cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Why do we need high-resolution observations of the sun?

To make progress on major unsolved problems in solar physics ( e.g ., coronal heating, eruptive flare/CME initiation, solar wind initiation), we must observe on scales relevant to the underlying physical processes and their signatures. In this review I discuss the factors determining the structure of magnetic fields and plasmas in the Sun’s outer atmosphere, the key observable signatures of the relevant processes and properties, and the instrumental capabilities necessary to detect and measure these signatures. The primary emphasis is on state-of-the-art theoretical and numerical predictions, which often are the only means by which we can estimate the complex time-dependent evolution of the underlying physical mechanisms and their local and global effects on the corona.
Delivery of functional proteins to brain tumor using MRI-monitored, magnetically-targeted nanoparticles

Abstract This study investigated the feasibility of utilizing iron-oxide nanoparticles as a platform for the delivery of functional proteins to brain tumors via magnetic targeting. β-galactosidase-loaded particles were administered to glioma-bearing rats through a non-occlusively catheterized carotid artery with (test group) or without (control) magnetic targeting. Non-invasive MRI monitoring confirmed delivery of targeted nanoparticles to the tumor. Tumor lesions of magnetically targeted rats exhibited 7-fold increase in β-galactosidase activity compared to non-targeted animals, demonstrating feasibility of our approach.
α-D-Glucopyranosyl flouride as a D-glucopyranosyl donor for a glycosyltransferase complex from streptococcus mutans FA1

alpha-D-glucopyranosyl fluoride can serve as the D-glucopyranosyl donor for the glycosyltransferase from Streptococcus mutans. The products of the reaction are a D-glucan of high molecular weight and fluoride ion. The rate of reaction was measured by an electrode specific for the fluoride ion. The reaction was inhibited by the substrate at concentrations greater than 30 mM, but was not affected by fluoride ion. There was little inhibition of the reaction by a series of monosaccharides, except for 2-amino-2-deoxy-D-glucose, D-mannitol, and 3-deoxy-D-ribo-hexose. Maltose, isomaltose, isomaltotriose, and D-fructose all stimulated the release of fluoride from alpha-D-glucopyranosyl fluoride.
Adoption of hospital case management: economic and institutional influences

Abstract Case management became prevalent in US hospitals in the 1990s and is believed to be beneficial in controlling resource utilization, improving quality of care, reducing variation of care processes and enhancing both patient and staff satisfaction. This research investigates the adoption of case management by US hospitals at three time periods: 1994, 1997, and 2000. We propose that both economic and institutional factors influence the adoption of this management innovation, with economic factors being more influential in early and mid-periods (1994–1997) and institutional factors being more influential in later periods (after 1997). Using American Hospital Association Annual Survey Data and community data from the Area Resources File, we assess the relationship of baseline (1994) hospital and market characteristics to the likelihood of early adoption compared to late adoption, and mid-adoption compared to late adoption. We confirm that both economic and institutional forces influence the likelihood of early and mid-period adoption of case management compared to late adoption. We conclude that institutional influences aimed at achieving or maintaining legitimacy may be as strong a motivator for hospitals to adopt case management as are economic incentives. Implications for practice and further research are discussed.
Prevention of coronary heart disease in women.

Objective Coronary heart disease (CHD) mortality is higher in women than in men and misdiagnosis of CHD in women is one of the reasons for this, with differences in the presentation of CHD between men and women being a cause for the misdiagnosis. This review discusses the need for evidence-based guidelines to diagnose and treat CHD in women.Methods Reviews, randomized controlled trials, and other studies pertinent to the topic were obtained using electronic search strategies, such as MEDLINE and Cochran Library, as well as manual selection. Sources selected were limited to those that discussed CHD, with specific emphasis placed on sources that focused on CHD in women. Selected studies were then assessed for quality of data and relevance via analysis of the study's methodology, results, and data. Results of selected studies were then stratified using a rating system devised to determine the quality of results using the scientific evidence provided for them. The references of the selected studies were then ...
Single-Molecule Studies of Kissing Loop Interactions in Guanine Riboswitch

Guanine riboswitches are structural elements in the 5′- untranslated region of certain mRNAs. These RNA receptors specifically bind guanine and other closely related purines to regulate gene expression. While the basis of ligand-binding and molecular discrimination has been studied to atomic details, the associated structural rearrangements upon ligand-binding are poorly understood. Using a high resolution optical-tweezers that can measure forces at +/− 0.15 pN, distances at 1 nm accuracy with temporal resolution of sub-milliseconds (< 0.25 msec), we followed the structural rearrangements that follows immediately upon guanine-binding at < 1 sec. Our results from the equilibrium sampling and the mutational analysis provide mechanistic insights into the folding of kissing loop interactions that are crucial for the compaction of the riboswitch core leading to the receptor conformation.
Pulmonary Air Embolism During Insertion of a Permanent Transvenous Cardiac Pacemaker

