cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Feedback control of ribosome synthesis in Escherichia coli is dependent on eight critical amino acids

When bacteria growing in minimal medium are supplied with exogenous amino acids, they respond by increasing the synthesis of ribosomes; this leads to more protein synthesis capacity and faster growth. To examine how amino acids control the synthesis of ribosomes, two strategies were used. First, single amino acids were added to bacteria growing in minimal medium and their effect on the relative strength of the rrnB P1 promoter was determined. The addition of any one of eight amino acids (alanine, glutamine, and glutamic acid, isoleucine, leucine, methionine, serine, valine) increased the strength of the P1 promoter by 1.25- to 2.0-fold with no appreciable effect on transcription from an isolated rrn P2 promoter or on the bacterial growth rate. The effects of adding combinations of these critical amino acids were partially additive. When any one of the other amino acids was added, no discernable stimulation in relative P1 expression or growth was observed. In the second strategy, all amino acids were present in the growth medium, but the carbon source was altered to change the growth rate. In this case the relative strength of the P1 promoter was always constant and maximal. We suggest that addition of any of the eight critical amino acids reduces the ppGpp synthesis activity of the spoT gene product; the lower ppGpp levels, in turn, increase the strength of the rrn P1 promoters. It is suggested that these amino acids are involved in a feedback chain of reactions that control the rate of ribosome function by adjusting the rate of ribosome synthesis.
A simulation approach to the choice between fixed and adjustable rate mortgages

Abstract This study uses a simulation approach to model the choice between a fixed rate mortgage (FRM) and an adjustable rate mortgage (ARM). Our simulations help assess the risks and benefits of choosing an ARM rather than a FRM. We represent the risk of the ARM with distributions of present value cost differentials for a variety of mortgage life periods. We provide insight on the financial planning aspect by modeling the impact of mortgage rate changes on the size of payments for ARMs. The simulations yield non-intuitive results that may lead to better decision making by borrowers.
The representation of explicit motor sequence knowledge

Much research has investigated the representation of implicitly learned motor sequences: Do subjects learn sequences of stimuli, responses, response locations, or some combination? Most of the work on this subject indicates that when sequences are learned implicitly, it is in terms of response locations. The present work investigated the representation of explicitly learned motor sequences. In four experiments, we found consistent evidence that explicitly learned sequences are represented in terms of stimulus locations. This conclusion held true for both self-report measures (subjects said that they learned stimuli) and performance measures, but when stimuli changed, performance degraded. We interpret these data in a multiple-memory-systems framework.
The utility of B-type natriuretic peptide in the diagnosis of heart failure in the emergency department: a systematic review

Dyspnea is a common chief complaint in the emergency department (ED); differentiating heart failure (HF) from other causes can be challenging. Brain Natriuretic Peptide (BNP) is a new diagnostic test for HF for use in dyspneic patients in the ED. The purpose of this study is to systematically review the accuracy of BNP in the emergency diagnosis of HF. We searched MEDLINE (1975–2005) supplemented by reference tracking. We included studies that reported the sensitivity and specificity of BNP for diagnosing HF in ED patients with acute dyspnea. Two reviewers independently assessed study quality. We pooled sensitivities and specificities within five ranges of BNP cutoffs. Ten studies including 3,344 participants met inclusion criteria. Quality was variable; possible verification or selection bias was common. No studies eliminated patients with obvious medical causes of dyspnea. Most studies used the Triage BNP assay; all utilized a clinical reference standard. Pooled sensitivity and specificity at a BNP cutoff of 100–105 pg/ml were 90% and 74% with negative likelihood ratio (LR) of 0.14; pooled sensitivity was 81% with specificity of 90% at cutoffs between 300 and 400 pg/ml with positive LR of 7.6. Our analysis suggests that BNP has moderate accuracy in detecting HF in the ED. Our results suggest utilizing a BNP of less than 100 pg/ml to rule out HF and a BNP of greater than 400 pg/ml to diagnose HF. Many studies were of marginal quality, and all included patients with varying degrees of diagnostic uncertainty. Further studies focusing on patients with diagnostic uncertainty will clarify the real-world utility of BNP in the emergency management of dyspnea.
Immune Abnormalities in Patients with Autism.

We have begun an investigation on the immune systems of patients with autism in attempt to determine if immune mechanisms are involved in the development of this severe developmental disorder. A study of 31 autistic patients has revealed several immune-system abnormalities, including reduced responsiveness in the lymphocyte blastogenesis assay to phytohemagglutinin, concanavalin A, and pokeweed mitogen; decreased numbers of T lymphocytes; and an altered ratio of helper to suppressor T cells. Immune-system abnormalities may be directly related to underlying biologic processes of autism, or these changes may be an indirect reflection of the actual pathologic mechanism.
Electrowetting-Based Control of Droplet Transition and Morphology on Artificially Microstructured Surfaces

