cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Comparison of some upwind-biased high-order formulations with a second-order central-difference scheme for time integration of the incompressible Navier-Stokes equations

Abstract The paper compares high-order finite-difference discretizations with a second-order central-difference scheme for the time integration of the incompressible Navier-Stokes equations. Conservative and non-conservative forms of the convection terms are discretized using fifth-order accurate upwind-biased based approximations. The high-order non-conservative treatment of the convection terms exhibits the best accuracy at high resolutions but deteriorates rapidly as the resolution decreases. The high-order conservative treatment of the convection terms, despite the second-order finite-volume operator, exhibits high-order accuracy but does not show any advantage over the non-conservative formulation. Combinations of the divergence and gradient operators based on second and fourth-order accurate central-difference approximations are used to construct high-order Laplacians in the pressure equation. There is little evidence that the high-order treatment of the pressure equation adds sufficiently to the overall accuracy of the scheme to justify the extra computational effort associated with it. Simulations of turbulent channel flow indicate that the second-order central-difference scheme resolves the turbulent spectrum better than the high-order upwind schemes.
What is the role of Ca2+ in the hormonal stimulation of gluconeogenesis?

Abstract The mode of action of α-adrenergic agents and vasopressin on the regulation of gluconeogenesis is functionally related to a cellular Ca 2+ redistribution, but the mechanism or site of action of Ca 2+ in the gluconeogenic pathway is not agreed upon. In glycogenolysis, the role of Ca 2+ is pinpointed to phosphorylase kinase by calmodulin, the ubiquitous Ca 2+ -binding protein, being part of the enzyme; the gluconeogenic pathway does not offer such a cue. This article presents a hypothesis on the role of Ca 2+ redistribution in the regulation of gluconeogenesis.
Monetary and Fiscal Policy Interaction in a Small Open Economy: The Case of Singapore

In Singapore, the ‘conventional view’ on the interaction between monetary and fiscal policy is that monetary policy has been traditionally expansionary so as to offset a traditionally contractionary fiscal policy. Since about 1978, that policy mix has been justified by the Monetary Authority of Singapore’s targeting, or monitoring, of a trade-weighted basket of currencies with the ultimate objective of controlling inflation. This paper calculates alternative measures of the fiscal and monetary policy stances in a small open economy to gauge the stance of macroeconomic policies in Singapore in the period 1966–95. The results challenge the ‘conventional view’ held in Singapore that fiscal policy has been mostly contractionary, and that monetary policy has been mostly expansionary during the period 1966–95. It also questions the ‘conventional view’ that a contractionary fiscal policy necessarily tends to appreciate the currency. The results have implications for the management of capital inflows.
Economic Linkage and Willy Brandt's Ostpolitik: The Case of the Warsaw Treaty

This article focuses on German–Polish relations at the time of the 1970 Warsaw Treaty, a pivotal moment in German diplomatic history. However, the study's relevance goes beyond this case. It illustrates an important source of the Federal Republic's international influence, past and present: its ability to use economic strength for political purposes. As this case shows, Germany has been particularly successful in using economic incentives (positive linkage) to improve ties with its neighbours. This article illustrates the important role of positive linkage both in German Ostpolitik and in international relations in general.
A high-amplitude thermal inertia anomaly of probable magnetospheric origin on Saturn’s moon Mimas

Abstract Spectral maps of Mimas’ daytime thermal emission show a previously unobserved thermal anomaly on Mimas’ surface. A sharp V-shaped boundary, centered at 0°N and 180°W, separates relatively warm daytime temperatures from a cooler anomalous region occupying low- to mid-latitudes on the leading hemisphere. Subsequent observations show the anomalous region is also warmer than its surroundings at night, indicating high thermal inertia. Thermal inertia in the anomalous region is 66 ± 23 J m - 2 K - 1 s 1 2 , compared to 16 J m - 2 K - 1 s 1 2 outside the anomaly. Bolometric Bond albedos are similar between the two regions, in the range 0.49–0.70. The mapped portion of the thermally anomalous region coincides in shape and location to a region of high-energy electron deposition from Saturn’s magnetosphere, which also has unusually high near-UV reflectance. It is therefore likely that high-energy electrons, which penetrate Mimas’ surface to the centimeter depths probed by diurnal temperature variations, also alter the surface texture, dramatically increasing its thermal inertia.
Shape selectivity in reversed-phase liquid chromatography for the separation of planar and non-planar solutes

Abstract Solute retention in reversed-phase liquid chromatography is the result of a variety of complex interactions between solute, mobile phase and stationary phase species. An understanding of the parameters that influence retention is useful in the development of separation methods with existing columns. Such knowledge is even more important for the design of new bonded stationary phases with engineered chromatographic properties. This review will examine some of the factors that affect retention and selectivity with alkyl-modified sorbents, particularly for the separation of solutes with well defined, rigid structure (e.g., polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons). The chromatographic discrimination of compounds on the basis of molecular structure, namely “shape selectivity”, will be studied in terms of contributions from bonded phase morphology, and in terms of operational conditions. An emphasis is placed on practical choices that are available to control selectivity and optimize separations for isomers and related mixtures.
Metabolic Regulation of Mycobacterial Growth and Antibiotic Sensitivity

