cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Optical antennas integrated with concentric ring gratings: electric field enhancement and directional radiation

We describe a means for improving the coupling of illumination to, and the collection of scattered radiation from, an optical antenna. This is achieved by integrating optical antennas with concentric ring gratings. Electromagnetic simulations demonstrate that the ring grating improves the coupling to the antenna, even if the incident illumination is focused by an aplanatic lens such as a microscope objective. Dipole radiation from the center of the structure is well collimated. Various aspects of field enhancement and dipole radiation behavior are analyzed. We propose this device for Raman scattering enhancement.
Nasal screening is useful in excluding methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in ventilator-associated pneumonia

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus screening performed for infection control purposes may be useful in guiding decisions regarding the use of broad-spectrum antibiotics in the intensive care unit. A cohort study of adults with ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) found that admission MRSA nasal swabs had a negative predictive value of 94% for later MRSA VAP.
Using voice, meaning, mutual construction of knowledge, and transfer of learning to apply an ecological perspective to group work training

Concepts of voice, meaning, mutual construction of knowledge, and transfer of learning are presented in this paper as critical ingredients that support the teaching of group work from an ecological perspective. Examples of these concepts are given to illustrate their application in group work classes.
Opening Doors and Building Capacity: Employing a Community-Based Approach to Surveying

Although many community-based initiatives employ community residents to undertake door-to-door surveys as a form of community mobilization or for purposes of needs assessment or evaluation, very little has been published on the strengths and weaknesses of this approach. This article discusses our experience in undertaking such a survey in collaboration with a coalition of community-based organizations (CBOs) in the South Bronx, New York. Although resource constraints limited the already-strained capacity of the CBOs to provide supervision, the CBOs and community surveyors helped us gain access to neighborhood buildings and to individuals who might otherwise have been inaccessible. The survey process also contributed to the coalition’s community outreach efforts and helped to link the CBO leadership and staff more closely to the coalition and its mission. Many of the surveyors enhanced their knowledge and skills in ways that have since benefited them or the coalition directly. The participating CBOs continue to be deeply engaged in the coalitions’ work, and many of the surveyors are active as community health advocates and have taken leadership roles within the coalition.
The morphology of extrachoroidal ependyma overlying gray and white matter in the rabbit lateral ventricle

A morphologic investigation of ependyma over gray matter (caudate nucleus) and over periventricular white matter (tapetum) of the rabbit lateral ventricle was undertaken prior to evaluation of morphological changes which occur with experimental hydrocephalus. Ependymal cells over the caudate nucleus are cuboidal and heavily ciliated. Numerous microvilli cover the cell surface. The lateral margins are straight and interdigitations between adjacent ependymal cells are absent. Ependymal cells over white matter are squamous. Nonciliated as well as ciliated cells contribute to the epithelial lining. Microvilli are present at the cell surface but tend to aggregate near the cellular borders. The lateral margins are convoluted and complex interdigitations are present between adjacent cells. Morphologic differences between ependymal cells over the caudate nucleus and those over periventricular white matter may help to explain the differential response to hydrocephalus observed in these two regions of the lateral ventricle.
“A Microscopic Insurgent”: Militarization, Health, and Critical Geographies of Violence

Wars do not maim with bullets and bombs alone but cause economic and environmental destruction that leave enduring bodily harms. Preparations for war-making also cause negative health effects, from...
Multisensory hypersensitivity in women with fibromyalgia: implications for well being and intervention.

Abstract Wilbarger JL, Cook DB. Multisensory hypersensitivity in women with fibromyalgia: implications for well being and intervention. Objective To document sensory sensitivities to nonnoxious sensory stimuli in daily life for participants with fibromyalgia (FM). Design Descriptive study of a convenience sample using a self-report survey of sensory processing. Setting Participants were recruited from the general community. The procedure took place in a research room at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Participants Women with FM (n=27) were compared with women with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) (n=28) and healthy pain-free women (controls) (n=28) (N=83). Interventions Not applicable. Main Outcome Measure A self-report measure of sensory sensitivity to stimuli encountered in daily life. Items ask participants if they are sensitive to sensations that do not seem to bother other people or avoid common activities or environments because of sensory stimuli. Results The FM group reported significantly increased sensory sensitivities to both somatic (tactile) and nonsomatic (eg, auditory and olfactory) sensory stimuli compared with the RA and control groups. The RA and control groups did not differ in reported hypersensitivities. Conclusions Women with fibromyalgia reported increased sensitivities to stimuli in the environment and could experience more stress related to sensory conditions in daily life.
Evolution of Higher Education Finance in Australia

