cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Characterization of the deoxyribonuclease determined by lambda reverse as exonuclease VIII of Escherichia coli.

Abstract Gottesman et al. (1974) detected a new DNAase in Escherichia coli infected with λ reverse, a recombination-proficient substitution mutant of phage λ which is deleted for the λ recombination genes. We have purified this enzyme, using the procedure developed for the purification of exonuclease VIII (Kushner et al. , 1974), a DNAase produced by E. coli K-12 strains carrying sbcA − mutations. The λ reverse exonuclease (Exoλ rev ) is identical to exonuclease VIII by several criteria. The two enzymes elute at similar salt concentrations from DEAE-cellulose and DNA-cellulose; sediment at the same velocity in glycerol gradients, corresponding to a molecular weight of about 1.4 × 10 5 ; migrate at the same R F in sodium dodecyl sulfate/polyacrylamide gels, indicating a polypeptide molecular weight of 1.4 × 10 5 ; exhibit maximum activity at 20 m m -Mg 2+ and pH 8 to 9; and are much more active on double-stranded DNA than on heat-denatured DNA. Both enzymes are rendered sedimentable by antiserum against Exoλ rev . This evidence supports the hypothesis that the non-λ DNA substitution in λ reverse includes recE , the structural gene for exonuclease VIII.
B scan detection of pelvic masses: Accuracy compared to the barium enema intravenous pyelogram

One hundred fifty nine pelvic ultrasonic examinations were performed; 54 were verified. The relative diagnostic accuracy of ultrasound, intravenous pyelograms, and barium enemas in detecting pelvic masses is discussed. Ultrasound is highly accurate except in ascites. While barium enema and intravenous pyelogram are both inaccurate. Ultrasound should be the initial examination for the evaluation of patients with a possible pelvic mass.
Eye-head coordination and the variation of eye-movement accuracy with orbital eccentricity.

Different humans vary widely in the tendency to move the head during saccadic shifts in gaze. The reasons for this variation are unknown. Because combined eye-head movements are associated with a recentering of the eyes in the orbits, humans who are "head movers" tend to maintain the eyes within a narrower range than do non-head movers. We explored the possibility that variations in the ability to control eye movements at eccentric positions lead to variations in customary ocular motor range and, by extension, explain the variations in head-movement tendencies. We studied ten normal adults. In each, we measured the full-scale ocular motor range and customary ocular motor range (the eccentricity range within which the eye was found at the conclusion of eye- or eye-head saccades). We also determined the eye-only range, the orbital range within which the probability of a head movement accompanying a gaze shift was low. Customary, eye-only, and full-scale ranges spanned (mean ±SD) 41.1±16.9°, 30.2±18.8°, and 92.8±9.1°, respectively. We then assessed variations in kinematics of several ocular motor behaviors as functions of eye eccentricity. The stable fixation range, defined by the range over which drift velocities were below 1°/s, spanned 81.1±11.2° in the light and 69.5±21.5° in the dark. The range over which the gains of the vestibulo-ocular reflex in the light and smooth pursuit approached their values at zero eccentricity spanned 66.3±7.1° and 69.0±10.0°, respectively. Small centrifugal saccades (5–10°) tended to become either slowed or hypometric with increasing eccentricity. Sensitive to both slowing and hypometria, the ratio of peak gaze velocity to target shift amplitude was flat over a range spanning 65.7±14.9°. Finally, the ranges over which the initial saccade placed the fovea upon the target averaged 35.5±10.7° for eye-only saccades and 36.6±15.0° for eye-head saccades. With the exception of the range of stable fixation in the light, the kinematic ranges were either unrelated or inconsistently related to full-scale range, indicating that the deterioration of eye movements with increasing ocular eccentricity is not a simple consequence of the eyes encountering the limits of their excursion. None of the kinematic ranges correlated positively with customary or eye-only range. Thus, while head movements may be orchestrated so as to maintain the eyes within a desired range, that range (and thus head movement tendencies) is not predicated upon the range of ocular eccentricity over which eye movements are accurately controlled.
Survival of European Corn Borer Larvae, Pyrausta nubilalis (Hubn.) in Artificial Tunnels in Stalks of Field Corn, Zea Mays L.

In the studies of the relationship between borer injury and corn yield, critical evaluations of the separate effects of leaf feeding and stalk feeding on ear growth are still lacking. This follows from the feeding habits of the com borer, which make it difficult to find plants with stalk injury alone. Such plants, however, may be produced if borer larvae can be transplanted into tunnels made artificially on plants which are free from leaf injury.
Meiotic segregation of circular plasmid-minichromosomes from intact chromosomes in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Distributive disjunction is defined by first meiotic division segregation of either two nonhomologous chromosomes that lack homologous pairing partners, or of two homologous chromosomes that have failed to undergo crossing-over. In the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, plasmid minichromosomes, synthetic linear chromosomes and a fragment of a real chromosome have been observed to segregate from nonhomologous DNA species at the first meiotic divisions. Suggesting that this organism may have a distributive mechanism for chromosome segregation. However, it is not known whether intact chromosomes also participate in a distributive process. To determine whether intact, full length, S. cerevisiae chromosomes could segregate from nonhomologous chromosomal species, the meiotic behavior of an unpaired intact copy of chromosome I has been analyzed with respect to several centromere-containing circular plasmid minichromosomes. Strains monosomic or trisomic for chromosome I were transformed with centromere plasmids containing either homologous or nonhomologous inserts, sporulated, and analyzed genetically both for the presence of plasmid and for the number of copies of chromosome 1. Each plasmid segregated from an intact unpaired copy of chromosome I at the first meiotic division in a significant majority (63–93%) of the asci examined. These results suggest that intact chromosomes from S. cerevisiae are capable of distributive disjunction.
Multi-level impacts on perceived career opportunity from global integration: human capital development within internal institutional environments

