cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Choice of Quality Metrics for Assessment of the Spine Patient

Quality metrics are the methods by which hospitals and insurers measure the quality of care at a particular institution or practice. Examples of quality metrics include structural measures, process measures, objectively assessed outcome measures, registries, patient-reported outcome measures, and patient-reported satisfaction through the hospital consumer assessment of healthcare providers and systems. Each metric provides unique insight about the care a particular institution can provide. These metrics are particularly relevant in spine care with spinal issues being such a common reason for patients to seek medical attention and mixed surgical outcomes for different surgical indications. The results are useful to patients choosing the institution at which they receive treatment, to hospitals in guiding efforts to improve their quality of care, and to insurers to rate hospitals and providers to direct policies and reimbursements. These metrics are continually evolving in order to adapt to constantly changing healthcare systems. No single metric is perfect, while each have their own unique benefits and insights about an institution; they also come with some potential downsides that must be balanced by using a varied set of measures.
Human Energy: Philosophical-Anthropological Presuppositions of Anthropogenic Energy, Movement, and Activity and their Implications for Well-being

In this paper I focus on rather neglected considerations regarding human energy, movement, and activity, instead of joining the well-developed discourse on sustainable electricity production and moderate energy consumption. Thereby the paper elucidates a more holistic understanding of energy, since it is usually assumed that when considering energy – in most cases – people engaging in this discourse, refer to electricity. The paper grounds the phenomena of human energy production and consumption on the anthropological fact that humans are active and moving – and essentially need to be moving, in one way or another and as long as they are alive – for the sake of their and others’ well-being. Such a philosophical anthropology of energy, movement, and activity can, for example, be traced back to philosophic-anthropological claims in the oeuvre of Aristotle who regarded different kinds of activities or movement (both understood here in a broader sense) as essential for the well-being of both individuals and society because they foster and actualize human creativity and fulfillment. Relating the anthropological centrality of human movement to the current discourse on (alternative) energy production and consumption, the paper develops a more holistic ontology of energy. The objective of this paper is to promote this holistic understanding of energy as activity and movement in order to encourage a more wisely selected and limited substitution of fuel- and electricity-powered machines with human-driven movement. Such a broader understanding of the energy concept will not only save electricity and fossil fuels, but will also potentially increase the well-being of humans, society, and the natural environment.
Adverse childhood experiences and deleterious outcomes in adulthood: A consideration of the simultaneous role of genetic and environmental influences in two independent samples from the United States.

Abstract Background Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are a potent risk factor. Despite these findings, studies have also recognized the importance of considering additional sources of genetic and environmental influence that cluster within families. Objective To properly control for latent sources of genetic and within-family environmental influences and isolate the association between ACEs and the following outcomes in adulthood: physical health, depressive symptoms, educational attainment, income attainment, alcohol problems, and antisocial behavior. Participants and Setting Two independent samples of twins and siblings from the United States: the Midlife Development in the United States (MIDUS) study (N = 862) and the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (Add Health; N = 3112). Methods Sibling comparison models, which control for latent sources of genetic and within-family environmental influences, were estimated to examine whether differential exposure to ACEs was associated with the examined outcomes. Results Families that experienced more adversity also experienced more deleterious outcomes. However, siblings that experienced more adversity were no more likely to experience deleterious outcomes than their co-siblings. However, greater exposure to ACEs was associated with increases in depressive symptoms (Add Health). Additional models revealed that the similarity between siblings from the same family stemmed from latent sources of within-family environmental influences not captured by traditional ACEs measures. Conclusions Considering genetic influences and additional latent sources of within-family influences is crucial in isolating the effects of ACEs. Currently employed ACEs measures may not adequately capture the full range of impactful sources of family-level environmental influence.
Marching to the beat of your own drum?: A proof-of-concept study assessing physiological linkage in Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Abstract Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition characterized by difficulty in dynamically adjusting behavior to interact effectively with others, or social reciprocity. Synchronization of physiological responses between interacting partners, or physiological linkage (PL), is thought to provide a foundation for social reciprocity. In previous work we developed a new technique to measure PL using dynamic linear time series modeling to assess cardiac interbeat interval (IBI) linkage in typically developing same-sex unacquainted dyads (Scarpa et al., 2017). The current article describes a proof-of-concept study with three dyads of young adults with ASD interacting with same-sex unacquainted typically developing (TD) partners. This pilot data is applied to propose potential benefits of using this technique to quantify and assess PL in individuals with ASD, both for basic research and for intervention science. Discussion focuses on applications of this measure to potentially advance knowledge of the biology-behavior link in ASD.
Relationship between operator and hospital volumes and short-term mortality for percutaneous coronary intervention in New York