Central policymakers are becoming more aware of the possibilities of implementing their policies by using ‘softer’ discretionary financial instruments in preference to ‘harder’ directives and conditions attached to granted funds. A typical technique within this softer approach is to offer block grants to any target organization which contracts to pursue specific policy goals and to account for their achievement. Policymakers effectively perceive themselves as ‘quasi-consumers’, prepared to ‘buy’ the achievements of their target organizations. Following its new self-perception, the Commonwealth has ‘invited’ higher education institutions to ‘enjoy’ the financial benefits of its new Unified National System. Membership is open, however, only to those institutions which undertake to achieve specific organizational reforms desired by the Commonwealth. Moreover block recurrent grants flow to member institutions only after teaching and research targets have been individually negotiated and contracted. An endnote updates the final section on the Relative Funding Model.
Long-Term Payoffs of Work? Women's Past Involvement in Paid Work and Mental Health in Widowhood:

This study examines a domain of life—involvement in paid work—that has not been explored in prior research addressing the mental health consequences of widowhood. We argue that experiences in the p...
Symptom Burden and Comorbidities Impact the Consistency of Responses on Patient-Reported Functional Outcomes

Abstract Objective To assess the influence of symptom intensity, mood, and comorbidities on patient-clinician agreement and the consistency of responses to functional patient-reported outcomes (PROs). Design Two data sources were used. The first, a cross-sectional database of patients with breast cancer who completed functional PROs and were administered the FIM, was used to examine whether average pain intensity (as measured with an 11-point numeric rating scale [NRS]) and Rand Mental Health inventory scores differed among those rating their functional independence as different than clinicians. The second, a longitudinal database of 311 adults with late-stage lung cancer who completed the Activity Measure for Post Acute Care Computer Adaptive Test (AM PAC CAT) with differences between their expected and actual responses as reflected in their AM PAC CAT SEs. Setting Two tertiary medical centers. Participants Data source #1, 163 women with stage IV breast cancer; data source #2, 311 adults with late-stage lung cancer. Interventions Not applicable. Main Outcome Measures Data source #1, FIM, pain NRS, Older Americans Resource Study activities of daily living subscale, Physical Function-10, Mental Health Inventory-17. Data source #2, AM PAC CAT and NRS symptom ratings. Results Pain intensity was significantly higher when clinicians and patients disagreed regarding a patient's independence in the ability to transfer (NRS pain severity, 3.78 vs 2.40; P =.014), groom (3.71 vs 2.36, P =.009), bathe (3.76 vs 2.40, P =.016), and dress (3.09 vs 2.44, P =.034). The magnitude of AM PAC CAT SEs was significantly associated with the severity of participants' pain, dyspnea, and fatigue, as well as the presence of musculoskeletal disorders and coronary artery disease. Neither mood nor emotional distress was associated with clinician-patient agreement or AM PAC CAT SE. Conclusions Pain intensity is associated with disagreement between patients and clinicians about the patient's level of functioning. Moreover, physical symptoms (pain, dyspnea, fatigue) as well as specific medical comorbidities (musculoskeletal disorders, coronary artery disease), but not mood, are associated with inconsistency in patients' assessment of their functional abilities.
Carbohydrate Metabolism of Animals Treated with Methyl Testosterone and Testosterone Propionate1

That the use of methyl testosterone in patients is followed by a decrease in tolerance for glucose has been reported (1). In an attempt to explain the mechanism involved, studies have been extended to rabbits. Glucose tolerance and liver and muscle glycogen have been determined when no treatment has been given, and when methyl testosterone and testosterone propionate have been administered. The fact that there is a marked increase in the basal metabolic rate of the animal treated with methyl testosterone suggested that the hypermetabolism itself might be affecting the glucose tolerance in a manner similar to that operative in hyperthyroidism. To study this, determinations were made of the glucose tolerance of thyroidectomized rabbits before and after treatment with methyl testosterone. Rats were also treated with methyl testosterone and the values for liver glycogen compared with those in normal controls. Similarly, the liver glycogen of hy pophysectomised rats without treatment and with methyl testostero...
High resolution transmission electron microscopy evaluation of silica glaze reveals new textures

We present the first nanoscale investigation of silica glaze. High resolution transmission electron microscopy of a rock coating from the Ashikule Basin, Tibetan Plateau, reveals the presence of spheroids composed predominantly of silicon and oxygen with diameters ranging from 20 nm to 70 nm. While silica glaze spheroids co-exist with manganese-rich rock varnish in the same sample, the different rock coatings are texturally and physically distinct at the nanoscale. These observations are consistent with a model of silica glaze formation starting with soluble aluminum-silicon (Al-Si) complexes [Al(OSi(OH)3)2+], mobilized with gentle wetting events such as dew or frost. The transition between complete and partial wetting on silica surfaces rests at about 20–70 nm for liquid droplets. Upon crossing this transition, a metastable wetting film would be ruptured, initiating formation of silica glaze through spheroid deposition. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A Combined Tension Band and Lag Screw Technique for Fixation of Olecranon Osteotomies

