cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Fully tunable software defined DC-DC converter with 3000X output current & 4X output voltage ranges

This paper presents a fully Integrated, software defined capacitive DC-DC converter. The converter implements K-F-C tuning (K = conversion ratio, F = frequency and C = capacitance) in real time so as to accommodate any output load. It has a 4X tunable output voltage, supports a 3269X output load current range while achieving a peak efficiency of 82.1%. This design introduces an accumulation floating junction MOS capacitor that is used for the 18.3 fF/μm2 bucket-capacitors with less than 2μA/mm2 leakage. This leakage is 40X lower than standard MOS capacitors. The converter transforms a 1.0V input to a 0.25–0.95V output for a 0.13mA–425mA load range while maintaining better than 70% efficiency. The power density for better than at 70% efficiency is 1.05W/mm2 (@ V out =430mV) while peak value is 2.15/mm2. Load regulation is implemented using capacitive and frequency tuning in digital and analog domains respectively. The design was fabricated in TSMC 65nm.
NCOG-11. COGNITIVE FUNCTIONS AND VARIANTS IN GENES ASSOCIATED WITH AGING AND INFLAMMATION IN BRAIN TUMOR PATIENTS

AbstractBACKGROUNDCognitive dysfunction is common in patients with brain tumors treated with radiotherapy (RT) and chemotherapy (CT). We reported previously that single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the APOE, COMT and BDNF genes may influence cognitive outcome in this clinical population. In this study, we assessed whether additional genes with known associations with aging, Alzheimer’s disease and inflammation may contribute to cognitive dysfunction in brain tumor survivors.METHODSOne hundred and fifty patients with brain tumors participated in the study: ninety had been treated with RT ± CT, fifty-seven had CT alone, and three had no therapy. All patients completed neuropsychological tests of attention, executive functions and memory, and provided a blood sample for genotyping. We used a Bayesian penalized multivariate regression approach to estimate the associations between the SNPs and cognitive outcome, adjusting for age, education, tumor location, treatment with RT ± CT, time since treatment completion, and APOE epsilon є-4 allele. We quantified the strength of association between a SNP and a cognitive test score using a novel measure referred to as the posterior association summary (PAS) that takes value between 0 (= no association) and 1 (= very strong association).RESULTSSeveral SNPs previously reported in association with age-related cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s disease (PDE7A rs10808746, CD2AP rs9349407, ABCC1 rs8187858, APOE rs405697) and inflammation (IL-1A rs1800587, IL-1 rs1143634, IL-6 rs1474348) were strongly associated with tests of attention, executive functions and memory (PAS ≥ 0.95). Several additional SNPs that mapped to the ABCA7, CD33, COMT, IL-6, MS4A4E, PDE7A, PICALM, SERPINA3 and SORC1 genes were also associated with tests of attention and executive functions with PAS ≥ 0.90.CONCLUSIONThe findings provide new evidence that polymorphisms in genes associated with aging, Alzheimer’s disease and inflammation may be functionally relevant and influence cognitive outcome in patients with brain tumors.
Progress and Successes of the Specialty Crop Research Initiative on Acrylamide Reduction in Processed Potato Products

Acrylamide, a suspected human carcinogen, is a Maillard reaction product that forms when carbohydrate-rich foods are cooked at high temperatures. Processed potato products, including French fries and potato chips, make a substantial contribution to total dietary acrylamide. Health safety concerns raised by acrylamide in food increased financial risks to the potato industry and encouraged industry to take a proactive approach toward acrylamide mitigation. The USDA National Institutes of Food and Agriculture Specialty Crop Research Initiative (SCRI) on acrylamide reduction in potato was a cooperative endeavor in which industry partners worked at a systems level with university and government researchers to develop acrylamide mitigation strategies. Short-term goals focused on identifying advanced breeding clones and recently released varieties that have lower acrylamide-forming potential than standard potato varieties. Research was also directed at developing more efficient potato breeding methods, including marker-assisted breeding, genome wide selection, and improved phenotyping methods. Data from the National Fry Processing Trial (NFPT) and SCRI agronomic trial have shown that dramatic reductions in acrylamide are achievable through the use of new varieties that maintain low concentrations of tuber reducing sugars. Chipping potato trials coordinated by Potatoes USA and data from breeding populations suggest that maintaining low tuber reducing sugars through extended storage and lowering tuber asparagine content are options for decreasing acrylamide content in potato chips. To have an impact, new varieties must have exceptional agronomic performance and must produce finished products that meet requirements for consumer attributes including color, texture and taste. Data consistently show that this is more easily achievable in chipping potatoes than in fry processing potatoes.
Assessment of Pain: Complete Patient Evaluation