Abstract Background Recent studies have reported mixed findings regarding the inverse provider volume-outcome relationship for percutaneous coronary interventions (PCIs). Methods We included patients who underwent PCIs in New York during December 2012–November 2015. Using risk-adjusted in-hospital/30-day mortality rate and appropriateness of PCI, we tested for a continuous relationship and a variety of annual PCI volume cut points at hospital and operator levels in investigating volume-outcome relationships. Results There were 144,196 patients undergoing PCI procedures from 63 non-federal hospitals. There was a significant inverse association between risk-adjusted mortality and both annual hospital PCI volume and annual operator PCI volume. However, we did not find that there was an inverse hospital volume-outcome relationship for the 2013 ACCF/AHA/SCAI's hospital PCI volume cutoff value of 200 per year (AOR, 1.15, 95% CI, 0.88–1.51, P = 0.32) or a significant inverse operator volume-outcome relationship using the operator PCI volume cutoff value of 50 per year (AOR, 0.89, 95% CI, 0.70–1.12, P = 0.32) or for any other practical volume cutoffs. There was also no significant volume-outcome relationship for STEMI patients. Higher volume hospitals (>400) and operators (>200) tended to perform a higher percentage of inappropriate PCI procedures than their lower volume counterparts. Conclusion There were no significant PCI volume-mortality relationships for either hospitals or operators for any practical volume cuts. Higher volume hospitals and operators were associated with higher percentages of inappropriate PCIs.
Marked Improvement in Short- and Long-Term Survival in Severe Aplastic Anemia Patients Treated with Immunosuppression in the Past 18 Years.

Forty years ago severe aplastic anemia (SAA) was almost universally fatal disease, but now most patients can be successfully treated with hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) or immunosuppressive therapy (IST). Since the majority of patients are not suitable candidates for allogeneic HSCT from a histocompatible sibling, IST is usually the treatment of choice. From the introduction of the standard anti-thymocyte globulin (ATG) + cyclosporine (CsA) regimen in the 1980s, the hematologic response rate has been 60–70% despite efforts to improve on the ATG+CsA platform. Across many protocols, there is a strong link between response to IST and survival. We examined short and long term survival of patients who were treated with initial IST at the Clinical Center of the National Institutes of Health from 1989 to 2006; a total of 372 patients were analyzed in 3 separate cohorts: those who received IST from 1989–1995; 1996–2001 and 2002–2006. Thirty-two deaths occurred within the 6-months period of IST with 15 being attributed to a fungal infection. The distribution of early deaths (
Augmenting autonomy: ‘New Collar’ labor and the future of tech work

This essay maps IBM’s attempts to construct a typology of high-tech ‘New Collar’ work and leverage policymaking outcomes to underwrite IBM corporate ventures capable of materializing this work. Through a discursive analysis of IBM corporate texts, webpages, and the 2017 New Collar Jobs Act, I argue for New Collar work to be understood through the lens of autonomy, as IBM recasts notions of ‘autonomous’ technology onto humans by downplaying dystopic associations of technological autonomy and transferring notions of autonomy to human workers. In doing so, I account for IBM’s use of ‘augmentation’ to situate human intelligence as the cognitive force uplifted by work performed with artificial intelligence. By pairing human augmentation with posthumanist conceptions of ‘distributed cognition’, IBM centers human intelligence through a redistributed cognition that reverses posthumanism’s decentering of human supremacy. Following from this, I unpack ‘New Collar’ as a reinvention of ‘white’ and ‘blue’ collar dichotomies and New Collar work as the grounds for tech workers to reinvent themselves. In this way, by minimizing the necessity of 4-year college degrees as pathways to economic and professional mobility, IBM constructs ‘New Collar’ with embedded notions of enlarged self-determination for applied worker intellect, vocational training, and employability. Under the aegis of creating, training, and employing New Collar workers, IBM pursues policy outcomes to underwrite corporate ventures related to New Collar work and bolster its institutional autonomy amidst marketplaces of cognitive capitalism. By outlining how tax relief provisions of the New Collar Jobs Act correlate with neoliberal ideologies of legislators and IBM investments in public–private vocational models and cybersecurity platforms, I account for IBM’s elongated ‘economy of learning’ that enables the company to more thoroughly capture, underwrite, and commodify New Collar cognition from training to market outputs.
Solvent softness effects on unimolecular chemical reaction rate constants

Abstract The stochastic hard collision (SHC) model for a coarse-grained solvent has been used to solvate a class of model chemical reactions. Although there is precedent from our prior work that the use of nondeterministic interaction potentials can lead to accurate dynamics at long-enough time scales, this work provides evidence that this model has dynamical consistency specifically in the response to the reactant motion. That is, the agreement between the theoretical rate constants and those obtained from the stochastic simulations provides support for the SHC solvent without sacrificing the correlations in the dynamics of the reacting solutes.
Cryo-EM reveals infection steps of single-stranded RNA bacteriophages

