cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
RNA promotes the formation of spatial compartments in the nucleus

RNA, DNA, and protein molecules are highly organized within three-dimensional (3D) structures in the nucleus. Although RNA has been proposed to play a role in nuclear organization, exploring this has been challenging because existing methods cannot measure higher-order RNA and DNA contacts within 3D structures. To address this, we developed RNA & DNA SPRITE (RD-SPRITE) to comprehensively map the spatial organization of RNA and DNA. These maps reveal higher-order RNA-chromatin structures associated with three major classes of nuclear function: RNA processing, heterochromatin assembly, and gene regulation. These data demonstrate that hundreds of ncRNAs form high-concentration territories throughout the nucleus, that specific RNAs are required to recruit various regulators into these territories, and that these RNAs can shape long-range DNA contacts, heterochromatin assembly, and gene expression. These results demonstrate a mechanism where RNAs form high-concentration territories, bind to diffusible regulators, and guide them into compartments to regulate essential nuclear functions.
Effect of Initial Acceleration on Ship Wave Pattern and Wake Survey Methods

Wave resistance calculations based on wave survey methods assume a constant ship velocity. The possible effects of initial acceleration are studied for different wave survey methods, and a procedure for determining the existence of an initial acceleration wave is proposed.
30th ASMS Asilomar Conference on Advances in Glycomics and Glycoproteomics: Methods and Applications

The 30th ASMS Asilomar Conference (October 10-14, 2014) was focused on the topic “Advances in Glycomics and Glycoproteomics: Methods and Applications”, and was co-organized by Yehia Mechref (Texas Tech University) and Carlito Lebrilla (University of California, Davis). The Conference highlighted new advances in mass spectrometry (MS) methods and instrumentation facilitating unequivocal characterization of glycans and glycoproteins.
GaN nanowires with pentagon shape cross-section by ammonia-source molecular beam epitaxy

In this study, ammonia-based molecular beam epitaxy (NH3-MBE) was used to grow catalyst-assisted GaN nanowires on (11¯02) r-plane sapphire substrates. Dislocation free [112¯0] oriented nanowires are formed with pentagon shape cross-section, instead of the usual triangular shape facet configuration. Specifically, the cross-section is the result of the additional two nonpolar {101¯0} side facets, which appear due to a decrease in relative growth rate of the {101¯0} facets to the {101¯1} and {101¯1} facets under the growth regime in NH3-MBE. Compared to GaN nanowires grown by Ni-catalyzed metal–organic chemical vapor deposition, the NH3-MBE grown GaN nanowires show more than an order of magnitude increase in band-edge to yellow luminescence intensity ratio, as measured by cathodoluminescence, indicating improved microstructural and optical properties.
TU-E-213-00: Management Skills for Medical Physicists

Purpose: To develop the first 4D robust optimization (RO) method accounting for respiratory motion and evaluate its potential to improve plan robustness and optimality compared to 3D RO and PTV-based optimization. Methods: A set of 4D CT images are used to track respiratory motion and deformation of tumors and organs. For each of 10 respiration phases, dose distributions for nine different uncertainty scenarios including the nominal one, those incorporating ±5mm setup uncertainties long x, y and z directions and ±3.5% range uncertainties are calculated. All 90 dose distributions are simultaneously optimized to achieve full dose coverage of 10 CTVs and sparing of normal structures. ITV-based 3D RO and PTV-based optimization based on the average CT are also carried for the same patient using same dose volume constrains. After optimization, 4D robustness evaluation was performed for all resulting plans. The CTV coverage and the sparing of normal tissue in 10 phases are evaluated and compared among the three methods. The widths of DVH bands represent the robustness of dose distributions in the structures. Results: For one patient studied so far, the worst case CTV coverage by the prescription dose among all 90 scenarios is: 99% for 4D RO; 88.9% for 3D RO, and 85.2% for PTV based optimization. 4D RO also results in best robustness with the narrowest DVH’ bandwidths for the CTV. 4D and 3D RO have similar organ sparing while PTV based optimization results in worst organ sparing. Conclusion: 4D robust optimization which accounts for anatomy motion and deformation in the optimization process, significantly improves plan robustness and achieves higher quality treatment plans for lung cancer patients. The method is being evaluated for multiple patients with different tumor and motion characteristics.
Familial de Lange syndrome. Report of three cases in a sibship.

