15 (IV). Apparently a diphenyl-substituted ca...
Risk and timing of hospitalization for febrile neutropenia in patients receiving CHOP, CHOP-R, or CNOP chemotherapy for intermediate-grade non-Hodgkin lymphoma

BACKGROUND Hospitalization for chemotherapy-induced febrile neutropenia is associated with substantial cost and may negatively impact clinical outcome due to associated dose attenuation. METHODS Medical records of 1355 patients with intermediate-grade non-Hodgkin lymphoma receiving cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone (CHOP) or similar chemotherapy were reviewed. The potential risk factors associated with first hospitalization for febrile neutropenia were evaluated. RESULTS In the current study, 230 patients (17%) experienced 1 or more hospitalizations for febrile neutropenia and greater than one-half of all initial hospitalizations for febrile neutropenia occurred in Cycles 1 or 2. Increased risk of hospitalization for febrile neutropenia, based on Cox proportional hazards models, was significantly associated with the following characteristics: age 65 years or older (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.79; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 1.35–2.37), serum albumin level at presentation less than or equal to 3.5 g/dL (HR = 1.34; 95% CI, 1.01–1.78), planned average relative dose intensity greater than or equal to 80% (HR = 2.70; 95% CI, 1.47–4.98), baseline absolute neutrophil count less than 1500/mm3 (HR = 1.98; 95% CI, 1.28–3.06), and the presence of hepatic disease (HR = 2.18; 95% CI, 1.11–4.28). Lack of early granulocyte colony-stimulating factor in Cycles 1 and 2 was also associated with increased risk of hospitalization for febrile neutropenia, but this did not reach statistical significance. A composite risk score based on these potential risk factors effectively distinguished patients at greater risk of hospitalization for febrile neutropenia (P < 0.001), the majority of which were observed during the first cycle of chemotherapy. CONCLUSIONS The data from the current study demonstrated that the risk of initial hospitalization for febrile neutropenia occured early in the course of CHOP-like chemotherapy. Identified risk factors for febrile neutropenia hospitalization may facilitate the use of targeted supportive care. Cancer 2003. © 2003 American Cancer Society.
Nucleic Acid Chaperone Activity of Wild Type and Mutant FIV Nucleocapsid Proteins

The feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) nucleocapsid (NC) protein contains 66 amino acids. It has similar composition to HIV-1 NC, with a high number of positively charged amino acids and two zinc fingers, each having a single aromatic residue (F12 and W44). However, there are some differences between the structures of these two proteins, which likely contribute to their different nucleic acid chaperone properties. In addition to a short N-terminal basic domain, FIV NC has a C-terminal positively charged tail. Moreover, whereas HIV-1 NC’s two aromatic residues are located on the same side of each zinc finger domain, FIV NC’s aromatic residues are located on opposite sides of the zinc fingers. It is known that HIV-1 NC has optimal chaperone activity, including the ability to strongly aggregate nucleic acids, destabilize nucleic acid secondary structure and facilitate rapid protein-nucleic acid interaction kinetics. We use single molecule experiments to measure the characteristics of wild type and mutant FIV NC. By stretching single DNA molecules in the presence of these proteins, we measure their ability to induce aggregation, stabilize or destabilize dsDNA, and facilitate nucleic acid annealing. Our results show that wild type FIV NC induces significant DNA aggregation, but instead of destabilizing double-stranded DNA, it appears to stabilize the DNA. FIV NC variants containing mutations in the aromatic residues, basic residues, and zinc finger residues possess strongly altered nucleic acid chaperone properties. This work allows us to directly relate FIV NC structure with its function. The single molecule experiments are also compared to ensemble nucleic acid binding and chaperone studies. Taken together, this study sheds new light on the mechanism by which specific types and locations of residues contribute to NC’s nucleic acid chaperone activity and retroviral replication in these systems.
Nurses and nutraceuticals. Knowledge and use.

Increasing use of herbal products by the American public should prompt nurses to routinely address herbal use during patient interactions. However,whether nurses possess the knowledge required to discuss risks and benefits of herbal use with patients is unknown. This study was undertaken to investigate registered nurses’ knowledge about and use of five common herbal products: ginkgo,St. John’s wort, ginseng, garlic,and echinacea. One hundred forty-nine (30%) of 500 randomly selected nurses responded to a mailed questionnaire addressing the frequency of use,purpose,side effects,and interactions of the above products. Most respondents had neither used nor suggested use of the products. Respondents were relatively unfamiliar with product characteristics,although somewhat more familiar with purpose than with side effects or interactions. No knowledge differences were identified according to practice area or number of years in practice,but differences were noted according to educational level and use of specif...
Experimental measurements of the thermal conductivity of ash deposits: Part 1. Measurement technique

