cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Hepatitis B viral DNA-RNA hybrid molecules in particles from infected liver are converted to viral DNA molecules during an endogenous dna polymerase reaction

Abstract Particles purified from the liver of hepatitis B virus-infected patients were previously shown by us to incorporate 32 P-deoxynucleotides into viral DNA and DNA-RNA hybrid molecules when incubated in a DNA polymerase reaction mixture. In this investigation, similar particles from duck and ground squirrel livers infected with viruses closely related to HBV were also shown to incorporate 32 P-deoxynucleotides into viral-specific DNA and DNA-RNA hybrid molecules when incubated in vitro in a DNA polymerase reaction mixture. The particles from duck hepatitis B virus-infected liver contained a heterogeneous population of hybrid molecules, while those from ground squirrel hepatitis virus-infected liver contained hybrid molecules with densities similar to those found in HBV particles including a distinct population of molecules with an average density of 1.57 g/cm 3 . Brief endogenous DNA polymerase reactions with particles from all three livers, resulted in incorporation of 32 P-deoxynucleotides into viral DNA of DNA-RNA hybrid as well as viral DNA molecules. When the reaction was continued in the presence of a 1000-fold molar excess of unlabeled deoxynucleotides, a decrease in [ 32 P]DNA in the DNA-RNA hybrid region of the Cs 2 SO 4 density gradient and a proportional increase in [ 32 P]DNA in the DNA region of the gradient was observed. This effect was seen most dramatically with particles isolated from freshly obtained ground squirrel hepatitis virus-infected livers in which 90% of the pulse labeled DNA in the hybrid species at the buoyant density of 1.57 g/cm 3 appeared to be converted to a form with the buoyant density of pure DNA (1.42 g/cm 3 ). Storage of virus particles at 4°, or prior freezing of infected ground squirrel liver almost completely abolished the ability of the endogenous DNA polymerase activity to incorporate 32 P-deoxynucleotides into hybrid molecules, while incorporation into DNA molecules was apparently unaffected. These results suggest that different enzymatic activities catalyze synthesis of the viral DNA in DNA-RNA hybrids and in molecules with buoyant density of pure DNA. Thus particles from infected liver synthesize DNA of DNA-RNA hybrid molecules which can be converted in the particles into molecules with the buoyant density of pure DNA. This indicates that DNA-RNA hybrids may be intermediates in viral DNA replication and that the mechanism of hepatitis B virus (and closely related viruses of ground squirrels and ducks) DNA replication differs from that known for other DNA viruses.
Recycling measurements in the Texas Experimental Tokamak

Abstract Recycling was investigated as a function of density, plasma current, and toroidal field in the Texas Experimental Tokamak, an ohmically heated, edge-fueled device with a full aperture poloidal limiter. Estimates for the recycling contribution to the plasma particle inventory were inferred from a particle accounting which employed measurements of the number of ionization events in the plasma and in the scrape-off layer, the total number of electrons in the plasma, and the neutral gas influx from the gas feed. Isotopic changeover experiments were used to further characterize recycling and to derive the contribution to the plasma particle inventory from the neutrals held both in the wall bulk and on the wall surface. A model was used to estimate the number of neutrals trapped in the wall as well as to examine the interactions of the major plasma participants in recycling — ions, fast neutrals, and slow neutrals.
Distributed simulation for power system analysis including shipboard systems

Abstract Power systems are distributed in nature. Often they can be divided into sections or groups and treated separately. Terrestrial power systems are divided into separate utilities and are controlled by different regional transmission organization (RTO). Each RTO has detailed data for the area under its control, but only limited data and boundary measurements of the external network. Additionally, shipboard power systems may be divided into sections where local information is kept but not distributed to other parts of the system. Thus, performing a comprehensive power system analysis in such a case is challenging. Also, simulating a large-scale power system with detailed modeling of the components causes a heavy computational burden. One possible way of relieving this problem is to decouple the network into subsystems and solve the subsystems respectively, and then combine the results of the subsystems to get the solution. The way to decouple the network and represent the missing part will affect the result greatly. Also, due to information distribution in the dispatch or data centers, a problem of doing power system analysis with limited available data arises. The equivalent for other networks needs to be constructed to analyze the power system. In this paper, a distributed simulation algorithm is proposed to handle the issues above. A history of distributed simulation is briefly introduced. A generalized coupling method dealing with natural coupling is proposed. Distributed simulation models are developed and demonstrated in the virtual test bed (VTB). The models are tested with different network configurations. The test results are presented and analyzed. The performance of the distributed simulation is compared with the steady state and time domain simulation results.
Secondary syringe exchange among users of 23 California syringe exchange programs.

