cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Mutational Bias, Molecular Ecology, and Chromosome Evolution

The banded pattern of DNA sequence differences along the mammalian chromosome reflects the chromosome’s history of fixed mutations. It cannot be explained by random mutational input followed by natural selection acting to discard disadvantageous mutations. Rather, it must involve ordered mutational input followed by random drift with little selection. Molecular ecology is the study of mutational input organized congruent to the banding pattern. It is the study of local mutational biases which organize communities of positionally constrained DNA. The biased mutational input is not limited to non-coding DNA; even some aspects of exon sequences are more determined by where a gene lives than by what it does. Here, we show that several primary mutational events do occur congruent to the banding pattern. X-ray-induced breaks and breaks fixed during primate evolution are most prevalent in T-bands. T-bands comprise 15% of all bands and contain extremely GC-rich DNA. Bloom syndrome mitotic chiasmata are most prevalent in the 13% of the bands characterized by high sequence concentrations of the Alu retroposon. Melphalan-induced breaks are near both T-bands and vAlu+ bands.
A Pluralistic Approach to Artefact Design

The design of any human activity requires the intervention of several different inquiring systems where the manager, the engineer, the scientist, the epistemologist, the ethicist and the artist, contribute to shape how problems in the real-world are formulated, how decisions to solve problems are taken, and, fmally, how actions are implemented.
Subjektivität als Interität Zur Reformulierung transzendentaler Subjektivität als Diskurs

Nicht gar so regelmasig wie Luhmann, dafUr aber, wie gesehen, auch an theoriebaustatisch und -genetisch durchaus entscheidender Stelle stellt Habermas die Diagnose des Scheiterns der Subjektphilosophie an den Folgen ihres Monologismus, wie sie an Husserls Intersubjektivitatstheorie offenbar geworden seien: dort namlich, wo Habermas — am Anfang seiner Theorieentwicklung stehend — die kategoriale Grundentscheidung trifft, in der sinnverstehenden Soziologie vom Monologismus reflektierter Bewustseinsleistungen, von Gewisheitserlebnissen auf das sprachliche Erheben von Geltungsanspruchen umzuschalten. Diese subjektphilosophiekritische Weichenstellung hangt mit der Grundorientierung von Habermas’ Theorieunternehmen an der Unterscheidung von instrumentell-strategischem und kommunikativem Handeln, von System und Lebenswelt zusammen. An diesen Zusammenhang der Subjektkritik der kommunikationstheoretisch gewendeten Kritischen Theorie mit diesen allgemein gut bekannten weiteren Kontext mus hier kurz erinnert werden.
Large-scale brightness inhomogeneities in the solar atmosphere

The intensity residuals are analyzed from a series of solar limb-darkening measurements in the wavelength range 5656 to 2997 A. The lengths of residual strings of the same sign exceed expectation by several orders of magnitude. The power spectrum of the residuals shows a weak excess around 6000 km. For further study the 34 000 limb-darkening residuals are subdivided into 5100 bright and faint cells. The frequency distribution of cell sizes peaks around 4500 km and increases from center to limb, the faint cells showing the greater center-limb effect. The cells are also studied as to contrast. A synoptic view indicates that only 12% of the cells are identifiable after a half hour. Phenomena that may combine to produce the observed wide spectrum of brightness inhomogeneities are briefly discussed.
Assessing kinematic variability during performance of Jebsen-Taylor Hand Function Test.

Abstract Study Design Clinical measurement; 22 subjects with no upper limb disability completed the Jebsen-Taylor Hand Function Test (JHFT). Introduction To realize the potential of 3D motion capture to augment evaluation of individuals with upper limb disability/impairment, it is important to understand the expected kinematic motion that characterizes performance during functional evaluation. Purpose of the Study To assess kinematic variability and establish kinematic patterns for the JHFT. Methods Upper body joint kinematics were collected using a Vicon motion capture system. Average range of motion and maximum angle were calculated for all tasks. Intrasubject and intersubject variability were assessed by calculating Pearson's correlation coefficient, adjusted coefficient of multiple correlation (CMCadj), and standard deviation for 10 joint angles at the wrist, elbow, shoulder, and torso. Results The writing and picking up small objects tasks generally had high intrasubject variability, with most joint angles having median Pearson's correlation coefficients lower than 0.7. The CMCadj values were generally greater than 0.5 for elbow, shoulder, and torso joints during can-lifting tasks, indicating high consistency in those kinematic trajectories across subjects. Low consistency across subjects in all joint angles was observed for writing (CMCadj 10°). Discussion Kinematic patterns for the JHFT tasks were analyzed. Conclusions With kinematic patterns for the JHFT tasks analyzed, optimal patterns of activity performance can be defined, allowing for easier identification and adjustment of atypical motion. Results can be used to inform selection of tasks for kinematic evaluation and provide expected variability for comparison to patient populations, which is useful for regulatory review and clinical assessment.
Acute myeloid leukemia: Comparison of epidemiology and treatment outcomes between insured and uninsured patients.

