cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Ignition and oxidation of lean CO/H2 fuel blends in air

Ignition and oxidation characteristics of CO/H 2 fuel blends were studied using both experimental and computer simulation methods. Shock-tube experiments were conducted behind reflected shock waves at intermediate temperatures (890 < T < 1300 K) for three pressure regimes of approximately 1, 2.5, and 15 atm. Results of this study provide the first undiluted fuel-air ignition-delay-time experiments to cover such a wide range of CO/H 2 composition (5-80% H 2 ) over the stated temperature range. Emission in the form of chemiluminescence from the hydroxyl radical (OH*)A 2 Σ + → X 2 Π transition near 307 nm was used to monitor the reaction progress from which ignition delay times were determined. In addition to the experimental analysis, chemical kinetics calculations were completed to compare several chemical kinetics mechanisms with the new experimental results. The models were in excellent agreement with the shock-tube data, especially at higher temperatures and lower pressures, yet there were some differences between the models at the higher pressures and lowest temperatures, in some cases by as much as a factor of 5. Ignition-delay-time and reaction-rate sensitivity analyses were completed at higher and lower temperatures and higher and lower pressures to identify the key reactions responsible for ignition. The results of the sensitivity analysis indicate that the ignition-enhancing reaction H + O 2 = O + OH and hydrogen oxidation kinetics in general were most important, regardless of mixture composition, temperature, or pressure. However, lower-temperature, higher-pressure ignition-delay-time results indicate additional influence from HO 2 - and CO-containing reactions, particularly, the well-known H + O + M = HO 2 + M reaction and the CO + O + M = CO 2 + M and CO + HO 2 = CO 2 + OH reactions. Differences in the rates of the CO-related reactions are shown to be the cause of discrepancies among the various models at elevated pressures. Additional calculations were performed to show that the mixtures used are insensitive to small levels of water vapor, and the disagreement between experiment and model at the lowest temperatures and higher H 2 concentrations cannot be explained by possible impurities.
Analysis of Fiber Bragg Grating Spectral Features for In-Situ Assessment of Sandwich Composites

In this paper we summarize recent advances derived from full-spectral interrogation of FBG sensors for structural health monitoring and damage identification in composites. Previous work has correlated signals from FBG reflected spectra to stress concentrations near crack tips, curing conditions during processing of composite laminates and the progression of delamination due to multiple low-velocity impacts in woven composite laminates. In this paper we investigate the information gained from FBG sensors embedded at the facesheet-core interface in foam-core sandwich composites subjected to low-velocity impact loading. We also discuss recent advances in interrogation systems for these sensors which will permit dynamic evaluation of these parameters. These results demonstrate the richness of information that can be obtained from full-spectral interrogation of FBG sensors in a complex, multiple stress component environment.Copyright © 2010 by ASME
Tracking palustrine water seasonal and annual variability in agricultural wetland landscapes using Landsat from 1997 to 2005

Wetlands densely populate the ecoregion transecting the center of the Prairie Pothole Region (PPR) known as the Missouri Coteau and epicenter to the most productive waterfowl-breeding habitat in North America. These palustrine, depressional basin waters vacillate with regional drought and deluge, so surface water fluctuations over time modulate wetland productivity, habitat, and water quality functions. Models predict formidable effects of climate change on glacial basin surface waters, yet large-scale, long-term observation data are lacking to compare against predicted changes. Current, optical-based water detection models do not delineate marsh vegetation from shallow, turbid, high-chlorophyll waters common to the region. We developed a palustrine wetland spectral model for tracking open surface waters using Landsat imagery, which we evaluated for a 2500 km2 landscape that estimates seasonal and annual open water variability for thousands of individual wetlands in the Missouri Coteau ecoregion. Detection accuracy of 96% was achieved for water bodies greater than a half-pixel in size. We identified shifts in the distribution of water permanence classes within and between years for waters emerging in spring, mid-summer, and late summer from 1997 to 2005 and identified a maximum of 19 047 basins with open water (12% of the landscape) populating 2500 km2. For the 2005 growing season, we observed only 8757 basins with open water (6% of the landscape) for the same area. Declines were greatest for water bodies detected only in spring, suggesting a loss of those wetlands functioning to recharge groundwater stores early in the season and a high sensitivity to observed reductions in snowfall. If landscape factors driving open water coverage and wetland density are similar for the entire Missouri Coteau, we estimate the number of basins containing at least a pixel of water for this region declined from 577 600 to 266 000 between 1997 and 2005.
Statistical Assessment of Photospheric Magnetic Features in Imminent Solar Flare Predictions

