cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Finite-size scaling and boundary effects in two-dimensional valence-bond solids

Various lattice geometries and boundary conditions are used to investigate valence-bond-solid (VBS) ordering in the ground state of an $S=1/2$ square-lattice quantum spin model---the $J$-$Q$ model, in which four- or six-spin interactions $Q$ are added to the standard Heisenberg exchange $J$. Ground-state results for finite systems (with up to thousands of spins) are obtained using an unbiased projector quantum Monte Carlo method. It is found that great care has to be taken when extrapolating the order parameter to infinite lattice size, in particular, in cylinder geometry. Even though strong VBS order exists in two dimensions, and is established clearly with increasing system size on $L\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}L$ lattices (or ${L}_{x}\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{L}_{y}$ lattices with a fixed aspect ratio ${L}_{x}/{L}_{y}$ of order 1), only short-range VBS correlations are observed on long cylinders (when ${L}_{x}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}\ensuremath{\infty}$ at fixed ${L}_{y}$). The correlation length increases with the cylinder width, until long-range order sets in at a ``critical'' width. This width is very large even when the 2D order is relatively strong. For example, for a system in which the order parameter is $70%$ of the largest possible value, ${L}_{y}=8$ is required for ordering. Extrapolations of the VBS order parameter based on correlation functions (the square of the order parameter) for small $L\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}L$ lattices can also be misleading. For a $20%$-ordered system, results for $L$ up to $\ensuremath{\approx}$20 appear to extrapolate clearly to a vanishing order parameter, while for larger lattices the scaling behavior crosses over and extrapolates to a nonzero value (with exponentially small finite-size corrections). The VBS order parameter also exhibits interesting edge effects related the known emergent U(1) symmetry close to a ``deconfined'' critical point, which, if not considered properly, can lead to wrong conclusions for the thermodynamic limit. The observed finite-size behavior for small $L\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}L$ lattices and long cylinders is very similar to that predicted for a ${Z}_{2}$ spin liquid. The results therefore raise concerns about recent numerical work claiming ${Z}_{2}$ spin-liquid ground states in 2D frustrated quantum spin systems, in particular, the Heisenberg model with nearest and next-nearest-neighbor couplings. Based on the results presented so far, a VBS state in this system cannot be ruled out.
A note on the generality of source‐credibility scales

(1967). A note on the generality of source‐credibility scales. Speech Monographs: Vol. 34, No. 2, pp. 185-186.
Ionic-strength dependence of the conformational change in the unphosphorylated sodium pump.

The conformational change in the unphosphorylated sodium pump was studied as a function of ionic strength to learn whether the rate of the reaction is affected. The results corroborate our proposal [Smirnova, I. N., Lin, S.-H., and Faller, L. D. (1995) Biochemistry 34, 8657-8667] that competitive binding of the transported ions to two (or more) equivalent sites regulates a concerted change in protein conformation. An approximately 10-fold increase in ionic strength decreased the intrinsic affinity of the Na + conformation of the enzyme for both Na + and K + roughly 3-fold, decreased the rate of the change from Na + to K + conformation by more than half, and increased the rate of the reverse reaction by about an order of magnitude. The logarithm of the first-order rate constant for the change from Na + to K + conformation depended inversely upon the square root of the ionic strength with the extrapolated value at zero ionic strength expressed as a second-order rate constant (1.1 x 10 9 M - 1 sec - 1 ) approaching the limit for a diffusion-controlled reaction. The first-order rate constant for the change from K + to Na + conformation depended directly upon ionic strength and extrapolated to a zero-ionic-strength value (0.002 s - 1 ) far below the diffusion limit. The results are compatible with shielding of oppositely charged domains that move through the solvent when the pump cycles between conformations. Electrostatic interactions between domains evidently contribute to the driving force for the change from Na + to K + conformation and to the stability of the K + conformation.
Colonoscopic Screening in Average-Risk Individuals Ages 40 to 49 vs 50 to 59 Years

Background & Aims: Screening guidelines for colorectal cancer include colonoscopy starting at age 50 years based on the prevalence of adenomas and the incidence of colon cancer at that age. However, only one prior study has investigated the prevalence of colorectal neoplasia with colonoscopic screening in asymptomatic average-risk individuals ages 40–49 years in the United States. Methods: We analyzed the results of screening colonoscopies offered to patients of a health care provider that offers screening services as part of an employer-provided wellness program. The primary end points were prevalence of adenomas and cancers for those aged 40–49 years vs those 50–59 years. Results: We analyzed 553 screening colonoscopies for patients ages 40–49 years and 352 screening colonoscopies for patients ages 50–59 years. In the 40–49 years age group, 79 patients (14%) had 1 or more adenomas, of which 11 (2% of screened) had an advanced neoplasm (>1 cm). In the 50–59 years age group, 56 patients (16%) had 1 or more adenomas detected. Of those patients, 13 (3.7% of screened) had an advanced neoplasm, and 1 patient (0.3%) had an adenocarcinoma detected. Conclusions: We found on colonoscopic screening that the prevalence of total adenomas was similar in individuals ages 40–49 and in those 50–59 years, although the prevalence of advanced neoplasia in the 50–59 years age group may be higher than that in the 40–49 years age group.
Women Parolees’ Perceptions of Parole Experiences and Parole Officers

