cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Slow Violence and the Environmentalism of the Poor

Slow Violence and the Environmentalism of the Poor Rob Nixon Cambridge, Harvard University Press, 2011. 370 pp. (hbk) 978-0674049307 Even if it is not quite accurate to say that the emergent subfie...
Low-Noise CMOS Bandgap Reference Generator Using Two-Level Chopping Technique

This paper presents a low-noise CMOS bandgap reference (BGR) circuit that uses two-level chopping technique to reduce errors caused by non-idealities of the OPAMP used in the design. Input referred offset voltage of the OPAMP is reduced on first level. On second level, OPAMP offset is further reduced along with the low-frequency 1/f noise caused by the input transistors of the two-stage Miller OPAMP. The design is fabricated in a 0.35µm 2P4M CMOS analog process. The proposed BGR was tested in a temperature chamber between -25oC and +125oC. Measurement results showed that the standard deviation of the BGR output voltage without chopping is 7 times higher than that of when chopping is enabled. The proposed two-level chopping technique is verified improving performance characteristics of conventional BGR circuit.
The global impact of supersaturation in a coupled chemistry-climate model

Ice supersaturation is important for understanding condensation in the upper troposphere. Most general circulation models however do not permit supersaturation. In this study, a coupled chemistry climate model, the Whole Atmosphere Community Climate Model (WACCM), is modified to include supersaturation for the ice phase. The study is intended as a sensitivity experiment, to understand the potential impact of supersaturation, and of expected changes to stratospheric water vapor, on climate and chemistry. Results indicate that high clouds decrease and water vapor in the stratosphere increases nearly linearly with supersaturation (20% supersaturation increases water vapor by nearly 20%). The stratospheric Brewer-Dobson circulation slows at high southern latitudes, consistent with slight changes in temperature likely induced by changes to cloud radiative forcing. The cloud changes also cause an increase in the seasonal cycle of near tropopause temperatures, increasing them in boreal summer over boreal winter. There are also impacts on chemistry, with small increases in ozone in the tropical lower stratosphere driven by enhanced production. The radiative impact of changing water vapor is dominated by the reduction in cloud forcing associated with fewer clouds (~+0.6 Wm?2) with a small component likely from radiative effect (greenhouse trapping) of the extra water vapor (~+0.2 Wm?2), consistent with previous work. Representing supersaturation is thus important, and changes to supersaturation resulting from changes in aerosol loading for example, might have a modest impact on global radiative forcing, mostly through changes to clouds. We do not see evidence of a strong impact of water vapor on tropical tropopause temperatures.
Extending Neuropsychological Assessments into the Primary Mental Ability Space

ABSTRACT A battery of 17 neuropsychological tests (including the CERAD battery) and 17 psychometric ability tests were administered to a sample of 499 participants of the Seattle Longitudinal study who had been given the psychometric ability tests seven and 14 years earlier. The neuropsychological tests were projected into a 5-factor psychometric ability space by means of extension analysis. The concurrent regressions of the neuropsychology tests on the psychometric ability tests were then used to estimate neuropsychology test scores from the psychometric ability tests administered in 1984, 1991 and 1998. Neuropsychologists then rated the study participants as either normal, suspect or cognitively impaired in 1998. Changes in estimated test scores were computed over seven and fourteen years. Significant odds ratios between normal and cognitively impaired groups were found for all neuropsychological tests over the proximal period and for most tests over the 14-year period. Similar findings occurred for the...
Microstructure and Morphology of Thermotropic Amphiphilic Liquid Crystalline Materials

Electron microscopy methods have been used to investigate the structure and morphology of a hexagonal columnar mesophase, formed by novel amphiphilic and dendrimeric liquid crystals. Alignment of the columns is examined by a surface condition that is suitable for the molecular architecture. For all the materials investigated, columns aligned perpendicular to an evaporated carbon surface. In the case of asymmetric amphiphilic compounds, planar alignment of asymmetric compounds was induced by a water surface. However, planar alignment on water was not possible for a symmetric dendrimer. Based on analysis of electron diffraction and images, the dimension and the stiffness of columnar assemblies is found to depend on molecular architecture.
Neural correlates of frog calling: preoptic area trigger of ‘mating calling’

1. The mating calling circuits of the leopard frog,Rana pipiens pipiens, can be triggered in an isolated brainstem by electrical stimulation of the anterior preoptic nucleus (Fig. 1). 2. The area most sensitive to stimulation was found to be in the ventral half of the nucleus and was at the lateral border of the preoptic gray (Figs. 2, 3). The ventricular surface was not sensitive to small amplitude stimuli. 3. Gross lesions showed that direct pathways at the ventrolateral border of the central gray, from the stimulation site to the isthmotrigeminal tegmentum, were adequate to trigger the mating calling pattern generator (Fig. 4). 4. A pathway crossing in the region of the ansulate commissure was also identified.
What drove the dramatic retreat of arctic sea ice during summer 2007