Electrowetting (EW) has recently been demonstrated as a powerful tool for controlling droplet morphology on smooth and artificially structured surfaces. The present work involves a systematic experimental investigation of the influence of electrowetting in determining and altering the state of a static droplet resting on an artificially microstructured surface. Extensive experimentation is carried out to benchmark a previously developed energy-minimization-based model that analyzed the influence of interfacial energies, surface roughness parameters, and electric fields in determining the apparent contact angle of a droplet in the Cassie and Wenzel states under the influence of an EW voltage. The EW voltage required to trigger a transition from the Cassie state to the Wenzel state is experimentally determined for surfaces having a wide range of surface parameters (surface roughness and fraction of surface area covered with pillars). The reversibility of the Cassie-Wenzel transition upon the removal of the EW voltage is also quantified and analyzed. The experimental results from the present work form the basis for the design of surfaces that enable dynamic control of droplet morphology. A significant finding from the present work is that nonconservative dissipative forces have a significant influence in opposing fluid flow inside the microstructured surface that inhibits reversibility of the Cassie-Wenzel transition. The artificially structured surfaces considered in this work have microscale roughness feature sizes that permits direct visual observation of EW-induced Cassie-Wenzel droplet transition; this is the first reported visual confirmation of EW-induced droplet state transition.
Selection and Ranking Procedures for Type I Extreme Value Populations and a Related Homogeneity Test

Consider k (≥2) independent Type I extreme value populations with unknown location parameters and common known scale parameter. With samples of same size, we study procedures based on the sample means for (1) selecting the population having the largest location parameter, (2) selecting the population having the smallest location parameter, and (3) testing for equality of all the location parameters. We use Bechhofer's indifference-zone and Gupta's subset selection formulations. Tables of constants for implemention are provided based on approximation for the distribution of the standardized sample mean by a generalized Tukey's lambda distribution. Examples are provided for all procedures.
A video assisted approach for structural health monitoring of highway bridges under normal traffic

Structural condition assessment of highway bridges is traditionally performed by visual inspections or nondestructive evaluation techniques, which are either slow, unreliable or detects only local flaws. Instrumentation of bridges with accelerometers and other sensors, however, can provide real-time data useful for monitoring the global structural conditions of the bridges due to ambient and forced excitations. This paper reports a video-assisted approach for structural health monitoring of highway bridges, with results from field tests and subsequent offline parameter identification. The field tests were performed on a short-span instrumented bridge. Videos of vehicles passing by were captured, synchronized with data recordings from the accelerometers. For short-span highway bridges, vibration is predominantly due to traffic excitation. A stochastic model of traffic excitation on bridges is developed assuming that vehicles traversing a bridge (modeled as an elastic beam) form a sequence of Poisson process moving loads and that the contact force of a vehicle on the bridge deck can be converted to equivalent dynamic loads at the nodes of the beam elements. Basic information of vehicle types, arrival times and speeds are extracted from video images to develop a physics-based simulation model of the traffic excitation. This modeling approach aims at circumventing a difficulty in the system identification of bridge structural parameters. Current practice of system identification of bridge parameters is often based on the measured response (or system output) only, and knowledge of the input (traffic excitation) is either unknown or assumed, making it difficult to obtain an accurate assessment of the state of the bridge structures. Our model reveals that traffic excitation on bridges is spatially correlated, an important feature that is usually incorrectly ignored in most output-only methods. A recursive Bayesian filtering is formulated to monitor the evolution of the state of the bridge. The effectiveness and viability of this video-assisted approach are demonstrated by the field results.
Worry and risk perceptions as independent and interacting predictors of health protective behaviors.

Worry and risk perceptions are generally found to be independently associated with health-promoting behaviors, although it is unknown whether they interact in ways that potentially dampen the effect of either construct on behavior. In this hypothesis-generating study, cancer-related worry and risk perception, and their interaction, were used to predict odds of meeting 5-a-day fruit and vegetable consumption guidelines and engaging in any exercise using data from a nationally representative sample (N = 10,230). Risk perception was not associated with either behavior; worry was associated only with exercise (OR = 1.77, 95% CI: 1.16, 2.70, p < .01). More important, their interaction was associated with these behaviors in a counterintuitive manner; among those higher in worry, higher levels of risk perception were associated with lower vegetable consumption (OR = 0.79, 95% CI: 0.62, 1.00, p < .05) and exercise (OR = 0.77, 95% CI: 0.63, 0.95, p = .01). These results suggest the hypothesis that, among people hi...
Sensitivity of Salmonella typhimurium recombinationless (rec) mutants to visible and near-visible light.

Abstract Bacterial recombinationless ( rec ) mutants were killed by a variety of household and photo lamps, emitting wavelengths in both the long UV and visible range. There was direct relationship between the degree of sensitivity and state of cell division in mutant cells; cells in log phase were highly sensitive, but cells in stationary phase were relatively insensitive. Exclusive of oxygen protected cells from damage. Light-sensitive mutants displayed normal photoreactivation after 2537 A UV irradiation.
Local Mechanism of Phenyl Ring π-Flips in Glassy Polycarbonate

In order to obtain the mechanism for the infrequent phenyl ring π-flips in glassy polycarbonate, a generalized Langevin dynamics simulation was performed on a reduced model consisting of a flipping ring and its keeper ring. The frequency of π-flips and activation energy for π-flips obtained from the simulation are in agreement with experiment. A phenyl ring π-flip occurs when there is an increase in the separation distance between the ring and its nearest neighbor ring on another chain, accompanied by, and in synchrony with, an increase in its rotational kinetic energy.
dic(5;17): a recurring abnormality in malignant myeloid disorders associated with mutations of TP53