During the last decade, the number of individuals reentering communities as parolees has substantially increased as a result of the growth in the U.S. prison population. Consequently, research on prisoner reentry has also increased. The current study, a qualitative analysis using face to face interviews, examines the parole experiences of 60 women parolees in a Southern state. The women parolees served an average of 7.5 years in a state prison and had been on parole 1–5 years prior to the interviews. The in-depth face to face interviews explored women parolees’ narratives of the challenges encountered in monthly parole reporting, perceptions of parole officers, and the strategies used to sustain their freedom in the community. The women parolees’ narratives were used to illustrate their views of themselves and their experiences as parolees. They identified several critical factors in meeting their monthly parole obligations: transportation, monthly supervision fees, urinalysis tests, staying away from drugs, and positive rapport with their assigned parole officer. Women perceived their status as parolees as a way to hold them accountable for daily decisions and life choices.
Fish Assemblages in Oxbow Lakes Relative to Connectivity with the Mississippi River

Abstract The alluvial valley of the lower Mississippi River contains hundreds of fluvial lakes that are periodically connected to the river during high water, although the frequency, duration, and timing of the connections vary. To help design plans to restore and preserve fish assemblages in these alluvial lakes, this investigation tested whether predictable patterns in lake fish assemblages were linked to the level of connectivity with the river. Results suggested that connectivity played an important role in structuring fish assemblages and that it was correlated with variables such as lake size, depth, distance from the river, and age, which exhibit a continuum of predictable features as the river migrates away from abandoned channels. Annual floods homogenize the floodplain and promote connectivity to various degrees, allowing for fish exchanges between river and floodplain that directly affect fish assemblages. The major physical changes linked to reduced connectivity are loss of depth and area, whi...
A Thinking and Doing Model of Competency-Based Education

A review of literature suggests that systems analysis is the foundation upon which current efforts in competency-based education (CBE) are built. The author merges into a model what various writers have put forth as refinements to systematic instructional design and development and his own practical experience on what will or will not work. The model consists of four phases: 1) competency identification, 2) overall design, 3) production, and 4) evaluation. Each phase is broken into a series of steps for thinking and doing. The model provides flexibility by being subject to many different orderings of efforts due to prior accomplishments and/or lack of resources.
Landscapes in transition

The Changing Earth: Rates of Geo-morphological Processes. By Andrew Goudie. Blackwell: 1995. Pp. 302. £65, $74.95 (hbk); £19.99, $29.95 (pbk).
Depression as a predictor for coronary heart disease. a review and meta-analysis

Abstract Objective: To review and quantify the impact of depression on the development of coronary heart disease (CHD) in initially healthy subjects. Data sources: Cohort studies on depression and CHD were searched in MEDLINE (1966–2000) and PSYCHINFO (1887–2000), bibliographies, expert consultation, and personal reference files. Data selection: Cohort studies with clinical depression or depressive mood as the exposure, and myocardial infarction or coronary death as the outcome. Data extraction: Information on study design, sample size and characteristics, assessment of depression, outcome, number of cases, crude and most-adjusted relative risks, and variables used in multivariate adjustments were abstracted. Data synthesis: Eleven studies met the inclusion criteria. The overall relative risk [RR] for the development of CHD in depressed subjects was 1.64 (95% confidence interval [CI]=1.29–2.08, p p p =0.02). Conclusion: It is concluded that depression predicts the development of CHD in initially healthy people. The stronger effect size for clinical depression compared to depressive mood points out that there might be a dose-response relationship between depression and CHD. Implications of the findings for a broader bio-psycho-social framework are discussed.
Nanosecond Pulse Near-Field Sensing Based Non-Contact Physiological Signals Measurement

Clinically, basic physiological signal measurement, such as cardiovascular vibration and respiration motion detection, reveals important vital information of clinical diagnosis or personal health status evaluation. In routine, there are many preferable non-invasive methods, including electrocardiogram (ECG), pressure-sensitive transducers and applanation tonometry, to get insight of the sign of life. However, the operation of traditional monitors is relied on professionals’ experience, and also the sensing probes needed to contact to the user’s skin directly. The measurement procedure is easy to cause inconvenient and uncomfortable. To improve the issues of these measuring techniques, the non-contact and non-invasive measuring method will become an important innovation. In this paper, the novel nanosecond pulse near-field sensing (NPNS) based screening technology, which includes radio frequency (RF) pulse transmission and a flat antenna connected to transceiver of miniature radar, is proposed to monitor physical activity inside body. A dedicate analysis software built in Smartphone is also provided to calculate desired parameters, including heart rate and breath rate, for clinical or common personal applications. To evaluate the performance, the proposed method was applied on motion measurement at the body site of chest. As a result, the proposed method is validated to perform the capability of continuously long-term monitoring to reveal cardiovascular information in real-time.
Characterization of a Nontoxic Monophosphoryl Lipid A

Gram-negative bacterial endotoxins constitute some of the strongest immunologic adjuvants known. Precluding their use as adjuvants in humans has been the exquisite toxicity of these compounds in extraordinarily small amounts. With the acquisition of precise knowledge of the structure of the active moiety, detoxifying procedures have been developed. These have resulted in the isolation of a monophosphoryl lipid A with a much reduced toxicity that retains the capacity to act as an adjuvant in young mice as well as in immunodeficient aging mice.
Cosmic censorship in two-dimensional gravity.