This paper describes a technique developed to make in situ, time-resolved measurements of the effective thermal conductivity of ash deposits formed under conditions that closely replicate those found in the convective pass of a commercial boiler. Since ash deposit thermal conductivity is thought to be strongly dependent on deposit microstructure, the technique is designed to minimize the disturbance of the natural deposit microstructure. Traditional techniques for measuring deposit thermal conductivity generally do not preserve the sample microstructure. Experiments are described that demonstrate the technique, quantify the experimental uncertainty, and determine the thermal conductivity of highly porous, unsintered deposits. The average measured thermal conductivity of loose, unsintered deposits is 0.14 ± 0.03 W m-1 K-1, approximately midway between rational theoretical limits for deposit thermal conductivity.
Modeling and simulation of variable-reluctance step motors with application to a high-performance printer system

Basic information on modeling and digital computer simulation of variable-reluctance (VR) step motors is provided. The nonlinear equations of the system are derived, and a method for implementing them on a digital computer is presented. As an example, a typical printer with a step motor is designed with this approach. The problem is defined by giving the desired system performance criteria and the step motor parameters and characteristics. The specification of the control schemes determined the design. Computer simulation runs are made to determine the optimal control parameters of the system. The case study demonstrates the advantages of the computer-aided design, before the physical construction of the experimental system.
A LABORATORY STUDY ON METAL CORROSION BY AMMONIA GAS

The effects of aerial ammonia on metal corrosion was examined in this study. Tests were conducted using three environmentally controlled chambers at three different ammonia levels (0 ppm, 100 ppm, and 200 ppm). Four types of metal products (uncoated 1010 carbon steel, galvanized steel, Galvalume, and pure zinc) were evaluated for weight losses and corrosion rates over a two-month test period. The test results showed that aerial ammonia, instead of accelerating metal corrosion, reduced the corrosion rates for steel. Weight losses for uncoated 1010 carbon steel samples in the chamber without ammonia were three and six times higher than those in chambers with ammonia levels of 100 ppm and 200 ppm, respectively. The corrosion rates were greatly reduced from 7.3 µm/year to 1.2 µm/year over the two-month period when ammonia level increased from 0 ppm to 200 ppm. For galvanized steel and pure zinc samples, the influence of ammonia on the corrosion processes was not apparent; however, there was a slight increase in corrosion rate for Galvalume samples with the increase of aerial ammonia concentrations.
Demonstration of WHI-FIT: a wireless-enabled cycle restorator

Physical rehabilitation has become increasingly important for subjects recovering from treatment in clinics and from disease conditions including stroke [6]. A particularly critical requirement is the support of individuals who suffer from impaired mobility or may be confined to beds, yet must be provided with an assured fitness promotion regimen. We will demonstrate a portable cycle restorator that continuously measures arm and leg cycling activities through an Android-based device in real time. Both cadence and torque can be measured and logged continuously via a wireless interface. Sensor data are stored and relayed to a remote server. This system enables a dramatic cost reduction and increased deployment capability.
Peritoneal EMH in a dog with immune-mediated hemolytic anemia.

Extramedullary hematopoiesis (EMH) is the process by which normal blood cells are produced outside the bone marrow. In humans, EMH effusions are rare and are characterized by the presence of megakaryocytes, immature erythrocytes, immature leukocytes, or combinations of those cells. To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first report to describe a case of peritoneal EMH effusion in a dog. A 5 yr old castrated male shorthaired dachshund presented with a 2 day history of pigmenturia and inappetence. A complete blood count revealed regenerative anemia with marked agglutination, spherocytosis, and an acute inflammatory leukogram characterized by a neutrophilia, regenerative left shift, and monocytosis. Ultrasound-guided aspiration of peritoneal effusion yielded a sample of high nucleated cellularity predominantly composed of mature and immature neutrophils and erythroid precursor cells. The patient was diagnosed with primary immune-mediated hemolytic anemia with concurrent EMH peritoneal effusion. The followin...
Allometric convergence in savanna trees and implications for the use of plant scaling models in variable ecosystems.