Throughout history, physicians believed that the perception of pain could be explained by a single, simplified physiologic pathway (Loeser et al. 2001a). Their theories described pain as its own sensory apparatus, independent of touch and other senses, or as a result of excessive stimulation from the touch sensation. While the exact mechanisms were unknown, most physicians agreed that pain required a triggering stimulus and that removal of the stimulus should relieve pain. More recently, practitioners focus on pain that occurs during the absence of tissue damage or other organic pathology. While most pain experienced may have an initial inciting event, continuation of pain after removal of the stimulus indicates that many factors and biological pathways interact to cause the sensation of pain. Hence, the initial assessment of an individual’s pain is important in determining the underlying cause and the possible treatments available for that individual (Loeser et al. 2001b, c; Garratt et al. 1993).
CHAPTER 9 – Digital Systems

This concluding chapter presents the concepts in digital electronics and fundamental concepts in information and communication theory and showed that these seemingly diverse concepts have led to a new form of communicating, embodied by the Internet. It introduces the fundamental notions that define the transmission of digital information in communication systems. The integration of digital communication networks with the computer given birth to the global Internet. Examination of bandwidth and channel capacity of a transmission link or trunk suggested that bandwidth could be traded for noise in a transmission system. As popular as AM and FM are for analog transmission, so is pulse code modulation (PCM) for digital signaling. The fact that several pulses are needed to code each sample increases the bandwidth. PCM allows repeated noise-free regeneration of the original digital signal, which implies that a digital signal can be sent over large distances without deterioration. The World Wide Web is the leading information retrieval service of the Internet. Browser software such as Netscape Navigator and Internet Explorer allows users to view retrieved documents and Web pages from the Internet.
Lack of Bovine leukemia virus transmission during natural breeding of cattle

Abstract Bovine leukosis is a chronic lymphoproliferative disorder that leads to significant economic losses in the beef and dairy industries. The major route of virus transmission is believed to be iatrogenic through the transfer of blood containing infected lymphocytes. In addition, BLV proviral DNA has been identified in nasal secretions, saliva, milk, colostrum, semen and smegma; however, natural transmission of BLV through these secretions has not been clearly demonstrated. The use of bulls for natural breeding has been identified as a risk factor in BLV infected dairy herds. However, the risk of BLV-infected bulls transmitting the virus is unknown. The objective of this study was to evaluate the potential for BLV transmission during natural breeding between a BLV-infected bull and uninfected heifers. Forty healthy, BLV seronegative, and proviral-negative beef heifers were randomly assigned to one of two groups: control heifers (n = 20) exposed to a BLV seronegative and proviral negative bull and challenged heifers (n = 20) exposed to a BLV seropositive and proviral-positive bull. Each group was housed with the bull for a period of 38 days in a 5-acre pasture to replicate the housing of commercial beef cattle during the breeding season. Blood samples were collected from heifers at −60, −30 and 0 days prior to breeding and day 30, 60 and 90 after the breeding period ended. Blood samples were tested for BLV antibodies by ELISA and BLV proviral DNA by CoCoMo-qPCR. New infection was not detected by ELISA or CoCoMo-qPCR in any of the challenge or control heifers at any time point during the study. Based on these results, BLV infected bulls that are healthy and aleukemic may not be a significant risk of BLV transmission during a defined breeding season.
Teaching-learning partnership between nurses and long-term patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis: A qualitative study.

Background People with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) receiving peritoneal dialysis (PD) have been found to alter their adherence to the renal therapeutic regimen following their initial teaching by PD nurses. Since alterations of adherence have been associated with poor health outcomes, this study focuses on persons receiving PD who rely on support and re-education from their nurses. Objectives To explore the teaching-learning partnership between people receiving PD and PD nurses, and to compare and contrast shared perspectives. Design The study consisted of individual semi-structured interviews of four people receiving PD and three PD nurses, using qualitative content analysis. Findings Four shared themes and nine sub-themes emerged: "motivation" was characterised by perceptions of "staying healthy to avoid peritonitis pain and to qualify for a transplant". One sub-theme emerged exclusively in the interviewed people receiving PD: "motivation" to initiate PD through "finding meaning in life and situation". The theme "acceptance" was comprised "of diagnosis and choosing to initiate PD" and the "modification and integration into daily life". The presence of "support" arose from "personal support from family and friends", "professional care and understanding of the individual" and "professional customised and re-iterative education". The evolving "partnership" was comprised of "exposure", "personal rapport", and the "necessity of working together" in order to maintain positive health outcomes. Conclusion The partnership between the PD nurse and people receiving PD for ESKD is crucial for successful health outcomes. Each partnership is unique and evolves over time. A successful partnership requires nurses to modify the educational content and teaching style to best meet the needs of people receiving PD and, most importantly, allow them to feel cared for and supported.
The Effect of Promotion Variables and Competitive Situations on Small Retailers’ Profitability

The primary objective of this study was to explore the relationship between a select group of promotion variables utilized by small retail grocers and five retail store performance ratios (GPM, NPM, GMROI, NPROI, and stockturn rate per year).
Thoracoscopic surgery for one neonate with broncho-esophageal fistula

Abstract This article is about a 6-day-old male infant admitted to the hospital presented with a 2-day history of worsening widespread spitting. After a series of treatments, we found that the diagnosis was “broncho-esophageal fistula”. So he was recommended to receive surgical treatment. After preoperative preparation, thoracoscopic ligation of esophagus and bronchospasm was performed.The fistula was 1.5 cm long. The broncho-esophageal fistula was often found in adults, which was often misdiagnosed as pneumonia with bad effective treatment, especially in a newborn, but the non-invasive CT three-dimensional imaging technology can provide a reliable basis for the clear diagnosis of esophageal bronchospasm.
Increased Risk of Colorectal Cancer in Individuals With a History of Serrated Polyps.

