cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Precursor-product relationship of larger to smaller molecular forms of the BAL 31 nuclease from Alteromonas espejiana: preferential removal of duplex exonuclease relative to endonuclease activity by proteolysis.

Abstract Two molecularly and kinetically distinct major species of the extracellular nuclease BAL 31 from Alteromonas espejiana , previously characterized as the “fast” ( F ) and “slow” ( S ) BAL 31 nucleases, have been evidenced to derive from proteolysis starting from a still larger (approximately 120 kDa) precursor nuclease. The expected protease activity in the culture fluid has been confirmed and is strongly dependent on the cell growth phase. The disappearance of the largest nuclease species with the concomitant sequential appearance of first the F and then the S species has been demonstrated for nuclease obtained from culture supernatants as a function of cell growth phase. Nuclease from periplasmic extracts displayed very little of the F and S nucleases. Treatment of purified F nuclease with Pronase or subtilisin readily converted it to species with only a few percent of the native exonuclease activity against duplex DNA but retaining much of the initial activity against single-stranded DNA. Electrophoresis in nuclease-detecting gels demonstrated a parallel conversion of the larger species to one indistinguishable in molecular weight from the S species. The observed loss of exonuclease activity could correspond to the conversion of the F to the S nuclease. However, treatment of S nuclease with subtilisin resulted in a drastic reduction of exonuclease activity of this enzyme on duplex DNA with retention of most of the activity against single-stranded and nicked circular duplex DNA substrates. Evidence of internal proteolysis of the S nuclease could be seen after electrophoresis in denaturing gels but only after the denaturation buffer was adjusted to 6 m in urea. The preferential removal of the exonuclease activity may enhance the usefulness of the BAL 31 nuclease in such applications as heteroduplex mapping.
RNA Helicase Signaling Is Critical for Type I Interferon Production and Protection against Rift Valley Fever Virus during Mucosal Challenge

Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) is an emerging RNA virus with devastating economic and social consequences. Clinically, RVFV induces a gamut of symptoms ranging from febrile illness to retinitis, hepatic necrosis, hemorrhagic fever, and death. It is known that type I interferon (IFN) responses can be protective against severe pathology; however, it is unknown which innate immune receptor pathways are crucial for mounting this response. Using both in vitro assays and in vivo mucosal mouse challenge, we demonstrate here that RNA helicases are critical for IFN production by immune cells and that signaling through the helicase adaptor molecule MAVS (mitochondrial antiviral signaling) is protective against mortality and more subtle pathology during RVFV infection. In addition, we demonstrate that Toll-like-receptor-mediated signaling is not involved in IFN production, further emphasizing the importance of the RNA cellular helicases in type I IFN responses to RVFV.
Effects of state of arousal on click responses in the mesencephalic reticular formation

Abstract Click responses in the mesencephalic reticular formation, the cochlear nucleus and the primary auditory cortex were studied during sleep and wakefulness in cats with implanted electrodes. The following observations were made: 1. 1. During the quiet waking state, click responses in the mesencephalic reticular formation consisted of slow waves of up to 150 μV. amplitude which persisted undiminished after more than one thousand consecutive clicks. 2. 2. During sleep with EEG slow waves, habituation of responses in the mesencephalic reticular formation occurred after only 5–10 clicks. Responses became variable and mean amplitude of responses decreased to about 50 per cent of response size in waking animals. 3. 3. During sleep with low voltage fast EEG activity, there was almost complete suppression of brain stem responses to repeated clicks. 4. 4. Response in the cochlear nucleus did not vary with changes in state of arousal. 5. 5. Click responses on primary auditory cortex persisted during sleep except for a decrease in the late slow wave components of the response. The results suggest that during natural sleep there is depression of activity in the non-specific afferent system, while activity in primary auditory pathways remains unchanged. The depression of activity in the nonspecific afferent system during sleep differs in several respects from that observed during the anesthetic state.
Correlates of maladaptive behavior in children and adults with Prader‐Willi syndrome

Four features of maladaptive behavior were examined in 25 children and 61 adults with Prader-Willi syndrome: age, gender, IQ, and the Body Mass Index (BMI). Among children, older subjects showed increased symptomatology relative to younger subjects, especially in depression and withdrawal. Among adults, maladaptive behaviors seem to show both steady and variable expressions, waxing and waning over time. Boys showed heightened depression relative to girls, findings which were not seen in the adults. No maladaptive behavior differences were found in high vs. low IQ subjects. Thinner adults with lower BMIs had higher maladaptive behavior scores relative to heavier subjects, particularly in internal states involving distressful affect and problems with thinking. Several explanations of these counterintuitive BMI findings are discussed, as is the need for prospective research on maladaptive behavior in children and adults with this syndrome. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
THE SAME DOMINANT T CELL CLONE IS PRESENT IN MULTIPLE REGRESSING SKIN LESIONS AND ASSOCIATED T CELL LYMPHOMAS OF PATIENTS WITH LYMPHOMATOID PAPULOSIS

