cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Biomechanical Effects of Lumbar Pedicle Screw Insertion Depth on Screw Loosening and Fulcrum Location

Osteoporosis is a critical challenge in orthopedic surgery. Osteoporotic patients have an increased risk of loosening and failure of implant constructs due to a weaker bone-implant interface than with healthy bone. Pullout strength of pedicle screws is enhanced by increased screw insertion depth. However, more knowledge is needed to define optimal pedicle screw insertion depth in relation to screw-bone interface biomechanics and the resulting loosening risk. This study evaluates the effects of screw length on loosening risk in the osteoporotic lumbar spine.Copyright © 2013 by ASME
Instrumentation Techniques in High Voltage Substations - Part I Measuring, Triggering and Interference Reduction

Measurement of transient potentials in substation yards on control circuits, CTs, CPTs, 115 vac receptacles, howlers, yard telephones, heaters, flood lights and cable lead sheaths during disconnect switch arcing require more stringent instrumentation techniques than comparable measurements made in the control house. Methods and equipment have been devised to trigger oscilloscopes independent of recorded transient and reduce measuring circuit interference voltages.
Evaluation of interval-based dynamic voltage scaling algorithms on mobile Linux system

During the last several years, dynamic voltage scaling (DVS) algorithms are being used for energy consumption on real, fully functional battery supplied devices, adjusting the clock speed and supply voltage dynamically. Most DVS algorithms are investigated in interval-based and task-based strategies. Task-based algorithms consider task information, especially task deadline, on deciding what speed to choose at any given time. Interval-based algorithms predict the CPU speed of the upcoming interval based on observations of the CPU utilization of previous intervals, and then set the speed for that interval based on this prediction. Most DVS algorithms have only been tested in simulation environments. In this paper, those interval-based DVS algorithms are modified with different parameters on different workloads, and evaluated to know which one saves the most energy while not degrading computer performance.
Contraception at age 35 years and older.

About 85% of all births in the US occur to women under 35 years of age. According to the US National Survey of Family Growth women aged 35-39 years expect to have an additional 0.3 births while those 40-44 years anticipate only 0.1 additional births. Thus there is a need to protect women age 35 years and over from unwanted pregnancy until menopause occurs. Sterilization continues to be the most common choice for married women older than 30 years. The IUD may be an excellent alternative to sterilization. Oral contraceptive (OC) use declines in women over 35 years because of concerns about increased cardiovascular risk. However new studies have indicated myocardial risk in older women is mainly limited to women with other cardiovascular risk factors such as smoking hypertension and diabetes. Moreover the OC-related benefits of protection against ovarian and endometrial cancer reduced menstrual blood loss and increased bone density are especially important to women over 35 years. Since it is impossible to diagnose menopause within the pill-free week OC users should stop the pill for a month at around 50 years of age to allow accurate follicle-stimulating hormone measurement.
Applying Fortran 90 and Object-Oriented Techniques to Scientific Applications

High-performance parallel computing is having a profound impact on the size and complexity of physical problems which can be modeled. Although the learning curve in adapting to this new world of computing has been steep, more and more success stories have convinced computational scientists that parallel computing is important and is here to stay. To model complex, 3D physical systems, older paradigms of programming which were adequate in a 2D world, now become cumbersome and limiting.
In vitro evaluation of cytotoxicity of engineered carbon nanotubes in selected human cell lines.

In this study, we used a systematic approach to study and compare the in vitro cytotoxicity of selected engineered carbon nanotubes (CNTs) to test cell lines including human skin keratinocytes, lung cells and lymphocytes. Results of fluorescein diacetate (FDA) uptake in T4 lymphocyte A3 cells indicated cytotoxicity caused by single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) at concentrations of 2, 5 and 10 ppm. At 2 ppm, the SWCNT treatment group retained 71.3% viability compared to the PBS control group. At 10 ppm, cellular viability further decreased to 56.5% of the PBS control group. In the skin keratinocyte HaCaT cells and lung MSTO-211H cells, the SWCNT did not demonstrate any cytotoxicity at concentrations of 2 and 5 ppm but slightly inhibited HaCaT cells and caused significant toxicity to MSTO-211H cells at 10 ppm. Multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) testing showed significant cytotoxicity to A3 cells in a dose-dependent manner. At 10 ppm the viability of the cells decreased to 89.1% compared to the PBS control. In MSTO-211H cells, MWCNT caused significant toxicity at concentrations of 2 ppm and higher. By comparison, HaCaT cells were inhibited significantly only at 10 ppm. Overall, the test CNTs inhibited cellular viabilities in a concentration, cell type, and CNT type-dependent pattern. The viabilities of the MWCNT-impacted cells are higher than the corresponding SWCNT groups. We speculate that on a per volume basis, the greater availability of defects and contaminants for cellular interaction may contribute to the higher cytotoxicity of SWCNT in this study. The interaction between the SWCNTs and A3 lymphocytes was also observed by scanning electron microscopy. The mechanism for causing cell death in this study was attributed to apoptosis and necrosis after physical penetration by CNTs and oxidative stress via formation of reactive oxygen species.
Quantification of xylooligomers in hot water wood extract by 1H–13C heteronuclear single quantum coherence NMR