Background and Aims Serrated polyp (SPs) are precursors to 20% to 30% of cases of colorectal tumors, but patients’ long-term risk after removal of SPs is poorly understood. We investigated the risk of colorectal cancer (CRC) in individuals with a history of SPs. Methods We performed a retrospective cohort study of Kaiser Permanente Northern California members who underwent colonoscopy from 2006 through 2016. Study participants were categorized based on the size and location of SPs. We used Cox proportional hazards modeling to estimate the hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) for the association of CRC diagnosed more than 1 year after colonoscopy, with polyp type vs no polyp after adjustment for year of colonoscopy, age, sex, race/ethnicity, and smoking history. Results The study included 233,393 individuals, of whom 445 developed incident CRC. At 10 years, the cumulative incidence rates of CRC for individuals with no polyp, proximal small SPs, proximal large SPs, and distal SPs were 4.7 (95% CI, 4.0–5.6), 14.8 (95% CI, 9.0–24.3), 30.2 (95% CI, 13.2–68.4), and 5.9 (95% CI, 3.6–9.5) per 1000 persons, respectively. In patients with SPs, risk of CRC was not increased until 3 years or more after the first colonoscopy (HR for small proximal SPs 2.6; 95% CI, 1.7–3.9 and HR for large proximal SPs 8.0; 95% CI, 3.6–16.1). The presence of synchronous adenomas increased the risk for CRC (HR for proximal SPs with synchronous adenomas 4.0; 95% CI, 3.0–5.5 and HR for distal SPs with synchronous adenomas 2.4; 95% CI, 1.7–3.4). Conclusions In a retrospective analysis of a large cohort of individuals examined by colonoscopy, we found that risk of incident CRC increased in individuals with proximal SPs (large SPs in particular) 3 years or more after the colonoscopy. These findings support guidelines that recommend surveillance colonoscopy for individuals with SPs.
Streaming analysis of track data from video

A vast amount of temporal information are collected and stored which leads to a need for techniques to extract useful high-level information from the data, such as recognizable activities or events. This paper proposes a framework for streaming analysis of time series data, in this case track data from video sequences, which can recognize events without supervision and memorize them by building temporal contexts. The memorized historical data are then used to predict the future and detect anomalous activities or events. An incremental clustering method is used to recognize and learn the event without training. A memorization method of double localization, including relative and absolute localization, is proposed to model the temporal context. The first- order Markov chain is used as an example to relatively localize an event in the temporal space, while a temporal map is used to absolutely localize an event. By setting proper coordinates for the temporal map, prior temporal patterns can be included before building more delicate models to find subtle patterns. Finally, the predictive model is built based on the method of memorization. The "Edinburgh Informatics Forum Pedestrian Data Set", which offers about 1000 observed trajectories of pedestrians detected in camera images each working day for several months, is used as an example to illustrate the framework. The trajectories are incrementally recognized as activities, and the activities are further used to describe the situation (event) in the scene. By using the proposed framework, we not only get current high level information of the scene, such as activities and events that occur in the scene, but we can also reason whether current activities or events are "normal" by referring to the temporal context learned from historical data. For the data considered here, a total of 92,000+ observed trajectories and their temporal patterns over one year can be summarized by a temporal map of 16 events and a probability (transition) matrix between them. Our proposed framework offers an effective method of extracting useful and manageable information from a huge amount of raw trajectory data.
Hot-carrier enhanced light emission: The origin of above-threshold photons from electrically driven plasmonic tunnel junctions

Understanding the origin of above-threshold photons emitted from electrically driven tunnel junctions ( ℏ ω > e V b with V b being the applied voltage bias) is of current interest in nano-optics and holds great promise to create novel on-chip optoelectronic and energy conversion technologies. Here, we report experimental observation and theoretical analysis of above-threshold light emission from electromigrated Au tunnel junctions. We compare our proposed hot-carrier enhanced light emission theory with existing models, including blackbody thermal radiation, multi-electron interactions, and an interpretation involving finite temperature effects. Our study highlights the key role of plasmon-induced hot carrier dynamics in emitting above-threshold photons and the need to further explore the underlying mechanisms and optimization of upconversion effects in plasmonically active nanostructures.
Transitioning to co-management in Caribbean reef fisheries: Tela Bay case study