Familial de Lange syndrome with 3 affected siblings in a sibship of 4 is described. The parents were phenotypically normal. No parental consanguinity was demonstrated. The karyotypes of the affected siblings were normal. Although the etiology of the syndrome is obscure, it is likely that it consists of a heterogeneous group of clinical entities. Morphologic criteria may be useful in distinguishing the sporadic cases from the familial ones.
Using PHA results for real time operator support during ASM

Process Hazards Analysis (PHA) and Abnormal Situation Management (ASM) are important activities aimed at plant safety and maintenance in the chemical process industries (CPI) today. While PHA is carried out off-line , ASM monitors the plant on-line . However, the inherent objectives in both of them are similar-to identify hazards, try to avoid/mitigate them and plan for emergencies. PHA results are a valuable source of information from which ASM could potentially benefit. An integrated framework, combining these two methods is proposed here. In order to manage the large number of results in a systematic and organized manner, use of a hierarchical representation of the plant is described. An automated methodology based on topology and function for the same has been developed. The application of the framework is illustrated using an industrial case study.
ECONOMIES OF SCALE AND SCOPE: THE CASE OF SPECIALTY HOSPITALS

The recent growth of physician-owned hospitals specializing in orthopedic and surgical specialty services in the United States has generated considerable controversy, yet there is little understanding of the economic logic of organizing hospital services around these single specialties. This article takes a multiple output hospital cost function approach to an empirical investigation of whether single specialty hospitals (SSHs) exhibit economies of scale and economies of scope as keys to new insights into that logic. We applied generalized estimating equation techniques to a sample of 80 SSHs and 883 general hospital competitors over the 1998–2008 period. Results indicated large underlying scale differences across the organizational types. Simulation analysis revealed the potential for exploitation of economies of scope gained from shifting output from SSHs to general hospitals. (JEL I18, L23)
Slow PIII component of the carp electroretinogram.

The slow PIII component of the electroretinogram (ERG) was studied in the isolated, aspartate-treated carp retina. Although the latter is richly populated with cones, slow PIII appeared to reflect almost exclusively the activity of rods; e.g. the spectral sensitivity of the potential paralleled closely the rod pigment curve, its operating range (i.e. the V-log I curve) was limited to 3 log units above absolute threshold, and raising background intensities to photopic levels produced saturation of the increment threshold function without evidence of a cone-mediated segment. Only after bleaching away a significant fraction of the porphyropsin was it possible to unmask a small photopic contribution to slow PIII, as evidenced by a displacement in the action spectrum to longer wavelengths. The spatial distribution of the slow PIII voltage within the retina (Faber, D.S. 1969. Ph.D. Thesis. State University of New York. Buffalo, N.Y.; Witkovsky, P.J. Nelson, and H. Ripps. 1973. J. Gen Physiol. 61:401) and its ability to survive aspartate treatment indicate that this potential arises in the Muller (glial) fiber. Additional support for this conclusion is provided by the slow rise time (several seconds) and long temporal integration (up to 40s) of the response. In many respects the properties of slow PIII resemble those of the c-wave, a pigment epithelial response also subserved by rod activity. On the other hand, the receptoral (fast PIII) and the b-wave components of the ERG behave quite differently. Unlike slow PIII, response saturation could not be induced, since both potentials are subserved by cones when the stimulus conditions exceed the limits of the scotopic range. Receptors appear to govern light adaptation at photopic background levels; both fast PIII and b-wave manifest identical incremental threshold values over this range of intensities. However, under scotopic conditions, the sensitivity of the b-wave is affected by luminous backgrounds too weak to alter fast PIII threshold, indicating a postreceptoral stage of adaptation.
The involvement of a high potential acceptor in the acid-base induced reduction of the acceptor Q in chloroplasts.

Abstract Study of the acid-based induced fluorescence transient, the so-called ‘reverse electron flow’, in chloroplasts revealed the following new properties: 1. (1) Experiments in which the acid-base transition was performed in the absence of the measuring beam showed that the high fluorescence state induced by a pH-jump was attained and decayed even in complete darkness. These results indicated that a non-photochemical electron transfer was affected by the pH transition. A pH-induced reverse electron transfer from some secondary electron acceptor to Q probably occurred during that process. 2. (2) This conclusion was supported by the effect of the Photosystem I electron acceptor methyl viologen. Methyl viologen accelerated the decay phase of the transient showing that this phase was controlled by the rate of electron flow to Photosystem I, but this acceptor did not diminish the size of the transient's initial rise, probably because this rise reflected a pH effect on a non-photochemical step located between Q and P-700. 3. (3) The size of the fluorescence transient was dependent upon the reduction state of both parts of the secondary pool of electron acceptors, A2 and A1. 4. (4) Redox potential measurements using ferricyanide-ferrocyanide mixtures showed that the size of the transient was directly dependent on a midpoint potential of +385 mV at pH 6.9 and with n = 1. This suggested the involvement of a high potential secondary electron acceptor in the acid-base induced reduction of Q. 5. (5) The restoration of the acid-base transient in long-time dark-adapted chloroplasts was demonstrated by using additional dark incubation with appropriate couples of reductants and lipophilic mediators. Most significant was the restoration of the full size of the transient by the couple ascorbate + diaminodurene which poised a potential of +100 mV, a potential at which the A2 pool of 5 equivalents stayed completely oxidized in the dark. I conclude that the source of reducing equivalents for the ‘reverse reduction of Q’ was either in the high potential pool A1 at the level of cytochrome f and plastocyanin or in a similarly high-potential side component.
A trace-driven analysis of the UNIX 4.2 BSD file system