In two patients pulmonary air embolism was a complication of the implantation of a permanent transvenous cardiac pacemaker. One of these patients, in whom air embolism was documented by cinefluorograms, is described in detail. Cinefluorograms demonstrated air in the right ventricle and main pulmonary artery with clear visualization of the opening and closing of the pulmonary valve. Both patients were treated conservatively by use of the left lateral decubitus position and administration of oxygen. The pathophysiology, hazards, and therapy of this complication are reviewed. Massive pulmonary air embolism is potentially fatal, and special care with regard to insertion of the electrode catheter should be taken in order to prevent it.
Coefficients of static friction under statically and dynamically applied loads

Abstract The coefficient of static friction under static loads with normal pressures of about 10,000 p.s.i. and under dynamically applied loads ranging from 10,000 to 20,000 p.s.i. were determined. The test apparatus was so arranged that dynamically applied normal and tangential loads are applied simultaneously. Results are given for combinations of steel rubbing on steel, titanium on steel, uranium on uranium, titanium on uranium, beryllium on uranium, and beryllium on titanium. Conclusions are that: (i) For certain combinations of metallic surfaces such as steel on steel and titanium on steel, the coefficient of static friction under a dynamically applied load is different from and less than the coefficient of friction under a static load; whereas for some other combinations of metals such as uranium on uranium, titanium on uranium, beryllium on uranium, and beryllium on titanium, the coefficient of static friction is essentially the same for static and dynamically applied loads. (ii) For some of the metals the coefficient of static friction was considerably changed by sliding under the applied loads. (iii) Titanium on steel shows a peculiarity not exhibited by any of the other metals tested. A small amount of slipping causes the kinetic coefficient of friction to rise above the previous static coefficient of friction.
A New Dynamic Latch Offset Measurement Technique For Offset Cancellation

This paper introduces a new technique that uses a differential amplifier in closed-loop negative feedback configuration to measure the offset of a dynamic latch. This offset can then be stored and canceled using standard techniques, thus allowing gain reduction in the preamplifier stages in high-resolution comparators. Input offset storage was used to cancel the offset of the feedback differential amplifier itself without adding any extra timing overhead. A complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) comparator was designed based on the proposed technique. The comparator consists of a preamplifier followed by a dynamic latch with series capacitors in between to cancel the offsets of both stages. The output of the comparator drives a 1 pF load capacitance and is held valid for at least 75% of the cycle. The performance of the comparator was simulated using HSPICE with the worst-case combination of differences as large as 10 mV between the thresholds of nominally identical transistors, where it achieved an offset of 400 μV at a 40 MHz clock rate in 0.6 μ CMOS technology while dissipating 1 mW from a 3.3 V power supply.
Optimally Directed Shape Generation by Shape Annealing

The new design technique of shape annealing is introduced. Shape annealing is a variation of the simulated annealing stochastic optimization technique. It produces optimally directed shapes within the language specified by a shape grammar. It does so by controlling the selection and application of shape rules such that superior shapes evolve as the algorithm progresses.
Impact of Distraction on the Driving Performance of Adolescents With and Without Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

IMPORTANCE This study extends the literature regarding attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)-related driving impairments to a newly licensed, adolescent population. OBJECTIVE To investigate the combined risks of adolescence, ADHD, and distracted driving (cell phone conversation and text messaging) on driving performance. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS Adolescents aged 16 to 17 years with (n = 28) and without (n = 33) ADHD engaged in a simulated drive under 3 conditions (no distraction, cell phone conversation, and texting). During each condition, one unexpected event (eg, another car suddenly merging into driver's lane) was introduced. INTERVENTIONS Cell phone conversation, texting, and no distraction while driving. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Self-report of driving history, average speed, standard deviation of speed, standard deviation of lateral position, and braking reaction time during driving simulation. RESULTS Adolescents with ADHD reported fewer months of driving experience and a higher proportion of driving violations than control subjects. After controlling for months of driving history, adolescents with ADHD demonstrated more variability in speed and lane position than control subjects. There were no group differences for braking reaction time. Furthermore, texting negatively impacted the driving performance of all participants as evidenced by increased variability in speed and lane position. CONCLUSIONS To our knowledge, this study is one of the first to investigate distracted driving in adolescents with ADHD and adds to a growing body of literature documenting that individuals with ADHD are at increased risk for negative driving outcomes. Furthermore, texting significantly impairs the driving performance of all adolescents and increases existing driving-related impairment in adolescents with ADHD, highlighting the need for education and enforcement of regulations against texting for this age group. Keywords: Driver distraction; Language: en
Multiple sites in evaluation research: A survey of organizational and methodological issues

The methodology of multiple sites in evaluation research requires a balance between benefits and challenges.
Primary crystallization reactions in Al-based metallic glass alloys

