cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
To Thread or Not to Thread

The authors present a real-life industrial EDA problem; in particular, layout versus schematic checking. They describe why they chose threads to speed up their EDA tool.
Incidence and effects of West Nile virus infection in vaccinated and unvaccinated horses in California

A prospective cohort study was used to estimate the incidence of West Nile virus (WNV) infection in a group of unvaccinated horses (n = 37) in California and compare the effects of natural WNV infection in these unvaccinated horses to a group of co-mingled vaccinated horses (n = 155). Horses initially were vaccinated with either inactivated whole virus (n = 87) or canarypox recombinant (n = 68) WNV vaccines during 2003 or 2004, prior to emergence of WNV in the region. Unvaccinated horses were serologically tested for antibodies to WNV by microsphere immunoassay incorporating recombinant WNV E protein (rE MIA) in December 2003, December 2004, and every two months thereafter until November 2005. Clinical neurologic disease attributable to WNV infection (West Nile disease (WND)) developed in 2 (5.4%) of 37 unvaccinated horses and in 0 of 155 vaccinated horses. One affected horse died. Twenty one (67.7%) of 31 unvaccinated horses that were seronegative to WNV in December, 2004 seroconverted to WNV before the end of the study in November, 2005. Findings from the study indicate that currently-available commercial vaccines are effective in preventing WND and their use is financially justified because clinical disease only occurred in unvaccinated horses and the mean cost of each clinical case of WND was approximately 45 times the cost of a 2-dose WNV vaccination program.
A Methodology for Architectural Design of Concurrent and Distributed Software Systems

Concurrent and distributed software applications are complex software systems that exploit highly parallel and distributed infrastructure to improve the quality of systems in cost-effective way. In order to assist the development of affordable concurrent and distributed software systems, a more effective approach of utilizing single-based architectural description languages (ADLs) is needed. In this paper, we describe an architectural modeling framework that can be used for specifying and analyzing distributed and concurrent software applications. Our key contribution is an architectural specification framework that integrates four important concepts: (1) an architectural description language known as syntactic theory (ST), (2) a high level Petri nets modeling language known as Hierarchical Predicate Transition Nets (HPrTNs), (3) a Pattern-Based Refinement Technique (PBRT), and (4) a systematic process for deriving architectural specifications from requirement specifications. Moreover, the method is heterogeneous modeling approach that specifies software architecture of a distributed and concurrent system in a top-down manner. The immediate benefits of our heterogeneous approach include: increased system analyzability, comprehensibility, reusability, and flexibility. We describe a case study to show the applicability of our approach.
On the effect of surface roughness in point-contact EHL: Formulas for film thickness and asperity load

Abstract Formulas are derived for predicting the central film thickness, minimum film thickness, and the asperity load ratio in point-contact EHL of rough surfaces. The rough EHL model includes simultaneous solution to the modified Reynolds and surface deformation equations with the consideration of both bulk and asperity deformations. To include the effect of surface roughness, a statistically-based elasto-plastic asperity micro-contact model is utilized. Regression analyses based on the results from an extensive set of simulations are performed to obtain predictive expressions for the film thickness and the asperity load ratio. These formulas are of the form f(κ, W, U, G, σ ¯ , V), where the parameters represented are ellipticity, dimensionless load, speed, material, surface roughness and hardness, respectively. The results predicted using these formulas are in good agreement with wide range of data available in the literature.
Design criteria and sensitivity calculations for multielemental trace analysis at the NSLS x-ray microprobe

Abstract Synchrotron radiation from the National Synchrotron Light Source (NSLS) will be used for X-ray fluorescence elemental analysis at a spatial resolution of several micrometers. The initial phase in the development of the microprobe beam line will consist of obtaining a 30 μm beam spot for application to scanning X-ray fluorescence analysis. The proposed beam line will have a multilayer monochromator and an ellipsoidal mirror to provide monochromatic X-rays from 3 to 17 keV with 8:1 demagnification. Ray tracing was carried out to establish the flux of excitation photons at the target for different orientations of beam line components. These alternative layouts will be discussed in terms of optimizing experimental conditions and trace-element sensitivities. Calculated sensitivities for thin biomedical and geological matrices will be presented.
Mechanical and thermal investigation of thermoplastic nanocomposite films fabricated using micro- and nano-sized fillers from recycled cotton T-shirts

The thermal and mechanical performance of composites with nano-sized cotton fillers embedded in low-density polyethylene (LDPE) is investigated. Microfibrillated cotton was prepared by microgrinding mechanical treatment of pulverized cotton (pCot) derived from waste T-shirts, resulting in nano-sized fibrils of the cellulose that retain high crystallinity. Film composites of LDPE with pCot before and after microgrinding were fabricated through melt extrusion and the effect of filler size on mechanical, thermal and morphological properties of the composite was investigated. Compounding microfibrillated cotton with LDPE resulted in well-dispersed nanocomposites with no discoloration after 10 min of melt extrusion at 170 °C. At concentrations up to 10 % by weight, the composites showed increased modulus, increased tensile strength and a slight decrease in elongation to break. Further improvement in the dispersion and mechanical properties of the cotton-based fillers was realized by the use of LDPE powder instead of polymer pellets fed to the extruder. This research demonstrates the processing and applicability of the use of recycled cotton-based nano-sized fillers in melt-processing.
Health Optimizing Physical Education (HOPE): A New Curriculum for School Programs—Part 2: Teacher Knowledge and Collaboration