Abstract Single-stranded RNA bacteriophages (ssRNA phages) are small spherical RNA viruses that infect bacteria with retractile pili. The single positive-sense genomic RNA of ssRNA phages, which is protected by a capsid shell, is delivered into the host via the retraction of the host pili. Structures involved in ssRNA phage infection cycle are essential for understanding the underlying mechanisms that can be used to engineer them for therapeutic applications. This review summarizes the recent breakthroughs in high-resolution structural studies of two ssRNA phages, MS2 and Qβ, and their interaction with the host, E. coli, by cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM). These studies revealed new cryo-EM structures, which provide insights into how MS2 and Qβ package the RNA, lyse E. coli, and adsorb to the receptor F-pili, responsible for conjugation. Methodologies described here can be expanded to study other ssRNA phages that target pathogenic bacteria.
Integrating multiscale numerical simulations with machine learning to predict the strain sensing efficiency of nano-engineered smart cementitious composites

Abstract Prediction of in-situ strain sensing efficiency of self-sensing cementitious composites using machine learning (ML) requires a large, representative, consistent, and accurate dataset. However, such large experimental dataset is not readily available. Moreover, the success of the ML approach depends on its ability to abide by the fundamental laws of physics. To address these challenges this paper synergistically integrates a validated finite element analysis (FEA)-based multiscale simulation framework with ML to predict the strain-sensing ability of self-sensing cementitious composites enabled by incorporating nano-engineered interfaces. The multiscale simulation framework is leveraged to develop a balanced, representative, complete, and consistent dataset containing 3000 combinations of strain-dependent electromechanical responses. This large dataset is used to predict the strain-sensing ability of the nanoengineered cementitious composites using a feed-forward multilayer perceptron-based neural network (NN) approach which shows excellent prediction efficacy. This paper also applies a Shapley Additive Explanations (SHAP) algorithm to interpret the NN predictions in light of the relative importance of different design parameters on the strain-sensing ability of the composite. Overall, the synergistic and comprehensive approach presented here can be used as a starting point toward the development of reliable performance standards to accelerate the acceptance of these self-sensing cementitious composites for large-scale applications.
Structural, Spectroscopic, and Computational Analysis of Heterometallic Thorium Phosphinidiide Complexes.

To synthesize complexes with thorium-phosphorus multiple-bond character, reactions of (C5Me5)2Th[P(H)Mes]2 with monovalent alkali-metal bases, MN(SiMe3)2, as well as CuMes, have been investigated. The results with MN(SiMe3)2 are phosphinidiide complexes of the form {(C5Me5)2Th[μ2-P(Mes)][μ2-P(H)Mes]M(L)n}2 (M = Na, n = 0; M = K, L = THF, n = 1; M = Rb, L = THF, n = 1; M = Cs, L = Et2O, n = 1). With CuMes, the product is a Th2Cu3P5 heterometallic structure, {(C5Me5)2Th[(μ2-P(H)Mes)P(Mes)]Cu}2Cu[μ2-P(H)Mes]. All complexes have been characterized using heteronuclear NMR and IR spectroscopy, density functional theory calculations, and their solid-state structure identified by X-ray crystallography. We also report the structure of {(C5Me5)2Th[(μ2-As(H)Mes)As(Mes)]Cu}2Cu[μ2-As(H)Mes] obtained from (C5Me5)2Th[As(H)Mes]2 with CuMes.
Treatment-Seeking Alcohol and Cocaine Dependent Individuals with High BMIs and below Average Fitness Levels

Participation in sports and exercise has been shown to help prevent the development of substance use and abuse among adolescents. The protective mechanisms may involve mood, self-efficacy or simply the incompatibility between peak athletic performance and ...
Interlaminar shear fracture toughness and fatigue thresholds for composite materials

Static and cyclic end notched flexure tests were conducted on a graphite epoxy, a glass epoxy, and graphite thermoplastic to determine their interlaminar shear fracture toughness and fatigue thresholds for delamination in terms of limiting values of the mode II strain energy release rate, G-II, for delamination growth. The influence of precracking and data reduction schemes are discussed. Finite element analysis indicated that the beam theory calculation for G-II with the transverse shear contribution included was reasonably accurate over the entire range of crack lengths. Cyclic loading significantly reduced the critical G-II for delamination. A threshold value of the maximum cyclic G-II below which no delamination occurred after one million cycles was identified for each material. Also, residual static toughness tests were conducted on glass epoxy specimens that had undergone one million cycles without delamination. A linear mixed-mode delamination criteria was used to characterize the static toughness of several composite materials; however, a total G threshold criterion appears to characterize the fatigue delamination durability of composite materials with a wide range of static toughness.
Principles of Induction Accelerators

The basic concepts involved in induction accelerators are introduced in this chapter. The objective is to provide a foundation for the more detailed coverage of key technology elements and specific applications in the following chapters. A wide variety of induction accelerators are discussed in the following chapters, from the high current linear electron accelerator configurations that have been the main focus of the original developments, to circular configurations like the ion synchrotrons that are the subject of more recent research. The main focus in the present chapter is on the induction module containing the magnetic core that plays the role of a transformer in coupling the pulsed power from the modulator to the charged particle beam. This is the essential common element in all these induction accelerators, and an understanding of the basic processes involved in its operation is the main objective of this chapter. (See [1] for a useful and complementary presentation of the basic principles in induction linacs.)
The impact of segmental and en bloc derotation maneuvers on scoliosis correction and rib prominence in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis.