[1] A model study has been conducted of the unprecedented retreat of arctic sea ice in the summer of 2007. It is found that preconditioning, anomalous winds, and ice-albedo feedback are mainly responsible for the retreat. Arctic sea ice in 2007 was preconditioned to radical changes after years of shrinking and thinning in a warm climate. During summer 2007 atmospheric changes strengthened the transpolar drift of sea ice, causing more ice to move out of the Pacific sector and the central Arctic Ocean where the reduction in ice thickness due to ice advection is up to 1.5 m more than usual. Some of the ice exited Fram Strait and some piled up in part of the Canada Basin and along the coast of northern Greenland, leaving behind an unusually large area of thin ice and open water. Thin ice and open water allow more surface solar heating because of a much reduced surface albedo, leading to amplified ice melting. The Arctic Ocean lost additional 10% of its total ice mass in which 70% is due directly to the amplified melting and 30% to the unusual ice advection, causing the unprecedented ice retreat. Arctic sea ice has entered a state of being particularly vulnerable to anomalous atmospheric forcing.
Absolute intensities for the Q-branch of the 4ν22 ← 3ν23 (581.776 cm−1) band in carbon dioxide

Abstract Absolute intensity measurements in the Q-branch of the 4 v 2 2 → 3 v 2 3 band of CO 2 at 581.776 cm −1 have been performed using tunable diode laser spectroscopy. It was found that the values listed in the HITRAN [Ref. 1, Rothman et al, JQRST 48 , 537 (1992)] database, which are calculated by direct numerical diagonalization, are 5% higher than those measured here. The vibrational band strength is 4.963(56) × 10 −3 cm −2 atm −1 at 296 K. A vanishing Hermann-Wallis coefficient is adequate to characterize this band up to J = 40.
Deep sequencing the transcriptome reveals seasonal adaptive mechanisms in a hibernating mammal.

Mammalian hibernation is a complex phenotype involving metabolic rate reduction, bradycardia, profound hypothermia, and a reliance on stored fat that allows the animal to survive for months without food in a state of suspended animation. To determine the genes responsible for this phenotype in the thirteen-lined ground squirrel (Ictidomys tridecemlineatus) we used the Roche 454 platform to sequence mRNA isolated at six points throughout the year from three key tissues: heart, skeletal muscle, and white adipose tissue (WAT). Deep sequencing generated approximately 3.7 million cDNA reads from 18 samples (6 time points ×3 tissues) with a mean read length of 335 bases. Of these, 3,125,337 reads were assembled into 140,703 contigs. Approximately 90% of all sequences were matched to proteins in the human UniProt database. The total number of distinct human proteins matched by ground squirrel transcripts was 13,637 for heart, 12,496 for skeletal muscle, and 14,351 for WAT. Extensive mitochondrial RNA sequences enabled a novel approach of using the transcriptome to construct the complete mitochondrial genome for I. tridecemlineatus. Seasonal and activity-specific changes in mRNA levels that met our stringent false discovery rate cutoff (1.0×10−11) were used to identify patterns of gene expression involving various aspects of the hibernation phenotype. Among these patterns are differentially expressed genes encoding heart proteins AT1A1, NAC1 and RYR2 controlling ion transport required for contraction and relaxation at low body temperatures. Abundant RNAs in skeletal muscle coding ubiquitin pathway proteins ASB2, UBC and DDB1 peak in October, suggesting an increase in muscle proteolysis. Finally, genes in WAT that encode proteins involved in lipogenesis (ACOD, FABP4) are highly expressed in August, but gradually decline in expression during the seasonal transition to lipolysis.
Advanced materials for applications in clean power systems: Status and challenges

Progress in the US DOE fuel cell subprogram efforts in polymer electrolyte fuel cells. High-performance membrane supports : A colloidal approach to the consolidation of coarse particles.Comparisons between MgH 2 -and LiH-containing systems for hydrogen storage applications. Influence of surface treatments on microstructure and electrochemical properties of hydrogen-storage alloy. Electrocatalytic properties of carbon supported cobalt phthalocyanine-platinum for methanol electro-oxidation. Electrical and structural properties of nano-crystalline silicon intrinsic layers for nano-crystalline silicon solar cells prepared by very high frequency plasma chemical vapor deposition. Mechanism for SOFC anode degradation from hydrogen sulfide exposure. Mechanical properties and dual atmosphere tolerance of Ag-Al based braze. Anomalous oxidation of ferritic interconnects in solid oxide fuel cells. Shape memory alloy/glass composite seal for solid oxide electrolyzer and fuel cells. Thermal stress analysis of the planar SOFC bonded compliant seal design. Advanced PVD protective coatings for SOFC interconnects. Effects of atmospheres on bonding characteristics of silver and alumina
Changing Breton Responses to Death

Based on field work conducted in Brittany, France, during 1983 and 1984, this article discusses changes in Breton responses to death which have accompanied modernization and economic development in this region. It is suggested that familiarity with death and acceptance of it are being replaced by the “denial of death” characteristic of contemporary Western culture. This is indicated by such changes as the disappearance of the wake in urban centers, the discontinuation of mourning customs, and the increasing tendency to hospitalize the dying. Parallel changes have occurred in the domain of religion and folk-belief. Contemporary Breton worldview is marked by a rigidification of the boundaries dividing the natural from the supernatural, and the world of the living from that of the dead.
Fixed Points of Generalized Contractive Multi-valued Mappings