Part 1 of this article, which appeared in the April 2013 of JOPERD, presented the theoretical foundation and evidence-based needs for a main-theme curriculum model called Health Optimizing Physical Education (HOPE) for schools. It also described eight strands that could be used to plan, implement, and assess this version of a comprehensive school physical activity program (CSPAP). Teachers in HOPE programs will need a broader knowledge base than what is currently provided to preservice teachers and available for practicing (inservice) teachers. Also, HOPE programs cannot be effective without the support and collaboration of parents, teachers, administrators, and other professionals and organizations in the local community. This article, Part 2, presents some strategies for the initial preparation of HOPE teachers, continued professional development of inservice HOPE teachers, and suggestions for establishing strong working relationships both inside and outside of schools in order to make HOPE an effective...
Contribution of knee flexor and extensor strength on sex-specific energy absorption and torsional joint stiffness during drop jumping.

Abstract Context: Lower extremity injury often occurs during abrupt deceleration when attempting to change the body's direction. Although sex-specific biomechanics have been implicated in the greater risk of acute knee injury in women than in men, it is unknown if sex differences in thigh strength affect sex-specific energy absorption and torsional joint stiffness patterns. Objective: To determine sex differences in energy absorption patterns and joint stiffnesses of the lower extremity during a drop jump and to determine if these sex differences were predicted by knee extensor and flexor strength. Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: Laboratory environment. Patients or Other Participants: Recreationally active, college-aged students (41 women: age = 22.1 ± 2.9 years, height = 1.63 ± 0.07 m, mass = 59.3 ± 8.0 kg; 40 men: age = 22.4 ± 2.8 years, height = 1.77 ± 0.1 m, mass = 80.9 ± 14.1 kg). Intervention(s): Participants performed knee flexor and extensor maximal voluntary isometric contract...
Infrared Spatial Interferometry: Present Status And Future Plans

An infrared spatial interferometer has achieved an order-of-magnitude improvement in the angular resolution of ground-based telescopic observations at wavelengths from 2.2 to 20μm. Using incoherent detectors to measure fringe visibility versus baseline, this instrument has obtained an effective angular resolution of 0.1 arcsec at 10.2μm with a 3.2m baseline in 3 arcsec conditions of visual atmospheric "seeing". Observations are made at eight wavelengths to probe different levels of temperature and density in circumstellar envelopes. Twenty-three stars of various spectral types are partially resolved and upper limits placed on the sizes of 25 others. Three stars contain flattened, disk-shaped envelopes. At 10.2μm, objects as faint as zero magnitude have been measured. Significant improvements in sensitivity are expected using a composite diamond-germanium bolometer operating under low background conditions and cooled to 0.3K in a newly developed He3 cryostat. Angular resolution can be doubled using a ≥6.5m baseline provided by the Multiple Mirror Telescope. Plans to use the MMT as a multi-element spatial interferometer will be discussed.© (1979) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
An Empirical Expression for Predicting for Shift Values at Infinite Dilution for Some Simple Hydrogen Bonding Species in Acetone

Abstract An empirical expression is described which predicts with a high degree of accuracy the difference in chemical shift, for the dimer contribution, between certain protons at infinite dilution in acetone and as a neat sample. The possible uses and importance of such an expression are discussed.
ABSOLUTE RATE EXPRESSIONS FOR HYDROGEN ATOM ABSTRACTION FROM MOLYBDENUM HYDRIDES BY CARBON-CENTERED RADICALS

A new family of basis rate expressions for hydrogen atom abstraction by primary, secondary, and tertiary alkyl radicals in dodecane and benzyl radical in benzene from the molybdenum hydride Cp*Mo(CO)3H and for reactions of a primary alkyl radical with CpMo(CO)3H in dodecane are reported (Cp* = η5-pentamethylcyclopentadienyl, Cp = η5-cyclopentadienyl). Rate expressions for reaction of primary, secondary, and tertiary radical clocks with Cp*Mo(CO)3H were as follow: for hex-5-enyl, log(k/M-1 s-1) = (9.27 ± 0.13) − (1.36 ± 0.22)/θ, θ = 2.303RT kcal/mol; for hept-6-en-2-yl, log(k/M-1 s-1) = (9.12 ± 0.42) − (1.91 ± 0.74)/θ; and for 2-methylhept-6-en-2-yl, log(k/M-1 s-1) = (9.36 ± 0.18) − (3.19 ± 0.30)/θ (errors are 2σ). Hydrogen atom abstraction from CpMo(CO)3H by hex-5-enyl is described by log(k/M-1 s-1) = (9.53 ± 0.34) − (1.24 ± 0.62)/θ. Relative rate constants for 1°:2°:3° alkyl radicals were found to be 26:7:1 at 298 K. Benzyl radical was found to react 1.4 times faster than tertiary alkyl radical. The muc...
A morphologic study of Fuchs dystrophy and bullous keratopathy