Abstract : We analyzed the UNIX 4.2BSD file system by recording activity in trace files and writing programs to analyze the traces. The trace analysis shows that the average file system bandwidth needed per user is low (a few hundred bytes per second). Most of the files accessed are short, are open a short time, and are accessed sequentially. Most new information is deleted or overwritten within a few minutes of its creation. We wrote a simulator that uses the traces to predict the performance of caches for disk blocks. The moderate-sized caches used in UNIX reduce disk traffic by about 50%, but larger caches (several megabytes) can achieve much greater reductions, eliminating 90% or more of all disk traffic. With those large caches, large block sizes (16 kbytes or more) result in the fewest disk accesses.
Comparison of measured and calculated dose for asymmetric x-ray beams defined by independently movable collimators

Abstract Linear accelerators with x-ray collimators that move independently are becoming increasingly common for treatment with asymmetric fields. In an asymmetric field, the center of the treatment field is away from the true central axis where dosimetric data are normally obtained. In this paper we present a simplified approach to the calculation of dose for asymmetric fields. We use central axis tissue-maximum ratio, off-axis factor in phantom and relative field-size factor in phantom to calculate dose. The accuracy of our calculations has been compared with ion-chamber measurements for 6 and 15 MV x-ray beams, Measurements were made at 5, 10, and 15 cm off-axis for a 20 cm × 20 cm asymmetric field at dmax and 6 cm depths in a solid-water phantom using a 0.6 cc Farmer chamber. Agreement within 3% was found at the measurement points.
Ignition Characteristics of a Stagnation Point Combustible Mixture

Abstract A study was made of the ignition characteristics of a cold combustible mixture at the forward stagnation region of a flat plate. The boundary layer equations describing the reacting flow have been solved numerically for the case of Le = 1. The Van't Hoff's ignition condition has been used to calculate the ignition temperature as an eigenvalue of the problem. The effects of the First Damkohler number, inert gas concentration, temperature of the mixture, and activation energy were investigated. A critical First Damkohler number was found beyond which no ignition is possible.
Local slip of bodies caused by the inhomogeneous friction coefficient

We study the problem of contact interaction of two elastic isotropic bodies under the conditions of plane deformation with regard for slip caused by the local inhomogeneity of the friction coefficient under consecutive loading by normal and shear forces. By the method of complex potentials, this contact problem is reduced to a singular integral equation for the relative shift of the boundaries of the bodies in the region of slip whose solution is found in the analytic form. The influence of external loads on the relative shift of the boundaries of the bodies in this region, their length, and contact stresses is analyzed.
A new technique for the acid/base separation of petroleum and coal-derived fractions

Abstract A new method for the acid/base fractionation of asphaltenes and other petroleum and coal-derived materials has been developed. This technique, which employs a strong, solid acid, has been shown to separate on the basis of acidity or basicity and to fractionate in a fashion similar to hydrogen chloride precipitation. In addition, the yields of fractions were shown to depend on the acidity of the separating medium. Basic and non-basic fractions were characterized by elemental analysis, e.s.r., n.m.r., interfacial tension, mass spectrometry, molecular weight, u.v.-visible spectrophotometry, and silylation. These data provide detailed information on the elemental distributions, functional group types, carbon and hydrogen types, and vanadium environments in the two fractions. The findings indicate that basic nitrogen is concentrated in the basic fraction while non-basic nitrogen and hydroxyl are mainly in the non-basic fraction. Although total nitrogen was concentrated in the basic fraction from coal asphaltenes, this was not the case for petroleum asphaltenes.
Adaptive spectral methods for simulation output analysis

This paper addresses two central problems in simulation methodology: the generation of confidence intervals for the steady state means of the output sequences and the sequential use of these confidence intervals to control the run length. The variance of the sample mean of a covariance stationary process is given approximately by p(0)/N, where p(f) is the spectral density at frequency of and N is the sample size. In an earlier paper we developed a method of confidence interval generation based on the estimation of p(0) through the least squares fit of a quadratic to the logarithm of the periodogram. This method was applied in a run length Control procedure to a sequence of batched means. As the run length increased the batch means were rebatched into larger batch sizes so as to limit storage requirements. In this rebatching the shape of the spectral density changes, gradually becoming flat as N increases. Quadratics were chosen as a compromise between small sample bias and large sample stability. In this paper we consider smoothing techniques which adapt to the changing spectral shape in an attempt to improve both the small and large sample behavior of the method. The techniques considered are polynomial smoothing with the degree selected sequentially using standard regression statistics, polynomial smoothing with the degree selected by cross validation, and smoothing splines with the amount of smoothing determined by cross validation. These techniques were empirically evaluated both for fixed sample sizes and when corporated into the sequential run length control procedure. For fixed sample sizes they did not improve the small sample behavior and only marginally improved the large sample behavior when compared with the quadratic method. Their performance in the sequential procedure was unsatisfactory. Hence, the straightforward quadratic technique recommended in the earlier paper is still recommended as an effective, practical technique for simulation confidence interval generation and run length control.
Reflective language teaching: from research to practice