We have identified three unbalanced translocations involving chromosomes 5 and 17, der(5)t(5;17), der(17)t(5;17), and dic(5;17), in the malignant cells from 17 patients with myeloid neoplasms. Six patients had a primary myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) or acute myeloid leukemia (AML) de novo; ten patients had therapy-related MDS and/or AML (t-MDS/t-AML), and one patient had chronic myelogenous leukemia in myeloid blast phase. Two of the six patients with MDS or AML de novo had extensive exposure to industrial solvents, and one patient had Seckel syndrome. The primary diagnoses for the ten patients with t-MDS/t-AML were breast carcinoma and Hodgkin's disease in two patients each, and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, multiple myeloma, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, ovarian carcinoma, thyroid carcinoma, and rhabdomyosarcoma in one patient each. Four patients had received both prior chemotherapy and radiotherapy, four others received prior chemotherapy only, and the remaining two patients only prior radiotherapy. Fluorescence in situ hybridization of centromere-specific probes for chromosomes 5 and 17 revealed that a dicentric rearrangement was the most common (13/16 patients examined). The genetic consequences of these chromosomal rearrangements are partial monosomy for 5q and 17p. Two of six patients examined had point mutations in TP53, suggesting that loss of function of TP53 in addition to loss of a tumor suppressor gene on 5q may be involved in the pathogenesis of the malignant disease in some of these patients.
Cloning and sequencing of cDNA encoding the LS-12 antifreeze protein in the longhorn sculpin, Myoxocephalus octodecimspinosis

Abstract cDNA coding for an antifreeze protein (LS-12) in the longhorn sculpin, Myoxocephalus octodecimspinosis , was prepared from liver mRNA using reverse transcriptase–polymerase chain reaction coupled with 3′ and 5′ RACE procedures. This cDNA 1 contains 609 base pairs, including a 384-bp open reading frame which codes for a 128-residue LS-12 precursor protein. The predicted amino acid sequence of the mature LS-12 corresponds exactly to the amino acid sequence obtained from Edman degradation [G. Deng, D.W. Andrews, R.A. Laursen, FEBS Lett., 402, 1997, pp. 17–20]. The 20 residues preceding mature LS-12 are predicted to be a signal sequence, which is presumably cleaved off before the mature, 108-residue protein is secreted into the circulatory system. This is the first report of a cDNA sequence from M. octodecimspinosis .
A Randomized Trial of Two Behavioral Interventions to Improve Outcomes Following Inpatient Detoxification for Alcohol Dependence

Participants (n=150), undergoing inpatient alcohol detoxification, were randomized into 3 groups: treatment as usual (TAU), motivation enhancement therapy (MET), or peer-delivered 12-step facilitation (P-TSF). The main outcome was the initiation of any type of subsequent rehabilitation service (i.e., professional treatment or self-help) within 30 and 90 days of discharge. At the 30-day follow-up interview, there was no significant difference among the groups in the rate of initiation of any type of subsequent care (82%, 74%, and 82%, respectively, p=0.617); however, the MET group had significantly more patients initiate subsequent inpatient treatment by the 90-day follow-up interview compared to the P-TSF group (31% and 61%, respectively, p=0.007) and a greater proportion of MET participants completed subsequent inpatient treatment compared to both the TAU and P-TSF groups. There were no differences in drinking-related outcomes. MET during inpatient detoxification may help patients initiate subsequent inpatient rehabilitation treatment.
Safeguarding young people from cyber pornography and cyber sexual predation: a major dilemma of the internet

Over the past 20 years, the internet has provided an expedient mode of communication and access to a wealth of information. The internet is a valuable tool; however, it can also be detrimental to the wellbeing of children due to numerous online hazards. There is the potential for children to be abused via cyberspace through online sexual solicitation and access to pornography. Indeed, the internet is replete with inappropriate material, including pornography, chatrooms with adult themes and access to instant messaging wherein others could misrepresent themselves. Because children are actively utilizing the internet where unknown others can have access to them or where they can be exposed to inappropriate sexual materials, they require safeguarding and education in safe internet use. The purpose of this article is to provide a discussion of how to safeguard children from and educate them about online sexual solicitation and pornography. We contend that society needs an overall conceptual shift in its attitude towards young people's internet use.
Core‐shell emulsion copolymerization of styrene and acrylonitrile on polystyrene seed particles