Object Idiopathic scoliosis is a pathological process influencing the spinal column in 3 dimensions. Initial surgical treatment focused primarily on correction in the coronal plane, and with improved instrumentation, increasing attention has targeted balancing the sagittal profile. Newer surgical techniques now permit operative corrective forces to also directly address axial rotation. Although several technical variations of direct vertebral body derotation (DVBD) have been devised, no studies have compared outcomes from the differing techniques. The purpose of this study was to describe and compare the differences between segmental and en bloc DVBD. Methods A large prospectively collected database was queried for patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) who underwent posterior spinal fusion and for whom there was a minimum of 2 years of follow-up. In all patients some type of DVBD maneuver was performed (segmental, en bloc, or both). Any patients with concurrent thoracoplasties were excluded....
Protection Provided by Cyclosporin A against Excitotoxic Neuronal Death Is Genotype Dependent

Summary: Purpose: Previous studies have shown that the immunosuppressant cyclosporin A (CsA), a specific blocker of the mitochondrial permeability transition (MPT) pore, can dramatically ameliorate the selective neuronal necrosis resulting from ischemia–reperfusion, traumatic brain injury, and N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA)-evoked neurotoxicity. The purpose of this study was to determine whether two different immunosuppressants, CsA and FK-506, could ameliorate the neuronal damage observed after kainate-induced seizures in strains that are differentially susceptible to excitotoxin-induced cell death. Methods: Excitotoxin-resistant (C57BL/6) or -susceptible (FVB/N) mice were administered kainate alone (30 mg/kg), CsA alone (5, 10, or 20 mg/kg), or one of the immunosuppressants (CsA, 5 mg/kg or 10 mg/kg; FK-506, 0.5 mg/kg) followed by kainate. After drug administration, mice were monitored continuously for the onset and extent of seizure activity. After a survival of 7 days, animals were assessed for hippocampal damage. Results: Whereas CsA alone induced no epileptogenic effects and both immunosuppressants were without effect on the induction of kainate-induced seizures, administration of CsA to excitotoxin-susceptible mice (FVB/N) virtually eliminated neuronal cell death. In contrast, induction of neuronal cell death was evident when CsA was administered to excitotoxin-resistant mice (C57BL/6). Administration of FK-506, another commonly used immunosuppressant, which lacks an effect on the MPT, had no effect on modification of susceptibility to kainate-induced cell death in either strain. Conclusions: As our data show differential protection of hippocampal neurons against excitotoxic cell death by pretreatment with CsA, these results suggest that strain-dependent differences in mitochondrial integrity and function may exist.
Risk Management for Petroleum Reservoir Production: A Simulation-Based Study of Prediction

We consider numerical solutions of the Darcy and Buckley–Leverett equations for flow in porous media. These solutions depend on a realization of a random field that describes the reservoir permeability. The main content of this paper is to formulate and analyze a probability model for the numerical coarse grid solution error. We explore the extent to which the coarse grid oil production rate is sufficient to predict future oil production rates. We find that very early oil production data is sufficient to reduce the prediction error in oil production by about 30%, relative to the prior probability prediction.
Retail Assortment: More ≠ Better

Product assortment strategy is a central yet complex issue for retailers. Retail product assortments have undergone drastic changes in the past decade from unparalleled large assortments in the early 1990s to the current emphasis on streamlined, efficient assortments. The purpose of this chapter is to provide guidance to retailers making these important assortment strategy decisions.
Electromagnetic crystal (EMXT) based Terahertz horn antenna

The design, fabrication and measured performance of an all-dielectric Terahertz (THz) horn antenna based on hollow-core electromagnetic crystal structure is described. Simulation result shows that the antenna works above 100 GHz, with better than 30 dB return loss and highly directional radiation pattern. Fabrication of the antenna is implemented by a THz polymer jetting rapid prototyping method. Characterization of this antenna is performed using a THz time-domain spectrometer (TDS). Measurement results for the far-field radiation patterns are compared with simulation results.
Power delivery for remotely located microsystems