Reflective language teaching: from research to practice, by Thomas Farrell, London, Continuum, 2007, viii + 202 pp., US$150.00 (hardback), ISBN 978-0-826-49657-7, US$39.95 (paperback), ISBN 978-0-8...
Effects of a novel leumedin NPC 15669 on myocardial stunning and preconditioned infarction size in swine

Background: NPC is a member of the leumedins and is an inhibitor of leukocyte adhesion to endothelium via blockage of integrin binding. NPC 15669 also may have anti-platelet effects. We tested the efficacy of the novel leukocyte recruitment inhibitor NPC 15669 on myocardial stunning (MS) and preconditioned myocardial infarction (MI).Methods and Results: In an open-chested swine model, NPC 15669 (10 mg NPC/kg loading dose followed by constant infusion at 6 mg/kg/hr) was administered in six animals. Myocardial thickening (MT) was determined by epicardial ultrasound. The left anterior descending artery was occluded for 8 minutes followed by 90 minutes of reperfusion, during which myocardial MT was recorded at regular intervals. We have found that treatment with NPC 15669 increases myocardial contractility and significantly decreases MS time compared to controls (26.7±4.0 minutes vs. 50.0±4.3 minutes, p=.0026). In NPC 15669-treated animals we observed a reduction of MI size (23.4±6.7% of tissue at risk became necrotic compared to 53.0±6.6% in controls, p=.0102).Conclusions: Our data suggest that NPC 15669 significantly reduces myocardial injury in both the stunning and infarction models.
Intrahepatic cholestasis during nicotinic acid therapy.

BACKGROUND Nicotinic acid, widely used to lower serum cholesterol levels, may rarely cause cholestatic jaundice. SUMMARY A 61-year-old white man with hypercholesterolemia complained of marked pruritus and became jaundiced after taking 3.0 g of crystalline nicotinic acid daily for 13 months. His total serum bilirubin level was increased at 144 (µmol/L (8.4 mg/dL) and his alkaline phosphatase level was markedly elevated at 35.00 µkat/L (2100 U/L). Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography failed to demonstrate an obstructive lesion in the extrahepatic biliary system, computed tomography showed no intrahepatic dilatation, and ultrasonographic studies of the liver, gallbladder, and pancreas were normal; these factors all suggest intrahepatic cholestasis. Symptoms improved and liver function test results returned to normal within 51 days after stopping the drug. CONCLUSIONS Nicotinic acid-induced cholestatic jaundice may not be as rare as previously thought, and physicians should observe their patients for it.
Cardiac Mitochondrial Network Excitability: Insights from Computational Analysis

In the heart, mitochondria form a regular lattice and function as a coordinated, nonlinear network to continuously produce ATP to meet the high-energy demand of the cardiomyocytes. Cardiac mitochon...
Bilateral bundle branch block in an asymptomatic patient.

A 74-year-old male is described who demonstrated an intermittent appearance of a right and left bundle branch block with varying P-R intervals. The best explanation of these electrocardiograms is that a bilateral bundle branch block is present. In spite of this conduction defect, the patient remains asymptomatic and has never developed complete heart block.
Who do we say we are? Publically proclaiming one's university mission identity. Introduction.

While U.S. colleges and universities ponder their mission, vision, values, and virtues, researchers at a large, urban, Catholic, patron-identity university actively engaged in empirical assessments of “who we say we are.” In this themed issue, faculty, undergraduate, and graduate students are a research team engaged in quantitative and qualitative analysis of their school's mission identity and mission-driven activities. Results from several sets of studies around student perceptions and impact of mission are presented and discussed. School administrators and those interested in community engagement impacts on students may find these articles useful and informative.
Intraventricular insulin reduces food intake and body weight of lean but not obese Zucker rats

Porcine insulin (2 mU/rat/day) and its saline vehicle were infused into the third cerebral ventricle of female lean or obese Zucker rats using 14-day osmotic minipumps. Lean rats receiving saline (N = 6) gained 14 +/- 3 g over the 14 days, whereas lean rats receiving insulin (N = 7) lost 12 +/- 4 g over the same interval (p less than 0.01). The average total food intake of the insulin-infused group was decreased by 14% (p less than 0.05) as compared with that of the saline-infused group. The decreased caloric consumption was adequate to account for the body weight loss. Insulin infusion had no effect on food intake or body weight of the obese rats relative to their saline-infused controls (change in body weight: saline (N = 5), -14 +/- 23 g; insulin (N = 7), +3 +/- 14 g). These results suggest that genetically obese Zucker rats have reduced sensitivity to insulin in the central nervous system. We propose that this phenomenon may participate in the development and maintenance of hyperphagia and obesity in these animals.
Characterization of the Reaction Products of Laser-Ablated Late Lanthanide Metal Atoms with Dinitrogen. Matrix IR Spectra of LnN, (LnN)2, and Ln(NN)x Molecules