Theoretical models of allometric scaling provide frameworks for understanding and predicting how and why the morphology and function of organisms vary with scale. It remains unclear, however, if the predictions of ‘universal’ scaling models for vascular plants hold across diverse species in variable environments. Phenomena such as competition and disturbance may drive allometric scaling relationships away from theoretical predictions based on an optimized tree. Here, we use a hierarchical Bayesian approach to calculate tree-specific, species-specific, and ‘global’ (i.e. interspecific) scaling exponents for several allometric relationships using tree- and branch-level data harvested from three savanna sites across a rainfall gradient in Mali, West Africa. We use these exponents to provide a rigorous test of three plant scaling models (Metabolic Scaling Theory (MST), Geometric Similarity, and Stress Similarity) in savanna systems. For the allometric relationships we evaluated (diameter vs. length, aboveground mass, stem mass, and leaf mass) the empirically calculated exponents broadly overlapped among species from diverse environments, except for the scaling exponents for length, which increased with tree cover and density. When we compare empirical scaling exponents to the theoretical predictions from the three models we find MST predictions are most consistent with our observed allometries. In those situations where observations are inconsistent with MST we find that departure from theory corresponds with expected tradeoffs related to disturbance and competitive interactions. We hypothesize savanna trees have greater length-scaling exponents than predicted by MST due to an evolutionary tradeoff between fire escape and optimization of mechanical stability and internal resource transport. Future research on the drivers of systematic allometric variation could reconcile the differences between observed scaling relationships in variable ecosystems and those predicted by ideal models such as MST.
Symmetry breaking for a class of semilinear elliptic problems and the bifurcation diagram for a 1-dimensional problem

We study the behaviour of the positive solutions to the Dirichlet problem IRn in the unit ball in IRR wherep<(N+2)/(N−2) ifN≥3 and λ varies over IR. For a special class of functionsg viz.,g(x)=u0p(x) whereu0 is the unique positive solution at λ=0, we prove that for certain λ’s nonradial solutions bifurcate from radially symmetric positive solutions. WhenN=1, we obtain the complete bifurcation diagram for the positive solution curve.
Medical marijuana and driving: a review

Medical marijuana remains a highly debated treatment regimen despite removal of state penalties against care providers prescribing the drug and patients treated with the drug in many areas of the USA. The utility of marijuana in specific medical conditions has been studied at length, but its effects on driving performance and risk of motor vehicle collision remain unclear. As with other medications that affect psychomotor function, the healthcare provider should be informed of the potential risks of driver safety prior to prescribing this psychotropic drug to give appropriate anticipatory guidance for appropriate use. The goal of this narrative review is to assess the current literature regarding marijuana as it relates to driving performance and traffic safety. With a foundation in the pharmacology of cannabinoids, we consider the limitations of testing cannabinoid and metabolite concentration. In addition, we will review studies on driving performance and epidemiological studies implicating marijuana in motor vehicle collisions. The increasing prevalence of medical marijuana laws in the USA suggests that clinicians should be aware of marijuana’s influence on public safety. Patients should abstain from driving for 8 h if they achieve a subjective “high” from self-treatment with smoked marijuana and should be aware of the cumulative effects of alcohol and other psychoactive xenobiotics.
Wild Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) association to roads: implications for distance sampling

Road-based distance sampling is a common technique used to estimate the density of many wildlife species but potential biases exist unless the target popula- tion is randomly distributed around roads. Our objective was to determine if and when Rio Grande wild turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo intermedia; RGWT) were randomly distributed around roads to identify time periods in which road-based surveys would be most appropriate. We used triangulated locations obtained from radiotelemetry of RGWTs in the Edwards Plateau (2001-2003), Rolling Plains (2000-2006), and South Texas (2003-2006) ecoregions. Using a geographic information system, we conducted a use and availability analysis by sex, season, and time of day for each ecoregion to determine RGWT use of areas near roads (<200 m). We found the most appropriate time to conduct road-based distance sampling was from 1 December to 15 March during morning or afternoon. Our results suggested road-based surveys conducted during these periods should yield generally unbiased results in the Rolling Plains and Edwards Plateau ecoregions. We recommend researchers and managers investigate animal distributions around roads before implementing road-based monitoring programs for other wildlife species.
Revisiting debates on learning disabilities in adult education

Since the 1980s, educators in adult basic education and special education have speculated that a substantial if unknown percentage of adults have specific learning disabilities and have sought to identify and address effectively the needs of these learners.
Local geometry of surfactant monolayers in a ternary microemulsion system.