Seeded emulsion copolymerization of an azeotropic composition of styrene (St) and an acrylinitrile (AN) comonomer mixture in polystyrene (PS) seed at different polymerization temperature of 55–75°C were investigated. The kinetic data showed a transition temperature at 65°C, above which the activation energy of polymerization is low, 6.1 Kcal/mol, compared with 9.8 Kcal/mol below it. The particle-size results and thin layer chromatographic (TLC) data showed two types of particle of different composition and morphology in the final latex system: a smaller size of (St–AN) copolymer and a larger size of core-PS and (St–AN) copolymer shell, with a zone of PS grafted (St–AN) copolymer in between. Various polymerization parameters, that is emulsifier concentration, type of seed particle and its size, and monomer/polymer ratio, were studied and their effects on particle size and particle morphology were examined. The percent of grafted core-PS was 10% below a polymerization temperature of 65°C and 40% above that temperature. By adjusting the size and number of the seed particles, monomer-polymer ratio, and emulsifier concentration conditions were established in which a final copolymer latex with “perfect” core-shell morphology was achieved.
On Christianity And Sociopolitical Change: Reply

Ayandele, E. A. 1966 The Missionary Impact on Modern Nigeria 1842-1914. London: Longmans. Banton, Michael 1963 "African Prophets." Race 5 (October) 42-55. Borgatta, E. (ed.) 1969 Sociological Methodology. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass. Bredemeier, Harry C., and Richard M. Stephenson 1962 The Analysis of Social Systems. New York: Holt, Rinehart & Winston. Brownlee, K. A. 1960 Statistical Theory and Methodology in Science Engineering. New York: Wiley. Buell, Raymond Leslie 1928 The Native Problem in Africa. 2 vols. New York: Macmillan. Deutsch, Karl W. 1961 "Social Mobilization and Political Development." American Political Science Review 55(September) :493-514. Duncan, Otis Dudley 1966 "Path Analysis: Sociological Examples." American Journal of Sociology 72 (July): 1-16. Fuller, E. L., Jr., and W. J. Hemmerle 1966 "Robustness of the Maximum-Likelihood Estimation Procedure in Factor Analysis." Psychometrika 31-(June) :255-266. Hailey, Lord 1938 An African Survey. London: Oxford University Press. Hopkins, Raymond F. 1966 "Christianity and Sociopolitical Change in Sub-Saharan Africa." Social Forces 44 (June) :555-562. Kuczynski, R. R. 1948 Demographic Survey of the British Colonial Empire. 2 vols. London: Oxford University Press. Lloyd, P. C. 1966 "Introduction." In P. C. Lloyd (ed.), The New Elites of Tropical Africa. London: Oxford University Press. Robinson, W. S. 1961 "Ecological Correlations and the Behavior of Individuals." Pp. 115-120 in George A. Theodorsen (ed.), Studies in Human Ecology. New York: Harper. Sawyer, Jack 1967 "Dimensions of Nations: Size, Wealth and Politics." American Journal of Sociology 73 (September) :145-172. Scanlon, David (ed.) 1966 Church, State and Education in Africa. New York: Teachers College Press. Siegel, Sidney 1956 Nonparametric Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences. New York: McGraw-Hill. Tucker, Theodore L. 1966 "The Protestant Educational Enterprise in Africa." In R. P. Beaver (ed.), Christianity and African Education. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans. Turner, H. W. 1967 African Independent Church. Oxford: Clarendon.
Dissolved titanium distributions in the Mid-Atlantic Bight

Abstract Although titanium is abundant in Earth's crust, its sources and distribution in the ocean are poorly understood. To elucidate its behavior, distributions of dissolved (
Live Chemical Reports from the Cell Surface

Understanding the dynamic roles that proteins play in cell biology requires tools to selectively label these biomolecules in living systems. Yin and colleagues [1] showcase the power of a novel chemical labeling technology for tracking receptor-ligand interactions in native cellular environments.
Preservation of Primary Forests in the Luquillo Mountains, Puerto Rico

The Caribbean National Forest, a National Forest under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Forest Service and a United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization Biosphere Reserve, contains the only primary tropical forests in Puerto Rico. The planning for future uses of the Caribbean National Forest has been controversial and serves as a case study of the application of federal regulations designed for continental temperate zones to insular tropical conditions. This article contains a description of the environmental and historical setting of the Caribbean National Forest and presents arguments for and against the preservation of its primary forests. Given the history of custodial management of the forest by the U.S. Forest Service, it appears unlikely that the agency will advocate conversion of the only primary tropical forests under U.S. Government jurisdiction in order to satisfy requirements of the National Wilderness Act and/or the National Forest Planning Act. The planning, management, and conservation of the Caribbean National Forest can be a model for such activities elsewhere in the Caribbean and the American tropics but only if it demonstrates a balance between intensive use of suitable stands and absolute protection of primary forests. El Bosque Nacional del Caribe, constituye un area bajo la jurisdiccion del Sevicio Forestal de los Estados Unidos y de la Organizacion Educacional, Cientifica y Cultural de las Naciones Unidas bajo el programa de Reservas de la Biosfera. El Bosque Nacional del Caribe contiene el unico bosque tropicales primarios de Puerto Rico. La planificacion para usos futuros del Bosque Nacional del Caribe ha sido controversial y sirve como estudio de caso en la aplicacion de regulaciones federales disenadas para zonas continentales templadas que son aplicadas a zonas insulares tropicales. Este articulo contiene una descripcion de las condiciones ambientales e historicas del Bosque Nacional del Caribe y presenta argumentos a favor y en contra de la preservacion de su bosque primario. Dada la historia del manejo del bosque por el Servicio Forestal de los Estados Unidos, parece poco probable que esta agencia vaya a favorecer la conversion de unico bosque tropical primarios bajo la jurisdiccion del Gobierno de los Estados Unidos en de satisfacer los requerimientos del Acta Nacional de Areas Silvestres y/o del Acta Nacional de Planificacion de Bosques. La planificacion, manejo y conservacion del Bosque Nacional del Caribe puede servir de modelo en el Caribe y en otras jurisdicciones tropicales americanas, pero solo si demuestra un balance entre el uso intensivo de los rodales adecuados y una proteccion absoluta de los bosques primarios.
Digitally controlled CMOS current follower for low voltage low power applications

