cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Enabling High-Performance DNN Inference Accelerators Using Non-Volatile Analog Memory (Invited)

Non-volatile analog memory and in-memory computing have great potential to enable high-performance Deep Neural Network (DNN) inference accelerators with significantly better performance and efficiency than digital processors. Analog Phase Change Memory (PCM) arrays, combined with CMOS circuitry, can achieve software-equivalent accuracy and high energy efficiency. At the same time, non-ideal device characteristics of analog memories have to be carefully addressed. This paper reviews some novel techniques to reduce the impact of write noise, variability, and drift of PCMs to enable high-performance inference accelerators, as demonstrated in Long-Short Term Memory (LSTM) networks.
Think Smart, Play Dumb: Analyzing Deception in Hardware Trojan Detection Using Game Theory

In recent years, integrated circuits (ICs) have become significant for various industries and their security has been given greater priority, specifically in the supply chain. Budgetary constraints have compelled IC designers to offshore manufacturing to third-party companies. When the designer gets the manufactured ICs back, it is imperative to test for potential threats like hardware trojans (HT). In this paper, a novel multi-level game-theoretic framework is introduced to analyze the interactions between a malicious IC manufacturer and the tester. In particular, the game is formulated as a non-cooperative, zero-sum, repeated game using prospect theory (PT) that captures different players’ rationalities under uncertainty. The repeated game is separated into a learning stage, in which the defender learns about the attacker’s tendencies, and an actual game stage, where this learning is used. Experiments show great incentive for the attacker to deceive the defender about their actual rationality by "playing dumb" in the learning stage (deception). This scenario is captured using hypergame theory to model the attacker’s view of the game. The optimal deception rationality of the attacker is analytically derived to maximize utility gain. For the defender, a first-step deception mitigation process is proposed to thwart the effects of deception. Simulation results show that the attacker can profit from the deception as it can successfully insert HTs in the manufactured ICs without being detected.
Metagenomic Noncoding RNA Profiling and Biomarker Discovery

Abstract Noncoding RNA plays important regulatory and functional roles in microorganisms, such as gene expression regulation, signaling, protein synthesis, and RNA processing. Given its essential role in microbial physiology, it is natural to question whether we can use noncoding RNAs as biomarkers to distinguish among environments under different biological conditions, such as those between healthy versus disease status. The current metagenomic sequencing technology primarily generates short reads, which contain incomplete structural information that may complicate noncoding RNA homology detection. On the other hand, de novo assembly of the metagenomics sequencing data remains fragmentary and has a risk of missing low-abundant noncoding RNAs. To tackle these challenges, we have developed DRAGoM (Detection of RNA using Assembly Graph from Metagenomics data), a novel noncoding RNA homology search algorithm. DRAGoM operates on a metagenome assembly graph, rather than on unassembled reads or assembled contigs. Our benchmark experiments show DRAGoM’s improved performance and robustness over the traditional approaches. We have further demonstrated DRAGoM’s real-world applications in disease characterization via analyzing a real case-control gut microbiome dataset for Type-2 diabetes (T2D). DRAGoM revealed potential ncRNA biomarkers that can clearly separate the T2D gut microbiome from those of healthy controls. DRAGoM is freely available from https://github.com/benliu5085/DRAGoM.
Prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 Antibodies in Children and Adults with Type 1 Diabetes.

Objective: As diabetes is a risk factor for severe symptoms, hospitalization, and death with COVID-19 disease, we aimed to assess the prevalence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) antibodies in children and adults with and without type 1 diabetes in Colorado during 2020. Research Design and Methods: We developed a highly sensitive and specific test for antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 and measured the antibodies in children and adults with new-onset (n = 129) and established type 1 diabetes (n = 94) seen for routine diabetes care at our center between January and October 2020. The antibodies were also measured in 562 children and 102 adults from the general population of Colorado. Results: The prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in persons with new-onset type 1 diabetes (0.8%; 95% confidence interval 0.1%-4.2%) or those with established disease (4.3%; 1.7%-10.4%) did not differ from that in the general population children (2.8%; 1.8%-4.6%) or adults (3.9%; 1.5%-9.7%). In a subset of individuals with positive antibodies (n = 31), antibodies remained positive for up to 9 months, although the levels decreased starting 3 months after the infection (P = 0.007). Conclusions: From January to October 2020, the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies were not different in children and adults with and without type 1 diabetes in Colorado. We found no evidence for increased prevalence of COVID-19 infections among youth with newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes. (COMIRB Protocol 20-1007).
Kinesin-4 Motor Teams Effectively Navigate Dendritic Microtubule Arrays Through Track Switching and Regulation of Microtubule Dynamics