In a recent paper N. Mizoguchi and W. Takahashi gave a positive answer to the conjecture of S. Reich concerning the existence of fixed points of multi-valued mappings that satisfy a certain contractive condition. In this paper, we provide an alternative and somewhat more straightforward proof for the theorem of Mizoguchi and Takahashi. Also the problems associated with fixed points of weakly contractive multi-valued mappings are studied. Finally, we make a few comments that improve other results from their paper (J. Math. Anal. Appl. 141 (1989), 177-188).
Letter by Sullivan regarding article, "HFE C282Y homozygosity is associated with lower total and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol: the hemochromatosis and iron overload screening study"

To the Editor: Adams et al1 report lower serum cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein levels in hemochromatosis patients homozygous for C282Y. They suggest a role for excess iron in this effect; however, ironically, an alternative mechanism may involve a relative lack of intracellular iron in certain cell types in homozygous patients. The classical finding of parenchymal iron loading …
Biochemical and molecular analysis in a patient with the severe form of Hunter syndrome after bone marrow transplantation

Hunter syndrome (mucopolysaccharidosis type II, or MPS II) results from a deficiency of iduronate-2-sulfatase (IDS) activity due to a primary genetic defect in the X-chromosomal iduronate-2-sulfatase gene. We have studied a 10-year-old male, diagnosed with Hunter syndrome at age 2 years, who underwent bone marrow transplantation (BMT) at age 5 years. To evaluate the metabolic effect of BMT, biochemical and enzymatic studies were performed. Urinary glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) were quantitated, and iduronate-2-sulfatase activity was measured in serum, leukocytes, and liver homogenates. Decreased urinary glycosaminoglycan excretion and increased iduronate-2-sulfatase activity in serum and leukocytes were observed. Furthermore, molecular analysis was performed using reverse transcriptional polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) sequencing and restriction enzyme assay. The patient was found to have a novel nonsense mutation, L279X (TTA to TGA) in exon 6 of the IDS gene, inherited from his mother. A comparison of the DNA contents of cultured skin fibroblasts prior to BMT with leukocyte DNA after BMT showed coexisting host mutant and donor normal alleles in post-BMT leukocyte DNA. We postulate that the L279X mutation is a severe disease-causing mutation for Hunter syndrome.
RBC velocity profiles in arterioles and venules of the rabbit omentum

Abstract We have shown that in vivo RBC velocity profiles for mammalian arterioles and venules are consistent with comparable in vitro measurements on the basis of vessel diameter and flow rate. In vivo profiles are uniformly nonsymmetric, in particular on the venous side. Irrespective of the site, they are time variant and are more blunted than would be anticipated for Poiseuille flow. The blunted nature of the profiles becomes more pronounced as vessel diameter is decreased. The extent to which the profile is blunted was found not to be related to flow rate per se, except where midstream velocity fell to low levels (1.2 mm/sec). Since the velocity of the RBCs at the outermost edge of the bloodstream were higher than would be the case for a Poiseuille profile, the shear rates at the vessel wall can be much higher, i.e., in the range of 16,400 sec−1, than have been reported on the basis of in vitro experiments.
Hexokinase 2-Mediated Warburg Effect Is Required for PTEN- and p53-Deficiency-Driven Prostate Cancer Growth

Accumulating evidence suggests that codeletion of the tumor suppressor genes Pten and p53 plays a crucial role in the development of castration-resistant prostate cancer in vivo. However, the molecular mechanism underlying Pten-/p53-deficiency-driven prostate tumorigenesis remains incompletely understood. Building upon insights gained from our studies with Pten-/p53-deficient mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs), we report here that hexokinase 2 (HK2) is selectively upregulated by the combined loss of Pten and p53 in prostate cancer cells. Mechanistically, Pten deletion increases HK2 mRNA translation through the activation of the AKT-mTORC1-4EBP1 axis, and p53 loss enhances HK2 mRNA stability through the inhibition of miR143 biogenesis. Genetic studies demonstrate that HK2-mediated aerobic glycolysis, known as the Warburg effect, is required for Pten-/p53-deficiency-driven tumor growth in xenograft mouse models of prostate cancer. Our findings suggest that HK2 might be a therapeutic target for prostate cancer patients carrying Pten and p53 mutations.
A STUDY OF NECROTIC LESION FORMATION BY TOBACCO MOSAIC VIRUS.