A new method that employs 2D-HSQCNMRwasdeveloped to determine xylooligomer concentrations in the hot water extracts of Paulownia elongata, aspen, sugar maple, southern hardwood mixture, and willow woodchips. Equations for computing oligomer concentrations calculation were developed based on HSQC corresponding resonance integrals of xylooligomer C1H1 and monomeric sugar standard curves. The degree of polymerization (DP) of xylooligomers in the hot water extract was computed by equation obtained from a series of xylooligomer standard solutions with DPs that ranged from 2 to 6. Another group of hot water wood extract that is served as a control group was hydrolyzed by 4% sulfuric acid at 121 °C for 60 min in order to convert all xylooligomer into xylose. As 2D-HSQC resonance response is different for acetylated xylo-units, as compared with non-acetylated units, proton NMR was used to calibrate the acetylated xylooligomer concentration. Xylooligomer concentrations determined from HSQC compared fairly well with data after hydrolysis.
Coexistence between native and exotic species is facilitated by asymmetries in competitive ability and susceptibility to herbivores

Differences between native and exotic species in competitive ability and susceptibility to herbivores are hypothesized to facilitate coexistence. However, little fieldwork has been conducted to determine whether these differences are present in invaded communities. Here, we experimentally examined whether asymmetries exist between native and exotic plants in a community invaded for over 200 years and whether removing competitors or herbivores influences coexistence. We found that natives and exotics exhibit pronounced asymmetries, as exotics are competitively superior to natives, but are more significantly impacted by herbivores. We also found that herbivore removal mediated the outcome of competitive interactions and altered patterns of dominance across our field sites. Collectively, these findings suggest that asymmetric biotic interactions between native and exotic plants can help to facilitate coexistence in invaded communities.
Selective Effects of Perinatal Ethanol Exposure in Medial Prefrontal Cortex and Nucleus Accumbens

Ethanol exposure during development is the leading known cause of mental retardation and can result in characteristic physiological and cognitive deficits, often termed Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD). Previous behavioral findings using rat models of FASD have suggested that there are changes in the nucleus accumbens (NAC) and medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) following ethanol exposure during development. This study used a rat model of FASD to evaluate dendritic morphology in both the NAC and mPFC and cell number in the NAC. Dendritic morphology in mPFC and NAC was assessed using a modified Golgi stain and analyzed via three dimensional reconstructions with Neurolucida (MBF Bioscience). Cell counts in the NAC (shell and core) were determined using an unbiased stereology procedure (Stereo Investigator (MBF Bioscience)). Perinatal ethanol exposure did not affect neuronal or glial cell population numbers in the NAC. Ethanol exposure produced a sexually dimorphic effect on dendritic branching at one point along the NAC dendrites but was without effect on all other measures of dendritic morphology in the NAC. In contrast, spine density was reduced and distribution was significantly altered in layer II/III neurons of the mPFC following ethanol exposure. Ethanol exposure during development was also associated with an increase in soma size in the mPFC. These findings suggest that previously observed sexually dimorphic changes in activation of the NAC in a rat model of FASD may be due to altered input from the mPFC.
The dual imaging cerenkov experiment (DICE) and the elemental composition in the “Knee” region

An outstanding problem in cosmic ray physics is the cosmic ray elemental abundance in the “knee” region of the charged particle spectrum. The Dual Imaging Cerenkov Experiment (DICE) is designed to measure the mean elemental mass and energy spectrum around the “knee” energy by using composition sensitive properties of Extensive Air Showers (EAS). We present preliminary results on one EAS parameter, the average depth of shower maximum, 〈Xmax〉. We also show evidence for a change in the cosmic ray spectral index, a result which is in qualitative agreement with other experiments. A small increase in 〈Xmax〉 is present at the onset of the “knee”, implying an increase in the relative number of lighter elements. Further consistency tests of these results which are in progress are described.
Viterbi sparse spike detection

Accurate interpretation of seismic traveltimes and amplitudes in the exploration and global scales is complicated by the band-limited nature of seismic data. We discovered a stochastic method to reduce a seismic waveform into a most probable constituent spike train. Model waveforms were constructed from a set of candidate spike trains convolved with a source wavelet estimate. For each model waveform, a profile hidden Markov model (HMM) was constructed to represent the waveform as a stochastic generative model with a linear topology corresponding to a sequence of samples. Each match state in the HMM represented a sample in the model waveform, in which the amplitude was represented by a Gaussian distribution. Insert and delete states allowed the underlying source wavelet to dilate or contract, accounting for nonstationarity in the seismic data and errors in the source wavelet estimate. The Gaussian distribution characterizing each sample’s amplitude accounted for random noise. The Viterbi algorithm was employed to simultaneously find the optimal nonlinear alignment between a model waveform and the seismic data and to assign a score to each candidate spike train. The most probable traveltimes and amplitudes were inferred from the alignments of the highest scoring models. The method required no implicit assumptions regarding the distribution of traveltimes and amplitudes; however, in practice, the solution set may be limited to mitigate the nonuniqueness of solutions and to reduce the computational effort. Our analyses found that the method can resolve closely spaced arrivals below traditional resolution limits and that traveltime estimates are robust in the presence of random noise and source wavelet errors. The method was particularly well suited to fine-scale interpretation problems such as thin bed interpretation, tying seismic images to well logs, and the analysis of anomalous waveforms in global seismology.
Vancomycin-induced histamine release and "red man syndrome": comparison of 1- and 2-hour infusions.