Using human capital and institutional theories, we analyze the impacts of individual- and office-level factors on the career perceptions of employees in a globally integrated firm. More specifically, we examine factors related to both employee human capital and their institutional operating environments that might influence whether employees perceive that their careers would benefit from greater global integration of their company. The hypotheses were tested using survey data from 398 employees nested within 44 offices in 15 countries, collected from a single multinational company. We find evidence that two of our hypothesized human capital-related factors (shared clients and service years) at the individual level and three of our institutionally-based predictors at the office level (office size, office centrality and client multinationality) have significant impacts on perceived career benefits from global integration. We also find marginal significance for a fourth office-level factor (office performanc...
Does social media improve communication? Evaluating the NIOSH science blog.

Background In 2007, NIOSH created the Science Blog as its first social media channel. The blog has more than 22,000 subscribers. The purpose of the evaluation was to identify the blog community of readers, its use as a two-way conversation channel and its effectiveness as an information resource. Methods Seventy-five readers randomly participated in an online survey from July 2009 to September 2009 to evaluate the Science Blog. Results Responses indicated that the NIOSH Science Blog was a valued social media resource. Sixty percent of participants planned to continue using the blog in the next 6 months. A significant proportion of readers reported that they would make changes in the workplace based on information obtained from the Science Blog. Conclusions The NIOSH Science Blog provides is a useful communication channel to provide workplace safety and health information and expand the Institute's reach to new consumers. Am. J. Ind. Med. 54:384–394, 2011. © 2011 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Finite Element Analysis Template Approach to Support Web Based Customer Centric Design

To survive in today’s volatile market, companies are striving to deliver greater quality, more customization and innovative designs by offering user customizable products. Mass customization features products that can be altered or changed by the customer to fit his/her needs. In order to incorporate customer specifications it is necessary to integrate the customer into the design process. Offering customized products while maintaining the reliability and efficiency of mass produced products calls for new tools and strategies in the design and manufacturing process. This paper presents a web based mass customization framework to provide customizable products in real time by integrating the customer into the design process. The approach is based on template(s) to automatically generate CAD models from customer specifications. Structural feasibility of the user specified configurations are then evaluated using automated Finite Element Analysis and communicated back to the user in real time. To achieve automated analysis a Product Family CAD and FEA template is presented. The CAD and FEA product family template generalizes the rules and guidelines for the entire product family to allow users to generate any member product. The template and the framework is implemented using commercial software. The applicability of the system is illustrated for web based customization of bicycle frames.Copyright © 2004 by ASME
Large deflection response and buckling of partially and fully loadedspherical caps

The Marguerre equations governing the finite deflections of spherical caps are adopted in the form of three equilibrium equations with u9 v9 and w, the usual displacement quantities, which are also the dependent variables in the differential equations. The equations are solved for different load situations using a finite difference nonlinear relaxation technique. A number of axisymmetric problems are solved including the following: a) uniformly loaded cap, b) "cosine" loaded cap, and c) uniformly loaded cap with clamped apex region. Complete response solutions are presented up to and including instability for two asymmetric problems—the quarter and semicircular (uniformly) loaded clamped caps. The results indicate that the smaller the load area, the lower the associated buckling pressure. An important finding is that the finite difference approximation to the V operator is grossly inaccurate in the vicinity of the pole for asymmetric problems. A general remedy is suggested.
The Protein Requirements of Growing Pullets

Abstract THE protein requirement for the young chick up to 8 weeks of age has been reported (Bird et al., 1954) to be 20 percent. The requirement after 8 weeks until the pullet is ready to lay has been reported as 16 percent. The protein levels for growing pullets have been determined by Roberts (1929), Swift et al. (1931), and Carver et al. (1932). Because the protein levels were determined a number of years ago when knowledge of vitamins and growth factors was less adequate than at present, the authors felt that the vitamin content of the protein feedstuffs might have affected the results. Recent experiments by Combs and Romoser (1955), Sunde (1955), Leong et al. (1955) and Potter et al. (1955) have shown that recommended protein levels without stated energy levels are not always accurate. Protein and energy are our two most costly items in formulating a poultry ration (Bird, …
Phosphorylation of CREB in thoracolumbar spinal neurons and dorsal root ganglia after renal artery occlusion in rat.