Abstract TMV strains U1 and U2 multiply in Nicotiana sylvestris , but only strain U2 induces local lesion formation that is accompanied by an enhanced oxygen consumption. The local lesions and the tissue surrounding them appear to be rich in polyphenoloxidase; lesions on leaves treated with various polyphenols darkened markedly within a few hours and a lesser darkening of the interlesion areas followed. In addition, polyphenols accelerated the appearance of necrotic infective centers by about 12 hours on U2-infected leaves, but had no observable effect on leaves infected with strain U1. Ascorbic acid reduced lesion numbers; lesions which did form were larger and less pigmented than those in the controls. This study supports and extends the conclusions of others who have indicated that the phenomenon of necrotic lesion formation involves polyphenols and polyphenoloxidase; however, it is felt that additional factor(s) are also involved.
Improving bitext word alignments via syntax-based reordering of English

We present an improved method for automated word alignment of parallel texts which takes advantage of knowledge of syntactic divergences, while avoiding the need for syntactic analysis of the less resource rich language, and retaining the robustness of syntactically agnostic approaches such as the IBM word alignment models. We achieve this by using simple, easily-elicited knowledge to produce syntax-based heuristics which transform the target language (e.g. English) into a form more closely resembling the source language, and then by using standard alignment methods to align the transformed bitext. We present experimental results under variable resource conditions. The method improves word alignment performance for language pairs such as English-Korean and English-Hindi, which exhibit longer-distance syntactic divergences.
The Effect of Jay-customer Behaviors on Employee Job Stress and Job Satisfaction

Guest-contact employees are often exposed to stressful situations resulting from jay-customer behaviors. The purpose of this study is to examine how jay-customer behaviors (customer incivility and customer aggression) affect employee job stress and job satisfaction. Surveys of 210 participants working as guest-contact employees in hospitality organizations were analyzed. The results show that customer incivility leads to decreased employee job satisfaction, which is fully mediated by increased job stress. The findings of this study suggest that hospitality managers should acknowledge the negative impact of jay-customer behaviors on employees and make efforts to minimize this effect through training, procedures, and supporting systems.
Mutation of the Ca2+ Channel β Subunit Gene Cchb4 Is Associated with Ataxia and Seizures in the Lethargic (lh) Mouse

Ca2+ channel beta subunits regulate voltage-dependent calcium currents through direct interaction with alpha 1 subunits. The beta- and alpha 1-binding motifs are conserved, and all beta subunits can stimulate current amplitude, voltage dependence, and kinetics when coexpressed with various alpha 1 subunits. We used a positional candidate approach to determine that the ataxia and seizures in the lethargic (lh) mouse arise from mutation of the beta-subunit gene Cchb4 on mouse chromosome 2. A four-nucleotide insertion into a splice donor site results in exon skipping, translational frameshift, and protein truncation with loss of the alpha 1-binding site. The lethargic phenotype is the first example of a mammalian neurological disease caused by an inherited defect in a non-pore-forming subunit of a voltage-gated ion channel.
Endocarditis Due to Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus in Rabbits: Expression of Resistance to β-Lactam Antibiotics in Vivo and in Vitro

Whether a strain of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus susceptible to cephalothin by the disk-diffusion method was also susceptible to cephalothin in vivo was evaluated in the rabbit model of endocarditis. Rabbits with aortic-valve endocarditis due to methicillin-resistant S. aureus that were treated for four days with cephalothin had the same numbers of organisms in vegetations as did untreated rabbits. Treatment with cephalothin caused emergence of a highly resistant subpopulation in aortic-valve vegetations. Organisms highly resistant to cephalothin were also highly resistant to nafcillin. Thus broth-dilution and disk-diffusion tests may not predict therapeutic failure for cephalothin against strains of methicillin-resistant S. aureus. Because of cross-resistances among beta-lactam drugs, these strains should be considered uniformly resistant to this general class of antimicrobial agents, regardless of results from these tests.
Failure of the Watson–Crick Theory as a Chemical Explanation of Inheritance

In reply to recent criticism Professor Commoner discusses current evidence in support of his conclusion that the Watson–Crick theory is an inadequate explanation of inheritance.
Vertical Structure of Precipitation and Related Microphysics Observed by NOAA Profilers and TRMM during NAME 2004

In support of the 2004 North American Monsoon Experiment (NAME) field campaign, NOAA established and maintained a field site about 100 km north of Mazatlan, Mexico, consisting of wind profilers, precipitation profilers, surface upward–downward-looking radiometers, and a 10-m meteorological tower to observe the environment within the North American monsoon. Three objectives of this NOAA project are discussed in this paper: 1) to observe the vertical structure of precipitating cloud systems as they passed over the NOAA profiler site, 2) to estimate the vertical air motion and the raindrop size distribution from near the surface to just below the melting layer, and 3) to better understand the microphysical processes associated with stratiform rain containing well-defined radar bright bands. To provide a climatological context for the profiler observations at the field site, the profiler reflectivity distributions were compared with Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) Precipitation Radar (PR) reflectivity distributions from the 2004 season over the NAME domain as well as from the 1998–2005 seasons. This analysis places the NAME 2004 observations into the context of other monsoon seasons. It also provides a basis for evaluating the representativeness of the structure of the precipitation systems sampled at this location. The number of rain events observed by the TRMM PR is dependent on geography; the land region, which includes portions of the Sierra Madre Occidental, has more events than the coast and gulf regions. Conversely, from this study it is found that the frequencies of occurrence of stratiform rain and reflectivity profiles with radar bright bands are mostly independent of region. The analysis also revealed that the reflectivity distribution at each height has more year-to-year variability than region-to-region variability. These findings suggest that in cases with a well-defined bright band, the vertical profile of the reflectivity relative to the height of the bright band is similar over the gulf, coast, and land regions.
In-situ CIr-FTIR study of the diffusion of supercritical hydrocarbons in zeolite L