This article describes the secondary syringe exchange (SSE) practices of injection drug users (IDUs) attending 23 syringe exchange programs (SEPs) in the state of California during 2002 (n = 539). The sample was primarily heroin injecting, about two thirds male, half White and half other racial/ethnic groups. Participants were interviewed with a structured questionnaire that included items on sociodemographic factors, drug use practices, sexual practices, use of SEP and other social services, and satisfaction with SEP services. Interviews lasted about 30 minutes. SSE was highly prevalent: 75% of IDUs reported participating in SSE in the 6 months before interview. Program characteristics, such as legal status, SSE policy, and exchange policy, did not affect the prevalence of SSE among SEP clients. Infectious disease risk behaviors were significantly more common among SSE participants than nonparticipants. SSE participants were more likely to share syringes (p <. 001) and cookers (p <. 001) in the previous ...
Empath: a continuous remote emotional health monitoring system for depressive illness

Depression is a major health issue affecting over 21 million American adults that often goes untreated, and even when undergoing treatment it is hard to monitor the effectiveness of the treatment. To address these issues, we have created a real-time depression monitoring system for the home. This system runs 24/7 and can potentially detect the early signs of a depression episode, as well track progress managing a depressive illness. A cohesive set of integrated wireless sensors, a touch screen station, mobile device, and associated software deliver the above capabilities. The data collected are multi-modal, spanning a number of different behavioral domains including sleep, weight, activities of daily living, and speech prosody. The reports generated by this aggregated data across multiple behavioral domains are aimed to provide caregivers with more accurate and thorough information about the client's current functioning, thus helping in their diagnostic assessment and therapeutic treatment planning as well for patients in the management and tracking of their symptoms. We present data of a case study showing the value of the system, deployed over a period of two weeks in a home during a depressive episode. Larger scale studies are planned for the future.
Usefulness of B-Type Natriuretic Peptide Assay in the Assessment of Symptomatic State in Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy

Background— Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) has a diverse clinical spectrum that often includes progressive heart failure symptoms and disability. Assessment of symptom severity may be highly subjective, encumbered by the heterogeneous clinical presentation. Plasma B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) has been used widely as an objective marker for heart failure severity and outcome, predominantly in coronary heart disease with ventricular dilatation and systolic dysfunction. Methods and Results— We prospectively assessed plasma BNP as a quantitative clinical marker of heart failure severity in 107 consecutive HCM patients. BNP showed a statistically significant relationship to magnitude of functional limitation, assessed by New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class: I, 136±159 pg/mL; II, 338±439 pg/mL; and III/IV, 481±334 pg/mL (P<0.001). Multivariable analysis showed that BNP was independently related to NYHA class as well as age and left ventricular wall thickness (each with a value of P=0.0001)...
Band Gap of Forsterite

Optical absorption and reflectivity measurements on synthetic forsterite show that this silicate has a wide band gap of the order of 8.4 electron volts; thus it resembles other pure insulating oxides such as MgO. For natural olivines, in which divalent cations, mainly Fe2+, can replace Mg2+, all the optical absorption bands between the lattice overtones in the infrared and the first excitonic transition at 8.4 electron volts are due to the presence of iron.
Indications for caesarean sections at ≥34 weeks among nulliparous women and differential composite maternal and neonatal morbidity

Objective To compare composite maternal and neonatal morbidities (CMM, CNM) among nulliparous women with primary indications for caesarean section (CS) as acute clinical emergency (group I; ACE), non-reassuring fetal heart rate (group II) and arrest disorder (group III). Design A multicentre prospective study. Setting Nineteen academic centres in the USA, with deliveries in 1999–2002. Population Nulliparous women (n = 9829) that had CS. Methods Nulliparous women undergoing CS for three categories of indications were compared using logistic regression model, adjusted for five variables. Main outcome measures CMM was defined as the presence of any of the following: intrapartum or postpartum transfusion, uterine rupture, hysterectomy, cystotomy, ureteral or bowel injury or death; CNM was defined as the presence of any of the following: umbilical arterial pH <7.00, neonatal seizure, cardiac, hepatic, renal dysfunction, hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy or neonatal death. Results The primary reasons for CS were ACE in 1% (group I, n = 114) non-reassuring FHR in 29% (group II; n = 2822) and failed induction/dystocia in the remaining 70% (group III; n = 6893). The overall risks of CMM and CNM were 2.5% (95% confidence intervals, CI, 2.2–2.8%) and 1.9% (95% CI 1.7–2.2), respectively. The risk of CMM was higher in group I than in group II (RR 4.1, 95% CI 3.1, 5.3), and group III (RR 3.2, 95% CI 2.7, 3.7). The risk of CNM was also higher in group I than in group II (RR 2.8, 95% CI 2.3, 3.4) and group III (RR 14.1, 95% CI 10.7, 18.7). Conclusions Nulliparous women who have acute clinically emergent caesarean sections are at the highest risks of both composite maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality.
Periodic boundary value problem for integrodifferential equations of hammerstein type

A general comparison result is developed for first order integrodifferential inequality of Hammerstein type with periodic boundary condition. It is then used to construct monotone sequences to give out the maximal and minimal solutions of a given PBVP of a first order integrodifferential equation of Hammerstein type, in which the increasingness of the right hand side function in the argument containing the integral operator is not assumed.
Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy: Biventricular Pacing