A novel digitally controlled CMOS current follower is proposed. The circuit is useful for low voltage low power high frequency applications. The DCCF operates from a 3 V supply in class AB mode and provides precise digitally programmable current gain without component spread. Experimental results from a 1.2 /spl mu/m CMOS chip fabricated through MOSIS are provided.
The Homeless Supplement to the Diagnostic Interview Schedule: test-retest analyses.

This study sought to extend previous work on reliability of self-reported residential history in a homeless population with high rates of drug abuse. The latest version of the Homeless Supplement to the Diagnostic Interview Schedule (DIS/HS) was used to achieve reliability on homelessness experience, use of shelters, transience, and recent residential patterns. Homeless study volunteers were recruited for a test-retest study from a drop-in day centre for mentally ill homeless people (N = 25) and a substance abuse day programme (N = 30). They were administered the instrument approximately one to two days apart. Kappa and intraclass correlation analyses were performed to assess reliability. Overall, the reliabilities of most variables were acceptable, ranging from fair to excellent. Six items were reconstructed to achieve reliability and two were dropped. Substance dependence and adult antisocial behaviour patterns did not affect reliability on most items. This study has developed a reliable self report instrument for measuring residential history that can be used with homeless and drug abusing populations. Replication is needed in larger, more representative samples and comparison of reliability with other psychiatric and cognitive characteristics. Copyright © 2004 Whurr Publishers Ltd.
Bounded Gaps between Products of Special Primes

In their breakthrough paper in 2006, Goldston, Graham, Pintz and Yildirim proved several results about bounded gaps between products of two distinct primes. Frank Thorne expanded on this result, proving bounded gaps in the set of square-free numbers with r prime factors for any r ≥ 2, all of which are in a given set of primes. His results yield applications to the divisibility of class numbers and the triviality of ranks of elliptic curves. In this paper, we relax the condition on the number of prime factors and prove an analogous result using a modified approach. We then revisit Thorne’s applications and give a better bound in each case.
Extracorporeal Circulation as an Alternative to Open-Chest Cardiac Compression for Cardiac Resuscitation

Open-chest direct cardiac compression represents a more potent but highly invasive option for cardiac resuscitation when conventional techniques of closed-chest cardiac resuscitation fail after prolonged cardiac arrest. We postulated that venoarterial extracorporeal circulation might be a more effective intervention with less trauma. In the setting of human cardiac resuscitation, however, controlled studies would be limited by strategic constraints. Accordingly, the effectiveness of open-chest cardiac compression was compared with that of extracorporeal circulation after a 15-min interval of untreated ventricular fibrillation in a porcine model of cardiac arrest. Sixteen domestic pigs were randomized to resuscitation by either peripheral venoarterial extracorporeal circulation or open-chest direct cardiac compression. During resuscitation, epinephrine was continuously infused into the right atrium, and defibrillation was attempted by transthoracic countershock at 2-min intervals. Systemic blood flows averaged 198 ml.kg-1.min-1 with extracorporeal circulation. This contrasted with direct cardiac compression, in which flows averaged only 40 ml.kg-1.min-1. Coronary perfusion pressure, the major determinant of resuscitability on the basis of earlier studies, was correspondingly lower (94 vs 29 mm Hg). Extracorporeal circulation, in conjunction with transthoracic DC countershock and epinephrine, successfully reestablished spontaneous circulation in each of eight animals after 15 min of untreated ventricular fibrillation. This contrasted with the outcome after open-chest cardiac compression, in which spontaneous circulation was reestablished in only four of eight animals (p = .038). We conclude that extracorporeal circulation is a more effective alternative to direct cardiac compression for cardiac resuscitation after protracted cardiac arrest.
Preparation of textured YBCO films using all-iodide precursors

Abstract We developed an all-iodide precursor approach to grow epitaxial YBa 2 Cu 3 O 7− y (YBCO) films on single crystal substrates. The respective metal iodides were used as the starting materials. Initially, yttrium and barium iodides were dissolved in 2-methoxyethanol, whereas copper iodide was dissolved in ammonium iodide/dimethylformamide solution. The solutions were mixed together and concentrated to give a 2.5-M total cation precursor solution. The precursor solutions were spin coated on SrTiO 3 (100) substrates and heat-treated at 800–830°C in 300 ppm oxygen atmospheres. X-ray diffraction (XRD) results from the theta–2theta (θ–2θ) scan, omega (ω) and phi (φ) scans for the films revealed a (100) cubic texture. The full-width-at-half-maximum (FWHM) values for YBCO (105) and YBCO (005) were 1.3° (in-plane epitaxy, Δ φ ) and 0.42° (out-of-plane epitaxy, Δ ω ), respectively. The YBCO films had a T c of 90.3 K. The measured transport J c , critical current density was 1.3×10 5 A/cm 2 at 77 K and self-field.
Structure investigation of poly(p‐phenylene vinylene)