Cylindrical internal reflectance infrared spectroscopy (CIR-FTIR) was used for the determination of the transport properties of hydrocarbons in zeolite L at high temperatures and pressures. This was the first time that the intracrystalline diffusivity of hydrocarbons in microporous media could be determined under supercritical conditions by using a dynamic technique. The study investigated the self-diffusion of n-heptane, the counterdiflksion of n-hexane and 1-hexene, and the codiffusion of n-heptane and p-xylene in zeolite L under subcritical and supercritical conditions. The diffusion time constants obtained for the single and binary systems showed that the diffusion within the pore was reduced significantly under supercritical conditions (i.e., liquidlike behavior) as the hydrocarbon density within the pore was increased.
Fingerprinting Petroleum Contamination Using Synchronous Scanning Fluorescence Spectroscopy

Synchronous scanning fluorescence spectroscopy is a simple, cost-effective method for fingerprinting many petroleum contaminants in ground-water and soil samples. The extraction of contaminated ground-water and soil samples with water and cyclohexane followed by the synchronous scanning fluorescence spectrophotometry of the organic extract is described for over 20 petroleum product standards and actual samples. This method allows for the classification and identification of aromatic-containing products such as: gasoline, kerosene, diesel oil, various grades of fuel oil, and asphalt. This analytical method is more efficient than chromatographic methods typically used for quantitative analysis of petroleum contaminants and its spectra are easier to interpret for fingerprinting purposes. Several case studies of its use in determining among alternate sources of contamination are presented.
Fusion Center Accountability and Intergovernmental Information Sharing

Following the recommendations of the 9/11 Commission, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the states cooperated in the establishment of fusion centers to facilitate sharing of data across government agencies, as well as across the public and private sectors. Based on interviews with officials in thirty-six different fusion centers and review of government documents and reports on fusion centers' activities, this article analyzes the interjurisdictional, regulatory, and legal accountability arrangements for these centers. Our findings indicate that fusion centers operate in a manner consistent with "opportunistic federalism" or "soft governance." Accountability in such a setting is particularly difficult but especially in the absence of shared professional goals as appears to be the case for fusion centers.
Feasibility of telephone follow-up after medical abortion

Abstract Background This study was conducted to assess the feasibility of using telephone calls combined with high-sensitivity urine pregnancy testing as a primary method of follow-up after medical abortion. Methods We enrolled 139 women up to 63 days of gestation to receive mifepristone 200 mg orally and misoprostol 800 mcg vaginally or buccally, per their choice. Participants were contacted by phone one week after mifepristone administration and interviewed using standardized questions. If the subject or clinician thought the pregnancy was not expelled, the subject returned for an ultrasound examination. Otherwise, subjects performed high-sensitivity home urine pregnancy testing 30 days after the mifepristone and were called within 3 days of the test. Those with positive pregnancy tests returned for an ultrasound examination. Those with negative tests required no further follow-up. Results Six of the 139 (4.3%, 95% CI 1.6–9.1%) subjects presented prior to Phone Call 1 for an in-person visit. All 133 (100%, 95% CI 97.8–100%) subjects eligible for their first telephone follow-up were contacted. Eight of the 133 (6.1%, 95% CI 2.6–11.5%) women were asked to return for evaluation and all did so (100%, 95% CI 63.1–100%). Eight of the 133 women eligible for the 30 day phone call presented for an interim visit prior to the call. After 30 days, 116 of the 117 (99.1%, 95% CI 97.5–100%) eligible subjects were contacted. One subject was not reached for the day 30 phone call. Twenty-seven of the 116 (23.3%, 95% CI 15.6–31.0%) subjects had a positive pregnancy test and required follow-up. Two of these subjects (7.4%, 95% CI 1.0–24.2%) did not return for in-person follow-up. Two of the 116 (1.7%, 95% CI 0.2–6.1%) subjects had inconclusive pregnancy tests and were asked to return for follow-up. One of these subjects (50%, 95% CI 1.2–98.7%) did not return. Complete follow-up was achieved in 135 of the 139 subjects (97.1%, 95% CI 94.3–99.9%). None of the 26 women evaluated for a positive or inconclusive pregnancy test had a gestational sac or continuing pregnancy. Conclusion Telephone follow-up combined with urine pregnancy testing after medical abortion is a feasible alternative to routine ultrasonography or serial serum hCG measurements.
Constraints on subducting plate strength within the Kermadec trench

Four specially designed surveys parallel to the Kermadec trench allow localized estimates of plate strength within the subducting Pacific plate to be made. The transfer function between topography and gravity is estimated for five trench-parallel ship tracks at distances of 25–110 km from the trench axis. We find a clear reduction in the magnitude and peak wavelength of the transfer function from the outer rise to the trench axis. The change in the transfer function indicates a decrease in plate strength and is consistent with a reduction in flexural rigidity by 3–5 orders of magnitude or a decrease in effective elastic thickness by more than 15 km. Such a large-magnitude decrease in the effective elastic strength suggests that the plate has little or no elastic strength within the trench and that viscous stresses play an important role in transferring slab-pull forces to the subducting plate and regulating plate speeds in subduction zones.
Care of patients with alzheimer's disease and their families