ABSTRACT Microtubules establish the directionality of intracellular transport by kinesins and dynein through their polarized assembly, but it remains unclear how directed transport occurs along microtubules organized with mixed polarity. We investigated the ability of the plus-end directed kinesin-4 motor KIF21B to navigate mixed polarity microtubules in mammalian dendrites. Reconstitution assays with recombinant KIF21B and engineered microtubule bundles or extracted neuronal cytoskeletons indicate that nucleotide- independent microtubule binding regions of KIF21B modulate microtubule dynamics and promote directional switching on antiparallel microtubules. Optogenetic recruitment of KIF21B to organelles in live neurons resulted in unidirectional transport in axons but bi-directional transport with a net retrograde bias in dendrites; microtubule dynamics and the secondary microtubule binding regions are required for this net directional bias. We propose a model in which cargo-bound KIF21B motors coordinate nucleotide- sensitive and insensitive microtubule binding sites to achieve net retrograde movement along the dynamic mixed polarity microtubule arrays of dendrites.
Activation of the iNOS/NO/cGMP pathway by Revactin® in human corporal smooth muscle cells

Background The combination of the nutraceuticals, Paullinia cupana, ginger rhizome, muira puama, and the amino acid L-citrulline (COMP-4) has been shown to stimulate the production of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), nitric oxide (NO), and cGMP in rat corpora cavernosa smooth muscle cells (CSMC). When administered to middle-aged rats, long-term treatment with COMP-4 resulted in both an increase in the number of CSMC and an improvement in erectile function. We, therefore, aimed to determine whether a commercial formulation of COMP-4, Revactin®, could have a similar stimulatory effect on human CSMC. Methods Primary human CSMC cultures (HCSMC) were grown and incubated with Revactin® for up to 24 hours. cGMP generation and nitrite formation were determined by ELISA and Griess reaction, respectively. IBMX (1 mM), sildenafil (0.4 mM), and L-NIL (4 µM) were utilized as modulators of the NO-cGMP pathway. iNOS, endothelial NOS (eNOS), and neuronal NOS (nNOS) expressions were determined by Western blot. Results Revactin® up-regulated both nitrite formation and cGMP expression, achieving the highest expression at 24 hours in the HCSMC. These effects were completely blocked by L-NIL. Revactin® up-regulated iNOS expression, but not that of eNOS or nNOS. Conclusions The results presented in this study confirmed that Revactin® activated the iNOS-NO-cGMP pathway intracellularly in HCSMC. It still needs to be determined whether the upregulation of this pathway would be an effective approach for counteracting the fibrosis and apoptosis of the corporal smooth muscle cells associated with aging.
G3BP1 binds to guanine quadruplexes in mRNAs to modulate their stabilities

RNA guanine quadruplexes (rG4) assume important roles in post-transcriptional regulations of gene expression, which are often modulated by rG4-binding proteins. Hence, understanding the biological functions of rG4s requires the identification and functional characterizations of rG4-recognition proteins. By employing a bioinformatic approach based on the analysis of overlap between peaks obtained from rG4-seq analysis and those detected in >230 eCLIP-seq datasets for RNA-binding proteins generated from the ENCODE project, we identified a large number of candidate rG4-binding proteins. We showed that one of these proteins, G3BP1, is able to bind directly to rG4 structures with high affinity and selectivity, where the binding entails its C-terminal RGG domain and is further enhanced by its RRM domain. Additionally, our seCLIP-Seq data revealed that pyridostatin, a small-molecule rG4 ligand, could displace G3BP1 from mRNA in cells, with the most pronounced effects being observed for the 3'-untranslated regions (3'-UTR) of mRNAs. Moreover, luciferase reporter assay results showed that G3BP1 positively regulates mRNA stability through its binding with rG4 structures. Together, we identified a number of candidate rG4-binding proteins and validated that G3BP1 can bind directly with rG4 structures and regulate the stabilities of mRNAs.
The Impact of Public Health Sector Stockouts on Private Sector Prices and Access to Healthcare: Evidence from the Anti-Malarial Drug Market

Abstract In developing countries, public sector health facilities frequently run out of essential medicines (“stockouts”). I test whether anti-malarial drug stockouts affect prices, quality, and overall access to anti-malarial drugs in private sector outlets in Uganda. I combine data from four sources: 1) standardized patient drug purchases; 2) vendor surveys; 3) real customer surveys; 4) public sector supply delivery dates. Using a difference-in-differences approach, I find that stockouts increase private-sector antimalarial drug prices by $0.68, or 35 percent. I find few changes in quality. Real customer characteristics change, suggesting that stockouts lead less educated and poorer customers to drop out of the market. Analysis using the 2016 Demographic and Health Survey additionally shows stockouts reduce treatment at public sector facilities and reduce the likelihood that children receive medicine. My results suggest that stockouts increase prices in the private sector and lead to less equitable health outcomes.
Enumeration of Partitions: The Role of Eulerian Series and q-Orthogonal Polynomials

The theory of partitions has long been associated with so called basic hypergeometric functions or Eulerian series. We begin with discussion of some of the lesser known identities of L.J. Rogers which have interesting interpretations in the theory of partitions. Illustrations are given for the numerous ways partition studies lead to Eulerian series. The main portion of our work is primarily an introduction to recent work on orthogonal polynomials defined by basic hypergeometric series and to the applications that can be made of these results to the theory of partitions. Perhaps it is most interesting to note that we deduce the Rogers-Ramanujan identities from our solution to the connection coefficient problem for the little q-Jacobi polynomials.
Mixed H/sub 2//ESPR (extended strictly positive real) control for state-feedback case

