cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effect Evaluation of Tuberculosis Control Project in Urban Areas of Liuchou City

[Objective]To analyze the effect of tuberculosis(TB)control project loaned by World Bank(WBLP)in urban areas of Liuzhou,and explore control method of TB so as to improve TB prevention and treatment.[Methods] TB control effects were compared and analyzed before and after 4 year of implementation of the program.[Results] Patients' sputum examination rate significantly improved after the implementation of the project,which was up to 100%.The detection rate of new smear positive patients increased over two times than before,the cure rate raised up to 85%.[Conclusion] The implementation of TB control project has achieved remarkable results in urban areas of Liuzhou city.
Vascular architecture of the mandibular processes in hamster and rat.

Abstract An investigation of the vasculature of the mandible and its relationships with growth, development, and postsurgical remodeling.
Variational Bayesian Optimization for Runtime Risk-Sensitive Control

We present a new Bayesian policy search algorithm suitable for problems with policy-dependent cost variance, a property present in many robot control tasks. We extend recent work on variational heteroscedastic Gaussian processes to the optimization case to achieve efficient minimization of very noisy cost signals. In contrast to most policy search algorithms, our method explicitly models the cost variance in regions of low expected cost and permits runtime adjustment of risk sensitivity without relearning. Our experiments with artificial systems and a real mobile manipulator demonstrate that flexible risk-sensitive policies can be learned in very few trials.
Insulin Activation of PI3K Reduces Inflammation in a Mouse Model of Endotoxemia.

Abstract A recent clinical study showed that intensive insulin treatment in patients in intensive care units reduced morbidity and mortality. Other studies indicate that insulin has anti-inflammatory properties beyond its regulation of glucose metabolism. We determined the effect of insulin on LPS-induced inflammation in vivo. Insulin was administered via miniosmotic pump at a low dose (2.5 mU/h) that did not affect plasma glucose levels. Insulin treatment significantly reduced levels of plasma TNFα and IL-6 and prolonged the survival of endotoxemic mice. Next, we determined the role of the phosphatidyl-inositol-3 kinase (PI3K) pathway in insulin protection. Insulin is a potent activator of PI3K signaling. We and others have shown that inhibition of PI3K in monocytes, endothelial cells and in a model of endotoxemia enhances inflammation, suggesting that the PI3K pathway suppresses LPS signaling. We determined if insulin reduced inflammation in a PI3K-dependent manner by blocking PI3K in endotoxemic mice using wortmannin. We found that wortmannin abolished the protective effect of insulin. Finally, we examined the effect of insulin on p85β−/− mice, which have increased PI3K activity and are hyperresponsive to insulin. Endotoxemic p85β−/− mice exhibited reduced plasma TNFα and IL-6 and had a prolonged survival compared with endotoxemic wild-type littermate controls. Taken together, these results indicate that insulin reduces LPS-induced inflammation in a PI3K-dependent manner.
Giant Optical Second Harmonic Generation in Two-Dimensional Multiferroics

Nonlinear optical properties of materials such as second and higher order harmonic generation and electro-optic effect play pivotal roles in lasers, frequency conversion, electro-optic modulators, switches, and so forth. The strength of nonlinear optical responses highly depends on intrinsic crystal symmetry, transition dipole moments, specific optical excitation, and local environment. Using first-principles electronic structure theory, here we predict giant second harmonic generation (SHG) in recently discovered two-dimensional (2D) ferroelectric–ferroelastic multiferroics–group IV monochalcogenides (i.e., GeSe, GeS, SnSe, and SnS). Remarkably, the strength of SHG susceptibility in GeSe and SnSe monolayers is more than 1 order of magnitude higher than that in monolayer MoS2, and 2 orders of magnitude higher than that in monolayer hexagonal BN. Their extraordinary SHG is dominated by the large residual of two opposite intraband contributions in the SHG susceptibility. More importantly, the SHG polarizati...
Hair repigmentation associated with the use of brentuximab.

Brentuximab vedotin is an antibody-drug conjugate that is approved by the US Food and Drug Administration to treat refractory Hodgkin lymphoma and systemic anaplastic large cell lymphoma. Numerous clinical trials are currently evaluating the efficacy of brentuximab for other conditions, including T-cell lymphoma and steroid refractory graft-versus-host disease. Although brentuximab has been associated with various adverse effects, such as neutropenia, peripheral sensory neuropathy, fatigue, nausea, anemia, upper respiratory tract infection, diarrhea, pyrexia, rash, thrombocytopenia, cough, and vomiting, no reports exist to date of changes in hair pigmentation related to brentuximab. We report herein the first case, to our knowledge, of hair repigmentation associated with the use of brentuximab.
A Note on Selected Craft Beer Brand Names

This note addresses selectively the names of craft beers produced by U.S. microbreweries. It considers the following points: (1) a brief history of beer, (2) the rise of the microbrewery in the U.S...
Designing RNA secondary structures in coding regions