Caribbean fisheries are characterized by their heterogeneous socio-ecological conditions. Paradoxically, they are generally managed through a top-down, government centered, one-size fits all approach. Here, we assessed the governance and socioeconomic context of a Caribbean reef fishery (Tela Bay, Honduras), to disentangle the main challenges and opportunities faced during the transition to fisheries co-management. Similar to the rest of the region, Tela Bay communities depend on reef fisheries for their livelihoods and food security but they turned to co-management as a means to achieve a sustainable fishery. We identified four main challenges for the successful implementation of co-management, these were: (1) weak institutions, (2) financial constraints, (3) reduced group cohesion due to the high heterogeneity among stakeholders and (4) lack of formal legal agreements to legitimize co-management arrangements. Despite these challenges, the Tela Bay communities were able to successfully implement co-management, due to 2 key aspects: (1) bridging organizations that fostered multilevel collaboration, promoted participation, strengthened organizations, generated financial support and improved accountability and (2) social capital, reflected through community participation, cooperation, trust and conflict resolution mechanisms. The Tela Bay case study has contributed to sustainability science by demonstrating that the conceptualization of co-management differs according to the socioeconomic context of the fishery. In its early implementation in Caribbean fisheries, co-management should be viewed as institution building and governance. Thus, successful case studies must continue to be monitored to scale-up these efforts in the region.
The effects of feed and energy costs on broiler farm decisions: A dynamic programming approach

We explore the decision‐making process of commercial poultry enterprises facing rising input costs in Nigeria. Using a cross‐sectional dataset and a 1‐year weekly panel of farm inputs and prices, we employ a discrete time, discrete control and state space dynamic programming (DP) model, disaggregated by farm size, to determine optimal decisions. In the presence of high feed costs and increased energy use, the optimal strategy for medium‐sized farms is to sell and exit the industry. However, it remains profitable for large firms to stay in the sector. The findings indicate that broiler farms need larger batch sizes to withstand input price increases and rising energy costs. While Nigeria has seen a rapid growth of commercial livestock enterprises, the sensitivity of the poultry industry to changes in feed prices is a major threat to the sector and highlights the importance of acquiring higher batch sizes and employing other risk management tools, such as contracts to forward price input.
Clinical and Psychological Factors Predict Outcome in Patients With Functional Dyspepsia: A Prospective Study.

Background & Aims Symptoms of functional dyspepsia (FD) fluctuate over time but there are limited data on the impact of factors on change in dyspepsia symptom severity over time. We aimed to evaluate the demographic, clinical, and psychological factors associated with change in dyspepsia symptom severity. Methods Consecutive patients with FD presenting to a tertiary care center completed questionnaires assessing clinical and psychological symptoms at the time of the initial visit (baseline) and at the 3- and 6-month follow-up evaluations. FD and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) were diagnosed using Rome IV criteria. FD severity was measured using patient assessment of gastrointestinal symptom severity. Patient-reported outcome measures information scales were used to assess the severity of anxiety, depression, and sleep disturbance. Results Of 128 FD patients, 64 (50%) also met Rome IV criteria for IBS. In the final multivariable model, lower baseline sleep disturbance, improvement in anxiety scores, absence of IBS, and a lower number of medications taken for gastrointestinal symptoms were associated with improvement in dyspepsia scores (P Conclusions Improvement in FD symptom severity over 3 to 6 months was associated with improvement of anxiety, lower sleep disturbance at baseline, absence of IBS, and higher baseline dyspepsia severity.
Experimental Characterization of Cascaded Vapor Chambers for Spreading of Non-Uniform Heat Loads

Thermal management of heterogeneous electronic devices relies on spreading high local heat fluxes in the package lid. The use of intra-lid vapor chambers is an attractive approach if they can be designed for the thermal management of a large total heat load simultaneous with localized high-flux hotspots. Conventional vapor chambers, having a single vapor core, require thick evaporator wicks to avoid the capillary limit at high total power, but these thick evaporator wicks impose a large conduction resistance to hotspots. The recently proposed cascaded multi-core vapor chamber (CMVC) concept consists of a bottom-tier comprising multiple vapor cores that can each diffuse high heat flux hotspots before they reach the top tier, which acts as a conventional single-core vapor chamber. The current study experimentally investigates the use of cascaded vapor chambers for heat spreading of a non-uniform heat load to illustrate this design rationale. The thermal resistance of a solid copper benchmark, a conventional vapor chamber, and a cascade of two vapor chambers are compared for non-uniform heat input. Experiments are performed by interfacing the heat spreaders with a central heater generating the peak heat flux surrounded by a film heater that produces a lower heat flux background power; the other side of the spreaders is interfaced to a cold plate to provide a controlled boundary condition. The results demonstrate that the cascaded vapor chambers offer a notable reduction in thermal resistance relative to the conventional vapor chamber. The enhancement in performance is attributed to the local dampening of the peak heat fluxes at a low thermal resistance, thereby reducing the total thermal resistance of the cascaded vapor chambers relative to the standalone vapor chamber. This result reveals that cascades of vapor chambers have the potential to perform better than conventional vapor chambers through attenuation of hotspots at a low thermal resistance.
Uranium silicide pellet fabrication by powder metallurgy for accident tolerant fuel evaluation and irradiation