PURPOSE To describe the morphologic features of Fuchs corneal dystrophy and compare them with those of bullous keratopathy. METHODS This was an observational case series. The study group consisted of 32 corneal buttons with a diagnosis of Fuchs dystrophy and the comparison group consisted of 22 corneal buttons with bullous keratopathy. Morphologic analysis was performed of corneal buttons from patients with the clinical diagnosis of Fuchs dystrophy or bullous keratopathy by light and electron microscopy. RESULTS The main outcome measure was identification of degenerated keratocytes, granular material in and around keratocytes, and lipid keratopathy. The overall morphologic features of Fuchs dystrophy and bullous keratopathy are similar to those described in previous literature. A high proportion of keratocytes exhibited degenerative changes (78.9% in Fuchs dystrophy versus 50.5% in bullous keratopathy). Granular material was identified in and around variably degenerated keratocytes in all cases of Fuchs dystrophy and in 14 of 22 (64%) of the corneas with bullous keratopathy. The percentage of keratocytes with granular deposits was higher in Fuchs dystrophy corneas as compared with corneas with bullous keratopathy (51.7% versus 14.1%, P < 0.0005). Lipid keratopathy was a common occurrence in both Fuchs dystrophy and bullous keratopathy (23/32 [72%] versus 12/22 [55%]). CONCLUSIONS Histopathologic changes in the corneal stroma and keratocytes occur in Fuchs dystrophy. Secondary lipid keratopathy ensues and may contribute to corneal haze. A higher proportion of keratocytes in Fuchs dystrophy have granular deposit than in bullous keratopathy. That a high proportion of keratocytes had degenerative changes in both Fuchs dystrophy and bullous keratopathy suggests that keratocytes may degenerate secondary to altered stromal microenvironment because of endothelial cell loss.
Coordinated NASA nickel-cadmium battery technology program

This paper describes the NASA nickel-cadmium (Ni-Cd) battery technology program which is being coordinated by JPL to provide NASA and other users with lighter and/or longer-lived Ni-Cd cells for low-earth-orbit, geosynchronous-orbit, and planetary spacecraft missions in the 1980s. The goal is to double the energy density and/or life of the system. Failure modes and mechanisms are differentiated and discussed to point out the critical design variables which affect Ni-Cd cell life. Cell component weights are listed, approaches for reducing weight are discussed, and program tasks and schedules are presented. The nine major tasks being worked on by various organizations are described. Progress has been made in weight reduction, understanding of life reliability mechanisms, and development of a process for manufacturing more stable electrodes. An accelerated and predictive life test program is approximately 30% complete. It appears feasible to double the life and/or usable energy density of the Ni-Cd cell.
Trace element cycling in a subterranean estuary: Part 1. Geochemistry of the permeable sediments

Abstract Subterranean estuaries are characterized by the mixing of terrestrially derived groundwater and seawater in a coastal aquifer. Subterranean estuaries, like their river water-seawater counterparts on the surface of the earth, represent a major, but less visible, hydrological and geochemical interface between the continents and the ocean. This article is the first in a two-part series on the biogeochemistry of the subterranean estuary at the head of Waquoit Bay (Cape Cod, MA, USA). The pore-water distributions of salinity, Fe and Mn establish the salt and redox framework of this subterranean estuary. The biogeochemistry of Fe, Mn, P, Ba, U and Th will be addressed from the perspective of the sediment composition. A second article will focus on the groundwater and pore-water chemistries of Fe, Mn, U and Ba. Three sediment cores were collected from the head of Waquoit Bay where the coastal aquifer consists of permeable sandy sediment. A selective dissolution method was used to measure the concentrations of P, Ba, U and Th that are associated with “amorphous (hydr)oxides of iron and manganese” and “crystalline Fe and Mn (hydr)oxides.” The deeper sections of the cores are characterized by large amounts of iron (hydr)oxides that are precipitated onto organic C-poor quartz sand from high-salinity pore waters rich in dissolved ferrous iron. Unlike Fe (hydr)oxides, which increase with depth, the Mn (hydr)oxides display midcore maxima. This type of vertical stratification is consistent with redox-controlled diagenesis in which Mn (hydr)oxides are formed at shallower depths than iron (hydr)oxides. P and Th are enriched in the deep sections of the cores, consistent with their well-documented affinity for Fe (hydr)oxides. In contrast, the downcore distribution of Ba, especially in core 3, more closely tracks the concentration of Mn (hydr)oxides. Even though Mn (hydr)oxides are 200–300 times less abundant than Fe (hydr)oxides in the cores, Mn (hydr)oxides are known to have an affinity for Ba which is many orders of magnitude greater than iron (hydr)oxides. Hence, the downcore distribution of Ba in Fe (hydr)oxide rich sediments is most probably controlled by the presence of Mn (hydr)oxides. U is enriched in the upper zones of the cores, consistent with the formation of highly reducing near-surface sediments in the intertidal zone at the head of the Bay. Hence, the recirculation of seawater through this type of subterranean estuary, coupled with the abiotic and/or biotic reduction of soluble U(VI) to insoluble U(IV), leads to the sediments acting as a oceanic net sink of U. These results highlight the importance of permeable sediments as hosts to a wide range of biogeochemical reactions, which may be impacting geochemical budgets on scales ranging from coastal aquifers to the continental shelf.
Involvement of the ubiquitous Oct-1 transcription factor in hormonal induction of β-casein gene expression