Although the estimates from limited studies vary on the proportion of patients with heart failure who also have ventricular dyssynchrony as reflected by a prolonged QRS complex, often in the form of left bundle branch block, the number of such patients is large (27% to 53%) and it is certainly in excess of the rate for the general population. Among these patients, 10% to 15% are candidates for cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) via biventricular pacing. Accumulated evidence from randomized controlled studies over the last few years has indicated that significant hemodynamic and clinical improvement is conferred by CRT to the class III or IV heart failure patients with idiopathic or ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy and who also have a low left ventricular ejection fraction (≤35%) and a wide QRS complex (≥120-150 ms). Newer data suggest a significant reduction in mortality and heart failure hospitalization, particularly when CRT is combined with an automatic defibrillator backup. This technique has transformed the traditional concepts associated with stimulation of the heart, and it is now being applied not only to restore an appropriate heart rate, but also to change the process of cardiac mechanical activation. Since this treatment must be integrated within a comprehensive and multidisciplinary CHF management program, CRT has altered the medical practice of heart experts in the field of cardiac pacing. Technical advances with percutaneous methods that access the tributaries of the cardiac veins have raised the success rate of implanting left ventricular leads to >90%. Further confirmation from ongoing trials is eagerly awaited, and more data from the studies on this procedure’s cost effectiveness are needed before CRT is considered as a prime therapy in the heart failure population. (Korean Circulation J 2006;36:329-336)
Trademark rights in gray markets

Parallel importation, the selling of trademarked products through unauthorized distribution channels, can erode trademark image, strain channel relationships and disrupt global planning efforts. With the recent changes in federal court precedent and the landmark 1998 L’Anza Supreme Court decision, the legal rights associated with trademarked products in gray markets have forever changed. Therefore, the authors review the current status of regulatory and judicial decisions affecting gray marketing activities to provide a practical framework for marketing managers. Legal and nonlegal suggestions, for the protection of trademarks in gray market competition, are offered.
Comparison of three multicriteria methods to predict known outcomes

Abstract Major approaches to selection decisions include multiattribute utility theory and outranking methods. One of the most frustrating aspects of research in the relative performance of these methods is that data where the final outcome is known is not available. In the US, a great deal of effort has been devoted to statistically recording detailed performance characteristics of major league professional baseball. Every year there has been two to four seasonal competitions, with known outcome in terms of the proportion of contests won. Successful teams often have diverse characteristics, emphasizing different characteristics. SMART, PROMETHEE, and a centroid method were applied to baseball data over the period 1901–1991. Baseball has undergone a series of changes in style over that period, and different physical and administrative characteristics. Therefore the data was divided into decades, with the first five years used as a training set, and the last five years used for data collection. Regression was used to develop the input for preference selection in each method. Single-attribute utilities for criteria performance were generated from the first five years of data from each set. Relative accuracy of multicriteria methods was compared over 114 competitive seasons for both selecting the winning team, as well as for rank-ordering all teams. All the methods have value in supporting human decision making. PROMETHEE II using Gaussian preference functions and SMART were found to be the most accurate. The centroid method and PROMETHEE II using ordinal data were found to involve little sacrifice in predictive accuracy.
Intraplate Earthquakes, Lithospheric Stresses and the Driving Mechanism of Plate Tectonics

Focal mechanisms of about eighty intraplate earthquakes and other information on in situ stress indicate that the interiors of many lithospheric plates are characterised by large horizontal compressive stresses. These stresses seem to be related to the driving mechanism of plate tectonics.
Pain problems in young adults and pain reduction strategies.

The purpose of this study was to survey young adults about their pain and pain treatments to identify ways to decrease risk for chronic pain. The sample consisted of 89 young adults between the ages of 18 and 25 who had experienced some pain during the past month and who did not have a chronic condition commonly associated with a pain problem. Community dwelling young adults were screened for eligibility and administered the Brief Pain Inventory Short Form (BPI-SF) during a face-to-face interview. They were asked to describe the intensity of their pain during the past month using the 0 to 10 numeric scales from the BPI-SF. A pilot study supported these methods. Participants reported their worst pain as M = 6.5 (SD = 1.71), their average pain as M = 4.1 (SD = 1.85), and their least pain intensity as M = 1.8 (SD = 1.68). They reported 20 different self-treatments for their pain. Although 56.2% used nonopioid analgesics, 22.5% used no pain treatments. Participants reported 61.3% pain relief from self-treatments. Young women used analgesics more often than young men (64.9% and 40.6%, respectively, Chi;(2) [1] = 4.91, p <.03). Pain moderately interfered with their mood (M = 4.1; SD = 3.00) and general lives (M = 3.9; SD = 2.42). Identifying young adults at risk for chronic pain provides the first step in educating them about effective ways to prevent chronic pain. Results from this study provide some initial groundwork for educational interventions to prevent chronic pain in young adults.
Multisystem Damage Associated With Tricorporal Priapism in Sickle Cell Disease