Treatment of chronic bacterial infections, such as tuberculosis (TB), requires a remarkably long course of therapy, despite the availability of drugs that are rapidly bacteriocidal in vitro. This observation has long been attributed to the presence of bacterial populations in the host that are “drug-tolerant” because of their slow replication and low rate of metabolism. However, both the physiologic state of these hypothetical drug-tolerant populations and the bacterial pathways that regulate growth and metabolism in vivo remain obscure. Here we demonstrate that diverse growth-limiting stresses trigger a common signal transduction pathway in Mycobacterium tuberculosis that leads to the induction of triglyceride synthesis. This pathway plays a causal role in reducing growth and antibiotic efficacy by redirecting cellular carbon fluxes away from the tricarboxylic acid cycle. Mutants in which this metabolic switch is disrupted are unable to arrest their growth in response to stress and remain sensitive to antibiotics during infection. Thus, this regulatory pathway contributes to antibiotic tolerance in vivo, and its modulation may represent a novel strategy for accelerating TB treatment.
The gadfly business ethics project

What follows is a brief description of the origin and development, results, and future plans of the “Gadfly Business Ethics Project” at Bentley College.
Chronic nerve compression alters Schwann cell myelin architecture in a murine model.

Introduction Myelinating Schwann cells compartmentalize their outermost layer to form actin-rich channels known as Cajal bands. Here, we investigate changes in Schwann cell architecture and cytoplasmic morphology in a novel mouse model of carpal tunnel syndrome.
Effects of grape xylem sap and cell wall constituents on in vitro growth, biofilm formation and cellular aggregation of Xylella fastidiosa

Pierce’s disease (PD) of grapevines is caused by the xylem-limited bacterium Xylella fastidiosa (Xf). All Vitis vinifera-based cultivars are susceptible to Xf infection; however, many grape species from the southern United States (such as V. arizonica, V. shuttleworthii, V. simpsonii, V. smalliana, and Muscadinia rotundifolia) are resistant. In this study, the effects of xylem sap from PD-resistant and PD-susceptible grapes, as well as several free cell wall constituents, on in vitro bacterial growth, biofilm formation, and cellular aggregation were investigated. Media containing xylem sap from PD-susceptible plants provided better support for bacterial growth and biofilm formation than media supplemented with xylem sap from PD-resistant plants. Culturing Xf on media containing various purified cell wall constituents demonstrated that CM-cellulose, xylan, β-D-glucan, k-carrageenan, cello-oligosaccharide and laminarin promoted bacterial growth whereas lichenan suppressed growth. However, only laminarin, xylan, and k-carrageenan promoted biofilm formation in vitro. Lichenan, oligosaccharide, k-carrageenan, laminarin, xylan and β-D-glucan all significantly decreased Xf cellular aggregation in vitro. This study suggests that differences in xylem sap composition and cell wall properties among PD-resistant and PD-susceptible grapes may affect characteristics of Xf growth, biofilm formation and cellular aggregation involved in pathogenesis.
An analytical model of a library network

Networks and network models of industrial and military systems have received much attention in operations research literature. The extension of network modeling to library networks provides some interesting twists of the usual models. A general library network is offered, a mathematical statement of the network problem is given, and the solution of the problem is discussed. An example of the use of the model in evaluation and design situations is provided. The necessity for further work in both theoretical and applied areas is cited in the summary.
Information seeking behaviors of parents whose children have life-threatening illnesses.

Objectives For children with life-threatening illnesses we sought to (1) understand the associations between parental characteristics and preferred health information sources, and (2) assess the e-health literacy of Internet-users. Study Design Cross-sectional, telephone survey of 129 parents whose children are in a pediatric palliative care program in Florida. Results Four out of five parents report that they use the Internet, and 64% of Internet-users use it daily. Parents who never use the Internet, versus parents who do use the Internet, are predominately Hispanic (50%) and have less than a high school education (64%) (P ≤ 0.023). Internet-users have high levels of e-health literacy; however, they are not confident or are unsure about the quality of information on the Internet. Not having graduated from high school was associated with a decrease in e-health literacy and using the Internet as the primary information source (vs. doctor as primary source) was associated with an increase in e-health literacy. Conclusion Parents of children with life-threatening illnesses have access to and use the Internet as a source of information about their children's health. More information is needed to explore how electronic-based interventions could be used to impact information seeking of parents whose children are in pediatric palliative care programs. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2011;56:805–811. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Sr and Nd isotope systematics in fish teeth