e17012 Background: The overall prognosis for most acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients remains poor. The majority of adult patients (pts) with AML will ultimately need allogeneic stem cell transpl...
Unleashing Analytics to Reduce Costs and Improve Quality in Wastewater Treatment

The authors discuss their development of an innovative process that applies descriptive, predictive, and prescriptive analytics to improve efficiency and reduce costs at wastewater treatment plants.
A journey to freedom: Richard Oakes, Alcatraz, and the red power movement

“Red Power” has sometimes been characterized as one among many civil rights movements of the 1960s and other times been most closely associated with the American Indian Movement (AIM) and AIM’s act...
Cellulose nanocrystal/silver (CNC/Ag) thin-film nanocomposite nanofiltration membranes with multifunctional properties

The trade-off between membrane permeability and selectivity and membrane fouling, including both physical and bio-fouling, are major challenges that limit the practical application of nanofiltration (NF) membranes. In order to address these issues simultaneously, multifunctional membranes with maximized water permeability/salt selectivity and enhanced antifouling and antibacterial properties are desired. In this work, we prepare a novel multifunctional thin film nanocomposite (TFN) NF membrane by embedding cellulose nanocrystal/silver (CNC/Ag) nanocomposites into a polyamide layer. The CNC/Ag TFN NF membranes exhibit excellent properties by taking advantage of both CNCs, a highly hydrophilic, low-cost, bio-renewable, and environmentally friendly nanomaterial, and Ag nanoparticles, one of the most effective bactericidal materials. With the incorporation of only 0.01 wt% CNC/Ag nanocomposites, a high pure water permeability (25.4 L m−2 h−1 bar−) and a high rejection rate of Na2SO4 (99.1%) of the CNC/Ag TFN NF membrane can be achieved, respectively. Besides, the membrane also exhibits exceptional antifouling (flux recovery ratio reaches 92.6% for humic acid) and antibacterial performance (99.4% reduction of Escherichia coli viability). Ag+ leaching tests also demonstrate the good stability of Ag nanoparticles in the active thin-film layer of the CNC/Ag NF membranes. These findings have strong positive implications for the development of next-generation high performance NF membranes for water treatment.
Peter Abrahams of South Africa: Learning to Read (in) the Global 1930s

Born poor, the material and ideological networks that propelled Peter Abrahams to literacy in 1930s South Africa lay bare how white liberalism, Pan-Africanism, and Marxism all overlapped as well as...
Dynamic right and left ventricular interactions in the pig.

New findings What is the central question of this study? Are the mechanisms that cause ventricular interdependence different when due to primary right to left ventricular pressure loading? What is the main finding and its importance? An instantaneous selective increase in aortic pressure causes an immediate increase in right ventricular end-systolic pressure independent of the pericardium, whereas a selective increase in pulmonary artery pressure decreases left ventricular diastolic compliance owing to a subsequent increasing right ventricular end-diastolic volume as a function of an intact pericardium limiting biventricular volume. Changes in contraction synchrony of either ventricle do not appear to be causing these effects. Abstract I characterized the dynamic factors determining ventricular interdependence with and without the pericardium. I measured right (RV) and left ventricular (LV) pressures and volumes simultaneously using conductance catheters in seven pentobarbitone-anaesthetized open-chested 5- to 7-week-old piglets. I studied these effects during apnoea, inferior vena caval occlusion and rapid partial aortic and pulmonary arterial occlusions. Conductance catheter-defined long-axis regional volumes were assessed to define regional contractile synchrony. Closed-pericardium measures were made from an initial (baseline) volume, then after two 20 ml kg-1 fluid loads followed by an open-pericardium step. Baseline RV and LV volumes were similar. Aortic occlusion increased LV pressures and volumes and RV end-systolic pressure such that RV end-systolic elastance increased without changes in RV contraction synchrony, not affected by the pericardium. Pulmonary artery occlusion increased RV end-systolic pressure but not end-systolic volume. On the subsequent beat, RV end-diastolic pressure increased, whereas LV end-diastolic volume and diastolic compliance decreased. These effects were attenuated by opening the pericardium. Contraction synchrony across longitudinal segments was unaltered by either aortic or pulmonary artery occlusion. I conclude that the determinants of systolic and diastolic ventricular interdependence are different. Increasing RV pressures causes diastolic RV-to-LV interdependence, decreasing LV diastolic compliance and dependent on an intact pericardium. An increase in LV end-systolic pressure increases RV end-systolic elastance independent of the pericardium and has a minimal effect on RV diastolic function or contraction synchrony.
Exploring ideological signals from cosponsorship

While cosponsorship is a useful tool for cosponsors, what is its impact on the bill? Adapting the mathematical concept of directed transportation networks for the American Congressional context, we...
aView, a Browser-based Tool for Analyzing FTE, WYE Across NASA Science Missions