Vancomycin-induced "red man syndrome" (RMS) is mediated in part by histamine release, and its severity is correlated with the area under the plasma histamine concentration-time curve. Ten adult male volunteers participated in a randomized, double-blind, two-way crossover trial (1-week washout interval between regimens) to determine the effect of 1- and 2-h infusions of vancomycin (1.0 g) on histamine release and on the frequency and severity of RMS. The severity of RMS was classified a priori as mild, moderate, or severe from a combined score of pruritus and extent of erythema. Serial concentrations of histamine in plasma and concentrations of vancomycin in serum were measured at baseline and during and after each infusion. Of 10 subjects, 8 had evidence of RMS during the 1-h infusion (3 mild, 3 moderate, and 2 severe), whereas only 3 of the 10 subjects (all mild) had RMS during the 2-h infusion (P less than 0.05). The 1-h infusion was associated with a significantly greater peak concentration of histamine in plasma (1.8 +/- 0.7 versus 1.0 +/- 0.3 ng/ml, P = 0.004) and a greater total release of histamine (74.3 +/- 54.1 versus 36.4 +/- 22.6 ng.min/ml, P = 0.017) than was the 2-h infusion. These data suggest that administration of vancomycin over 2 h reduces the frequency and severity of RMS and the amount of histamine released compared with those after a 1-h infusion in healthy volunteers.
Tensorial calibration: II. Second‐order calibration

Tensorial calibration provides a useful approach to calibration in general. For calibration of instruments that produce two-dimensional (second-order) arrays of data per sample, tensoial concepts are as natural a way of solving the calibration problem as vectorial concepts are for the multivariate problem. Similarly, for third- and higher-order data, the tensorial description of calibration is also useful. This paper introduces second-order calibration from a tensorial point of view. Univariate, multivariate and bilinear approaches to calibration are presented. The generalized rank annihilation method (GRAM) is described from the tensorial perspective, and it is shown that GRAM is equivalent to finding a second-order tensorial base that spans both tensors (calibration and unknown) with respective diagonal component matrices. GRAM uses a single calibration sample for multicomponent analysis even in the presence of interference. Second-order bilinear calibration is extended to multiple calibration samples where the effect of collinearities is reduced.
Mass fractionation of noble gases in diffusion-limited hydrodynamic hydrogen escape.

The theory of mass fractionation by hydrogen is presently extended to atmospheres in which hydrogen is not the major constituent. This theoretical framework is applied to three different cases. In the first, it is shown that the fractionation of terrestrial atmospheric neon with respect to mantle neon is explainable as a consequence of diffusion-limited hydrogen escape from a steam atmosphere toward the end of the accretion process. In the second, the anomalously high Ar-38/Ar-36 ratio of Mars is shown to be due to hydrodynamic fractionation by a vigorously escaping and very pure hydrogen wind. In the last case, it is speculated that the currently high Martian D/H ratio emerged during the hydrodynamic escape phase which fractionated Ar.
Returns to Information: An Addendum

A 1975 Journal paper by the authors (Debertin et al.) utilized a computerized management game to measure the returns to information for Indiana corn and soybean producers. Results indicated a rather substantial return to information. However, estimates in the paper have been questioned by agricultural economists at Purdue, the University of Kentucky, and elsewhere because participants in the laboratory experiment were students, not experienced farmers. In response to these criticisms, a second experiment was conducted using experienced farmers as participants. The identical management game (Debertin, Harrison, and Rades) and a similar experimental design were used in both experiments.
Kinetics and Mechanism of Acid-Catalyzed Oxidation of Bromide ions by the Aqueous Chromyl(IV) Ion

The reaction between the aqueous chromyl ion, CraqO2+, and Br- is acid-catalyzed and generates Br2. Kinetic studies that utilized a superoxochromium ion, CraqOO2+, as a kinetic probe yielded a mixed third-order rate law, −d[CraqO2+]/dt = k[CraqO2+][Br-][H+], where k = 608 ± 11 M-2 s-1. Experimental data strongly favor a one-electron mechanism, but the reaction is much faster than predicted on the basis of the reduction potential for the Br•/Br- couple. The reduction of CraqO2+ by transition-metal complexes, on the other hand, exhibits “normal” behavior, that is, k = (1.37 × 103 + 1.94 × 103 [H+]) M-1 s-1 for Os(1,10-tris-phenanthroline)32+ and <10 M-1 s-1 for Ru(2,2‘-bipyridine)32+ at 0.1 M H+. The reduction of CraqOO2+ by Br2•- takes place with a rate constant k = (1.23 ± 0.20) × 109 M-1 s-1, as determined by laser-flash photolysis.
Transition tempo in Swabian