High concentrations of Sr and Nd in fish teeth apatite (up to 2000 and 3800 ppm. respectively) make them relatively impervious to diagenetic overprints and allow high-precision analysis of87Sr/86 Sr and143Nd/144Nd of very small amounts of material.87Sr/86Sr ratios of 14 Cenozoic samples (< 55 Ma) from the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans and the Caribbean Sea are close to the seawater value at the time of formation, suggesting their use for87Sr/86Sr stratigraphic dating. A compilation of published143Nd/144Nd data from recent Mn-nodules and marineFeMn deposits shows that the North-Central Pacific Ocean and the major portion of the Atlantic Ocean display distinctly different, narrow ranges in isotopic compositions. Between these two ares, the143Nd/144Nd of Mn-nodules vary systematically towards intermediate compositions in the Southern Oceans, reflecting the communication between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans through the eastward moving Antarctic Circumpolar Current. The143Nd/144Nd of the 2–55 Ma old fish teeth analyzed are typically close to the range of143Nd/144Nd in Recent Mn-nodules and seawater for the respective ocean and, thus, indicate no significant change through this time period. The143Nd/144Nd of fish teeth from the North Pacific Ocean are highest during periods of high aeolian sedimentation. Since such dust probably introduces Nd with a low143Nd/144Nd, it is unlikely that the fish teeth contain any significant amounts of sediment-derived REE's. Our data suggest that fish teeth probably obtained their REE signature from seawater during early diagenesis, not from later diagenetic overprints. For this reason they may be used to study the communication between the paleo-oceans. The143Nd/144Nd of Caribbean Sea fish teeth is nearly constant through the past 8 Ma, precluding major influx of waters from the Pacific or the Atlantic Oceans, despite the evidence for faunal communication through the Isthmus of Panama prior to the Pliocene. The143Nd/144Nd of 33 Ma old fish teeth from the Giant Piston Core, deposited at near equatorial paleolatitudes, suggest that the Central and North Pacific Ocean did not receive sufficient Atlantic-derived REE's to alter its143Nd/144Nd. For this reason, a large-scale equatorial current through the Isthmus of Panama appears to be unlikely.
A Structural Model of the Analysis of Retail Market Power: The Case of Fluid Milk

We derive a structural model of firm behavior that is composed of the Generalized Quadratic Almost Ideal Demand System to represent both consumers' milk preferences and firm profit maximization conditions that allow for a range of competitive scenarios. The importance of this specification is found in its fuller representation of consumer preferences, as opposed to the Linear Approximate Almost Ideal Demand System used in previous analyses. We apply this structural framework to investigate retailer conduct in the sale of beverage milk in a U.S. market using product-level data. Our Lerner Index estimates show that retailers are not perfectly competitive. However, this deviation is small. Copyright 2012, Oxford University Press.
Radiocytogenetic studies with Californium-252.

SummaryChromosomal analysis of Chinese-hamster ovary cells was conducted after irradiation with either radium or 252Cf. Irradiations were performed at two different dose-rates with each radiation source and under aerobic and anaerobic conditions. The o.e.r. was approximately 2·3 for radium and 1·8 for 252Cf and was independent of dose-rate. The r.b.e. of 252Cf compared with radium ranged from 1·7 to 4·3 depending on radiation conditions.
Aprotinin does not prolong the Sonoclot aprotinin-insensitive activated clotting time

Abstract Study Objective To determine whether a new Sonoclot-based, aprotinin-insensitive activated clotting time (aiACT) assay yields stable results over a broad range of aprotinin concentrations. Design Prospective trial conducted on in vitro blood samples. Setting Tertiary-care teaching medical center. Participants 19 healthy adult volunteers. Interventions Whole blood samples were collected from volunteers. Heparin (2 U/mL) and escalating concentrations of aprotinin of 160 to 500 kallikrein inhibitory units (KIU)/mL were added in vitro. Measurements and Main Results Celite ACT, kaolin ACT, and aiACT assays were completed. The aiACT showed stable activated clotting time (ACT) results on heparinized, noncitrated blood with added aprotinin ( P = nonsignificant). In contrast, celite ACT and kaolin ACT were greatly prolonged when aprotinin was added to heparinized, noncitrated, and citrated blood ( P P = nonsignificant). Conclusions Aprotinin (160, 320, and 500 KIU/mL) significantly prolongs the ACT value with celite and kaolin activators but not with the aprotinin-insensitive activator.
Identification of a Unique Population of Tissue-Memory CD4+ T Cells in the Airways after Influenza Infection That Is Dependent on the Integrin VLA-1

During the immune response to influenza infection, activated T cells are distributed to both lymphoid and extralymphoid tissues, including the infected airways where direct recognition of viral Ag-bearing cells takes place. The collagen-binding alpha(1)beta(1) integrin VLA-1 is essential for the development of memory CD8(+) T cells in the airways, and although expressed by some CD4(+) T cells, its significance has not been demonstrated. We investigated the role of VLA-1 on virus-specific CD4(+) T cells during and after primary or secondary influenza infection of mice. The proportion of CD4(+) cells expressing CD49a (alpha(1) integrin) was low in all tissues sampled during primary infection but increased in the airways after viral clearance. Furthermore, during the first 24 h of a secondary influenza challenge, the majority of IFN-gamma-secreting effector CD4(+) T cells from the airways was in the CD49a(+) population. Airway CD49a(+)CD4(+) cells also expressed reduced markers of apoptosis compared with CD49a(-) cells, and fewer memory or effector CD4(+) cells could be recovered from airways of alpha(1)(-/-) mice, although lymphoid tissues appeared unaffected. These data suggest VLA-1 expression defines a population of tissue memory CD4(+) T cells that act as rapid effectors upon reinfection, and VLA-1 expression is integral to their accumulation in the airways.
Tweeting it off: characteristics of adults who tweet about a weight loss attempt.