A combined tension band and lag screw technique for fixation of olecranon osteotomies was used in six canine clinical patients weighing 4.5 to 19 kg. After the proximal part of the ulnar shaft was exposed, a screw hole was drilled and tapped just cranial to the caudal cortex of the olecranon. An osteotomy was performed and the hole in the olecranon fragment was overdrilled to form a gliding hole. For reconstruction, the olecranon was reduced anatomically and compressed with a screw placed in lag fashion. With the trochlear notch exposed, a Kirschner wire was inserted cranial to the screw, using care not to enter the elbow joint. A double-twist figure-eight tension band wire was placed around the Kirschner wire in five dogs and around the screw in one dog. In this dog, a spiked washer was used with the screw because a small olecranon fragment had been produced by incorrect osteotomy position. A painful soft tissue swelling over the prominent washer, which resolved after implant removal, was the only complication attributed to the technique. The combined tension band wire and lag screw technique was a rapid and reliable method for fixation of olecranon osteotomies.
Comparison of PSO variants with traditional solvers for large scale multi-area economic dispatch

Economic load dispatch (ELD) has the objective of generation allocation to the power generators such that the total fuel cost is minimized and all operating constraints are satisfied. Generally ELD is solved without accounting for transmission constraints, however, in deregulated power system environment it is essential to include practical multi-area cases with tie line constraints. A number of traditional methods are used for solving ELD and other power system problems. During the last decade soft computing methods like particle swarm optimization (PSO), have been increasingly proposed for complex optimization problems. This paper proposes some improved PSO technique in which premature convergence is avoided by tuning the PSO parameters for enhanced global and local search. The paper reviews and compares the performance of the proposed PSO variants with traditional solver GAMS for multi-area economic dispatch (MAED) on four standard test systems having different sizes and complexity levels. A large 120-unitpower system is included for validating the results.
High Aspect Ratio Silicon Dioxide-Coated Single-Walled Carbon Nanotube Scanning Probe Nanoelectrodes

We have fabricated high aspect ratio, hydrophilic nanoelectrodes from individual single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) mounted on conductive atomic force microscope (AFM) tips for use as electrochemical probes. Individual SWNTs with an average diameter of 5 nm and up to 1.5 μm in length were passivated with nanometer-thick SiO2 films, deposited conformally in an inductively coupled plasma reactor. The electrically insulating SiO2 films improved the nanotube rigidity and stabilized the nanotube−AFM tip contact to enable use in aqueous environments. The nanotube tip was successfully exposed by subjecting the probe to nanosecond electrical pulse etching but only after electron beam irradiation in a transmission electron microscope (TEM). Probe functionality was verified by electrodepositing gold nanoparticles from aqueous solution only at the exposed tip.
Global expression profiling of peripheral Qa-1–restricted CD8αα+TCRαβ+ regulatory T cells reveals innate-like features: Implications for immune-regulatory repertoire

Abstract Among peripheral regulatory T cells, CD8+ T cells also play an important role in the maintenance of immune homeostasis. A subset of CD8+ Treg that express αβ T cell receptor (TCR) and CD8αα homodimers can recognize TCR-derived peptides in the context of the class Ib MHC molecule Qa-1. To gain a better understanding of the nature and phenotype of CD8αα+TCRαβ+ Treg, a global gene expression profiling using microarray, real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction, and flow-cytometric analysis was performed using functional Treg clones and lines. The study findings show that CD8+ Treg shared gene profile expressed by innate-like lymphocytes, including murine intraepithelial lymphocytes and thymic CD8αα+TCRαβ+ T-cell populations. In addition, this subset displays differential expression of several key regulatory molecules, including CD200. CD8αα+ Treg expressed higher levels of a number of natural killer cell–related receptors and molecules belonging to the TNF superfamily. Collectively, peripheral class Ib-reactive CD8αα+TCRαβ+ T cells represent a unique regulatory population different from class Ia major histocompatibility complex–restricted conventional T cells. These studies have important implications for the regulatory mechanisms mediated by the CD8+ Treg population in general.
Wavelength-dependent dielectric function of a thin semiconductor film

The dielectric function epsilon (q, omega =0) is calculated for an intrinsic semiconductor of any thickness b. For qb>>1 the authors' result reduces to that of Penn (1962). However, for qb<1, the screening effect, represented by epsilon slab(q, omega =0)-1 turns out to be proportional to qb. Physically, the finite energy gap and the weakened Coulomb interaction in quasi-two dimensions conspire to reduce the screening effect by the electrons in the filled valence band to zero as qb to 0. The ionisation energy of a hydrogenic impurity in such a film is shown to be appreciably enhanced due to the reduced screening.
LIGHT-CONE ANALYSIS OF SPIN-DEPENDENT DEEP-INELASTIC ELECTRON SCATTERING.

