cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Muscle length changes following treatment for dynamic equinus in ambulatory children with cerebral palsy

Introduction It has been postulated that botulinum toxin A injections into spastic muscles of children with cerebral palsy weakens the muscle allowing it to be stretched, facilitating longitudinal muscle growth, or prevention or delaying of progressive muscle shortening. There is minimal evidence that utilization of botulinum toxin A facilitates longitudinal muscle growth in children with cerebral palsy. The purpose of this study was to determine whether botulinum toxin A, botulinum toxin A /casting or casting alone increase the gastrocnemius or soleus muscle length in children with cerebral palsy.
Molecular Addition Compounds. 10. Borane Adducts with N,N-Dialkylanilines for Hydroboration

Borane adducts with selected N,N-dialkylanilines have been prepared and examined as hydroborating agents. The adduct H3B:NPhPri2 is a solid, considered less desirable than liquid adducts as hydroborating agents. Fortunately, the adducts H3B:NPhBuiMe, H3B:NPhPriMe, H3B:NPhPriEt, and H3B:NPhPriPrn are liquids above 0 °C, hydroborating 1-octene in tetrahydrofuran in less than 1 h at room temperature. Convenient procedures are described for generating gaseous diborane quantitatively, either by thermal dissociation of the borane−N,N-diisopropylaniline adduct or by the reaction of a 2.00 M solution of sodium borohydride in triglyme with a 5.40 M solution of boron trifluoride in triglyme.
Gastrostomy tube placement without nasogastric tube: a retrospective evaluation in 85 patients.

Purpose Our study evaluated techniques for percutaneous gastrostomy (G)-tube placement without the use of a nasogastric (NG) tube. Instead, direct puncture of a physiologic air bubble or effervescent-enhanced gastric bubble distention was performed in patients with upper digestive tract obstruction (UDTO) or psychological objections to NG tubes.
Retaining critical therapeutic elements of behavioral interventions translated for delivery via the Internet: recommendations and an example using pain coping skills training.

Evidence supporting the efficacy of behavioral interventions based on principles of cognitive behavioral therapies has spurred interest in translating these interventions for delivery via the Internet. However, the benefits of this dissemination method cannot be realized unless the translated interventions are as effective as possible. We describe a challenge that must be overcome to ensure this occurs—Internet interventions must retain therapeutic components and processes underlying the success of face-to-face interventions on which they are based. These components and processes vary in the ease with which they can be translated to the online environment. Moreover, some are subtle and may be overlooked, despite being recognized as essential to the success of face-to-face interventions. We provide preliminary guidance for retaining critical therapeutic components and processes in the translation process, using Pain Coping Skills Training for osteoarthritis pain to illustrate methods. Directions for future research are also discussed.
Turnaround Students in High School Mathematics: Constructing Identities of Competence Through Mathematical Worlds

This analysis joins together two lines of work: research on students' mathematical identities and on curricular organization that supports equitable academic outcomes. This article conceptualizes students' sense of mathematical competence as emerging through the interaction between their extant identities and the mathematical worlds they encounter in the school. Using data from a five-year mixed-methods longitudinal study comparing students' mathematical experiences in two high schools (Boaler, 2006), I focus on seven students who showed initial and unexpected success in mathematics. One department provided more resources for students to develop identities of mathematical competence, while the second department naturalized differential outcomes for students. An examination of two student trajectories, one from each school, illustrates how mathematical identities were constructed across, as well as within, classrooms. I argue that students' mathematical identities emerge beyond a single classroom, and to a...
INDUCED DEFENSE IN WHITE OAK: EFFECTS ON HERBIVORES AND CONSEQUENCES FOR THE PLANT

Many plants respond to herbivory by decreasing the nutritional quality of their foliage and increasing production of allelochemicals. These induced responses are defensive if they reduce future tissue loss or disperse future damage and, as a result, increase fitness relative to conspecifics with a weaker induced response. We assessed three predicted effects of early-season damage in white oak (Quercus alba L.): (1) early-season damage elicits both systemic and localized responses in leaf quality; (2) mid- and late-season herbivores respond to changes in leaf quality both among and within trees; and (3) plants with high early-season damage suffer less subsequent tissue loss than plants with low early-season damage. In a field experiment, we manipulated levels of early-season damage in white oak saplings and monitored subsequent changes in leaf quality, herbivore distributions, and plant damage levels at two spatial scales: (1) between experimental and control trees differing in overall level of early-seaso...
Compliance analysis of multi-path fan-shaped interconnects