This paper considers a mixed H/sub 2//ESPR control problem for the state-feedback case. The problem is to find an internally stabilizing controller that minimizes a mixed H/sub 2//ESPR performance measure subject to an inequality constraint on the ESPRness (extended strictly positive real) of another closed-loop transfer function. This problem can be interpreted and motivated as a problem of optimal nominal performance subject to a robust stability constraint. It is shown that the state-feedback problem can be converted into a convex optimization problem over a bounded set of matrices, and that in the state-feedback problem, one can come arbitrary close to the optimal (even over full information controllers) mixed H/sub 2//ESPR performance measure using constant gain state-feedback. >
A Multimodal User Interface for Geoscientific Data Investigation

In this paper, we report on our ongoing research into multimodal investigation of geoscientific data. Our system integrates three-dimensional, interactive computer graphics, touch (haptics) and real-time sound synthesis into a multimodal interface. We present applications of multimodal investigations of geoscientific data that pertain to surface meshes on which several typical properties were mapped and to geophysical volume data. Finally, we report on the preliminary results of a psychological study, which is being conducted to increase our understanding of the recognition of audio value in an absolute sense.
Supernucleophiles-II. Orbital interactions and nucleophilicity

Abstract The role of adjacent lone pair centers upon the nucleophilic reactivity of various amines with p -nitrophenyl acetate has been studied. The kinetics of appropriately substituted hydroxy- and methoxyamines, as well as unsubstituted analogs are presented. The effect of orbital orientation was evaluated theoretically for 1-aminoethanol using CNDO/2. The results of the theoretical study imply a small through-bond and an even smaller through-space lone pair interaction. Kinetically, rate enhancements resulting from such interactions are not observed.
Emission Line Spectroscopy of a Damped Lyman-alpha Absorbing Galaxy at z = 0.437

We present Keck/LRIS spectra of a candidate damped Lyman-alpha (DLA) galaxy toward the QSO 3C196 (z_em = 0.871). The DLA absorption system has a redshift of z_DLA = 0.437, and a galaxy at 1.5" from the QSO has been identified in high resolution imaging with WFPC2/HST. We have detected emission lines of [O II] 3727A, Hbeta, [O III] 5007A, Halpha and [N II] 6584A at the absorption redshift. Based on the emission lines, we have found the redshift of the galaxy to be z_em = 0.4376 +/- 0.0006. The emission lines also enabled us to calculate the extinction-corrected luminosities and metallicity indicators using established indices based on line strengths of different emission lines. These indicators suggest that the ISM of the DLA galaxy has a high metallicity comparable to or perhaps twice as much as solar (e.g. 12+log (O/H) = 8.98 +/- 0.07). Based on the strengths of Halpha and on the reddening derived from the relative strengths of Halpha and Hbeta, the star formation rate is 4.7 +/- 0.8 M_solar/yr. This places the galaxy in the range of gas-rich spiral galaxies.
The Association Between Health Insurance Coverage and Skilled Birth Attendance in Ghana: A National Study.

Objectives Skilled birth attendance (SBA) is a key health intervention used by roughly two-thirds of women in Ghana. The National Health Insurance Scheme provided by the Government of Ghana is widely expected to improve maternal health outcomes by removing financial barriers to health services. In this paper, we examine if indeed health insurance is able to improve SBA, a key maternal outcome. Methods We use data from the 2011 Ghana Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey implemented by the Ghana Statistical Services with support from the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). We use a multivariate logistic model controlling for a number of enabling and predisposing factors and past experience with the health system to examine the effect of health insurance on skilled birth attendance. The sample is 2528 women. Results Our results show that women with health insurance are 47 % more likely to use SBA than women without health insurance. Results also underscore that women with repetitive contact with the health system (such as antenatal care) are more likely to have a skilled delivery (OR 3.00, p value 0.000). We also find that higher parity, rural and poor women are much less likely to use SBA. Conclusions Health insurance may indeed be a useful mechanism to improve coverage of SBA, though many barriers to delivery care still exist for women. Further work to understand the effect of health insurance on other maternal outcomes is also warranted.
Failure of immunologic reconstitution in a patient with the DiGeorge syndrome after fetal thymus transplantation.

Abstract Transplantation of two fetal thymuses failed to reconstitute the immune function in a patient with the DiGeorge syndrome. Serum thymic hormones (facteur thymique serique and thymopoietin), which had been nondetectable, became normal after thymus transplantation. Studies done on the patient's fractionated bone marrow cells in vitro appeared to reflect defective capacity for T-lymphocyte differentiation. In spite of the efforts at treatment, the child died at 2 years of age, apparently due to an associated cardiovascular abnormality. At autopsy, no thymic tissue could be found. Failure of immunologic reconstitution after fetal thymus transplantation in this patient with the DiGeorge syndrome may have resulted from deficiencies of precursor cells.
Insights into regulation of the human corneal endothelial cell cycle