Sophisticated regulatory structures appear within highly-constrained coding regions of genes. We study the extent to which such structures can be constructed. Can such stem loops appear essentially anywhere within coding regions, or is the potential restricted to rare amino acid sequences? While predicting secondary structures of an RNA sequence is an extensively studied problem in computational biology, the inverse problem, designing sequences based on a known structure is also important. We work on a particular version of the inverse RNA folding problem, where our goal is to achieve a targeted energy level. For a particular RNA structure, we design sequences with the maximum and minimum folding energy while maintaining desired codon distribution. Our major contributions in work is to optimize RNA secondary structure under codon constraints via fast estimation of folding energies following local modification.
Bacterial Skin Infections

Bacterial infections of the skin, also known as soft-tissue infections, are common. The severity of each type of infection ranges from mild, requiring only topical antibiotic treatment, to severe, requiring administration of parenteral antibiotics. This chapter will review the epidemiology, pathophysiology, clinical presentation, histology, and differential diagnosis as well as the available treatment options for the following bacterial infections: impetigo, ecthyma, erysipelas, folliculitis, furunculosis, carbunculosis, and last but certainly not least, cellulitis.
Congenital Heart Disease in the Adult: Interventional Therapy

Balloon valvuloplasty and balloon angioplasty now are applied effectively to all four cardiac valves and all major blood vessels in children with cardiovascular diseases. Aortic valvuloplasty is done in children with valvular aortic stenosis with a systolic gradient greater than or equal to 50 mm Hg at rest, or a peak gradient of 40 to 50 mm Hg with symptoms or signs of ischemia. The most typical form of congenital mitral stenosis consists of thickened leaflets and shortened chordae tendineae with decreased interchordal spaces. Other forms include supravalve mitral membrane and a parachute mitral valve. The techniques for relieving congenital or surgically acquired vascular lesions by balloon angioplasty and stents now are routine and employed with variable success for stenoses anywhere within the great vessels. The discrete, shelf-like coarctation of the aorta represents the ideal lesion for successful dilation. Obstruction to systemic veins in patients with congenital heart disease usually is iatrogenic. Congenital pulmonary vein stenosis is very rare and usually occurs with other congenital heart lesions with or without associated surgical intervention. The final suitability of an atrial septal defect for transcatheter closure is determined by transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) and confirmed during cardiac catheterization with an accurate balloon sizing of the defect. The major indications for closing a patent foramen ovale (PFO) are significant right to left shunting through it, and a documented central nervous system (CNS) embolic event in the presence of a PFO. Interventional cardiologists have been occluding the patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) nonsurgically for almost four decades.
Mechanistic Study of Galvanic Replacement of Chemically Heterogeneous Templates

Galvanic replacement is a useful method for synthesizing architecturally complex multimetallic nanostructures from monometallic templates. The oxidation of monometallic templates by ions of a more noble metal is well-studied; however, chemically heterogeneous templates offer more than one type of reaction site and potentially structurally more complex materials. Yet, mechanistic studies with such templates are limited. Here, the reactivities of Ag and Pd in Janus-style AgPd dimers are compared when ions capable of oxidizing both metals are introduced. This study reveals (1) the selectivity of galvanic replacement with dimer templates, (2) cooperativity between galvanic replacement in one dimer domain and solid-state diffusion in another domain, and (3) similar replacement mechanisms for different redox pairs. Specifically, Au ions almost exclusively replace Ag before exchange with Pd is evident, and Ag oxidation facilitates diffusion of the remaining Ag into the Pd domain. These results provide mechanisti...
The transcription factor MZF1 differentially regulates murine Mtor promoter variants linked to tumor susceptibility.

Mechanistic target of rapamycin (MTOR) is a highly conserved serine/threonine kinase that critically regulates cell growth, proliferation, differentiation, and survival. Previously, we have implicated Mtor as a plasmacytoma-resistance locus, Pctr2, in mice. Here, we report that administration of the tumor-inducing agent pristane decreases Mtor gene expression to a greater extent in mesenteric lymph nodes of BALB/cAnPt mice than of DBA/2N mice. We identified six allelic variants in the Mtor promoter region in BALB/cAnPt and DBA/2N mice. To determine the effects of these variants on Mtor transcription, we constructed a series of luciferase reporters containing these promoter variants and transfected them into mouse plasmacytoma cells. We could attribute the differences in Mtor promoter activity between the two mouse strains to a C → T change at the −6 position relative to the transcriptional start site Tssr 40273; a T at this position in the BALB promoter creates a consensus binding site for the transcription factor MZF1 (myeloid zinc finger 1). Results from electrophoretic mobility shift assays and DNA pulldown assays with ChIP-PCR confirmed that MZF1 binds to the cis-element TGGGGA located in the −6/−1 Mtor promoter region. Of note, MZF1 significantly and differentially down-regulated Mtor promoter activity, with MZF1 overexpression reducing Mtor expression more strongly in BALB mice than in DBA mice. Moreover, MZF1 overexpression reduced Mtor expression in both fibroblasts and mouse plasmacytoma cells, and Mzf1 knockdown increased Mtor expression in BALB3T3 and NIH3T3 fibroblast cells. Our results provide evidence that MZF1 down-regulates Mtor expression in pristane-induced plasmacytomas in mice.
Biological strategies for osmoregulation.