In this study we use the ordinal logistic regression method to establish a prediction model, which estimates the probability for each solar active region to produce X-, M-, or C-class flares during the next 1-day time period. The three predictive parameters are (1) the total unsigned magnetic flux T flux, which is a measure of an active region’s size, (2) the length of the strong-gradient neutral line L gnl, which describes the global nonpotentiality of an active region, and (3) the total magnetic dissipation E diss, which is another proxy of an active region’s nonpotentiality. These parameters are all derived from SOHO MDI magnetograms. The ordinal response variable is the different level of solar flare magnitude. By analyzing 174 active regions, L gnl is proven to be the most powerful predictor, if only one predictor is chosen. Compared with the current prediction methods used by the Solar Monitor at the Solar Data Analysis Center (SDAC) and NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC), the ordinal logistic model using L gnl, T flux, and E diss as predictors demonstrated its automatic functionality, simplicity, and fairly high prediction accuracy. To our knowledge, this is the first time the ordinal logistic regression model has been used in solar physics to predict solar flares.
Comparison of the sensitivity of physical and virtual laparoscopic surgical training simulators to the user's level of experience.

Background: The recent focus on quality of care and patient safety has been accompanied by increased interest in standardizing the training for laparoscopic surgeons. Studies have shown that laparoscopic simulators can be used to train surgical skills. Therefore, we designed an experiment to compare the effectiveness of two popular training systems. One system was based on a physical model, whereas the other used a virtual reality model. Methods: A total of 32 medical students and residents were tested on both simulators. Time required for task completion and number of errors committed were recorded and compared. Results: The physical training system differentiated among experience levels on three of the five tasks when time was used as a measure and four of five tasks when score was used, whereas the virtual reality system yielded statistically significant results in eight of 13 tasks for time and in five of 13 tasks for score. Conclusion: The physical model is more sensitive than the virtual reality one in detecting differences in levels of laparoscopic surgical experience.
Social Skill Deficits and Learning Disabilities: A Meta-Analysis

Over the past 15 years, increased attention has been directed at social skills and their relationship to learning disabilities. Using the methods of meta-analysis, this investigation explores the nature of social skill deficits among students with learning disabilities. Across 152 studies, quantitative synthesis shows that, on average, about 75% of students with learning disabilities manifest social skill deficits that distinguish them from comparison samples. Approximately the same level of group differentiation is found across different raters (teachers, peers, self) and across most dimensions of social competence. Although social skill deficits appear to be an integral part of the learning disability experience, a number of questions about the relationship between learning disability and social skill deficits remain unanswered. Until these questions are answered, social skill deficits are best viewed as one among many elements of the learning disability constellation, and no significant definitional changes related to social skill deficits appear warranted.
Gaussian cloning of coherent states with known phases

The fidelity for cloning coherent states is improved over that provided by optimal Gaussian and non-Gaussian cloners for the subset of coherent states that are prepared with known phases. Gaussian quantum cloning duplicates all coherent states with an optimal fidelity of $2∕3$. Non-Gaussian cloners give optimal single-clone fidelity for a symmetric 1-to-2 cloner of 0.6826. Coherent states that have known phases can be cloned with a fidelity of $4∕5$. The latter is realized by a combination of two beam splitters and a four-wave mixer operated in the nonlinear regime, all of which are realized by interaction Hamiltonians that are quadratic in the photon operators. Therefore, the known Gaussian devices for cloning coherent states are extended when cloning coherent states with known phases by considering a nonbalanced beam splitter at the input side of the amplifier.
4-Arylpiperidine derivatives and uses thereof for preparing a medicament for the treatment of CNS disorders

A novel series of 4-arylpiperidines and their salts, as well as their use in the treatment of CNS disorders, that is, depression, are disclosed. These compounds function as serotonin transporter (SERT) inhibitors and demonstrate significant activity and selectivity for SERT versus other receptors and monoamine transporters.
COULD r SELECTION ACCOUNT FOR THE AFRICAN PERSONALITY AND LIFE CYCLE

Abstract Rushton has shown that Negroids exhibit many characteristics that biologists argue result from r selection. However, the area of their origin, the African Savanna, while a highly variable environment, would not select for r characteristics. Savanna humans have not adopted the dispersal and colonization strategy to which r characteristics are suited. While r characteristics may be selected for when adult mortality is highly variable, biologists argue that where juvenile mortality is variable, K characteristics are selected for. Human variable birth rates are mathematically similar to variable juvenile birth rates. Food shortage caused by African drought induce competition, just as food shortages caused by high population. Both should select for K characteristics, which by definition contribute to success at competition. Occasional long term droughts are likely to select for long lives, late menopause, high paternal investment, high anxiety, and intelligence. These appear to be the opposite to Rushton's r characteristics, and opposite to the traits he attributes to Negroids.
δ‐Aminolevulinic acid biosynthesis in Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis involves formation of glutamyl‐tRNA