Abstract These studies have demonstrated that ipsilateral renal artery occlusion (RAO) in rat results in the phosphorylation of cyclic AMP (cAMP) response element binding protein (p-CREB) in the thoracolumbar (T8–L2) spinal cord and associated dorsal root ganglia (DRG). p-CREB-immunoreactivity (IR) was expressed bilaterally in the thoracolumbar spinal cord, whereas expression in the DRG was ipsilateral relative to RAO. p-CREB-IR was primarily expressed in four distinct regions of the spinal cord: medial or lateral dorsal horn (MDH or LDH), dorsal commissural nucleus (DCN) and the region of the intermediolateral cell column (IML). After RAO, p-CREB-IR was greatest in the T13–L2 spinal segments. Within the T13–L1 spinal segments, p-CREB-IR was greatest in the MDH, LDH and DCN and expression in each of these regions was comparable within a segment. Following RAO, there was a significant ( p ≤0.001) increase in the percentage (86–98%) of p-CREB-IR spinal neurons expressing choline acetyltransferase (ChAT)-IR (a marker of preganglionic neurons) in the IML of the T10, T12 and L1 spinal segments examined. After ipsilateral RAO, expression of p-CREB-IR was increased in the ipsilateral, T8–L2 DRG with the greatest number of p-CREB-IR dorsal root ganglion cells being located in the L1 dorsal root ganglion. Retrograde tracing with Fluorogold (FG) to label renal afferent cells in the DRG revealed a significant ( p ≤0.01) increase in the percentage (75–86%) of renal afferent cells expressing p-CREB-IR after ipsilateral RAO. These studies demonstrate that p-CREB-IR is a useful tool for examining the distribution of spinal neurons and DRG involved in reflexes of renal origin. In addition, expression of p-CREB-IR may be coupled to late response genes that may exert long-term changes in neuronal function after RAO.
Stereodynamics and conformational equilibria in some chiral pseudo-octahedral tungsten crotyl complexes

Abstract The complexes W(CO) 2 (η 3 -crotyl)(diphos)X, where X = Cl and I, and [W(CO) 3 (η 3 -crotyl)(diphos)]SbF 6 were prepared and characterized. The solution dynamics were examined with low temperature NMR experiments, with focus on the effect of the crotyl ligand on controlling the chirality at the metal. A steric influence of halide was also observed which results in different conformational and configurational preferences for the crotyl group. The spontaneous resolution of the neutral complex W(CO) 2 (η 3 -crotyl)(diphos)Cl provides a route for obtaining optically active samples of these compounds. It was found that the conversion to the cationic tricarbonyl complex greatly increases the racemization barrier of the chiral center in the crotyl and also renders the η 3 -ligand more susceptible to nucleophilic attack.
Side-Chain Entropy Opposes |alpha-Helix Formation but Rationalizes Experimentally Determined Helix-Forming Propensities

Abstract In recent host-guest studies, the helix-forming tendencies of amino acid residues have been quantified by three groups, each obtaining similar results [Padmanabhan, S., Marqusee, S., Ridgeway, T., Laue, T. M. & Baldwin, R. L. (1990) Nature (London) 344, 268-270; O'Neil, K. T. & DeGrado, W. F. (1990) Science 250, 646-651; Lyu, P. C., Liff, M. I., Marky, L. A. & Kallenbach, N. R. (1990) Science 250, 669-673]. Here, we explore the hypothesis that these measured helix-forming propensities are due primarily to conformational restrictions imposed upon residue side chains by the helix itself. This proposition is tested by calculating the extent to which the bulky helix backbone "freezes out" available degrees of freedom in helix side chains. Specifically, for a series of apolar residues, the difference in configurational entropy, delta S, between each side chain in the unfolded state and in the alpha-helical state is obtained from a simple Monte Carlo calculation. These computed entropy differences are then compared with the experimentally determined values. Measured and calculated values are found to be in close agreement for naturally occurring amino acids and in total disagreement for non-natural amino acids. In the calculation, delta S(Ala) = 0. The rank order of entropy loss for the series of natural apolar side chains under consideration is Ala less than Leu less than Trp less than Met less than Phe less than Ile less than Tyr less than Val. Among these, none favor helix formation; Ala is neutral, and all remaining residues are unfavorable to varying degrees. Thus, applied to side chains, the term "helix preference" is a misnomer. While side chain-side chain interactions may modulate stability in some instances, our results indicate that the drive to form helices must originate in the backbone, consistent with Pauling's view of four decades ago [Pauling, L., Corey, R. B. & Branson, H. R. (1951) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 37, 205-210].
Meal Size Effects on Antipredator Behavior of Hatchling Trinket Snakes, Elaphe helena