Abstract Compliant microelectronic interconnects are potential replacements for solder balls which accommodate this differential displacement by mechanically decoupling the die from the substrate or the substrate from the board and aim to improve overall reliability and life of the microelectronic system. Multi-path, fan-shaped compliant interconnect is being pursued at Georgia Tech as an alternate die-to-substrate or substrate-to-board interconnect. This multi-path fan-shaped interconnect has arcuate structures as well as vertical posts to provide in-plane and out-of-plane compliance, respectively. In this paper, we present the compliance values for the proposed interconnects using analytical formulations and finite-element simulations and compare these values using experimental data. The analytical formulations can be used for optimization of the geometry, because we can know the contribution of the parameters to the compliant values from the potential energy terms. Finite-element simulations can take elastic–plastic into consideration, while the analytical formulation cannot. They also help to validate our results because they were developed independently. It is seen that the scaled-up polymer interconnects will have a compliance of 0.1–0.15 mm/N in the out-of-plane direction and 0.05–0.15 mm/N in the in-plane directions. Also, it is seen that the results from finite-element simulations using 3D solid elements as well as beam elements agree against each other, and also against analytical models and experimental measurements.
Coupled inductance and reluctance models of magnetic components

Different models for linear transformers are discussed relative to their use in circuit simulation. These models include: the reluctance model, the permeance model, the inductance matrix model, the T-model and the reduced T-model. Equations relating the parameter values of the models are derived for the two- and three-winding transformers. A method for direct measurement of the inductance matrix model parameters is described. Guidance is provided for deriving model parameters and using the models in circuit simulators. A model of an ideal transformer using controlled current and voltage sources useful for the T-model is derived. Several examples are discussed. >
Spectral albedos of an alpine snowpack

Abstract Spectral albedos ( α λ ) from 380 to 2500 nm are reported for a snowpack in the Cascade Mountains of Washington. Data were obtained from just after an 0.4 m snowfall on 13 March 1980 until the pack had metamorphosed to melting coarse grains about 1 mm in diameter mixed with dust. Measurements were made under cloudy conditions to obtain a diffuse incident radiation field. Structural parameters of the snow were measured concurrently for all cases, and on three occasions, estimates of absorbing impurity content were obtained. The dependence of the spectral albedos of the snowpack on grain size and impurity content is illustrated. Comparison of wavelength-integrated albedos ( α obs ) obtained using Kipp and Zonen radiometers with corresponding albedos derived from α λ data show good agreement, and suggests a correlation between α obs and the amount of incident radiation transmitted by the cloud layer. Comparison with theoretical models confirms that impurities in the snow depress α λ at visible wavelengths but have little effect beyond 900 nm in the infrared; however, quantitative agreement with theory is uncertain at present.
Network-based methods to identify highly discriminating subsets of biomarkers

Complex diseases such as various types of cancer and diabetes are conjectured to be triggered and influenced by a combination of genetic and environmental factors. To integrate potential effects from interplay among underlying candidate factors, we propose a new network-based framework to identify effective biomarkers by searching for groups of synergistic risk factors with high predictive power to disease outcome. An interaction network is constructed with node weights representing individual predictive power of candidate factors and edge weights capturing pairwise synergistic interactions among factors. We then formulate this network-based biomarker identification problem as a novel graph optimization model to search for multiple cliques with maximum overall weight, which we denote as the Maximum Weighted Multiple Clique Problem (MWMCP). To achieve optimal or near optimal solutions, both an analytical algorithm based on column generation method and a fast heuristic for large-scale networks have been derived. Our algorithms for MWMCP have been implemented to analyze two biomedical data sets: a Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) data set from the Diabetes Prevention Trial-Type 1 (DPT-1) study, and a breast cancer genomics data set for metastasis prognosis. The results demonstrate that our network-based methods can identify important biomarkers with better prediction accuracy compared to the conventional feature selection that only considers individual effects.
Happiness and Virtue in Positive Psychology

Positive psychologists aspire to study the moral virtues, as well as positive emotions, while retaining scientific objectivity. Within this framework, Martin Seligman, a founder of positive psychology, offers an empirically-based argument for an ancient and venerable theme: happiness can be increased by exercising the virtues. Seligman's project is promising, but it needs to pay greater attention to several methodological matters: (1) greater care in defining happiness, so as to avoid smuggling in value assumptions of the sort suggested by the title of his book, Authentic Happiness; (2) more attention to the gap between happiness as overall satisfaction and specific gratifications (enjoyments); (3) the danger of sliding to subjectivism by equating self-assessments of virtue with objectively-justified values of the sort Aristotle had in mind; (4) awareness of how “positive” emotions and attitudes presuppose value assumptions.
Use of defensive glands during mating in a cockroach (Diploptera punctata)

The female of the cockroach, Diploptera punctata, mates immediately after the last molt, when she is still teneral. In this condition, her quinone-producing defensive glands are empty and she is potentially vulnerable to predation. By mating with fully sclerotized males whose glands are functional, she may benefit, indirectly, from the protection provided by the male's own glandular discharges. However, while males do indeed eject their defensive spray when disturbed while mating, and as a rule tend to remain coupled to the female when disturbed, they spray only when they themselves are the target of the offense. Copulating males do not activate their defenses in response to disturbance of the female.
Enzymic properties of a Ca2+-dependent protease in rat ventral prostate: differences in distribution between lobes of the prostatic complex.