Electron diffraction patterns of highly oriented poly(p-phenylene vinylene) films obtained by the soluble polymeric precursor route are interpreted on the basis of a monoclinic unit cell containing two monomer units: c (chain axis) = 0.658 nm, a = 0.790 nm, b = 0.605 nm, α ≃ 123°. The molecules are nearly perfectly oriented along the stretching direction but exhibit partial axial translational disorder.
Spatial changes in forest floor and foliar chemistry of spruce-fir forests across New England

In the U.S., high elevation spruce-fir forests receive greater amounts of nitrogen deposition relative to low elevation areas. At high elevations the cycling of nitrogen is naturally low due to slower decomposition and low biological N demand. The combination of these factors make spruce-fir ecosystems potentially responsive to changes in N inputs. Excess nitrogen deposition across the northeastern United States and Europe has provided an opportunity to observe ecosystem response to changing N inputs. Effects on foliar and forest floor chemistry were examined in a field study of 161 spruce-fir sites across a longitudinal (west-to-east) N deposition gradient. Both foliar elemental concentrations and forest floor elemental concentrations and rates of potential N mineralization were correlated with position along this gradient. Nitrogen deposition was positively correlated with potential forest floor nitrification and mineralization, negatively correlated with forest floor C:N and Mg concentrations and with spruce foliar lignin, lignin:N and Mg:N ratios. Foliar lignin:N and forest floor C:N were positively correlated and both were negatively correlated with nitrification and mineralization. Correlations found between forest floor and foliar N and Mg concentrations support the theory of nutrient imbalance as a potential cause of forest decline.
Esophageal Perforation in a Patient With Metastatic Breast Cancer to Esophagus

Esophageal metastasis from breast cancer is rare and can present after a long latency period. The middle and distal third of the esophagus are the most common sites and dysphagia (with or without stricture) is the most common presentation. Because of predominantly submucosal involvement, diagnosis is often difficult to establish until significant complications arise. We present the case of a patient with esophageal perforation due to dilatation treatments for dysphagia secondary to a distal stricture, later proven to be caused by esophageal metastasis from a breast cancer treated 19 years earlier.
Ab initio study of edge smoothing, atom attraction, and downward funneling in Ag/Ag(100)

The results of density-functional theory (DFT) calculations of the energy barriers for three low-barrier relaxation processes in Ag/Ag(100) growth---edge-zipping, atom attraction, and downward funneling---are presented and compared with embedded atom method (EAM) calculations. In general, we find good agreement between the DFT values for these processes and the values assumed in recent simulations of low-temperature Ag/Ag(100) growth [Shim and Amar, Phys. Rev. B 81, 045416 (2010)]. We also find reasonable agreement between our DFT results and the results of EAM calculations, although in a few specific cases there is a noticeable disagreement. In order to investigate the effects of long-range interactions, we have also carried out additional calculations for more complex configurations. While our EAM results indicate that long-range interactions such as ``pinning'' can significantly enhance the energy barriers for edge-zipping and atom attraction, these effects can be significantly weaker in our DFT calculations due to the redistribution of the electron density.
Core Competencies in Hospital Pharmacy: Essential Department Data:

The initial installments of the Director's Forum reviewed key core competencies necessary for a pharmacy department to define their value in patient care. Core competencies include medication order...
Role of Ia antigens and interleukin 1 in T-cell proliferation to phytohemagglutinin.

Abstract Highly purified human T cells were obtained by a four-step purification procedure which included: removal of plastic adherent cells, rosetting with sheep red cells, passage over nylon-wood columns, and treatment with mouse monoclonal antibodies to human Ia antigens and complement. The resulting T cells did not proliferate to phytohemagglutinin (PHA). Purified human interleukin 1 (IL-1) could not substitute for accessory cells in supporting a PHA response. Reconstitution with as little as 0.03% adherent cells resulted in a proliferative response to PHA. T-Cell proliferation to PHA was supported by monocytes, by Ia + Epstein-Barr virus-transformed lymphoblastoid B-cells lines, and by Ia − cultured human dermal fibroblasts but not by Ia-containing liposomes. Addition of anti-Ia antibodies to monocyte-containing cultures did not inhibit the T-cell proliferative response to PHA. These results suggest that Ia antigen expression by accessory cells is neither necessary nor sufficient to support T-cell proliferation to PHA and that IL-1 is not sufficient to support the proliferation of T cells to PHA.
Treatment of acne scarring using a dual-spot-size ablative fractionated carbon dioxide laser: review of the literature.