Objective The purpose of this study was to describe adults who use Twitter during a weight loss attempt and to compare the positive and negative social influences they experience from their offline friends, online friends, and family members. Materials and methods Participants (N=100, 80% female, mean age=37.65, SD=8.42) were recruited from Twitter. They completed a brief survey about their experiences discussing their weight loss attempt with their online and offline friends and provided responses to open-ended questions on the benefits and drawbacks of discussing weight on Twitter, Facebook, and weight-specific social networks. Results Participants rated their connections on Twitter and weight loss-specific social networks to be significantly greater sources of positive social influence for their weight loss (F(3)=3.47; p<0.001) and significantly lesser sources of negative social influence (F(3)=40.39 and F(3)=33.68 (both p<0.001)) than their offline friends, family, and Facebook friends. Greater positive social influence from Twitter and Facebook friends was associated with greater weight loss in participants' most recent weight loss attempt (r=0.30, r=0.32; p<0.01). The most commonly reported benefits of tweeting about weight loss include social support, information, and accountability. The most common drawbacks reported are that interactions were too brief and lacked personal connection. Discussion People who discuss their weight loss on Twitter report more social support and less negativity from their Twitter friends than their Facebook friends and in-person relationships. Conclusions Online social networks should be explored as a tool for connecting patients who lack weight loss social support from their in-person relationships.
Psychiatric Disorders and Cigarette Smoking Among Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Inpatients

We surveyed 120 patients admitted to a child and adolescent psychiatric inpatient unit regarding their cigarette smoking history, reasons for smoking, patterns of use, and psychiatric comorbidity (chart review). We administered the Social Phobia and Anxiety Inventory and the modified Fagerstrom Tolerance Questionnaire. Only six of 47 current smokers had a chart diagnosis of nicotine dependence. Logistic regression derived that the odds ratio for being a current smoker was: Caucasian race = 5.56, older age = 1.3, depressive disorders = 4.02, conduct disorder (CD) = 12.96, cannabis abuse/dependence = 24.6. Hence, cigarette smoking is highly prevalent but underdiagnosed in this population.
Extension of the Thoracic Spine Sign: A New Sonographic Marker of Pleural Effusion.

Objectives Dyspnea is a common emergency department (ED) condition, which may be caused by pleural effusion and other thoracic diseases. We present data on a new sonographic marker, the extension of the thoracic spine sign, for diagnosis of pleural effusion. Methods In this prospective study, we enrolled a convenience sample of undifferentiated patients who underwent computed tomography (CT) of the abdomen or chest, which was performed as part of their emergency department evaluations. Patients underwent chest sonography to assess the utility of the extension of the thoracic spine sign for diagnosing pleural effusion. The point-of-care sonographic examinations were performed and interpreted by emergency physicians who were blinded to information in the medical records. Sonographic results were compared to radiologists' interpretations of the CT results, which were considered the criterion standard. Results Forty-one patients were enrolled, accounting for 82 hemithoraces. Seven hemithoraces were excluded from the analysis due to various limitations, leaving 75 hemithoraces for the final analysis. The median time for completion of the sonographic examination was 3 minutes. The sensitivity and specificity for extension of the thoracic spine were 73.7% (95% confidence interval [CI], 48.6%-89.9%) and 92.9% (95%CI, 81.9%-97.7%), respectively. Overall, there were 5 hemithoraces with false-negative results when using the extension sign. Of those 5 cases, 4 were found to have trace pleural effusions on CT. When trace pleural effusions were excluded in a subgroup analysis, the sensitivity and specificity of extension of the thoracic spine were 92.9% (95% CI, 64.2%-99.6%) and 92.9% (95% CI, 81.9%-97.7%). Conclusions We found the extension of the thoracic spine sign to be an excellent diagnostic tool for clinically relevant pleural effusion.
Millimeter-Wave Frequency Tripling Based on Four-Wave Mixing in a Semiconductor Optical Amplifier

An approach to generating a frequency-tripled millimeter-wave (mm-wave) signal based on four-wave mixing (FWM) in a semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA) is experimentally demonstrated. In the proposed system, two phase-correlated optical wavelengths generated by an optical phase-locked loop (OPLL) are used as two pumps to generate the FWM process in the SOA. Two idlers with a wavelength spacing three times that of the two pump wavelengths are obtained. The two pump wavelengths are then removed by two cascaded fiber Bragg gratings serving as an optical notch filter. By beating the two idlers at a photodetector, an mm-wave with a frequency that is three times that of the OPLL reference source is generated
HIV status, knowledge of mother-to-child transmission of HIV and antenatal care use among Ethiopian women