Abstract purpose: Priapism is an uncommon but debilitating complication of sickle cell disease (SCD). Recent observations among adult males regarding the abysmal failure of medical and surgical therapy encouraged us to review our 25-year experience identifying the prognostic features that might determine outcome. patients and methods: As part of a prospective 25-year longitudinal demographic and clinical cohort study, a subset of 38 (8.2%) patients with priapism were identified among a cohort of 461 men with SCD. The patients with priapism were compared with the nonaffected men with respect to severity of disease expression, hematologic status, β globin gene haplotype, and the incidence of sickle-related major organ failure. The influence of the treatment modalities on outcome was also evaluated. results: Priapism occurred as a single episode in 24 patients, and in 14 as temporally clustered repeat episodes. Eighty-seven percent of those with priapism had sickle cell anemia (SS), an increased risk as compared with other variants of SCD (p = conclusion: Priapism in adult males identifies those at high risk for other sickle cell-related organ failure syndromes and, as such, is another complication indicative of severe disease. The dismal prognosis in SS adults requires better understanding of the precise pathophysiology of low-flow tricorporal priapism. Clarification of the mechanisms inducing the priapic state should lead to specific therapeutic maneuvers and an improved prognosis for this disabling condition.
Corporate social responsibility and the oil industry: Theory and perspective fuel a longitudinal view

Abstract To gain an in-depth theoretically-grounded understanding of managing corporate social responsibility (CSR), the current study offers four key propositions for CSR theory development: (1) Living corporate social responsibility from the inside out, (2) Earning trust of the public and the media, (3) Giving back as a community citizen, and (4) Accepting that we’re all in this together, but still unique. Also offered are five best practices for public relations in the oil industry. All emerged during in-depth interviews with three senior public relations managers of a leading independent US oil company; executives who have navigated CSR decision making and practices through nearly five decades (1966–2010) at different points in time. In the wake of two massive 2010 oil spill crises in North American waters that garnered extensive media attention, findings are particularly relevant for advancing CSR theory and for providing complex insider perspectives less traveled in the public relations literature.
In vitro metabolism of progestins. III. The metabolic clearance rate of medroxyprogesterone acetate in monkeys

3H-medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) was synthesized by selective catalytic tritiation of the delta1-olefinic bond of 6alpha-methyl-17alpha-hydroxy-pregna-1,4-diene-3,20-dione acetate. The metabolic clearance rate of MPA (MCRMPA) was determined in 9 female Rhesus monkeys by the single injection technique. The blood MCRMPA was 201 +/- 19 L/day (42.2 +/- 4.0 L/day/kg) which was approximately the same as that reported for progesterone clearance in the monkey. We conclude that a greater biological activity of MPA compared to progesterone cannot be related to its prolonged retention in the blood. Although both MPA and amino-glutethimide alter the rate of steroid metabolism in some species, neither of these agents influences the metabolic clearance rate of 3H-MPA in the monkey.
Genetic analysis of diagnostic systems of alcoholism in males

Background: Research into genes involved in alcoholism could benefit from use of diagnostic systems most sensitive to detecting genetic influences. In this study, heritable influences were estimated in a single twin sample with commonly used criteria for alcoholism. Methods: Male twin probands ascertained through alcohol and drug abuse treatment programs and their same-sex cotwins (54 monozygotic and 65 dizygotic pairs) were diagnosed independently by DSM-III (alcohol dependence and alcohol abuse and/or dependence), Feighner (probable and definite alcoholism), and Cloninger (type 1 and type 2 alcoholism) systems. Using univariate structural equation modeling, heritability was estimated for each diagnostic system. Results: The highest heritability estimates were obtained for Feighner probable alcoholism (h 2 = .63), Cloninger type 2 alcoholism (h 2 = .54), and DSM-III alcohol dependence (h 2 = .52). Conclusions: Certain diagnostic systems appear to have greater sensitivity for detecting genetic influence and may therefore be more appropriate for use in molecular genetic studies attempting to find genes for alcoholism.
Organization of retinogeniculate projections in turtles of the genera Pseudemys and Chrysemys.