This paper comprises the final section of a two-part study of the small nitride molecules and simple dinitrogen complexes of the lanthanide metals, except promethium. Simple nitrides of the general formulas LnN and (LnN)2 have been identified for Ln = Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, and Lu. Further elucidation of the Ln(N2) and Ln(NN)2 complexes is presented. The evidence supports the anticipated conclusion that the later lanthanide metals are less prone to dinitrogen complexation and that the nitrides of the later lanthanide metals require fewer dinitrogen units to achieve saturation.
Refraction effects on magnetic field geometry and HF propagation

Abstract An evaluation is made of the effects of tropospheric and ionospheric refraction on determining the angle between the direction of propagation and the direction of the lines of force of the Earth's magnetic field. The effect of tropospheric refraction on HF propagation is also investigated. The tropospheric refractivity model is defined in terms of the CRPL Reference Refractivity Atmosphere—1958, while the electron density in the ionosphere is represented by the Chapman model. The Earth's magnetic field is approximated by a series of spherical harmonics. Ray tracings are performed based on the assumption that the propagation media are stratified into layers of constant refractive index. Magnetic field-orientation calculations are presented for a midlatitude location.
A Roll‐Call of Counselors

Many of our readers would like to know how many counselors are employed in high schools. This investigation shows the number of persons giving at least half of their time to counseling. Most of these are in the larger schools. There is unquestionably a much larger number who devote less than half their time or who give their own time on a purely volunteer basis.
Climate Change and Insecurity: Mapping Vulnerability in Africa

Many experts argue that climate change will exacerbate the severity and number of extreme weather events. Such climate-related hazards will be important security concerns and sources of vulnerability in the future regardless of whether they contribute to conflict. This will be particularly true where these hazards put large numbers of people at risk of death, requiring the diversion of either domestic or foreign military assets to provide humanitarian relief. Vulnerability to extreme weather, however, is only partially a function of physical exposure. Poor, marginalized communities that lack access to infrastructure and services, that have minimal education and poor health care, and that exist in countries with poor governance are likely to be among the most vulnerable. Given its dependence on rainfed agriculture and its low adaptive capacity, Africa is thought to be among the most vulnerable continents to climate change. That vulnerability, however, is not uniformly distributed. Indicators of vulnerability within Africa include the historic incidence of climate-related hazards, population density, household and community resilience, and governance and political violence. Among the places in Africa most vulnerable to the security consequences of climate change are parts of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Somalia, and South Sudan.
Extraction of Algal Lipids and Their Analysis by HPLC and Mass Spectrometry

Algae are a promising source of biofuel but claims about their lipid content can be ambiguous because extraction methods vary and lipid quantitation often does not distinguish between particular lipid classes. Here we compared methods for the extraction of algal lipids and showed that 2-ethoxyethanol (2-EE) provides superior lipid recovery (>150–200 %) compared to other common extraction solvents such as chloroform:methanol or hexane. Extractions of wet and dry algal biomass showed that 2-EE was more effective at extracting lipids from wet rather than dried algal pellets. To analyze lipid content we used normal-phase HPLC with parallel quantitation by an evaporative light scattering detector and a mass spectrometer. Analysis of crude lipid extracts showed that all major lipid classes could be identified and quantified and revealed a surprisingly large amount of saturated hydrocarbons (HC). This HC fraction was isolated from extracts of bioreactor-grown algae and further analyzed by HPLC/MS, NMR, and GC/MS. The results showed that the sample consisted of a mixture of saturated, straight- and branched-chain HC of different chain lengths. These algal HC could represent an alternative biofuel to triacylglycerols (TAG) that could feed directly into the current petroleum infrastructure.
Sensitivity of THOR and Hybrid III Dummy Lower Neck Loads to Belt Systems in Frontal Impact

Objectives: To determine head–neck biomechanics with a focus on lower neck injury metrics in frontal impact. The mid- and large-size Hybrid III dummies and the mid-size Test device for Human Occupant Restraint (THOR) were positioned on a buck. Tests were conducted at low, medium, and high (3.3, 6.7, and 15.7 m/s) change in velocities using 3 restraint types: normal 3-point belt with no pretension (type A), 10-cm pretension (type B), and 200 N pretension (type C). Repeat tests were conducted. Measured vertical and shear forces and sagittal bending moments were evaluated at the upper and lower regions of the neck to different types of belt systems and at different change in velocities. Peak values normalized with respect to the belt type A were used in the comparative analysis. Metrics transformed to the occipital condyles and T1 were also evaluated. Results: All dummies showed good repeatability. Peak measured and transformed upper and lower neck moments were greatest in the large-size dummy. The mid-size ...
Adjustment and satisfaction of expatriate U.S. personnel

Abstract This study investigated the evaluation of the overseas assignment by repatriated U.S. personnel in managerial and technical positions. One hundred forty-nine repatriated U.S. staff of multinational firms completed a questionnaire that examined (a) issues of cultural immersion, (b) work satisfaction, and (c) relocation motives and satisfaction. Findings indicated that (a) personnel who reported using more culturally appropriate interpersonal skills and cognitions were more satisfied with the assignment, (b) personnel in Europe were more satisfied with both social and work conditions than those in non-Western and/or third-world settings, (c) intrinsic work satisfaction was somewhat greater than that found with domestically relocated personnel, (d) personnel with prior experience abroad were likely to use culturally appropriate interpersonal skills, and (e) expatriates who lived in U.S. compounds felt less cross-culturally competent.
Confinement improvement with RF poloidal current drive in the reversed field pinch