Current foraging models limit the decision-making process of animals to the food searching and consuming phase. The post-consummatory phase of feeding may influence optimal meal size for some species as a morphologic change often results from feeding. In snakes, a single prey item can lead to abrupt increases in body mass, thus influencing locomotor performance. Identifying factors affecting locomotor performance can help predict behaviors that should maximize an animal’s chance of evading predators. Although many snakes ingest large percentages of their body mass, not much work has examined the post-consummatory effects of ingesting bulky prey differing in relative mass. I examined the locomotor performance and antipredator tactics of hatchling trinket snakes (Elaphe helena) after subjecting snakes to mice prey varying by relative mass differences of 20‐35%, 50‐59% or 70‐79% of an individual hatchling’s body mass. Snakes in treatment groups were compared with snakes in a control group (0%). Meal size-affected locomotor parameters such as burst speed, endurance, and endurance times for hatchlings that ingested 50‐59% and 70‐79% of their body mass (p < 0.001). Recent feeding also affected the types of antipredator modes employed. Hatchlings in the 0% and 20‐35% treatments exhibited behaviors that were categorized as active and threatening, while hatchlings in the 50‐59% and 70‐79% treatments exhibited stationary, neutral, and cryptic behaviors. Although snakes may become more reclusive following a meal, this study demonstrates that relative prey mass affects the ability of hatchling trinket snakes to flee from a predator. In turn, these results suggest that the post-consummatory effects of foraging should be considered in optimal foraging models for organisms that consume a substantial portion of their body mass during a single feeding.
Experimental Investigation of Blood Cells Flowing Through Microscale Geometries Using MicroPIV

The advances made in the field of cardiovascular prostheses have proved invaluable in saving human lives. However, implanting such a device may cause unwanted results like thrombosis, the formation of blood clots inside blood vessels. This formation of thrombi can affect the flow of blood, which if left untreated may result in strokes. As the blood moves through various arteries and veins, the platelets move toward the periphery and the red blood cells (RBC) are more concentrated near the center. This process is called margination and has been shown by Aarts et al.[1]. The platelets in essence are policing the endothelial layer, and with any change in the endothelial layer, say as a result of injury, the platelets get activated, which in turn starts a domino effect eventually resulting in the formation of a clot to stop the bleeding. These platelets can also get activated due to their presence in regions of high shear as is the case when the blood is flowing through narrow constrictions (for example, when a mechanical heart valve is about to close). This phenomenon is referred to as Shear Induced Platelet Activation (SIPA)[2]. The goal of this research is to study the effect of constricted geometries, high shear rates and erythrocyte-platelet interactions on platelet activation and aggregate formation, events that are critical in the initiation of thrombosis. In order to understand SIPA, one must first obtain a detailed flow in these constricted geometries. Numerous studies have been performed to obtain the flow fields of blood flowing through microchannels [3, 4]. However, the Reynolds numbers based on the characteristic length of the microchannel were in the O (1). It is worth noting that for such laminar flows confocal particle image velocimetry can be successfully applied. In this present study, the Reynolds numbers were in the O (100), rendering confocal mPIV impractical and making Micro Particle Image Velocimetry (mPIV) a clear choice.© 2012 ASME
The optical light curve of the low-mass X-ray binary GX 9 + 9

The detection of a small modulation in the light curve of the GX 9 + 9 optical counterpart at the same period as determined from the X-ray data is reported. The optical variability is roughly sinusoidal in shape with a period of 4.198 + or - 0.0094 hours and an average peak-to-peak amplitude in the B of 0.19 mag with comparable amplitudes in the V and R bandpasses, and has superposed flickering with a typical amplitude of six percent. The mass of the companion star is deduced to be 0.4 solar mass, which corresponds to an early M-type star. The bulk of the optical light arises in the accretion disk, while the variability arises from orbital modulation of the light reprocessed off the companion star and a bright spot. It is suggested that the X-ray modulation might be due to the asymmetries of X-rays reflected off the bright spot.
Giant dielectric constant in the one-dimensional semiconductor Meφ3As (TCNQ)2

Abstract We have measured a large highly anisotropic dielectric constant in methyltriphenylarsonium ditetracyanoquinodimethanide as a function of frequency and temperature. We present a model based upon finite barriers in the conducting strands. Magnetic resonance and electrical conductivity are used in testing the model; good agreement is obtained.
Child passenger safety practices and injury risk in crashes with father versus mother drivers.

In order to test stereotypes that mothers are more safety conscious than fathers, this study aimed to explore differences in restraint patterns, front-row seating and injury for children in crashes when driven by fathers versus mothers, both when driving alone and with other adults. From 15 January 2003 to 30 November 2007, data were collected via insurance claims records and telephone surveys on a weighted sample of 10,715 child passengers in crashes. When riding with children and no other adults, father drivers in crashes were more likely than mother drivers to transport children <9 years old unrestrained or suboptimally restrained (35.0% vs 26.1%, p=0.001) and to seat children <13 years old in the front row (23.7% vs 14.3%, p<0.001). For children <16 years, no statistically significant difference in injury risk was noted for father versus mother drivers, regardless of adult passenger presence. Further improvements in child passenger safety might be gained with campaigns directed at both fathers and mothers.
The Roots of Early Black Nationalism: Northern African Americans' Invocations of Haiti in the Early Nineteenth Century

This article argues that Haiti played a far greater role in the cultural and political activities of northern free blacks than historians previously credited. The evolving political, economic and social makeup of Haiti during its first three decades of independence spurred African-American interest in the island-nation. Relying on American newspaper reports, sailors' accounts, messages from the state of Haiti, and where possible, African-American voices, this work demonstrates the emigration of the 1820s was not the first wave of African-American interest in the black republic but the culmination of decades of interaction and exposure to the Haitian black nationalist project.
Molecular dynamics studies of axis bending in d(G5-(GA4T4C)2-C5) and d(G5-(GT4A4C)2-C5): effects of sequence polarity on DNA curvature.