Organization of retinal projections to the dorsal lateral geniculate complex in turtles has been studied by means of light and electron microscopic axon tracing techniques. Orthograde degeneration studies with Fink-Heimer methods following restricted retinal lesions show the entire retina has a topologically organized projection to the contralateral dorsal lateral geniculate complex. The nasotemporal axis of the retina projects along the rostrocaudal axis of the geniculate complex; the dorsoventral axis of the retina projects along the dorsoventral axis of the geniculate complex. The projection to the ipsilateral dorsal lateral geniculate complex originates from the ventral, temporal and nasal edges of the retina. The nasotemporal axis of the ipsilateral retina projects along the rostrocaudal axis of the geniculate complex. It was not possible to determine the orientation of the dorsoventral axis of the ipsilateral retina on the geniculate complex. Light microscopic autoradiographic tracing experiments and electron microscopic degeneration experiments show the retinogeniculate projection has a laminar organization. Retinogeniculate terminals are found in both the neuropile and cell plate throughout all three subnuclei of the dorsal lateral geniculate complex but have a distinctive distribution in each sub-nucleus. In the subnucleus ovalis, they are frequent in both the neuropile and cell plate which forms the rostra1 pole of the complex. In the dorsal subnucleus, they are most prevalent in the outer part of the neuropile layer, less frequent in the inner part of the neuropile, and rare in the cell plate. In the ventral subnucleus, they are frequent in the outer part of the neuropile but are also common in the inner part of the neuropile and cell plate. These observations point to several principles of geniculate organization in turtles. First, the complex receives projections from the entire contralateral retina and a segment of the ipsilateral retina. It thus has monocular and binocular segments that together receive a topologically organized representation of the binocular visual space and the contralateral monocular visual space. Second, the three geniculate subnuclei receive information from different, specialized regions of the retina and visual space. Subnucleus ovalis receives information from the frontal binocular visual field. The ventral subnucleus receives information from the caudal binocular field. The dorsal subnucleus receives input from the contralateral monocular field. Third, there is a lamination of retinal inputs in the geniculate complex which differs in character within the three subnuclei. It apparently results in particular distributions of retinal and cortical inputs along the receptive surfaces of geniculate neurons.
3 Mechanisms of environmentally-assisted cracking

The initial objective of the Mechanisms Subcommittee of the International Cooperative Group on Cyclic Crack Growth (ICCGR) was to define theoretically the maximum crack propagation rate for low alloy steels undergoing fatigue loading in Light Water Reactor environments. This task was prompted by the observation that the current crack growth rate values in the ASME XI life evaluation code could be exceeded under certain system conditions; for instance, a high sulphur content steel cyclically loaded at low frequency in low flow rate water at 288{sup 0}C. Subsequently, the scope of the subcommittee was extended to cover both static and cyclic loading conditions (i.e. stress corrosion and corrosion fatigue), and emphasis was placed on theoretically substantiating alternative life evaluation codes which recognise, for instance, the time dependent nature of corrosion-dominated crack propagation phenomena. The work of the subcommittee is reviewed. (author).
Synthesis, redox properties, and X-ray diffraction structure of the platinum catecholate complex Pt(1,5-COD)(1,2-O2C6H4)

The new compound Pt(1,5-COD)(1,2-O2C6H4)(1) (where COD=cyclooctadiene) has been prepared from the reaction between Pt(1,5-COD)Cl2 and the disodium salt of catechol. Pt(1,5-COD)(1,2-O2C6H4) has been isolated and structurally characterized by X-ray diffraction analysis, which confirms the monomeric nature of this compound and the chelating mode adopted by the ancillary 1,5-COD and catecholate ligands. Pt(1,5-COD)(1,2-O2C6H4) crystallized in the monoclinic space groupP21/n,a=10.208(1) A,b=10.3829(8) A,c=11.473(2) A, β=103.817(9)°,V=1180.9(2) A3,Z=4,d calc=2.314 g·cm−3;R=0.0307,R w =0.0445 for 1216 observed reflections withI>3σ(I). Cyclic voltammetric studies on1 reveal an irreversible oxidation (E =0.78 V) and an irreversible reduction (E =−1.99 V) in CH2Cl2 solution. The nature of the HOMO and LUMO in Pt(1,5-COD)(1,2-O2C6H4) was examined by using the model compound Pt(ethylene)2(1,2-O2C6H4), with the results discussed relative to compound1.
Peanut Web Blotch: II Symptoms and Host Range of Pathogen1

Abstract Web blotch, caused by Phoma arachidicola, has varied in severity from year to year in Texas, depending on survival of inoculum on peanut crop residue, presence of susceptible peanut cultivars and suitable environmental conditions, especially favorable temperature and high relative humidity. The web and blotch symptoms may develop in sequence on the same leaflet or independently on different leaflets. At relative humidities below 80% within the plant canopy, the fungal hyphae grew under the leaf cuticle causing a web-type symptom. At relative humidities above 90%, hyphal strands grew more repidly and branched extensively in the leaf resulting in the blotch-type symptom. P. arachidicola isolates from South Africa, Argentina, and the USA were all pathogenic and caused similar symptoms. Of 32 legumes, peanut, sweetclover, hairy vetch and alfalfa were the most susceptible. Symptoms on hosts other than peanuts consisted of small necrotic spots. A hypersensitive reaction developed on eight legumes. Typi...
Severe thrombocytopenia as a result of contrast left ventricular angiography

A case report of a 29-year-old Hispanic male who developed an acute thrombocytopenic reaction immediately following a cardiac catheterization using Hypaque-M radiographic dye. Laboratory studies immediately post-catheterization revealed a platelet count of 11,000 with a subsequent further drop to a low of 4,000. A need for the prompt identification and possible causes of this unusual reaction are discussed. Recovery occurred following treatment with corticosteroids.
Early responses of SiHa human squamous carcinoma cells to hypoxic signals