This study was undertaken to determine the clonality of lymphomatoid papulosis (LyP), its clonal relationship to lymphomas, which occur at high frequency in LyP patients, and to define the cell lineage of Reed-Sternberg-like cells in type A lesions of LyP. Punch biopsies of skin of 11 adult patients with LyP were analyzed for morphologic subtype of LyP, surface antigens, and clonal T-cell receptor (TCR) gene rearrangements. Clonal rearrangements were identified by semiquantitative polymerase chain reaction amplification and sequencing of TCR- β chain genes in nine patients and TCR- γ chain genes in two patients. A single dominant clone was detected in multiple separate LyP lesions, often of different histologies, in nine patients. The same clone was detected in LyP lesions and the anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL) of 2 patients and the mycosis fungoides (MF) of 2 other patients. No dominant clone could be detected in one patient with LyL uncomplicated by lymphoma or in a second patient with LyP and MF. A T-cell lineage was evident for RS-like cells in cell culture and in type A lesions. These results show that multiple regressing skin lesions and associated T cell lymphomas (MF and ALCL) are clonally related in most LyP patients which suggests that the disease in these patients was initiated by a non-random genetic event.
Substituent-directed oxidation: a simple preparation of γ and δ-lactones by oxidative cyclization of hydroxyalkenes.

Abstract Treatment of tertiary γ- and δ-hydroxyalkenes with chromium trioxide in acetic acid/acetic anhydride gives reasonable yields of γ- and δ-lactones by oxidative cyclization, with loss of one carbon. A mechanism is proposed involving formation of a chromate monoester, followed by intramolecular oxidative attack on the alkene.
The long-range propagation of radio waves at 10 cm wavelength

A survey is presented of the results obtained in a series of short-term experiments on the propagation of 10cm radiation over clear sea paths to distances well beyond the diffraction region, under a variety of weather conditions. Very slowly attenuated signals have been received consistently, under normal atmospheric conditions, from an initial threshold beyond the horizon when the diffracted signal is some 50dB below the corresponding free-space level. Analysis of the amplitude distributions of some of the received signals confirms that propagation to ranges in the extra-diffraction region was due to a scattering process.
Two-phase two-component interface drag coefficients in separated phase flows

Abstract This work examines the behavior of the interface friction factor or drag coefficient as a means for extending the modeling of separated two-phase flows through the separate consideration of each phase. The model development of this work builds primarily upon the work of Carofano & McManus (1969), Wallis (1970) and Smith (1968). A one-dimensional flow model was developed for the case of vertical upward annular fiow of an air-water mixture with droplet entrainment. The model was developed for the investigation of accelerating flows in a nozzle but is utilized in this study for the investigation of momentum transport occurring in non-accelerating flows. This study presents experimental data showing the behaviour of the flow pressure drop occurring at various flow qualities and gas velocities. Also presented are empirical results for values of the air-water interface drag coefficient as a function of flow quality and gas core Reynolds number. The drag coefficient variation is compared to a previous correlation developed by Wallis 1969).
Ground-State, Transition-State, and Metal-Cation Effects of the 2-Hydroxyl Group on β-d-Galactopyranosyl Transfer Catalyzed by β-Galactosidase (Escherichia coli, lac Z)†

Substitution of the C2−OH group by C2−H at 4-nitrophenyl-β-d-galactopyranoside to give 4-nitrophenyl-2-deoxy-β-d-galactopyranoside causes (1) a change in the rate-determining step for β-galactosidase-catalyzed sugar hydrolysis from formation to breakdown of a covalent intermediate; (2) a 14 000-fold decrease in the second-order rate constant k3/Kd for enzyme-catalyzed transfer of the β-d-galactopyranosyl group from the substrate to form a covalent adduct to the enzyme; and (3) a larger 320 000-fold decrease in the first-order rate constant ks for hydrolysis of this covalent adduct. Only a small fraction (ca. 7%) of the 2-OH substituent effect is expressed in the ground-state Michaelis complex, so that the (apparent) strong interactions between the enzyme and 2-OH group that stabilize the transition state for β-d-galactopyranosyl transfer only develop upon moving from the Michaelis complex to the transition state. Mg2+ activates β-galactosidase for cleavage of both 4-nitrophenyl-β-d-galactopyranoside and 4...
ClusRed: Clustering and Network Reduction Based Probabilistic Optimal Power Flow Analysis for Large-Scale Smart Grids

The smart electric grid in the United States is one of the largest and most complex cyber-physical systems (CPS) in the world and contains considerable uncertainties. Probabilistic optimal power flow (OPF) analysis is required to accomplish the electrical and economic operational goals. In this paper, we propose a novel algorithm to accelerate the computation of probabilistic OPF for large-scale smart grids through network reduction (NR). Cumulant-based method and Gram-Charlier expansion theory are used to efficiently obtain the statistics of system states. We develop a more accurate linear mapping method to compute the unknown cumulants. Our method speeds up the computation by up to 4.57X and can improve around 30% accuracy when Hessian matrix is ill-conditioned compared to the previous approach.
Maintaining racial inequality through crime control: mass incarceration and residential segregation