Gel retardation studies and other experiments indicate that DNA sequences containing the d(GA4T4C)n motif are curved, whereas those of identical composition but with a reverse sequence polarity, the d(GT4A4C)n motif, are straight. Hydroxyl radical cleavage experiments show that d(GA4T4C)n shows a unique signature, whereas d(GT4A4C)n behaves normally. To explain these results at a molecular level, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were performed on the DNA duplexes d(G5-(GA4T4C)2-C5) and d(G5-(GT4A4C)2-C5) to 3.0 and 2.5 ns, respectively. The MD simulations are based on the Cornell force field implemented in the AMBER 4.1 modeling package and performed in a neutral solution of anionic DNA with K+, Cl- and Mg2+ at concentrations roughly comparable to a ligase buffer. Long range interactions were treated by the particle mesh Ewald method. Analysis of the results shows that the calculated dynamical structure of d(G5-(GA4T4C)2-C5) exhibits strong gross curvature, consistent with the observed behavior. The most significant locus of curvature in the MD structure is found at the central C15-G16 step, with an average roll angle of 12.8(+/-6.40)deg. The d(G5-(GT4A4C)2-C5) MD structure exhibited significantly less gross curvature. Analysis of results indicates that the reduction in gross curvature in the d(G5-(GT4A4C)2-C5) trajectory originates from the effect of the T10-A11 and T20-A21 steps, which showed average roll angles of 12.5(+/-5)deg. These three steps, T10-A11, C15-G16 and T20-A21, are half-helix turns away from one another, and their contributions to concerted bending cancel out. The A-tracts in the MD structure are essentially straight. The dynamical structure of d(G5-(GA4T4C)2-C5) exhibited minor groove deformation comprised of expansion at the 5' end of A-tracts and progressive narrowing towards the 3' end, consistent with and elaborating the interpretation of hydroxyl radical chemical probing results.
Localization of Pain and Self-Reported Rape in a Female Community Sample

Objective. Studies suggest that rape increases risk of medically unexplained pain in women. At present it is not clear whether rape is associated with pain at specific locations or at multiple locations. In this study we tested the hypothesis that rape was associated with a preferential increase in risk of pelvic pain that was not explained by pain at other sites. Design. We relied on an existing community study that oversampled women with fibromyalgia and major depression. Localization was assessed by asking about pain at four sites: pelvic region; jaw/face; headache; and lower back. Three groups were identified using a structured telephone interview: Abuse Only (sexual/physical abuse excluding rape); Rape + Abuse (rape in addition to other sexual/physical abuse); and No Abuse. Results. Compared with the No Abuse group, the Rape + Abuse group was eight times more likely to have pelvic pain and 3.7 times more likely to have jaw/face pain after we controlled for the effect of widespread pain. Rape was not associated with lower back pain or headache. The Abuse Only group did not show a preferential increase in risk of pain at any of the four locations that were assessed. After controlling for pain at other locations, we found that the Rape + Abuse group was 10 times more likely to report pelvic pain than the No Abuse group ( P < 0.005). Discussion. In accord with the localization hypothesis, self-reported rape was uniquely associated with pelvic pain. Future efforts to account for pain in the aftermath of rape must specify a mechanism that can simultaneously cause widespread pain as well as increase risk of localized pain.
Diseases associated with chronic rhinosinusitis: what is the significance?

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: To discuss the systemic conditions that may impact the incidence, severity, prognosis, or treatment approach in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis. RECENT FINDINGS: Patients with allergic rhinitis do not necessarily have more severe chronic rhinosinusitis as assessed by symptom scores, nasal endoscopy, or computed tomography staging. However, at least in pediatric patients with chronic rhinosinusitis who undergo surgery, consideration of allergy and allergy treatment appears to improve surgical results. Patients with aspirin sensitivity have a more severe disease, but benefit from surgical treatment to the same degree as non-aspirin-sensitive patients with chronic rhinosinusitis. Surgical treatment of polypoid rhinosinusitis in cystic fibrosis patients improves symptoms, and aggressive surgical opening of sinus cavities may provide long-lasting benefit, though polyps will regrow in most patients, and many will require repeat surgery. Rhinosinusitis is among the most common infectious complications of humoral immunodeficiency, and humoral immunodeficiency is not uncommon in patients with refractory chronic rhinosinusitis. Patients with granulomatous disease causing rhinosinusitis, such as Wegener's granulomatosis, appear to suffer from a symptom burden that is equivalent to the broader population of chronic rhinosinusitis patients. SUMMARY: Systemic disease conditions influence the incidence, treatment, and severity of chronic rhinosinusitis. Specific diagnosis of these contributing conditions will facilitate appropriate treatment.
Applying Accelerated Molecular Dynamics to Crystal Growth

We discuss how recent accelerated molecular dynamics techniques can be applied to crystal growth studies. Focusing our attention on the temperature accelerated dynamics (TAD) method, we show that at low temperatures the accessible time scale can be several orders of magnitude greater than with ordinary molecular dynamics. This allows us to match experimental deposition rates, as shown by preliminary results for the Cu/Cu(100) system.
PMU Based State Estimation by Integrating Correlation