Transcription of the milk protein beta-casein gene is induced by the lactogenic hormones Prl (prolactin) and glucocorticoids. Multiple transcription factors involved in this induction have been identified, including the STAT5 (signal transducer and activator of transcription 5) and the GR (glucocorticoid receptor). Our previous studies have identified a binding site for the ubiquitous Oct-1 (octamer-binding transcription factor 1) protein in the lactogenic hormonal regulatory region of the mouse beta-casein promoter. In the present study, we report that Oct-1 is indeed expressed and binds to the beta-casein promoter in mammary epithelial cells. Oct-1 activates hormonally induced beta-casein promoter activity in a dose-dependent manner. Hormonal induction of promoter activity was decreased not only by mutating the Oct-1-binding site from ATTAGCAT to GCTAGCAT, which abolishes Oct-1 binding (50% decrease, P<0.01), but also by changing the site to the consensus Oct-1-binding motif ATTTGCAT (40% decrease, P<0.01). Reversing the Oct-1-binding site reduced hormonal induction by 70% (P<0.01), showing that orientation of Oct-1 binding is also critical in hormonal action. In transient transfection experiments, Oct-1 collaboratively transactivated the beta-casein gene promoter with STAT5 and/or GR in the presence of Prl receptor in cells treated with the lactogenic hormones. The C-terminus of Oct-1 was not essential to its function. The results of the present study provide biochemical evidence that the ubiquitous Oct-1 transcription factor may be involved in hormonally regulated, tissue-specific beta-casein gene expression.
“I'm not a saint”: Burden Assessment as an Unrecognized Factor in Prenatal Decision Making

Prenatal testing is widely utilized, yet few studies have explored decision-making processes about diagnosis from the pregnant woman's standpoint. This qualitative, exploratory study reveals a factor not accounted for in prior research geared toward associations between demographic categories and decisions. The 30 women in this study demonstrated a three-part decisional trajectory that included an effort to collect information about the challenges a potential child with their particular diagnosis might experience. They then assessed their social context, familial supports, and resilience as a couple. A final yet crucial step was an assessment of the woman's own capacity to provide this level of care within her unique context. Few genetics teams have a member with biopsychosocial expertise and time who can help the woman/couple reflect on the situated context of the decision and its impact. Better care strategies to support women and couples through this experience are warranted.
Pathways of aggrecan processing in joint tissues. Implications for disease mechanism and monitoring.

Aggrecan is an essential matrix constituent of the soft tissues of the joint, which include the articular and meniscal cartilages and the supporting intraarticular ligaments. Our understanding of the pathways of aggrecan turnover in these tissues is limited. However, recent evidence obtained from analysis of human synovial fluids (Sandy et al. 1992, Lohmander et al. 1993), human articular cartilages (Bayne et al. 1995) cartilage explant cultures (Sandy et al. 1991) and chondrocyte cultures (Lark et al. 1995) has suggested a central role for a novel proteoglycan-degrading proteinase (aggrecanase) which cleaves the Glu 373- Ala374 bond within the interglobular domain of aggrecan.
Faculty Assessment of an Innovative Approach to Medical Education

The Clinical Presentation (CP) Model and inductive reasoning process is an innovative approach to undergraduate medical education delivery used at A.T. Still University School of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona (ATSU-SOMA). Embedding cohorts of students into community campus settings during the second, third and fourth year is equally as innovative and a unique model for training future physicians that fosters contextual learning. We investigated faculty impressions of the CP Curriculum (CPC), inductive reasoning process and the early contextual learning experience. Electronic surveys were sent to 36 Mesa campus faculty and 23 Regional Directors of Medical Education (RDME) at each of the 11 National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC) affiliated Community Health Campuses (CHC’s) in nine states.1 A total of 40 respondents (68%) completed the survey. Seventy percent of faculty respondents indicated that they “Completely Understand or “Understand Very Well” the CP Model as a teaching tool. Ninety-five percent of respondents stated they understand the application of “inductive vs. deductive” processes as they apply to medicine, and 88% expressed that they understood at least “Somewhat” how to use the CP Model to arrive at a diagnosis in “real life”. More than half (53%) indicated that placing the medical student in the contextual learning campus beginning in year 2 is the “right idea that is implemented at the right time”. Since about half of faculty surveyed indicated that they understand the inductive reasoning aspect of the CP Model very well or well, additional faculty development training is warranted. In the classroom, 70% reported including clinical presentation schemes 80–100% of the time during instruction. Clinical faculty were statistically significantly more likely to indicate that placing the medical students in the community health clinic settings at the beginning of their second year is the right idea at the right time.
A Novel Host Cell Reactivation Assay to Assess Homologous Recombination Capacity in Human Cancer Cell Lines