Green plants provide mankind with enormous quantities of food, fiber, oils, chemicals, and energy. Today there is great interest in increasing the productivity of the plant world, with plants, in essence, behaving as solar energy machines for capturing radiant energy and converting it into essential products. Unfortunately, one of the major barriers to productivity in many environments is the harmful effects of salt and water (drought) stress. This is a severe national as well as world-wide problem.
Need for tracheostomy after lung transplant predicts decreased mid- and long-term survival.

BACKGROUND Tracheostomy is an important adjunct for lung transplant patients requiring prolonged ventilation. We explored the effects of post-transplant tracheostomy on survival and bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome after lung transplant. METHODS A retrospective, single center analysis was performed on all lung transplant recipients during the Lung Allocation Score (LAS) era. Risk factors for post-transplant tracheostomy or death within 30 days were assessed. Kaplan-Meier estimates and Cox proportional hazards models were used to examine the association between tracheostomy within 30 days after transplant and survival at 1 and 3 years. A total of 403 patients underwent single or bilateral lung transplant between May 2005 and February 2016 with complete data for 352 cases, and 35 patients (9.9%) underwent tracheostomy or died (N = 10, 2.8%) within 30 days. RESULTS In adjusted analyses, primary graft dysfunction grade 3 (PGD3) was associated with a composite end point of tracheostomy or death within 30 days (HR 3.11 (1.69, 5.71), P-value < .001). Tracheostomy within 30 days was associated with decreased survival at 1(HR 4.25 [1.75, 10.35] P-value = .001) and 3 years (HR 2.74 [1.30, 5.76], P-value = .008), as well as decreased bronchiolitis obliterans (BOS)-free survival at 1 (HR 1.87 [1.02, 3.41] P-value = .042) and 3 years (HR 2.15 [1.33, 3.5], P-value = .002). CONCLUSION Post-transplant tracheostomy is a marker for advanced lung allograft dysfunction with significant reduction in long-term overall and BOS-free survival.
A hallmark of phospholamban functional divergence is located in the N-terminal phosphorylation domain.

Abstract Sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ pump (SERCA) is a critical component of the Ca2+ transport machinery in myocytes. There is clear evidence for regulation of SERCA activity by PLB, whose activity is modulated by phosphorylation of its N-terminal domain (residues 1–25), but there is less clear evidence for the role of this domain in PLB’s functional divergence. It is widely accepted that only sarcolipin (SLN), a protein that shares substantial homology with PLB, uncouples SERCA Ca2+ transport from ATP hydrolysis by inducing a structural change of its energy-transduction domain; yet, experimental evidence shows that the transmembrane domain of PLB (residues 26–52, PLB26–52) partially uncouples SERCA in vitro. These apparently conflicting mechanisms suggest that PLB’s uncoupling activity is encoded in its transmembrane domain, and that it is controlled by the N-terminal phosphorylation domain. To test this hypothesis, we performed molecular dynamics simulations (MDS) of the binary complex between PLB26–52 and SERCA. Comparison between PLB26–52 and wild-type PLB (PLBWT) showed no significant changes in the stability and orientation of the transmembrane helix, indicating that PLB26–52 forms a native-like complex with SERCA. MDS showed that PLB26–52 produces key intermolecular contacts and structural changes required for inhibition, in agreement with studies showing that PLB26–52 inhibits SERCA. However, deletion of the N-terminal phosphorylation domain facilitates an order-to-disorder shift in the energy-transduction domain associated with uncoupling of SERCA, albeit weaker than that induced by SLN. This mechanistic evidence reveals that the N-terminal phosphorylation domain of PLB is a primary contributor to the functional divergence among homologous SERCA regulators.
Waste and Empty the Sea

In The Waste Land, T. S. Eliot quotes a line from Richard Wagner’s opera Tristan and Isolde, “Oed und leer das Meer” (l.42), where Tristan, dying, awaits word that Isolde’s ship, bearing her and he...
Statewide School Redesign: Integrating Design Thinking and the Four Disciplines of Execution as a Continuous School Improvement Process:

Sixty-six school districts and more than 150 schools in the state of Kansas are participating in the Kansans Can Redesign Project. In this article, we present a case study of using Design Thinking ...
Improving the Performance of NVM Crash Consistency under Multicore

Non- Volatile Memory (NVM) systems require logging to support crash consistency. However, log operations introduce severe performance overhead. Recently, LAD was proposed to eliminate log operations for some transactions in which the total amount of updated cachelines is smaller than the Asynchronous DRAM Refresh (ADR) buffer, without affecting crash consistency. Nevertheless, on multicore, concurrent transactions tend to exhaust the ADR resource and hence log operations have to be conducted in LAD. In this study, we observe that a significant number of log operations could be avoided if each transaction run alone. To eliminate these unnecessary log operations, this paper proposes virtual ADR buffers to decouple buffering from the ADR's reliable writing data. Specifically, only logless operations are allowed to access ADR resources. Additionally, this paper proposes to adopt redo log with DRAM cache to speed up the transaction commit speed. The evaluation results demonstrate that our proposed scheme can efficiently reduce log operation up to 94.9 % and improve the transaction throughput up to 78.6 %.
Iatrogenic Ureteral Injury and Prophylactic Stent Use in Veterans Undergoing Colorectal Surgery.