The light-cone analysis of deep-inelastic electron-proton scattering is extended to non-spin-averaged scattering. Scaling is deduced for the spin-dependent structure functions M2νG1 and Mν2G2. The connection between moments of the scaling functions and matrix elements of operators in the operator-product expansion is described in detail and leads to two sum rules for the scaling functions when the quark light-cone algebra of Fritzsch and Gell-Mann is assumed. Predictions of other models of scaling are briefly compared.
Future great structural engineering building design firms

This paper presents the author's position on what the organizational structure should be for a great structural engineering building design firm. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Character Trait Vocabulary: A Schoolwide Approach

Research has documented the large differences in young children's vocabulary knowledge. In light of the strong relationship between vocabulary knowledge and reading comprehension, this gap is particularly worrisome and points to the critical need for well-articulated vocabulary instruction across the grades. The author describes character trait vocabulary, in which the teacher asks students to describe the traits of characters in their reading. The children share their thinking and the teacher lists the terms offered for each character and prompts the children to explain their responses. After the children have analyzed the characters, the teacher displays a grid with a set of new terms chosen specifically for the characters under discussion. In a schoolwide approach to the practice, the teacher consciously tries to incorporate terms from the provided grade-level list. The teacher introduces a word at a time, providing a brief child-friendly definition and example, and asks the students to consider whether the term would apply to each of the characters.
LL(*): the foundation of the ANTLR parser generator

Despite the power of Parser Expression Grammars (PEGs) and GLR, parsing is not a solved problem. Adding nondeterminism (parser speculation) to traditional LL and LR parsers can lead to unexpected parse-time behavior and introduces practical issues with error handling, single-step debugging, and side-effecting embedded grammar actions. This paper introduces the LL(*) parsing strategy and an associated grammar analysis algorithm that constructs LL(*) parsing decisions from ANTLR grammars. At parse-time, decisions gracefully throttle up from conventional fixed k>=1 lookahead to arbitrary lookahead and, finally, fail over to backtracking depending on the complexity of the parsing decision and the input symbols. LL(*) parsing strength reaches into the context-sensitive languages, in some cases beyond what GLR and PEGs can express. By statically removing as much speculation as possible, LL(*) provides the expressivity of PEGs while retaining LL's good error handling and unrestricted grammar actions. Widespread use of ANTLR (over 70,000 downloads/year) shows that it is effective for a wide variety of applications.
Observed Lα profiles for two solar flares: 14∶12 UT 15 June, 1973 and 23∶16 UT 21 January, 1974

Photographic observations of the time development of the profile of the Lα line of hydrogen during flares were obtained with the NRL spectrograph on ATM. The profiles for the 15 June, 1973 and 21 January, 1974 flares reported here cover both core and wings of the line. The time sequences begin before flare maximum, and continue well into the decay phase. Careful attention has been given to photometry and absolute calibration. In the case of the 15 June, 1973 flare, data are presented both first-order corrected and uncorrected for incomplete filling of the spectrograph slit by flaring material. Correction of the 21 January, 1974 flare was not possible. We discuss core symmetry and shift, and show that our observations imply integrated flare Lα/Hα intensity ratios within a factor of two of unity for these two flares.
Fibronectin adsorption to nanopatterned silicon surfaces

The possibility of using surface topography for guidance of different biological molecules and cells is a relevant topic that can be applied to a wide research activity. This study investigated the adsorption of fibronectin to a diffraction grated silicon surface. The rectangular grating profile featured a controlled surface with 350 nm period and a corrugation depth of 90 nm. Results demonstrated that the controlled surface had a significantly positive effect on the fibronectin binding. Thus, nanoscale surface topography can enhance fibronectin binding.
Differential Incorporation and Removal of Antiviral Deoxynucleotides by Human DNA Polymerase γ

Mitochondrial toxicity can result from antiviral nucleotide analog therapy used to control human immunodeficiency virus type 1 infection. We evaluated the ability of such analogs to inhibit DNA synthesis by the human mitochondrial DNA polymerase (pol gamma) by comparing the insertion and exonucleolytic removal of six antiviral nucleotide analogs. Apparent steady-state K(m) and k(cat) values for insertion of 2',3'-dideoxy-TTP (ddTTP), 3'-azido-TTP (AZT-TP), 2',3'-dideoxy-CTP (ddCTP), 2',3'-didehydro-TTP (D4T-TP), (-)-2',3'-dideoxy-3'-thiacytidine (3TC-TP), and carbocyclic 2',3'-didehydro-ddGTP (CBV-TP) indicated incorporation of all six analogs, albeit with varying efficiencies. Dideoxynucleotides and D4T-TP were utilized by pol gamma in vitro as efficiently as natural deoxynucleotides, whereas AZT-TP, 3TC-TP, and CBV-TP were only moderate inhibitors of DNA chain elongation. Inefficient excision of dideoxynucleotides, D4T, AZT, and CBV from DNA predicts persistence in vivo following successful incorporation. In contrast, removal of 3'-terminal 3TC residues was 50% as efficient as natural 3' termini. Finally, we observed inhibition of exonuclease activity by concentrations of AZT-monophosphate known to occur in cells. Thus, although their greatest inhibitory effects are through incorporation and chain termination, persistence of these analogs in DNA and inhibition of exonucleolytic proofreading may also contribute to mitochondrial toxicity.
P-024 Preliminary experience with the percutaneous embolization of juvenile angiofibromas (JNAs) using only ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer (EVOH) Onyx