Abstract For Al-based metallic glasses primary crystallization is effective in yielding nanoscale microstructures with crystal densities upto 1022 m−3 or higher. The crystallization kinetics determinations support a heterogeneous nucleation from quenched in atom arrangements that act as catalysts, but the kinetics are also influenced by transient effects. The decaying growth rate at long times can be related to diffusion field impingement, but other factors operate at short times. The primary crystallization reaction can be controlled effectively by suitable minor solute substitution to enhance nanocrystal densities upto 1023 m−3 at refined sizes or to inhibit nucleation to lower densities of about 1020 m−3. These developments offer new opportunities for control of nanoscale microstructures and also challenges for the understanding of the reaction mechanisms.
Rates of brain atrophy over time in autopsy-proven frontotemporal dementia and Alzheimer disease

Rates of brain loss have been shown to accelerate over time in early Alzheimer’s disease (AD); however the trajectory of change in frontotemporal lobar degeneration with ubiquitin immunoreactive-changes (FTLD-U) is unknown. This study compared the progression of atrophy over multiple MRI in subjects with autopsy confirmed AD and FTLD-U. Nine subjects with autopsy confirmed FTLD-U, and nine with autopsy confirmed AD, were identified that had three or more serial MRI. The boundary-shift integral was used to calculate change over time in whole brain and ventricular volume. A hierarchical regression model was used to estimate the slope of volume change in AD and FTLD-U over time and to estimate differences in the slopes across the subject groups. Whole brain volume loss did not deviate from a linear rate over time in both AD and FTLD-U subjects, although this may be due to limited sample size. The FTLD-U subjects had a faster rate (23ml/yr) than the AD subjects (10ml/yr). The rate of ventricular expansion accelerated over time. At the point when each subject had a Clinical Dementia Rating Sum-of-Boxes score of 6 the annual rate was 7ml/yr in FTLD-U and 5ml/yr in AD. These rates of change increased by an estimated 1.66ml/yr in FTLD-U, and 0.44ml/yr in AD, although these estimates were not significantly different between the two groups. The trajectory of brain and ventricular changes were similar in AD and FTLD-U suggesting that it is independent of pathology, although subjects with FTLD-U show a more rapidly progressive decline.
Is myelin basic protein crystallizable

Myelin basic protein (MBP) is the predominant extrinsic protein in both central and peripheral nervous system myelins. It is thought to be involved in the stabilizing interactions between myelin membranes, and it may play an important role in demyelinating diseases such as multiple sclerosis. In spite of the fact that this abundant protein has been known for almost three decades, its three-dimensional crystal structure has not yet been determined. In this study we report on our extensive attempts to crystallize the major 18.5 kDa isoform of MBP. We used MBP having different degrees of purity, ranging from crude MBP (that was acid or salt extracted from isolated myelin), to highest purity single isoform. We used conventional strategies in our search for a suitable composition or a crystallization medium. We applied both full and incomplete factorial searches for crystallization conditions. We analyzed the available data on proteins which have previously resisted crystallization, and applied this information to our own experiments. Nevertheless, despite our efforts which included 4600 different conditions, we were unable to induce crystallization of MBP. Previous work on MBP indicates that when it is removed from its native environment in the myelin membrane and put in crystallization media, the protein adopts a random coil conformation and persists as a population of structurally non-identical molecules. This thermodynamically preferred state presumably hinders crystallization, because the most fundamental factor of protein crystallization-homogeneity of tertiary structure-is lacking. We conclude that as long as its random coil flexibility is not suppressed, 18.5 kDa MBP and possibly also its isoforms will remain preeminent examples of proteins that cannot be crystallized.
Activity-Based Interventions for the Upper Extremity in Spinal Cord Injury

Although approximately half of all people with spinal cord injury (SCI) have upper extremity (UE) dysfunction, there is a great deal of technology and focus on improving leg strength and retraining gait after SCI and not on UE strength and function. The principles of activity-based interventions, which involve intense activity to access and improve spinal cord circuitry and to produce long-lasting neural and functional changes, are being routinely translated to rehabilitation of the lower extremities in individuals with SCI. Activity-based approaches may be useful for facilitating long-term neural and functional changes in the UE as well. Yet, the understanding of how to facilitate UE movement in tetraplegia and how to develop and apply new approaches or technology to improve UE function is significantly lacking. This article evaluates the literature pertaining to the use of activity-based interventions to improve UE function after SCI and discusses the relevance of evidence for activity-based interventio...
Two separable phases of behaviorally manifest memory for one-trial learning in chicks.