Cell-free extracts of Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis catalyzed the tRNA-dependent, RNase A-sensitive formation of δ-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) from glutamate. Cell extracts prepared from cultures of E. coli grown under aerobic or anaerobic conditions had similar levels of ALA biosynthetic activity. Both the tRNA-stimulated conversion of glutamate to ALA and the conversion of glutamate-1-semialdehyde to ALA were inhibited by gabaculin. However, gabaculin had no effect on the growth of either E. coli or B. subtilis. The tRNA-dependent transformation of glutamate to ALA in E. coli and B. subtilis thus appears to be very similar to the pathway found in cyanobacteria, certain obligate anaerobic eubacteria, archaebacteria and in the chloroplasts of algae and higher plant species.
New Approach to Designing Multilayer Feedforward Neural Network Architecture for Modeling Nonlinear Restoring Forces. I: Formulation

Based on the basic formulation developed in a companion paper, the writers now present the application of an artificial neural network approach to designing streamlined network models to simulate and identify the nonlinear dynamic response of single-degree-of-freedom oscillators using the restoring force-state mapping interpretation. The neural networks which use sigmoidal activation functions are shown to be highly robust in modeling a wide variety of commonly observed nonlinear structural dynamic response behaviors. By streamlining the networks, individual network model parameters take on physically or geometrically interpretable meaning, and hence, the network initialization can be achieved through an engineered approach rather than through less physically meaningful numerical initialization schemes. Although not proven in general, examples show that by starting with a more meaningful initial design, identification convergence is improved, and the final identified model parameters are seen to have a more physical meaning. A set of model architecture prototypes is developed to capture commonly observed nonlinear response behaviors.
Uncertainty in age-specific harvest estimates and consequences for white-tailed deer management

Age structure proportions (proportion of harvested individuals within each age class) are commonly used as support for regulatory restrictions and input for deer population models. Such use requires critical evaluation when harvest regulations force hunters to selectively harvest specific age classes, due to impact on the underlying population age structure. We used a stochastic population simulation model to evaluate the impact of using harvest proportions to evaluate changes in population age structure under a selective harvest management program at two scales. Using harvest proportions to parameterize the age-specific harvest segment of the model for the local scale showed that predictions of post-harvest age structure did not vary dependent upon whether selective harvest criteria were in use or not. At the county scale, yearling frequency in the post-harvest population increased, but model predictions indicated that post-harvest population size of 2.5 years old males would decline below levels found before implementation of the antler restriction, reducing the number of individuals recruited into older age classes. Across the range of age-specific harvest rates modeled, our simulation predicted that underestimation of age-specific harvest rates has considerable influence on predictions of post-harvest population age structure. We found that the consequence of uncertainty in harvest rates corresponds to uncertainty in predictions of residual population structure, and this correspondence is proportional to scale. Our simulations also indicate that regardless of use of harvest proportions or harvest rates, at either the local or county scale the modeled SHC had a high probability (>0.60 and >0.75, respectively) of eliminating recruitment into >2.5 years old age classes. Although frequently used to increase population age structure, our modeling indicated that selective harvest criteria can decrease or eliminate the number of white-tailed deer recruited into older age classes. Thus, we suggest that using harvest proportions for management planning and evaluation should be viewed with caution. In addition, we recommend that managers focus more attention on estimation of age-specific harvest rates, and modeling approaches which combine harvest rates with information from harvested individuals to further increase their ability to effectively manage deer populations under selective harvest programs.
Cold temperature improves mobility and survival in Drosophila models of autosomal-dominant hereditary spastic paraplegia (AD-HSP)

Autosomal-dominant hereditary spastic paraplegia (AD-HSP) is a crippling neurodegenerative disease for which effective treatment or cure remains unknown. Victims experience progressive mobility loss due to degeneration of the longest axons in the spinal cord. Over half of AD-HSP cases arise from loss-of-function mutations in spastin, which encodes a microtubule-severing AAA ATPase. In Drosophila models of AD-HSP, larvae lacking Spastin exhibit abnormal motor neuron morphology and function, and most die as pupae. Adult survivors display impaired mobility, reminiscent of the human disease. Here, we show that rearing pupae or adults at reduced temperature (18°C), compared with the standard temperature of 24°C, improves the survival and mobility of adult spastin mutants but leaves wild-type flies unaffected. Flies expressing human spastin with pathogenic mutations are similarly rescued. Additionally, larval cooling partially rescues the larval synaptic phenotype. Cooling thus alleviates known spastin phenotypes for each developmental stage at which it is administered and, notably, is effective even in mature adults. We find further that cold treatment rescues larval synaptic defects in flies with mutations in Flower (a protein with no known relation to Spastin) and mobility defects in flies lacking Kat60-L1, another microtubule-severing protein enriched in the CNS. Together, these data support the hypothesis that the beneficial effects of cold extend beyond specific alleviation of Spastin dysfunction, to at least a subset of cellular and behavioral neuronal defects. Mild hypothermia, a common neuroprotective technique in clinical treatment of acute anoxia, might thus hold additional promise as a therapeutic approach for AD-HSP and, potentially, for other neurodegenerative diseases.
Daily Practice Teams in Nursing Homes: Evidence From New York State