A weak version of the cosmic censorship hypothesis is implemented as a set of boundary conditions on exact semiclassical solutions of two-dimensional dilaton gravity. These boundary conditions reflect low-energy matter from the strong coupling region and they also serve to stabilize the vacuum of the theory against decay into negative energy states. Information about low-energy incoming matter can be recovered in the final state but at high energy black holes are formed and inevitably lead to information loss at the semiclassical level.
On the noniterative solution of integral equations for scattering of electromagnetic waves

The scattering of electromagnetic waves is considered using the integral equation form of Maxwell's equations for the electric field. These equations are analogous to but not identical to the Lippmann‐Schwinger equation in quantum mechanical scattering theory. A transformation procedure discovered by Drukarev (and independently by Sams and Kouri) is employed to obtain Volterra integral equations of the second kind for ``modified electric field functions.'' In deriving the Volterra equations, one is led by analogy with quantum mechanical scattering to define a ``Jost matrix'' associated with electromagnetic scattering. A simple quadrature procedure is suggested for obtaining numerical solutions to the Volterra integral equations.
Characteristics of vasopressin action on Na transport across the isolated toad skin.

Abstract 1. The characteristics of vasopressin action on the short circuit current (SCC) across the isolated skin of Bufo marinus has been studied. 2. Following addition of vasopressin to the inside bathing medium, the SCC increased to a peak value and then began to decay in the continuous presence of vasopressin. 3. The peak response increased linearly as a logarithmic function of vasopressin concentration over the range of 0.25 (the lowest effective concentration) to 50 mU/ml at which a maximal response was observed. The rate of decay was proportional to the height of peak response. 4. The skin remained refractory to a second dose of vasopressin during 2 hr after removal of the first dose from the medium. 5. Neither the height of peak response to vasopressin nor the rate of decay was affected by glucose, pyruvate or β -hydroxybutyrate added to the medium.
A comparative kinetics study between Cu/SSZ-13 and Fe/SSZ-13 SCR catalysts

Abstract Cu- and Fe/SSZ-13 catalysts with the same Cu(Fe)/Al ratios are synthesized using the same parent SSZ-13 starting material. The catalytic performance for both fresh and hydrothermally aged catalysts is tested with NO and NH3 oxidation, and standard SCR reactions under steady-state conditions, and standard and fast SCR under temperature-programmed conditions. For standard SCR, Cu/SSZ-13 shows much better low-temperature performance which can be explained by NH3-inhibition of Fe/SSZ-13. During hydrothermal aging, both catalysts undergo dealumination but Fe/SSZ-13 dealuminates more severely. For aged catalysts, Cu/SSZ-13 gains oxidation activities due to formation of CuOx. However, Fe/SSZ-13 loses oxidation activities although formation of FeOx clusters and FeAlOx species also occur. Because of such physical properties differences, aged Cu/SSZ-13 loses while Fe/SSZ-13 maintains high-temperature SCR selectivities. A physical mixture of aged catalysts provides stable SCR performance in a wide temperature range and is able to decrease N2O formation at high reaction temperatures. This suggests that Fe/SSZ-13 can be used as a cocatalyst for Cu/SSZ-13 for transportation applications. During temperature-programmed SCR reactions, weak hysteresis is found during standard SCR due to NH3 inhibition. For fast SCR, hysteresis caused by NH4NO3 inhibition is much more significant. NH4NO3 deposition is greatly enhanced by Bronsted and Lewis acidity of the catalysts.
RESPONSE STATISTICS OF OCEAN STRUCTURES TO NON-LINEAR HYDRODYNAMIC LOADING PART II: NON-GAUSSIAN OCEAN WAVES

Abstract In this second part, the response statistics of ocean elastic systems to non-linear hydrodynamic loading represented by a non-Gaussian random process are considered. The non-Gaussian process is generated from a non-linear filter excited by a white noise process. The filter non-linearity is represented by a gradient of a potential function where an exact closed form solution of the stationary probability density exists. The filter non-linearity is selected such that its response probability density function exhibits the skewness feature of ocean waves. In order to estimate the filter power spectrum, a joint probability density function of the filter response co-ordinates at two different times is derived using an orthogonal expansion technique together with the Fokker –Planck equation. This process yields a first order differential equation governing the time evolution of the filter response statistics. This equation forms an infinite hierarchy of coupled equations which are solved up to rank 10. The power spectra of the filter are obtained for different filter and excitation parameters. The response statistics of a linear elastic structure subjected to non-Gaussian non-linear hydrodynamic forces are determined using the stochastic averaging method and, alternatively, the orthogonal expansion method.
Combination of dexamethasone, high-dose cytarabine, and carboplatin is effective for advanced large-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma of childhood†