The use of the prison system to incarcerate has been one of the state’s primary control mechanisms since the early 1970s, immediately following many civil rights changes. A system of mass incarceration has entailed wide and continuous racial disparities which maintain inequality across social institutions, such as the economy and political participation – the institutions in which the civil rights movement sought to secure equality. This analysis examines the association between disparate crime control and racial residential segregation, another major social institution targeted by the civil rights movement. Links to theoretical discussions on racial formation, law and crime control, and residential segregation to advance our understanding of inequalities and the reciprocal relationships between these institutionalized processes are presented.
Mega-pockmarks and linear pockmark trains on the west african continental margin

Abstract Seabed pockmarks, the manifestation of the natural process of fluid escape at the seabed, are a widespread feature of the equatorial West African continental margin. Pockmarks occur singly, in small groups, in large random fields and in organized arrays or ‘pockmark trains’. Pockmark trains are associated with areas of steeper seabed gradient and evolve though time to form deep gullies. Pockmark gullies may exceed 1 km in width and extend for 10–20 km down slope, and form through the interaction of slope failure and fluid escape processes. Gullies maintain a rugose internal geometry throughout their development and do not represent sediment transport pathways to the deep basin. The geological processes that form seabed pockmarks and pockmark gullies are active today and these features may represent a hazard to subsea infrastructure.
The treatment of acute poliomyelitis by intravenous injection of hypotonic salt solution

Summary In conclusion, our evidence shows that acute poliomyelitis can be favorably influenced by this treatment. This statement is based upon the following experience: First, 10 cases of respiratory paralysis have been treated, all of which recovered. Improvement in respiratory function is both objective and subjective, and occurs during the actual treatment period. One of the respiratory cases showed complete paralysis of both diaphragms and intercostals before treatment. In the past all cases showing this much paralysis have been fatal. The behavior of this group I believe shows that the use of the respirator will become unnecessary in the future management of this type of paralysis. Second, 6 cases of paralysis of deglutition have all recovered promptly. All cases so treated have been able to drink fluids following the first treatment, an event which cannot be explained on a basis of coincidence, as paralysis of the throat does not thus improve in untreated cases. Third, both of the above groups carry a mortality rate of around 50 per cent, and while this group is scarcely large enough for statistical evaluation, it included 16 cases with recovery in each instance. The preparalytic group included in this report were all cases in which the disease was sufficiently severe that paralysis might be a reasonable expectancy. I have 7 other cases in my records of preparalytic cases, not included here since they were apparently milder in their course, and their recovery would not add any significance to this group. Fourth, I am confident that this treatment will not in every instance prevent the development of paralysis. This is particularly true in the ascending (Landry's) type. In these cases the progress of the paralytic process is rapid and the case fulminating in nature. Resistance of the patient, for some reason not known, is definitely less than in the usual type. However, the respiratory paralysis from which the Landry's type dies, does yield to the treatment and it is therefore possible to save these patients' lives. More vigorous treatment is indicated in this group than I have used in the past. Fifth, weakness of the muscles of the extremities, without actual paralysis, has promptly improved and I have often seen reflexes return following treatment, which have not responded to stimuli before treatment was given. Sixth, actual paralysis of the muscles of the extremities does not improve. However, treatment of this group is advised if the case is “active,” with the hope of preventing further loss of function. Seventh, finally, we have been able to prevent paralysis and death in Rhesus monkeys which have been infected with many times the lethal dose of virus; all of our control animals having died after complete skeletal paralysis.
Can Supply and Demand Parameters Be Recovered From Data Generated by Market Institutions

The relative accuracy of estimators in recovering supply and demand parameters can depend on the market institutions that generate the data. The parameters of known supply and demand functions are estimated with data from laboratory market experiments with human buyers and sellers. Single-equation estimators dominate simultaneous-equations estimators in recovering supply and demand parameters from posted-offer market data. The inaccuracy of simultaneous-equations estimators with posted-offer data can be explained by the implications for error distributions of the inherent properties of this market institution. Simultaneous-equations estimators perform better with closing-price data from double-auction markets.
Analysis of mass transfer between a sequence of drops and a surroundings gas

Abstract Mass transfer between a sequence of monodisperse droplets and a surrounding gas is theoretically analyzed for two mass transfer processes: (i) evaporation of drops into a laminar gas flow and (ii) the uptake of a soluble component from the flowing gas. The evaporation process is modeled as a line (or rod) source of vapor located at the axis of the droplet array, and the vapor concentration distribution in the gas phase is obtained by numerically solving the convective diffusion equation. To model the uptake of trace gases, the equation of continuity is solved for both the liquid and gas phases, and the fluxes are matched at the gas/liquid interface. A numerical solution is presented for the gas uptake by the drops which can be applied to interpret experimental data, and the analysis is applied to the absorption of HCl and SO2 by water droplets.
A novel procedure for acid-catalysed K2FeO4 oxidation of benzyl alcohol in organic phase