Purpose Human corneal endothelial cells (HCEC) exhibit both an age- and position-related decrease in proliferative capacity. HCEC are inhibited in G1-phase of the cell cycle, but this not caused by critically short telomeres. The current studies explored whether oxidative stress and oxidative DNA damage could be responsible for this decreased proliferative capacity. Methods Human donor corneas were divided into 2 age-groups: Young= 50yo. Ex vivo corneas were used for some studies and, for others, HCEC were cultured according to published protocols. An ELISA assay quantified 8-OHdG, a marker of oxidative DNA damage. ICC was used to localize 8-OHdG. Treatment of HCEC from young donors with H2O2 was used to test the effect of oxidative stress on nuclear DNA damage and relative proliferative capacity. Results Significant oxidative DNA damage was present in HCEC from older donors, particularly in central endothelium. 8-OHdG staining was present in mitochondria in central and peripheral HCEC from young donors. In HCEC from older donors, intense 8-OHdG staining was found in nuclei of central cells, indicating nuclear oxidative DNA damage. Age-related differences in nuclear 8-OHdG staining were also found in cultured HCEC. Treatment of HCEC from young donors with H2O2 caused a dose-dependent increase in nuclear 8-OHdG staining and a dose-dependent decrease in proliferative capacity. Growth curves from H2O2-treated young HCEC closely resembled those of untreated HCEC from older donors. Conclusion The age- and position-related decrease in proliferative capacity observed in HCEC is due to increased nuclear oxidative DNA damage, possibly caused by chronic light exposure and high metabolic activity.
Increased Variability of Microbial Communities in Restored Salt Marshes nearly 30 Years After Tidal Flow Restoration

We analyzed microbial diversity and community composition from four salt marsh sites that were impounded for 40–50 years and subsequently restored and four unimpounded sites in southeastern Connecticut over one growing season. Community composition and diversity were assessed by terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (TRFLP) and sequence analysis of 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes. Our results indicated diverse communities, with sequences representing 14 different bacterial divisions. Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, and Planctomycetes dominated clone libraries from both restored and unimpounded sites. Multivariate analysis of the TRFLP data suggest significant site, sample date, and restoration status effects, but the exact causes of these effects are not clear. Composition of clone libraries and abundance of bacterial 16S rRNA genes were not significantly different between restored sites and unimpounded sites, but restored sites showed greater temporal and spatial variability of bacterial communities based on TRFLP profiles compared with unimpounded sites, and variability was greatest at sites more recently restored. In summary, our study suggests there may be long-lasting effects on stability of bacterial communities in restored salt marshes and raises questions about the resilience and ultimate recovery of the communities after chronic disturbance.
AGA technical review on the evaluation of liver chemistry tests

Abstract The widespread availability and frequent use of serum chemistry tests have resulted in a dramatic increase in the number of normal and abnormal liver chemistry test values that must be evaluated by physicians. Serum liver chemistry tests increasingly are obtained not only on patients with suspected liver disorders, but also for screening asymptomatic individuals. Liver chemistry tests commonly are used for periodic health screening, blood banking, and insurance physicals and during hospitalization for medical, surgical, or psychiatric illnesses unrelated to hepatic disorders. Abnormal elevations of serum liver chemistries may occur in 1%–4% of the asymptomatic population.1,2 Therefore, to provide high-quality, cost-effective health care, a rational approach for the appropriate evaluation of serum liver chemistries is essential for all practicing physicians. As with the evaluation of all medical tests, the interpretation of liver chemistries must be performed within the context of the patient's risk factors for disease, symptoms, and historical and physical examination findings. GASTROENTEROLOGY 2002;123:1367-1384
Phylogenetic Variations in the Calcium-Dependent Electrophoretic Shift of α-Lactalbumin

Abstract α-Lactalbumin undergoes a calcium-dependent electrophoretic shift at pH 8.3. When Ca 2+ is removed by a chelator, the mobility of the protein increases, reflecting the exposure of negative electrical charges. The shift, however, is not observed by electrophoresis in the presence of SDS, which demonstrates that α-lactalbumin does not undergo a measurable conformational change upon debinding of Ca 2+ . Relative electrophoretic mobilities vary from 1.0 (no shift) to 1.4 among α-lactalbumins of different orders of mammals. The differences suggest a variable number of gram atoms of Ca 2+ bound to α-lactalbumin or substitution of amino acid Ca 2+ ligands in the calcium-binding loop.
Physical examination and pretreatment testing of the incontinent woman.

"In the fields of observation, chance favors only the mind that is prepared."Too often, we try to pigeon-hole the incontinent woman with a simple diagnosis, evaluate her with "gold standard" urodynamics, and do the one "best" procedure or treatment. Caregivers with a long experience in the evaluat
Patterns of Cryptosporidium oocyst shedding in calves and a comparison of two diagnostic methods