Immediate post-trial administration of transcranial current left a low level of retention at 30 rnin which disappeared within 2 hr. When current administration was delayed for 1 min after training trial, substantial retention was observed at 30 min which increased to asymptotic level at 1 hr. These results may indicate the existence of 2 phases of measurable memory. Phase 1 is immune or only partially susceptible to current disruption and lasts for at least 30 min. Phase 2 is induced within seconds after training, but its trace formation is a long process involving several stages; only the beginning stage is current-disruptable, but this phase of memory is not expressed until the entire process is complete.
The Sari: Styles, Patterns, History, Technique

An illustrated survey of the sari, the unique south Asian textile tradition. Covering the entire Indian subcontinent and including remote and restricted tribal areas such as the north-east, it provides analysis of thousands of sari types from different cultures around India. The simplicity of the sari - an untailored length of cloth measuring between four and nine metres long by approximately one metre wide - is set against a wide variety of fabrics, colours, patterns and draping styles. There are diverse regional traditions of colour, pattern and weave, analyzed here through a six-fold division of the Indian sub-continent: the West, the East, the North-East and the Himalayas, the Eastern Deccan, the South and the Western Deccan. Each section is accompanied by a display of photographed sari types. There is a detailed analysis of sari design, giving a guide to the symbols, patterns and motifs used, together with their origins and information about how they have evolved. Many rare and unusual saris are featured. There are translations given of Indian words and concepts.
Peroxide-induced spectral perturbations of the 280-nm absorption band of cytochrome c oxidase

It is now widely believed that the first two electrons transferred to the dioxygen reduction site in cytochrome c oxidase (CcO) are not coupled to proton translocation. The activation of the pump cycle correlates with the binding of dioxygen to the binuclear center. In order to investigate conformational changes in CcO associated with the formation of dioxygen intermediates during the catalytic cycle of CcO, the effects of hydrogen peroxide binding to CcO have been examined using UV optical absorption and second derivative techniques. Our data indicates that in the presence low concentrations of H2O2 (2:1 molar ratio) an initial CcO-peroxide species is formed in which the 280-nm absorption band is red shifted. This red shift occurs prior to spectral changes associated with H2O2 binding to cytochrome a3. Upon addition of higher concentrations of H2O2 (> 10 equivalents of H2O2 per equivalent of CcO) oxidized CcO is converted to F-state enzyme with no corresponding shift at 280 nm. It is suggested that H2O2 initially binds to CuB2+ resulting in a conformational change in the enzyme giving rise to a red-shifted 280 nm band. The absence of any conformational changes in F-state enzyme is consistent with the lack of bridging interactions with CuB2+ in this intermediate.
Glycogen concentration and regulation of synthase activity in rat liver in vivo.

Abstract The proportion of liver glycogen synthase in the ac tive (R + I) forms is lower in the fed than in the fasted state, This has been attributed to inhibition of synthase phosphatase by the accumulated hepatic glycogen. We observed that after oral administration of glucose or galactose to fasted rats, hepatic synthase R + I activity first increased, as expected, but then decreased to a nadir significantly below the control level regardless of the maximal glycogen concentration reached. Therefore, we investigated further the relationship of hepatic synthase R + I activity and glycogen concentration in vivo in fasted rats given increasing oral glucose loads. Male rats fasted 24 h were given glucose doses of 0.1-4.0 g/kg by oral gavage (n ≥ 8). Liver synthase R + I, total synthase, phosphorylase a, glucose, glycogen, glucose-6-P, and UDPglucose were measured at intervals over 20-240 min after gavage, Even the smallest glucose load elicited rapid glycogen synthesis. The maximum glycogen concentration increased linearly with the size of the glucose load, although the proportion of administered glucose accounted for by liver glycogen decreased as the glucose load increased. The proportion of synthase in the active (R + I) forms peaked at 20 min after all doses and then declined. By the time the glycogen concentration was maximal, synthase R + I activity had decreased to the control value, regardless of the glucose dose administered or the maximum glycogen concentration reached. Although the decrease in synthase R + I at the time of the glycogen peak was correlated with the increase in glycogen concentration, synthase R + I continued to decrease for another 1-2 h even though liver glycogen was stable or decreasing. The nadir reached was independent of the maximal glycogen concentration. The synthase R + I nadir also did not correlate with hepatic glucose or glucose-g-P concentrations or phosphorylase a activity. Overall, there was not a straightforward temporal or quantitative relationship between the glycogen concentration and synthase R + I activity. These data suggest a more complex mechanism than simply direct inhibition of synthase phosphatase by glycogen.
Screening the genome to detect an association with hypertension

We report tree-based association analysis as applied to the two Framingham cohorts and to the first replication of the simulated data obtained from the Genetic Analysis Workshop 13. For this analysis, familial association is ignored. The two endpoints examined are hypertension status at initial visit and time-to-hypertension, using a censored data approach. Although linkage association has previously been reported with hypertension, we found no association using the tree-based methodology.
Process Simulation and Economic Feasibility Analysis for a Hydrogen-Based Novel Suspension Ironmaking Technology

A novel gas-solid suspension ironmaking process is under development at the University of Utah, which would greatly reduce energy consumption and carbon dioxide emission compared with current blast furnace technology. The proposed process is based on the flash reduction of iron ore concentrate using a gaseous reagent, such as hydrogen, syngas, natural gas or a combination of thereof. A process flow sheet of the proposed ironmaking process using purchased hydrogen was constructed and then simulations were performed at several potential operating conditions. Ironmaking was simulated using two different process configurations. The simulation results show that the required fresh hydrogen would increase with higher excess driving force and operating temperature, but not greatly when hydrogen is preheated. Compared with the average blast furnace process, the proposed process would reduce energy consumption by 57 - 60%, using the higher heating value of hydrogen (71 – 73%, if the lower heating value is used), when hydrogen and coal are considered as the starting materials in the respective processes. The economic feasibility analysis using net present value (NPV) indicates that the proposed process could be economically feasible at elevated hot metal prices and/or if reduction in carbon dioxide emissions has a significant value in a cap and trade scenario.
Sensing device co-location through patterns of silence