Background—To purpose of this study was to evaluate the activity and toxicity of dexamethasone, high-dose cytarabine, and carboplatin (DAC) combination therapy in children with newly diagnosed large-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) and to estimate the event-free and overall survival rates achieved when DAC is incorporated into a conventional regimen. Patients and Methods—From 1991 to 1997, 20 boys and 5 girls aged 4.2 to 17.7 years who had stage III (n=21) or stage IV (n=4) large-cell NHL were treated on this study. DAC therapy was administered at the beginning of the induction phase in 2 sequential cycles and incorporated throughout a continuation phase (modified from the ACOP+ regimen) with doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, vincristine and dexamethasone. The total duration of treatment was approximately 10 months. Results—DAC therapy yielded a response in 22 of 25 patients (88%, 95% CI 68%-97%): complete remission in 13 cases (52%) and partial response in 9 (36%). After additional treatment with doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, vincristine, and dexamethasone, complete remission was attained in 18 patients (72%) and partial remission in 3 (12%). The event-free survival rate (±SE) was 64% ± 9% and the overall survival rate was 80% ± 8% at 5 years.
On influence of fabric anisotropy on the stress-strain behavior of clays

Abstract Previous studies have confirmed that a clayey soil specimen that is highly anisotropic with respect to the orientation of particles may behave like an isotropic specimen with regard to its stress–strain behavior. The question of what then is responsible for the directional behavior observed for clayey soils has remained unresolved to date. Using a numerical method of assembly analysis technique, which is based on the discrete element method (DEM), it is shown here that it is the anisotropy of particle orientation at the cluster-to-cluster contacts that control the overall (macroscopic) stress–strain behavior, rather than the anisotropy of particle orientation for the entire assembly.
Helix contents of solutions of native and acid-denatured ferrihemoglobin and ferrimyoglobin.

Optical rotatory dispersion measurements have been performed on solutions of acid-denatured ferrihemoglobin and ferrimyoglobin in the wavelength region 226 to 660 m/ μ . The curves are compared with those of the native proteins ( Beychok & Blout, 1961 ). Acid denaturation results in (1) disappearance of the visible Cotton effects associated with the heme absorption bands, (2) increased negative rotations in the visible portion of the spectrum, (3) decrease in the rotatory dispersion parameter ( b 0 ) which characterizes helix content, and (4) a marked diminution in the intensity of the rotation trough at 233 mμ. In contrast to the native proteins which have helix contents of 75 to 80%, the denatured proteins show helix contents ranging from 10 to over 30%, depending on the conditions of denaturation, i.e. pH and ionic strength. The relationship between residual helix content and the reversal of denaturation is discussed. In addition, results of rate and extent of hydrogen→deuterium exchange of peptide hydrogens of the native and denatured forms of these proteins are presented. Estimates of percentage hard-to-exchange-amide-hydrogens (HEAH) are given and compared with estimates of helix content based on optical rotatory dispersion measurements.
Helpfulness and the Development of Competence in Adolescence

Using data from a representative panel of 1,000 Minnesota youth, this paper explores “helpfulness” in 2 spheres of adolescents' lives: the home and paid work settings. We examine the social structural conditions under which helpful behaviors are elicited, the interrelations of helpfulness and competence across 2 years of middle adolescence, and whether social circumstances moderate the effects of helpfulness on competence. Both boys' and girls' helpfulness in the home is responsive to family need. Furthermore, helpfulness at work and girls' competence are reciprocally related. We find evidence that the effects of helpfulness depend on the helper's motivations and the act's meaning, as shaped by the social context. Girls' competence is diminished by helpfulness in the home under conditions of poor father-daughter relationships and coercive maternal control.
Using “Internal Free Volume” to Increase Chromophore Alignment

Triptycenes have general applicability for increasing the alignment of fluorescent and dichroic dyes in LC hosts. Dyes containing varying numbers of triptycenes were synthesized to study the effect of free-volume alignment of triptycenes on the alignment of dyes. These dyes were designed such that multiple triptycenes could be incorporated and the triptycene-free volume is coincident to the aspect ratio of the dye, allowing a cooperative effect to increase their overall average alignment. With increasing triptycene incorporation, a stepwise increase in the alignment parameters of each dye was seen. It was also found that the attachment of one triptycene group has a negligible effect on the optical switching response times of the dyes. This can be a powerful tool for designing dyes with higher alignments for a variety of applications including guest−host reflective LCDs and holographic data storage.
Characterization of the Vacuolar Proton Pumps of the Cortex, Stele and Tip of Maize Roots: Effects of Salinity