When reviewing and evaluating the basis of estimate for mission phases, it is important to understand how the labor basis of estimate compares with past NASA science missions. As such, it can be very valuable to understand the labor loading [Full-time Equivalents and Work Year Equivalents (FTE/WYE)] for historical missions and how the final, actual staffing levels compare with the initially planned staffing levels for these missions at certain project milestones. The FTE Tool11Justin F. McNeill, Jr. et al., “FTE Tool, a Practical Tool for Analyzing Staffing Levels and Cost Across Missions,” IEEE Aerospace Conference, Big Sky, Montana, 5 March 2014. is a legacy, Microsoft©Excel application-based plotting capability built upon a detailed repository of mission programmatic data. The tool has been in use as a tool for comparative analysis in staffing profiles since 2009. It provides high-level views of the historical data for twenty-six NASA missions for development Phases C and D as well as the operations Phase E. FTE Tool is available via the One NASA Cost Engineering Database (ONCE). To modernize and enhance this capability, a new web browser-based application, aView, is being developed on an open source software platform: chart.js for its front-end and a SQLite database for its backend. The name aView is short for Aerospace Viewer of NASA Project Staffing Data. As with the FTE Tool, in aView, the user may select from a set of predefined plots that give a wide variety of views into the missions' programmatic data. One can plot FTE/WYE versus dollar cost for multiple missions during specific phases of development or during operations. Other plots provided by the tool include planned versus actual annual FTE/WYE and FTE/WYE and dollar cost per fiscal year. In addition to the plotting capabilities, aView is a repository of fairly detailed mission information and data. Individual fact pages have been compiled for each mission. Each page provides an illustration of the mission's space vehicle and instruments and the associated technical data and programmatic information, i.e., estimated and/or actual program cost, major development milestones including launch date, launch vehicle, mission trajectory, links to mission website. All of the fact pages are crafted based on information drawn from the NASA Cost Analysis Data Requirement (CADRe) documents and from the project's monthly management/status reviews (MMR/MSR). This paper will discuss the general capabilities and construction of aView. In addition, the paper will explore some use cases (scenarios of application) to illustrate how this application may answer specific programmatic questions. The presentation may include a brief video or live demonstration.
What Should Presidential Candidates Tell Us About Themselves? Proposals for Improving Transparency in Presidential Campaigns

Elections are at the foundation of our democracy, but voters sometimes cast their ballots without critical information about presidential candidates. This report by Fordham Law School's Democracy Clinic calls for requirements that candidates release more personal financial information, including five years of tax returns, and undergo criminal and intelligence background checks. The report also advocates for a system allowing candidates to submit to voluntary medical exams with some results released to the public.
Reply to “Comments on ‘Theoretical Estimations of the 298 K Gas-Phase Acidities of the Pyrimidine-Based Nucleobases Uracil, Thymine and Cytosine'”

ReceiVed: October 22, 2003 We recently published a paper1 on the gas-phase acidities of all the possible proton donor sites of the most stable tautomers of uracil, thymine, and cytosine (at the B3LYP/aug-cc-pVTZ// B3LYP/6-31+G(d) level). This study was inspired by the lack of a comprehensive investigation covering all the possible acidic sites (and not just the most acidic sites) in all the pyrimidine bases. Our intention was to begin the paper by summarizing all the literature that has appeared on the experimental and computational studies of the acidities of the pyrimidine bases, such as Zeegers-Huyskens et al. examination of the acidities of the two most acidic sites (the N-H bonds) in uracil.2 Unfortunately, we failed to be comprehensive in our literature discussion and did not directly reference the same authors' nice studies on the acidities of the N-H bonds (most acidic sites) in cytosine and in thymine.3,4 We deeply regret this mistake. Fortunately, a careful reader is still able to find these publications via the other references given in our publication.
Antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and cytotoxic study of extracts of Guibourtia tessmanii (harms) J. Léonard from Gabon

Gabonese flora abounds in a significant reserve of plants in medical matter. Thus, medicinal plants occupy a significant place in African pharmacopeia. Aim of this work was to evaluate the antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and cytotoxic properties of extracts of Guibourtia tessmanii (Harms) J. Leonard. The test for sensitivity to microorganisms was performed by the diffusion method, while the MICs and MBCs were evaluated by the microdilution technique. Antioxidant tests were performed by scavenging the DPPH and ABTS radicals. Anti-inflammatory activity was determined by protein denaturing and membrane stabilization methods. The cytotoxicity was evaluated on the tadpoles of the green frog. The antibacterial activity shows that the Gt F2 fraction and the water-acetone extract produced the greatest inhibitions. The water, water-ethanol and water-acetone extracts exhibited bactericidal effects on the majority of bacteria. In the case of trapping of the DPPH radical, the IC50 values varied from 6.92 ± 0.48 to 16.64 ± 0.20 μg/mL. For the decolouration of ABTS, oxidation was mainly inhibited by the water-acetetone, water-ethanol extracts and some fractions. The water and water-acetone extracts showed good inhibition of denaturation. The hemolysis test confirmed the good activities of the extracts. The lethal test showed that the LC50 drops from 171.37 ± 9.25 to 58.25 ± 7.21 μg/mL after 24 and 96 h of exposure. In tadpoles exposed to 7.81 μg / mL of extracts, the first mortalities (12.5%) were observed on the second day of exposure. From the ninth day, the mortality rate increased (25%) until the 16th day. Our results show that Guibourtia tessmanii may be a promising product for the isolations of molecules responsible for biological activities.
Association between electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) device and E-liquid alterations and flavor use with clinical and EVALI-like symptoms