Cryptosporidium spp. oocyst shedding was observed in calves from approximately 1 to 30 days of age. Oocysts were detected by either the Kinyoun acid-fast staining technique (microscopic examination—ME) or a commercially produced enzyme immunoassay (EIA). Test concordance between the two detection methods was determined. The mean (±SD) number of days to detection of cryptosporidial oocysts was 9.52 ± 1.92 for the ME and 9.83 ± 3.19 for the EIA. No significant difference between the means was found (P = 0.17). The period prevalence of cryptosporidiosis was 100% in calves from 1 to 30 days of age. The overall agreement between the ME and EIA was 72%, with a kappa value of 0.42 (SE ± 0.05). McNemar's test indicated that the proportion of tests determined positive by the two methods was not equal (P < 0.01). The findings of this study indicate moderate agreement between the two diagnostic methods, with the EIA being the more sensitive of the two. However, in most cases the herd-level determination of cryptosporidiosis requires minimal sample size and is more economically and easily accomplished by the ME methvd of detection.
Chip voltage: Why less is better: A reduced power-supply standard is in the offing as manufacturers and designers grapple with the tradeoffs of submicrometer devices

The benefits of using chips that operate at 3.3 V rather than the standard 5 V are enumerated, and the factors impeding their adoption are examined. The main concern is that since TTL-compatible circuits cannot be replaced overnight by equivalent chips at the lower voltage, 5-V and 3.3-V chips are likely to be mixed in systems for a long time. If they need external interface circuits to allow them to communicate, system cost will go up and performance could be severely degraded. Fear of novelty and the difficulties of scaling down are also discussed.
Loss bounds for uncertain transition probabilities in Markov decision processes

We analyze losses resulting from uncertain transition probabilities in Markov decision processes with bounded nonnegative rewards. We assume that policies are precomputed using exact dynamic programming with the estimated transition probabilities, but the system evolves according to different, true transition probabilities. Given a bound on the total variation error of estimated transition probability distributions, we derive upper bounds on the loss of expected total reward. The approach analyzes the growth of errors incurred by stepping backwards in time while precomputing value functions, which requires bounding a multilinear program. Loss bounds are given for the finite horizon undiscounted, finite horizon discounted, and infinite horizon discounted cases, and a tight example is shown.
The Independent Role of Cytomegalovirus as a Risk Factor for Invasive Fungal Disease in Orthotopic Liver Transplant Recipients

Abstract PURPOSE: To assess impact of cytomegalovirus (CMV) donor-recipient serostatus, infection, or disease on development of invasive fungal infection in orthotopic liver transplant recipients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: An analysis of prospectively collected data in 146 liver transplant recipients (intention to treat cohort) from 4 tertiary care, university-affiliated transplant centers in Boston (Boston Center for Liver Transplantation). Patients were observed for 1 year after transplantation for the development of CMV infection, CMV disease, CMV pneumonia, as well as for the development of opportunistic fungal infections, graft survival, and mortality. Weekly cultures were taken of urine and throat and every other week of buffy coat for CMV for 2 months, then monthly for 6 months, at 1 year, and at the time of any clinical illness. Pre- and posttransplant variables including CMV-serostatus of donor and recipient, fungal isolation from sterile body sites, fungemia, bacteremia, antibiotic use, immunosuppression, treatment for rejection, and volumes of blood products were measured. RESULTS: Survival analysis demonstrated that 36% of patients with CMV disease developed invasive fungal disease within the first year post-transplant compared with 8% of those without CMV disease ( P P P P = 0.001), UNOS (United Network for Organ Sharing) status 4 (need for life support measures) at transplant ( P = 0.002), and volume of platelets ( P = 0.002) were independently associated with invasive fungal disease. Restriction of cases of invasive fungal disease to those that occurred more than 2 weeks after transplant demonstrated an association with CMV disease ( P = 0.003), bacteremia ( P = 0.003), need for life support ( P = 0.03), and volume of blood products transfused ( P = 0.02). CONCLUSION: CMV disease or being a CMV-seronegative recipient of a CMV-seropositive donor organ is an important predictor for invasive fungal disease following orthotopic liver transplantation.
129Xe NMR as a probe of polymer blends

The miscibility of polymer binary blends was investigated using 129 Xe NMR to probe the phase morphology. Heterogeneous blends with large domain sizes exhibit two 129 Xe NMR lines. When a single resonance is obtained, the data are consistent with miscibility, yielding an upper bound on the domain size. The temperature dependence of the relative solubilities and chemical shifts of 129 Xe dissolved in the pure components may allow a determination of the phase morphology in blends exhibiting a single resonance. The method is used to show that polychloroprene and 25% epoxidized 1,4-polyisoprene are miscible
Nucleotide sequences at the 5'-linked ends of viral ribonucleic acids.

The 5′-linked ends of the nucleic acids of tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) and the RNA bacteriophages MS2 and f2 have been specifically labeled by means of periodate oxidation followed by reduction with tritiated borohydride. Labeled oligonucleotides characteristic of the end of each RNA were isolated through specific nuclease degradation and DEAE-cellulose chromatography, exploiting the non-phosphorylated character of the end fragment. Uniformly 32P-labeled viral RNA was used to determine the nucleotide composition of each isolated oligomer, and nucleotide sequences were examined by means of stepwise enzymatic degradation using spleen phosphodiesterase and by hydrolysis with specific nucleases. The 5′-linked end sequence of MS2 RNA is … GpUpUpApCpCpApCpCpCpA; the labeled oligonucleotide from ribonuclease T1 digests of f2 RNA is chromatographically indistinguishable and expected to have the same sequence as that of MS2 RNA. The sequence of TMV RNA is confirmed to be … GpCpCpCpA.
Performance Appraisal Satisfaction and Supervisors' Traits:

105 engineers were rated by their immediate supervisors on graphic rating scales. Subjects were asked about their supervisors' characteristics and about their satisfaction with the performance appraisal. There was a moderate negative correlation for satisfaction with performance appraisal and some supervisors' traits (e.g., refusal to share the glory, refusal to reward subordinates). A positive relationship existed between appraisal satisfaction and supervisors' traits indicating support of subordinates.
Control of Aphids on Chrysanthemums with Aerosols13

Dichlorvos and sulfotepp, as 10% aerosols, were effective in green house tests against Myzus persicae (Sulzer) and A phis fabae Scopoli on chrysanthemum plants. However, dicholorvos was less effective with the susceptible cultivar ‘Mefo’ than with the more resistant cultivar ‘Good News’ because of the difference in the structure of the aphid population on the two cultivars. The 2 insecticides penetrated equally well into blocks of plants.
Epidermoid carcinoma of the gingiva: A possible relationship to PUVA therapy

Abstract A case of squamous cell carcinoma arising in the gingiva of a 30-year-old nonsmoking woman receiving PUVA therapy for vitiligo is reported. There were no typical predisposing factors for oral cancer in the history, other than the latter therapy. Although there are several previous reports of cutaneous carcinoma developing in patients under PUVA therapy, most of such involve development of tumors on skin surfaces exposed to direct ultraviolet radiation either through sunlight or via therapeutic modes. In this case, there was no direct ultraviolet exposure at the site of carcinoma. We suggest the possibility that, in this case, PUVA may have exerted a carcinogenic influence via systemic distribution of ultraviolet-activated psoralens or its metabolites to the gingiva. The possibility of microbial interaction with substances within gingival inflammatory exudate to produce carcinogenic substances is postulated.
Dispersed fluorescence spectroscopy of jet-cooled HCF and DCF: Vibrational structure of the X 1A' state.

We recorded dispersed fluorescence (DF) spectra following excitation of the pure bending levels 20n and the combination states 10120n and 20n301 in the AA″1←XA′1 system of HCF and DCF. Spectra were measured with a 0.3m spectrograph equipped with a gated intensified charge coupled device (CCD) detector and obtained under jet-cooled conditions using a pulsed discharge source. The DF spectra reveal rich detail concerning the vibrational structure of the X state up to 10000cm−1. For HCF, resonances among the nearly degenerate levels 112n, 2n+131, and 2n+2 produce a polyadlike structure in the spectrum, and the usual effective spectroscopic Hamiltonian (Dunham expansion) poorly reproduces the experimental term energies. In contrast, this Hamiltonian works well for the term energies of DCF. Density functional calculations of the ground state vibrational frequencies were performed; the results are in excellent agreement with the experimentally derived vibrational parameters. The search for perturbations invol...
Changes in beverage intake between 1977 and 2001

Objective To examine American beverage consumption trends and causes. Methods Nationally representative data from the 1977–1978 Nationwide Food Consumption Survey, the 1989–1991 and 1994–1996 (also for children aged 2 to 9 years in 1998) Continuing Surveys of Food Intake by Individuals (CSFII), and 1999–2001 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were used in this study. The sample consisted of 73,345 individuals, aged ≥2 years. For each survey year, the percentage of total energy intake from meals and snacks was calculated separately for respondents aged 2 to 18 years, 19 to 39, 40 to 59, and ≥60. The percentage of energy intake by location (at home consumption or preparation, vending, store eaten out, restaurant/fast food, and school), as well as for specific beverages was computed separately for all age groups. The proportion consumed, mean portion size, and number of servings were calculated. Results For all age groups, sweetened beverage consumption increased and milk consumption decreased. Overall, energy intake from sweetened beverages increased 135% and was reduced by 38% from milk, with a 278 total calorie increase. These trends were associated with increased proportions of Americans consuming larger portions, more servings per day of sweetened beverage, and reductions in these same measures for milk. Conclusions There is little research that has focused on the beneficial impacts of reduced soft drink and fruit drink intake. This would seem to be one of the simpler ways to reduce obesity in the United States.
Loss of surface galactosyl receptor activity on isolated rat hepatocytes induced by monensin or chloroquine requires receptor internalization via a clathrin coated pit pathway.

Abstract We studied the effect of hyperosmotic inhibition of the clathrin coated pit cycle on the monensin- and chloroquine-dependent loss of surface galactosyl (Gal) receptor activity on isolated rat hepatocytes. Cells treated for 60 min without ligand at 37°C with 25 μM monensin or 300 μM chloroquine in normal medium (osmolality ⋍275 mmol/kg) bound 40–60% less 125 I-asialo-orosomucoid (ASOR) at 4°C than untreated cells. Cells exposed to monensin or chloroquine retained progressively more surface Gal receptor activity, however, when the osmolality of the medium was increased above 400 mmol/kg (using sucrose as osmolite) 10 min prior to and during drug treatment. Cells pretreated for 10 min with hyperosmolal media (600 mmol/kg) alone internalized ≤10% of surfacebound 125 I-ASOR. Thus, the ligand-independent loss of surface Gal receptor activity on monensin- and chlorquine-treated hepatocytes requires internalization of constitutively recycling receptors via a coated pit pathway.
Physicians Being Deceived: Whose Responsibility?