This document describes the technology behind the accompanying video, which gives a demonstration of determining the dynamic group membership of a meeting by matching patterns of relative audio silence, or "silence signatures," sensed by mobile devices.
Phylogeography and intraspecific genetic variation of prochilodontid fishes endemic to rivers of Northern South America

Phylogeography and intraspecific genetic variation were studied in prochilodontids endemic to the Orinoco, Essequibo and Amazon River basins of northern South America. Portions of two protein-encoding mitochondrial (mt) DNA genes, ND4 and CO1, were examined using single-strand conformational polymorphisms (SSCPs) and nucleotide sequencing. Phylogeographic analysis indicated that the geographically widespread Prochilodus rubrotaeniatus is paraphyletic, with individuals from the Orinoco sharing most recent common ancestry with co-occurring Prochilodus mariae. A second Prochilodus rubrotaeniatus clade was composed of haplotypes found in the Rio Cuyuni (Essequibo Basin) and tributaries of the Rio Negro (Amazon Basin). Intraspecific genetic analysis suggested that a complex set of processes have influenced patterns of genetic variation in prochilodontid lineages. Prochilodus rubrotaeniatus is monomorphic at both loci in the Rio Negro and probably recently colonized this basin from the Rio Essequibo. Only two of 55 P. mariae exhibited variant haplotypes, and both had resulted from non-synonymous changes in the ND4 region. These observations were counter to neutral expectation and consistent with the action of natural selection on the mitochondrion. Overall, these analyses implicate vicariance, demography and selection for driving diversification of prochilodontids in northern South America.
Electron beam-plasma interaction experiments with the Versatile Toroidal Facility (VTF)

Summary form only given, as follows. Our laboratory investigation of electron beam-plasma interactions is motivated by the recent space shuttle experiments. Interesting but puzzling phenomena were observed in the shuttle experiments such as the bulk heating of background ionospheric plasmas by the injected electron beams and the excitation of plasma waves in the frequency range of ELF waves. Our plasma machine, the Versatile Toroidal Facility (VTF) can generate a large magnetized plasma with the electron plasma frequency greater than the electron gyrofrequency by a factor of 3-5 similar to the plasma condition in the ionosphere. Short pulses of electron beams are injected into the VTF plasmas in order to simulate the beam injection from spacecrafts in the ionosphere. A Langmuir probe installed at a bottom port of VTF monitors the spatial variation of electron beams emitted from LaB6 filaments. An energy analyzer has been used to determine the particle energy distribution in the VTF plasmas. Several mechanisms will be tested as potential causes of the bulk heating of background plasmas by the injected electron beams as seen in the space shuttle experiments. It is speculated that the observed ELF emissions result from the excitation of purely growing modes detected by the space shuttle-borne detectors. Results of our laboratory experiments will be reported to corroborate this speculation.
Genetic variants in a haplotype block spanning IDE are significantly associated with plasma Aβ42 levels and risk for Alzheimer disease

Risk for late onset Alzheimer disease (LOAD) and plasma amyloid beta levels (Aβ42; encoded by APP), an intermediate phenotype for LOAD, show linkage to chromosome 10q. Several strong candidate genes (VR22, PLAU, IDE) lie within the 1-lod support interval for linkage. Others have independently identified haplotypes in the chromosome 10q region harboring IDE that show highly significant association with intermediate AD phenotypes and with risk for AD. To pursue these associations, we analyzed the same haplotypes for association with plasma Aβ42 in 24 extended LOAD families and for association with LOAD in two independent case-control series. One series (MCR, 188 age-matched case-control pairs) did not show association (p=0.64) with the six haplotypes in the 276-kb region spanning three genes (IDE, KNSL1, and HHEX) previously shown to associate with LOAD. The other series (MCJ, 109 age-matched case-control pairs) showed significant (p=0.003) association with these haplotypes. In the MCJ series, the H4 (odds ratio [OR]=5.1, p=0.003) and H2(H7) haplotypes (OR=0.60, p=0.04) had the same effects previously reported. In this series, the H8 haplotype (OR=2.7, p=0.098) also had an effect similar as in one previous case control series but not in others. In the extended families, the H8 haplotype was associated with significantly elevated plasma Aβ42 (p=0.02). In addition, the H5(H10) haplotype, which is associated with reduced risk for AD in the other study is associated with reduced plasma Aβ42 (p=0.007) in our family series. These results provide strong evidence for pathogenic variant(s) in the 276-kb region harboring IDE that influence intermediate AD phenotypes and risk for AD. Hum Mutat 23:334–342, 2004 © 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Effect of Mg2+ and Na+ on the Nucleic Acid Chaperone Activity of HIV-1 Nucleocapsid Protein: Implications for Reverse Transcription