BACKGROUND Fractional photothermolysis has been reported in the literature to improve pigmentary and textural changes associated with acne scarring. OBJECTIVE To review the literature for the treatment of acne scarring using nonablative fractional laser (NAFL) and ablative fractional laser (AFL) resurfacing. METHODS Review of the Medline literature evaluating NAFL and AFL for acne scarring. RESULTS NAFL and AFL are safe and effective treatments for acne scarring. It is likely that the controlled, limited dermal heating of fractional resurfacing initiates a cascade of events in which normalization of the collagenesis-collagenolysis cycle occurs. We present the results of a patient treated using a novel dual-spot-size AFL device. Three months after the final treatment, the patient reported 75% improvement in acne scarring and 63% overall improvement in photoaging. CONCLUSIONS Fractionated resurfacing for the treatment of acne scarring is associated with lesser risks of side effects of prolonged erythema and risks of delayed-onset dyspigmentation and scarring which complicate traditional ablative laser resurfacing approaches. We present herein preliminary data suggesting that a dual-spot-size AFL device presents novel advantages of improving texture and pigmentation in acne scarring and photoaging.
Cross-reactivity between B. burgdorferi and other spirochetes affects specificity of serotests for detection of antibodies to the Lyme disease agent in dogs

Western immunoblots, the kinetics-based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (KELA), and the microagglutination test were used to evaluate cross-reactivity among antibodies to serovars of Leptospira interrogans (leptospiral serovars), and B. burgdorferi from naturally infected dogs, and to Serpulina (Treponema) hyodysenteriae from vaccinated rabbits. Whole-cell lysates from Borrelia spp., leptospiral serovars, and Serpulina spp. were used for SDS-PAGE, western blots, and KELA. Cross-reactivity occurred between the antibodies to B. burgdorferi and leptospiral serovars when tested on the heterologous antigens. Antibodies to leptospiral serovars tended to cross-react more strongly with antigens of B. burgdorferi spp. than did antibodies to B. burgdorferi when tested against antigens of leptospiral serovars. The antibodies against B. burgdorferi showed a lesser degree of cross-reactivity to the antigens of S. hyodysenteriae and S. innocens than they did to leptospiral serovars. We conclude that cross-reactivity occurs between B. burgdorferi and leptospiral serovars. Validation and interpretation of ELISA tests for detection of antibody activity to whole cell lysates of the Lyme agent must take this cross-reactivity into consideration. Conversely, dogs infected with the Lyme agent do not show significant cross-reactivity in the microagglutination test for antibody to the leptospiral serovars.
Components of Brief Alcohol Interventions for Youth in the Emergency Department.

ABSTRACTBackground: Alcohol brief interventions (BIs) delivered by therapists are promising among underage drinkers in the emergency department (ED); however, integration into routine ED care is lacking. Harnessing technology for identification of at-risk drinkers and delivery of interventions could have tremendous public health impact by addressing practical barriers to implementation. The paper presents baseline, within BI session, and posttest data from an ongoing randomized controlled trial (RCT) of youth in the ED. Methods: Patients (ages 14–20) who screened positive for risky drinking were randomized to computer BI (CBI), therapist BI (TBI), or control. Measures included demographics, alcohol consumption (Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test—Consumption [AUDIT-C]), process questions, BI components (e.g., strengths, tools), and psychological constructs (i.e., importance of cutting down, likelihood of cutting down, readiness to stop, and wanting help). Results: Among 4389 youth surveyed (13.7% re...
Oceanographic conditions associated with high abundances of the radiolarian Cycladophora davisiana

Abstract The cosmopolitan radiolarian Cycladophora davisiana usually comprises less than 5% of the radiolarian fauna in Holocene sediments. In recent sediments from the Sea of Okhotsk, however, this species frequently represents more than 20% of the radiolarian assemblage. At times during the late Pleistocene, abundances of this species in excess of 40% are recorded in marine sediments from high-latitude oceans (> 40°) of both hemispheres. The Sea of Okhotsk apparently represents a modern analogue of climatic and oceanographic conditions that existed throughout large portions of high-latitude oceans at times during the late Pleistocene. The near-surface water structure of the Sea of Okhotsk is characterized by a low-salinity surface layer with a strong temperature minimum near its base. The low surface salinities are responsible for maintaining near-freezing subsurface temperatures as well as establishing relatively stable temperatures and salinities at depths below the temperature minimum. This water structure is produced, at least in part, by intense freezing of sea ice in winter with subsequent summer melting. The physical characteristics of the upper water column affect the abundance and activity of shallow-dwelling flora and fauna, while providing a stable subsurface environment for deeper-dwelling fauna.
Ambiguity in Measuring Matrix Diffusion with Single‐Well Injection/Recovery Tracer Tests