This article is very timely and important as it discusses a significant issue that is currently impacting the practice of pain management in ways never before witnessed. It raises several very significant ethical dilemmas. Why are physicians “responsible” to detect deception? Why is the onus of responsibility placed on the physician whose medical education is so founded on the ethical principle of beneficence? The ethical principle of beneficence mandates physicians to do good for their patients [1]—and that is what the overwhelming majority of physicians and pain specialists do for their patients who are suffering from the terrible scourge of chronic unremitting pain. Furthermore, why are physicians presumed to have this ability? The authors present evidence that …
Modeling nitrogen-gas, -liquid, -solid chemistries at low temperatures (173–298 K) with applications to Titan

Abstract Molecular diatomic nitrogen (henceforth, “nitrogen”) is a major gas on Venus, Earth, Mars, Titan, Triton, and Pluto; a major condensed liquid component on Titan; and major condensed ices on Triton and Pluto. Nitrogen also occurs as a component of air gas hydrates in Earth’s polar ice sheets. The Solar System’s nitrogen originally might have been produced by condensation of nitrogen ice in the outer Solar Nebula disk, or it might have first condensed as and then decomposed from nitrogen gas hydrate or ammonia. The specific objectives of this study were to add nitrogen into the FREZCHEM model (which already included ammonia) and explore some roles of nitrogen on planetary satellites, especially Titan, where nitrogen is a major atmospheric gas and a component of Titan’s hydrocarbon-rich lakes and rain. Nitrogen gases, aqueous phases, and gas hydrates were added to FREZCHEM. Nitrogen, methane, and carbon dioxide gas hydrates were parallel with respect to temperature, which allowed extensions to 173 K, including for mixed N 2 –CH 4 and N 2 –CO 2 gas hydrates. Simulations from 273 to 173 K used a surface Titan pressure of 1.467 bars with a major mixing gas of nitrogen at 1.394 bars (95%) and methane at 0.073 bars (5%). These gas concentrations eventually led to formation of N 2 –CH 4 gas hydrate at 178 K, which suggests that these gas hydrates could be forming on the surface of Titan today (at 94 K) and in sub-surfaces with higher temperatures. On Earth, air gas hydrates are common deep within polar ice sheets and are dominated by atmospheric N 2 /O 2 gas compositions; and as a consequence, gas hydrates do not control, but are controlled by, atmospheric N 2 /O 2 gas compositions. Given that Earth and Titan have similar atmospheric nitrogen (0.78 vs. 1.39 bars) and icy environments, on neither body are gas hydrates likely the main source of atmospheric nitrogen; but rather, atmospheric gases are likely the source of minor amounts of nitrogen in gas hydrates on Earth and Titan.
Large-scale content-based audio retrieval from text queries

In content-based audio retrieval, the goal is to find sound recordings (audio documents) based on their acoustic features. This content-based approach differs from retrieval approaches that index media files using metadata such as file names and user tags. In this paper, we propose a machine learning approach for retrieving sounds that is novel in that it (1) uses free-form text queries rather sound sample based queries, (2) searches by audio content rather than via textual meta data, and (3) can scale to very large number of audio documents and very rich query vocabulary. We handle generic sounds, including a wide variety of sound effects, animal vocalizations and natural scenes. We test a scalable approach based on a passive-aggressive model for image retrieval (PAMIR), and compare it to two state-of-the-art approaches; Gaussian mixture models (GMM) and support vector machines (SVM).We test our approach on two large real-world datasets: a collection of short sound effects, and a noisier and larger collection of user-contributed user-labeled recordings (25K files, 2000 terms vocabulary). We find that all three methods achieved very good retrieval performance. For instance, a positive document is retrieved in the first position of the ranking more than half the time, and on average there are more than 4 positive documents in the first 10 retrieved, for both datasets. PAMIR completed both training and retrieval of all data in less than 6 hours for both datasets, on a single machine. It was one to three orders of magnitude faster than the competing approaches. This approach should therefore scale to much larger datasets in the future.
Antiferromagnetic ordering of Fe/Ru(0001).

The structural, electronic, and magnetic properties of the Fe/Ru(0001) system were determined by using the local-density total-energy full-potential linearized augmented-plane-wave energy-band method. Structurally, Fe atoms are found to occupy the hcp sites on the Ru(0001) substrate. Compared with the average of their bulk values, the nearest Fe-Ru distance contracts about 6% for the paramagnetic case but expands 1% for the ferromagnetic and the antiferromagnetic configurations, indicating the strong effect of magnetism and the lattice geometry. As the result of the strong overlayer-substrate hybridization, the Fe atoms, which are coupled ferromagnetically in the case of the corresponding free-standing Fe monolayer, favor antiferromagnetic coupling for Fe/Ru(0001). The predicted antiferromagnetic coupling appears to explain the observation by Liu and Bader that Fe overlayers on Ru(0001) are ``magnetically dead'' when the number of Fe layers is less than 2.
Static and dynamic hydrogen adsorption on Pt/AC and MOF-5