Background JNAs are hypervascular tumors that may benefit from pre-operative devascularization to reduce intra-operative blood loss. The optimal method for devascularization of these tumors is not known. Methods A consecutive series of seven JNAs were treated with percutaneous embolization with EVOH as the sole embolic agent. 1—Fischer Type I, 1—Fischer Type II, 4—Fischer type IIIb, and 1 Fischer Type IVa tumors were treated. Results Complete devascularization of the seven JNAs was achieved in all cases percutaneously with only EVOH. There were no complications. The average intraoperative blood loss was 680 ml (range 10–1700 ml). Three of the type IIIb tumors were completely removed from only an endoscopic approach. Conclusions Our preliminary experience suggests that EVOH may offer a higher degree of devascularization when compared with other embolic agents. This may facilitate an easier surgical resection with lower blood loss. EVOH seems to be safe when percutaneously injected as the sole embolic agent into a JNA.
Conference program management using the Internet

An increasing number of conferences encourage or require electronic submission of papers. As program chair of the 1996 Sigmetrics conference, the author ran the conference paper submission process electronically. The author approached the task with a number of goals. He encountered a few surprises along the way, and can now comment on the benefits and drawbacks to the Internet based approach. The system developed to manage Sigmetrics 96 (WIMPE-Web Interface for Managing Programs Electronically) can be used to manage other conferences.
Another look at the conceptual fundamentals of porous media upscaling

We suggest a critical look at the epistemic foundations of the porous media upscaling problem that focuses on conceptual processes at work and not merely on form manipulations. We explore the way in which critical aspects of scientific methodology make their appearance in the upscaling context, thus generating useful effective parameters in practice. The fons et origo of our approach is a conceptual blending of knowledge states that requires the revision of the traditional method of scientific argument underlying most upscaling techniques. By contrast to previous techniques, the scientific reasoning of the proposed upscaling approach is based on a stochastic model that involves teleologic solutions and stochastic logic integration principles. The syllogistic form of the approach has important advantages over the traditional reasoning scheme of porous media upscaling, such as: it allows the rigorous derivation of the joint probability distributions of hydraulic gradients and conductivities across space; it imposes no restriction on the functional form of the effective parameters or the shape of the probability laws governing the random media (non-Gaussian distributions, multiple-point statistics and non-linear models are automatically incorporated); it relies on sound methodological principles rather than being ad hoc; and it offers the rational means for integrating the multifarious core knowledge bases and uncertain site-specific information sources about the subsurface system. Previous upscaling results are derived as special cases of the proposed upscaling approach under limited conditions of porous media flow, a fact that further demonstrates the generalization power of the approach. Our hope is that looking at the upscaling problem in this novel way will direct further attention to the methodological exploration of the problem at the length and the detail that it deserves.
Economic growth and social development: A longitudinal analysis of causal priority

Abstract The relationship between social and economic development is investigated using a lagged-dependent variable model for 46 developing countries for the years 1960, 1970, and 1980. Our findings indicate that the two types of development are related, and lend support to the “trickle-up” hypothesis. Whether we use a 10-year or a 20-year lag period, the Physical Quality of Life Index (PQLI) has a significant and positive effect on gross domestic product (GDP), while GDP does not show a significant lagged effect on PQLI. The implications of our findings for policy research and implementation are discussed.
Mental illness and new gun law reforms: the promise and peril of crisis-driven policy.

The December 2012 tragedy in Newtown, Connecticut, transfixed the nation in a moment of shared grief for 20 small children and 6 adults who died in a merciless hail of bullets. The weeks since have brought numerous federal and state policy proposals to curb gun violence. Whether these crisis-driven reforms can help inch society toward the goal of reducing firearm-related deaths, the new laws' broader social consequences could long outlast the memory of what happened at Sandy Hook Elementary School. Policy makers would do well to pause and think them through.
Comparison of TSV-based PDN-design effects using various stacking topology methods