External control of the current density profile in a reversed field pinch (RFP), by means such as RF poloidal current drive, may have beneficial effects well beyond the direct reduction of ohmic input power due to auxiliary heating. Reduction of magnetic turbulence associated with the dynamo, which drives poloidal current in a conventional RFP, may allow operation at lower density and higher electron temperature, for which RF current drive becomes efficient and the RFP operates in a more favourable regime on the n tau -T diagram. Projected parameters for RFX at 2 MA are studied as a concrete example. If RF current drive allows RFX to operate with beta =10% (plasma energy/magnetic energy) at low density (3*1019 m-3) with classical resistivity (i.e. without dynamo enhanced power input), 40 ms energy confinement times and 3 keV temperatures will result, matching the performance of tokamaks of similar size
Strain engineering via amorphization and recrystallization in Si/Ge heterostructures

We use molecular dynamics with the reactive potential ReaxFF to study strain relaxation during the amorphization and recrystallization of silicon-germanium epitaxial nanolaminates. Starting with a coherent heterostructure with (010) Si/Ge interfaces and 3D periodic boundary conditions, we use local heating and quenching to amorphize half of the simulation cell with crystal-amorphous interfaces normal to [001]. We find strain relaxation along [001] as the crystalline Ge section expands into the amorphous material and crystalline Si contracts from it. The amount of strain relaxation correlates with the atomic transport from the amorphized Ge to Si section and increases as the periodic width of the crystalline-amorphous pattern decreases and the height of the Si/Ge bilayer increases. Recrystallization leads to a decrease in strain relaxation; however, structures with low aspect ratio retain a significant fraction of the strain relaxation. Interestingly, this remnant strain relaxation is not due to misfit dislocations but originates in clusters of lattice defects located on either side of the interface and caused by atomic transport. Our results show that local amorphization followed by recrystallization is a possible avenue for strain engineering in semiconductor heterostructures.
An Effective Smooth Transition Control Strategy Using Droop-Based Synchronization for Parallel Inverters

This paper proposes a smooth transition control strategy for voltage-source inverters between stand-alone (SA) and grid-connected (GC) modes of operation. In both GC and SA modes of operation, the inverters use the droop control method to regulate the real power flow without the need of any external communication between them. One of the distributed energy sources working in the microgrid system is designated as a dispatch unit (DU) to facilitate interconnection with utility grid and achieve smooth transition between the modes of operations. During transition modes, this selected unit takes extra responsibility to ensure the continuous power delivery to the load. For smooth transition from GC to SA mode of operation, the DU compensates for the grid current immediately after the grid disconnection, and then, other units pick up this responsibility gradually through their individual droop controllers. The DU also adjusts its output power to synchronize the inverters with the grid during the transition from SA to GC mode. The simulation and experimental results, as well as the stability analysis, are provided to verify the effectiveness of the proposed control technique.
The evaluation and understanding of pain : clinical and legal/forensic perspectives

The evaluation and proper clinical and legal management of pain clients defy simple remedies. Historically, human pain has challenged the most sophisticated of philosophical, theological, and biomedical explanations. Following an historical overview of pain concepts and treatment, this paper discusses the prevalence in and influence of pain on the modern world. One perspective for viewing multifaceted pain issues is a model developed by John Loeser. This four-level model addresses not only tissue damage (Nociception), but also the patient's perception of such damage (Pain), the negative emotional reactions to such perceptions (Suffering), as well as the pain activity stemming from such damage (Pain Behavior)--all issues critical in medical management as well as in personal injury litigation. Several methods for classifying pain are discussed, including acute vs chronic pain, benign vs cancer pain, "real" vs psychogenic pain, and a multiaxial coding schema for pain which encompasses a number of professional disciplines. Clinical pain assessment is then reframed and translated into a legal format more relevant to forensic discovery and case development.
Clinical perspective: The importance of imaging in diffuse liver disease and hepatic vascular disorders

The diagnosis of hepatobiliary disorders is based on the patient's history and physical examination and is augmented by laboratory findings, imaging studies, and histology. Radiographic imaging is especially helpful for identifying structural lesions and vascular abnormalities. In cholestatic disease, imaging of the biliary tree is essential to identify extrahepatic biliary obstruction. In hepatocellular diseases, imaging studies narrow the differential diagnosis and guide further testing. In this clinical overview, the role of radiographic imaging in hepatobiliary disorders is reviewed.
INFLUENCE OF GC AND AT SPECIFIC DNA MINOR GROOVE BINDING DRUGS ON INTERMOLECULAR TRIPLEX FORMATION IN THE HUMAN C-KI-RAS PROMOTER