Abstract Hydrogen adsorption has been studied by static and dynamic methods on activated carbon (AC), platinum/activated carbon (Pt/AC), metal organic frameworks (MOF-5), and Pt/AC_MOF-5.The static method showed that all of adsorbents used in this study exhibited a Langmuir (type I) adsorption isotherm at 77 K and a linear function of hydrogen partial pressure at 298 K. The dynamic method produced breakthrough curves, indicating (i) slow rate of hydrogen diffusion in the densely packed activated carbon and Pt/AC beds and (ii) high rate of hydrogen diffusion in the loosely packed bed with large MOF-5 crystallites. Temperature variable adsorption resulted in the higher hydrogen uptake on Pt/AC than other adsorbents. The results suggested that temperature variable adsorption enhanced the hydrogen storage process by (i) initiating hydrogen dissociation at high temperature and (ii) facilitating spillover at low temperature on Pt/AC.
Exploring the optimal sensitivity of sum-variance nonseparability criteria for spin- 1/2 systems

We report on experimental and theoretical studies on recently introduced entanglement measures which use a sum of spin-variance criteria for two spin-$1∕2$ particles. Three inequalities are explored which exhibit useful concatenating properties. They are each shown to have greater sensitivities than a Bell's measurement, while each requiring fewer measurements than a Bell's measurement to obtain. The simplest inequality, requiring just four measurements, is shown to be efficient at testing for entanglement in down-conversion sources which naturally exhibit maximally polarized noise. The most complex inequality, requiring just 12 measurements, is shown to have a sensitivity equal to that of the Peres separability criterion for maximally polarized and Werner noise. This increased sensitivity implies optimality of the measure.
Circadian rhythms in healthy aging--effects downstream from the pacemaker

Using both previously published findings and entirely new data, we present evidence in support of the argument that the circadian dysfunction of advancing age in the healthy human is primarily one of failing to transduce the circadian signal from the circadian timing system (CTS) to rhythms "downstream" from the pacemaker rather than one of failing to generate the circadian signal itself. Two downstream rhythms are considered: subjective alertness and objective performance. For subjective alertness, we show that in both normal nychthemeral (24 h routine, sleeping at night) and unmasking (36 h of constant wakeful bed rest) conditions, advancing age, especially in men, leads to flattening of subjective alertness rhythms, even when circadian temperature rhythms are relatively robust. For objective performance, an unmasking experiment involving manual dexterity, visual search, and visual vigilance tasks was used to demonstrate that the relationship between temperature and performance is strong in the young, but not in older subjects (and especially not in older men).
Modulation of leaf elongation, tiller appearance and tiller senescence in spring barley by far‐red light

Supplemental far-red (FR) illumination of light-grown grass seedlings inhibits tiller production while enhancing leaf elongation. Although much is known about FR enhancement of internode elongation in dicots, relatively little research has been conducted to determine the effects of FR on monocot development. In growth chamber experiments, fibre optics were used to direct supplemental FR to elongating leaf blades, main stem bases and mature leaf blades of light-grown barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) seedlings. Our objective was to identify specific sites of perception for FR enhancement of leaf elongation and inhibition of tiller production, and to assess potential FR effects on tiller senescence. Far-red illumination of elongating leaves or of the main stem base reduced the total number of tillers per plant, primarily by reducing secondary and tertiary tiller production, and enhanced leaf elongation. However, leaf elongation was less sensitive to stem base treatments than to illumination of the elongating blade. Increased leaf length resulted from increased leaf elongation rate, while the duration of leaf elongation was unaffected. Exposure of mature leaf blades to FR had no effect on tillering or leaf elongation. None of the FR treatments led to tiller senescence. Localization of FR perception in vertically oriented tissues such as elongating blades and stem bases permits early detection of reflected light from neighbouring plants, allowing rapid response to impending competition.
Annihilation of S-wave quarkonia and the measurement of αs

Abstract We analyze the relativistic corrections to annihilation rates of S-wave quarkonia within the framework of NRQCD. We show that order υ 2 corrections can be expressed in terms of the heavy quark pole mass and the quarkonium mass. The ratio of hadronic to radiative annihilation rates for η b and η c can therefore be predicted accurately. The contributions of color-octet operators to the hadronic decay rates of spin-triplet quarkonia are shown to be significant, even though they arise at order υ 4 in the velocity expansion. We provide a rough estimate of the color-octet contributions and extract the value of α s from the experimental data on Y decays.
Chiral Schwinger model in curved space-time

We extend the method of path integrals to obtain the solution of the chiral Schwinger model in curved space-time and compare it with the flat space-time solution.
On the Fresnel-fringe technique for the analysis of interfacial films

A critical examination of the Fresnel-fringe technique for the analysis of interfaces particularly with respect to the detection and characterization of interfacial films is presented. The sensitivity of the fringe spacing to specimen artifacts is investigated, and the dependency on the diffuseness of the interface potential is analyzed. Several different methods for estimating the characteristics of the interface are then presented and compared.