Abstract Studies reporting clinical symptoms related to electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) usage, especially types of devices and e-liquids, are sparse. The sample included 1,432 current ENDS users, ages 18–64, from a nationwide online survey conducted in 2016. ENDS use included device types, nicotine content, flavors, and e-liquid used. Outcomes included any e-cigarette, or vaping, product use-associated lung injury (EVALI)-like symptoms (e.g., cough, shortness of breath, nausea) as well as any clinical symptoms. Of the sample, 50% were female, 23% non-Hispanic (NH) White, 23% NH Black, 54% Hispanic, 18% aged 18–24, 17% LGBTQ, 41% with
Win-Win Capacity Allocation Contracts In Co-Production and Co-Distribution Alliances

In some strategic alliances, a firm shares its manufacturing capacity with another, and the latter shares its distribution capacity with the former. Even though such bidirectional alliances have become common, they remain challenging to manage due to the frequent disputes over capacity allocation especially when demand is uncertain. In this paper, we investigate whether there exists a contractual mechanism that can mitigate the extent of these disputes while improving the profits of all participating firms. We consider two types of bidirectional contracts, namely, the ex-post transfer payment contract and the ex-ante capacity reservation contract. By modeling the capacity allocation and the bidirectional contract design as a multi-stage game between two firms with non-competing product lines, we show that, relative to a situation where capacity allocation is freely negotiated, either contract can improve the alliance’s total profit in equilibrium. In terms of distribution of the total surplus, we find that capacity reservation contracts always make both firms better off, whereas ex-post transfer payment contracts may make one firm worse off. Hence, capacity reservation contracts are more likely to be implemented in practice in such co-production and co-distribution alliances.
Backward uniqueness for solutions of linear parabolic equations

We address the backward uniqueness property for the equation u t - Δu = w j ∂ j u + vu in R x (T 0 ,0]. We show that under rather general conditions on v and w, u| t=0 = 0 implies that u vanishes to infinite order for all points (x,0). It follows that the backward uniqueness holds if w = 0 and v ∈ L∞([0,T 0 ], L p (R n )) when p > n/2. The borderline case p = n/2 is also covered with an additional continuity and smallness assumption.
Charge form factor and vacuum polarization corrections to the μ- rate in3He

The form factor analysis by Schiff of electron-tri-nucleon scattering data and the dipole nucleon form factors are used to obtain the charge density function for3He. This is employed, along with the vacuum polarization contribution, to calculate a reliable finite size correction to μ−-meson capture rates in3He. We find a reduction of 3.43% from the commonly used value for the muon density inside the nucleus calculated from the nonrelativistic wave function for a point charge. Incorporation of the present corrections into previous theoretical μ− analyses leads to strengthening of Oakes’ conclusion on the preference of the Irving over the Irving-Gunn form of the three-nucleon wave function and brings one of the induced tensor coupling constant values found by Bietti into agreement with the recent work of Fearing which yieldedgT(ω)≳35gv(ω).
Using Computer Simulation to Understand Mutation Accumulation Dynamics and Genetic Load

Long-standing theoretical concerns about mutation accumulation within the human population can now be addressed with numerical simulation. We apply a biologically realistic forward-time population genetics program to study human mutation accumulation under a wide-range of circumstances. Using realistic estimates for the relevant biological parameters, we investigate the rate of mutation accumulation, the distribution of the fitness effects of the accumulating mutations, and the overall effect on mean genotypic fitness. Our numerical simulations consistently show that deleterious mutations accumulate linearly across a large portion of the relevant parameter space. This appears to be primarily due to the predominance of nearly-neutral mutations. The problem of mutation accumulation becomes severe when mutation rates are high. Numerical simulations strongly support earlier theoretical and mathematical studies indicating that human mutation accumulation is a serious concern. Our simulations indicate that reduction of mutation rate is the most effective means for addressing this problem.
Serious falls in hospitalized patients: correlates and resource utilization

PURPOSE : To evaluate the correlates of serious falls in hospitalized patients and the resource utilization associated with such falls. PATIENTS AND METHODS : This retrospective case-control study was performed in an urban tertiary care hospital. The 62 cases included all inpatients with available charts who were reported as having fallen with a resulting fracture (n = 22), dislocation (n = 1), or laceration or hematoma (n = 39) after being admitted between January 1987 and March 1991. The 62 controls were matched by date of hospitalization (within 3 months), age (within 5 years), gender, and length of stay up to the time of the fall. RESULTS : Univariate correlates of falls (P <0.05) included severity of underlying disease, Charlson comorbidity score, and Confusion Assessment Method (CAM) score. In multivariate conditional logistic regression analyses, only the Charlson index (P <0.006) and the CAM score (P <0.03) were independent correlates of a fall. Exposure to any of a number of drugs did not predict falls, but the power to detect drug effects was limited. A combination of the Charlson comorbidity and CAM scores identified a population at substantially increased risk of fall, including 50% (31/62) of fallers, versus 16% (10/62) of controls (odds ratio 5.2 ; 95% confidence interval, 2.4 to 12). In multivariate analyses, falls were also independently correlated with increases in length of stay (P <0.004) and total charges (P <0.008). Fallers stayed 12 days longer and had charges $4,233 higher than controls, after adjustment for potential clinical and nonclinical confounders. CONCLUSION : Falls during hospitalization are commoner in confused patients and those with greater comorbidity. This profile differs from that of fallers in the community, probably because hospitalized patients are sicker. Injurious falls are associated with substantially increased resource utilization.
Aiming for the theoretical limit of sensitivity of Bonse-Hart USANS instruments