Recent investigations have shown that ferrate(VI) salts oxidize organic compounds in aqueous phases with fast reaction from seconds to minutes and poor selectivity. Few studies have used ferrate(VI) in organic phases. The main issues are the poor solubility of K2FeO4 in common organic solvents and the low reaction rate. Therefore the interests to date are focused on finding a more effective catalyst in the organic oxidation. Up to now no work has been reported on acids as catalysis for the oxidative abilities of K2FeO4 in organic phases. Here we present a novel procedure for oxidizing benzyl alcohol to benzaldehyde without an overoxidation to benzoic acid by K2FeO4 in an organic phase. Using benzyl alcohol as a model, the catalytic activity of various acid solutions was measured. We found that the reactivity of K2FeO4 to the oxidation of benzyl alcohol can be highly enhanced by addition of a small amount of acid solution at room temperature. The catalytic ability of acid solutions follows the order acetic acid < oxalic acid < phosphomolybdic acid < phosphotungstic acid. On the basis of a theoretical analysis, a reaction mechanism is proposed. This method provides a new green way for oxidizing organic substances by K2FeO4 in nonaqueous media.
Decompositions and potentials for normal form games

Abstract We introduce a method of decomposing a p -player normal form game into 2 p simultaneously-played component games, each distinguished by the set of “active” players whose choices influence payoffs. We then prove that a normal form game is a potential game if and only if in each of the component games, all active players have identical payoff functions, and that in this case, the sum of these shared payoff functions is the original game's potential function. We conclude by discussing algorithms for deciding whether a given normal form game is a potential game.
Molecular structure of (As2Se3)x(As2Te3 glasses: Chemical equivalence of 125Te absorption and 129I emission mössbauer spectroscopy

The trend in the average 125Te quadrupole splitting exhibits an increase with As2Se3 content of the glasses and becomes rather non-linear in the As2Se3-rich phase as x → 1. It is shown that this result constitutes evidence of a bimodal distribution of 125Te sites in analogy to a similar distribution of 129I sites previously observed in emission spectroscopy. These Mossbauer results demonstrate that a small but non-zero concentration of chalcogen-chalcogen bonds persist in the As2Se3-rich bulk glasses. These results are consistent with structural models based on phase separation of the glass networks on a scale characteristic of large molecular units.
Hawk eyes II: diurnal raptors differ in head movement strategies when scanning from perches.

Background: Relatively little is known about the degree of inter-specific variability in visual scanning strategies in species with laterally placed eyes (e.g., birds). This is relevant because many species detect prey while perching; therefore, head movement behavior may be an indicator of prey detection rate, a central parameter in foraging models. We studied head movement strategies in three diurnal raptors belonging to the Accipitridae and Falconidae families. Methodology/Principal Findings: We used behavioral recording of individuals under field and captive conditions to calculate the rate of two types of head movements and the interval between consecutive head movements. Cooper’s Hawks had the highest rate of regular head movements, which can facilitate tracking prey items in the visually cluttered environment they inhabit (e.g., forested habitats). On the other hand, Red-tailed Hawks showed long intervals between consecutive head movements, which is consistent with prey searching in less visually obstructed environments (e.g., open habitats) and with detecting prey movement from a distance with their central foveae. Finally, American Kestrels have the highest rates of translational head movements (vertical or frontal displacements of the head keeping the bill in the same direction), which have been associated with depth perception through motion parallax. Higher translational head movement rates may be a strategy to compensate for the reduced degree of eye movement of this species. Conclusions: Cooper’s Hawks, Red-tailed Hawks, and American Kestrels use both regular and translational head movements, but to different extents. We conclude that these diurnal raptors have species-specific strategies to gather visual information while perching. These strategies may optimize prey search and detection with different visual systems in habitat types with different degrees of visual obstruction.
A Predictive and Sliding Mode Cascade Controller

This paper presents a cascade control structure to determine the open-loop optimal linear surface parameters for the sliding mode control of nonlinear mechanical systems. A discrete-time, nonlinear model predictive controller is used to update the time-invariant parameters of the sliding mode control surfaces in order to achieve some performance objective such as minimum energy or minimum time. The determination of these surface parameters is subject to constraints that arise from the stability conditions imposed by the sliding mode control law and the physical limits on the system such as input saturation. We prove the nominal stability of this cascade control structure and demonstrate its performance using the inverted pendulum on a cart as an illustrative example.
X-band doubly balanced resistive FET mixer with very low intermodulation

This paper describes a practical realization of a mixer that achieves low intermodulation distortion by using the channel resistance of a GaAs MESFET to provide mixing and achieves even-order spurious response rejection through the use of a doubly balanced structure. Very good results were achieved in terms of second- and third-harmonic levels of -67 and -45 dBC, respectively, at +10 dBm input level. The band-center conversion loss was 11 dB. The circuit was realized in microstrip on an alumina substrate, with a monolithic FET "quad". >
Magnetic Resonance as a Probe of Anisotropic Conductors