In this paper, a novel approach for hybrid power system static state estimation (SE) in the presence of phasor measurement units (PMUs) is presented. The proposed PMU-based SE takes into account existing time correlation in the PMU measurements. The PMU time series of measurements are modeled by short memory autoregressive (AR) models over short time periods. The correlation existing between PMU measurements at different buses is included using vector or multichannel AR models. The effectiveness and improved performance of the proposed PMU-based SE is demonstrated through a comparison analysis with practical hybrid SE methods. A theoretical analysis highlights the improvement over long execution periods of SE and high PMU sampling rates. Finally, a practical comparison is carried out on results from simulated Monte Carlo runs on the IEEE 14- and 118-bus test beds.
Organizational Structure and Firm Innovation in a Retail Chain

Two organizational structures for a retail chain are examined for their effect on the rate of firm innovation. A centralized organization is defined as one in which store practices are mandated from corporate headquarters (HQ) and this results in HQ being the sole source of new ideas. A decentralized organization gives freedom to store managers to adopt their own ideas and disseminates innovations made by store managers. The difference in average profit between the centralized and decentralized organizations is found to be a non-monotonic function of innovative opportunities. The centralized organization is preferred when innovative opportunities are moderate while the decentralized organization is preferred when such opportunities are rich. Centralization also tends to fare better in environments in which ideas are relatively complex.
The lupus anticoagulant is a risk factor for myocardial infarction (but not atherosclerosis): Hopkins Lupus Cohort

Abstract Antiphospholipid antibodies, both anticardiolipin and lupus anticoagulant, are common in SLE. We asked, in a prospective cohort, whether these antibodies are predictive of atherosclerosis and/or coronary artery disease. Methods: Three hundred eighty patients, 92% female, 49% Caucasian, 51% African-American, mean age 46.4±12.3 years are followed quarterly, with assessment of both anticardiolipin and lupus anticoagulant (dRVVT). These patients underwent both helical CT and carotid duplex. Results: Both the lupus anticoagulant and anticardiolipin are predictive of later venous or arterial thrombosis. Twenty years after diagnosis, SLE patients with the lupus anticoagulant (LA) have a 50% chance of a venous thrombotic event. Myocardial infarction occurs significantly more often in those with LA 22% vs. 9%, p=0.04. Neither anticardiolipin nor LA are associated with carotid IMT, carotid plaque, nor coronary calcium by helical CT. In aCL positive patients carotid IMT was 0.57±0.01 vs. 0.58±0.01 in aCL negative patients (p=NS); carotid plaque 0.47±0.13 vs. 0.32±0.10 (p=NS); and coronary calcium 65.4±37.4 vs. 65.4±30.2 (p=NS). In LA positive patients, carotid IMT was 0.59±0.03 vs. 0.59±0.02 in LA negative patients (p=NS); carotid plaque 0.07±0.02 (SE) vs. 0.80±0.02 (SE) (p=0.06); and coronary calcium 28.1±3.7 (SE) vs. 85.7±2.6 (SE) (p=NS). Conclusion: Antiphospholipid antibodies are not associated with subclinical atherosclerosis (carotid IMR, carotid plaque, helical CT coronary calcium), but are associated with actual thrombotic sequelae (myocardial infarction).
Evaluation of TDx cocaine metabolite assay.

J Materials and Methods The TDx cocaine metabolite fluorescence polarization immunoassay (Abbott Laboratories) for the detection of benzoylecgonlne (BE) in urine was evaluated. The threshold concentration for BE detection was 0.3 mg/L. The within- and between-run precision of the assay gave coefficients of variation less than 2.3% and 3.5%, respectively. One hundred twenty clinic urines positive for BE by hlgh-presaure liquid chromatography (HPLC) were analyzed by the TDx and EMIT-dau cocaine metabollte assays. All three methods were positive for BE in 116 samples, 96.7%. Two samples were positive by TDx and negative by EMIT.dau, and two samples were positive by EMIT-dau and negative by TDx. Cocaine and ecgonlne methyl ester cross reactivity with the TDx assay was less than 2%. One hundred drugs and drug metabolites were added to drug-free urine resulting In no false positive reactions. The same drugs and drug metabolites were also added to urine with 3.0 mg/L BE and analyzed by the TDx. No false positive reactions or inhibition of BE detection occurred.
Acute ethanol poisoning in a 6-year-old girl following ingestion of alcohol-based hand sanitizer at school.

Background Alcohol-based hand sanitizers (ABHSs) have been widely used in homes, workplaces and schools to prevent the spread of infectious diseases. We report a young child unintentionally ingested ABHS at a school, resulting in intoxication. Methods The child was a 6-year-old girl who had been brought to the emergency department (ED) for hypothermia, altered mental status (AMS), periods of hypoventilation, hypothermia and vomiting. Computed tomography of her head revealed nothing abnormal in intracranial pathology. Urine drug screening was negative. Alcohol level was 205 mg/dL on admission. Other abnormal values included potassium of 2.8 mEq/L, osmolality of 340 mOsm/kg and no hypoglycemia. Further investigation revealed that the patient had gone frequently to the class restroom for ingestion of unknown quantities of ABHSs during the day. The patient was admitted for one day for intravenous fluid hydration and close observation of her mental status. Results The patient was discharged from the hospital the next day without any complications. Conclusion Despite the large safety margin of ABHSs, emergency physicians need to be aware of the potential risk of ingestion of a large amount of such products in children and consider it in the assessment and management of school-age children with acute AMS.
“Being in a Funk”: Teens’ Efforts to Understand Their Depressive Experiences