In this study, we estimate, compare and analyze the PDN effects of four chip-stacking topologies. The chip-stacking topologies are: (1) F2B; (2) F2F; (3) B2F; and (4) B2B. The arrangement of various on-chip interconnect elements based on the chip-stacking topologies specific to the design of 3D IC-PDN, varies in impedance properties. To reduce the impedance effects NMOS decap unit cells are integrated into PDN system to suppress 3D-SSN. Conclusively, the results of the case study indicate B2F and F2B die stacking topologies results in lower impedance effects relative to F2F topology.
A highly efficient chemical synthesis of Rp and Sp adenyl(3′-5′)adenyl-o,o-phosphorothioate

Abstract A method is described for the chemical synthesis of the title compounds (Ap(S)A) via addition of elemental sulfur to a phosphite triester intermediate. Separation of the diastereomers of phosphorus could be accomplished on silica gel after removal of the terminal 5′-hydroxyl protecting group or on DEAE cellulose after complete deblocking. The triester to terminal 5′-hydroxyl. The overall yield of the synthesis (one coupling and four deblocking steps) is 30%.
Ltv1 Is Required for Efficient Nuclear Export of the Ribosomal Small Subunit in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

In eukaryotes, 40S and 60S ribosomal subunits are assembled in the nucleus and exported to the cytoplasm independently of one another. Nuclear export of the 60S requires the adapter protein Nmd3, but no analogous adapter has been identified for the 40S. Ltv1 is a nonessential, nonribosomal protein that is required for 40S subunit biogenesis in yeast. Cells lacking LTV1 grow slowly, are hypersensitive to inhibitors of protein synthesis, and produce about half as many 40S subunits as do wild-type cells. Ltv1 interacts with Crm1, co-sediments in sucrose gradients with 43S/40S subunits, and copurifies with late 43S particles. Here we show that Ltv1 shuttles between nucleus and cytoplasm in a Crm1-dependent manner and that it contains a functional NES that is sufficient to direct the export of an NLS-containing reporter. Small subunit export is reduced in Deltaltv1 mutants, as judged by the altered distribution of the 5'-ITS1 rRNA and the 40S ribosomal protein RpS3. Finally, we show a genetic interaction between LTV1 and YRB2, a gene that encodes a Ran-GTP-, Crm1-binding protein that facilitates the small subunit export. We propose that Ltv1 functions as one of several possible adapter proteins that link the nuclear export machinery to the small subunit.
Permeability of axon membranes to local anesthetics

Abstract The permeability of the neutral form of tertiary amine local anesthetics across squid axon membranes was studied by utilizing three different experimental methods: (1) narcotic action of axon excitability was measured by monitoring the time derivative of action potential and the results were analyzed in terms of a diffusion reaction equation of local anesthetics to obtain their permeabilities; (2) the influx of local anesthetic into the axon was measured by use of the radioisotope tracer technique; and (3) the desorption rates of the neutral form of local anesthetics from lipid monolayers were measured and the desorption rate was correlated with permeability. The relative permeabilities obtained for procaine, lidocaine and tetracaine by the above three methods were comparable. The order of relative permeabilities was procaine > lidocaine > tetracaine , and had an inverse correlation with the partition coefficients of anesthetics at oil/water phases. Some discussion concerning the concept of permeability is made when the partition coefficient of a permeant molecule is high.
Electrodeposition of α-Fe2O3 Doped with Mo or Cr as Photoanodes for Photocatalytic Water Splitting

Electrochemical methods for the codeposition of Cr or Mo with α-Fe2O3 (hematite) have been developed to produce doped iron oxide films with varying compositions of Cr and Mo which are active photoanodes for photoelectrochemical (PEC) water decomposition (“water splitting”). The films were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, UV−vis optical spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy to determine the effect of the dopants on the hematite structure and PEC performance. Upon doping, the microstructures of the films varied; however, no preferred crystallographic orientation or dopant phase segregation was observed. The best performing samples were 5% Cr and 15% Mo doped which had Incident Photon Conversion Efficiencies (IPCE’s) at 400 nm of 6% and 12%, respectively, with an applied potential of 0.4V vs Ag/AgCl. These IPCE values were 2.2× and 4× higher than the undoped sample for the 5% Cr and 15% Mo samples, respectively. The increase in performance is attributed to an imp...
EXPANDING RELIABILITY GENERALIZATION: CONFIDENCE INTERVALS AND CHARTER'S COMBINED RELIABILITY COEFFICIENT '