A review is given of the wide range of magnetic resonance methods used to study the special properties of quasi one-dimensional (1-d) conductors. Specific examples are presented which show how magnetic resonance methods have been exploited (a) to tell if the conduction is 1-d, (b) to locate the conduction electrons on a molecular distance scale, (c) to probe the unusual effects of disorder in 1-d conductors, (d) to study the charge density wave transition, and (e) to verify exotic electrical transport mechanisms, such as charged solitons in trans-(CH)x.
I-MINDS: A Multiagent System for Intelligent Computer- Supported Collaborative Learning and Classroom Management

I-MINDS provides a computer-supported collaborative learning (CSCL) infrastructure and environment for learners in synchronous learning and classroom management applications for instructors, for large classroom or distance education situations. For supporting the instructor, I-MINDS includes a teacher agent. The teacher agent allows the instructor to interact with students, manage QA sessions, administer quizzes, post evaluations, form groups and monitor individual and group performances. For computer-supported collaborative learning, I-MINDS, which stands for Intelligent Multiagent Infrastructure for Distributed Systems in Education, provides a student agent for each student. Each student agent monitors and models its user and carries out group formation with other student agents behind-the-scene. I-MINDS provides standard online collaborative features such as chat rooms and whiteboards and implements a structured cooperative learning mechanism called Jigsaw. The system also incorporates multiagent coalition formation algorithms for forming peer groups. I-MINDS also provides a group agent for each peer group that monitors and evaluates its assigned peer group. I-MINDS has been deployed and evaluated in an introductory computer science course (CS1). Results show that intelligent tools such as I-MINDS can be used in a real-time environment to support student cooperative learning activities, and also as a testbed to collect instructional or pedagogical data for better understanding of student collaborative learning. This paper describes the I-MINDS framework, implementation, deployment, and test results comprehensively.
Auxiliary pain relief during suction curettage.

Three groups of patients who were undergoing suction curettage with a paracervical block were studied for the effect of pain relief using an ancillary analgesic in the form of self-administered Methoxyflurane or stereophonic headphone music. The results indicated that the headphones produced less tension and anxiety and therefore, less complaint of pain than the control group. Methoxyflurane did not show any improvement in pain relief but was at times associated with an amnesic response to the procedure and less post-abortion cramping.
Loss of phosphine from unsealed bins of wheat at six combinations of grain temperature and grain moisture content.

Hard red winter wheat (1.4 t) at 11.1 or 13.5% moisture content (wet basis) and 20, 25, or 308C was fumigated with tablets of an aluminum phosphide formulation in unsealed, cylindrical grain bins of corrugated metal. The fumigant leakage rate was manipulated to approximate that commonly encountered in farm and commercial-scale bins of this type. Phosphine concentration profiles were recorded and phosphine loss and sorption were characterized to determine which conditions provided the greatest probability of successful fumigation in these bins. Phosphine leakage and sorption were both positively related to grain temperature and moisture content. The fumigant concentration profiles were compared with previously-published data relating temperature to the developmental rate and fumigant susceptibility of lesser grain borer eggs, which are phosphine-resistant but become less resistant as they age. The mean phosphine concentration observed at the time corresponding to one-half of the calculated egg development time was compared to the lethal concentration (LC99) for a 2-day exposure at each temperature‐moisture combination. In the low-moisture grain at 208C, the observed fumigant concentration was below the lethal concentration, due to the long development time under these conditions. At 25 and 308C in the low-moisture wheat, the likelihood of complete kill appeared more favorable because the fumigant concentration remained above the published LC99 for more than half of the egg development time. In the wheat with 13.5% moisture content, rapid fumigant sorption and loss resulted in phosphine concentrations below the LC99 at one-half of the development time at 20 or 258C. At 308C, due to the very rapid development rate, the observed phosphine concentration exceeded the LC99 half-way through the egg development period despite the rapid rate of fumigant sorption and loss. Repeated fumigation of the same grain reduced the rate at which phosphine sorbed into the
The English School, International Relations, and Progress

This essay evaluates the English School—a prominent approach to the study of international relations—as a “research enterprise” ([James 2002][1]). Our exploration begins with an introduction of a “continuum of aggregation” that conveys a given research enterprise, such as the English School, at different conceptual levels. The English School's axioms along with its negative and positive heuristics are identified and evaluated based on the classics and more recent works from Wight, Bull, and others. Conclusions and prospects for further development of the English School complete the review. [1]: #ref-28
Vascular changes of the hand in professional baseball players with emphasis on digital ischemia in catchers.