Abstract The human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) nucleocapsid protein (NC) is an essential protein for retroviral replication. Among its numerous functions, NC is a nucleic acid (NA) chaperone protein that catalyzes NA rearrangements leading to the formation of thermodynamically more stable conformations. In vitro, NC chaperone activity is typically assayed under conditions of low or no Mg2+, even though reverse transcription requires the presence of divalent cations. Here, the chaperone activity of HIV-1 NC was studied as a function of varying Na+ and Mg2+ concentrations by investigating the annealing of complementary DNA and RNA hairpins derived from the trans-activation response domain of the HIV genome. This reaction mimics the annealing step of the minus-strand transfer process in reverse transcription. Gel-shift annealing and sedimentation assays were used to monitor the annealing kinetics and aggregation activity of NC, respectively. In the absence of protein, a limited ability of Na+ and Mg2+ cations to facilitate hairpin annealing was observed, whereas NC stimulated the annealing 103- to 105-fold. The major effect of either NC or the cations is on the rate of bimolecular association of the hairpins. This effect is especially strong under conditions wherein NC induces NA aggregation. Titration with NC and NC/Mg2+ competition studies showed that the annealing kinetics depends only on the level of NA saturation with NC. NC competes with Mg2+ or Na+ for sequence-nonspecific NA binding similar to a simple trivalent cation. Upon saturation, NC induces attraction between NA molecules corresponding to ∼ 0.3 kcal/mol/nucleotide, in agreement with an electrostatic mechanism of NC-induced NA aggregation. These data provide insights into the variable effects of NC's chaperone activity observed during in vitro studies of divalent metal-dependent reverse transcription reactions and suggest the feasibility of NC-facilitated proviral DNA synthesis within the mature capsid core.
Nonlinear screening of positive and negative point charges in GaAs

We have used a variational approach for approximately solving Resta's nonlinear Thomas-Fermi equation for the potential of (point) charges in GaAs. We have considered the cases of charges (in atomic units) Z = ±0.16, ±1.16, ±0.84. The charges Z = +0.16 and Z = −0.16 are the effective charges due to the partial ionicity of the chemical bonds on a Ga and As site, respectively. The charge Z = +0.84 corresponds to a Column VI donor on an As site, that of Z = +1.16 to a Column IV donor on a Ga site. Similarly, the charge of Z = −1.16 corresponds to a Column IV acceptor on an As site, that of Z = −0.84 to a Column II acceptor on a Ga site. As a result of our calculations, we have obtained site-dependent and charge-dependent spatial dielectric functions that describe the screening of the (point) charges by the valence electrons of (pure) GaAs.
Subjective assessment and cardiovascular response to ischemic pain in young, healthy women users and non-users of oral contraceptives

Abstract Experimental pain was introduced in women volunteers, some of whom were taking oral contraceptives. Pain perception and tolerance were the same, regardless of oral contraceptive use. All responded to the introduction of pain with increasing heart rate (HR), blood pressure (BP) and the product of systolic pressure, HR and the left ventricular ejection time (LVET). The users had a more consistent response pattern, and their reported levels of pain were positively and highly correlated with the changes in pre-ejection period (PEP) and the ratio PEP/LVET. Non-users had more variable systolic time interval (STI) responses.
Tibio-Femoral Contact Pressure During Gait

Detailed analysis of knee joint loading during ambulatory activities is of utmost importance for improving the design of total knee replacement components and the outcome of the surgical procedures. A dynamic computational model capable of concurrent predictions of muscle, ligament, and articular surface contact forces would be the ideal tool for enhancing our knowledge of these in-vivo loads and for exploring different loading scenarios.Copyright © 2013 by ASME
Analysis of fiber interferometer utilizing 3 &#215; 3 fiber coupler

An analysis of the properties of the 3 × 3 fiber coupler is made. The analysis reveals that four parameters are required to characterize the power transfer properties of this type of coupler. The performance of a fiber interferometer is analyzed in terms of these four parameters.
Noninvasive papillary serous carcinoma of the endometrium.