Summay.-Methods of reliability generalization characterize the reliability of a scale's scores across studies. Charter in 2003 presented useful formulae for computing combined estimates of reliability. The present article illustrates use of Charter's formulae and application of confidence intervals for reliability coefficients, including the combined estimate. Researchers may find these methods for reliability generalization useful. Too few researchers realize that reliability is a function of the obtained scores from a scale and is not a property of the scale itself (see Thompson & Vacha-Haase, 2000; Henson, 2002). Reliability can, and does, fluctuate from sample to sample when using the same measure. Unfortunately, this reality is often ignored, and authors often either do not report reliability altogether or rely on reports of reliability from former studies or test manuals (VachaHaase, Henson, & Caruso, 2002). Because reliability will vary from sample to sample, a meta-analytic method called reliability generalization can be employed to examine (a) the typical reliability of a scale's scores and (b) the amount of variability in the reliability estimates. Regarding (a), Charter (2003) presented useful formulae for computing the combined reliability coefficient across multiple samples. These formulae yield the reliability as if all the data were in hand, but use only the mean, standard deviation, sample size, and reliability for each study's data. Regarding (b), a study of reliability generalization can compute the variability of the reliabilities obtained across many studies. However, other approaches, such as computing confidence intervals (CIS) around reliabilities, may provide more information regarding a given study's reliability coefficient and corresponding precision of that estimate (Charter, 1997, 2000; Fan & Thompson, 2001). Historically, Feldt (1965) provided some of the first formulae for computing CIS for reliability coefficients. The current article illustrates an application of Charter's combined coefficient alpha (2003) along with a combined CI. The combined reliability
Drawing on Stereotypes: Using Undergraduates' Sketches of Elders as a Teaching Tool.

Using data collected from undergraduates at two large, public universities (N = 183), we examined features of student drawings (e.g., facial expressions) as reflections of dominant views of the eld...
CluChunk: clustering large scale user-generated content incorporating chunklet information

The exponential rise of online content in the form of blogs, microblogs, forums, and multimedia sharing sites has raised an urgent demand for efficient and high-quality text clustering algorithms for fast navigation and browsing of users based on better document organization. For several kinds of these user-generated content, it is much easier to obtain the input in small sets, where the data in each set belongs to the same class but with unknown class labels. Such data is viewed as weakly-labeled data and the inherent chunklet information is very useful for improving clustering performance. In this paper, we propose a system - CluChunk (clustering chunklet data) to cluster unlabeled web data which incorporates chunklet information. We try to transfer the original feature space by a discriminatively learning linear transformation such that simple unsupervised learning techniques (such as K-Means) in the transformed space can achieve good clustering accuracy. Using larger scale data from some web applications (social media and online forums), we demonstrate that the clustering performance can get significantly improved by: 1)incorporating the inherent weakly-labeled information into the clustering framework; 2)enriching the representation of short text with additional features extracted from the chunklet subset. The proposed approach can be applied to other mining tasks with large scale user-generated content, like product review summarizing and blog content clustering/classification task.
Driver deadtime control and its impact on system stability of synchronous buck voltage regulator

Driver dead-time control is a popular scheme in a synchronous buck voltage regulator to prevent the shoot-through issue. In addition to its impact on efficiency, dead-time control also impacts loop gain and system stability, especially under the critical load condition. In this paper, the influence of driver dead time on the synchronous buck converter is investigated, and some practical issues are analyzed and verified by experimental results.
A collaborative application of systems engineering

Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) scientists and engineers need a methodology and an environment to conduct structured research in their Core Technical Competencies. The combination of sound systems engineering practices facilitated by web-based collaborative tools (workflow and process modeling; revision control; requirements management; and integrated modeling, simulation and analysis) provide such a capability. This paper describes a structured systems engineering process that is being tailored to meet the unique demands of research conducted at AFRL and leverages proven commercial software and service-oriented architecture approaches.
A mobility gateway for small-device networks

Networks of small devices, such as environmental sensors, introduce a number of new challenges for traditional protocols and approaches. In particular, the extreme resource constraints characteristics of these devices force the engineering of device and application-specific optimizations in order to reduce complexity. By offloading some, if not most, of the complexity out of the small device and into the network, we simplify the design of individual devices, and may make otherwise infeasible applications possible. We look specifically at the problem of global mobility, and its associated protocol Mobile IP (MIP). We introduce the mobility gateway which performs MIP processing on behalf of registered devices. The mobility gateway provides an interface between the optimized world of small devices and the larger Internet. Through simulation, we investigate the potential savings offered by this technique in terms of bandwidth and power. In a sample scenario, we find the total number of bytes transmitted over the wireless channel reduced by as much as 70%, and the battery life of the device extended by more than 100 hours.
Scaling and self-organized criticality in proteins I

The complexity of proteins is substantially simplified by regarding them as archetypical examples of self-organized criticality (SOC). To test this idea and elaborate on it, this article applies the Moret–Zebende SOC hydrophobicity scale to the large-scale scaffold repeat protein of the HEAT superfamily, PR65/A. Hydrophobic plasticity is defined and used to identify docking platforms and hinges from repeat sequences alone. The difference between the MZ scale and conventional hydrophobicity scales reflects long-range conformational forces that are central to protein functionality.
Nursing Home Administrators' Opinions of the Nursing Home Compare Web Site