Tonoplast and Golgi ATP-driven proton pumping was measured in membrane vesicles isolated from the cortex, stele and tip of maize roots. Two nitrate-sensitive peaks of tonoplast proton pumping were detected on sucrose gradients, a light peak at 16% sucrose, believed to represent small vacuoles, and a denser peak at 25% sucrose, possibly derived from large vacuoles. The nitrate-insensitive Golgi peak occurred at 31 % sucrose. Membrane preparations of the stele and tip were active in H+-transport activity and were rich in mitochondria. In contrast, the membranes of the cortex had low levels of both ATP-driven proton pumping and mitochondrial activities. Salinity caused a doubling of the tonoplast H+-transport activity of the tip and cortex, particularly in the 25 % sucrose peak. The enhancement of the 25 % peak by salinity was correlated with an increase in vacuolation of the tip. The stelar proton pumps were only slightly stimulated by salinity. The results indicate that the cortex of maize roots is deficient in the metabolic machinery needed for vacuolar solute accumulation, but that it shows some ability to adapt to saline conditions. The physiological implications of these findings are discussed.
A system for forecasting corporate-tax revenue based on fuzzy logic and fuzzy set theory

Abstract A system based on fuzzy set theory for forecasting the Florida corporate income tax revenue has been developed in response to several years of unsuccessful forecasts generated by conventional econometric methods. The system consists of two subsystems. The first utilizes time series of revenue and of the real per capita GNP. Both time series are transformed into trend vectors through the moving-average technique. Both vectors are divided into strings of growth patterns such as “accelerating growth,” “decelerating growth,” and “negative growth.” The system checks for several indications of systematic relationship between such strings in the GNP vector and the tax revenue vector. Based on that relationship, the forecast of the corporate tax revenues is generated in fuzzy terms, such as “very rapid growth,” “slightly negative growth,” etc. The fuzzy forecast from the first subsystem of the system constitutes input into the second subsystem, which in turn generates the range of forecasted revenue in millions of dollars. A control mechanism, which is built into the system, continuously checks forecasted rates of change in tax revenues against the actual throughout the history of the time series to make sure that the cumulative forecasting error will not reach an unacceptable magnitude.
Assessment and optimization of the interspace dose rate of the diagnostics equatorial port plug #3 in ITER with Attila

According to ITER integration procurement arrangements, the installment of diagnostics in a port should not increase the shutdown dose rate (SDDR) in the port interspace area by no more than ~50 microSv/hr above the baseline, assuming another 50 microSv/hr is attributed to contribution from the port structure and other ITER in-vessel components, such that the upper SDDR limit of 100 microSv/hr is not exceeded 106 s after shutdown. It was found that placing the initial design of the Motional Stark Effect, MSE, and the Charge Exchange Recombination Spectroscopy, CXRS, in the equatorial port #3 (EPP3) resulted in an increase in the SDDR that far exceeded the limit. When we follow the optimization process discussed in this paper, substantial reduction in the port interspace SDDR was achieved. The results of the present work show that even when we combine the optimized CXRS and MSE diagnostics with a third GDC diagnostic, the excess of the SDDR over the baseline value did not exceed the allowed upper limit. The present work is based on utilizing the 3-D CAD-based Attila code for assessing the SDDR.
On the NP-Hardness of Checking Matrix Polytope Stability and Continuous-Time Switching Stability

Motivated by questions in robust control and switched linear dynamical systems, we consider the problem checking whether all convex combinations of k matrices in Rntimesn are stable. In particular, we are interested whether there exist algorithms which can solve this problem in time polynomial in n and k. We show that if k=nd for any fixed real d > 0, then the problem is NP-hard, meaning that no polynomial-time algorithm in n exists provided that P ne NP, a widely believed conjecture in computer science. On the other hand, when k is a constant independent of n, then it is known that the problem may be solved in polynomial time in n. Using these results and the method of measurable switching rules, we prove our main statement: verifying the absolute asymptotic stability of a continuous-time switched linear system with more than nd matrices Ai isin Rntimesn satisfying 0 ges Ai + Ai T is NP-hard.
Modeling dermal exposure--an illustration for spray painting applications.

This article presents a conceptual, mathematical model of dermal exposure resulting from aerosol deposition on human forearm hair. The model is applicable to exposure scenarios where dermal deposition is governed by aerosol impaction, interception, and diffusion mechanisms. The model employs filtration theory, single fiber efficiency equations, and a modified potential airflow approximation. The results are extended, using previously published results, for application to dermal deposition on the forearm during spray painting. The average (N = 8) predicted dermal deposition of 1,6-hexamethylene diisocyanate as collected on a 10-cm 2 tape strip is 108.9 (± 70.3) pmol, whereas field measurements indicated an average of 168.6 (± 82.0) pmol per strip. The corresponding measured average dermal flux was 3.63 pg/cm 2 s (± 1.34); the prediction was 2.24 pg/cm 2 sec (± 1.25). The study calls attention to the importance of body hair both for modeling and measuring dermal exposures.
Enzymatic completion of mammalian lagging-strand DNA replication.