We have used DNase I footprinting and gel shift assays to characterize the interaction of DNA binding drugs mithramycin, distamycin, and berenil with an intermolecular triplex formed by the human c-Ki-ras promoter. A purine-rich triplex-forming oligonucleotide (ODN) forms a stable intermolecular triple helix (triplex) with a homopurine (PR):homopyrimidine (PY) motif in the human c-Ki-ras promoter which contains a 22bp PR:PY region (−328 to −307). This triplex structure is comprised of 15 G·G:C triplets interspersed with 7 T·A:T triplets. Mithramycin binding sites in the human c-Ki-ras promoter encompass most of the triplex target site and three G-C-rich sequences downstream of this triplex-forming region. Mithramycin binding within the c-Ki-ras promoter completely abrogates triplex formation. Furthermore, the addition of mithramycin to pre-formed triplex by c-Ki-ras promoter displaces the major groove bound ODN. Five prominent distamycin binding sites are noted within the c-Ki-ras promoter including the t...
Estimating the virial coefficients of small polar molecules

We adapt existing models for estimating the second and third virial coefficients of small molecules to the halogenated methanes and ethanes. We compare the results with the abundant new, high-qualityPVT data resulting from the search for alternative refrigerants. The present model provides an accurate method for calculating densities, and therefore it should provide reliable thermodynamic properties and fugacity coefficients. We give equations and parameters useful for estimating the properties of pure refrigerants and their mixtures when noPVT data are available.
Susceptibility of stem and root tissues of tobacco cultivars carrying or not the Ph gene to Pythium stem rot, caused by Pythium aphanidermatum

In North Carolina (NC), USA, Pythium stem rot on tobacco is caused by Pythium aphanidermatum. During the past 10 years, Pythium stem rot incidence has been reported more frequently in tobacco fields than before. Since 1997, tobacco flue-cured cultivars carrying the Ph gene that confers immunity to race 0 of Phytophthora parasitica var. nicotianae (Ppn) have also been deployed in NC. It has been questioned whether the introduction of cultivars carrying this resistance gene contributes to the increased incidence of Pythium stem rot. We used a strain of P. aphanidermatum expressing the β-glucuronidase (GUS) reporter gene to investigate the susceptibility of stem and root tissues of four flue-cured tobacco cultivars to Pythium stem rot. Cultivars NC71 (carries the Ph gene) and RJR15 (no Ph gene, but highly resistant to Ppn) were less susceptible (P < 0.05) to P. aphanidermatum than K326 and K346 cultivars that do not carry the Ph gene. Furthermore, different parts of the plant demonstrated significant differences (P < 0.0001) to P. aphanidermatum infection although the significance depended on the cultivar. That is, in K326 and NC71 the highest percent infection was in the adventitious roots, followed by the stems and lastly the true roots, whereas in K346 and RJR15 the highest percent infection was in the adventitious roots, then the true roots and last in the stems. These results do not support the hypothesis that cultivars carrying the Ph gene may be more susceptible to Pythium stem rot than cultivars without the gene. It is likely that other reasons such as the reduction or absence of mefenoxam application in fields where cultivars carrying the Ph gene are planted or reduction in competition for infection cites with Ppn have contributed to the increase of Pythium stem rot incidence in tobacco fields in NC.
Nonvariceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding

Nonvariceal UGI bleeding is one of the most common emergencies that gastroenterologists encounter, and continues to be a significant cause of morbidity and mortality. The keys to management are rapid resuscitation and stabilization; appropriate triage based on pre-endoscopic risk factors; early endoscopy to achieve prompt diagnosis and implement hemostatic therapy to high-risk lesions; and aggressive antisecretory therapy (in the case of peptic ulcer bleeding) to reduce the risk of continued or recurrent bleeding.
SFAS 123 Stock-Based Compensation Expense and Equity Market Values

The objective of this study is to understand the relation between equity market values and stock-based employee compensation expense that is disclosed, but not recognized in determining net income, under Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 123. In particular, we predict and find that stock-based compensation expense has a negative relation with share price, consistent with investors viewing it an expense of the firm. This finding calls into question the quality of reported earnings, because without recognition of stock-based compensation expense under SFAS 123, this expense is never included in the net income. It also indicates that stock-based compensation expense is measured with sufficient reliability to be reflected in investor's valuation assessments. Our tests focus on the relation between share price and stock-based compensation expense, after controlling for net income, book value of equity, and expected future earnings growth. Our findings are consistent with our predictions, indicating that investors view stock-based compensation expense as an expense of the firm, after controlling for reported net income, book value of equity, and expected future earnings growth.
Policing the Homeless: An Ethical Dilemma

The homeless challenge police to reconsider their social role, the constituency they serve, the alliances they should form, and the activities they should engage in. This paper considers three conceptions of the police role — law enforcement, order maintenance, and social peacekeeping — and indicates how they impinge on treatment of the homeless. The moral challenge posed by the homeless favors the peacekeeping conception, but the inadequate resources available to police make it essential that they consider alliances with social service organizations, and even some form of collective lobbying or public conscientization.
Using Textbooks with Students Who Cannot Read Them