Supplying power to bio-implanted devices or to devices located in a hostile environment is an important problem. In the former case, power can be supplied by means of an implanted or a local battery, or by wires, which for a bio-implanted application results in wires penetrating through skin. This work examines a wireless power delivery system for a remotely located microsystem. The external transmitter coil and the receiver coil located with the microsystem form a loosely coupled system. A conventional rectifier circuit is used for conversion of induced receiver coil ac voltage to a de voltage. For an input supply voltage of 0.35 V/sub rms/, the transmitted power to a 34 /spl Omega/ load resistor connected to the receiver coil were 4 and 13.2 mW, when the receiver coil was placed at the center and at the rim of the transmitter coil, respectively. These values are encouraging and means for further improvement are discussed.
Fast full‐color reflective display via photoluminescent enhancement

Reflective displays are advantageous in applications requiring low power or daylight readability. However, there are no low-cost reflective technologies capable of displaying bright colors. By employing photoluminescence to more efficiently use ambient light, we created a prototype display that provides bright, full color in a simple, low-cost architecture. This prototype includes a novel electrokinetic shutter, a layer that incorporates patterned luminescent red, green, and blue sub-pixel elements, and a novel optical out-coupling scheme. The luminescent elements convert otherwise-wasted portions of the incident spectrum to light in the desired color band, resulting in improved color saturation and lightness. This prototype provides a color gamut that is superior to competing reflective display technologies that utilize color filters in single-layer side-by-side sub-pixel architectures. The current prototype is capable of switching in <0.5 s; future displays based on an alternative electro-optic shutter technology should achieve video rate operation. A transflective version of this technology has also been prototyped. The transflective version utilizes its backlight with a power efficiency that is at least three times that of a conventional liquid crystal display. These photoluminescence-based technologies enable a host of applications ranging from low-power mobile products and retail pricing signage to daylight readable signage for outdoor advertising segments.
Regulation of Drosophila chorion gene amplification.

The ability of animal and plant chromosomes to faithfully reduplicate remains poorly understood. In contrast, bacterial and viral chromosome replication has been elucidated in detail. DNA replication in these systems initiates at specific origin sequences following the binding of proteins that facilitate assembly of an active complex of replication enzymes. RNA transcripts produced at or near the origin sometimes also participate in controlling replicon initiation. Today, the question of whether similar control mechanisms govern the replication of chromosomes in higher organisms represents one of the most important issues in eukaryotic chromosome research.
The use of homocysteine and other metabolites in the specific diagnosis of vitamin B-12 deficiency

Vitamin B-12 (cobalamin) is a cofactor for only two enzymes, methionine synthase and L-methylmalonyl-CoA mutase. The serum vitamin B-12 concentration has been shown to have limitations in specificity and sensitivity in diagnosing vitamin B-12 deficiency and predicting response to therapy in subjects with clinical deficiency syndromes. Serum methylmalonic acid and/or total homocysteine concentrations have been shown to be elevated in almost every patient who has a clinical response to vitamin B-12. In elderly populations serum methylmalonic acid concentrations are elevated in the majority (60-66%) of subjects who have elevated total homocysteine concentrations, suggesting that vitamin B-12 deficiency (with or without associated folate deficiency) and/or chronic renal insufficiency may be the primary cause of most of the elevated total homocysteine concentrations in elderly populations. In such subjects vitamin B-12 and folate concentrations are both frequently in the low or low normal range, making differentiation of the clinical syndromes by use of serum vitamin concentrations problematic. Elevations of 2-methylcitric acid and cystathionine also result from vitamin B-12 deficiency. Serum N-methylglycine concentrations are normal in cobalamin deficiency but are increased in 40% of patients deficient in folate. In conclusion, elevations of methylmalonic acid and total homocysteine are very sensitive and specific in diagnosing vitamin B-12 deficiency and can be used to help differentiate vitamin B-12 deficiency from folate deficiency. Elevated total homocysteine concentrations that may have been attributed to folate deficiency in elderly subjects may in many instances be the result of vitamin B-12 deficiency even though serum vitamin B-12 concentrations are within normal limits.
Toward a standard nomenclature for imagery spatial resolution

Currently, the remote sensing community uses vague and ambiguous adjectives to relay the resolution of remote sensing imagery. This short technical note proposes a nomenclature based on metric units of the metre as a way to standardize the description of satellite imagery spatial resolution.
Selecting Server Parameters for Predictable Runtime Monitoring

Application of runtime monitoring to maintain the health of an embedded real-time software system requires that anomalous behavior be detected within a bounded time while preserving the temporal guarantees of the underlying system. Existing results can compute bounds on the detection latency of runtime monitors that are realized as a deferrable server running at the highest priority. In this paper, we generalize those results to allow monitors to run at an arbitrary priority. We also present an analysis of queue length in predictable runtime monitoring, which allows one to compute an upper bound on queue length. When implementing predictable runtime monitoring, system engineers are presented with several challenges in configuring the parameters of monitor servers. To address those challenges, we explore the tradeoffs among key server parameters and make recommendations about how best to select those parameters to achieve system monitoring objectives.
Effects of acute hypoxia on neonatal rat brain: regionally selective, long-term alterations in catecholamine levels and turnover.