Abstract Using purified proteins from calf and a synthetic substrate, we have reconstituted the enzymatic reactions required for mammalian Okazaki fragment processing in vitro. The required reactions are removal of initiator RNA, synthesis from an upstream fragment to generate a nick, and then ligation. With our substrate, RNase H type I (RNase HI) makes a single cut in the initiator RNA, one nucleotide 5' of the RNA-DNA junction. The double strand specific 5' to 3' exonuclease removes the remaining monoribonucleotide. After dissociation of cleaved RNA, synthesis by DNA polymerase generates a nick, which is then sealed by DNA ligase I. The unique specificities of the two nucleases for primers with initiator RNA strongly suggest that they perform the same reactions in vivo.
Midcourse Space Experiment (MSX) satellite ultraviolet and visible background phenomenology

The Midcourse Space Experiment Satellite (MSX) has a suite of ultraviolet and visible imaging spectrographs and imagers that cover the wavelength range from 110 to 900 nm. The versatile pointing capability of the satellite allows observations in the earth limb and below the horizon with observations during the day and night. The wavelength resolution (1 - 3 nm) for the spectrographs and high spatial resolution in the filtered imagers allows experiments covering a multitude of background phenomenology issues. Experiments are designed to look at ultraviolet through the visible clutter issues for many different scene conditions in the earth limb and below the horizon. Hyperspectral images of terrain and ocean features for specific locations are in the planning stages specially at specific ground truth locations. Atmospheric emission sources during the day and night in different global locations. Atmospheric emission sources during the day and night in different global locations from the poles to the equator will be observed for both assessment of radiance and clutter issues as well as for input into atmospheric radiance models.
Homologous Association of Oppositely Imprinted Chromosomal Domains

Human chromosome 15q11-q13 encompasses the Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) and the Angelman syndrome (AS) loci, which are subject to parental imprinting, a process that marks the parental origin of certain chromosomal subregions. A temporal and spatial association between maternal and paternal chromosomes 15 was observed in human T lymphocytes by three-dimensional fluorescence in situ hybridization. This association occurred specifically at the imprinted 15q11-q13 regions only during the late S phase of the cell cycle. Cells from PWS and AS patients were deficient in association, which suggests that normal imprinting involves mutual recognition and preferential association of maternal and paternal chromosomes 15.
Pulsed electric field alters molecular chaperone expression and sensitizes Listeria monocytogenes to heat.

Pulsed electric field (PEF)-resistant and PEF-sensitive Listeria monocytogenes strains were sublethally treated with electric pulses at 15 kV/cm for 29 μs and held at 25°C for 5 to 30 min prior to protein extraction. The levels of the molecular chaperones GroEL, GroES, and DnaJ were determined by immunoblotting. After 10 to 20 min after sublethal PEF treatment, a transient decrease in molecular chaperone expression was observed in the PEF-sensitive strain (Scott A). The levels of GroEL and DnaJ increased back to the basal expression level within 30 min. A substantial decrease in GroES expression persisted for at least 30 min after PEF treatment. Chaperone expression was suppressed after PEF treatment to a smaller extent in the PEF-resistant (OSY-8578) than in the PEF-sensitive strain, and no clear expression pattern was identified in OSY-8578. Inactivation of Scott A and OSY-8578 in phosphate buffer was compared when lethal PEF (27.5 kV/cm, 144 μs) and heat (55°C, 10 min) were applied in sequence. When PEF and heat treatments were applied separately, the populations of L. monocytogenes Scott A and OSY-8578 decreased 0.5 to 0.6 log CFU/ml. Cells treated first with PEF and incubated at 25°C for 10 min showed substantial sensitivity to subsequent heat treatment; the decrease in counts for Scott A and OSY-8578 was 6.1 and 2.8 log CFU/ml, respectively. The sequence and time lapse between the two treatments were crucial for achieving high inactivation rates. It is concluded that PEF sensitized L. monocytogenes to heat and that maximum heat sensitization occurred when chaperone expression was at a minimum level.
Dominant-negative p53 can restore tumorigenicity of L-929 cells in immunocompetent mice.

To study the effect of a transforming allele of the tumor suppressor p53 upon the anti-tumor immune response, antigenic L-929 cells were transfected with the dominant-negative valine 135 mutant of murine p53. Several p53 v1135 -expressing transfectants formed non-regressing tumors in immunocompetent hosts. The growth rates of tumorigenic and non-tumorigenic clones were equivalent in vitro in sublethally irradiated C3H/HeN mice and in nude mice. Tumorigenic and non-tumorigenic p53 va1135 -expressing L-929 clones expressed equivalent levels of cell surface class I major histocompatibility complex (MHC) glycoproteins. Immunization with a tumorigenic Lp53 va1135 clone protected mice from subsequent challenge and primed MHC class I-restricted cytotoxic T-lymphocytic precursors. Secretion of an immunosuppressive cytokine, transforming growth factor β-1 and sensitivity to tumor necrosis factor-α were equivalent from tumorigenic and non-tumorigenic cell lines. These data suggest that expression of a transforming allele of p53 can allow L-929 cells to escape the host immune system.
The generalized Reye configuration

Given an embedding in the plane of the vertices of a cube, we consider conditions on the embedded vertices such that they are the projection of the vertices of a 3 dimensional polyhedron combinatorially equivalent to the cube. We are particularly interested in conditions expressible as incidence conditions for the lines induced by the given vertex set in the plane. We show that the vertices and their incidences extend to a Reye configuration in the plane if and only if the vertices are the projection of a parallelepiped. More generally, the positions of the embedded vertices result from projecting a polyhedron combinatorially equivalent to the cube if and only if they belong to a plane configuration we call the generalized Reye configuration.
Optimal placement of training for time varying ISI channels