Abstract 1. 1. Soluble extracts of rat ventral prostate contain a calcium-dependent, neutral thiol protease which is separated from an endogenous inhibitor by DEAE-cellulose chromatography. 2. 2. The Ca2+-dependent protease had a high calcium requirement (half maximal activation at 0.19mM CaCl2). a pH optimum in the neutral range (pH 7–8), and it was inhibited by increased ionic strength (30% inhibition at 0.2 M NaCl). 3. 3. Leupeptin and antipain were strong inhibitors of the enzyme. Ca2+-activated protease activities of the coagulating gland (anterior prostate) were about 40% of those of the ventral prostate and were not detectable in the dorsolateral prostatic lobe. 4. 4. There was no difference in specific activities of this enzyme in chromatographed extracts of prostatic lobes from young sexually mature adults and 12 month old retired breeders. 5. 5. In addition, Ca2+-dependent protease activity was not detectable in chromatograms of rat ventral prostate and coagulating gland secretions. 6. 6. Therefore, the Ca2+-activated protease does not appear to be a secretory protein and probably acts at some intracellular site(s).
Mass acceleration processes: The case of the coronal mass ejection

A theoretical review is given on what drives the coronal mass ejection, centering on the question of the origin of its total energy, typically of the order of a few 1031 erg. This energy accounts for the work of lifting and accelerating the ejected mass as well as a significant amount left in the open magnetic field created by the ejection. It is pointed out that the total energy cannot be stored in the pre-eruption corona entirely in the form of force-free electric currents, based on a plausible magnetohydrodynamic conjecture of Aly. Storage in the form of cross-field electric currents held in equilibrium by pressure and gravitational forces seems possible, in particular if these currents are associated with closed magnetic fluxes entirely detached from the atmospheric base. The implications and physical issues of these results for the mass ejection are discussed, leading to several suggestions for future study.
The effects of cold dark matter on standard big bang nucleosynthesis

Abstract We show that the annihilation of cold, weakly-interacting dark matter candidates (χ) subsequent to χχ freeze-out can significantly affect the primordial abundance of light elements. The largest effects are (i) between the n/p freeze-out temperature ( T ⋍ 0.7 MeV ) and the onset of nucleosynthesis at T ⋍ 0.1 MeV , χχ annihilations increase the n/p ratio, leading to increased 4 He production; (ii) following 4 He synthesis, baryonic products p , n, n of χχ annihilations dissociate some of the 4 he into D and 3 He, leading to increased D + 3 He abundances; (iii) toward the end of nucleosynthesis, neutrons from χχ annihilation lead to n + 7 Be → p + 7 Li , resulting in increased 7 Li + 7 Be production for low values of η ≡ n b n γ and decreased 7 Li + 7 Be production for large η; and (iv) long after nucleosynthesis, once the universe cools below T ⋍ 1 keV , the electromagnetic shower produced by electrons, positrons and photons from residual χχ annihilations causes further dissociation of 4 He, leading to increased D + 3 He abundances. The most important result is that for Dirac and Majorana neutrinos, the 7 Li constraints on η from SBBN are significantly affected, with larger values of η being favored. A summary of scattering rates for processes in the electromagnetic shower, including corrections to numerous misprints in other sources, is presented in the appendix.
e-Business and Technology Issues for Developing Economies: A Ukraine Case Study

The need to develop a strategy for e-business applications is an important facet of doing business especially where organizations can provide value-added services to the customer base. In this paper, we identify key value-added e-business applications and focus on success factors that clearly support small enterprise goals. Performance factors are presented that show the impact of e-business applications on the organization’s bottom- line. The case study in this paper uses a methodology of direct observation, unstructured interviews and document review to gather data for identifying issues in starting a small business using the Internet. The case organization provides services around office and business support, energy consulting, and Web development. The formation of International Business Solutions has been difficult due to the banking system, work culture, and infrastructure of Ukraine. IT issues investigated include telecommunications, energy, hardware, software, and the availability of technical skill sets. e-Business issues that were found to be important in this study include: (1) difficulty of the user interface, (2) a lack of a planning process for e-business applications, (3) development and testing concerns, (4) finding the web site and a lack of branding, and (5) the lack of evidence to support a formal budgeting process. We conclude with recommendations for enabling IT success in the Ukraine and focus on the need for a well -designed Web presence for the case organization.
Generation and isolation of oligodendrocyte progenitor cells from human pluripotent stem cells

This protocol generates oligodendrocyte progenitor cells from human pluripotent stem cells. The cells can subsequently be isolated by cell sorting for myelination studies, or they can be terminally differentiated to MBP+ oligodendrocytes.
Response to Intervention for Social Behavior Challenges and Opportunities

The goal of the three-tiered response-to-intervention (RtI) model is to catch students who are at risk early and to provide an appropriate level of intervention. Although RtI has been recommended f...
The structure of tail-biting trellises: minimality and basic principles