Although the medical management options in Alzheimer's disease are limited, physicians have a central role in addressing multiple associated care needs of these patients and their families. These needs change according to different stages of the disease. Sensitive disclosure of diagnosis and providing education, guidance, and appropriate referrals to community resources are essential components to an effective care plan. By making use of a multidisciplinary network of care providers, the physician can ensure the family of proactive management throughout the course of the disease.
Incomplete Peripheral CD4+ Cell Count Restoration in HIV-Infected Patients Receiving Long-Term Antiretroviral Treatment

The vast majority of patients who achieve and maintain an undetectable plasma HIV RNA level while receiving HAART exhibit sustained increases in their peripheral CD4+ cell count [1]. Most patients exhibit a rapid increase in the peripheral CD4+ cell count during the first 8−12 weeks of therapy. This is often followed by a more gradual increase until a normal CD4+ cell count is achieved [2, 3]. There exists, however, significant patient-to-patient heterogeneity with regard to peripheral CD4+ cell count outcomes; some patients apparently reach a plateau before normalization of their CD4+ cell count [4–8], although this phenomenon remains controversial [9, 10]. There is no clear consensus with regard to how to best define immunological success or failure in the context of durable treatment-associated viral suppression [1, 11]. Several studies have focused on rates of CD4+ cell count increases per year and have generally found that CD4+ cell counts continue to increase as long as the CD4+ cell counts remain lower than normal levels, although the rate of increase decreases after several years [10]. One limitation of these approaches is that they report the mean values in the population. Other studies have reported the proportion of patients who experience an increase in CD4+ cell count to the normal range. These studies have invariably found that a significant proportion of individuals have a persistently low CD4+ cell count, at least throughout the 3−7 years of observation [5, 6, 8, 10, 12]. There is a growing appreciation that a persistently low CD4+ cell count during treatment is associated with increased risk of both AIDS- and non–AIDS-related events (e.g., cardiovascular disease, liver disease, and cancer) [13–19]. Importantly, the clinical risk associated with lower CD4+ cell counts during therapy is evident across the entire CD4+ T cell range, with a patient's overall prognosis approaching that of an HIV-negative individual only if CD4+ cell counts are consistently maintained at >500 cells/mm3 [18]. For these reasons, the recent Department of Health and Human Services guidelines suggest that a goal of therapy is to increase CD4+ cell counts to the normal range [11]. Because of the clinical significance of CD4+ cell counts during therapy and the lack of clarity with regard to CD4+ cell count increases during long-term therapy, we analyzed long-term changes in CD4+ cell count in a cohort of individuals who were selected on the basis of maintenance of an undetectable or low viral load. Because, in our previous studies, we did not see any evidence of a CD4+ cell count plateau during the first 4 years of therapy [9], we identified all patients who maintained undetectable or low viral loads for at least 4 years. In our primary analysis, we focused on outcomes after year 4 and in a secondary analysis. In our secondary analysis, we considered all data from after the initiation of therapy.
Temperature‐induced reversible conformational change in the first 100 residues of α‐synuclein

Natively disordered proteins are a growing class of anomalies to the structure–function paradigm. The natively disordered protein α-synuclein is the primary component of Lewy bodies, the cellular hallmark of Parkinson’s disease. We noticed a dramatic difference in dilute solution 1H-15N Heteronuclear Single Quantum Coherence (HSQC) spectra of wild-type α-synuclein and two disease-related mutants (A30P and A53T), with spectra collected at 35°C showing fewer cross-peaks than spectra acquired at 10°C. Here, we show the change to be the result of a reversible conformational exchange linked to an increase in hydrodynamic radius and secondary structure as the temperature is raised. Combined with analytical ultracentrifugation data showing α-synuclein to be monomeric at both temperatures, we conclude that the poor quality of the 1H-15N HSQC spectra obtained at 35°C is due to conformational fluctuations that occur on the proton chemical shift time scale. Using a truncated variant of α-synuclein, we show the conformational exchange occurs in the first 100 amino acids of the protein. Our data illustrate a key difference between globular and natively disordered proteins. The properties of globular proteins change little with solution conditions until they denature cooperatively, but the properties of natively disordered proteins can vary dramatically with solution conditions.
A survey of approaches and challenges in 3D and multi-modal 3D+2D face recognition

This survey focuses on recognition performed by matching models of the three-dimensional shape of the face, either alone or in combination with matching corresponding two-dimensional intensity images. Research trends to date are summarized, and challenges confronting the development of more accurate three-dimensional face recognition are identified. These challenges include the need for better sensors, improved recognition algorithms, and more rigorous experimental methodology.
Variability of spectra in large solar energetic particle events