Neonatal rats were exposed to 2 hr of hypoxia (7% O2) on the day after birth and examined for effects on development of noradrenergic and dopaminergic systems. Measurements were made of transmitter levels and turnover, the latter a biochemical index of neuronal activity. Hypoxia had a regionally selective effect, characterized by a long-lasting increase in turnover of norepinephrine and dopamine in midbrain and brainstem, with little or no effect in cerebral cortex or cerebellum. The effects of hypoxia were exacerbated when peripheral α-adrenergic receptors were blocked with phenoxybenzamine during the hypoxic exposure; in this case, the same abnormalities were then seen in the cerebral cortex as well. Thus, the release of peripheral catecholamines during the hypoxic insult, and their actions at α-adrenergic receptors, may play a role in protecting the neonatal nervous system from hypoxia-induced alterations.
Preliminary Results of Measurements of Deep Currents in the Pacific Ocean

FROM June 18 to August 5, 1968, the STYX expedition of the Scripps Institution of Oceanography made measurements of deep flow in the South Pacific Ocean. As early as 1871 (ref. 1) it had been suggested that the deep and bottom waters of the North Pacific Ocean are not formed by modification of North Pacific surface waters, but have flowed in through the South Pacific from other areas. Wust2 has traced the flow of cold bottom water (deeper than 4,000 m) from the Antarctic Circumpolar Current to the western North Pacific; the observed temperature variation beyond was too small to indicate a clear path. Other investigators3,4 have confirmed his results by the distributions of dissolved oxygen and salinity, and some further indirect evidence of a deep strong northward flow across 29° S has recently been submitted5,6.
Pharmacological Management of Low Back Pain

Low back pain is one of the most common conditions encountered in clinical practice and medications are the most commonly used type of treatment. In most patients, low back pain is nonspecific, in that the pain cannot be reliably attributed to a specific condition or abnormality in the back. Although a number of medications are available to treat nonspecific low back pain, selecting a therapy can be a challenge because each one is associated with a unique set of benefits and harms. In addition, the evidence supporting the use of different medications varies, and issues such as costs and patient preferences may also affect treatment choices. A guideline published in 2007 from the American Pain Society and the American College of Physicians on diagnosis and treatment of low back pain includes recommendations on the use of medications, based on the quality of supporting evidence and the estimated magnitude of benefits relative to harms. For most patients with low back pain, regardless of the duration of symptoms, paracetamol (acetaminophen) and NSAIDs are first-line options for pain relief. Opioids are more potent analgesics, but are not a first-line option due to their abuse potential. Skeletal muscle relaxants and benzodiazepines can be used as adjunctive medications for acute low back pain, but have a high incidence of sedation. Tricyclic antidepressants may be an option for chronic low back pain, but their effects on pain appear small or uncertain. Nonetheless, depression is common in patients with low back pain and should be treated appropriately. When choosing medications for treatment of low back pain, practice guidelines provide a useful starting point for making decisions, but clinicians should base therapeutic choices on individualized consideration and discussion with patients regarding the potential benefits and risks.
Abnormal Currents in Distribution Transformers Due to Lightning

Abnormal currents in distribution transformers due to lightning are analyzed both theoretically and from field experiences. Under certain conditions of direct stroke transferred through the arrester to the neutral of the secondary winding, excessive currents may wreck the secondary windings by electromagnetic forces. Long-duration surges, or shorter repeated surges, saturate the transformer cores producing greatly increased surge currents in the primary windings which influence fuse failures. The saturation of the cores by unidirectional lightning surges also brings about increased power-frequency magnetizing currents influencing sectionalizing-fuse and circuit-breaker operations.
Biological response of osteoblast-like UMR-106 cells to the modified PHBV matrix - Effects of porosity and collagen dip coating.

In this study, we related porosity and collagen coating of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) scaffold to the degree of cell proliferation on the engineered PHBV scaffold. Based on the [3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-5-(3-carboxymethoxyphenyl)-2-(4-sulfophenyl)-2h-tetrazolium, inner salt] (MTS) assay, we established that UMR-106 cell proliferation is maximum in collagen-coated porous PHBV film followed by porous PHBV film and least in nonporous PHBV film. RT-PCR analysis of the proliferated cells on tissue culture polystyrene (TCPS) and porous and nonporous PHBV scaffolds revealed that the proliferated cells retained their osteoblastic phenotype characteristics. Atomic absorption analysis was performed to measure the extent of calcium conversion by the cells grown on PHBV and TCPS. The calcium content of the culture media was used to indirectly measure the mineralization ability of the cells. The extent of calcium conversion by the cells was found to depend on the incubation time. Based on the results of the study, modified PHBV matrix seems to be a suitable matrix candidate for bone tissue engineering application.
X-ray emission from the 63 ms radio pulsar PSR J1105-6107