The basis of the Double-Crystal Diffractometer (DCD), used for ultra-small angle neutron scattering (USANS), is that the reflectivity function is very near 1.0 for |y| 1, eventually decreasing as y −2. In the Bonse-Hart multi-bounce crystal the reflectivity function R(y) transforms into Rm(y) and in the wings, for large |y|, theoretically decreases as y−2m after m consecutive Bragg reflections inside the channel-cut crystal. Here θ and θB are respectively the diffraction angle and the Bragg angle (for given wavelength) and δΘD is the width of the Darwin plateau. However, the experimental reflectivity Rmexp(y) obtained for m = 3 exceeds the theoretical prediction by over two orders of magnitude in the range of the far wings, which creates limitations for USANS studies of weakly scattering objects. We used the pulsed-source neutron time-of-flight (TOF) technique to study this discrepancy in more detail. Two identical Si(111) crystals, a slab-shaped single-bounce and a channel-cut triple-bounce, were measured at the nominal Bragg angle θB = 24.4o in the TOF powder diffractometer GPPD at IPNS, in the range 0.2 < λ < 4.0 A of the first seven Bragg reflections from Si(111) family. Cadmium shielding protected the detectors from view of the first-bounce crystal. The experimental data obtained from the single-bounce crystal shows thermal diffuse (phonon) scattering (TDS) filling the region between the Bragg reflections, and exhibiting the symmetry of the reciprocal lattice. With appropriate shielding installed, the triple-bounce Bragg reflections, in contrast, are TDS-free in the range 0.6 < λ < 3.0 A; however, the intensity of TDS grows in the range λ < 0.5 A, reaching the level of TDS registered for the single-bounce reflections (777) and (888). The growth of TDS correlates with the increase of the Cd transmission T(λ) in the range 0.2 < λ < 0.5 A, which in the vicinity of (888) reflection is T(λ) ≈ 0.9. Therefore, the Cd shielding of the triple-bounce crystal becomes ineffective and the parasitic single-bounce back-face reflection and TDS, blocked for 0.5 < λ < 3.0 A, reappear for λ< 0.5 A. It is practically impossible to separate this parasitic scattering from the triple-bounce reflection at steady state neutron beam lines except by the use of highly curved neutron guides. However, the TOF-USANS instrument, which is currently under construction at SNS, allows separation of the orders of Bragg reflections and the residual TDS in time-of-flight and thus the discovered parasitic effect cannot compromise its sensitivity. Thus, we expect to approach the theoretical limit of sensitivity for the SNS TOF-USANS instrument.
Analytic solution of the cavity model for interstitial impurities in semiconductors

An analytic solution of the problem of a hydrogenic atom in a homogeneous dielectric medium with a concentric spherical cavity (cavity model) is presented. This soluble model has the virtue that it exhibits the shallow-deep instability of impurity levels in semiconductors as a function of the impurity ion charge $\mathrm{Ze}$ and the cavity radius. The shallow-deep instability involves a transition from large orbitals in the dielectric medium to small orbitals in the cavity, with the cavity being analogous to an interstitial site in a crystal lattice. The shallow-deep instability is illustrated graphically. Our solution indicates that interstitial fractional charge impurities like quarks could give rise to shallow electronic impurity levels in silicon and germanium while the known electronic ground states associated with interstitial protons and antimuons (treated by Wang and Kittel) in these semiconductors are deep.
Behavior of Brushless Aircraft Generating Systems

This paper develops in considerable detail the physical picture of the behavior of brushless aircraft generating systems both in the steady state and in the transient state. It describes the little-known phenomenon of exciter-rectifier operation in three distinct modes, defines commutating reactance in terms of exciter machine paramaters, and provides data for calculating system performance.
Effects of unrestricted motion on healing: a study of posttraumatic adhesions in primate tendons.

The effects of unrestricted motion on the surfaces of injured, healing tissue are largely speculative. To study this phenomenon, a new model employing 54 primate tendons and stereomorphometric image analysis was used to quantitate adhesion volume after a standardized surface injury. Three randomized
A novel boundary element may facilitate independent gene regulation in the Antennapedia complex of Drosophila.