Using data from the Solar Isotope Spectrometer on the Advanced Composition Explorer obtained during 36large solar energetic particle events (SEPs) that occurred during 1997–2002 we have examined the spectral characteristics of oxygen and iron. Based on the shape of the oxygen spectrum during the decay phase following the peak in particle intensity, each SEP event was categorized as either exponential (7 events) or power law (29 events). We find that the exponential events were typically the larger events (in terms of peak oxygen intensity) and had Fe/O ratios that strongly decreased with increasing energy. Event-averaged Fe/O ratios (integrated over 12 to 60 MeV/nucleon) were at or below coronal abundances for nearly all these events, while the ratios obtained in the power law events were typically enhanced over coronal values. The majority of the power law events had the same spectral index for both O and Fe resulting in an Fe/O ratio independent of energy. However 6 of the 29 power law events had Fe/O ratios that increased with increasing energy due to an Fe spectral index less negative than that of O. We consider simple diffusion theory in an effort to understand the nature of these events and obtain preliminary but promising results.
Wafer-scale reduced graphene oxide films for nanomechanical devices.

We report a process to form large-area, few-monolayer graphene oxide films and then recover the outstanding mechanical properties found in graphene to fabricate high Young’s modulus ( ) 185 GPa), low-density nanomechanical resonators. Wafer-scale films as thin as 4 nm are sufficiently robust that they can be delaminated intact and resuspended on a bed of pillars or field of holes. From these films, we demonstrate radio frequency resonators with quality factors (up to 4000) and figures of merit (f × Q >1 0 11 ) well exceeding those of pure graphene resonators reported to date. These films’ ability to withstand high in-plane tension (up to 5 N/m) as well as their high Q-values reveals that film integrity is enhanced by platelet-platelet bonding unavailable in pure graphite. Nanoelectromechanical systems (NEMS) are an exciting frontier 1 for the next generation devices in both sensing 2-4 and computing. 5 As NEMS resonators shrink below 100 nm they begin to achieve high operating frequencies (up to 10 9
Double Laser Crystallization (DLC) of 50 Nanometer and 20 Nanometer Amorphous Silicon Film for Thin Film Transistors (TFTS) Application

Ultra-large grain poly-crystalline silicon has been formed in 20 nm and 50 nm amorphous silicon films by the double laser crystallization (DLC) method. Surface reflection properties of such thin films upon laser irradiation were calculated. In-situ images were captured to monitor the transient melting and solidification process of 50 nm silicon film in order to understand the crystallization induced by steep laser intensity gradients. SEM (scanning electron microscope) images of crystallized 50 nm film after Secco etch revealed grain size up to 10 m while plane-view TEM (transmission electron microscope) images of 50 nm film also showed perfect crystalline structure inside the grains. AFM (atomic force microscope) images were also taken to show the topology of the grain structure and RMS of 20 nm film.Copyright © 2005 by ASME
Active diplexer based on isolation circuits imbedded low noise amplifiers

In this paper, a novel active diplexer based on low-noise amplifiers (LNAs) using multi-functional composite right/left-handed input matching circuit (CRLH-IMC) is proposed. Since each CRLH-IMC has optimized impedance for targeted LNA performances as well as the required isolation characteristics, an active diplexer with gain and low noise figure (NF) can be realized by placing a single input port between two LNAs with CRLH-IMCs. The proposed active diplexer can reduce overall system dimension and loss by removing passive diplexer. In addition, diplexer performances such as insertion loss and isolations can now be controlled by an amplifier design. In this paper, the active diplexer prototype operating at 1.5 GHz and 2.6 GHz is designed and fabricated. The measured results show good agreement with the simulated results.
Homeopathic treatment of respiratory illnesses in children: results from two randomized trials

These studies were done to determine if homeopathic preparations are useful in the treatment of URI's in children, especially when there are no conventional treatments available and/or antibiotics are to be avoided. In the first study, children 6 months – 11 years old, diagnosed with AOM and managed with a delayed antibiotic approach, were randomized to standard therapy alone or standard therapy plus a homeopathic ear drop preparation. The primary outcome was whether or not an antibiotic prescription given at the index visit was filled; any antibiotic use was a secondary outcome. During the 12–15 day follow-up period, significantly fewer parents of children randomized to the homeopathic ear drops group filled the antibiotic prescription compared to those of children receiving standard therapy alone (26.9% and 41.2%, respectively, P = .032). In the second study, children ages 2–5 years old diagnosed with upper respiratory infection were randomized to receive a homeopathic combination product for cold and cough or a placebo. Parents were instructed to give a dose of study medication as needed for relief of URI symptoms up to 6 times per day for three days. Parents recorded changes in symptoms 1 hour after each dose, as well as changes in overall severity of URI symptoms in twice daily diaries. There was no difference in symptoms one hour after the dose between those receiving the homeopathic preparation compared to placebo. However, the homeopathic group reported a statistically significant improvement in 3 of the 4 URI symptoms at 12 and 24 hours after enrolment as well in a composite cold score. These studies should encourage health care providers to utilize homeopathy as an alternative to conventional therapies in the treatment of URI's in children.
Faulty Foundations: State Structural Budget Problems and How to Fix Them

The authors say many states have structural deficits because they have failed to modernize their revenue systems; they suggest steps that states can take to shore up their tax systems. Those steps include taxing services and requiring combined reporting, the authors says.
Electron scattering from excited states in N-14 and Be-9