Abstract In collaboration with industry, Idaho National Laboratory is investigating uranium silicide for use in future light water reactor fuels as a more accident resistant alternative to uranium oxide base fuels. Specifically this project was focused on producing uranium silicide (U3Si2) pellets by conventional powder metallurgy with a density greater than 94% of the theoretical density. This work has produced a process to consistently produce pellets with the desired density through careful optimization of the process. Milling of the U3Si2 has been optimized and high phase purity U3Si2 has been successfully produced. Results are presented from sintering studies and microstructural examinations that illustrate the need for a finely ground reproducible particle size distribution in the source powder. The optimized process was used to produce pellets for the Accident Tolerant Fuel-1 irradiation experiment. The average density of these pellets was 11.54 ± 0.06 g/cm3. Additional characterization of the pellets by scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction has also been performed. Pellets produced in this work have been encapsulated for irradiation, and irradiation in the Advanced Test Reactor is expected soon.
Pigs in cyberspace

Exploration and colonization of the universe awaits, but Earth-adapted biological humans are ill-equipped to respond to the challenge. Machines have gone farther and seen more, limited though they presently are by insect-like behavior inflexibility. As they become smarter over the coming decades, space will be theirs. Organizations of robots of ever increasing intelligence and sensory and motor ability will expand and transform what they occupy, working with matter, space and time. As they grow, a smaller and smaller fraction of their territory will be undeveloped frontier. Competitive success will depend more and more on using already available matter and space in ever more refined and useful forms. The process, analogous to the miniaturization that makes today's computers a trillion times more powerful than the mechanical calculators of the past, will gradually transform all activity from grossly physical homesteading of raw nature, to minimum-energy quantum transactions of computation. The final frontier will be urbanized, ultimately into an arena where every bit of activity is a meaningful computation: the inhabited portion of the universe will be transformed into a cyberspace. Because it will use resources more efficiently, a mature cyberspace of the distant future will be effectively much bigger than the present physical universe. While only an infinitesimal fraction of existing matter and space is doing interesting work, in a well developed cyberspace every bit will be part of a relevant computation or storing a useful datum. Over time, more compact and faster ways of using space and matter will be invented, and used to restructure the cyberspace, effectively increasing the amount of computational spacetime per unit of physical spacetime. Computational speed-ups will affect the subjective experience of entities in the cyberspace in a paradoxical way. At first glimpse, there is no subjective effect, because everything, inside and outside the individual, speeds up equally. But, more subtly, speed-up produces an expansion of the cyber universe, because, as thought accelerates, more subjective time passes during the fixed (probably lightspeed) physical transit time of a message between a given pair of locations - so those fixed locations seem to grow farther apart. Also, as information storage is made continually more efficient through both denser utilization of matter and more efficient encodings, there will be increasingly more cyber-stuff between any two points. The effect may somewhat resemble the continuous-creation process in the old steady-state theory of the physical universe of Hoyle, Bondi and Gold, where hydrogen atoms appear just fast enough throughout the expanding cosmos to maintain a constant density.
Intestinal Epithelial Cell Surface Membrane Glycoprotein Synthesis II. GLYCOSYLTRANSFERASES AND ENDOGENOUS ACCEPTORS OF THE UNDIFFERENTIATED CELL SURFACE MEMBRANE

The cell surface membranes of mitotically active crypt cells from rat intestinal epithelium were found to have glycosyltransferase activities and endogenous acceptors not found on the differentiating villus cells. Rat intestinal epithelial cells were isolated as intact cells from different levels of the villus and crypt areas representing sequential stages of cellular differentiation. Incubation of these cells with UDP-N-acetyl[1-14C]glucosamine, UDP-[U-14C]glucose, UDP-[1-3H]galactose, GDP-[U-14C]mannose, and GDP-[U-14C]fucose demonstrated up to a 10-fold greater incorporation into crypt cells as compared to villus cells. In marked contrast, incubation with CMP-[4,5,6,7,8,9-14C]sialic acid showed that radioactive sialic acid was preferably transferred to villus cell rather than to crypt cell surface. Effective transfer of sugars to exogenous acceptors gave further indication for the presence of galactosyltransferase enzyme activity on crypt cells rather than villus cells, and of sialyltransferase enzyme activity as being predominantly on villus cells. Neither glycosyltransferase activities nor endogenous acceptors were released into the incubation medium. Analysis of labeled endogenous product by dialysis, acid precipitation, differential solvent extraction, graded acid hydrolysis, high voltage electrophoresis, and descending chromatography suggested that most of the label was present as the original monosaccharide derived from the nucleotide sugar, and that it had been incorporated into a membrane-associated glycoprotein. Incubation of human fetal intestinal epithelial cells with UDP-[1-3H]galactose also showed galactosyltransferase enzyme activity to an exogenous as well as an endogenous acceptor. These results suggest that the plasma membrane of the mitotically active undifferentiated crypt cell and the fetal cell both contain (a) active glycosyl-transferase enzymes and (b) acceptor sites which are glycoproteins with incomplete polysaccharide chains.
Antibodies VRC01 and 10E8 Neutralize HIV-1 with High Breadth and Potency Even with Ig-Framework Regions Substantially Reverted to Germline