Purpose: Most health care organizations, including nursing homes, report having teams. However, little is known about everyday practice teams among staff providing direct resident care. We assess the prevalence of such teams in nursing homes as reported by direct care staff and administrators, and examine characteristics of facilities that foster these teams. Design and Methods: The analytical model is based on 149 nursing homes. Data sources include surveys of administrators (n = 292) and direct care staff (n = 6,867), and Online Survey Certification and Reporting System. Linear regression with robust standard errors and sampling probability weights is used to examine the relationship between daily practice teams and facility characteristics. Results: On average, 16% of workers per facility report practicing in formal multidisciplinary teams providing daily resident care. Team prevalence is 3.3% higher when managers view teams as very important for clinical care quality, 2.6% higher when the directors of nursing report formally organized teams, 2.5% higher for each 10% increase in workers' involvement in teams other than the daily practice teams, and 1.95% higher for each 1-hr increase in nursing hours. Implications: Our study shows that multidisciplinary daily practice teams can be found in most facilities in our large sample, but their penetration within nursing homes is far from pervasive; in 72% of facilities, staff report team prevalence of less than 25%. Given that the majority of managers report teamwork as very important to their facilities' operations, we discuss why only a relatively small proportion of daily care is provided in this fashion.
The pursuit of equality in American history

Since the Declaration of Independence, equality has been America's primary moral commitment. But equality of what and for whom? In this revised second edition, the British historian J.R. Pole examines the concept of equality in American political, legal and social thought. Applying psychological as well as historical analysis, he addresses the meaning of equality for Americans of different occupational class, ethnicity, religion and gender. While Pole draws on many fields - religion, law, intellectual history, economics - "The Pursuit of Equality in American History" is best described as an account of America's moral history.
Fast nonparametric clustering with Gaussian blurring mean-shift

We revisit Gaussian blurring mean-shift (GBMS), a procedure that iteratively sharpens a dataset by moving each data point according to the Gaussian mean-shift algorithm (GMS). (1) We give a criterion to stop the procedure as soon as clustering structure has arisen and show that this reliably produces image segmentations as good as those of GMS but much faster. (2) We prove that GBMS has convergence of cubic order with Gaussian clusters (much faster than GMS's, which is of linear order) and that the local principal component converges last, which explains the powerful clustering and denoising properties of GBMS. (3) We show a connection with spectral clustering that suggests GBMS is much faster. (4) We further accelerate GBMS by interleaving connected-components and blurring steps, achieving 2x--4x speedups without introducing an approximation error. In summary, our accelerated GBMS is a simple, fast, nonparametric algorithm that achieves segmentations of state-of-the-art quality.
Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors and progressive renal insufficiency. Current experience and future directions

STUDY OBJECTIVE To review the rationale for using angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors in progressive renal disease, and to evaluate the experience with these agents in patients with hypertension and renal insufficiency. DATA IDENTIFICATION Experimental and clinical studies published from January 1977 to November 1988 were identified by searching the literature and by extensive hand searching of bibliographies of identified articles. STUDY SELECTION Experimental studies of glomerular function during therapy with ACE inhibitors or other antihypertensive regimens were reviewed. Series using ACE inhibitors for treating hypertensive patients with renal disease were evaluated and reports of adverse events were studied. RESULTS OF DATA SYNTHESIS Experimentally, ACE inhibitors seem to decrease glomerular injury by reducing both systemic and glomerular hypertension. Clinically, ACE inhibitors reduce systemic blood pressure in hypertensive patients with diabetic and nondiabetic renal disease without causing dramatic changes in glomerular filtration rate or renal blood flow. Most studies of nondiabetic renal insufficiency suggest that proteinuria is reduced in most patients. However, no long-term controlled study on the effect of ACE inhibitors on the progression rate of nondiabetic renal disease has been completed. ACE inhibitors have not yet been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for treating or preventing progressive renal disease. Such use would therefore be considered "innovative" therapy. CONCLUSIONS ACE inhibitors are tolerated by azotemic patients, although transient reductions in renal function can occur. Patients with bilateral renal insufficiency or low cardiac output are at increased risk for developing reversible acute renal insufficiency. Hyperkalemia may occur, particularly in patients with diabetes or severe renal insufficiency. In many patients with renal disease, ACE inhibitors dramatically reduce proteinuria, but whether they also reduce the rate of progression of renal disease remains unproved.
HOMEOPATHY IN OFFICE PRACTICE

Homeopathy is widely used around the world and is regaining popularity in the United States where it enjoyed popular and therapeutic success in the 1800s. Relying on systematic principles of health and disease first set forth by Samuel Hahnemann in 1810, it offers a powerful and inexpensive means of promoting self-care and of augmenting therapeutic options for the family physician. History, theory and practical considerations are reviewed.
Special article the economic cost and social and psychological impact of musculoskeletal conditions