ABSTRACT Introduction Iatrogenic ureteral injury (IUI) is an uncommon complication in colorectal surgery. Prophylactic ureteral stenting (PUS) gained acceptance to aid in intraoperative identification of the ureter. Despite its use, the benefit of pus to avoid IUI remains debatable. We sought to analyze the rates of IUI after colorectal surgery in veterans and to compare the outcomes after PUS using a large matched cohort. Methods The veterans affairs surgical quality improvement program database was queried for patients who underwent colorectal surgery from 2008-2015. To analyze the outcomes of PUS, we created two matched groups using propensity-score matching accounting for demographical and clinical cofactors to assess variable outcomes. Cross-tabulation was used to calculate rates of IUI and univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to evaluate risk factors associated with IUI. Results 27,448 patients were identified and 458 underwent PUS placement (1.6%). The majority of procedures were performed electively and with an open approach. Mean age was 65 y, 96.3% were male, and colorectal cancer was the most common indication. 45 patients (0.2%) were diagnosed with IUI. IUI incidence was higher in female patients, after left-sided colorectal resection, and in those undergoing open procedures. After matching, PUS use was associated with longer length of stay and operative time and increased creatinine levels from baseline. Conclusion We demonstrated that the use of PUS is independently associated with increased operative time and change in creatinine levels. Although no IUI occurred in the PUS group, this finding was not statistically significant. The risk and/or benefit ratio of PUS should be considered for each individual case, with its selective use based on the presence of risk factors for IUI, such as female patients and left-sided resections.
The Nested Precarities of Creative Labor on Social Media

While metrics have long played an important, albeit fraught, role in the media and cultural industries, quantified indices of online visibility—likes, favorites, subscribers, and shares—have been i...
Politics, Markets, and Boundaries

A belief in spontaneous progress must make us blind to the role of government in economic life. – Karl Polanyi, 1944 Sharyn Campbell married her law school classmate when she was twentyfive. Shortly after, the couple picked up from New York and moved to Washington, DC. The year was 1970. When it came time to buy a car, Campbell filled out a loan application. The loan was approved, but she was taken aback when she noticed that the lender had issued the credit in her husband's name and not her own. Not only had Campbell applied for the loan independently, her husband had no credit history to speak of and a less compelling work history than she had. This happened again when she applied for a bank card, finding that, too, issued in her husband's name only. Already frustrated by these two experiences, the couple's biggest shock came when they decided to buy a house. Both lawyers with relatively high incomes and stable jobs in the federal government, they found a place within their price range and applied for a loan from the local VA office. The loan officer told the couple that there was only a fifty-fifty chance that Campbell's income would be counted toward the loan, because of the risk that she might become pregnant and quit her job. In order to get a loan, Campbell needed to submit “an affidavit to the VA promising not to become pregnant and assuring them that I would continue to work under any circumstances.” She did get the loan, but learned later that she was much more fortunate than many others. Initially, Campbell had assumed the problem had something to do with her recent move to DC – perhaps Washington lenders had not caught up with the times. Reflecting two years later, she said, “It didn't occur to me that this would have happened to me in New York if I would have stayed in New York after I had gotten married also.” By the time she was twenty-seven, Campbell was at the forefront of a movement to transform women's access to credit. She had become active with the Women's Legal Defense Fund, which had been inundated with credit-related requests during its first few months of existence.
The Ion Pair Thermal Model of MALDI MS

The ion pair thermal model for MALDI MS is described. Key elements of the model include thermal desorption and ionization, strong tendency to neutralization via ion pair formation and proton transfer in the gas phase, thermal equilibrium, overall charge neutral plume, and thermal energy assisted free ion generation via ion pair separation by ion extraction potential. The quantities of ions in the solid sample and in the gaseous plume are estimated. Ion yields of different classes of molecules including peptides, nucleic acids, permanent salts and neutral molecules are estimated at the macroscale and single ion pair levels. The estimated ion yields are close to experimentally observed values under certain assumptions. Explanations of several observations in MALDI MS such as mostly single-charged peaks, improvement of spectra by ammonium cation, and ion suppression are provided. We expect that the model can give insights for the design of new conditions and systems for improving the sensitivity and resolution of MALDI MS and improving its capability and reliability to analyze large biomolecules.
THE EFFECT OF THIN CERAMIC COATINGS ON PETROL ENGINE PERFORMANCE AND EMISSIONS