Abstract Repair of DNA double-strand breaks (DSB) is essential for cell viability and genome stability. Homologous recombination repair plays an important role in DSB repair and impairment of this repair mechanism may lead to loss of genomic integrity, which is one of the hallmarks of cancer. Recent research has shown that the tumor suppressor genes p53 and BRCA1 and -2 are involved in the proper control of homologous recombination, suggesting a role of this type of repair in human cancer. We developed a novel assay based on recombination between two Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP) sequences in transiently transfected plasmid DNA. The plasmid construct contains an intact, emission-shifted, “blue” variant of GFP (BFP), with a 300 nucleotide stretch of homology to a nonfunctional copy of GFP. In the absence of homologous recombination only BFP is present, but homologous recombination can create a functional GFP. The homologous regions in the plasmid were constructed in both the direct and the inverted orientation of transcription to detect possible differences in the recombination mechanisms involved. A panel of human tumor cell lines was chosen on the basis of genetic background and chromosome integrity and tested for homologous recombination using this assay. The panel included cell lines with varying levels of karyotypic abnormalities, isogenic cell lines with normal and mutant p53, isogenic cell lines with or without DNA mismatch repair, BRCA1 and -2 mutant cell lines, and the lymphoma cell line DT40. With this assay, the observed differences between cell lines with the lowest and highest levels of recombination were about 100-fold. Increased levels of recombination were associated with mutant p53, whereas a low level of recombination was found in the BRCA1 mutant cell line. In the cell line HT1080TG, a mutagenized derivative of HT1080 with two mutant alleles of p53, high levels of recombination were found with the direct orientation but not with the inverted orientation plasmid. No difference in recombination was detected between two isogenic cell lines that only differed in DNA mismatch repair capability. We conclude that this assay can detect differences in homologous recombination capacity in cultured cell lines and that these differences follow the patterns that would be expected from the different genotypes of these cell lines. Future application in normal cells may be useful to identify genetic determinants controlling genomic integrity or to detect differences in DNA repair capacity in individuals.
Online Monitoring of Pharmaceutical Materials Using Multiple NIR Sensors—Part II: Blend End-point Determination

The effect of various blend end-point algorithms on the observed blending time of pharmaceutical powders and content uniformity of subsequent tablets was investigated for a five-component system. The blending process was monitored online, in real time, using two near-infrared sensors. Algorithms based on the standard deviation, average, and distributions of concentration predictions were tested for all major blend constituents, respectively. The potential to combine sensor outputs in the end-point decision was contrasted by the consideration of the two sensor outputs individually or simultaneously. The algorithms employed demonstrated highly variable end-points when compared with the final tablet quality, although blends were deemed to have reached homogeneity faster when only the active ingredient was considered. Some algorithms proved to be either too sensitive to local mixing and demixing phenomena or not sensitive enough, yielding results not consistent with the observed tablet content uniformity. Results showed that the choice of an end-point algorithm must be directed by the product of interest (nature of the active, therapeutic window, etc.), the particular characteristics that the delivery forms should have (immediate release, sustained release), and most significantly, the purpose of blending. A single algorithm is not expected to be adequate across all formulations. However, as the complexity of the blending process increases (multiple sensors, trends of multiple ingredients to follow, etc.) the decision process becomes more complex with not only calibration maintenance issues to consider, but also calibration transfer, relevance of the criteria for the actives, and the desired final product properties.
The Hedgehog-induced Smoothened conformational switch assembles a signaling complex that activates Fused by promoting its dimerization and phosphorylation

Hedgehog (Hh) transduces signal by regulating the subcellular localization and conformational state of the GPCR-like protein Smoothened (Smo) but how Smo relays the signal to cytoplasmic signaling components remains poorly understood. Here, we show that Hh-induced Smo conformational change recruits Costal2 (Cos2)/Fused (Fu) and promotes Fu kinase domain dimerization. We find that induced dimerization through the Fu kinase domain activates Fu by inducing multi-site phosphorylation of its activation loop (AL) and phospho-mimetic mutations of AL activate the Hh pathway. Interestingly, we observe that graded Hh signals progressively increase Fu kinase domain dimerization and AL phosphorylation, suggesting that Hh activates Fu in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, we find that activated Fu regulates Cubitus interruptus (Ci) by both promoting its transcriptional activator activity and inhibiting its proteolysis into a repressor form. We provide evidence that activated Fu exerts these regulations by interfering with the formation of Ci-Sufu and Ci-Cos2-kinase complexes that normally inhibit Ci activity and promote its processing. Taken together, our results suggest that Hh-induced Smo conformational change facilitates the assembly of active Smo-Cos2-Fu signaling complexes that promote Fu kinase domain dimerization, phosphorylation and activation, and that Fu regulates both the activator and repressor forms of Ci.
Analysis and control of multi-level dual active bridge DC-DC converter