Objective. To provide an indication of the economic, social, and psychological impact of musculoskeletal conditions in the United States. Methods. Review of the literature combined with estimates of data concerning health care utilization and acute and chronic disability due to musculoskeletal conditions, from the 1990–1992 National Health Interview Survey. Results. The cost of musculoskeletal conditions was $149.4 billion in 1992, of which 48% was due to direct medical care costs and the remainder was due to indirect costs resulting from wage losses. This amount translates to ˜2.5% of the Gross National Product, a sharp rise since the prior studies, even if part of the increase is an artifact of improved accounting methods. Each year, persons with musculoskeletal conditions make 315 million physician visits, have more than 8 million hospital admissions, and experience ˜1.5 billion days of restricted activity. Approximately 42% of persons with musculoskeletal conditions–more than 17 million in all–are limited in their activities. Conclusion. The economic and social costs of musculoskeletal conditions are substantial. These conditions are responsible for a sizable amount of health care use and disability, and they significantly affect the psychological status of the individuals with the conditions as well as their families.
Breast cancer-related lymphedema: risk factors, prevention, diagnosis and treatment

SUMMARY Lymphedema is one of the late effects of breast cancer treatment that affects many breast cancer survivors. Despite an increased focus on morbidity among this survivor population, our understanding of risk reduction, prevention, diagnosis and treatment of lymphedema remain poorly understood. This article provides an overview of the current state of the research (2009–2014) on breast cancer-related lymphedema and offers future directions for research. A greater emphasis must be placed on reducing the impact of lymphedema to improve the quality of life for breast cancer survivors.
Insights into the iron-ome and manganese-ome of Δmtm1 Saccharomyces cerevisiae mitochondria

Biophysical spectroscopies and LC-ICP-MS were used to evaluate the iron-ome and manganese-ome of mitochondria from Δmtm1 yeast cells. Deleting the mitochondrial carrier gene MTM1 causes Fe to accumulate in mitochondria and Mn superoxide dismutase (SOD2) activity to decline. One explanation for this is that some accumulated Fe misincorporates into apo-Sod2p. Mossbauer spectroscopy revealed that most of the accumulated Fe was FeIII nanoparticles which are unlikely to misincorporate into apo-Sod2p. Under anaerobic conditions, Fe did not accumulate yet SOD2 activity remained low, suggesting that the two phenomena are independent. Mn concentrations were two-fold higher in Δmtm1 mitochondria than in WT mitochondria. Soluble extracts from such samples were subjected to size-exclusion LC and fractions were analyzed with an on-line ICP-MS. Two major Mn peaks were observed, one due to MnSod2p and the other to a Mn species with a mass of 2–3 kDa (called Mn2–3). Mn2–3 may deliver Mn into apo-Sod2p. Most Mn in WT mitochondria was associated with MnSod2p, whereas most Mn in Δmtm1 mitochondria was associated with Mn2–3. The [Mn2–3] increased in cells grown on high MnCl2 while the MnSod2p concentration remained unchanged. Corresponding Fe traces showed numerous peaks, including a complex of ∼3 kDa which may be the form of Fe that misincorporates, and an Fe peak with the molecular mass of Sod2p that may correspond to FeSod2p. The intensity of this peak suggests that deleting MTM1 probably diminishes SOD2 activity by some means other than Fe misincorporation. A portion of Sod2p in Δmtm1 mitochondria might be unfolded or immature. Mtm1p may import a species required for apo-Sod2p maturation, activity or stability.
Empirical Mode Decomposition Liveness Check in Fingerprint Time Series Captures

This work demonstrates a faster approach for liveness detection in fingerprint devices. The physiological phenomenon of perspiration, observed in time-series fingerprint images of live people, is used as a measure to classify live fingers from not live fingers. Pre-processing involves finding the singularity points using wavelets in the fingerprint images and transforming the information back in the spatial domain to form a spatial domain signal. Wavelet packet sieving is used to tune the modes so as to gain physical significance with reference to the evolving perspiration pattern in live fingers. The percentage of energy contribution in the difference modes is used as a measure to differentiate live fingers from others. The proposed algorithm was applied to a data set of approximately 58 live, 50 spoof and 28 cadaver fingerprint images captured at 0 and after 2 sec, from three different types of scanners. An overall classification rate of 93.7% was achieved across all the three scanners.
Beyond initial attraction: Physical attractiveness in newlywed marriage.

Physical appearance plays a crucial role in shaping new relationships, but does it continue to affect established relationships, such as marriage? In the current study, the authors examined how observer ratings of each spouse's facial attractiveness and the difference between those ratings were associated with (a) observations of social support behavior and (b) reports of marital satisfaction. In contrast to the robust and almost universally positive effects of levels of attractiveness on new relationships, the only association between levels of attractiveness and the outcomes of these marriages was that attractive husbands were less satisfied. Further, in contrast to the importance of matched attractiveness to new relationships, similarity in attractiveness was unrelated to spouses' satisfaction and behavior. Instead, the relative difference between partners' levels of attractiveness appeared to be most important in predicting marital behavior, such that both spouses behaved more positively in relationships in which wives were more attractive than their husbands, but they behaved more negatively in relationships in which husbands were more attractive than their wives. These results highlight the importance of dyadic examinations of the effects of spouses' qualities on their marriages.
Reply to Cockshott and Cottrell