Background: Repetitive trauma to the hand is a concern for baseball players. The present study investigated the effects of repetitive trauma and the prevalence of microvascular pathological changes in the hands of minor league professional baseball players. In contrast to previous investigators, we documented the presence of abnormalities in younger, asymptomatic individuals. Methods: Thirty-six baseball players on active minor league rosters underwent a history and physical examination of both hands as well as additional specialized tests, including Doppler ultrasound, a timed Allen test, determination of digital brachial pressure indices, and ring sizing of fingers. Data were compared between gloved hands and throwing hands, hitters and nonhitters, and players at four different positions (catcher [nine subjects], outfielder [seven subjects], infielder [five subjects], and pitcher [fifteen subjects]). Results: Digital brachial indices in the ring fingers of the gloved (p < 0.05) and throwing hands (p < 0.02) of catchers were significantly diminished compared with those in all other players. Doppler testing showed a significantly greater prevalence of abnormal flow in the ulnar artery at Guyon's canal when catchers were compared with other position players (p < 0.01). Doppler abnormalities were significantly more common in the gloved hand compared with the throwing hand (p < 0.05). Seven of nine catchers (and only catchers) were found to have index finger hypertrophy (average change, two ring sizes; p < 0.01); the hypertrophy occurred at the proximal phalanx and the proximal interphalangeal joint of the gloved hand. Catchers had a significantly higher prevalence of subjective hand symptoms (specifically, weakness in the gloved hand) compared with pitchers and infielders/outfielders (44% compared with 7% and 17%, respectively; p < 0.05). Conclusions: Microvascular changes are present in the hands of otherwise healthy professional baseball players in all positions, with a significantly higher prevalence in catchers, prior to the development of clinically important ischemia. Repetitive trauma resulting from the impact of the baseball also leads to digital hypertrophy in the index finger of the gloved hand of catchers. Gloves currently used by professional catchers do not adequately protect the hand from repetitive trauma. Level of Evidence: Therapeutic Level IV. See Instructions to Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
Speech Emotion Analysis in Noisy Real-World Environment

Automatic recognition of emotional states via speech signal has attracted increasing attention in recent years. A number of techniques have been proposed which are capable of providing reasonably high accuracy for controlled studio settings. However, their performance is considerably degraded when the speech signal is contaminated by noise. In this paper, we present a framework with adaptive noise cancellation as front end to speech emotion recognizer. We also introduce a new feature set based on cepstral analysis of pitch and energy contours. Experimental analysis shows promising results.
Twice removed: a White scholar studies the history of Black sororities and a Black scholar responds

In this article, the authors engage in a conversation about outsider research around issues of African American history and education. They focus on issues of agency, respect, and core cultural knowledge. The authors also develop an ethical code by which outsider researchers, in collaboration with insiders, can explore the history, culture, and experiences of groups of people to which they do not belong.
Lymphocyte homing receptors and the immune response in vivo.

An important aspect of the developmental maturation of lymphocytes is their capacity to locate and enter lymphoid organs with great rapidity and specificity and to follow certain routes within these organs for the attainment of particular immunological capabilities. It is now known that this “homing response” to lymphoid organs involves specific glycoprotein receptors on the lymphocyte cell surface. The biochemistry of these receptors and their significance in normal and pathological immune responses are discussed.
The conundrum of underfeeding vs overfeeding neurocritically ill patients Is less better

Critically ill patients experience a hypercatabolic state from inflammatory mediators, sympathetic nervous system hyperactivity, dysregulation of endogenous glucose metabolism, and development of insulin resistance.1 The premise of increased inflammatory response and hypermetabolism of critical illness has led to the implementation of nutrition therapy in patients in the intensive care unit (ICU). In fact, introduction of early enteral nutrition or delayed parenteral nutrition to supplement enteral feedings has been associated with modest reduction in complications and faster recovery.2,3 However, critically ill patients may express varied responses to injury and nutrition therapy and not all will derive the same benefit from the latter. For example, there is evidence that the beneficial effect of increased caloric intake may only be seen in patients with body mass index (BMI) 7 days.5 In an attempt to address these issues, McClave et al.6 have suggested using severity of illness and markers of inflammation and starvation indices to identify critically ill patients who may benefit from more aggressive nutrition. Furthermore, there is evidence that nutrition delivery may help determine outcome. This is supported by standardized nutrition therapy protocols that may reduce the duration of mechanical ventilation and ICU length of stay.7
Identification of porcine sperm plasma membrane proteins that may play a role in sperm–egg fusion

Sperm plasma membrane (PM) proteins that demonstrate affinity for egg PM preparations have the potential to be biologically important during sperm-egg binding and/or fusion. In this study four such proteins have been identified. To provide quantitative evidence for possible biological function, the large natural variation among different porcine sperm populations with regard to their ability to interact with the egg was compared with the relative binding of egg PM material to individual proteins. An aliquot from each of 24 porcine ejaculates was evaluated by the zona-free hamster ova bioassay and the remainder processed to yield sperm PM vesicles. Aliquots of sperm PM were solubilised, separated by SDS-PAGE, western blotted and probed with partially purified, biotinylated egg PM protein. Bound egg PM proteins were visualised on western blots by an avidin/biotin/horseradish peroxidase system and analysed by scanning laser densitometry. Four sperm PM proteins (62, 39, 27 and 7 kDa estimated molecular mass) were the predominant binders of egg PM. The amount of egg PM bound to the 62 kDa protein was significantly correlated with the ability of sperm from the 24 ejaculates to penetrate zona-free hamster ova (percentage of ova penetrated, p = 0.01, R = 0.65; number of penetrated sperm per ovum, p = 0.02, R = 0.63).
Synthesis of the ABCD Ring System of Azaspiracid.