Single-well injection/recovery tracer tests are considered for use in characterizing and quantifying matrix diffusion in dual-porosity aquifers. Numerical modeling indicates that neither regional drift in homogeneous aquifers, nor heterogeneity in aquifers having no regional drift, nor hydrodynamic dispersion significantly affects these tests. However, when drift is coupled simultaneously with heterogeneity, they can have significant confounding effects on tracer return. This synergistic effect of drift and heterogeneity may help explain irreversible flow and inconsistent results sometimes encountered in previous single-well injection/recovery tracer tests. Numerical results indicate that in a hypothetical single-well injection/recovery tracer test designed to demonstrate and measure dual-porosity characteristics in a fractured dolomite, the simultaneous effects of drift and heterogeneity sometimes yields responses similar to those anticipated in a homogeneous dual-porosity formation. In these cases, tracer recovery could provide a false indication of the occurrence of matrix diffusion. Shortening the shut-in period between injection and recovery periods may make the test less sensitive to drift. Using multiple tracers having different diffusion characteristics, multiple tests having different pumping schedules, and testing the formation at more than one location would decrease the ambiguity in the interpretation of test data.
Optimal powering schemes for legged robotics

Legged Robots have tremendous mobility, but they can also be very inefficient. These inefficiencies can be due to suboptimal control schemes, among other things. If your goal is to get from point A to point B in the least amount of time, your control scheme will be different from if your goal is to get there using the least amount of energy. In this paper, we seek a balance between these extremes by looking at both efficiency and speed. We model a walking robot as a rimless wheel, and, using Pontryagin's Maximum Principle (PMP), we find an "on-off" control for the model, and describe the switching curve between these control extremes.
The Matrix Handling of BLUE and BLUP in the Mixed Linear Model

The mixed model of analysis of variance is a linear model in which some terms that would otherwise be unknown constants are, in fact, unobservable realizations of random variables. Estimation procedures for the constants and for the realized random variables are reviewed, with emphasis on their matrix features.
Research on Assessment of Life Satisfaction of Children and Adolescents

Over the years, various psychologists have issued calls for greater attention to a science of positive psychology, which focuses on studying conditions that promote optimal human and societal development. Recent calls (e.g., McCullough and Snyder, 2000; Seligman and Csikszentmihalyi, 2000) have furthered interest in studies of the nature and determinants of the good life. Such a science, along with the creation of prevention and intervention programs informed by the expanded scientific framework, is expected to improve the quality of life for all individuals, not just individuals who are at risk or who already demonstrate psychopathological conditions. To contrast with the previous emphasis on psychopathology, the development of a positive psychology requires constructs and measures that reflect the full range of human functioning, incorporating indicators of high levels of wellness as well as psychopathological functioning. This article discusses one such construct, life satisfaction, that has been studied extensively in adulthood (see Diener et al., 1999), but which has only recently gained attention with children and adolescents (see Bender, 1997; Huebner, 1997). This article reviews life satisfaction assessment research with children and adolescents, specifically with regard to construct validity. In doing so, the following areas are addressed: models of life satisfaction; convergent validity; discriminant validity; relationships with other well-being measures; relationships with external, environmental circumstances; relationships with demographic variables; cultural factors; group differences on life satisfaction measures; predictive relationships; and stability of life satisfaction reports. Conclusions regarding the validity of the life satisfaction construct are formulated. Recommendations for future research are also discussed.
Random linear intersession network coding with selective cancelling

The network coding capacity of a single multicast traffic is characterized by the min-cut/max-flow (mcMF) theorem, which can be achieved by random linear network coding (RLNC). Nonetheless, the graph-theoretic characterization for multiple unicast/multicast traffic remains an open problem. This paper proposes and studies a new class of intersession-network-coding schemes: RLNC with selective cancelling (SC), which inherits the complexity advantage of RLNC once the set of selective cancelling edges is decided. A graph-theoretic characterization is provided for the achievable rates of RLNC with SC for the general multiple multicast setting. The findings contain most existing achievability results as special cases, including the mcMF theorem of the single multicast traffic and the existing characterization of pairwise intersession network coding. One prominent feature of the proposed approach is its focus on the achievability analysis with arbitrary network topology, arbitrary inter-session packet-mixing capability, and arbitrary traffic demands, which distinguishes the results from the special case analysis, capacity outer bound constructions, and the pattern-based (butterfly-based) superposition arguments.
Nonlinear recursive filters and applications to image processing

Stability conditions for nonlinear recursive filters are established. The results are applied to nonlinear recursive filters of the form y(n)=f(x(n), y(n-1)). In the case of image filtering by incorporating with a multi-directional scheme, a two-dimensional nonlinear recursive image filter, satisfying these conditions, with combined edge-sharpening and noise-smoothing characteristics has been developed. It can be used for image enhancement or restoration, or as a pre-processor for coding techniques. >
Enhancing military rapid product delivery capabilities

The rapidly changing global security environment that todaypsilas military operates within requires an ever increasing ability to quickly adapt to non-traditional threats. This has forced the U.S. to re-examine the traditional means of equipping its forces to ensure more agile acquisition practices are available to the science and technology (S&T) and acquisition communities. While there have been significant efforts to look towards industry for potential solutions, the heavily bureaucratic and restrictive government environment has made this difficult. To effectively implement rapid reaction approaches within the government context, research into organizations facing similar constraints must be conducted. This research focused on interviewing innovative pockets across the government with proven track records for rapidly acquiring new technologies to cross-pollinate measures for success. Through the use of various qualitative measures, innovative practices and methodologies were identified that keep these organizations on the cutting edge of rapid product delivery. The recommendations of this research can be broadly applied to organizations chartered with rapidly responding to customer needs.