Abs capable of effectively neutralizing HIV-1 generally exhibit very high levels of somatic hypermutation, both in their CDR and framework-variable regions. In many cases, full reversion of the Ab-framework mutations back to germline results in substantial to complete loss of HIV-1-neutralizing activity. However, it has been unclear whether all or most of the observed framework mutations would be necessary or whether a small subset of these mutations might be sufficient for broad and potent neutralization. To address this issue and to explore the dependence of neutralization activity on the level of somatic hypermutation in the Ab framework, we applied a computationally guided framework-reversion procedure to two broadly neutralizing anti-HIV-1 Abs, VRC01 and 10E8, which target two different HIV-1 sites of vulnerability. Ab variants in which up to 78% (38 of 49 for VRC01) and 89% (31 of 35 for 10E8) of framework mutations were reverted to germline retained breadth and potency within 3-fold of the mature Abs when evaluated on a panel of 21 diverse viral strains. Further, a VRC01 variant with an ∼50% framework-reverted L chain showed a 2-fold improvement in potency over the mature Ab. Our results indicate that only a small number of Ab-framework mutations may be sufficient for high breadth and potency of HIV-1 neutralization by Abs VRC01 and 10E8. Partial framework revertants of HIV-1 broadly neutralizing Abs may present advantages over their highly mutated counterparts as Ab therapeutics and as targets for immunogen design.
Mapping of the fabA Locus for Unsaturated Fatty Acid Biosynthesis in Escherichia coli

fabA mutants of Escherichia coli require an appropriate unsaturated fatty acid for growth. The fabA locus has now been mapped at minute 21.5 of the linkage map of E. coli. The locus is cotransduced with pyrD and aroA but not with pyrC, purB, or pdxC. The clockwise order of markers in the region is pdxC, aroA, cmlB, pyrD, fabA, pyrC.
GFRP Rod and Rope for Structural Guy Applications

Stress-rupture tests at moderately elevated temperatures under low and saturated humidity conditions were carried out on two GFRP rod and rope materials and the stress-rupture characteristics of the materials are examined. Flexural tests were performed on three GFRP rod and rope materials from +77 to -80°F (+43 to -62°C) and the flexural moduli of the materials are evaluated. Simulated aeolian vibration tests were carried out on two GFRP rod and rope materials held under constant tensile loads using four types of commercial guy-termination grips and an NBS shear-type grip. The resistance to damage of these materials from aeolian vibration is observed up to 10 cycles. A series of 30-day storage tests was conducted on four GFRP rod and rope materials at temperatures ranging from 125 to 200°F (46 to 93°C). Several guide lines regarding minimum coil diameters and maximum exposure temperatures for long-term storage are established. Some residual strength tests were performed on the materials which had been exposed to long-term storage.
Unreal Probabilities:Partial Truth with Clifford Numbers

This paper Introduces and studies the basic properties of Clifford algebra valued conditional measures.
The Fix is In: Detecting Portfolio Driven Manipulation of the LIBOR

The London Interbank Oered Rate (Libor) is a set of vital benchmark interest rates to which hundreds of trillions of dollars of …nancial contracts are tied. The rates are set each day via a survey of large banks. In recent years, strange behavior of the rates have caused observers to question its proper function and some to suggest overt manipulation as the cause. Subsequent regulatory investigations have culminated in admissions of manipulation by at least three Libor panel banks. In this paper we develop tests for manipulation based on a model of bank submissions to the survey. Our results suggest manipulation was widespread and may have persisted into the more recent past, somewhat at odds with the picture painted by publicly available sources.
Damage control techniques in acute cholecystitis

Acute cholecystitis (AC) is one of the most common causes of emergency admissions to a general surgery service. Although early laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) is considered the appropriate treatment for patients with AC, the procedure can be associated with significant morbidity and mortality in high-risk patients [1–3]. High-risk surgical patients, such as the elderly and those with cardiopulmonary comorbidities have pathological changes in their organ systems resulting in increased morbidity and mortality such as myocardial infarction, congestive cardiac failure, stroke, pneumonia or atelectasis [4]. Additionally, the exposure of such high-risk patients to the pneumoperitoneum of a LC can further lead to cardiopulmonary and renal dysfunction [4]. Due to these observations, less invasive or “damage control” techniques have emerged for AC. These techniques attempt to foster temporary and sometimes permanent disease management of AC. The following discussion addresses some of these techniques.
Loss of native aquatic plant species in a community dominated by Eurasian watermilfoil