Abstract The Swabian consonants are opposed along an aspirate fortis-lenis scale, in which [b] is more fortis than [w] and [g] is more fortis than [j]. However, in certain lenitive environments, the more lenis [w] and [j] are realized as the more fortis [b] and [g], contrary to phonetic expectations. What appears to be happening is indeed a lenition, but one along another phonetic parameter -3- the transition tempo that differentiates consonants, vowels, and glides. That this basic phonetic parameter should actually function within the phonology — should be a distinctive feature — has significant implications: It emphasizes the importance of acoustic phonetic analysis in the determination of the phonological structure; it shows that even the basic difference between consonant, vowel, and glide can be used within the consonant subsystem of a phonological system; and it demonstrates the need for a dynamic, nonsegmental analysis of the data (as opposed to a nonlinear one — see Griffen 1990 in an earlier volume of this journal).
Potentiation of Antifungal Activity of Sorbic Acid

The fungicidal activity of sorbic acid against Saccharomyces cerevisiae was enhanced 64-fold in combination with half-minimum fungicidal concentration of polygodial. This synergistic activity of po...
The Extended Slutsky Equation Revisited

This article, making standard assumptions, tests the effect that cross price elasticity of demand has on consumer (directly) and producer (indirectly) behaviour. Two classes of utility functions are employed: one is U = X⊃nY⊃m, which is asymptotically convex and, hence, conventional; another is U = X⊃n + Y⊃m, which is nonasymptotically convex and, therefore, unconventional. As a result, the rationally intended consumer of the conventional function behaves irrationally, questioning the marginal base of the analysis of the firm. The irrationally contemplating consumer of the unconventional function acts rationally, upholding such marginal analysis. Thus, the validity of the direct relation between intentions and actions is doubted.
Dynamics of Emerging Flux Tubes in the Sun

This paper is intended to study the evolution of a magnetic flux tube that rises from the upper convection zone to the solar atmosphere by means of a 2.5-dimensional MHD simulation with the focus on the cross section of the flux tube. A cylindrical flux tube placed horizontally in the convection zone starts rising by magnetic buoyancy. When the top of the tube reaches the photosphere, the cross section of the tube changes from the circular shape to horizontally extended shape, forming a magnetic layer under the contact surface between the tube and the photosphere. As the plasma inside that magnetic layer is squeezed out to both sides of the layer, the contact surface is locally subject to the Rayleigh-Taylor instability because the lighter magnetic layer is overlain by the heavier photospheric layer. The wavelength of the undulating magnetic layer at the contact surface increases as the flattening of the tube proceeds, and after it becomes longer than the critical wavelength for the Rayleigh-Taylor instability, the tube can emerge through the photosphere. The emergence part of the tube starts expanding into the atmosphere if it has a sufficiently strong magnetic pressure compared to the surrounding gas pressure. We find that this expansion process is characterized by a self-similar behavior, that is, both the plasma and the magnetic field have a steady distribution in the expanding area. On the basis of those results, we try to clarify several important features of emerging flux tubes expected from observations. We focus on two solar phenomena, the birth of emerging flux tubes and the formation of filaments, and discuss the physical processes related to these phenomena.
N 3 asic-based nanowire volatile RAM

As CMOS technology advances into the nanoscale, the continuous push for low power, high performance, and dense volatile memory is reaching its limit. Moreover, in the nanometer regime complex design rules and manufacturing costs are escalating as it is getting increasingly difficult to control manufacturing process parameters. In this paper, we propose a novel 10 transistor based volatile Nanowire Random Access Memory (10T-NWRAM) which is highly scalable and manufacturing friendly since it is based on the very regular N3ASIC fabric. Besides, it has the potential to be significantly faster and low leakage alternative to SRAM since high performance nanowire FETs and dynamic logic is used for memory architecture.
Regional systolic function, myocardial blood flow and glucose uptake at rest in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

Decreased 18fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) uptake and blood flow at rest in the ventricular septum, as compared with the lateral wall, have been reported in mildly symptomatic patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HC). To assess whether regional metabolic heterogeneity in patients with HC is related to heterogeneous regional systolic function, 10 symptomatic patients (mean age 36 ± 17 years) with HC and no coronary artery disease underwent positron emission tomography with oxygen-15-water and FDG, and nuclear magnetic resonance imaging at rest to assess regional anatomy and systolic function. Regional absolute blood flow was similar between the ventricular septum and lateral wall. In contrast, FDG activity was significantly greater in the lateral wall than in the septum (1,023 ± 588 vs 767 ± 388 nCi/ml, respectively; p < 0.01). However, regional systolic wall thickening was also significantly greater in the lateral wall than in the septum (5.3 ± 4.3 vs 2.4 ± 4.0 mm, respectively; p < 0.001). Patients were then divided into group A (n = 5) with similar regional wall thickening in the septum and lateral wall, and group B (n = 5) with greater thickening in the lateral wall than in the septum. In both groups, regional blood flow was similar between the septum and lateral wall. However, the regional septal-to-lateral FDG activity ratio was 0.97 ± 0.31 in group A, and 0.74 ± 0.25 in group B (p < 0.01); the ratio in group A did not differ from that in 5 normal subjects (1.02 ± 0.58). Thus, myocardial Mood flow is normal at rest in patients with HC and no coronary artery disease; the heterogeneity in regional glucose uptake is parallel to that of regional systolic function and does not necessarily represent a metabolic abnormality at the cellular level.
Misfit dislocations in (001) Cu/(111) Ag epitaxial bilayers

Abstract Two sets of elongated epitaxial (111) Ag islands rotated by 90° with respect to each other were observed to grow on (001) Cu substrates. In addition, two sets of edge misfit dislocations lay parallel to [110] Cu and [ 1 10] Cu or equivalently along [ 1 10] Ag and [11 2 ] Ag. Their Burgers vectors were determined, together with the elastic strains in these two directions. The island elongation was interpreted as arising from a lower strain energy in the preferred direction of growth.
Ebola: the real lessons from HIV scale-up.