The intrinsic enhancer–promoter specificity and chromatin boundary/insulator function are two general mechanisms that govern enhancer trafficking in complex genetic loci. They have been shown to contribute to gene regulation in the homeotic gene complexes from fly to mouse. The regulatory region of the Scr gene in the Drosophila Antennapedia complex is interrupted by the neighboring ftz transcription unit, yet both genes are specifically activated by their respective enhancers from such juxtaposed positions. We identified a novel insulator, SF1, in the Scr–ftz intergenic region that restricts promoter selection by the ftz-distal enhancer in transgenic embryos. The enhancer-blocking activity of the full-length SF1, observed in both embryo and adult, is orientation- and enhancer-independent. The core region of the insulator, which contains a cluster of GAGA sites essential for its activity, is highly conserved among other Drosophila species. SF1 may be a member of a conserved family of chromatin boundaries/insulators in the HOM/Hox complexes and may facilitate the independent regulation of the neighboring Scr and ftz genes, by insulating the evolutionarily mobile ftz transcription unit.
Piezoelectric scanning mirrors for endoscopic optical coherence tomography

A novel piezoelectric scanning mirror design for endoscopic optical coherence tomography (OCT) is presented. OCT is an interferometric technique providing microscopic tomographic sectioning of biological samples with mm-range penetration capability in tissue and is suited for integration with endoscopes using fiber-based light delivery to the sample. The piezoelectric scanning mirror was designed to provide wide-range rapid forwarding-looking scanning of the optical beam at the distal end of a compact catheter. The optical scanner provides a large ratio of mirror aperture to device size with rectangular mirror sizes ranging from 600 µm × 840 µm to 840 µm × 1600 µm. Static angular displacements up to ±7° (mechanical angle) were demonstrated and resonance frequencies of hundreds of Hz (and up to 1–2 kHz) were measured, depending on the mirror size. The imaging capability of the piezoelectric scanner was demonstrated using a bench-top spectrometer-based Fourier-domain OCT system.
Examining Sexual Orientation Disparities in Unmet Medical Needs among Men and Women.

Using the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (N = 13,810), this study examines disparities in unmet medical needs by sexual orientation identity during young adulthood. We use binary logistic regression and expand Andersen’s health care utilization framework to identify factors that shape disparities in unmet medical needs by sexual orientation. We also investigate whether the well-established gender disparity in health-seeking behaviors among heterosexual persons holds for sexual minorities. The results show that sexual minority women are more likely to report unmet medical needs than heterosexual women, but no differences are found between sexual minority and heterosexual men. Moreover, we find a reversal in the gender disparity between heterosexual and sexual minority populations: heterosexual women are less likely to report unmet medical needs than heterosexual men, whereas sexual minority women are more likely to report unmet medical needs compared to sexual minority men. Finally, this work advances Andersen’s model by articulating the importance of including social psychological factors for reducing disparities in unmet medical needs by sexual orientation for women.
Stationary Eddies and the Zonal Asymmetry of Net Precipitation and Ocean Freshwater Forcing

Transport of water vapor in the atmosphere generates substantial spatial variability of net precipitation (precipitation minus evaporation). Over half of the total spatial variability in annual-mean net precipitation is accounted for by deviations from the zonal mean. Over land, these regional differences determine differences in surface water availability. Over oceans, they account, for example, for the Pacific–Atlantic difference in sea surface salinity, with implications for the deep overturning circulation. This study analyzes the atmospheric-water budget in reanalyses from ERA-Interim and MERRA, to investigate which physical balances lead to zonal variation in net precipitation. It is found that the leading-order contribution is zonal variation in stationary-eddy vertical motion. Transient eddies modify the pattern of zonally anomalous net precipitation by moving moisture from the subtropical and tropical oceans onto land and poleward across the Northern Hemisphere storm tracks. Zonal variation in specific humidity and stationary-eddy horizontal advection play a secondary role. The dynamics leading to net precipitation via vertical motion in stationary eddies can be understood from a lower-tropospheric vorticity budget. The large-scale variations of vertical motion are primarily described by Sverdrup balance and Ekman pumping, with some modification by transient eddies. These results suggest that it is important to understand changes in stationary eddies and their influence on the zonal variation of transient eddy fluxes, in order to understand regional changes in net precipitation. They highlight the relative importance of different atmospheric mechanisms for the freshwater forcing of the North Pacific and North Atlantic.
Eye Tracking Metrics: A Toolbox for Assessing the Effects of Clutter on Attention Allocation:

Display clutter is a problem that affects operators in various data-rich environments. Clutter measurement techniques such as image processing and performance measures can provide an estimate of clutter but are largely not suited to tracing the effects of clutter on the dynamic allocation of attention. Eye tracking is a promising process-oriented tool that can help assess in real-time the attentional costs associated with the different aspects of clutter. In this experiment, we investigated which of a number of eye tracking metrics in the literature are sensitive to clutter. Twenty-two participants were asked to look for a target in static and dynamic images that were classified as either high or low in clutter. Response time and error rate were recorded, and an eye tracker was used to compute the identified eye tracking metrics. Results showed that, in both the static and dynamic conditions, a large number of eye tracking metrics were significantly affected by an increase in clutter. This suggests that e...
A proposed basis for delusion formation within an information-processing model of paranoid development.