Abstract Objective To determine whether HIV status and knowledge of mother-to-child-transmission (MTCT) of HIV are associated with antenatal care (ANC) use. Methods Data were obtained from the 2011 Ethiopia Demographic and Health Survey among women aged 15–49 years who agreed to HIV testing and who reported giving birth in the preceding five years. The two exposures of interest were HIV status and knowledge of MTCT. Unadjusted and adjusted prevalence ratios for ANC use were estimated by fitting modified Poisson regression models. Results Among the 7392 women in the sample, ANC use was lowest among HIV-negative, low MTCT knowledge women (31.6% [95% confidence interval: 28.1–35.1]), and highest among HIV-positive, high knowledge women (81.9% [69.8–94.0%]). ANC use was significantly higher among HIV-positive, high knowledge (adjusted prevalence ratio [APR] = 1.60 [1.32–1.94]) and HIV-negative, high knowledge women (1.37 [1.24–1.51]) compared with HIV-negative, low knowledge women. There was no statistically significant difference in ANC use by HIV status among low knowledge women (1.26 [0.71–2.25]). Conclusions HIV-positive women generally had better MTCT knowledge. Among HIV-negative women, the prevalence of ANC use was greater among women with higher knowledge. Increasing MTCT knowledge may facilitate ANC use and in turn may eliminate MTCT.
Interaction of Decay-Accelerating Factor with Echovirus 7

Echovirus 7 (EV7) belongs to the Enterovirus genus within the family Picornaviridae. Many picornaviruses use IgG-like receptors that bind in the viral canyon and are required to initiate viral uncoating during infection. However, in addition, some of the enteroviruses use an alternative or additional receptor that binds outside the canyon. Decay-accelerating factor (DAF) has been identified as a cellular receptor for EV7. The crystal structure of EV7 has been determined to 3.1-A resolution and used to interpret the 7.2-A-resolution cryo-electron microscopy reconstruction of EV7 complexed with DAF. Each DAF binding site on EV7 is near a 2-fold icosahedral symmetry axis, which differs from the binding site of DAF on the surface of coxsackievirus B3, indicating that there are independent evolutionary processes by which DAF was selected as a picornavirus accessory receptor. This suggests that there is an advantage for these viruses to recognize DAF during the initial process of infection.
GAGE-B: an evaluation of genome assemblers for bacterial organisms

Motivation: A large and rapidly growing number of bacterial organisms have been sequenced by the newest sequencing technologies. Cheaper and faster sequencing technologies make it easy to generate very high coverage of bacterial genomes, but these advances mean that DNA preparation costs can exceed the cost of sequencing for small genomes. The need to contain costs often results in the creation of only a single sequencing library, which in turn introduces new challenges for genome assembly methods. Results: We evaluated the ability of multiple genome assembly programs to assemble bacterial genomes from a single, deep-coverage library. For our comparison, we chose bacterial species spanning a wide range of GC content and measured the contiguity and accuracy of the resulting assemblies. We compared the assemblies produced by this very high-coverage, one-library strategy to the best assemblies created by two-library sequencing, and we found that remarkably good bacterial assemblies are possible with just one library. We also measured the effect of read length and depth of coverage on assembly quality and determined the values that provide the best results with current algorithms.
The optimization of the BANA test as a screening instrument for gingivitis among subjects seeking dental treatment

Porphyromonas gingivalis, Treponema denticola and Bacteroides forsythus have been implicated in periodontal disease and each possesses an enzyme capable of hydrolyzing the synthetic trypsin substrate, BANA. We have used a chairside test for BANA hydrolysis to diagnose an anaerobic periodontal infection in patients with advanced forms of clinical disease using a 15-min/55 degrees C incubation protocol. However, the BANA test performance is dependent upon the length and temperature of incubation. In the present study, we have evaluated a 5-min/35 degrees C, a 5-min/55 degrees C and a 15-min/55 degrees C incubation protocol to determine whether the performance of the BANA test could be optimized using plaque samples obtained from subjects seeking dental treatment. Logistic regression models were tested with age, smoking status, and gingivitis scores as covariates. The best fitting model obtained with the 5-min/35 degrees C protocol had a sensitivity of 71%, a specificity of 68%, a false-positive proportion of 9%, a false-negative proportion of 65%, and an overall accuracy of 80%. When maximum likelihood estimates were obtained in this model, plaques from individuals who reported that they currently smoked were 9.57x, and those who quit smoking were 4.73x more likely to have a positive BANA score than someone who never smoked. Plaques were 4.55x more likely to be BANA-positive if they were removed from sites with gingivitis. These findings indicate that the performance of the BANA test is best using the 5-min/35 degrees C incubation protocol.
Epidemiology of Neural Tube Defects