In his Correspondence, Paul Drain suggests that lessons from the HIV epidemic can be applied to the Ebola outbreak in parts of west Africa, stressing the importance of point-ofcare testing, interventions to reduce stigma, widespread screening of individuals exposed to Ebola virus, and infection prevention and control. Although we agree that these are crucial components of an effective Ebola response, we believe that some of the most important lessons learned from the scale-up of HIV services in low-resource settings lie elsewhere. One lesson is the importance of engaging aff ected communities. People living with HIV are central to the HIV response, linking their communities to prevention, care and treatment services, fighting stigma, supporting service delivery, and catalysing the development of innovative and eff ective programmes. To enable individuals and communities affected by Ebola virus disease—including survivors—to meaningfully participate in programme design and delivery will be essential to successful and sustained interventions. A second key lesson is the need for innovative approaches to the dire shortage of health workers in lowresource settings. Supportive and enabling systems, including effective health workforce management, policies and licensure adjustments to permit task-shifting, and attention to health worker satisfaction, career development, and remuneration will be as important to the long-term control of Ebola outbreaks as they are for HIV. A third lesson is the importance of investing in data for decision making. Despite the challenges of data collection and analysis in low-resource settings where documentation is often scarce and paper-based, the experience of HIV scale-up shows the power of standardised indicators, harmonised ledgers, forms, and fl ow sheets, and the eff ect of use of data to guide programming at the national, subnational, and health facility levels. Finally, the HIV response underlines a lesson about the effect of vertical programming on health systems. Although vertical programmes have some advantages—including speed of implementation—they might undermine existing health programmes and their governance if not appropriately designed and implemented. The Ebola response has rightly prioritised getting to zero new cases and disease-specifi c interventions supported by the international community. But the reservoir of Ebola virus has not been eradicated, and mitigation of the effect of the next outbreak will need robust health systems. Strengthening of health systems will also be needed to address other health threats faced by west African populations. Careful attention to the eff ects of vertical programming, and efforts to integrate the Ebola response into national health systems are a high priority.
Lysophosphatidylcholine increases cytosolic calcium in ventricular myocytes by direct action on the sarcolemma.

Abstract Lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) accumulates in myocardial tissues during ischemia, and has toxic effects which may contribute to the arrhythmias and relaxation abnormalities that occur during acute ischemia. These effects of LPC may be mediated in part by calcium overload. To test this hypothesis, spontaneously contracting cultured embryonic chick ventricular myocytes were superfused with various concentrations of LPC (10, 50 and 100 μ m ) while effects on contractile motion (video motion detector) and changes in free intracellular calcium ion concentration ([Ca 2+ ] i indo-1 fluorescence) were determined. At concentrations greater than or equal to 10 μ m , a dose-related, time-dependent effect occurred after exposure to LPC, consisting of the development of contracture and marked elevation of [Ca 2+ ] i . LPC also produced a dose-related, time-dependent inhibition of K + uptake, indicating there was inhibition of the Na + K + ATPase Na + pump. However, the LPC-induced increase in [Ca 2+ ] i was not due to Na + overload caused by inhibition of the Na + K + ATPase Na + pump because superfusion with a zero-Na + solution did not prevent and increase in [Ca 2+ ] i after LPC exposure; and the increase in [Ca 2+ ] i after exposure to LPC occurred too rapidly to be accounted for by Na + pump inhibition. Removal of extracellular Ca 2+ prevented the rise in [Ca 2+ ] i , after exposure to LPC but treatment with verapamil failed to inhibit the increase in [Ca 2+ ] i induced by LPC. We conclude that LPC produces contracture due to an increase [Ca 2+ ] i . These effects are seen at concentrations of 10 μ m and greater, are not due to altered Na + K + ATPase Na + pump or calcium channel function, and are probably related to the detergent properties of this amphiphile. There effects may account in part for myocardial dysfunction during ischemia in intact tissue.
Juvenile-Onset GM2-Gangliosidosis in an African-American Child With Nystagmus

GM2-gangliosidosis is a neurodegenerative lysosomal disease with several clinical variants. We describe a 2-year-old black child with juvenile-onset disease, who presented with abnormal eye movements and cherry-red spots of the maculae. Mutation analysis of the HEXA gene revealed the patient to be a compound heterozygote (M1V/Y37N). The M1V mutation was previously described in an African-American child with acute infantile GM2-gangliosidosis. The Y37N mutation is novel. This combination of mutations is consistent with juvenile-onset disease, and provides further evidence for the association of the M1V mutation with individuals of black ancestry. The presence of oculomotor abnormalities is an unusual finding in this form of GM2-gangliosidosis, and adds to the phenotypic spectrum.
The synthesis of conjugated diacetylene monomers for the fabrication of polymerized monolayer assemblies