We consider the problem of optimal placement of training for time varying channels with intersymbol interference (ISI). We assume that channel has a finite impulse response of length (L+1) and that each tap of the channel fades independently and identically. The time variation of the fading is modeled by a Gauss-Markov process. We constrain the training symbols to be placed in clusters of length (2L+1) and each cluster contains only one non-zero training symbol. We show that at high SNR, the cumulative channel MSE is minimized by placing the training clusters periodically in the packet. A special case (L=0) of this result is the optimal placement of pilot symbols for Rayleigh fading channels with Gauss-Markov variation.
The Role of Entertainment Media in Perceptions of Police Use of Force

Scholars have long noted the importance of the media in shaping citizens’ attitudes about crime and justice. Most studies have focused on the impact of news and particularly local TV news, yet Americans spend far more time watching entertainment media. We examine the portrayal of police misconduct in crime dramas, and how exposure to these portrayals affects perceptions of the police. We find that viewers of crime dramas are more likely to believe the police are successful at lowering crime, use force only when necessary, and that misconduct does not typically lead to false confessions. In contrast, perceptions regarding the frequency of force are unaffected. Our results add to a growing literature demonstrating the importance of entertainment media for attitudes toward crime and the criminal justice system.
Lactose facilitates the intestinal absorption of lead in weanling rats

The milk sugar lactose is known to facilitate calcium absorption and has been shown to enhance the uptake of essential trace metals from the intestines as well. Its physiological role as the major carbohydrate source for suckling mammals is thus complemented by its ability to facilitate the absorption of necessary minerals. The studies reported here show that the intestinal absorption of lead and its uptake into blood, liver, kidney, and bone are also increased by lactose in young weanling rats. These data extend the known range of lactose facilitation of mineral absorption to a nonessential, toxic element, confirming the nonspecificity of its action on the gut. In addition, they suggest an explanation for some of the conflicting evidence regarding the prophylactic efficacy of milk in lead poisoning.
In Defense of Indices: The Case of Bird Surveys

Abstract Indices to population size have come under increasing criticism in recent years, on the grounds that indices might not faithfully represent the entire population. Most criticisms involve surveys of birds, particularly those based on point counts, which is my focus here. A variety of quantitative methods have been developed to reduce the bias of point counts, such as distance sampling, multiple-observer surveys, and time-of-detection methods. I argue that these developments are valuable, in that they enhance understanding of the detection process, but that their practical application may well be limited, likely to intensive studies focusing on a small number of species. These quantitative methods are not generally applicable to extensive, multiple-species surveys. Although criticism of the thoughtless use of indices is welcome, their wholesale rejection is not.
Brainstem pitch representation in native speakers of Mandarin is less susceptible to degradation of stimulus temporal regularity

Abstract It has been demonstrated that neural encoding of pitch in the auditory brainstem is shaped by long-term experience with language. To date, however, all stimuli have exhibited a high degree of pitch saliency. The experimental design herein permits us to determine whether experience-dependent pitch representation in the brainstem is less susceptible to progressive degradation of the temporal regularity of iterated rippled noise (IRN). Brainstem responses were recorded from Chinese and English participants in response to IRN homologues of Mandarin Tone 2 (T2IRN). Six different iterations steps were utilized to systematically vary the degree of temporal regularity in the fine structure of the IRN stimuli to produce a pitch salience continuum ranging from low to high. Pitch-tracking accuracy and pitch strength were computed from the brainstem responses using autocorrelation algorithms. Analysis of variance of brainstem responses to T2IRN revealed that pitch-tracking accuracy is higher in the native tone language group (Chinese) relative to the non-tone language group (English) except for the three lowest steps along the continuum, and moreover, that pitch strength is greater in the Chinese group even in severely degraded stimuli for two of the six 40-ms sections of T2IRN that exhibit rapid changes in pitch. For these same two sections, exponential time constants for the stimulus continuum revealed that pitch strength emerges 2–3 times faster in the tone language than in the non-tone language group as a function of increasing pitch salience. These findings altogether suggest that experience-dependent brainstem mechanisms for pitch are especially sensitive to those dimensions of tonal contours that provide cues of high perceptual saliency in degraded as well as normal listening conditions.
Cervical disc herniation presenting as a mass lesion posterior to the odontoid process: Report of two cases

The authors report two cases of herniated intervertebral disc presenting as a mass posterior to the odontoid process and causing myelopathy in previously healthy elderly women. The differential diagnosis of a mass at the craniovertebral junction is reviewed, and the implications of these cases are discussed.
Novel nonlinear adaptive Doppler-shift estimation technique for the coherent Doppler validation lidar