Basic structural properties of tail-biting trellises are investigated. We start with rigorous definitions of various types of minimality for tail-biting trellises. We then show that biproper and/or nonmergeable tail-biting trellises are not necessarily minimal, even though every minimal tail-biting trellis is biproper. Next, we introduce the notion of linear (or group) trellises and prove, by example, that a minimal tail-biting trellis for a binary linear code need not have any linearity properties whatsoever. We observe that a trellis - either tail-biting or conventional - is linear if and only if it factors into a product of elementary trellises. Using this result, we show how to construct, for any given linear code /spl Copf/, a tail-biting trellis that minimizes the product of state-space sizes among all possible linear tail-biting trellises. We also prove that every minimal linear tail-biting trellis for /spl Copf/ arises from a certain n/spl times/n characteristic matrix, and show how to compute this matrix in time O(n/sup 2/) from any basis for /spl Copf/. Furthermore, we devise a linear-programming algorithm that starts with the characteristic matrix and produces a linear tail-biting trellis for /spl Copf/; which minimizes the maximum state-space size. Finally, we consider a generalized product construction for tail-biting trellises, and use it to prove that a linear code /spl Copf/ and its dual /spl Copf//sup /spl perp///spl Copf//sup /spl perp///spl Copf//sup /spl perp///spl Copf//sup /spl perp// have the same state-complexity profiles.
Minimal requirements for oxygen sensing by the aerotaxis receptor Aer

The PAS and HAMP domain superfamilies are signal transduction modules found in all kingdoms of life. The Aer receptor, which contains both domains, initiates rapid behavioural responses to oxygen (aerotaxis) and other electron acceptors, guiding Escherichia coli to niches where it can generate optimal cellular energy. We used intragenic complementation to investigate the signal transduction pathway from the Aer PAS domain to the signalling domain. These studies showed that the HAMP domain of one monomer in the Aer dimer stabilized FAD binding to the PAS domain of the cognate monomer. In contrast, the signal transduction pathway was intra-subunit, involving the PAS and signalling domains from the same monomer. The minimal requirements for signalling were investigated in heterodimers containing a full-length and truncated monomer. Either the PAS or signalling domains could be deleted from the non-signalling subunit of the heterodimer, but removing 16 residues from the C-terminus of the signalling subunit abolished aerotaxis. Although both HAMP domains were required for aerotaxis, signalling was not disrupted by missense mutations in the HAMP domain from the signalling subunit. Possible models for Aer signal transduction are compared.
Nonlinear waves and asymmetric dynamics of countercurrent separation processes

L'etude s'applique a la determination des regimes stationnaires d'une colonne de stripping (sans reflux ni rebouilleur) ou est observee une non-linearite de l'equilibre entre les phases
ON THE INFLUENCE OF THE MEAN MERIDIONAL CIRCULATION ON THE ZONAL FLOW1,,2

Abstract The mean meridional circulation calculated earlier from observed values of transports of momentum and sensible heat by solving the zonally averaged form of the quasi-geostrophic omega equation is used to investigate the influence of this secondary flow on the zonally averaged values of the wind and temperature in the atmosphere. The contributions from the horizontal transport processes and the mean meridional circulations are computed separately in order to estimate their relative importance. It is found that the mean meridional circulation counterbalances the horizontal transport of momentum in the upper troposphere, while the two effects work in the same direction in the lower part of the atmosphere. With respect to changes in the zonally averaged temperature field, it is found that the effect of the mean meridional circulation opposes the effect of the horizontal transport of sensible heat almost everywhere. The recent results of calculations of the mean meridional circulation are also used to...
Indentation micromechanics of three-dimensional fibrin/collagen biomaterial scaffolds

The underlying relationships between the microstructure and time-dependent mechanical properties of hydrated fibrin, collagen, and fibrin/collagen composite materials have been explored using an adaptation of the classical rigid, cylindrical, flat punch loaded normally to a planar specimen surface. A suite of quasi-static elastic and viscoelastic indentation experiments have been conducted with uniformly mixed fibrin, collagen, and fibrin/collagen composites, in addition to macrolayered collagen materials. Coupled with insights obtained from optical and confocal fluorescence microscopy, a simple micromechanics model has been developed for the effect of local microstructural variables on the macroscopic mechanical stiffness. These results demonstrate the efficacy of this technique to efficiently and reproducibly probe hydrated engineered tissue replacement materials for local variations in viscoelastic material behavior without the need for extensive specimen preparation or grips, as well as being suitable for performing directly comparable measurements with explants of human skin.
Environmentally responsive micelles from polystyrene–poly[bis(potassium carboxylatophenoxy)phosphazene] block copolymers