Small angle neutron scattering was used to measure a series of water-octane-${\mathrm{C}}_{10}$${\mathit{E}}_{4}$ mixtures in the disordered microemulsion and lamellar phases. Varying the hydrogen-deuterium contrast in oil as well as water enabled us to isolate and determine the scattering contributions from the surfactant monolayers and the water-surfactant and oil-surfactant interfaces. Analyses of the resulting scattering patterns that include the effects of water and oil peneration allow us to demonstrate and quantify the inversion of the surfactant film's small mean curvature as a function of temperature and its relation to the overall phase behavior.
Regulation of plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 expression by interaction of epidermal growth factor with progestin during decidualization of human endometrial stromal cells

Abstract Objective: During human pregnancy implantation, trophoblasts invade maternal blood vessels in a process that risks hemorrhage. Previous studies have demonstrated enhanced expression of type 1 plasminogen activator inhibitor, the primary inhibitor of fibrinolysis, during progestin-induced decidualization of estradiol-primed human endometrial stromal cells in vivo and in vitro. Decidual cell–expressed plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 is appropriately positioned to avert implantational hemorrhage. Because of the absence of estrogen or progesterone response elements from the plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 gene promoter, I posited that epidermal growth factor mediates these steroid effects and that expression of epidermal growth factor receptor in human endometrial stromal cells is under ovarian steroid control. Study Design: Confluent human endometrial stromal cells were exposed to vehicle control or to either estradiol (10 –8 mol/L) or medroxyprogesterone acetate (10 –7 mol/L), or both, with or without growth factors. After 40 hours the cultures were analyzed for plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 protein and messenger ribonucleic acid expressions. Immunostaining for epidermal growth factor receptor was carried out in sections of cycling and gestational endometrial tissues. Results: In the absence of steroids, epidermal growth factor did not alter plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 expression. In the absence of epidermal growth factor, estradiol and medroxyprogesterone acetate enhanced human endometrial stromal cell–secreted plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 protein levels 8-fold (n = 12; P P Conclusions: Taken together, these in vitro and in vivo results indicate that both epidermal growth factor and progesterone receptors are required for maximal plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 expression by human endometrial stromal cells. (Am J Obstet Gynecol 2001;184:798-805.)
Functional range of motion of the joints of the hand

Active ranges of motion of the joints of the hand are well documented, but there is little data reporting the functional ranges of motion required to perform activities of daily living. Electrogoniometric and standard methods were used to measure both active and functional ranges of motion of the metacarpalphalangeal and interphalangeal joints during 11 activities of daily living. In the fingers, only a small percentage of the active range of motion of the joints was required for functional tasks. Functional flexion postures averaged 61 degrees at the metacarpalphalangeal joint, 60 degrees at the proximal interphalangeal joint, and 39 degrees at the distal interphalangeal joint. In the thumb, functional flexion postures averaged 21 degrees at the metacarpalphalangeal joint and 18 degrees at the interphalangeal joint using only 32% of the available flexion. Active thumb metacarpalphalangeal joint motion was found to be bimodal in the study group.
Hyperuricemia due to ethambutol.

ETHAMBUTOL has found wide clinical acceptance as an effective agent for the treatment of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infections in man. Of the recognized "side effects" associated with the administr...
SBatch: A spaced batch means procedure for steady-state simulation analysis

We discuss SBatch, a simplified procedure for steady-state simulation analysis that is based on spaced batch means, incorporating many advantages of its predecessors ASAP3 and WASSP while avoiding many of their disadvantages. SBatch is a sequential procedure designed to produce a confidence-interval (CI) estimator for the steady-state mean response that satisfies user-specified precision and coverage-probability requirements. First SBatch determines a batch size and an interbatch spacer size such that beyond the initial spacer, the spaced batch means approximately form a stationary first-order autoregressive process whose lag-one correlation does not significantly exceed 0.8. Next SBatch delivers a correlation-adjusted CI based on the sample variance and lag-one correlation of the spaced batch means as well as the grand mean of all the individual observations beyond the initial spacer. In an experimental evaluation on a broad range of test problems, SBatch compared favourably with ASAP3 and WASSP.
Thermal storage applied to the refrigerant between the expansion valve and evaporator

Resume L'utilisation de l'accumulation thermique dans les conditionneurs d'air permet de require la consommation d'electricite du reseau. Un des inconvenients de certains concepts d'accumulation de froid est que le milieu d'accumulation se trouve entre le frigorigene et l'air en cours de refroidissement de sorte qu'une reduction de la puissance de l'appareil est necessaire. Le concept examine dans cette etude est le transport direct de chaleur du frigorigene au milieu d'accumulation. Les tuyaux de frigorigene entre le detendeur et l'evaporateur sont plonges dans le milieu d'accumulation qui se solidifie et se liquefie a des temperatures de 3 a 8°C. Environ 20% de la production de froid pourrait etre assuree par l'appareil d'accumulation thermique.
The impact of age on a mitoxantrone-based tumor vaccine.

Meeting abstracts Several chemotherapies, including the anthracycline analog mitoxantrone, are known to induce an immunogenic cell death in tumor cells that can produce a protective anti-tumor immune response in mice. Although the anti-tumor immune response mediated by mitoxantrone tumor cell death