This note reaffirms the author's conclusion that measured price--value correlations have been tainted by the influence of industry size and are therefore spurious. 'Deflation' of sectoral prices and values by costs destroys the correlation only because the theory in question is false, as the author's original paper proved deductively. Cockshott and Cottrell's results do not refute this proof. Deflation destroys the correlation between their simulated prices and values precisely because their simulation model assumes that the theory is false. Copyright 2005, Oxford University Press.
Mutations in Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Nucleocapsid Protein Zinc Fingers Cause Premature Reverse Transcription

Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) requires that its genome be reverse transcribed into double-stranded DNA for productive infection of cells. This process requires not only reverse transcriptase but also the nucleocapsid protein (NC), which functions as a nucleic acid chaperone. Reverse transcription generally begins once the core of the virion enters the cytoplasm of a newly infected cell. However, some groups have reported the presence of low levels of viral DNA (vDNA) within particles prior to infection, the significance and function of which is controversial. We report here that several HIV-1 NC mutants, which we previously identified as being replication defective, contain abnormally high levels of intravirion DNA. These findings were further reinforced by the inability of these NC mutants to perform endogenous reverse transcription (ERT), in contrast to the readily measurable ERT activity in wild-type HIV-1. When either of the NC mutations is combined with a mutation that inactivates the viral protease, we observed a significant reduction in the amount of intravirion DNA. Interestingly, we also observed high levels of intravirion DNA in the context of wild-type NC when we delayed budding by means of a PTAP((-)) (Pro-Thr-Ala-Pro) mutation. Premature reverse transcription is most probably occurring before these mutant virions bud from producer cells, but we fail to see any evidence that the NC mutations alter the timing of Pr55(Gag) processing. Critically, our results also suggest that the presence of intravirion vDNA could serve as a diagnostic for identifying replication-defective HIV-1.
Comments on Games with Incomplete Information Played by 'Bayesian' Players, I-III

This review of Harsanyi's great three-part paper on "Games with Incomplete Information Played by 'Bayesian' Players" has been written for a special 50th anniversary issue of Management Science.
Two-Term Differential Equations with Matrix Distributional Coefficients

We propose a regularization of the formal differential expression $$ \begin{array}{cc}\hfill l(y)={i}^m{y}^{(m)}(t)+q(t)y(t),\hfill & \hfill t\in \left(a,b\right)\hfill \end{array} $$ , of order m ≥ 2 with matrix distribution q. It is assumed that q = Q ([m/2]), where Q = (Q i,j ) , = 1 is a matrix function with entries Q i,j $$ \epsilon $$ L 2[a, b] if m is even and Q i,j $$ \epsilon $$ L 1[a, b], otherwise. In the case of a Hermitian matrix q, we describe self-adjoint, maximal dissipative, and maximal accumulative extensions of the associated minimal operator and its generalized resolvents.
Overview of Facial Plastic Surgery and Current Developments

Facial plastic surgery is a multidisciplinary specialty largely driven by otolaryngology but includes oral maxillary surgery, dermatology, ophthalmology, and plastic surgery. It encompasses both reconstructive and cosmetic components. The scope of practice for facial plastic surgeons in the United States may include rhinoplasty, browlifts, blepharoplasty, facelifts, microvascular reconstruction of the head and neck, craniomaxillofacial trauma reconstruction, and correction of defects in the face after skin cancer resection. Facial plastic surgery also encompasses the use of injectable fillers, neural modulators (e.g., BOTOX Cosmetic, Allergan Pharmaceuticals, Westport, Ireland), lasers, and other devices aimed at rejuvenating skin. Facial plastic surgery is a constantly evolving field with continuing innovative advances in surgical techniques and cosmetic adjunctive technologies. This article aims to give an overview of the various procedures that encompass the field of facial plastic surgery and to highlight the recent advances and trends in procedures and surgical techniques.
The Virtual Commons: Understanding Content Provision in Peer-to-Peer File Sharing Networks

Recent academic studies have observed high levels of free-riding in various peer-to-peer networks and predicted the imminent collapse of these networks. We develop an analytic model to analyze the decision of peers to participate and contribute to peer-to-peer networks. In contrast to previous predictions we find that free-riding is sustainable in equilibrium and that a peer-to-peer network has an implicit capacity constraint to tolerate free-riding. We build on this baseline model to extend our analysis to allow uncertainty with respect to consumption of peer-to-peer content and characterize the relationship between the size of the network and the degree of uncertainty.
FDI, SECTORAL OUTPUT AND REAL EXCHANGE RATE DYNAMICS UNDER FINANCIAL OPENNESS