We compared the responses of c-Jun/AP-1 transcriptional complexes with those of NF-kappa B, an established hypoxia-inducible transcriptional complex, in hypoxic SiHa human squamous carcinoma cells. We observed that NF-kappa B was activated rapidly, while AP-1 activation was detectable only after prolonged hypoxia. However, in parallel with NF-kappa B activation, hypoxia induced a protein kinase activity that could phosphorylate the transactivation domain of the ATF-2 transcription factor in vitro. Taken together, these experiments indicate that NF-kappa B can rapidly transduce hypoxic signals through increased DNA-binding and transactivation activities, whereas specific AP-1 (ATF-2/c-Jun) complexes may be activated under the same hypoxic conditions by a stress-reponsive MAPK pathway.
Activation of a novel palmitoyltransferase ZDHHC14 in acute biphenotypic leukemia and subsets of acute myeloid leukemia.

Activation of a novel palmitoyltransferase ZDHHC14 in acute biphenotypic leukemia and subsets of acute myeloid leukemia
A DEVICE FOR GROWING BACTERIAL POPULATIONS UNDER STEADY STATE CONDITIONS

A device for maintaining an exponentially growing population of bacteria in the steady state at maximal growth rates is described.
Reliability of using reagent test strips to estimate blood urea nitrogen concentration in dogs and cats.

Objective—To evaluate the clinical accuracy of reagent test strips used to estimate BUN concentration in dogs and cats. Design—Prospective study. Animals—116 dogs and 58 cats. Procedure—Blood samples were collected at the time of admission to the hospital. Estimates of BUN concentration obtained with reagent test strips (category 1 [5 to 15 mg/dL], 2 [15 to 26 mg/dL], 3 [30 to 40 mg/dL], or 4 [50 to 80 mg/dL]) were compared with SUN concentrations measured with an automated analyzer. For dogs, category 1 and 2 test strip results were considered a negative result (nonazotemic) and category 3 and 4 test strip results were considered a positive result (azotemic). For cats, category 1, 2, and 3 test strip results were considered a negative result (nonazotemic) and category 4 test strip results were considered a positive result (azotemic). Results—On the basis of SUN concentration, 40 of the 174 (23%) animals (20 dogs and 20 cats) were classified as azotemic. One dog and 2 cats had falsenegative test strip res...
Sulfur, oxygen, and nitrogen mustards: stability and reactivity.

Mustard gas, bis(β-chloroethyl) sulfide (HD), is highly toxic and harmful to humans and the environment. It comprises one class of chemical warfare agents (CWAs) that was used in both World Wars I and II. The three basic analogues or surrogates are: the monochloro derivative, known as the half mustard, 2-chloroethyl ethyl sulfide (CEES); an oxygen analogue, bis(β-chloroethyl) ether (BCEE); and several nitrogen analogues based on the 2,2′-dichlorodiethylamine framework (e.g., HN1, HN2, and HN3). The origin of their toxicity is considered to be from the formation of three-membered heterocyclic ions, a reaction that is especially accelerated in aqueous solution. The reaction of these cyclic ion intermediates with a number of important biological species such as DNA, RNA and proteins causes cell toxicity and is responsible for the deleterious effects of the mustards. While a number of studies have been performed over the last century to determine the chemistry of these compounds, early studies suffered from a lack of more sophisticated NMR and X-ray techniques. It is now well-established that the sulfur and nitrogen mustards are highly reactive in water, while the oxygen analog is much more stable. In this study, we review and summarize results from previous studies, and add results of our own studies of the reactivity of these mustards toward various nonaqueous solvents and nucleophiles. In this manner a more comprehensive evaluation of the stability and reactivity of these related mustard compounds is achieved.
Two-stage PPLN parametric amplification for higher conversion efficiency

ABSTRACT We present a numerical model of a multi-crystal approach that increases the quantum efficiency of a parametric amplifier. Here is a two-crystal appr oach where the second stage crystal uses the signal energy from the first stage to amplify the desired idler wavelength. The numerical mode l allows for arbitrary input beam profiles and it can accommodate multiple crystals and optical el ements. In this study a pair of PPLN crystals was modeled leading to more than double the idler output energy. The maximum M 2 value for the output idler beam calculated was 5.2 . Keywords: Nonlinear optics, parametric processes, Frequency conv ersion, Optical parametric oscillators and amplifiers 1. INTRODUCTION The process of difference frequency generation (DFG) between two inputs in a single nonlinear optical crystal is optimum when the process is phasematched. Other considerations such as walk-off by one or both input beams can also adversely affect the energy conversion. People have long been working with two crystal stage systems, devised in such a way that the walk-off cancels out each other altogether in end.
Improving underserved children's access to health care: practitioners' views