Dual Active Bridge (DAB) dc-dc converter finds applications in the intermediate high frequency link power conversion stage of a high-power solid state transformer. In this paper, a multilevel DAB dc-dc converter is proposed. A three-level neutral point clamped (NPC) inverter topology has been used in the high voltage bridge which enables semiconductor switches to be operated in higher voltage range without using cascaded bridges and multiple DAB converters. Modulation strategy to control power flow between the active bridges with one of the bridges switching at multi-level is proposed in this paper. Steady-state analysis of the converter with the proposed modulation scheme is presented along with simulation results to augment the analysis.
Effect of fertiuzers on soil pH and apple trees grown in different soils in the greenhouse

Abstract The effect of various fertilizers and rates on soil pH, tree growth and mineral uptake has been a concern for fruit tree production. In this study, two acid soils, one nearly neutral soil, and two alkaline soils were used to determine the effect of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) fertilizers on soil pH and tree response in the greenhouse. All of the above soils, except one, contained low levels of available soil phosphorus (5 to 13 ppm) as determined by the sodium bicarbonate test. The moderate and high rates of fertih'zers induced lower soil pH in all soils tested. In one soil of moderate acidity, ammonium sulfate reduced soil pH more than the other N and P fertilizers tested whereas calcium nitrate reduced soil pH only slightly. In most cases, mono‐ammonium phosphate (MAP) fertilizer reduced soil pH slightly more than the other N and P fertilizers tested. Uptake of N and P in apple leaves was higher with increased rates of N and P fertilizers (MAP), but tree growth was not always significantly ...
The genetics of dyslexia.

Dyslexia is a common, specific developmental disorder in which considerable progress has been made in the last 10 years in defining both the genetics and the behavioral phenotype. Conceptually, genetic analyses proceed in a series of linked steps considering in turn the questions of familiality, heritability, mode of transmission, and gene locations. The first part of the review will be organized accordingly. Then I will consider the issues of heterogeneity and behavioral phenotype
Forward and backward grating-assisted directional couplers in silicon for wavelength-division multiplexing tunable add-drop applications

A novel tunable optical add-drop multiplexer based on a sili- con forward or backward directional coupler is proposed. This device enables one wavelength channel or a small band of channels to be in- serted into or extracted from a wavelenghth-division multiplexing WDM signal with the capability that the wavelength for which this occurs can be varied utilizing injection current variation. For the backward coupling con- figuration, an adjacent sidelobe level rejection of 7.5 dB, coupling effi- ciency of 96.13%, and a 3-dB bandwidth of 0.174 nm with central wave- length at 1549.93 nm are simulated. Wavelength tunability of 169.3 nm forward coupling or 0.78 nm backward coupling result from our simu- lations, corresponding to a voltage-induced refractive index change n of 0.0021. The forward coupling configuration provides a somewhat wider 3-dB bandwidth and more extensive tuning capability. © 2006 Society
The dimerization motif of cytosolic sulfotransferases.

Cytosolic sulfotransferases sulfate steroids such as estrogens and hydroxysteroids. The enzymes, including human estrogen sulfotransferase (hEST) and hydroxysteroid sulfotransferase (hHST), are generally homodimers in solution with mouse estrogen sulfotransferase (mEST) being one of few exceptions. To identify the amino acid residues responsible for the dimerization, eight residues on the surface of hEST were mutated to their counterparts in mEST and mutated hESTs were then analyzed by gel filtration chromatography. A single mutation of Val269 to Glu was sufficient to convert hEST to a monomer and the corresponding mutation of Val260 also altered hHST to a monomer. The hHST crystal structure revealed a short stretch of peptide with the side-chains from two hHST monomers forming a hydrophobic zipper-like structure enforced by ion pairs at both ends. This peptide consisted of 10 residues near the C-terminus that, including the critical Val residue, is conserved as KXXXTVXXXE in nearly all cytosolic sulfotransferases. When mEST underwent the double mutations Pro269Thr/Glu270Val dimerization resulted. Thus, the KXXXTVXXXE sequence appears to be the common protein–protein interaction motif that mediates the homo- as well as heterodimerization of cytosolic sulfotransferases.
A multi-loop, self-balancing power amplifier

A multi-loop, push-pull power amplifier of exceptional characteristics is described. It employs special circuits to maintain accurate push-pull signal balance throughout and to hold the static or steady-state dc cathode currents of the output tubes equal. A pair of 807 tubes are used in class AB 2 to yield 65w average power output at less than 1 per cent intermodulation distortion with 30 db of over-all negative feedback. Using local positive voltage feedback in addition, the intermodulation distortion is 0.1 per cent at 45w and less than 0.2 per cent at 60w. At full power output, the -0.5 db points occur at 19.8 cps and 22.4 kcps. The rise time of the amplifier is 3 µs, and its transient response and recovery from overload approach the ideal. There are no peaks at the ends of the response curve. A noise level of -106 db referred to 60w output is attained. Extensive measurements of amplifier characteristics under various conditions are described.
Interstitial lung disease and gastroesophageal reflux