Abstract We have detected significant X-ray emission from the direction of the young radio pulsar PSR J1105-6107 using the ASCA Observatory. The emission shows no evidence of pulsations; the pulsed fraction is less than 31%, at the 90% confidence level. The X-ray emission can be characterized by a power-law spectrum with photon index α = 1.8 ± 0.4, for a neutral hydrogen column density NH = 7 × 1021 cm−2. The unabsorbed 2 – 10 keV flux assuming the power-law model is (6.4 ± 0.8) × 10−13 ergs cm−2 s−1. The implied efficiency for conversion of spin-down luminosity to ASCA-band emission is (1.6 ± 0.2) × 10−3, assuming a distance of 7 kpc to the source. We argue that the X-rays are best explained as originating from a pulsar-powered synchrotron nebula.
Finite element analysis of moisture effects in graphite-epoxy composites

A numerical analysis procedure is developed for the micro-mechanical investigation of moisture effects on graphite-epoxy composites. The procedure employs a nonlinear constitutive relationship in a finite element formulation. A quasi-Newton method is used to solve the resulting nonlinear algebraic equations. The results presented indicate that the stresses at the graphite-epoxy interface have a strong dependence on moisture content, fiber spacing, and applied load.
Chromosome rearrangements in isolates that escape from het-c heterokaryon incompatibility in Neurospora crassa

Chromosomal rearrangement is implicated in human cancers and hereditary diseases. Mechanisms generating chromosomal rearrangements may be shared by a variety of organisms. Spontaneous chromosomal rearrangements, especially large deletions, take place at high frequency in isolates that escape from heterokaryon incompatibility in Neurospora crassa. In this study, chromosomal rearrangements were detected in strains that had escaped from het-c heterokaryon incompatibility in N. crassa. A vc1 mutant carried a 20-kbp deletion covering five ORFs. A vc2 mutant carried a complex chromosome rearrangement with an 8-kbp deletion covering three ORFs, a 34-bp deletion and an 80-kbp inversion. The break-points of chromosome rearrangements in the vc1 and vc2 mutants all have direct repeats of 2 bp, similar to the break-points of some chromosome rearrangements associated with human cancer and genetic diseases. An ahc mutant carried a 31-kbp deletion covering at least 11 ORFs and a het-c deletion mutant carried a 7-kbp deletion covering two ORFs. Additional chromosomal rearrangements occurred in these two strains. These results indicate that escape from heterokaryon incompatibility can be used as a model system for chromosome rearrangement and DNA-repair studies. The impact of the chromosomal rearrangements is discussed, especially the deletion of the predicted ORFs on the phenotype of mutants.
Clinical Science Aging and Oral Motor Function: Evidence for Altered Performance Among Older Persons

A physical examination procedure was used to evaluate oral motor functions in a population of 257 community-dwelling males and females ranging in age from 23-88 yr. An increased prevalence of altered motor performance with age was found for parameters measuring lip posture and masticatory muscle function. Also, males, but not females, showed a higher prevalence of alterations in tongue function and in swallowing.
Aggressive myeloid leukemia formation is directed by the Musashi 2/Numb pathway

Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) progresses from a chronic phase to a deadly blast crisis phase. While it is known that BCR-ABL initiates the disease and that secondary molecular and genetic abnormalities likely contribute to progression of the disease to blast crisis, details regarding the mechanism(s) of blast phase progression are lacking. Two recent reports identify Musashi 2 (Msi2) as a key regulator in the progression of CML from the chronic phase to blast crisis. These reports demonstrated that the cell fate determination protein, Numb, was downregulated in blast crisis CML and that exogenous expression of Numb inhibited leukemogenesis. Correspondingly, Msi2 was shown to be upregulated in blast crisis CML and to negatively regulate expression of Numb. Exogenous expression of Msi2 enhanced the formation of an aggressive immature leukemia induced by BCR-ABL. High expression of Msi2 was also found in leukemic cells of AML patients and elevated Msi2 expression was shown to associate with poor prognosis in both AML and CML. These reports together highlight the apparent role of the Musashi-Numb pathway in regulating the formation of aggressive myeloid leukemia, and thus provide a potential molecular mechanism for the transition of chronic phase CML to the deadly blast crisis. Importantly, this work suggests this pathway may provide targets for future therapies that are desperately needed for aggressive forms of myeloid leukemia.
Conformational changes associated with the nicking and activation of botulinum neurotoxin type E.