Although there is literature about adults' experiences of depression, little research has focused on teenagers' experiences. In this article, the authors describe how a sample of adolescents makes sense of depression and responds to a depression diagnosis. Twenty-two adolescents participated in in-depth individual or focus group interviews. Teens discussed their experiences with depression and getting health care for depression, and described a trajectory similar to that found among adults: a slow growth of distress, a time of being in a funk, and a time of consideration of whether they are depressed. Teens who received a diagnosis from a medical provider then sought to make sense of their depression. Teens understood a depression diagnosis as a helpful label, a chronic medical problem, or a significant part of their identity. Understanding the subjective experience of adolescents who are depressed might increase health care providers'empathy and improve their communication with teens.
Passive Remote Sensing and Radio Frequency Interference (RFI): An Overview of Spectrum Allocations and RFI Management Algorithms [Technical Committees]

The Frequency Allocations in Remote Sensing (FARS) Technical Committee (TC) was formed in 2000 as a means for the IEEE Geoscience and Remote Sensing Society (GRSS) community to discuss spectrum management issues that affect the remote sensing field and to provide a unified interface to the regulatory world. Presently, FARS members include 84 engineers and scientists representing government, academic and industrial entities across 10 countries.
Circuits of scrap: closed loop industrial ecosystems and the geography of US international recyclable material flows 1995–2005

The recycling of scrap material has been identified as an important strategy in the larger theory of industrial ecology. Industrial ecology argues that the traditional model of industrial activity needs to be transformed into a 'closed loop' industrial ecosystem where used materials (scrap) and by-products would substitute for virgin materials during production processes. The recycling of scrap material forms part of this larger effort to reduce the overall environmental impact of production and consumption. A key, but as yet, unresolved ques tion in this process is the geographic scale (local, regional, national, global) at which loop closing should take place. This preliminary empirical research examines the export and import geography of the seven largest (by weight) US scrap commodities (iron and steel, paper, plastics, aluminium, copper, nickel and zinc) between 1995 and 2005 to ascertain the extent to which US scrap flows overseas and how that might affect our understanding of how material loops can close. Other than an integrated export and import relationship with Canada, the results suggest that there are two distinct circuits of scrap flows in the USA. The USA exports a substantial portion of the recyclable scrap generated each year to rapidly developing countries, while importing smaller quantities of scrap from the EU. With the major exception of exporting higher value iron and steel scrap to China, the US tends to export lower value scrap and import higher value scrap. In part this reflects imbalances in the supply and demand for scrap between the USA and the developing world, the lack of potentially available scrap and the absence of a robust recycling infrastructure in the developing world. Although such scrap circuits are probably not ideal, the use of US scrap in the developing world is both a realistic and preferable alternative in the short to medium term than virgin production.
Recent benthic foraminiferal provinces between Newfoundland and Yucatan

In 219 papers published over 130 years, 1,241 species of Recent benthic foraminifera were recorded from 968 localities on the Atlantic continental margin of North America and in the Gulf of Mexico. On the Atlantic continental margin, 876 species were recorded and in the Gulf of Mexico, 848; 483 species (39% of 1,241) occur in both areas. On the Atlantic continental margin, 149 species occur at 4% or more of 542 localities, and in the Gulf of Mexico 295 species occur at 4% or more of 426 localities; 71 of these species (19% of 373) commonly occur in both areas. These comparisons show that the two areas differ fundamentally in faunal composition. Cluster analysis of presence or absence distributional data (live and dead foraminifera) delimited seven large provinces on the Atlantic continental margin and four provinces in the Gulf of Mexico. Atlantic continental margin: (a) Northern Coastal Province, (b) Northern Shelf Province, (c) Northern Outer Shelf and Slope Province, (d) Northern Slope and Rise Province, (e) Southern Shelf Province, (f) Southern Slope Province, (g) Bahaman Province. Gulf of Mexico: (a) Coastal Province, (b) Inner Shelf Province, (c) Outer Shelf Province, (d) Slope and Abyssal Plain Province. Bottom-water mass and provincial patterns show good spatial correlation on the Atlantic continental margin and in the Gulf of Mexico.
Sockets Direct Protocol over InfiniBand in clusters: is it beneficial?