An experimental study of the effects of thin ceramic coatings on the performance and emissions of a spark–ignited petrol engine was conducted. A modified 2.5 litre GM engine with ceramic–coated pistons, liners, head, valves and ports was used. Experimental results obtained from the ceramic engine were compared with baseline metal engine data. It was shown that at low–speed, part–load conditions encountered in typical driving cycles, the ceramic engine could achieve up to 18% higher brake power and 5% lower specific fuel consumption. The ceramic coating did not produce any observable knock in the engine and showed no significant wear during testing. It was concluded that judicious application of thin ceramic coatings to petrol engines could be a useful means for improving performance and fuel economy.
Abstract 339: Ang-(1-7) Counteracts Ang II in Regulating Cerebrovascular Endothelial Cell Function and Gene Expression

Cerebrovascular endothelial cells (cECs) play an important role in maintaining the health of cerebral vasculatures. In this study, we investigated the role of angiotensin (Ang)-(1-7) in counteracting Ang II-induced effects on cECs. The 3rd-5th passages of brain microvascular endothelial cells (BMECs, Cell system) cultured in CSC complete medium (Cell system) were used for this study. BMECs were treated with Ang II (100 nM), Ang-(1-7) (100 nM) and A-779 (100 nM, Mas receptor antagonist). After treatment for 24 hrs, cell apoptosis was determined by flow cytometery. BMEC tube formation ability was determined using a commercial kit. The levels of tumor necrosis factor- α (TNF-α), monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1) and interleukin (IL-8) in the cell culture supernatant were determined by ELISA. Gene expressions of NFκB, inhibitor of kappa B (IκB) were determined by western blot. To verify the involvement of NFκB pathway, the inhibitor (BAY11-7082, 10 uM) was applied. We found (Figure): 1) Treatment wit...
Extrapolating electron spectra to low energies

There are both theoretical and observational indications that the electron spectra inferred from radio observations can not be extrapolated to γ values much below 1000 without a break or cutoff in the power laws found at higher energies. The capability of making reliable observations in the decade below 30 MHz would allow us to evaluate loss mechanisms other than the standard E2 losses, and would also permit tests of acceleration models.
Comparison of in vivo effects of insulin on SREBP-1c activation and INSIG-1/2 in rat liver and human and rat adipose tissue.

Objective The stimulatory effects of insulin on de novo lipogenesis (DNL) in the liver, where it is an important contributor to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), hepatic and systemic insulin resistance, is strong and well established. In contrast, insulin plays only a minor role in DNL in adipose tissue. The reason why insulin stimulates DNL more in liver than in fat is not known but may be due to differential regulation of the transcription and post-translational activation of sterol regulatory element binding proteins (SREBPs). To test this hypothesis, we have examined effects of insulin on activation of SREBP-1c in liver of rats and in adipose tissue of rats and human subjects. Design and Methods Liver and epidydimal fat were obtained from alert rats and subcutaneous adipose tissue from human subjects in response to 4 h euglycemic-hyperinsulinemic clamps. Results Here we show that acutely raising plasma insulin levels in rats and humans increased SREBP-1 mRNA comparably 3-4 fold in rat liver and rat and human adipose tissue, but increased post-translational activation of SREBP-1c only in rat liver, while decreasing it in adipose tissue. These differential effects of insulin on SREBP-1c activation in liver and adipose tissue were associated with robust changes in the opposite direction of INSIG-1 and to a lesser extent of INSIG-2 mRNA and proteins. Conclusions We conclude that these findings support the hypothesis that insulin stimulated activation of SREBP-1c in the liver, at least in part, by suppressing INSIG-1 and -2, whereas in adipose tissue, an increase in INSIG-1 and -2 prevented SREBP-1c activation.
Lanny Breuer and Foreign Corrupt Practices Act Enforcement

This article examines Foreign Corrupt Practices Act enforcement and related issues during Lanny Breuer’s tenure as Assistant Attorney General of the Justice Department's Criminal Division. It demonstrates that Breuer's tenure was not as glowing as DOJ suggests and shows that FCPA enforcement under Breuer raised significant public policy issues that need to be addressed by his successor.
The Politics of Malay Identity in South Africa: Thinking through Transition and Diaspora

(2007). The Politics of Malay Identity in South Africa: Thinking through Transition and Diaspora. Diaspora Studies: Vol. 1, No. 1, pp. 89-104.
Women's Responses to Sex in Advertising

Abstract Advertising researchers have neglected to analyze women's reactions to sexual appeals, and researchers are just beginning to recognize the utility of personality variables as predictors of responses to sex in advertising. This study addresses both areas by testing women's reactions to a sexual commercial, and examining the relationship between women's sexual schemas with their responses. Sexual schemas are people's cognitive views of themselves that predict approach/avoidance to sexual behavior and sexual information. Overall, women who have more positive sexual self-schemas (sex positive) were found to have more positive attitudes-toward-the-ad and brand interest for the sexual ad. Purchase intention, however, was not affected. The findings and their implications are discussed.
Regulation of bacteriophage f1 DNA replication: I. New functions for genes II and X

Gene II protein is required for all phases of filamentous phage DNA synthesis other than the conversion of the infecting single strand to the parental double-stranded molecule. It introduces a specific nick into the double-stranded replicative form DNA, is required for the initiation of (+) strand synthesis and is responsible for termination and ring closure of the (+) strand product. Here we show that the gene II protein also promotes minus strand synthesis later in infection. Over-expression of gene II protein can induce the conversion of all nascent single-stranded phage DNA to the double-stranded form, even in the presence of the single-stranded DNA-binding gene V protein that would normally sequester the newly synthesized single strands. We also present evidence that the gene X protein (separately translated from an initiator codon within gene II, and identical to the C-terminal one-third of the gene II protein) is a powerful inhibitor of phage-specific DNA synthesis in vivo.
You Recommended What

When put to its initial test, our new recommender softwarecame forth with an unusual combination for a customer.
Requirement of heat-labile cytoplasmic protein factors for posttranslational translocation of OmpA protein precursors into Escherichia coli membrane vesicles.