Secondary and tertiary structural parameters of type E botulinum neurotoxin in the unactivated single-chain and activated two-chain (i.e., after proteolytic cleavage) forms were analyzed using circular dichroism, derivative absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy. The estimated secondary structures (22 and 20% alpha-helix, 44 and 44% beta-pleated sheets, and 34 and 36% random coils for the single- and two-chain neurotoxins, respectively) indicated that virtually no change occurred upon nicking of the single-chain neurotoxin. About 57% of the 70 Tyr residues were exposed in the single-chain form, which increased to 62% in the two-chain form. Fluorescence quenching experiments with neutral, anionic and cationic quenchers indicated that about 40% of the maximum accessible fluorescent Trp residues were exposed on the surface of the single-chain neurotoxin as compared to only 20% in the case of the two-chain neurotoxin. Acrylamide was the most effective quencher with a fraction accessibility of 0.56 and 0.48 of maximum accessible Trp fluorescence residues in the single and two-chain forms of the neurotoxin, respectively. Native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the two forms of the neurotoxin revealed greater mobility for the two chain form. This indicates that the surface charges in the single-chain neurotoxin were altered upon nicking. These observations suggest that nicking of the single-chain type E neurotoxin results in refolding and redistribution of the surface charges of the neurotoxin.
The dynamic properties of elastomers above the limit of linear viscoelastic response

A method of measuring the dynamic viscoelastic properties of polymers at large strain magnitudes, well above the limit of linear viscoelastic response, has been developed. A straight line relationship has been found between the dynamic stress and the dynamic strain above the limit of linear viscoelastic response. This straight line relationship can be described by a dynamic in-phase modulus that is a function of the maximum strain applied and the frequency of the applied dynamic strain. This rheological characterization method is demonstrated for a series of synthetic elastomers with various carbon black loadings.
Calculation of joint spring rates using finite element formulation

Abstract A method for calculating the torsional spring rates of structural joints using finite element formulation is presented. The response of the actual joint, as predicted from the experimental results or a more detailed shell finite element model, is used to calculate the torsional spring rates for any number of joint members. These joint rates are typically used in the analysis of automotive structures. The method is developed into a computer program that does not require a finite element model for the joint. The formulation of the method, the flow chart of the program and an example of a three-member joint are provided.
Techniques for Validating an Automatic Bottleneck Detection Tool Using Archived Freeway Sensor Data

Bottlenecks are key features of freeway systems. Their effects in performance and emissions are of increasing importance as congestion worsens in urban areas. In the United States, FHWA has been working to identify and monitor key bottlenecks in each state. In Oregon, a freeway data archive known as the Portland Oregon Regional Transportation Archive Listing archives measured count, density, and speed data from more than 600 locations at 20-s intervals. This archive has enabled development of online freeway performance and reliability analysis tools. This paper describes the rigorous evaluation and refinement of an automated tool for identifying recurrent freeway bottlenecks using historical data within the framework of the data archive. Efforts have focused on identification and display of active bottleneck features by using graphical tools and the selection of optimal variables that enabled careful identification of active bottlenecks. This research aims to detect bottleneck activation historically and, through future work, in real time as well. Ultimately, the results of this research will enhance the prioritization of improvements and implementation of operational strategies on the freeway network.
Mechanistic studies on DNA photolyase, II. Is the blue enzyme isolated from Escherichia coli a mutant?

Abstract The contrasting properties of the DNA photlyases isolated from Escherichia coli , and from Saccharomyces cerevisiae suggested the possibility that the E. coli enzyme may have suffered mutagenesis as a consequence of the extensive use of ultraviolet irradiation/photoreactivation as a selection technique during the cloning. We have therefore recloned this gene using a UV-independent protocol and confirmed the original sequence.
Physics and Mitigation of Excess OFF-State Current in InGaAs Quantum-Well MOSFETs

A number of recent reports have noted excess OFF-state leakage current ( $I_{\mathrm{{\scriptscriptstyle OFF}}})$ in scaled InGaAs quantum-well nMOSFETs. There is growing evidence that a combination of band-to-band tunneling (BTBT) and a floating-body bipolar gain effect is responsible for this. Unless this issue is effectively addressed, the scaling potential of this transistor structure will be compromised. This paper presents a detailed study of the physics of $I_{\mathrm{{\scriptscriptstyle OFF}}}$ and explores $I_{\mathrm{{\scriptscriptstyle OFF}}}$ reduction strategies through 2-D device simulations that have been calibrated with experiments. In essence, under OFF conditions at even moderate values of $V_{\textrm {ds}}$ , a BTBT process at the drain-end generates holes in the channel and thereby reduces the source–channel potential barrier. This results in injection of electrons into the channel that contribute to enhanced $I_{\mathrm{{\scriptscriptstyle OFF}}}$ while the holes are injected into the source where they recombine. In a nanoscale device, the bipolar effect that is at play here can have a very large current gain and amplify many fold even a small BTBT current. A study of approaches to mitigating this effect is analyzed here. It is concluded that the most effective strategy is to minimize the bipolar current gain rather than BTBT in scaled transistors.