This article describes the results of three focus groups conducted with a variety of children's health care providers in a county in the southeastern United States. The purpose of the research was to investigate practitioners' views on the barriers impeding access to health care for medically underserved children. The focus groups were the third phase of a larger study designed to collect data on communication patterns among children's health care providers as well as information on children's access to care. The results include suggestions for actions practitioners can take to improve medically underserved children's access to health care.
Folic Acid Fortification Increases Red Blood Cell Folate Concentrations in the Framingham Study

In 1996 the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a regulation to take effect in January 1998 that all enriched cereal grain products include 140 microg of folic acid/100 g. The present cross-sectional study was undertaken to assess the effect of this fortification on RBC folate concentrations in the Framingham Offspring Cohort. Among those who did not take B-vitamin supplements, we compared RBC folate in 561 individuals who were examined before implementation of the FDA mandatory folic acid fortification (not exposed) vs. 354 individuals who were examined after implementation of fortification (exposed). We calculated the prevalence of deficient ( 200 microg/L, 453.2 nmol/L) RBC folate concentrations in both groups. Those exposed to folic acid fortification had a mean RBC folate of 450.0 microg/L (1019.7 nmol/L), a value 38% higher than the mean RBC folate of 325.3 microg/L (737.1 nmol/L) in those who were not exposed to fortification (P < 0.001). The prevalence of individuals with deficient RBC folate was 4.9% in the group not exposed to fortification compared with 1.9% in the group exposed to fortification (P < 0.02), and the prevalence of individuals with acceptable RBC folate was 87.0% in the group not exposed to fortification compared with 96.1% in the group exposed to fortification (P < 0.001). Similar results were seen in individuals who used supplements containing B-vitamins. The results of this study showed that in this cohort, the introduction of folic acid fortification significantly improved folate nutritional status measured as RBC folate.
Modeling Vehicle Ingress and Egress Using the Human Motion Simulation Framework

The ease of getting into and out of passenger cars and light trucks is a critical component of customer acceptance and product differentiation. In commercial vehicles, the health and safety of drivers is affected by the design of the steps and handholds they use to get into and out of the cab. Ingress/egress assessment appears to represent a substantial application opportunity for digital human models. The complexity of the design space and the range of possible biomechanical and subjective measures of interest mean that developing useful empirical models is difficult, requiring large-scale subject testing with physical mockups. Yet, ingress and egress motions are complex and strongly affected by the geometric constraints and driver attributes, posing substantial challenges in creating meaningful simulations using figure models. Previous approaches to simulating ingress and egress have focused on the modification of stored motions from laboratory studies to achieve complex motion simulations. This paper presents a new approach using the Human Motion Simulation Framework, an integrated, modular, hierarchical system designed to provide flexible control for simulating both common and novel movements in any human figure model.
Photorefractive polymers for holography

This review describes the current state-of-the-art of photorefractive polymers for holography. The analysis of this rich field begins with a brief historical perspective followed by descriptions of prevailing physical models relating basic parameters of the polymer constituents to the bulk response of the final device. Methods for probing these responses and the underlying phenomena are discussed followed by an overview of the recent holographic applications of photorefractive polymers. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2014, 52, 193–231
CVC light syllables, geminates and Moraic Theory*

The functional equivalence of CVV and CVC syllables, as opposed to CV syllables, is a time-honoured observation holding true for numerous languages over a variety of phonological and morphological phenomena, including stress assignment (cf. Newman 1972 for a review). Traditionally, the opposition between the two types of syllables has been informally described by reference to syllable weight: CVV and CVC syllables are heavy, CV syllables are light (e.g. La Grasserie 1909: 31–32). It has also been observed, however, that in languages sensitive to the CV/CVV distinction, CVC syllables do not necessarily pattern with CVV syllables, but may instead pattern with CV syllables, thus counting as light rather than heavy (Hyman 1985: 5–6; McCarthy & Prince 1986: 32–34; Hayes 1989: 255–256).
AUDITORY EVENT-RELATED POTENTIALS WHILE IGNORING TONE STIMULI: ATTENTIONAL DIFFERENCES REFLECTED IN STIMULUS INTENSITY AND LATENCY RESPONSES IN LOW AND HIGHLY HYPNOTIZABLE PERSONS

Effect of hypnotic susceptibility level on auditory event-related potentials (AERPs) was studied as subjects were instructed to ignore tones while reading a novel or counting one's pulse. Assessed previously on two hypnotic susceptibility scales [Harvard Group Scale of Hypnotic Susceptibility; Stanford Hypnotic Susceptibility Scale, Form C (SHSSC)], subjects were 12 low (lows; SHSSC 0-2) and 12 highly (highs; SHSSC 9-12) hypnotizable, right-handed college students. AERPs were recorded at C3, C4, and Cz to 50 ms 1, 961 tone pips 50, 60, 70 and 80 dB intensities, pseudorandomly presented at 1.5 intervals. As predicted, highs had significantly smaller N1 and P2 amplitudes than did lows when ignoring tones. As stimuli intensities increased, N1 latencies decreased for lows while Nl latencies increased for highs. N1 latency slopes across the 50 to 80 dB intensities were significantly more negative for lows than highs; slopes correlated significantly with both hypnotizability and absorption (Tellegen Absorption ...
Stability of solutions to a reaction diffusion system based upon chemical reaction kinetics