Abstract Objective: To determine the clinical course of noninvasive uterine papillary serous carcinoma and whether it indicates advanced metastatic disease. Methods: We reviewed the charts of women with noninvasive uterine papillary serous carcinoma who were treated at our institution and abstracted surgical stage, sites of metastases, disease progression, and length of follow-up. Results: There were 595 cases of endometrial adenocarcinoma between January 1990 and February 2000, 69 of which had papillary serous histology. Sixteen were noninvasive tumors. Six were confirmed stage IA by complete surgical staging and ten were associated with metastasis at staging. Two of the six women with stage IA tumors had disease recurrence. Conclusions: Noninvasive papillary serous carcinoma is often widely metastatic. In our experience, approximately two thirds of patients had metastasis, indicating the need for complete surgical staging. Even in those with disease limited to the endometrium, a significant percentage will have disease recurrence.
Full-wave evaluation of carbon nanotubes as microwave interconnects

Microwave interconnect configurations composed of single wall carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are studied in this paper. Specifically, an atomic layer deposition (ALD) enabled nano-coaxial line with individual CNTs comprising the inner conductor, CNT Goubau line with ALD enabled alumina coating, a nano-coaxial line with inner conductor composed of CNT bundles, and Goubau lines of CNT bundles are discussed. The characteristic impedance and losses of these interconnects are compared with the similar size copper-based transmission lines. Full wave simulations with incorporated quantum effects are conducted using finite element and method of moments tools ANSYS HFSS 1 and EMSS FEKO1, respectively. A thorough modeling validation, interconnect design and analysis are carried out over the wide microwave spectrum. Obtained results clearly show that although their inherent loss and impedance are high, the CNT interconnects can indeed outperform their copper counterparts with lower loss and impedance, and that observation is reinforced with decreasing the CNT radius.
Association of the IRF5 risk haplotype with high serum interferon-α activity in systemic lupus erythematosus patients

The pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is likely driven by a combination of genetic risk factors and environmental events that lead to an irreversible break in immunologic self tolerance. Interferon-α (IFNα) is a pleiotropic type I interferon with the potential to break self tolerance by activating antigen-presenting cells after uptake of self material (1). Serum levels of IFNα are elevated in SLE patients (2,3) and are correlated with disease activity (4). Additionally, a number of patients treated with recombinant human IFNα for malignancy and chronic viral hepatitis have developed de novo SLE, which typically resolves after the IFNα is discontinued (5,6). These data suggest a potential role of IFNα in susceptibility to SLE. In previous studies, we demonstrated that abnormally high serum IFNα activity is common in SLE families, both in healthy and SLE-affected members, as compared with unrelated individuals (7). These data implicate high levels of serum IFNα as a heritable SLE risk factor; however, the causative genes underlying this risk factor are not known. Interferon regulatory factor 5 (IRF-5) is a transcription factor that can induce transcription of the IFNα transcript itself as well as many IFNα-induced genes (8). Genetic association studies examining single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in IRF5 have defined distinct haplotypes that confer either susceptibility to, or protection from, SLE in persons of European and Hispanic ancestry (9–11). These haplotypes are characterized by functional changes in IRF5 messenger RNA (mRNA) (10,11), which presumably will alter IRF5-mediated transcription, resulting in the risk of SLE. The SLE risk haplotypes of IRF5 could potentially alter serum IFNα activity in vivo. We hypothesized that the IRF5 SLE risk haplotype predisposes to high serum IFNα activity, which subsequently results in the risk of SLE. In this study, we examined serum IFNα activity and IRF5 genotypes in SLE patients to determine whether the IRF5 genotype influences IFNα activity in vivo in patients with SLE.
The Primacy of Science in Modernity, of Technology in Postmodernity, and of Ideology in the History of Technology

edu The abrupt reversal of culturally ascribed primacy in the science‐technology relationship—namely, from the primacy of science relative to technology prior to circa 1980, to the primacy of technology relative to science since about that date—is proposed as a demarcator of postmodernity from modernity: modernity is when ‘science’ could, and often did, denote technology too; postmodernity is when science is subsumed under technology. In support of that demarcation criterion, I evidence the breadth and strength of modernity’s presupposition of the primacy of science to and for technology by showing its preposterous hold upon social theorists—Marx, Veblen, Dewey—whose principles logically required the reverse, viz. the primacy of practice; upon 19th and 20th century engineers and industrialists, social actors whose practical interests likewise required the reverse; and upon the principal theorizers in the 1970s of the role of science in late 20th century technology and society. The reversal in primacy between science and technology ca 1980 came too unexpectedly, too quickly, and, above all, too unreflectively to have resulted from the weight of evidence or the force of logic. Rather, it was a concomitant of the onset of postmodernity. Oddly, historians of technology have remained almost wholly unacknowledging of postmodernity’s epochal elevation of the cultural standing of the subject of their studies, and, specifically, have ignored technology’s elevation relative to science. This I attribute to the ideological character of that discipline, and, specifically, to its strategy of ignoration of science.
Phase angle of entrainment in morning- and evening-types under naturalistic conditions.