The Sockets Direct Protocol (SDP) had been proposed recently in order to enable sockets based applications to take advantage of the enhanced features provided by InfiniBand architecture. In this paper, we study the benefits and limitations of an implementation of SDP. We first analyze the performance of SDP based on a detailed suite of micro-benchmarks. Next, we evaluate it on two different real application domains: (1) A multitier data-center environment and (2) A Parallel Virtual File System (PVFS). Our micro-benchmark results show that SDP is able to provide up to 2.7 times better bandwidth as compared to the native sockets implementation over InfiniBand (IPoIB) and significantly better latency for large message sizes. Our experimental results also show that SDP is able to achieve a considerably higher performance (improvement of up to 2.4 times) as compared to IPoIB in the PVFS environment. In the data-center environment, SDP outperforms IPoIB for large file transfers inspite of currently being limited by a high connection setup time. However, this limitation is entirely implementation specific and as the InfiniBand software and hardware products are rapidly maturing, we expect this limitation to be overcome soon. Based on this, we have shown that the projected performance for SDP, without the connection setup time, can outperform IPoIB for small message transfers as well.
Control of mRNA stability contributes to low levels of nuclear poly(A) binding protein 1 (PABPN1) in skeletal muscle.

The nuclear poly(A) binding protein 1 (PABPN1) is a ubiquitously expressed proteinthat plays critical roles at multiple steps in post-transcriptional regulation ofgene expression. Short expansions of the polyalanine tract in the N-terminus ofPABPN1 lead to oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy (OPMD), which is an adult onsetdisease characterized by eyelid drooping, difficulty in swallowing, and weaknessin the proximal limb muscles. Why alanine-expanded PABPN1 leads to muscle-specificpathology is unknown. Given the general function of PABPN1 in RNA metabolism,intrinsic characteristics of skeletal muscle may make this tissue susceptible tothe effects of mutant PABPN1. To begin to understand the muscle specificity of OPMD, we investigated thesteady-state levels of PABPN1 in different tissues of humans and mice.Additionally, we analyzed the levels of PABPN1 during muscle regeneration afterinjury in mice. Furthermore, we assessed the dynamics of PABPN1 mRNA decay inskeletal muscle compared to kidney. Here, we show that the steady-state levels of both PABPN1 mRNA and protein aredrastically lower in mouse and human skeletal muscle, particularly those impactedin OPMD, compared to other tissues. In contrast, PABPN1 levels are increasedduring muscle regeneration, suggesting a greater requirement for PABPN1 functionduring tissue repair. Further analysis indicates that modulation of PABPN1expression is likely due to post-transcriptional mechanisms acting at the level ofmRNA stability. Our results demonstrate that PABPN1 steady-state levels and likely control ofexpression differ significantly in skeletal muscle as compared to other tissues,which could have important implications for understanding the muscle-specificnature of OPMD.
Electron spin relaxation of irradiated ferroelectric KDP: K2SeO4☆

Electron spin resonance relaxation times were measured for the radiation induced radical ion SeO43− in selenium doped KDP single crystals. The spin-lattice relaxation time was found to obey the relation T1R−1 = AT + BT5 ∫0θ2T x4 csch2x dx from 7 K to 200 K except in the neighborhood of the transition temperature where the data fit the expression T1−1 = T1R−1b±T − Tcm± where θ is the Debye temperature and the plus and minus signs refer to data at temperatures above and below Tc respectively.
FadE: whole genome methylation analysis for multiple sequencing platforms

DNA methylation plays a central role in genomic regulation and disease. Sodium bisulfite treatment (SBT) causes unmethylated cytosines to be sequenced as thymine, which allows methylation levels to reflected in the number of ‘C’-‘C’ alignments covering reference cytosines. Di-base color reads produced by lifetech’s SOLiD sequencer provide unreliable results when translated to bases because single sequencing errors effect the downstream sequence. We describe FadE, an algorithm to accurately determine genome-wide methylation rates directly in color or nucleotide space. FadE uses SBT unmethylated and untreated data to determine background error rates and incorporate them into a model which uses Newton–Raphson optimization to estimate the methylation rate and provide a credible interval describing its distribution at every reference cytosine. We sequenced two slides of human fibroblast cell-line bisulfite-converted fragment library with the SOLiD sequencer to investigate genome-wide methylation levels. FadE reported widespread differences in methylation levels across CpG islands and a large number of differentially methylated regions adjacent to genes which compares favorably to the results of an investigation on the same cell-line using nucleotide-space reads at higher coverage levels, suggesting that FadE is an accurate method to estimate genome-wide methylation with color or nucleotide reads. http://code.google.com/p/fade/.
Larval Ethanol Exposure Alters Adult Circadian Free-Running Locomotor Activity Rhythm in Drosophila melanogaster

Alcohol consumption causes disruptions in a variety of daily rhythms, including the sleep-wake cycle. Few studies have explored the effect of alcohol exposure only during developmental stages preceding maturation of the adult circadian clock, and none have examined the effects of alcohol on clock function in Drosophila. This study investigates developmental and behavioral correlates between larval ethanol exposure and the adult circadian clock in Drosophila melanogaster, a well-established model for studying circadian rhythms and effects of ethanol exposure. We reared Drosophila larvae on 0%, 10%, or 20% ethanol-supplemented food and assessed effects upon eclosion and the free-running period of the circadian rhythm of locomotor activity. We observed a dose-dependent effect of ethanol on period, with higher doses resulting in shorter periods. We also identified the third larval instar stage as a critical time for the developmental effects of 10% ethanol on circadian period. These results demonstrate that developmental ethanol exposure causes sustainable shortening of the adult free-running period in Drosophila melanogaster, even after adult exposure to ethanol is terminated, and suggests that the third instar is a sensitive time for this effect.