Abstract Symmetrical disulfides containing conjugated diacetylene groups for use in forming polymerized self-assembled monolayers have been fabricated using common synthetic techniques. In contrast with previous reports, the proposed synthetic route does not require the use of hexamethylphosphoramide (HMPA) or the incorporation of an ester moiety near the surface attachment site. Overall yields of 20–30% are readily achieved for this four-step synthesis.
Crystal Structures of the Vaccinia Virus Polyadenylate Polymerase Heterodimer: Insights into ATP Selectivity and Processivity

Polyadenylation of mRNAs in poxviruses, crucial for virion maturation, is carried out by a poly(A) polymerase heterodimer composed of a catalytic component, VP55, and a processivity factor, VP39. The ATP-γ-S bound and unbound crystal structures of the vaccinia polymerase reveal an unusual architecture for VP55 that comprises of N-terminal, central or catalytic, and C-terminal domains with different topologies and that differs from many polymerases, including the eukaryotic poly(A) polymerases. Residues in the active site of VP55, located between the catalytic and C-terminal domains, make specific interactions with the adenine of the ATP analog, establishing the molecular basis of ATP recognition. VP55's concave surface docks the globular VP39. A model for RNA primer binding that involves all three VP55 domains and VP39 is proposed. The model supports biochemical evidence that VP39 functions as a processivity factor by partially enclosing the RNA primer at the heterodimer interface.
Implantation of cultured regenerate muscle cells into adult rat muscle

Abstract Myogenic cells were isolated from regenerating adult rat skeletal muscle and grown in culture, where they were labeled with tritiated thymidine. After 5 to 8 days in culture, the cells were harvested and implanted back into muscle of an adult rat. The term “culturegrafting” is used to describe the implantation of cultured cells back into live animals. At appropriate intervals after culturegrafting, the host muscles were removed and processed for autoradiography. In homoculturegrafted animals (cells implanted into a rat other than the one from which they were originally isolated), labeled nuclei were found as long as 2 weeks after implantation. Many small lymphocytes were also seen, indicating an immunological response to the implanted cells. No labeled nuclei were found in homoculturegrafts examined 3 weeks or longer after implantation. Autoculturegrafted animals (cells implanted into the same rat from which they were originally isolated) were examined 8 to 28 weeks after implantation of cultured cells and all contained labeled nuclei. Culturegrafting of muscle cells represents the final step of an experimental system in which myogenic cells are isolated from an adult, grown in culture, and then returned to a normal in vivo environment where they can be studied further.
AIPL1, a Protein Associated with Childhood Blindness, Interacts with α-Subunit of Rod Phosphodiesterase (PDE6) and Is Essential for Its Proper Assembly

Mutations in the gene coding for AIPL1 cause Leber congenital amaurosis (LCA), a severe form of childhood blindness. The severity in disease is reflected in the complete loss of vision and rapid photoreceptor degeneration in the retinas of mice deficient in AIPL1. Our previous observations suggest that rod photoreceptor degeneration in retinas lacking AIPL1 is due to the massive reduction in levels of rod cGMP phosphodiesterase (PDE6) subunits (α, β, and γ). To date, the crucial link between AIPL1 and the stability of PDE6 subunits is not known. In this study using ex vivo pulse label analysis, we demonstrate that AIPL1 is not involved in the synthesis of PDE6 subunits. However, ex vivo pulse-chase analysis clearly shows that in the absence of AIPL1, rod PDE6 subunits are rapidly degraded by proteasomes. We further demonstrate that this rapid degradation of PDE6 is due to the essential role of AIPL1 in the proper assembly of synthesized individual PDE6 subunits. In addition, using a novel monoclonal antibody generated against AIPL1, we show that the catalytic subunit (α) of PDE6 associates with AIPL1 in retinal extracts. Our studies establish that AIPL1 interacts with the catalytic subunit (α) of PDE6 and is needed for the proper assembly of functional rod PDE6 subunits.
Novel galactosyl donor with 2-naphthylmethyl (NAP) as the non-participating group at C-2 position: efficient synthesis of α-galactosyl ceramide

Predominant α-linked products can be generated in glycosylation involving galactosyl trichloroacetimidate donors with 2-naphthylmethyl (NAP) as the non-participating group at C-2 position. The above-mentioned donor was successfully utilized for the synthesis of α-galactosyl ceramide.
AIDS/HIV: A Reversal of Fortune in HIV-1 Integration

A customized enzyme that effectively excises integrated HIV-1 from infected cells in vitro might one day help to eradicate virus from AIDS patients.
Gender and College Opportunities: Changes Over Time in the United States and Japan

The authors examine the rise of the two-year college and changes in enrollment patterns between two-year and four-year colleges by sex in the United States and Japan since 1960. Notably, the chances of a woman who attended college of entering a four-year college were less in 1980, in both the U. S. and Japan, than they were in 1960. Channeling large numbers of women into two-year colleges perpetuates occupational sex segregation. Further, it alleviates pressure for competition for professional jobs. The desire to reduce the number of individuals competing for professional jobs was a factor in the build-up of the two-year college. Problems associated with overeducation are evident in both the U. S. and Japan. The authors argue that the function of the community college is to prepare students to enter the kinds of jobs that are available in highly industrialized societies.
Spin Chains in a Field: Crossover from Quantum to Classical Behavior