Abstract The involvement of possible cytoplasmic factors in ATP-dependent postttranslational translocation of proteins into Escherichia coli membrane vesicles was examined. The precursor of OmpA protein was partially purified by DEAE-cellulose chromatography, and its translocation was found to require material from the soluble cytoplasmic fraction. The fractionated active cytoplasmic translocation factor (CTF) was protease sensitive, micrococcal nuclease insensitive, N-ethylmaleimide resistant, and heat labile. The heat sensitivity of the CTF allowed its specific and preferential inactivation in the crude-precursor synthesis mixture, which provided a simple and rapid assay procedure for the factor during purification. Two active fractions were detected upon further fractionation: the major one was about 8S in sucrose gradient centrifugation and 120 kilodaltons by Sephadex filtration, whereas the other was about 4S and 60 kilodaltons in sucrose gradient centrifugation and by Sephadex filtration, respectively. The active fractions could also be fractionated by DEAE-Sepharose chromatography. These CTFs are apparently different from the previously reported 12S export factor (M. Muller and G. Blobel, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 81:7737-7741, 1984).
Short Note: Controlling self-force errors at refinement boundaries for AMR-PIC

We analyze the source of the self-force errors in the node-centered adaptive-mesh-refinement particle-in-cell (AMR-PIC) algorithm and propose a method for reducing those self-forces. Our approach is based on a method of charge deposition due to Mayo [A. Mayo, The fast solution of Poisson's and the biharmonic equations on irregular regions, SIAM Journal of Numerical Analysis 21(2) (1984) 285-299] that can reduce the self-force error to any specified degree of accuracy.
Blooms of surf-zone diatoms along the coast of the Olympic Peninsula, Washington. 7. Variations of the carbon-to-nitrogen ratio in field samples and laboratory cultures of Chaetoceros armatum1,2

Carbon : nitrogen ratios in particulate matter collected from the surf at Copalis Beach, Washington, from April to September 1972 ranged between 5.0 (April, May) and 11.2 (July). They were considered characteristic of living algae in the surf, mainly the diatom spccics Chaetoceros armatum. The high ratio in summer could result from a slower growth rate of the diatoms or increased irradiance. The relationship between nitrate rcductase (NR) activity and C : N ratios in surf samples and laboratory cultures was also investigated. In exponentially growing cultures of C. armu Lewin et al. 1975). During 1972, nitrate was prcscnt at very low ( almost undetectable) levels in the water from the end of April until the end of July, and nitrate reductase (NR) activity of the surf-diatom Chaetoceros armatum was correspondingly very low during that period of the year ( Cellos and Lewin 1974). The low enzyme activity might be due to any of several reasons : low levels of nitrate’ in the water, presence of high concentrations of ammonium which would inactivate the enzyme, or another unknown factor. In certain instances, the cells took up nitrate rapidly but failed to reduce it, even though ammonium was present at low conccntra’ Contribution No. 870 from the Department of Oceanography, University of Washington, Seattle. ’ Supported by National Science Foundation grant GA-27498 and by U.S. Energy Research and Development Administration contract AT( 45-l ) 2225, TA 26 ( ref.: RLO-2225-T26-30) with the Department of Oceanography, University of Washington. ’ Present address: Dhpartement d’Oca calculations based on cytological evidence support this possibility (Lewin and Rao 1975). To obtain information about the physiological state of the cells in summe’r, we dccidcd to look at the C : N ratio of the cells as an indication of their physiological state (as in Thomas 1964; Caperon and Meyer 1972). C : N ratios were also measured in cells of C. armatum from laboratory cultures grown under varying environmental conditions, in order to help explain results from field collections. An attempt has been made to relate NR activity to C : N ratios in both natural populations and cells from laboratory cultures. Some of the material included in this paper was part of a thesis ( M.S. ) presented to the University of Washington by Y. Col10s. R. Feller aided in determinations of particulate N and C. We wish to thank H. J. Minas for making possible the use of the Perkin-Elmer carbon-nitrogen analyzer, LIMNOLOGY AND OCEANOGRAPHY 219 MARCH 1976, V. 21(2)
Analysis of improved photovoltaic properties of pentacene/C60 organic solar cells: Effects of exciton blocking layer thickness and thermal annealing