Previously attempted spirocyclizations to form the ABCD ring system of azaspiracid (1) have proven unsuccessful owing to the anomeric effects that favor the formation of the undesired 13S diastereomer. By the use of a hydrogen bond donor as an auxiliary group, such anomeric effects were successfully overcome. Thus, the first synthesis of the ABCD ring system of azaspiracid with the proper 13R configuration of the C13 stereocenter was achieved.
Recombination elevates the effective evolutionary rate and facilitates the establishment of HIV-1 infection in infants after mother-to-child transmission

Previous studies have demonstrated that single HIV-1 genotypes are commonly transmitted from mother to child, but such analyses primarily used single samples from mother and child. It is possible that in a single sample, obtained early after infection, only the most replication competent virus is detected even when other forms may have been transmitted. Such forms may have advantages later in infection, and may thus be detected in follow-up samples. Because HIV-1 frequently recombines, phylogenetic analyses that ignore recombination may miss transmission of multiple forms if they recombine after transmission. Moreover, recombination may facilitate adaptation, thus providing an advantage in establishing infection. The effect of recombination on viral evolution in HIV-1 infected children has not been well defined. We analyzed full-length env sequences after single genome amplification from the plasma of four subtype B HIV-1 infected women (11–67 env clones from 1 time point within a month prior to delivery) and their non-breastfed, intrapartum-infected children (3–6 longitudinal time points per child starting at the time of HIV-1 diagnosis). To address the potential beneficial or detrimental effects of recombination, we used a recently developed hierarchical recombination detection method based on the pairwise homoplasy index (PHI)-test. Recombination was observed in 9–67 % of the maternal sequences and in 25–60 % of the child sequences. In the child, recombination only occurred between variants that had evolved after transmission; taking recombination into account, we identified transmission of only 1 or 2 phylogenetic lineages from mother to child. Effective HIV-1 evolutionary rates of HIV-1 were initially high in the child and slowed over time (after 1000 days). Recombination was associated with elevated evolutionary rates. Our results confirm that 1–2 variants are typically transmitted from mothers to their newborns. They also demonstrate that early abundant recombination elevates the effective evolutionary rate, suggesting that recombination increases the rate of adaptation in HIV-1 evolution.
Utilizing the Underground Forest

The author had the privilege of living in Niger Republic, West Africa as a Christian missionary and development worker for 18 years. He directed the Maradi Integrated Development Project (MIDP), which has helped farmers to evaluate their problems and work towards solving them using local resources and people since 1975. In his first four years it was particularly frustrating to see the massive scale of deforestation and land degradation, the apparent apathy of the people and the low success rate of both government and non-government forestry projects.
Increasing Access to State Psychiatric Hospital Beds: Exploring Supply-Side Solutions.

Objective:The objective of this study was to identify supply-side interventions to reduce state psychiatric hospital admission delays.Methods:Healthcare Enterprise Accounts Receivable Tracking System (HEARTS) data were collected for all patients admitted between July 1, 2010, and July 31, 2012, to one of North Carolina’s three state-operated psychiatric hospitals (N=3,156). Additional information on hospital use was collected at nine meetings with hospital administrators and other local stakeholders. A discrete-event simulation model was built to simulate the flow of adult nonforensic patients through the hospital. Hypothetical scenarios were used to evaluate the effects of varying levels of increased capacity on annual number of admissions and average patient wait time prior to admission.Results:In the base case, the model closely approximated actual state hospital utilization, with an average of 1,251±65 annual admissions and a preadmission wait time of 3.3±.1 days across 50 simulations. Results from si...
Supply Chain Integration Challenges For a Storage Technology Leader

Hard disk drives are the primary medium for storing digital data in the information storage industry worldwide. Competition in the hard disk drive industry requires close attention to technology an...
Thermal coagulation point and iodoacetate index as detectors of abnormal serum proteins and underlying illness.

Comment and conclusionsThe simultaneous determination of thermal coagulation of blood serum in a large series of cases by the measurement of thermal coagulation point and iodoacetate index has shown similarity of results. There was an inverse relationship, in most instances, between the level of the thermal coagulation point of serum and the concentration of iodoacetate necessary to prevent heat coagulation. The dissociation between the results of both technics appeared exclusively in the group of cases showing a moderate defect in thermal coagulation. This could have resulted, in part, from calculation of the thermal coagulation defect, in the case of the iodoacetate index, in terms of total proteins content, and the omission of the protein factor in the estimation of the thermal coagulation point of serum. It must have been due at times, however, to the results obtained with the iodoacetate technic, which, for unknown reasons, are not always reproducible(7, 9). The percentage of abnormalities found in t...
High-voltage electrophoretic deposition for vertically aligned forests of one-dimensional nanoparticles.