Amphiphilic diblock copolymers that contained hydrophilic poly[bis(potassium carboxylatophenoxy)phosphazene] segments and hydrophobic polystyrene sections were synthesized via the controlled cationic polymerization of Cl3PNSiMe3 with a polystyrenyl–phosphoranimine as a macromolecular terminator. These block copolymers self-associated in aqueous media to form micellar structures which were investigated by fluorescence spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering, and transmission electron microscopy. The size and shape of the micelles were not affected by the introduction of different monovalent cations (Li+, K+, Na+, and Cs+) into the stable micellar solutions. However, exposure to divalent cations induced intermicellar crosslinking through carboxylate groups, which caused precipitation of the ionically crosslinked aggregates from solution. This micelle-coupling behavior was reversible: the subsequent addition of monovalent cations caused the redispersion of the polystyrene-block-poly[bis(potassium carboxylatophenoxy)phosphazene] (PS–KPCPP) block copolymers into a stable micellar solution. Aqueous micellar solutions of PS–KPCPP copolymers also showed pH-dependent behavior. These attributes make PS–KPCPP block copolymers suitable for studies of guest retention and release in response to ion charge and pH. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 2912–2920, 2005
Investigation of adenosine base ionization in the hairpin ribozyme by nucleotide analog interference mapping

Tertiary structure in globular RNA folds can create local environments that lead to pKa perturbation of specific nucleotide functional groups. To assess the prevalence of functionally relevant adenosine-specific pKa perturbation in RNA structure, we have altered the nucleotide analog interference mapping (NAIM) approach to include a series of a phosphorothioate-tagged adenosine analogs with shifted N1 pKa values. We have used these analogs to analyze the hairpin ribozyme, a small self-cleaving/ligating RNA catalyst that is proposed to employ a general acid-base reaction mechanism. A single adenosine (A10) within the ribozyme active site displayed an interference pattern consistent with a functionally significant base ionization. The exocyclic amino group of a second adenosine (A38) contributes substantially to hairpin catalysis, but ionization of the nucleotide does not appear to be important for activity. Within the hairpin ribozyme crystal structure, A10 and A38 line opposite edges of a solvent-excluded cavity adjacent to the 5'-OH nucleophile. The results are inconsistent with the model of ribozyme chemistry in which A38 acts as a general acid-base catalyst, and suggest that the hairpin ribozyme uses an alternative mechanism to achieve catalytic rate enhancement that utilizes functional groups within a solvent-excluded cleft in the ribozyme active site.
Holding Back the Sea: An Overview of Shore Zone Planning and Management

"Holding back the sea" is a predicament that is complicated by coastal development trends, eroding shore zones, and changing environmental conditions such as sea level rise. Planners are important players in shaping adaptive responses and identifying and prioritizing appropriate land-use planning strategies. This article provides an overview of existing regulatory provisions, studies, and planning efforts, as well as approaches and strategies to managing erosion of "high wave energy" and "low-to-medium wave energy" shorelines. The article also highlights the multiple sectors and stakeholders involved, and the need for continued research geared at evaluating the viability and feasibility of natural approaches such as living shorelines. Language: en
Circularly symmetric distributed feedback laser: coupled mode treatment of TE vector fields

The vector orientation of transverse electric (TE) fields in deriving coupled mode equations for radially outward- and inward-going modes in a circular waveguide diffraction grating is treated. The equations are derived for cylindrical waves in a system that is translationally invariant along the cylinder axis; the derivation is then extended to the waveguide geometry. The coupled mode equations are used to describe the operation of the circularly symmetric distributed feedback (DFB) laser. While predicting a similar dependence of the laser threshold gain on an azimuthal mode order to that found by a simpler, scalar-field treatment, the vector-field treatment predicts a fundamental difference in the location of the cavity resonances. The circular DFB laser is expected to lase in multiple azimuthal modes but maintain a relatively narrow overall spectral width. >
Computational modeling of classical and ablative Rayleigh-Taylor instabilities

Modeling plus simulations using the one-dimensional Lagrangian radiation-hydrodynamics code HYADES are compared with data from classical and ablative Rayleigh-Taylor experiments conducted on the Nova laser. Comparisons between the experiments and modeling for both the gross hydrodynamic motion and the perturbation evolution are made and show good agreement. A third order perturbation analysis is applied to demonstrate the onset of nonlinearity. A simple, physically intuitive saturation model is used to describe the growth further into the nonlinear regime. Finally, we present the first comparison of the Betti ablation front theory with indirect-drive RT data and obtain good agreement.
Hafnium transistor design for neural interfacing

A design methodology is presented that uses the EKV model and the g m /I D biasing technique to design hafnium oxide field effect transistors that are suitable for neural recording circuitry. The DC gain of a common source amplifier is correlated to the structural properties of a Field Effect Transistor (FET) and a Metal Insulator Semiconductor (MIS) capacitor. This approach allows a transistor designer to use a design flow that starts with simple and intuitive 1-D equations for gain that can be verified in 1-D MIS capacitor TCAD simulations, before final TCAD process verification of transistor properties. The DC gain of a common source amplifier is optimized by using fast 1-D simulations and using slower, complex 2-D simulations only for verification. The 1-D equations are used to show that the increased dielectric constant of hafnium oxide allows a higher DC gain for a given oxide thickness. An additional benefit is that the MIS capacitor can be employed to test additional performance parameters important to an open gate transistor such as dielectric stability and ionic penetration.
THREE-TAXON STATEMENTS: A MORE PRECISE USE OF PARSIMONY?