Electron scattering form factors have been measured for the first six excited states in $^{14}\mathrm{N}$ and for the 2.429-MeV (${\frac{5}{2}}^{\ensuremath{-}}$) level in $^{9}\mathrm{Be}$. The form factors for the lowest $T=1$ level in $^{14}\mathrm{N}$ along with the previously measured ground-state magnetic moment are used to specify the $T=0$ and $T=1$ wave functions for the mass-14 system assuming two $p$-shell valence particles in an $\mathrm{LS}$-coupling basis. The amplitudes of the various configurations so derived are generally in poor agreement with previous determinations, although the present wave functions yield values of the lifetime of the first $T=0$ state in $^{14}\mathrm{N}$ and of the $^{14}\mathrm{N}$ ground-state quadrupole moment that are in excellent agreement with previous measurements. The present data are not sufficiently precise to allow a direct separation of the $T=0$ and $T=1$ components for the first four negative-parity excited states. However, for two of these states which are excited primarily by $C1$ transitions, a comparison of the radiative strengths determined in this experiment with previous lifetime measurements sets a lower limit of 2% for the $T=1$ admixture.
Research on Temperature Distribution Characteristics of Arrester Varistors

The inherent thermal characteristics of the arrester varistors is studied, the temperature distribution of arrester at normal operating voltages is measured. For the normal and deterioration arrester, without gap and gap arrester, various comparison test are carried out, the temperature changes are measured respectively. Research the influence of the condition that the varistors occurring damp or electrical aging on the temperature distribution of surge arrester. real data is provided for lightning arrester fault diagnosis by using the temperature criterion, and also strong support is offered for the state evaluation of arrester.
Resistance to Angiogenesis Inhibitors in Renal Cell Carcinoma

Antiangiogenic drugs are now available for treatment of renal cell carcinoma and are utilized sequentially to prolong clinical benefit in patients with recurrent disease. These antiangiogenic agents are disease stabilizing in most cases, and resistance eventually develops over time. Because different combinations and sequences are tested in clinical trials, resistance patterns and mechanisms should be investigated. Much effort has been devoted to understanding the biology and elucidating the pathways and additional targets during tumorigenesis and metastasis. Resistance appears to be either primary nonresponsiveness, or it is acquired over time and related to various evasive/escape mechanisms that the tumor develops in response to therapy. Primary resistance is less common, but may be due to an intrinsic redundancy of available angiogenic signals for the tumor, causing unresponsiveness to vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-targeted therapies. During acquired resistance, tumors may activate an "angiogenic switch," which leads to either upregulation of the existing VEGF pathway or recruitment of alternative factors responsible for tumor revascularization. Rationally designed preclinical and clinical trials will shed additional light on our understanding of the potential mechanisms of resistance to antiangiogenic drugs.
Flexibility of Projective-Planar Embeddings

Abstract Given two embeddings σ 1 and σ 2 of a labeled nonplanar graph in the projective plane, we give a collection of maneuvers on projective-planar embeddings that can be used to take σ 1 to σ 2 .
Design of an Achromatic Superconducting Magnet for a Proton Therapy Gantry

Recent studies have shown that strong, alternating focusing magnets can be used to greatly increase the momentum acceptance of hadron therapy gantries. With the high gradients achievable with superconducting magnets a level of momentum acceptance can be reached which may have significant implications to medical gantries and to the introduction of superconducting technology in this area. The design of such a superconducting magnet system for a proton therapy gantry will be presented. The Canted-Cosine-Theta concept is extended to a curved magnet system generating the desired bending and alternating focusing fields for the achromatic optics. Magnetic, structural, and thermal analysis of this design is presented along with preliminary efforts towards fabrication and assembly of the curved magnet.
A Framework for Health Communication Across the HIV Treatment Continuum.

BACKGROUND As test and treat rolls out, effective interventions are needed to address the determinants of outcomes across the HIV treatment continuum and ensure that people infected with HIV are promptly tested, initiate treatment early, adhere to treatment, and are virally suppressed. Communication approaches offer viable options for promoting relevant behaviors across the continuum. CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK This article introduces a conceptual framework, which can guide the development of effective health communication interventions and activities that aim to impact behaviors across the HIV treatment continuum in low- and medium-income countries. The framework includes HIV testing and counseling, linkage to care, retention in pre-antiretroviral therapy and antiretroviral therapy initiation in one single-stage linkage to care and treatment, and adherence for viral suppression. The determinants of behaviors vary across the continuum and include both facilitators and barriers with communication interventions designed to focus on specific determinants presented in the model. At each stage, relevant determinants occur at the various levels of the social-ecological model: intrapersonal, interpersonal, health services, community, and policy. Effective health communication interventions have mainly relied on mHealth, interpersonal communication through service providers and peers, community support groups, and treatment supporters. DISCUSSION The conceptual framework and evidence presented highlight areas across the continuum where health communication can significantly impact treatment outcomes to reach the 90-90-90 goals by strategically addressing key behavioral determinants. As test and treat rolls out, multifaceted health communication approaches will be critical.