Extensive numerical studies have been performed on Heisenberg antiferromagnetic chains of spin (1/2) (up to N=20), spin 1 (N=14), spin (3/2) (N=10), and spin 2 (N=8). With use of the Lancz\"os technique, primarily, the two lowest-lying eigenvalues have been calculated for all values of wave vector q and all values of magnetization (${S}_{T}^{z}$) up to saturation for each chain. From a knowledge of the eigenvector corresponding to the lowest eigenstate for each ${S}_{T}^{z}$, the T=0 spin-pair correlation functions have also been calculated as a function of field. We find a most unusual quantum-classical crossover phenomenon. It shows up in greatest detail in the field-dependent dispersion spectra, but the consequences are consistently manifested in the behavior of the T=0 magnetization isotherms and in the correlations both in real space and the Fourier transforms in q space. The additional data relevant to behavior in a field have allowed us to extend previous numerical studies of Heisenberg antiferromagnetic chains with higher spin whose purpose was to examine the validity of the Haldane conjecture. The Haldane conjecture implies that Heisenberg antiferromagnetic chains with integer spin have a gap in their excitation spectrum whereas chains with half-integer spin do not. While no feature of our extended investigations is in conflict with the conjecture, unusual features associated apparently with very slow convergence make the outcome less than conclusive. It appears that calculations on significantly longer chains are required to observe with confidence the large-N asymptotic limiting behavior.
Risky Lifestyles, Low Self-control, and Violent Victimization Across Gendered Pathways to Crime

The present study addresses whether unique or general processes lead to victimization across gendered pathways to crime. Specifically, the effects of low self-control and risky lifestyles—specified as various forms of offending and substance abuse—on violent victimization across developmental typologies for both men and women are examined. Using data from three waves of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health, a two-stage cluster analysis is used to identify taxonomic groups for males and females that represent different pathways to crime. Multivariate negative binomial regression models are estimated to assess whether both self-control and risky lifestyles (e.g., criminal offending) are significant predictors of general forms of violent victimization across each identified cluster. Low self-control and risky lifestyles significantly predict violent victimization across each of the taxonomic groups identified in the data, suggesting that these causal processes are universal rather than unique to any particular gendered pathway. Although inferences cannot be made for types of victimization beyond those observed in the study (e.g., intimate partner violence and sexual assault), the findings lend credence to the notion that self-control and risky lifestyles are critical to the study of violent victimization among men and women following different gendered pathways.
Comparison of Protease Digestion at Neutral pH with Alkaline Steeping Method for Rice Starch Isolation

L'isolement de l'amidon de riz differe des autres methodes d'isolement, du mais, du ble au de la pomme de terre, en raison des proprietes differentes de ses proteines. Le procede par trempage alcalin presente un rendement de 73 a 85%, mais produit beaucoup d'eaux residuelles alcalines. L'efficacite d'une digestion par la protease acide, neutre ou alcaline a pH neutre est evaluee, cette technique ayant deja montre son efficacite sur l'amarante et l'avoine.
The Proportional Anisotropic Elastic Invariants

In this paper we illustrate the six proportional invariants of an orthotropic elastic material using the elastic constants for spruce as the numerical example. The proportional elastic invariants play a role in anisotropic linear elasticity similar to the roles played by the hydrostatic stress and strain and the von Mises stress and strain in isotropic elasticity
An approach to comparing tiling array and high throughput sequencing technologies for genomic transcript mapping.

Background There are two main technologies for transcriptome profiling, namely, tiling microarrays and high-throughput sequencing. Recently there has been a tremendous amount of excitement about the latter because of the advent of next-generation sequencing technologies and its promises. Consequently, the question of the moment is how these two technologies compare. Here we attempt to develop an approach to do a fair comparison of transcripts identified from tiling microarray and MPSS sequencing data.
A CMOS Class-D Line Driver Employing a Phase-Locked Loop Based PWM Generator

A Class-D line driver that utilizes a phase-locked loop (PLL) for PWM generation is presented. The principle of operation and implementation details relating to loop stability, linearity and noise performance are analyzed. An implementation is presented in a 130 nm CMOS process. The amplifier can deliver 1.2 W into a 6.8 Ω load with a 4.8 V power supply. The architecture eliminates the requirements for a high-quality carrier generator and a high-speed voltage comparator that are often required in PWM implementations. It can achieve a THD of -65 dB, for a sinusoidal input with a frequency of 60 kHz, while employing a switching frequency that can be as high as 20 MHz. The peak efficiency is 83% for output power larger than 1 W for a switching frequency of 10 MHz. The die area is 2.25 mm2.
Salinity Reduction and Energy Conservation in Direct and Indirect Potable Water Reuse