Binary characters can be represented in data matrices by the three-taxon statements they imply. Transforming characters into three-taxon statements may increase the sensitivity of parsimony to differences in the fit ofdata to alternative cladograms. Extrapolation of the technique to multistate features allows semi-additive characters to be coded accurately. In many cases, analysis of the transformed data produces fewer equally parsimonious solutions than does analysis of the raw data. In other cases, additional equally parsimonious solutions, or even different solutions, may be produced; in those cases, the results appear to accommodate information from a larger number ofcharacters than do the results from raw data.
Dependence of DNA Polymerase Replication Rate on External Forces: A Model Based on Molecular Dynamics Simulations

Molecular dynamics simulations are presented for a Thermus aquaticus (Taq) DNA polymerase I complex (consisting of the protein, the primer-template DNA strands, and the incoming nucleotide) subjected to external forces. The results obtained with a force applied to the DNA template strand provide insights into the effect of the tension on the activity of the enzyme. At forces below 30 pN a local model based on the parameters determined from the simulations, including the restricted motion of the DNA bases at the active site, yields a replication rate dependence on force in agreement with experiment. Simulations above 40 pN reveal large conformational changes in the enzyme-bound DNA that may have a role in the force-induced exonucleolysis observed experimentally.
Storm‐substorm relations workshop

Magnetic storms in the magnetosphere can cause damage to communication satellites and large-scale power outages.The concept that a magnetic storm is a compilation of a series of substorms was proposed by Akasofu [1968]. However, Kamide [1992] showed that substorms are not a necessary condition for the occurrence of a magnetic storm. This controversy initiated a new era of research on the storm-substorm relation, which was the subject of a recent workshop in Banff, Alberta, Canada. The main topics discussed during the meeting included a brief overview of what a substorm is, how quasiperiodic substorm events and steady magnetospheric convection (SMC) events without substorms contribute to storms, and how plasma flows enhanced by magnetic reconnection in the plasma sheet contribute to substorms and storms.
Evolutionary algorithms for constraint satisfaction problems

The author is interested in defining a general evolutionary algorithm to solve constraint satisfaction problems, which takes into account both advantages of the systematic and traditional methods and of characteristics of the CSP. She presents evolutionary algorithms to solve constraint satisfaction problems (CSP).
Implentation of a homogeneous high-sheet-resistance emitter in multicrystalline silicon solar cells

Solar cell efficiency enhancement resulting from the implementation of a high-sheet-resistance emitter (95 /spl Omega//sq.) in multicrystalline silicon solar cells with screen-printed contacts is demonstrated in this paper. Solar cells on low-cost string ribbon Si from Evergreen Solar, Baysix mc-Si from Deutsche Solar, and high-quality float zone silicon with 45 /spl Omega//sq. and 95 /spl Omega//sq. phosphorus-doped n/sup +/-emitters are fabricated with RTP-fired screen-printed contacts and characterized to asses the impact of a high-emitter-sheet resistance emitter on cell performance. Screen-printed mc-Si solar cells show an improvement in V/sub oc/ of 4-5 mV in most cases that is attributed to the use of the high-sheet-resistance emitter. An appreciable increase in J/sub sc/ by as much as 1.0 mA/cm/sup 2/ is also observed due to enhanced blue response identified by internal quantum efficiency measurement.
Explosive diversification following a benthic to pelagic shift in freshwater fishes

Interspecific divergence along a benthic to pelagic habitat axis is ubiquitous in freshwater fishes inhabiting lentic environments. In this study, we examined the influence of this habitat axis on the macroevolution of a diverse, lotic radiation using mtDNA and nDNA phylogenies for eastern North America’s most species-rich freshwater fish clade, the open posterior myodome (OPM) cyprinids. We used ancestral state reconstruction to identify the earliest benthic to pelagic transition in this group and generated fossil-calibrated estimates of when this shift occurred. This transition could have represented evolution into a novel adaptive zone, and therefore, we tested for a period of accelerated lineage accumulation after this historical habitat shift. Ancestral state reconstructions inferred a similar and concordant region of our mtDNA and nDNA based gene trees as representing the shift from benthic to pelagic habitats in the OPM clade. Two independent tests conducted on each gene tree suggested an increased diversification rate after this inferred habitat transition. Furthermore, lineage through time analyses indicated rapid early cladogenesis in the clade arising after the benthic to pelagic shift. A burst of diversification followed the earliest benthic to pelagic transition during the radiation of OPM cyprinids in eastern North America. As such, the benthic/pelagic habitat axis has likely influenced the generation of biodiversity across disparate freshwater ecosystems.
Paraneoplastic palmar fasciitis and polyarthritis syndrome in a patient with advanced prostate cancer.