A developmental model for paranoid behaviour is proposed within a broader theory of schizophrenic development. The model stipulates that given exposure to sustained aversive maternal control and a maternal communication style which is subtle and devious, the child comes to adapt with approach, stratagem-based behaviours and heightened vigilance for evaluative information (i.e. open adaptive style). The model, already supported empirically at several points, postulates that the delusion serves to organize an overextended and disorganized information-processing system for the person and generates its reinforcement from reduction of the anxiety associated with thought disorganization. The present study tested an aspect of this postulate. It was predicted that late-adolescent males who had an open style of adapting to experienced aversive maternal control would find the organization of disorganized evaluative cues uniquely reinforcing. Subjects were presented with an anagrams task made up of scrambled words which they were told came from a poll of mothers asked to evaluate their college-age sons. This task was followed by the individual tachistoscopic and slightly unfocused presentation of a longer series of words, again described as maternal evaluative terms. The longer series comprised the words used in the anagrams task and an equal number which were not. Reinforcement value of proper ordering of disorganized cues was inferred from the subject's heightened ability to detect previously solved anagram terms, indicating stronger learning of these terms upon prior solution. Males identified as open-style adapters were far more cognizant of words which they had previously ordered than other child-rearing groups, as predicted.
318 HYDROXYACIDS AND ANGIOGENESIS: POTENTIAL ROLE IN THE RETINOPATHY OF PREMATURITY (ROP)

Recent studies have suggested that hypoxemia may worsen ROP in humans and retinal neovascularization in the animal model. We have shown previously that the hydroxy acids (HETES) can modulate angiogenesis. 15-HETE was observed to be proangiogenic, while 12-HETE was inhibitory to this process. We report that 15 HETE is present in human vessels, and that this proangiogenic metabolite is increased following in vitro hypoxia. When human umbilical arterial microsomes were incubated with 14C Arachidonic Acid (AA) 3 HETES were observed. Two of the HPLC purified metabolites were confirmed by GC-MS to be 11- and 15-HETE. In 7 further experiments, paired umbilical arterial segments were subjected to air bubbling (control) or to bubbling with a 95% N2-5% CO2 gas mixture (hypoxia) for 20′. Microsomes were prepared, incubated with 5μM14C AA, extracted, plated and analyzed by TLC in a solvent system to separate HETES. Hypoxia enhanced the production of total vascular HETES (231±36, 1SE, pmol per mg protein) compared to control values of 168±31 (p<0.01). The increase in vascular 15-HETE under hypoxic conditions was even more significant (36±6 control vs 50±6 post hypoxia; p<0.001). Platelet production of antiangiogenic 12-HETE on the other hand was not affected by hypoxia (55.3±5.1 vs 52.1±5.7 pmol per 108 plts). These in vitro observations suggest a possible biochemical basis for the abnormal angigenic process that occurs during the proliferative phase of ROP i.e. an increase in the levels of proangiogenic 15-HETE.
Infrared aircraft spectra over desert terrain 8.5 mu to 16 mu.

IR spectra taken over desert by aircraft, showing attenuation of upwelling radiation by atmospheric gases and haze
Cytosine DNA methylation influences drug resistance in Escherichia coli through increased sugE expression.

Escherichia coli K-12 strains contain the orphan cytosine-5 DNA methyltransferase enzyme Dcm (DNA cytosine methyltransferase). Two recent reports indicate that Dcm has an influence on stationary phase gene expression in E. coli. Herein, we demonstrate that dcm knockout cells overexpress the drug resistance transporter SugE, which has been linked to ethidium bromide (ETBR) resistance. SugE expression also increased in the presence of the DNA methylation inhibitor 5-azacytidine, suggesting that Dcm-mediated DNA methylation normally represses sugE expression. The effect of Dcm on sugE expression is primarily restricted to early stationary phase, and RpoS is required for robust sugE expression. Dcm knockout cells are more resistant to ETBR than wild-type cells, and complementation with a plasmid-borne dcm gene restores ETBR sensitivity. SugE knockout cells are more sensitive to ETBR than wild-type cells. These data indicate that Dcm influences the sensitivity to an antimicrobial compound through changes in gene expression.
The criticality of component forming and tinning in a high‐reliability low‐volume facility

Dealing with forming and tinning in a low‐volume high‐reliability environment is a never‐ending challenge. This process is one of the most critical steps in SMT fabrication. The effects of forming and tinning contribute to a majority of the defects found at final inspection. The intention of this paper is to describe in detail the forming and tinning process and all that it entails. The topics include: forming, tinning, converting to an automated process, process control techniques, and statistical process capability.
Comparison of the triple-deck theory, interactive boundary layer method, and navier-stokes computation for marginal separation

The steady two-dimensional marginal separation of an incompressible boundary layer flow within a channel was solved independently by three different methods: the triple-deck methods of marginal separation, the interactive boundary layer method, and the full Navier-Stokes computation. From comparison of the results between these three methods, the accuracy and appropriateness of each method was determined. The critical condition beyond which the steady marginal separation solution of triple-deck method does not exist was related to a physical phenomenon in which the separation bubble becomes unsteady. Factors such as Reynolds number and pressure gradient distribution which might influence the accuracy of the marginal separation solution were also investigated.
Sodium, Potassium and Magnesium Balance During Recovery from Congestive Heart Failure due to Cor Pulmonale and Other Heart Diseases