Too many students have difficulty comprehending information presented in the textbooks intended for their use. One reason for this is that textbooks are often organized so that the task of reading and thinking about them is made unduly difficult. Further, teacher editions offer little in the way of helping teachers improve the textbook's usability for students who struggle with reading. This article summarizes the existing literature on effective textbook instruction. The author then proposes how special educators and content instructors can combine their talents to compensate for poorly written books and maximize good books when teaching all their students, but particularly those students who do not learn in the expected ways.
A truncated herpes simplex virus origin binding protein which contains the carboxyl terminal origin binding domain binds to the origin of replication but does not alter its conformation

We have studied the DNA binding properties of a polypeptide consisting of the carboxyl terminal 37% of UL9, the herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) origin of replication binding protein. Using a Sindbis virus expression system, we expressed and partially purified this truncated form of UL9 (UL9CT) which contains the site-specific DNA binding domain. UL9CT specifically recognized UL9 binding sites on a 200 base pair DNA fragment containing the HSV origin ori(s) and appeared to bind as a dimer to each site. DNAse I footprint analysis showed that UL9CT protected the two high affinity binding sites of ori(s), but unlike full-length UL9, UL9CT did not induce a conformational change in the origin. Addition of anti-UL9CT antibody to the UL9CT-origin complex, however, caused a conformational change in the origin to be evident. Our results suggest that a domain, or domains, in the amino terminus are necessary for a UL9-induced origin conformational change to occur and that UL9-UL9 interactions between binding sites are involved.
XXI. On the coincidence of refracted rays of light in crystalline media

(1900). XXI. On the coincidence of refracted rays of light in crystalline media. The London, Edinburgh, and Dublin Philosophical Magazine and Journal of Science: Vol. 49, No. 298, pp. 262-274.
Combining ability of maize inbreds for carotenoids and tocopherols

Carotenoids (provitamin A) and tocopherols (vitamin E) are lipid soluble antioxidants associated with decreased risk of several degenerative diseases. Both vitamins occur naturally in corn (Zea mays L.) grain. Corn grain is a major component in diets of humans and animals, and may have added value with increased levels of carotenoids and tocopherols. To estimate genetic variation among a group of inbreds and their breeding potential, we estimated combining abilities of four carotenoids and two tocopherols in a diallel of 45 corn hybrids. Ten inbreds were chosen that varied in endosperm color (yellow to orange), tocopherol levels and oil content. Plants were grown for two years (1998, 1999) at Urbana, IL, in an RCB design with three replications. High pressure liquid chromatography was used to assay for four carotenoids (lutein, zeaxanthin, β-cryptoxanthin, and β-carotene) and two tocopherols (α-tocopherol and γ-tocopherol). Good agreement between year means for the six compounds was observed indicating minor environmental effects. Diallel analyses indicated, between 72 to 87% of the total sums of squares for hybrids for the six compounds was attributable to GCA effects. Significant SCA effects were found for several crosses. Estimates of GCA effects indicated A619 had high values for lutein, β-cryptoxanthin, and total carotenoids. Inbred R84 was a poor genotype for xanthophyll pigments but a significant contributor for β-carotene and γ-tocopherol, and total tocopherol. These genetic stocks indicate corn hybrids can be developed with higher levels of provitamin A and vitamin E.
Electrostatic optimization of the conformational energy landscape in a metamorphic protein.

The equilibrium unfolding reaction of Ltn, a metamorphic C-class chemokine, was monitored by tryptophan fluorescence to determine unfolding free energies. Measurements revealed that addition of 150 mM NaCl stabilized the Ltn chemokine fold by approximately 1 kcal/mol. Specific mutations involving Arg23 and Arg43 also increased the stability by 1 kcal/mol, suggesting their involvement in chloride ion coordination. This interaction was confirmed by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) salt titration studies that revealed chemical shift perturbations localized to these residues and backbone amides within the proximal 40s loop. The effects of NaCl on the free energy landscape were further verified by ZZ-exchange NMR spectroscopy. Our results suggest that changes in the electrostatic environment modulate the Gibbs free energy of folding and alter the forward and reverse rates of interconversion. These results demonstrate how solution ions can promote metamorphic folding by adjusting the relative stabilities of two...
Treatment of extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis – Authors' reply

www.thelancet.com Vol 373 January 3, 2009 27 the drugs go hand in hand with the administered doses. Moreover, levels of fl uoroquinolones above mutant prevention concentration also prevent selection of resistant mutants. Nevertheless, the facts enforce the need for long-term follow-up of such pat ients for chances of relapse. Extrapolating the results of the study and considering the data on the presence of multiple tubercular strains in sputum iso lates from an individual patient, further trials are required to re assess the de gree of reliance on drug susceptibility tests, especially the in context of XDR-TB. Linezolid, a new drug in the oxazolidinone class, and moxifl oxacin are pro mising additions to the anti tubercular drug armamentarium. The outcome of Keshavjee and col leagues’ study might have been very diff erent if these new agents had been incorporated in the treatment algorithm.