The term “palmar fasciitis and polyarthritis syndrome” (PFPAS) was first described by Medsger et al.1 in 1982 for a disorder characterized by a symmetric arthritis with flexion contractures and thickening of the palmar fascia coexisting with ovarian carcinoma. Since that seminal report published 30 years ago, only 48 additional cases of PFPAS have been described in the literature, and these have been associated with a number of different neoplasms, including gynecologic malignancies (ovarian and fallopian tube cancers),2–16 pancreatic adenocarcinoma,17–20 non—small cell and small cell lung carcinoma,3,20–22 breast carcinoma,23–26 prostate carcinoma,27 gastric cancer,28 colon cancer,20 transitional cell carcinomas of the urinary tract,6,20,29 carcinoma of unknown origin,17 and hematologic malignancies17,30 (Appendix Table 1). Appendix Table 1 Summary of all Published Reports of Paraneoplastic PFPAS In this case report, we describe a patient with advanced prostate cancer who developed PFPAS during the course of his disease progression, and we summarize and review the clinical characteristics, associated malignancies, and potential therapies for PFPAS.
Effect of cloud cover on UVB exposure under tree canopies: will climate change affect UVB exposure?

Abstract The effect of cloud cover on the amount of solar UV radiation that reaches pedestrians under tree cover was evaluated with a three-dimensional canopy radiation transport model. The spatial distribution of UVB irradiance at the base of a regular array of spherical tree crowns was modeled under the full range of sky conditions. The spatial mean relative irradiance (Ir) and erythemal irradiance of the entire below-canopy domain and the spatial mean relative irradiance and erythemal irradiance in the shaded regions of the domain were determined for solar zenith angles from 15° to 60°. The erythemal UV irradiance under skies with 50% or less cloud cover was not remarkably different from that under clear skies. In the shade, the actual irradiance was greater under partly cloudy than under clear skies. The mean ultraviolet protection factor for tree canopies under skies with 50% or less cloud cover was nearly equivalent to that for clear sky days. Regression equations of spatially averaged Ir as a funct...
Mindfulness Practices And Learning Economics

There is a growing interest among educators in teaching and learning practices based on mindfulness, a concept derived from eastern meditative traditions. This paper describes how mindfulness practices and concepts can be used to enhance the student’s learning experience in beginning economics courses. Specific areas with a high potential for learning enhancement are identified: grasping abstract economic concepts, seeing beyond obvious economic consequences, and finding one’s own ethical framework in economic analysis. Current research linking mindfulness practices to student development in these areas is examined and practical methods are offered to integrate mindfulness into the economics classroom.
Safety of microvascular decompression for elderly patients with trigeminal neuralgia.

Abstract Objective The present study compared the safety and efficacy of microvascular decompression (MVD) in groups of elderly patients and non-elderly patients with medically refractory trigeminal neuralgia (TN) and collected detailed perioperative data. Methods Retrospective analysis of clinical data was performed in 99 patients who underwent MVD from May 2012 to June 2015. The outcome data from 27 MVD operations for 27 patients aged 70–80 years (mean 74.6 years) were compared with 72 MVD operations with 72 patients aged 25–69 years (mean 55.7 years). Preoperative comorbidities were recorded and postoperative worsening comorbidities and non-neurological complications were evaluated at discharge. Efficacy of the surgery and neurological complications were evaluated in July 2015. Results No decrease in activity of daily living was found in any patient. Complete pain relief without medication was achieved in 77.8% and partial pain relief in 14.8% in the elderly group, and 83.3% and 9.7%, respectively, in the non-elderly group ( p = 0.750). Permanent neurological complication was not observed in the elderly group, whereas Vth nerve and VIIIth nerve complications were observed in the non-elderly group. Rates of preoperative multiple comorbidities and of cardiovascular comorbidity were significantly higher in the elderly group ( p Conclusions MVD for elderly patients with TN can be achieved safely with careful perioperative management. Information of comorbidity should be shared with all staff involved in the treatment, who should work as a team to avoid worsening comorbidity. The possibility of unpredictable events in the elderly patients should always be considered.
The Erosion of Tariff Preferences

The Generalized System of Preferences (GSP), the program instituted in 1976 that allows developing countries to export thousands of products to the United States duty-free, is an important element of U.S. efforts to promote economic growth in the developing world. However, since the program's inception U.S. tariff rates have fallen significantly, thus potentially reducing the ability of the GSP program to encourage U.S. imports from beneficiary countries. This paper estimates the impact of U.S. tariff reductions on imports from the developing world using a panel of import data from 76 countries and 2,389 GSP-eligible products between 1998 and 2001. It finds that reductions in U.S. tariff rates have diminished imports from developing countries significantly, although some countries have been impacted more than others.
Leading Innovation at Kelvingrove (a)

This case series explores the leadership story of director Mark O'Neill as he oversees a major innovation initiative at Kelvingrove, Scotland's most visited museum. The A case describes his background, philosophy, and the actions he takes over a period of more than a decade to win the support of both staff and funders for the innovation. The B case examines the reaction of the public and art critics. O'Neill arrives at Kelvingrove to find an institution in turmoil after a series of dramatic changes that have alienated visitors and funders alike. Utilizing an innovative style of management that he describes as maze behavior, he succeeds in moving the traditionally discipline-bound, curator-dominated museum into a cross-disciplinary, visitor-oriented experience. He does this by engaging the curators in creating exhibits based on stories rather than professional classification schemes such as paintings, geology, etc., using an approach that includes a deep understanding of his audience and the imaginative use of forms. He also gains the community's political and funding support to accomplish his goals.
Fictive Kin as Social Capital in New Immigrant Communities