The signal-processing aspect of a 2-µm wavelength-coherent Doppler lidar system under development at NASA Langley Research Center in Virginia is investigated in this paper. The system is named VALIDAR (validation lidar), and its signal-processing program estimates and displays various wind parameters in real time as data acquisition occurs. The goal is to improve the quality of the current estimates of power, Doppler shift, wind speed, and wind direction, especially in the low signal-to-noise-ratio (SNR) regime. A novel nonlinear adaptive Doppler-shift estimation technique (NADSET) is developed for this purpose, and its performance is analyzed using the wind data acquired over a long period of time by VALIDAR. The quality of Doppler-shift and power estimations by conventional Fourier-transform-based spectrum estimation methods deteriorates rapidly as the SNR decreases. NADSET compensates this deterioration by adaptively utilizing the statistics of Doppler-shift estimates in a strong SNR range and identifying sporadic range bins where good Doppler-shift estimates are found. The authenticity of NADSET is established by comparing the trend of wind parameters with and without NADSET applied to the long-period lidar return data.
Photoelectric cross-sections for the L, M and N shells of uranium for photons of 122 keV

The internal-external conversion method has been used to find the photoelectric cross-sections for theL, M andN shells of uranium for photons of 122 keV. Results obtained areτL=(360±40)b/atom,τLI+LII/τLIII=3.1±0.35,τL/τM=4.55±0.44, andτM/τN+=2.5±0.3. TheτL value is higher than that predicted fromτK when theτK/τL ratio is assumed to be energy-independent. TheτLI+LII/τLIII andτM/τN+ ratios are in agreement with other results.
Academia at the crossroads: education and training in pharmacogenomics

Technology and clinical research has catalyzed the growth of pharmacogenomics and personalized medicine. However, adoption of genetic and genomic findings into clinical practice has occurred at a much slower pace. There are a variety of reasons for this but almost everyone has identified education and training of healthcare providers, especially physicians, as an important enabler of personalized medicine. Numerous surveys have found that there is a knowledge gap in that most healthcare providers feel that genomics is an important determinant of disease and drug response but many feel inadequately informed to apply this information. This article explores this issue and proposes a way forward, recognizing that there will not be a one-size-fits-all approach to education and training for physicians and/or other healthcare providers.
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis-related VAPB P56S mutation differentially affects the function and survival of corticospinal and spinal motor neurons

The substitution of Proline with Serine at residue 56 (P56S) of vesicle-associated membrane protein-associated protein B (VAPB) has been linked to an atypical autosomal dominant form of familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis 8 (ALS8). To investigate the pathogenic mechanism of P56S VAPB in ALS, we generated transgenic (Tg) mice that heterologously express human wild-type (WT) and P56S VAPB under the control of a pan-neuronal promoter Thy1.2. While WT VAPB Tg mice did not exhibit any overt motor behavioral phenotypes, P56S VAPB Tg mice developed progressive hyperactivities and other motor abnormalities. VAPB protein was accumulated as large punctate in the soma and proximal dendrites of both corticospinal motor neurons (CSMNs) and spinal motor neurons (SMNs) in P56S VAPB Tg mice. Concomitantly, a significant increase of endoplasmic reticulum stress and unfolded protein response and the resulting up-regulation of pro-apoptotic factor CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein homologous protein expression were observed in the CSMNs and SMNs of P56S VAPB Tg mice. However, only a progressive loss of CSMNs but not SMNs was found in P56S VAPB Tg mice. In SMNs, P56S VAPB promoted a rather selective translocation of VAPB protein onto the postsynaptic site of C-boutons that altered the morphology of C-boutons and impaired the spontaneous rhythmic discharges of SMNs. Therefore, these findings provide new pathophysiological mechanisms of P56S VAPB that differentially affect the function and survival of CSMNs and SMNs in ALS8.
Considerations for initial therapy in the treatment of acute heart failure

The diagnosis of patients presenting to the emergency department with acute heart failure (AHF) is challenging due to the similarity of AHF symptoms to other conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and pneumonia. Additionally, because AHF is most common in an older population, the presentation of coexistent pathologies further increases the challenge of making an accurate diagnosis and selecting the most appropriate treatment. Delays in the diagnosis and treatment of AHF can result in worse outcomes and higher healthcare costs. Rapid initiation of treatment is thus necessary for optimal disease management. Early treatment decisions for patients with AHF can be guided by risk-stratification models based on initial clinical data, including blood pressure, levels of troponin, blood urea nitrogen, serum creatinine, B-type natriuretic peptide, and ultrasound. In this review, we discuss methods for differentiating high-risk and low-risk patients and provide guidance on how treatment decisions can be informed by risk-level assessment. Through the use of these approaches, emergency physicians can play an important role in improving patient management, preventing unnecessary hospitalizations, and lowering healthcare costs. This review differs from others published recently on the topic of treating AHF by providing a detailed examination of the clinical utility of diagnostic tools for the differentiation of dyspneic patients such as bedside ultrasound, hemodynamic changes, and interrogation of implantable cardiac devices. In addition, our clinical guidance on considerations for initial pharmacologic therapy in the undifferentiated patient is provided. It is crucial for emergency physicians to achieve an early diagnosis of AHF and initiate therapy in order to reduce morbidity, mortality, and healthcare costs.