Differences in morningness-eveningness among humans are commonly ascribed to circadian parameters, such as circadian period and responsivity to environmental time cues, as well as homeostatic sleep drive. Light is the primary synchronizer of the human biological clock, and if circadian differences exist between morning and evening types, they should have different phase angles of entrainment to the light/dark cycle; that is, morning and evening types should have different patterns of light exposure relative to endogenous circadian phase (ECP). When phase angle of entrainment is strictly defined as the relationship between a marker of ECP and the timing of light exposure, such differences have been demonstrated in the laboratory under controlled light/dark cycles and have recently been shown under conditions of spring and summer light exposure outside the laboratory, taking into account the variable intensity of light. Here, we report similar results from a large (n = 66), diverse cohort of morning and evening types across the age span studied at all different times of the year. Differences between morning and evening types in light exposure relative to ECP, indicative of a difference in the phase angle of entrainment to the external light/dark cycle, were found. Specifically, evening types, compared to morning types, had a higher ratio of phase advancing to phase delaying by light. We interpret this as indicating a longer circadian period (τ) in evening types.
Understanding carbon nanotube electronic products through their life cycle: A regulatory perspective

The goal of this paper is to investigate life cycle management of carbon nanotube (CNT)-enabled electronic devices from a regulatory perspective. At present, there are consumer products containing CNTs on the market and even more in the research and development phase. Because the environmental and human health implications of nanotubes are of great uncertainty, it is critical to explore how to safely handle and treat CNT-enabled electronics through their manufacture and end-of-life (EOL). This paper examines current U.S. Federal regulations that may be most relevant to CNT products, including the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) and Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). The viability, limitations, and capacities of these laws in relation to regulating nanotubes are addressed through the example of a CNT-enabled cell phone. Findings indicate that in order to adapt existing regulations to properly manage CNTs, more data regarding their characterization, toxicity, exposure, and fate are required.
HEFT: eQTL analysis of many thousands of expressed genes while simultaneously controlling for hidden factors

Motivation: Identification of expression Quantitative Trait Loci (eQTL), the genetic loci that contribute to heritable variation in gene expression, can be obstructed by factors that produce variation in expression profiles if these factors are unmeasured or hidden from direct analysis. Methods: We have developed a method for Hidden Expression Factor analysis (HEFT) that identifies individual and pleiotropic effects of eQTL in the presence of hidden factors. The HEFT model is a combined multivariate regression and factor analysis, where the complete likelihood of the model is used to derive a ridge estimator for simultaneous factor learning and detection of eQTL. HEFT requires no pre-estimation of hidden factor effects; it provides P-values and is extremely fast, requiring just a few hours to complete an eQTL analysis of thousands of expression variables when analyzing hundreds of thousands of single nucleotide polymorphisms on a standard 8 core 2.6 G desktop. Results: By analyzing simulated data, we demonstrate that HEFT can correct for an unknown number of hidden factors and significantly outperforms all related hidden factor methods for eQTL analysis when there are eQTL with univariate and multivariate (pleiotropic) effects. To demonstrate a real-world application, we applied HEFT to identify eQTL affecting gene expression in the human lung for a study that included presumptive hidden factors. HEFT identified all of the cis-eQTL found by other hidden factor methods and 91 additional cis-eQTL. HEFT also identified a number of eQTLs with direct relevance to lung disease that could not be found without a hidden factor analysis, including cis-eQTL for GTF2H1 and MTRR, genes that have been independently associated with lung cancer. Availability: Software is available at http://mezeylab.cb.bscb.cornell.edu/Software.aspx. Supplementary information: Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online. Contact: ude.llenroc@54mgj
Postsurgical Glenohumeral Arthritis in Young Adults

BackgroundChondrolysis has been reported as a sequela of arthroscopic shoulder surgery. Although the causes have yet to be fully elucidated, basic science and clinical evidence suggest a multifactorial origin. Surgical treatment in young patients with glenohumeral chondrolysis is particularly challenging, with little outcome data.HypothesisGlenohumeral chondrolysis has several causes and patterns of presentation. Biological resurfacing is a viable treatment option for symptomatic glenohumeral arthritis.Study DesignCase series; Level of evidence, 4.MethodsTwenty patients (mean age, 19.7 years; range, 13.1-33.8) were referred for management of extensive glenohumeral arthritis after arthroscopy glenohumeral surgery (mean time postoperatively, 26 months; range, 3-73). Sixteen patients had an intra-articular pain pump placed for 2 to 3 days; 2 patients demonstrated prominent implants; and 2 had thermal treatment. Patients underwent revision surgery, including 7 biological resurfacings of the glenoid and humera...
Explicit controller formulas for LMI-based H ∞ synthesis

The set of H"~ controllers with closed-loop performance @c can be implicitly parametrized by the solutions (R, S) of a system of linear matrix inequalities (LMI). The matrices R and S play a role analogous to that of the Riccati solutions X"~ and Y"~ in classical Riccati-based H"~ control. Useful applications include LMI-based H"~ synthesis, mixed H"2H"~ design, and H"~ design with a pole-placement constraint. This paper is concerned with the reliable computation of H"~ controllers given a solution (R, S) of the characteristic system of LMIs. Explicit formulas are derived for both the regular and singular cases. Remarkably, these formulas are extensions of the usual 'central controller' formulas where the LMI solutions R and S replace the Riccati solutions X"~ and Y"~. Simple and numerically appealing new formulas for discrete-time H"~ controllers are also derived.