Neural tube defects (NTDs)-malformations secondary to abnormal neural tube closure between the third and fourth weeks of gestational age-have a complex and imperfectly understood etiology in which both genetic and environmental factors appear to be involved. A number of specific chromosomal or single-gene disorders, presumably not affected by environmental influences, are associated with the development of NTDs, but such syndromal cases account for a small proportion of NTDs in live-born infants. Analysis of recurrence patterns within families and of twin-concordance data provides evidence of a genetic influence in nonsyndromal cases, but factors such as socioeconomic status and geographic area (independent of race or ethnicity) are also associated with variations in the incidence of NTDs. The prevalence at birth of both anencephaly and spina bifida has decreased, but the advent of antenatal diagnosis and elective termination of affected pregnancies has undermined the reliability of birth prevalence rate as an estimate of incidence. Some occupational and other exposures, including maternal use of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs), are associated with increased risk for NTDs. Among women who have had an NTD-affected pregnancy, recurrence risk is markedly higher than the risk for a first NTD-affected pregnancy in the general population. There is strong evidence, overall, for a protective effect of adequate folate consumption. In some high-risk groups, however, such as women taking AEDs, folate supplementation has not been proven to reduce NTD risk.
Earthquake risk in South Australia using averaged seismic moment

Appreciable variations in seismic activity have been observed along the main earthquake trends in South Australia. In determining the long‐term seismic risk, allowance has to be made for areas of temporary quiescence, which could be the sites of significant earthquakes in the future. Hence, risk maps are often smoothed by grouping seismicity into regions with a uniform activity, the boundaries of which tend to be fairly subjective. In an alternative form of regionalization, activity in localized regions (effectively point sources) is expressed in terms of seismic moment, which is related to strain release or fault displacement, with minimum assumptions made about the extent of the active areas. The frequency of occurrence of ground motions at a given distance from a source region is obtained from the recurrence and attenuation relations, and the contributions from all active source elements are summed to give the risk at a particular site. In this approach, all the available seismicity data can be used, t...
Microassembly experiments with transparent electrostatic gripper under optical and vision-based control

This paper describes the assembly experiments conducted with a novel miniature assembly cell for microelectromechanical systems. The cell utilizes a novel transparent electrostatic gripper and uses several disparate sensing modalities for position control: computer vision for part alignment with respect to the gripper, a fiber-coupled laser, and a position-sensitive detector for part to assembly alignment. The assembly experiments performed indicate that the gripping force and stage positioning accuracy of the gripper are sufficient for insertion of micromachined parts into slots etched in silicon substrates. Details of the cell operation, the control algorithm used, and their limitations are also provided. Potential applications of the developed assembly cell are assembly of miniature optical systems, integration of optoelectronics, such as laser diodes with CMOS, and epitaxial lift-off of thin films used in optoelectronic devices.
A candidate tumor suppressor gene, H37, from the human lung cancer tumor suppressor locus 3p21.3.

Frequent allelic loss and homozygous deletions within chromosome 3p in human lung cancershave suggested that the 3p21.3 (370-kb) region contains a critical tumorsuppressor gene(s) (TSG). With the exact identity/characteristics of such a gene(s) still unconfirmed, a lack of inactivating structural mutations in the expressed genes contained within this region may indicate that the 3p TSG(s) do not fit into the classical “two-mutation” model. This report characterizes a candidate 3p TSG, H37, located within the 370-kb region. Reduced expression of the H37 transcript was found in 9 of 11 (82%) of primary non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLCs) when compared with adjacent normal tissues. Generation of an H37 antibody followed by immunohistochemical analysis of primary NSCLC specimens demonstrated that 46 of 62 (73%) of these cancers contain reduced levels of H37 protein when compared with adjacent normal bronchial cells. Moreover, introduction of the H37 cDNA into human breast cancer cells deleted of 3p21–22 reduced both anchorage-dependent and -independent cell growth in vitro. Subsequent transfection of H37 cDNA into one of the human lung cancer cell lines homozygously deleted in this region resulted in a very low yield of H37-expressing clones. H37 also suppressed anchorage-dependent and -independent growth of A9 mouse fibrosarcoma cells and inhibited tumor formation in nude mice. These data indicate a potential role for H37 as one of the 3p TSGs in human lung cancer.
Fifth generation digital sonar signal processing

This paper discusses the evolutionary development, which has taken place over the last decade, in digital sonar systems architecture with the application of first, second, and third generation computers as system controllers for sonar systems. It is the opinion of the authors that, with the arrival of microprocessors, the system controller tasks in real time digital sonars will diminish. We present, as the "fourth generation," the present systems which still have a relatively large CPU, assisted by an array of microprocessors under their control for several subtasks which can be handled, more efficiently, locally in the systems. The "fifth generation" concept is postulated as a further development of this concept. A distributed processing scheme is presented in which the processing elements are actually highly functionally distributed themselves at the lowest level of architecture; consequently, the user views them as uniprocessors within the tightly coupled network. This approach should result in relatively high throughput utilizing a fairly small repertoire of modular hardware components and requiring minimal software effort by implementing, via firmware, very high level macros. This concept allows adaptive system architecture for the various advanced sonar data processing requirements for multielement linear, spatial, or blanket type array systems postulated for the future.
Estuarine Adjustment to Changes in River Flow and Tidal Mixing