Gastroesophageal reflux (GER) has been associated with a number of interstitial lung diseases, including systemic sclerosis and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Systemic sclerosis results in both pulmonary and esophageal manifestations, and studies have shown a correlation, but no causal relation, between GER and pulmonary fibrosis in this condition. The role of GER in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis has recently been studied using esophageal pH monitoring, and the results show high prevalence of GER compared with normal individuals and patients with other interstitial lung diseases of known cause. Aggressive, long-term therapy of GER and evaluation of its effect on pulmonary disease will allow determination of the real influence of GER on idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Additional outcomes-based studies and therapeutic trials are needed to clarify the association between GER and interstitial lung diseases.
How to Round Any CSP

A large number of interesting combinatorial optimization problems like MAX CUT, MAX k-SAT, and UNIQUE GAMES fall under the class of constraint satisfaction problems (CSPs). Recent work by one of the authors (STOC 2008) identifies a semidefinite programming (SDP) relaxation that yields the optimal approximation ratio for every CSP, under the Unique Games Conjecture (UGC). Very recently (FOCS 2009), the authors also showed unconditionally that the integrality gap of this basic SDP relaxation cannot be reduced by adding large classes of valid inequalities (e.g., in the fashion of Sherali--Adams LP hierarchies). In this work, we present an efficient rounding scheme that achieves the integrality gap of this basic SDP relaxation for every CSP (and it also achieves the gap of much stronger SDP relaxations). The SDP relaxation we consider is stronger or equivalent to any relaxation used in literature to approximate CSPs. Thus, irrespective of the truth of the UGC, our work yields an efficient generic algorithm that for every CSP, achieves an approximation at least as good as the best known algorithm in literature. The rounding algorithm in this paper can be summarized succinctly as follows: Reduce the dimension of SDP solution by random projection, discretize the projected vectors, and solve the resulting CSP instance by brute force! Even the proof is simple in that it avoids the use of the machinery from unique games reductions such as dictatorship tests, Fourier analysis or the invariance principle. A common theme of this paper and the subsequent paper in the same conference is a robustness lemma for SDP relaxations which asserts that approximately feasible solutions can be made feasible by "smoothing'' without changing the objective value significantly.
Excessive Extrapolation and the Allocation of 401(k) Accounts to Company Stock

About a third of the assets in large retirement savings plans are invested in company stock, and about a quarter of the discretionary contributions are invested in company stock. From a diversification perspective, this is a dubious strategy. This paper explores the role of excessive extrapolation in employees’ company stock holdings. I find that employees of firms that experienced the worst stock performance over the last 10 years allocate 10.37 percent of their discretionary contributions to company stock, whereas employees whose firms experienced the best stock performance allocate 39.70 percent. Allocations to company stock, however, do not predict future performance. ROUGHLY A THIRD OF THE ASSETS in large retirement savings plans are invested in company stock ~i.e., stocks issued by the employing firm! .I n extreme cases, such as Coca-Cola, the allocation to company stock reaches 90 percent of the plan assets. From a diversification perspective, it is even more puzzling that Coca-Cola employees allocate 76 percent of their own discretionary contributions to Coca-Cola shares. This strategy seems dubious, and it is in complete contrast to Markowitz ~1952! and Sharpe ~1964!, who predict that people will hold well-diversified portfolios. This paper examines whether excessive extrapolation of past returns could explain at least part of the discretionary allocations to company stock. 1 The empirical analysis utilizes a unique database of SEC filings that describes the variation in investment elections across companies for 1993. There are at least two reasons why the allocation to company stock is an interesting topic to study. First, the costs of insufficient diversification can be substantial. For example, with the assumption of a constant relative risk aversion of two, Brennan and Torous ~1999! find that the certainty equivalent of investing one dollar in a single stock over a 10-year period is only 36 cents! In the case of company stock, the costs of insufficient diversification
Child Maltreatment and the Early Childhood Special Educator

This article reviews the issues related to child abuse and neglect of most concern to early childhood professionals: incidence and prevalence; factors associated with maltreatment, including child and parent characteristics; mediating factors, including social support; cognitive, emotional, and social sequelae; and policy directions and recommendations for professionals who work with children and families.
The frequency of compound chondrules and implications for chondrule formation

The properties of compound chondrules and the implications that they have for the conditions and environment in which chondrules formed are investigated. Formulae to calculate the probability of detecting compound chondrules in thin sections are derived and applied to previous studies. This reinterpretation suggests that at least 5% of chondrules are compounds, a value that agrees well with studies in which whole chondrules were removed from meteorites. The observation that adhering compounds tend to have small contact arcs is strengthened by application of these formulae. While it has been observed that the secondaries of compound chondrules are usually smaller than their primaries, these same formulae suggest that this could be an observation bias. It is more likely than not that thin section analyses will identify compounds with secondaries that are smaller than their primaries. A new model for chondrule collisional evolution is also developed. From this model, it is inferred that chondrules would have formed, on average, in areas of the solar nebula that had solids concentrated at least 45 times over the canonical solar value.
Small-Scale Processes and Entrainment in a Stratocumulus Marine Boundary Layer.