Ecological evaluation of the impact of an exotic species upon native plant species is frequently a combination of historical data prior to introduction and after full establishment with little observation in between. The introduction of Myriophyllum spicatum L. (Eurasian watermilfoil) into Lake George, New York, U.S.A. was first noted in 1985. In 1987, a few newly established plants were allowed to grow unimpeded by human management to document the rate of colonization of this species into a new habitat with its ultimate dominance over, and systematic elimination of, native species. This changing community has been closely monitored over the past decade. Initially a 6 m2 grid system composed of 144 0.5 m2 plots with four radiating transect lines was laid out with the isolated M. spicatum plants as the center. The site was revisited between 1987 and 1997 to mark the extent of the developing M. spicatum bed and its effect on the composition of the native plant community. Since 1987, the area of dense growth has expanded in all directions, impeded only where some physical barrier, such as upper or lower water depth limits or sediment type curtailed its growth. Concurrently, with this expansion, a decline in species richness and abundance of native species was observed.
Belief Networks for Expert System Development in Auditing

This study examines the use of a belief network based expert system for an auditing task—financial distress evaluation for banks. A belief network uses probability measures to store important dependencies across variables of interest in a problem domain, and makes inferences based on observed evidence using probability calculus. This paper discusses how belief network structures can be constructed, and used to assist auditor's in making appropriate recommendations regarding the financial health of a bank under audit. The ability of a belief network to make reliable predictions depends on how well the network structure reflects the underlying dependencies across variables in the problem domain (e.g. financial ratios and the financial health of a bank). The first part of this study illustrates how a computer program developed by the authors can be used to generate and evaluate different feasible belief network structures based on historical data. The program uses an information-theoretic measure to compare the alternative structures. The ability of the program to identify existing dependencies across variables is demonstrated by using it to reconstruct a known network structure from simulated data. Next, the program is used on a database of twelve important bank financial ratios over a three-year period. The predictive ratios identified by the program reflect important areas of a bank's health, such as loan quality, efficiency, profitability and capital adequacy. Finally, a belief revision mechanism is encoded for the belief network structure identified earlier, and is used to illustrate how it can assist auditors in making recommendations about financial health based on a bank's critical financial ratios. The probability estimates provided by the system are validated using data on banks not used in the network design stage, and are found to be reliable. © 1996 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Temperature effect on diffusion of carbon dioxide through upper layers of Yucca Mountain

Abstract The effective diffusivities of carbon dioxide through the Tiva Canyon tuff and the lower lithophysal zone of the Topopah Spring tuff (outcrop samples of the layer above the proposed nuclear repository site layer) were determined using a steady-state method (counter diffusion). The diffusivity of carbon dioxide through the Tiva Canyon and lithopysal zone tuffs increased with temperature. The following correlation was obtained to estimate the effective diffusivity of carbon dioxide through the Tiva Canyon tuff in cm 2 s −1 as a function of temperature (K). D e = 1.22 × 10 −2 − 3.77 × 10 −5 T + 9.95 × 10 −8 T 2 The effective diffusivity of carbon dioxide through the lower lithophysal zone of the Topopah Spring tuff (layer right above the proposed repository site) also increased with temperature. For this layer, the following correlation was obtained to estimate the effective diffusivity of carbon dioxide in cm 2 s −1 as a function of temperature (K). D e = − 1.11 × 10 −3 + 1.25 × 10 −5 T + 1.83 × 10 −9 T 2
Design of dual-band cavity-backed slot antennas using lumped elements

In this paper we present a new technique for designing dual-band cavity-backed slot antennas using chip inductors. Presence of the cavity behind the antenna aperture increases the front-to-back ratio of the antenna and decreases its sensitivity to the presence of large metallic objects underneath it. In what follows, the design procedure of the antenna as well as its measurement results are presented and discussed.
The effect of detergents and lipids on the properties of the outer-membrane protein OmcA from Shewanella oneidensis

The protein OmcA from the bacterium Shewanella oneidensis was purified to homogeneity, and characterized using UV–vis spectroelectrochemistry, EPR, and circular dichroism (far- and near-UV regions). EPR spectroscopy showed that many different c-type hemes are present in the protein: high-spin, low-spin, and highly anisotropic low-spin hemes were all detected. The protein was shown to bind tightly to artificial membranes (liposomes) composed of dioleoylphosphatidylglycerol and 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine (60:40 molar ratio), which mimic the natural environment. However, on the basis of the spectroscopic and electrochemical studies, binding to liposomes does not appear to significantly alter either the structure or the properties of OmcA. On the other hand, the electrochemical properties of OmcA are noticeably changed in the presence of the detergents used during the initial purification stages. In particular, the reduction potentials of two out of the ten OmcA hemes appear to shift in the presence of detergent, perhaps because these hemes are solvent-exposed.
PHOTOCHEMISTRY OF ALL-TRANS- AND 13-CIS-14,15-DIDEUTERIORETINAL