Abstract The adjustment of estuarine circulation and density to changes in river flow and tidal mixing is investigated using analytical and numerical models. Tidally averaged momentum and salinity equations in a rectangular estuary are vertically averaged over two levels, resulting in equations that are analytically tractable while retaining a broad range of time-dependent behavior. It is found that both strongly stratified and well-mixed estuaries respond rapidly to either type of forcing change, while those of intermediate stratification respond more slowly. Intermediate estuaries also have the greatest sensitivity to change. Exchange flow dominates the up-estuary salt flux in strongly stratified cases. Changing the river flow in such cases leads to an internal wave propagating the length of the estuary, which accomplishes much of the adjustment. The internal wave speed thus controls the adjustment time. Increased tidal mixing in strongly stratified cases initially decreases the exchange flow contributi...
Intercomparison of Circulation Similarity Measures

Abstract Most circulation studies use the root-mean-square difference (RMSD) or correlation (COR) (or both) as a toot for comparing different (observed or forecast) circulation patterns. However, there are some other measures introduced into the literature (e.g., mean absolute error, rms vector error, S1 score) and one might easily construct other measures of circulation similarity. The question of the appropriate choice among possible similarity measures rarely arises. In this paper an objective intercomparison of nine different similarity measures (also called distance functions) is presented. The similarity measures were evaluated through the 7OO-hPa hemispheric analog forecasts obtained by them. In the indirect evaluation, the analogs to the base cases found by each individual distance function were checked whether they were identical with the best analogs (selected by all nine functions) to the circulation pattern that actually followed. The number of coincidences is an indication of the quality of t...
Interferon-gamma gene expression in cycling and pregnant mouse uterus: temporal aspects and cellular localization.

Interferon-g (IFN-g) is a potent pro- inflammatory cytokine that modulates hematopoi- etic cell maturation, differentiation, activation, and apoptosis. To evaluate the postulate that locally produced IFN-g could influence uterine hematopoi- etic cells, specific protein was detected by immuno- histochemistry and messenger RNA (mRNA) was identified by in situ hybridization in cycling and pregnant mouse uteri. In cycling uteri, IFN-g was limited to luminal and glandular epithelial cells during the estrus phase of the cycle. In pregnant uteri, IFN-g was prominent at early (gestation day 6-10) and late (gestation day 18) stages. IFN-g- producing cells identified by in situ hybridization included uterine epithelial cells, natural killer cells, macrophages, placental trophoblast cells, and cells in the degenerating metrial gland. Collectively, the data indicate that programming of immune and other cells via autocrine and paracrine pathways could be achieved by locally produced IFN-g, and suggest that uteroplacental IFN-g may be most influential during early and late stages of preg- nancy. J. Leukoc. Biol. 64: 393-400; 1998.
Analytical isoelectric focusing of secreted dermatophyte proteins applied to taxonomic differentiation of Microporum and Trichophyton species (preliminary studies)

Culture filtrates were prepared from dermatophytes under standard conditions and adapted for analytical isoelectric focusing in thin layer polyacrylamide gels over the pH range 3·5–9·5. Dermatophytes grown in trypticase soy broth secreted a large number of proteins displaying a wide range of isoelectric points (pls). Trichophyton megninii extracts contained a triplet of proteins focusing in the pH 8·0–8·5 range that were absent in taxonomically related T. kuryangei isolates. Single ascospore isolates and standard tester strains of Nannizzia otae (+) mating type were differentiated from the (-) mating type by proteins focusing at pH 6·5 and 8·4. These were markedly reduced in the (+) type. The isofocused pattern of Microsporum canis conformed closely to the (-) mating type of N. otae. The protein patterns of T. megninii and T. kuryangei were distinct from those obtained with M. canis and M. equinum because of an intense-staining broad protein band, pI 7·2, and three periodic acid-Schiff-positive glycoprote...
Opening a SWATH Window on Posttranslational Modifications: Automated Pursuit of Modified Peptides

Posttranslational modifications of proteins play an important role in biology. For example, phosphorylation is a key component in signal transduction in all three domains of life, and histones can be modified in such a variety of ways that a histone code for gene regulation has been proposed. Shotgun proteomics is commonly used to identify posttranslational modifications as well as chemical modifications from sample processing. However, it favors the detection of abundant peptides over the repertoire presented, and the data analysis usually requires advance specification of modification masses and target amino acids, their number constrained by available computational resources. Recent advances in data independent acquisition mass spectrometry technologies such as SWATH-MS enable a deeper recording of the peptide contents of samples, including peptides with modifications. Here, we present a novel approach that applies the power of SWATH-MS analysis to the automated pursuit of modified peptides. With the new SWATHProphet(PTM) functionality added to the open source SWATHProphet software, precursor ions consistent with a modification are identified along with the mass and localization of the modification in the peptide sequence in a sensitive and unrestricted manner without the need to anticipate the modifications in advance. Using this method, we demonstrate the detection of a wide assortment of modified peptides, many unanticipated, in samples containing unpurified synthetic peptides and human urine, as well as in phospho-enriched human tissue culture cell samples.
Moonlights, Sunspots and Frontier Finance: On the Nexus between Money, Credit and Urban Form