In this paper, we deal with the stability problem to some mathematical models that describe chemical reaction kinetics. One is a set of ordinary differential equations induced by one reversible chemical reaction mechanism containing three chemical species. The other is a set of reaction diffusion equations based on the same chemical reaction. We show that all solutions of the model are asymptotically stable by applying the Liapunov method. We thus find that the concentration of each species has certain limits as time proceeds.
Near-Field Direct Antenna Modulation (NFDAM) transmitter at 2.4GHz

A Near-Field Direct Antenna Modulation (NFDAM) transmitter at 2.4GHz is demonstrated on a microstrip setting. The transmitter is capable of transmitting information in a direction-dependent fashion by sending the correct signal constellation only in the desired direction while leaving the signal constellation points scrambled in undesired directions. This direction-dependent constellation scrambling nature of the NFDAM systems prevents undesired receivers to correctly demodulate the signal transmitted to a desired receiver at a specific direction.
Operations Useful for Similarity-Invariant Pattern Recognition

Abstract : Some ideas for position- and size-invariant two-dimensional pattern recognition are discussed. They lead, in some cases, to easily mechanized operations. An application to detection of straight lines is proposed. (Author)
Structural Basis of Transcription: Nucleotide Selection by Rotation in the RNA Polymerase II Active Center

Binding of a ribonucleoside triphosphate to an RNA polymerase II transcribing complex, with base pairing to the template DNA, was revealed by X-ray crystallography. Binding of a mismatched nucleoside triphosphate was also detected, but in an adjacent site, inverted with respect to the correctly paired nucleotide. The results are consistent with a two-step mechanism of nucleotide selection, with initial binding to an entry (E) site beneath the active center in an inverted orientation, followed by rotation into the nucleotide addition (A) site for pairing with the template DNA. This mechanism is unrelated to that of single subunit RNA polymerases and so defines a new paradigm for the large, multisubunit enzymes. Additional findings from these studies include a third nucleotide binding site that may define the length of backtracked RNA; DNA double helix unwinding in advance of the polymerase active center; and extension of the diffraction limit of RNA polymerase II crystals to 2.3 A.
Keratocyte behavior in three-dimensional photopolymerizable poly(ethylene glycol) hydrogels

The goal of this study was to evaluate three-dimensional (3-D) poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) hydrogels as a culture system for studying corneal keratocytes. Bovine keratocytes were subcultured in DMEM/F-12 containing 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS) through passage 5. Primary keratocytes (P0) and corneal fibroblasts from passages 1 (P1) and 3 (P3) were photoencapsulated at various cell concentrations in PEG hydrogels via brief exposure to light. Additional hydrogels contained adhesive YRGDS and nonadhesive YRDGS peptides. Hydrogel constructs were cultured in DMEM/F-12 with 10% FBS for 2 and 4 weeks. Cell viability was assessed by DNA quantification and vital staining. Biglycan, type I collagen, type III collagen, keratocan and lumican expression were determined by reverse transcriptase–polymerase chain reaction. Deposition of type I collagen, type III collagen and keratan sulfate (KS)-containing matrix components was visualized using confocal microscopy. Keratocytes in a monolayer lost their stellate morphology and keratocan expression, displayed elongated cell bodies, and up-regulated biglycan, type I collagen and type III collagen characteristic of corneal fibroblasts. Encapsulated keratocytes remained viable for 4 weeks with spherical morphologies. Hydrogels supported production of KS, type I collagen and type III collagen matrix components. PEG-based hydrogels can support keratocyte viability and matrix production. 3-D hydrogel culture can stabilize but not restore the keratocyte phenotype. This novel application of PEG hydrogels has potential use in the study of corneal keratocytes in a 3-D environment.
The use of multi-variance for likelihood weighted drift estimation in a disciplined oscillator algorithm

Our recent research at JHU/APL has focused on advancing algorithms and software control developments for a next generation, disciplined USO based clock system. This research shows promise that incorporating an in-situ control system for removing USO deterministic frequency error based on multi-variance methods and a Bayesian maximum likelihood estimation (MLE) process could mitigate the burden of post processing spacecraft clock data. We found the effects caused by sudden frequency changes and perturbations could be diminished with a dynamic, multi-variance algorithm used to augment the drift estimation process. We used the complementary aspects of the Allan and Hadamard variance to form an MLE function. We then used the output of the MLE function to drive the weighted decision process of a simulated frequency correction control algorithm. Our paper will discuss the mathematical approach used to formulate the multi-variance MLE and discuss our findings on its implementation in the disciplining algorithm developed from the research. Using laboratory collected USO data, we will show simulated USO timekeeping performance to a maximum time interval error of < 1 µs over 70 days of operation and discuss the impact of frequency anomalies and short term rate changes to the behavior of the multi-variance approach.