This paper adopts an alternative approach to the study of the impact of capital inflow on the real exchange rate by foremost, analysing the effect of FDI inflow on the ratio of tradables to nontradables, and then estimating the relationship between the tradable-nontradable ratio and the real exchange rate, while accounting for the role of financial openness. Based on data for a group of developing countries, the findings show that an increase in FDI inflow is associated with a decrease in the tradable-nontradable ratio, and that an increase in the tradable-nontradable ratio leads to a depreciation of the real exchange rate; this effect being greater with an increase in financial openness. This suggests that an increase in FDI inflow could result in an expansion of the nontradable sector, which would be associated with a greater appreciation of the real exchange rate under a higher level of financial openness.
Changes in Family and Peer Orientation of Children Between the Fourth and Tenth Grades

two attitudes-i.e., between the respondents' feelings about the numbers of organizations or friends with which they were associated and their attitudes about themselves, their society, and the world. These coinclusions should be interpreted as a relationship between self-or social-attitudes and the objective degree of social participation only to the extent that subjective reports of social participation can be taken as valid estimates of these parameters.
SCIENTIFIC WRITING AS AN ART: AN OVERVIEW

Writing well is an art that takes time to be perfect, but if you don’t try it, you won’t nail it . The value of writing should never be underestimated, as writing well improves your work [1]. If the writing is clear, it can turn bad science into good science and makes more impactful and valuable [1]. Writing helps the speaker to express the issue before audience very easier. There are various types of writing such as articles, journals, literature review etc [3]. The scientific writing should be simple, objective and concise. Writing depends on the reader’s needs (for a normal reader technical terms mathematical expressions has never suited well) [2]. Various types of manuscripts are used in scientific writing. One of the key developers in scientific publications is the adoption of the IMRAD’s [Introduction, Methods, Results and Discussion] structure [5]. Apart from this other form is TAKAR (Title, Abstract, Keywords, Acknowledgements, and References) [5]. Approaches made by writers for in the design of the contents are about various forms in more than one journal [4]. In case of reference also various styles are used, such as Vancouver’s style, the Harvard system. Writing is a most important factor to criticize and evaluate the publications [9]. Writing process should not intend to be sane, effective. Writing is a decision making process and Writers designs in different ways for their scientific work [7]. All written communications are affected by a larger context or situation [8]. This article helps the reviewers to know about the different writing methods its rhythm and styles. Keywords: Writing style, Ledgable, Language, Style and rhythm, Precision, Bibliography
A Quick Fix to the Food Crisis

In this article the author discusses rising food prices. He argues that economists have created the impression that there is no ready solution to the world food crisis by making a fuss over how complicated the crisis is, which gives the appearance that it is an intractable problem. He suggests that reducing world hunger is possible through the reduction of biofuel production and discusses the impact of biofuel production on food prices.
F-Scan Analysis of Prosthetic Fittings through Mercer on Mission Vietnam

Mercer on Mission Vietnam is an annual service learning course which students spend time fitting prosthetic limbs on amputees. The prosthetic utilized in these trips includes a universal socket designed at Mercer University. The design is a low cost prosthesis that accommodates as many impoverished amputees as possible. During the summer of 2013, 18 students and 3 professors fitted 272 amputees. Fifty-three sets of Tekscan F-Scan Plantar Pressure data were collected. Students analyzed the plantar pressure data and tested for statistical trends between age, weight, height, amputation date, and gender to seek trends that could lead to improvements for the next trip. None of the five factors tested correlated with the quality of prosthetic fit. It was determined that a more systematic method of F-Scan data collection was needed in order to increase consistency and sample size for more in depth trend analysis.
Shear-wave attenuation and site response in Guerrero, Mexico

Spectra from moderate earthquakes are used to investigate shear-wave attenuation and site response for accelerographs located on rock outcrops in Guerrero, Mexico. A least-squares method is used to model the strong-motion spectra assuming an ω−2 source and an exponential decay term, e −πκ f , to describe the high-frequency spectral shape. The spectral decay variable, κ, associated with attenuation, is parameterized as the sum of a distance dependent component, κ ˜ ( r ) , and a site term, κ( S ), which takes a different value for each site, S . Frequency-dependent site response is determined by comparing observed spectra to model event spectra corrected for κ and geometrical spreading. Averaging these residuals over several earthquakes results in an estimate of site response that is generally free of source and path effects. The distance dependence of the spectral decay parameter as expressed by κ ˜ ( r ) is very weak in the Guerrero region in contrast to that in southern California (Anderson, 1991b). This difference may be due to greater shear strength of the top 20 km of crust in the Guerrero subduction zone. Near-site attenuation, represented by κ( S ), is greater in Guerrero compared to the stations in the Anza array of southern California. No obvious correlation with site geology was found. A combination of a deeper weathered layer of crystalline rock and varying subsurface lithology may be responsible for the greater mean values of κ( S ) in Guerrero. The frequency-dependent site functions show significant amplification and deamplification effects for the hard-rock sites. No direct correlation with local topography is observed to explain these effects. The site functions obtained here by constraining the source shape and geometrical spreading closely resemble those derived for Guerrero stations by Castro et al. (1990) using much less restrictive assumptions about the source and propagation effects.
Women’s Fertility Status Alters Other Women’s Jealousy and Mate Guarding:

Across three studies, we tested the hypothesis that women exhibit greater jealousy and mate guarding toward women who are in the high (vs. low) fertility phase of their cycle. Women who imagined their partner with a woman pictured at high fertility reported more jealousy than women who imagined their partner with a woman pictured at low fertility (Studies 1 and 2). A meta-analysis across studies manipulating fertility status of the pictured woman found a significant effect of fertility status on both jealousy and mate guarding. Women with attractive partners viewed fertile-phase women as less trustworthy, which led to increased mate guarding (Study 2). In Study 3, the closer women were to peak fertility, the more instances they reported of other women acting jealously and mate guarding toward them. These studies provide evidence that women selectively exhibit jealousy and mate guarding toward women who are near peak fertility.
Effects of high-fat diet on plasma profiles of eicosanoid metabolites in mice.

Abstract Obesity is a serious health problem in the US and is associated with increased risks of various human diseases. To date, the mechanisms by which obesity increases the risks of a wide range of human diseases are not well understood. Here we used a LC–MS/MS-based lipidomics, which can analyze >100 bioactive lipid mediators produced by cyclooxygenase, lipoxygenase, and cytochrome P450 enzymes, to analyze plasma profiles of lipid mediators in high-fat diet induced obesity in C57BL/6 mice. Our results show that the plasma concentrations of epoxyoctadecenoic acids (EpOMEs, also termed as leukotoxins) are significantly increased in plasma of high-fat diet-fed mice, in addition, EpOMEs are among the most abundant lipid mediators detected in mouse plasma. Since substantial studies have shown that EpOMEs and their metabolites have a large array of detrimental effects on health, enhanced levels of EpOMEs could contribute to the pathology of obesity.
Systematic study of symmetric cumulants at s N N = 200 GeV in Au+Au collisions using a transport approach

Measurement of four-particle symmetric cumulants has been considered to be a good tool to study the correlations between amplitudes of different orders of anisotropic flow harmonics in heavy-ion collisions. These new observables have not yet been measured at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider. Using a multiphase transport (AMPT) model, a set of predictions for the centrality dependence of the normalized four-particle symmetric cumulants in Au+Au collisions at $\sqrt{{s}_{NN}}=200\phantom{\rule{4pt}{0ex}}\mathrm{GeV}$ is given. In addition, the effects of shear viscosity and hadronic rescattering on the magnitude of symmetric cumulants are discussed using the AMPT model at $\sqrt{{s}_{NN}}=200\phantom{\rule{4pt}{0ex}}\mathrm{GeV}$. It is shown that $\text{sc}(2,3)$ is found to be more sensitive to hadronic rescattering, whereas $\text{sc}(2,4)$ is more sensitive to the shear viscosity. Rapidity dependence of symmetric cumulants is also shown. A relation between symmetric cumulant and event-plane correlation is investigated using the AMPT model.
Editorial: Computational Thinking in Education

Effort is still needed to make computational thinking (CT) a 21st century skill taught widely across multiple subjects. Since using or solving problems with computers is not specific to any single discipline, we can expect that in the near future, there will be further interdisciplinary research to understand the impact of computation across a range of academic fields. Our hope is that as more Special Issues like ours, or books and articles are published, the field will mature and provide data-driven support to curriculum design and assessment efforts. DOI: 10.2458/azu_itet_v4i2_czerkawski
Investigation of the Growth of 3C-SiC and 6H-SiC Films on Low-Tilt-Angle Vicinal (0001) 6H-SiC Wafers

Advances have been made in the understanding of the mechanisms that control polytype formation during the chemical vapor deposition of epitaxial SiC films on vicinal (0001) 6H-SiC wafers. Processes based on this new understanding have been developed. For example, 3C-SiC and 6H-SiC films were grown on separate 1-mm-square mesas on the same 6H-SiC substrate. Most of the 3C films were free of double positioning boundaries (DPBs), and had a reduced density of stacking faults. An important aspect of these results was an in situ pregrowth HCl/H2 etch which eliminated unwanted 3C-SiC nucleation.
Multi-Type Librarian Workshops: A Consumer Health Outreach Project

Abstract Locating quality medical information for consumers, electronically or in traditional print formats, can be challenging in spite of the explosion of medical information on the Internet. Which sites are better than others? Where can information geared for children, teens, or caregivers be found? When is it better to consult texts rather than online resources, and what resources exist online that aid in the development of consumer health print collections? How can credibility, bias, and accuracy of information be determined? This article summarizes how a workshop was designed for multi-type librarians to assist them with multiple issues. These include understanding usage patterns of consumer health seekers; print and electronic collection development; conducting quality medical reference interviews; locating and evaluating quality resources (both print and electronic); and establishing a network of resources (colleagues, local consumer health or medical libraries, Listservs, e-mail groups, etc.) tha...