Water scarcity combined with population growth and climate change, especially in semi-arid and arid regions like Australia, Western United States, and the Middle East, has increased the need for water conservation. Water reclamation and reuse have become an important source of water to conserve and extend water supplies. With the advancement of technologies, indirect potable water reuse (IPWR) and direct potable water reuse (DPWR) have been developed as methods for producing high-quality recycled water for potable use. In this research salinity removal and energy conservation associated with IPWR and DPWR were modeled using the system dynamics software Stella. The water/wastewater system of the Las Vegas Valley, Nevada, USA, which discharges into the Colorado River, was used as an example system augmented with reverse osmosis (RO) membranes. The results show that IPWR and DPWR reduce salinity discharge to the Colorado River. The TDS load is reduced to 0.85 and 1.02 million kg/day for DPWR and IPWR systems compared to 2.33 million kg/day by the year 2035. DPWR can also save about 50% of the energy cost of pumping water. However, one drawback with these systems is the approximately 5% loss of water in the brine of the membranes.
Molecular dynamics study of the interactions between dislocation and imperfect stacking fault tetrahedron in Cu

The microstructure of irradiated face centered cubic alloys with low stacking fault energy is distinguished by the formation of a high number density of nanometer size stacking fault tetrahedra (SFT). A recent transmission electron microscopy investigation of high-energy proton irradiated copper [16] has shown that nearly 50% of the visible SFT population are not perfect SFTs, but rather consist of truncated SFT and/or groups of overlapping SFT. This paper presents the results of atomistic molecular dynamics simulations of the interaction between gliding dislocations, of either edge or screw character, and truncated SFT or overlapping SFT. The most common result of the edge dislocation interaction with a truncated SFT is defect shearing, ultimately leading to complete separation into two smaller defect clusters. Partial absorption of the truncated SFT is the most common result of the interaction with a screw dislocation, resulting in the formation of super-jog (or helical) segments as the defect is absorbed into the dislocation core. The resulting non-planar screw dislocation is self-pinned with reduced mobility and is re-emitted as a similar truncated SFT as the applied shear stress is increased. The re-emitted truncated SFT is often rotated and translated relative to the original position. These observations are consistent with the hypothesis that shearing (decreased defect cluster size) and dislocation dragging of the defect clusters by partial absorption into the dislocation core contributes to the formation of defect-free channels.
Improving the lining design of a steel vacuum degassing unit

Description du developpement d'un nouveau revetement refractaire utilise sur les parois superieures et la voute d'une chambre de degazage sous vide de l'acier au combinat metallurgique de Magnitogorsk
A simple, refined theory for bending and stretching of homogeneous plates

A theory of plates is developed that retains the simplicity of Reissner's theory, yet provides reliable threedimensional information for stresses and displacements. It accounts for all major influences in a rational manner. Reissner's equations are obtained from the new equations for isotropic materials by averaging displacement variables over the plate thickness. Application of the theory to a benchmark problem demonstrates its capability to predict stresses with precision even for very thick plates.
Complementary set partitions

Two set partitions are said to be complementary or connected if their least upper bound is the full unpartitioned set. An equivalent condition is that their only common superpartition is the full unpartitioned set. Such pairs arise naturally in calculations involving cumulants of linear and nonlinear forms. To make such calculations feasible in practice, it is essential to have tabulated in a reasonably concise manner, all pairs of connecting partitions. This paper discusses the computation and design of such a table of complementary pairs of up to ten elements.
Planar imaging of 99mTc-labeled (bis(N-ethoxy, N-ethyl dithiocarbamato) nitrido technetium[V]) can detect resting ischemia

99mTc-labeled (bis(N-ethoxy, N-ethyl dithiocarbamato) nitrido technetium(V)) (99mTcN-NOET) is a new lipophilic, neutral-charge cardiac perfusion imaging agent that demonstrates apparent redistribution in animal models and humans. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the kinetics of 99mTcN-NOET are suitable for the detection of resting ischemia. Microspheres were injected at baseline and simultaneously with 99mTcN-NOET after a 90% reduction in resting flow in the left circumflex coronary artery in six open-chest canine experiments. The relationship of flow and activity early after injection was determined in one experiment by termination at 10 minutes. The flow ratio (left circumflex/left anterior descending coronary artery) after stenosis fell significantly (0.87±0.04 vs 0.46±0.04; p<0.05). The end-tissue 99mTc ratio (0.78±0.05) was significantly higher than the flow ratio at injection (0.46±0.04; p<0.05), indicating substantial redistribution. In vivo imaging was conducted during 2 hours in five experiments, followed by ex vivo imaging. Myocardial clearance from 10 minutes onward was biphasic in left anterior descending and monophasic in left circumflex coronary arteries. Myocardial clearance from 10 to 60 minutes was delayed in left circumflex (35.5%±8.1%) versus left anterior descending coronary arteries (49.2%±8.6%; p<0.05). No significant difference was observed from 60- to 120-minute clearance. Five of five experiments demonstrated initial defects and complete fill-in at 90 to 120 minutes by qualitative assessment. Quantitation of ex vivo images confirmed significant redistribution. Resting ischemia caused by moderate to severe stenosis can be detected on scans with 99mTcN-NOET. Redistribution was near complete in this model by 90 to 120 minutes. 99mTcN-NOET is a promising new agent for the detection of coronary artery disease in viable myocardium and warrants further investigation.