Deposition of aligned forests of 1D nanoparticles (carbon nanotubes and MnO2 nanorods) on conductive, including flexible and transparent, substrates has been achieved at room temperature. The process, named high-voltage electrophoretic deposition (HVEPD), has been enabled by three key elements: high deposition voltage for alignment, low dispersion concentration of the nanoparticles to avoid aggregation, and simultaneous formation of a holding layer by electrodeposition. The effects of key parameters are investigated. The alignment on the vertical direction has been revealed by scanning electron microscopy of the samples, their superhydrophobicity, electrochemical performance, and capability to electrically connect two separated electrodes. Compared with their randomly oriented counterparts, the aligned nanoforests showed higher electrochemical capacitance, lower electrical resistance, and the capability to achieve superhydrophobicity, implicating their potential in a broad range of applications.
Impact on Stability of Isolated Grid of Different Control Strategies of Large Photovoltaic Station

Simulation model of a photovoltaic(PV) station is established. The operation characteristics are analyzed when the PV station is integrated to a isolated gird as a current source. Simulation analysis results based on a practical isolated grid indicate that the system will be instable when a large PV station is integrated as a current source. A new control strategy of a PV station is presented with voltage and frequency adjustment to make the isolated grid stable.
Endocytosis and serpentine filopodia drive blebbishield-mediated resurrection of apoptotic cancer stem cells

The blebbishield emergency program helps to resurrect apoptotic cancer stem cells (CSCs) themselves. Understanding the mechanisms behind this program is essential to block resurrection of CSCs during cancer therapy. Here we demonstrate that endocytosis drives serpentine filopodia to construct blebbishields from apoptotic bodies and that a VEGF-VEGFR2-endocytosis-p70S6K axis governs subsequent transformation. Disengagement of RalGDS from E-cadherin initiates endocytosis of RalGDS and its novel interaction partners cdc42, VEGFR2, cleaved β-catenin, and PKC-ζ as well as its known interaction partner K-Ras. We also report novel interactions of p45S6K (cleaved p70S6K) and PKM-ζ with PAK-1 filopodia-forming machinery specifically in blebbishields. Thus, a RalGDS-endocytosis-filopodia-VEGFR2-K-Ras-p70S6K axis drives the blebbishield emergency program, and therapeutic targeting of this axis might prevent resurrection of CSCs during cancer therapy.
Demand management: implementing your own program.

You don't have to spend a lot on bells and whistles. Instead, put the principles of managing demand to work in your practice.
Directed Brokerage no More: The Effects of New Regulation in the Mutual Fund Industry

There is an extensive literature documenting a mutual fund performance deficit, whereby a large number of mutual funds underperform the market index. One possible cause is conflicts of interest between mutual funds and investors. I explore the consequences of a new regulation prohibiting funds from rewarding brokers' promotion efforts via trade execution. While this new rule targeted the elimination of excessive trading commissions, I document that it indirectly affected portfolio management style, fees, performance, and the competitive dynamics of the industry. The new rule led to a decrease in portfolio turnover and an increase in returns for affected funds. However, evidence also indicates that brokers have begun compensating for lost revenues from directed brokerage commissions by implementing revenue sharing agreements. Although affected funds have lower inflows after the regulation, suggesting that brokers' bias is partly eliminated, revenue sharing agreements appear to be the new means of increasing fund inflows.
Adenoma Detection is Increased in the Setting of Melanosis Coli.

GOALS To compare the adenoma detection rate (ADR) during colonoscopy in patients with melanosis coli against matched controls without melanosis. BACKGROUND Melanosis coli is a colonoscopic finding in which the colon wall appears darkly pigmented, most often due to extended laxative use, and is considered benign. The pigmentation spares adenomas, which should therefore be more readily detectable in melanosis coli. STUDY We identified all patients with melanosis on colonoscopy at our institution over a 5-year period. We matched each patient with 2 controls by age, gender, and endoscopist. We compared the prevalence of adenomas between groups, and used multivariable analysis, adjusting for procedure indication and bowel preparation quality, to determine the independent association of melanosis with adenoma detection. RESULTS At least 1 adenoma was detected in 34.7% of melanosis patients and 26.5% of controls [odds ratio (OR)=1.52; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.04-2.24; P=0.03]. On multivariable analysis, the presence of melanosis remained associated with increased adenoma detection (OR=1.56; 95% CI, 1.05-2.33; P=0.03). Melanosis patients were more likely to have an adenoma ≤5 mm (OR=1.62; 95% CI, 1.04-2.51; P=0.03), but not adenomas 6 to 9 mm or ≥10 mm. CONCLUSIONS Melanosis coli is associated with a significant increase in ADR during colonoscopy compared with controls. The increased visibility of adenomas given their contrast with the pigmented background is a likely explanation. Future efforts to identify bowel preparation agents that can induce a similar effect could improve ADRs during colonoscopy.