Abstract We report on the photovoltaic properties of organic solar cells based on pentacene and C 60 thin films with a focus on their spectral responses and the effect of thermal annealing. Spectra of external quantum efficiency (EQE) are measured and analyzed with a one-dimensional exciton diffusion model dependent upon the complex optical functions of pentacene films, which are measured by spectroscopic ellipsometry. An improvement in EQE is observed when the thickness of the bathocuproine (BCP) layer is decreased from 12 nm to 6 nm. Detailed analysis of the EQE spectra indicates that large exciton diffusion lengths in the pentacene films are responsible for the overall high EQE values near wavelengths of 668 nm. Analysis also shows that improvement in the EQE of devices with the thinner BCP layer can be attributed to a net gain in optical field distribution and improvement in carrier collection efficiency. An improvement in open-circuit voltage ( V OC ) is also achieved through a thermal annealing process, leading to a net increase in power conversion efficiency. Integration of the EQE spectrum with an AM1.5 G spectrum yields a predicted power conversion efficiency of 1.8 ± 0.2%. The increase in V OC is attributed to a significant reduction in the diode reverse saturation current upon annealing.
THE USE OF SOCIAL RESEARCH TO IMPROVE SOCIAL PRACTICE.

Six patterns of use of scientific resources are identified and illustrated: (1) derivation of action designs from relevant research findings; (2) the adoption of experimentally tested models of practice; (3) diffusion between practitioners; (4) diagnostic team with feedback; (5) internal action-research process; (6) the training of consumers to be open to the use of science. Six differences between social science utilization and the use of physical and biological science are identified. The role of the research utilization agent is explored.
Corporate planning: A need to examine corporate style

Abstract In the current depressed and yet highly volatile economic situation, many companies are finding they lack the skills to tackle their problems. Corporate planning concentrated on issues of organizational structure and product and market mix does not provide the essential answer, and a radical change in corporate style is required. This involves the whole area of management/ employment behaviour and the building of an integrated team dedicated to creating a new organization culture.
Productivity and Difficulty as New Criteria for Validating Aviator Selection Tests

The US Army Research Institute is conducting research to improve the quality of the Army's aviator selection testing program. The research is motivated by increasing costs of training and by changing aviator ability requirements due to advanced aircraft and modern tactics. This paper describes the development of a new criterion variable to support the testing improvement research.
In vitro activities of 2,2'-bipyridyl analogues against Mycobacterium avium and M. tuberculosis.

Abstract Setting: Because of widespread emergence of resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis and the high incidence of opportunistic infection caused by M. avium complex (MAC) in AIDS patients, there is an urgent need for new drugs against these organisms. Objective: To evaluate the activity of newly synthesized 2′2-bipyridyl analogues against MAC and M. tuberculosis . Design: Susceptibility of MAC and M. tuberculosis to VUF-8514 and VUF-8842 were determined by both tube dilution method using 7H9 broth and radiometric (BACTEC) method using 14 C-palmitic acid. Results and Conclusions: The MICs of 8514 against MAC and M. tuberculosis wee 1 μg/ml and 0.5 μg/ml respectively, while for 8842 the respective values were 8 μg/ml and 2 μg/ml. In general, the MBC values for both drugs were two-fold higher than their corresponding MIC values. However, both drugs exhibited high bactericidal activities against both organisms. The MICs of clinical isolates of both organisms were in the same range as reference strains; furthermore, two isolates of M. tuberculosis that showed resistance to rifampicin were found to be susceptible to 8514. Thus, these two bipyridyl analogues show great promise in chemotherapy of tuberculosis and M. avium infection.
Gadolinium-based contrast agents in angiography and interventional radiology

Gadolinium is useful as an alternative contrast agent for diagnostic angiographic and interventional procedures in patients with renal insufficiency or a history of a severe reaction to iodinated contrast material. Gadolinium usually is used as a "problem solver" to answer specific diagnostic questions or guide interventional procedures that cannot adequately be defined with CO2 angiography. Because of dose limitations with Gd, careful planning is required prior to its use with angiography or interventional procedures.
A Rollout Control Algorithm for Discrete-Time Stochastic Systems

The growing demand for making autonomous intelligent systems that can learn how to improve their performance while interacting with their environment has induced significant research on computational cognitive models. Computational intelligence, or rationality, can be achieved by modeling a system and the interaction with its environment through actions, perceptions, and associated costs. A widely adopted paradigm for modeling this interaction is the controlled Markov chain. In this context, the problem is formulated as a sequential decision-making process in which an intelligent system has to select those control actions in several time steps to achieve long-term goals. This paper presents a rollout control algorithm that aims to build an online decision-making mechanism for a controlled Markov chain. The algorithm yields a lookahead suboptimal control policy. Under certain conditions, a theoretical bound on its performance can be established.© 2010 ASME
Reversible Nanopore Formation in Ge Nanowires during Lithiation–Delithiation Cycling: An In Situ Transmission Electron Microscopy Study

Retaining the high energy density of rechargeable lithium ion batteries depends critically on the cycle stability of microstructures in electrode materials. We report the reversible formation of na...
Comparison of quartz microfabric with strain in recrystallized quartzite