— All-trans- and 13-cis-14,15-dideuterioretinal were synthesized and their solution photochemistry examined. Quantum yields of transcis or cis trans photoisomerization and the number and ratio of primary photoproducts, determined by high pressure liquid chromatographic analysis, are essentially identical to that of their corresponding retinal isomer. The C-14, C-15 carbon-hydrogen modes play no particularly important role in the deactivation of electronically excited linear polyenes related to retinal.
Properties of a Ubiquitous 29 kDa Au:SR Cluster Compound †

The broad, intense peak found near 29 kDa in the laser-desorption mass-spectral abundances of various aurothiol (Au:SR) cluster compounds has been used to optimize the preferential formation of the species in that mass range. Recrystallization gives enriched fractions, on the 10 mg scale, that in several cases appear free of species outside that mass range. Elemental analysis and X-ray photoelectron spectra (XPS) confirm the absence of elements other than Au, S, C, and H, while infrared and NMR (1H,13C) spectra are consistent with intact thio groups. The Au 4f7/2 XPS peak is only slightly shifted (∼0.2 eV) and broadened from that of bulk Au(0) metal, and intense optical absorption extends far into the infrared region (0.5 eV), consistent with a metallic Au core. Recrystallized samples of the R = C4, C6, and C12 materials readily form highly diffractive crystalline films, powders, and single crystals on the scale of 10 μm, consistent with perfect ordering in >100 nm grains, and a negligible amorphous conte...
Examining the Challenges Early Childhood Teacher Candidates Face in Figuring Their Roles as Early Educators

Federal, state, and local policy makers' high-stakes standards-based accountability reforms are transforming the early childhood teacher education process. These reforms affect how early education teacher candidates figure their role as teachers. By employing Holland, Lachicotte, Skinner, and Cain's conception of figured worlds to analyze the findings of a qualitative case study, this article examines how three early childhood teacher candidates' figured conceptions of themselves as early educators evolve in high-stakes classrooms and teacher education environments. It also investigates how these candidates see themselves addressing these reforms in their own classrooms. Such a study not only further details the impact reforms have on preservice teachers' conceptions of teaching, but it also provides a chance for early childhood teacher educators to consider strategies they might employ to assist their candidates in developing a figured conception of teaching that addresses these reforms in an development...
Effect of Organic Acids on Shrimp Pathogen, Vibrio harveyi

Shrimp farming accounts for more than 40% of the world shrimp production. Luminous vibriosis is a shrimp disease that causes major economic losses in the shrimp industry as a result of massive shrimp kills due to infection. Some farms in the South Asia use antibiotics to control Vibrio harveyi, a responsible pathogen for luminous vibriosis. However, the antibiotic-resistant strain was found recently in many shrimp farms, which makes it necessary to develop alternative pathogen control methods. Short-chain fatty acids are metabolic products of organisms, and they have been used as food preservatives for a long time. Organic acids are also commonly added in feeds in animal husbandry, but not in aquaculture. In this study, growth inhibitory effects of short-chain fatty acids, namely formic acid, acetic acid, propionic acid, and butyric acid, on V. harveyi were investigated. Among four acids, formic acid showed the strongest inhibitory effect followed by acetic acid, propionic acid, and butyric acid. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 0.035% formic acid suppressed growth of V. harveyi. The major inhibitory mechanism seems to be the pH effect of organic acids. The effective concentration 50 (EC50) values at 96 h inoculation for all organic acids were determined to be 0.023, 0.041, 0.03, and 0.066% for formic, acetic, propionic, and butyric acid, respectively. The laboratory study results are encouraging to formulate shrimp feeds with organic acids to control vibrio infection in shrimp aquaculture farms.
Toward an electronic programmer's assistant

The purpose of this paper is to describe how an “Electronic Programmer's Assistant” system might be developed initially using currently existing software. The Assistant would be an integrated software package incorporating modules for documentaion, automatic programming, and testing. Such an effort requires additional research and definition, and this paper will attempt to describe what existing tools such an effort might use, as well as a broad description of what such a system might offer. While such a system as could be developed in the short term will not solve the autoprogramming problem or the program proving problem, it will be a step in the direction of solutions to such problems. The more modest goals of the system described in this report is to improve the programmer/system designer's productivity in generating and verifying programs.The system described here is one which has roots in the growing sophistication of systems for automatic production of systems documentation. Some discussion of the evolution of preceeding systems that led to the concepts of the Electronic Programmer's Assistant are also discussed.
The role of pro regions in protein folding

In vivo, many proteases are synthesized as larger precursors. During the maturation process, the catalytically active protease domain is released from the larger polypeptide or pro-enzyme by one or more proteolytic processing steps. In several well studied cases, amino-terminal pro regions have been shown to play a fundamental role in the folding of the associated protease domains. The mechanism by which pro regions facilitate folding appears to be significantly different from that used by the molecular chaperones. Recent results suggest that the pro region assisted folding mechanism may be used by a wide variety of proteases, and perhaps even by non-proteases.