This research examines urbanization under capitalism and the evolution of the financial system as a joint historical process. Paying particular attention to the spatial consequences of these processes, we argue that a general theory of urban rise and decline must establish explicit linkages between money, credit and banking and urban spatial structure. In particular, this research develops the argument that money is spatially non-neutral, principally because the institutional arrangements of finance matter for how the built environment evolves. We explore the historical trajectory of the land-capital nexus against the theoretical backdrop of a broad range of schools of economic thought. At the same time, we situate our argument within a larger historiographical recognition that various representations of the economy as a “system of circular flows” are influenced by the evolution of the social imaginary.
Misalignment sensitivity and human body effects on wearable conformal SCMR system

A comprehensive study on the performance of a compact wearable Conformal Strongly Coupled Magnetic Resonance (CSCMR) system is presented in this paper. The wireless powering system consists of the receiver and load elements designed on a printed circuit board. Studies are performed with the receiver and transmitter element in free space, and when in contact with the human skin. In these operating environments, the power transfer efficiency is measured for two cases: (a) when the transmitter and receiver are aligned and (b) when the transmitter and receiver are misaligned. The results demonstrate the undesired user and angular misalignment effects on wearable CSCMR systems. These studies will provide critical information for future investigations that focus on improving the performance of wireless powering systems with applications in wearable devices and health monitoring.
The effect of deep freezing on hamster cheek pouch carcinoma. A preliminary report.

Abstract In a preliminary study testing the effect of cryotherapy on hamster cheek pouch carcinoma, the malignant cells were destroyed by freezing. But the remaining malignant cells continued their growth and invasion, suggesting that no “autoimmunizing” agent against these cells was developed after cryotherapy.
The Social Basis of Sacred Spaces in the Prehispanic Andes: Ritual Landscapes of the Dead in Chimú and Inka Societies

Sacred landscapes are a subset of the diverse media that people use to make statements about social order. Mary Douglas has discussed two dimensions of social order—group and grid—and suggested connections between their varied conceptions and expressions in the culturally constructed landscape. I extend Douglas's concepts to a specific domain of sacred landscapes, funerary architecture. Drawing on two examples from the prehispanic Andes, I argue that differences in Chimu and Inka funerary landscapes represent different conceptions of social order. Archaeological investigations of sacred spaces as expressions of varying social experience deepen understanding of Andean societies and other ancient peoples.
The action of atoxyl

conclusionAtoxyl is probably transformed into a trypanocidal substance in the living body both by the blood and by the liver (other organs were not tested). In tests in vitro the transforming agent in liver may be readily distinguished from the active agent in blood.
Uncertainty and Sensitivity Analysis of Afterbody Radiative Heating Predictions for Earth Entry

The objective of this work was to perform sensitivity analysis and uncertainty quantification for afterbody radiative heating predictions of Stardust capsule during Earth entry at peak afterbody radiation conditions. The radiation environment in the afterbody region poses significant challenges for accurate uncertainty quantification and sensitivity analysis due to the complexity of the flow physics, computational cost, and large number of un-certain variables. In this study, first a sparse collocation non-intrusive polynomial chaos approach along with global non-linear sensitivity analysis was used to identify the most significant uncertain variables and reduce the dimensions of the stochastic problem. Then, a total order stochastic expansion was constructed over only the important parameters for an efficient and accurate estimate of the uncertainty in radiation. Based on previous work, 388 uncertain parameters were considered in the radiation model, which came from the thermodynamics, flow field chemistry, and radiation modeling. The sensitivity analysis showed that only four of these variables contributed significantly to afterbody radiation uncertainty, accounting for almost 95% of the uncertainty. These included the electronic- impact excitation rate for N between level 2 and level 5 and rates of three chemical reactions in uencing N, N(+), O, and O(+) number densities in the flow field.
Accuracy analysis of the split-step Fourier propagator: Implications for seismic modeling and migration

Abstract The split-step Fourier propagator is a one-way wave propagation method that has been widely used to simulate primary forward and backward (reflected) deterministic/random wave propagation due to its fast computational speed and limited computer memory requirement. The method is useful for rapid modeling of seismic-wave propagation in heterogeneous media where forward scattered waveforms can be considered to be dominant or reverberations can be ignored. The method is based on a solution to the one-way wave equation that requires expanding the square root of an operator and splitting of the resulting noncommutative operators to allow calculation by transferring wave fields between the space and wavenumber domains. Previous analysis of the accuracy of the method has focused on the error related to only a portion of the approximations involved in the propagator. To better understand the accuracy of the propagator, we present a complete formal and numerical accuracy analyses. Our formal analysis indicates that the dominant error of the propagator increases as the first order in the marching interval. We show that nonsymmetrically and symmetrically split-step marching solutions have the same first-order error term. Their second- and third-order error terms are similar. Therefore, the differences between the accuracy of different split-step marching solutions are insignificant. This conclusion is confirmed by our numerical tests. The relation among the phase error of the split-step Fourier propagator, relative velocity perturbation, and propagation angle is numerically studied. The results suggest that the propagator is accurate for up to a 60° propagation angle from the main propagation direction for media with small relative velocity perturbations (10%).