Numerical studies of boundary layer meteorology are increasingly reliant on large eddy simulation (LES) models, but few detailed validation studies of these types of models have been done. In this paper the authors investigate the behavior of an LES model for simulation of a marine boundary layer. Specifically, the authors focus on the mechanisms that control numerical predictions of entrainment into the tops of marine stratus in a moist generalization of the 1995 Global Energy and Water Cycle Experiment Cloud System Studies model intercomparison. For the computational study the authors present a sequence of simulations of varying resolution, from a typical resolution (50 m horizontal and 25 m vertical mesh size) to a fine resolution (8 m horizontal and 4 m vertical mesh size). The authors also explore variations in the model such as different subgrid models and modifications of the advection scheme. It was found that the thickness of the inversion, the depth of entraining eddies, and the shape of vertical velocity spectra were determined mainly by the mesh spacing used. However, the entrainment rate was found to have a distinct dependence on the amount of combined numerical and subgrid-scale mixing. This indicates that the use of large eddy simulation to study mixing in stratocumulus boundary layers needs to account for both sources of mixing.
Testis function, carcass traits, and aggressive behavior of beef bulls actively immunized against gonadotropin-releasing hormone.

We assessed testis function, aggressive behavior, and carcass traits in beef bulls actively immunized against GnRH at 1, 4, or 6 mo of age. In addition, we examined the effect of combining immunization with insertion of estrogen-containing implants (Synovex C) at 1 mo of age. Unimmunized bulls and steers were included as control animals. All immunized calves received a secondary immunization at 12 mo of age. Anti-GnRH titer was evident at slaughter in all immunized animals. Neither age at primary immunization nor implant status affected (P > .05) anti-GnRH titer at slaughter. Immunization, but not implant status, reduced (P .05). In contrast, aggressive behavior was reduced (P < .05) and carcass quality was improved (P < .05) by immunization. These data suggest that active immunization against GnRH is a practical, noninvasive alternative to physical castration in the management of bull calves.
Two Reading Rooms and the Librarian's Office: The Evolution of the Centro Library and Archives

Resumen en: This article provides an overview of the history and development of the Centro Library and Archives over the course of thirty years and its transformatio...
Disagreement Between the Structure of the dTpT Thymine Pair Determined by NMR and Molecular Dynamics Simulations Using Amber 14 Force Fields

We report a disagreement between the predicted structures of the dTpT thymine pair (thymidylyl(3′ → 5′)thymidine) using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations using the AMBER ff14SB and ff14 + e/ζOL1 + χOL4 force fields for DNA. The NMR structure was determined using NOE couplings to thymine’s H6 and JHH couplings between sugar protons. The MD simulation used replica exchange methods to produce converged statistics in a 500 ns trajectory. NMR data indicate that both thymine nucleotides in the pair display an anti conformation of B-DNA, while the MD simulations predict a structure in which the 5′-thymine is flipped into a syn conformation and the 3′-thymine is in an anti conformation. The syn conformation of the 5′-thymine predicted by MD appears by a ∼ 180-deg flip of the glycosidic angle in comparison to the B-form anti structure. Differences in the distortion of the sugar pucker between 5′-thymine and 3′-thymine further highlighted the surprisingly differen...
Does quality of life impact the decision to pursue stem cell transplantation for elderly patients with advanced MDS

The factors that influence utilization of reduced-intensity conditioning (RIC) allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HCT) among medically fit older patients with advanced myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are largely unknown. The MDS Transplant-Associated Outcomes (MDS-TAO) study is an ongoing prospective observational study at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Massachusetts General Hospital that enrolls transplant-eligible fit patients aged 60-75 years with advanced MDS and follows them through RIC HCT vs non-HCT treatment. In this analysis of 127 patients enrolled from May 2011 to June 2014, we examined the influence of age, gender, cytogenetics, International Prognostic Scoring System (IPSS) category, performance status, distance from HCT center and baseline patient-reported quality of life (QOL) from the EORTC QLQ-C30 (European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire) on the likelihood of receiving RIC HCT using competing risk regression modeling. With a median follow-up of 16 months, 44 patients (35%) had undergone RIC HCT. In multivariable analyses, age (hazard ratio (HR) 0.87 per year, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.81-0.92, P<0.001) and higher IPSS (intermediate-2/high; HR 2.29, 95% CI: 1.25-4.19, P=0.007) were significantly predictive of receipt of RIC HCT; neither global QOL score nor any QOL subscales scores were predictive. These data suggest that baseline patient-reported QOL has little influence on the decision to undergo RIC HCT for older patients with advanced MDS.
Managing information about a romantic partner’s relationship history: an application of the theory of motivated information management

ABSTRACTUsing the theory of motivated information management (TMIM), this study explored how individuals manage information about romantic partners’ past relationships, a typically taboo topic (Baxter & Wilmot, 1985). A sample (N = 146) of undergraduate students currently involved in romantic relationships was used to test TMIM’s predictions regarding cognitive, emotional, and communicative processes involved in information-management decisions regarding a partner’s previous relationships. The hypothesized models were supported for negative emotions (i.e., anger and fear) but not for happiness as a representative positive emotion. Further, efficacy emerged as a significant mediator of the relationships between the negative emotions and information-management strategies and of the associations between outcome assessments and information-management strategies. Implications and future research directions are discussed.