Five cases of congestive failure due to varied causes were studied metabolically during recovery. The cases of cor pulmonale showed changes in cations and osmotically active base, similar to changes in heart failure due to other causes. A difference in the movement of water was noted between three of the present cases and the usual case of congestive heart failure.
Triblock-Copolymer-Directed Syntheses of Large-Pore Mesoporous Silica Fibers

Mesoporous silica fibers with accessible, highly ordered large periodic pores are directly drawn from a highly viscous surfactant/silicate solution. Poly(ethylene oxide)-b-poly(propylene oxide)-b-poly(ethylene oxide) triblock copolymers are used as the structure-directing agents under acidic conditions during the syntheses. These fibers have uniform exterior diameters of submicron to several hundred micron and no apparent limit on aspect ratios. They are made up of either supercage arrays or 2-dimensional channel arrays with pore sizes as large as 63 A.
Force maintenance in smooth muscle: analysis using sinusoidal perturbations

The "latch state" or force maintenance may be due to the emergence of a distinct set of dephosphorylated, slowly cycling "latch" cross-bridges, slowing of the overall cross-bridge cycling rate, or a non-cross-bridge contribution. This was investigated by sinusoidally oscillating strips of intact rabbit portal vein or aorta. Tissue strips were activated with KCl depolarization, resulting in a sustained increase of MLC(20) phosphorylation or 10 microM phenylephrine, resulting in a transient increase in MLC(20) phosphorylation. Stiffness was calculated from the force response to a small, sine-wave oscillation in muscle length (1-100 Hz). The results produced a 3-dimensional plot of stiffness versus the frequency of oscillation (Hz) versus time (s), or stiffness distribution profile. During KCl depolarization, the stiffness distribution profile displayed a shift toward lower frequencies, suggesting a general slowing in the overall cross-bridge cycling rate during force maintenance. On the other hand, phenylephrine stimulation did not display a significant change in the stiffness distribution profile, suggesting that the overall cross-bridge cycling rate did not significantly change during force maintenance.
Infant incubators and radiant warmers

Incubators and radiant warmers are used to maintain the body temperature of newborn infants. This is best done so that the energy expended for metabolic heat production is minimized. The heat output of these devices is usually regulated by servocontrol to keep the skin temperature constant at a site on the abdomen where a thermistor probe is attached. In incubators, air temperature can also be controlled as an alternative to skin temperature servocontrol. Increased ambient humidity, heat shields and clothing have been used to decrease the evaporative or nonevaporative heat loss of infants in incubators under certain conditions. Double-walled incubators, by adding a second inner layer of Plexiglas, reduce radiant heat loss. They may also reduce total heat loss, but only if air temperature is controlled rather than skin temperature. The minimal oxygen consumption under a radiant warmer is the same or perhaps slightly higher than it is for the same infant in an incubator. Compared with incubators, the partition of body heat loss is quite different under radiant warmers. Radiant warmers increase convective and evaporative heat loss and insensible water loss but eliminate radiant heat loss or change it to net gain. A heat shield of thin polyethylene film can be used with a radiant warmer to reduce heat loss by convection and evaporation. The major advantage of the radiant warmer is the easy access it provides to critically-ill infants without disturbing the thermal environment. Its major disadvantage is the increase in insensible water loss produced by the radiant warmer. Most infants can be safely and adequately cared for in either incubator or radiant warmer bed.
Synergistic Embryotoxicity of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor Agonists with Cytochrome P4501A Inhibitors in Fundulus heteroclitus

Widespread contamination of aquatic systems with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) has led to concern about effects of PAHs on aquatic life. Some PAHs have been shown to cause deformities in early life stages of fish that resemble those elicited by planar halogenated aromatic hydrocarbons (pHAHs) that are agonists for the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR). Previous studies have suggested that activity of cytochrome P4501A, a member of the AHR gene battery, is important to the toxicity of pHAHs, and inhibition of CYP1A can reduce the early-life-stage toxicity of pHAHs. In light of the effects of CYP1A inhibition on pHAH-derived toxicity, we explored the impact of both model and environmentally relevant CYP1A inhibitors on PAH-derived embryotoxicity. We exposed Fundulus heteroclitus embryos to two PAH-type AHR agonists, ss-naphthoflavone and benzo(a)pyrene, and one pHAH-type AHR agonist, 3,3 ,4,4 ,5-pentachlorobiphenyl (PCB-126), alone and in combination with several CYP1A inhibitors. In agreement with previous studies, coexposure of embryos to PCB-126 with the AHR antagonist and CYP1A inhibitor alpha-naphthoflavone decreased frequency and severity of deformities compared with embryos exposed to PCB-126 alone. In contrast, embryos coexposed to the PAHs with each of the CYP1A inhibitors tested were deformed with increased severity and frequency compared with embryos dosed with PAH alone. The mechanism by which inhibition of CYP1A increased embryotoxicity of the PAHs tested is not understood, but these results may be helpful in elucidating mechanisms by which PAHs are embryotoxic. Additionally, these results call into question additive models of PAH embryotoxicity for environmental PAH mixtures that contain both AHR agonists and CYP1A inhibitors.