Abstract The relationship between quartz c -axis microfabric and strain is examined in six specimens of recrystallized quartzite conglomerate in which strain was measured using pebble shapes. Four rocks subjected to plane strain display a direct relationship between the strength of preferred orientation and the strain intensity. The c -axis distributions in these rocks, as well as a rock subjected to moderate extensional strain, are crossed-girdles with maxima near the intermediate principal strain axis and connecting girdles at acute angles to the direction of maximum shortening. A rock subjected to moderate flattening strain has several maxima clustered near the direction of maximum shortening and a weak connecting girdle through the intermediate principal strain axis. These results are generally similar to those of other studies comparing strain and tectonite fabrics and also with experimental and computer simulation studies of fabrics. The degree of preferred orientation is related to total strain, and therefore microfabrics in quartzites may be cautiously interpreted as qualitative indicators of strain intensity. Uncertainties are greater, however, for correlations of fabric patterns with shapes of the strain ellipsoid. An observed increase in recrystallized grain sizes with increasing strain suggests that flow stress was lower in the more strained rocks.
Implications of Cross‐resistance among Bacillus thuringiensis Toxins in Resistance Management

Insect resistance is now recognized as a serious threat to the long‐term usefulness of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) toxins in pest management. Because of the great diversity among Bt toxins found in nature, one of the most tempting resistance management strategies is to use two or more of these toxins in mixtures, rotations or sequences. Cross‐resistance among toxins and the ability of insects to develop resistance to multiple toxins will limit the success of this approach. Studies have shown that there are large differences in the cross‐resistance spectrum of the insect species that have been selected for resistance using single toxins or simple mixtures. Other studies have demonstrated that some species can readily develop resistance to mixtures of toxins, and that the use of strains of Bt that produce a wide array of toxins can cause broad‐spectrum resistance to most Bt toxins. These factors tend to be specific to individual insect species and must be considered when attempting to manage insect resistan...
Multilevel optimization for enterprise driven decision-based product design

Research in Decision-Based Design (DBD) has traditionally modeled the interaction between enterprise product planning and engineering product development in a single optimization problem and solved it using an All-in-One (AIO) approach. Such an approach is not practical in a typical industry design environment, due to the organizational and computational complexities involved. In this paper, we present a hierarchical multilevel optimization approach, based on the principles of DBD and the concept of analytical target cascading (ATC), to integrate enterprise-level product planning with engineering-level product development. A disaggregate probabilistic demand modeling approach based on the Discrete Choice Analysis (DCA) is employed to capture the impact of engineering design on the choices of individual customers and to serve as the link between engineering product development and enterprise-planning. A search algorithm that coordinates the enterpriselevel product planning and the engineering-level product development in a multilevel optimization solution process is presented. Such an algorithm systematically explores the engineering attribute space that may consist of a number of disconnected feasible domains due to engineering constraints. A case study that involves the design of an automotive suspension system is used to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach.
Investigation into the application of low melting temperature alloys as wet thermal interface materials

Abstract The application of low melt alloys (LMAs) containing In, Ga, Sn, and Bi as compliant high performance thermal interface material (TIM) is investigated. The investigation described herein involves in situ thermal performances of the LMAs as a function of applied pressure and interface temperature, performance evaluation after accelerated life cycle testing, and guidelines to improve the cycle life. Testing methodologies follow ASTM D5470 protocols, and measurements are validated by testing well established, commercially available TIMs and comparisons are made to values reported in open literature as well as manufacturers’ data. Measurement shows that LMAs can offer thermal interfacial resistances as low as 0.005 cm 2 °C/W, and their performance is highly contingent upon the quality of the mating surfaces. The issue of LMA containment and dewetting are discussed along with the solutions to mitigate them.
Shear modulus estimation with vibrating needle stimulation

An ultrasonic shear wave imaging technique is being developed for estimating the complex shear modulus of biphasic hydropolymers including soft biological tissues. A needle placed in the medium is vibrated along its axis to generate harmonic shear waves. Doppler pulses synchronously track particle motion to estimate shear wave propagation speed. Velocity estimation is improved by implementing a k-lag phase estimator. Fitting shear-wave speed estimates to the predicted dispersion relation curves obtained from two rheological models, we estimate the elastic and viscous components of the complex shear modulus. The dispersion equation estimated using the standard linear solid-body (Zener) model is compared with that from the Kelvin-Voigt model to estimate moduli in gelatin gels in the 50 to 450 Hz shear wave frequency bandwidth. Both models give comparable estimates that agree with independent shear rheometer measurements obtained at lower strain rates.
Characterization of structural films using microelectromechanical resonators

Micromachined resonant fatigue characterization structures have been used by a variety of investigators to evaluate the stress-life fatigue behaviour of thin films. This work will review the design, testing and analysis of these versatile thin-film characterization structures. Subsequent discussion will illustrate how this material characterization approach has been used to evaluate the high-cycle fatigue behaviour of silicon films commonly used in microelectromechanical systems (MEMS). This work demonstrates that properly designed resonators can be used to monitor extraordinarily low fatigue crack growth rates (i.e. ≪ 10−10 m/cycle) relevant to these minute mechanical components.