Fictive kin, defined as family-type relationships, based not on blood or marriage but rather on religious rituals or close friendship ties, constitutes a type of social capital that many immigrant groups bring with them and that facilitates their incorporation into the host society. We describe three types of fictive kin systems in different immigrant populations and argue that their functions are similar across various ethnic groups and types of fictive kin relationships. Fictive kin systems expand the network of individuals who provide social and economic capital for one another and thereby constitute a resource to immigrants as they confront problems of settlement and incorporation. While anthropologists have long noted systems of fictive kin in premodern and modernizing societies, sociologists have paid little attention to fictive kin networks. We argue, however, that systems of fictive kin constitute an important part of the social networks that draw immigrants to a particular locale and provide them...
Nearly hyperuniform network models of amorphous silicon

We introduce the concept of nearly hyperuniform network (NHN) structures as alternatives to the conventional continuous random network (CRN) models for amorphous tetrahedrally coordinated solids, such as amorphous silicon (a-Si). A hyperuniform solid has a structure factor $S(k)$ that approaches zero as the wavenumber $k\ensuremath{\rightarrow}0$. We define a NHN as an amorphous network whose structure factor $S(k\ensuremath{\rightarrow}0)$ is smaller than the liquid value at the melting temperature. Using a novel implementation of the Stillinger-Weber potential for the interatomic interactions, we show that the energy landscape for a spectrum of NHNs includes a sequence of local minima with an increasing degree of hyperuniformity [smaller $S(k\ensuremath{\rightarrow}0)$] that is significantly below the frozen-liquid value and that correlates with other measurable features in $S(k)$ at intermediate and large $k$ and with the width of the electronic band gap.
Public Housing Residents' Neighbors and Neighborhood: Good, Neutral, or Troublesome/Unstable

Research on supportive services for public housing residents whose communities are redeveloped identifies common problems and the poor economic and social outcomes of relocated residents. In contra...
The northern fluted point complex: technological and morphological evidence of adaptation and risk in the late Pleistocene-early Holocene Arctic

Analyses of fluted point technology and Paleoindian technological risk have contributed to our understanding of human adaptation across North America in the late Pleistocene and early Holocene. However, poor chronological control has dissuaded similar studies of fluted points found in Alaska and northern Yukon and our understanding of their adaptive role in early arctic adaptations remains unclear. Two new archeological sites have provided reliable radiocarbon data and for the first time, a comprehensive analysis of northern fluted points is possible. Here, technological and morphological analyses of northern fluted points are presented, including variables statistically evaluated and compared to a collection of fluted Folsom artifacts serving as a reference. Variation in tool shape was measured using geometric morphometrics, and a new approach to landmark placement designed to characterize basal morphology and allow the analysis to include tool fragments is presented. Results confirm that northern fluted points represent a cohesive technological strategy and are used to formulate hypotheses suggesting its service as a risk-management system promoting ease-of-replacement-after-failure to offset transport costs and reduce risk during long-distance travel.
Radial stress of viscoelastic fluids on the rods of polymer-flooded oil wells

Based on the calculation of the velocity field of the viscoelastic fluids flow in the eccentric annuli, the sub-while-fluid Maxwell constitutive equation in the bipolar reference frame was derived. Both the stress distribution in eccentric annuli and radial stress on inner rod were analyzed. The result shows that eccentricity is the major factor to result in radial stress.
Analysis of national expanded immunization coverage survey in Jiangsu Province

Objective To understand the immunization status of children vaccinated by national expanded program on immunization(NIP)in Jiangsu Province.Methods Random sampling method was used to choose children aged from 1to 2years old in all counties in Jiangsu province in child immunization registration information system.NIP coverage were investigated.Results Primary NIP coverage for target children were all99%,the qualified coverage of BCG,HepB3,OPV3,DTaP3,MCV1were all98%,the coverage of DTP4,MCV2,MPV-A2,HepA were 98.58%,99.53%,99.41%,98.78%respectively.The coverage of HepB3,OPV3,MPV-A1,JEV1,DTP4,MPV-A2,HepA in the northern part of Jiangsu were all significant lower than those in the southern and central part of Jiangsu,(χ2=6.96~42.59,P0.017).For floating children,the primary coverage,the qualified coverage of BCG,HepB3,OPV3,DTaP3,MCV1and immunization coverage of target children from 12to 23months old were lower than those of local children,the differences are all statistically significant(χ2=7.84~159.66,P0.05).Conclusion The NIP coverage in Jiangsu province is on a high leve1.However,there are differences among different regions and target groups.
II. Relationship of socioeconomic factors to one day’s nutrient intake Title VII—Nutrition Program for the Elderly

Do sex, education, and former occupation influence participation in congregate meal programs for the elderly?