Purpose: In November of 2002 the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services publicly reported on a national basis the quality of nursing homes on the Nursing Home Compare (NHC) Web site. This study examines administrators’ opinions of this initiative and whether it has fostered quality improvement. Design and Methods: Data used in this investigation come from a questionnaire mailed to the administrators of 477 nursing homes. Three hundred and twenty-four responses were received, giving a response rate of 68%. Facilities were located in four states: Connecticut, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Tennessee. Results: Ninety percent of the administrators examined the NHC Web site, 51% stated that they would be using the information for quality improvement in the future, and 33% stated that they were using NHC information in quality-improvement initiatives. Implications: For NHC to influence quality as it is intended, nursing home quality-of-care initiatives are essential. Study results show that administrators are generally accepting of the NHC Web site, and some are using the information in quality initiatives.
The Demographics and Epidemiology of Osteochondritis Dissecans of the Knee in Children and Adolescents

Background:Osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) is a disorder of subchondral bone and articular cartilage whose incidence in children is not clearly known.Purpose:The purpose of this study was to assess the demographics and epidemiology of OCD of the knee in children.Study Design:Descriptive epidemiology study.Methods:A retrospective chart review of an integrated health system was performed on patients with OCD of the knee aged 2 to 19 years from 2007 to 2011, with over 1 million patients in this cohort. Lesion location, laterality, and all patient demographics were recorded. The incidence of OCD was determined for the group as a whole and by sex and age group (2-5 years, 6-11 years, and 12-19 years). Patient differences based on age, sex, and ethnicity were analyzed, and using multivariable logistic regression models, associations between age, sex, ethnicity, and diagnosis of OCD of the knee were evaluated.Results:One hundred ninety-two patients with 206 OCD lesions of the knee fit the inclusion criteria. No ...
Victims' psychosocial well-being after reporting sexual harassment in the military.

Given the importance of reporting to sexual harassment prevention and intervention efforts, it is not surprising that an extensive scientific literature has developed on predictors of victims' decisions about making a formal report to authorities about their experiences. In contrast, little empirical work has focused on how reporting affects victims, particularly their psychosocial well-being. This study used a national sample of 1,562 former military Reservists who had experienced sexual harassment during their service to examine the relationship between reporting; experiences reporting; and psychosocial well-being, as indicated by post-harassment functioning, worst symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) following the harassment, and current symptoms of depression. Making a formal report was not associated with well-being, but among those who did report, perceiving that the report had resulted in the harassment being addressed by authorities was associated with better post-harassment functionin...
Position and motions of the S4 helix during opening of the Shaker potassium channel.

The four voltage sensors in voltage-gated potassium (Kv) channels activate upon membrane depolarization and open the pore. The location and motion of the voltage-sensing S4 helix during the early activation steps and the final opening transition are unresolved. We studied Zn2+ bridges between two introduced His residues in Shaker Kv channels: one in the R1 position at the outer end of the S4 helix (R362H), and another in the S5 helix of the pore domain (A419H or F416H). Zn2+ bridges readily form between R362H and A419H in open channels after the S4 helix has undergone its final motion. In contrast, a distinct bridge forms between R362H and F416H after early S4 activation, but before the final S4 motion. Both bridges form rapidly, providing constraints on the average position of S4 relative to the pore. These results demonstrate that the outer ends of S4 and S5 remain in close proximity during the final opening transition, with the S4 helix translating a significant distance normal to the membrane plane.
Stable emergent agent distributions under sensing and travel delays

In order for a team of cooperating agents to achieve a group goal (such as searching for targets, monitoring an environment, etc.) those agents must be able to share information and achieve some level of coordination. Since realistic methods of communication between agents have limited range and speed, the agents? decision-making strategies must operate with incomplete and outdated information. Moreover, in many situations the agents must travel to particular locations in order to perform various tasks, and so there will also be a delay between any particular decision and its effect. In this paper we develop an asynchronous framework that models the behavior of a group of agents that is spatially distributed across a predefined area of interest. We derive general conditions under which the group is guaranteed to converge to a specific distribution within the environment without any form of central control and despite unknown but bounded delays in sensing and travel. The achieved distribution is optimal in the sense that the proportion of agents allocated over each area matches the relative importance of that area. Finally, based on the derived conditions, we design a cooperative control scheme for a multi-agent surveillance problem. Via Monte Carlo simulations we show how sensing and travel delays and the degree of cooperation between agents affect the rate at which they achieve the desired coverage of the region under surveillance.
Autoprobe testing for emitter&#8212;Collector spikes in microwave bipolar transistors

Direct-current characteristics of microwave bipolar transistors with emitter-collector spikes are examined. Measured data from a large sample of spiked transistors are evaluated and related to the FET model of a spike. A suitable test for spiking is developed for use in a dc autoprobe program. Typical results from a wafer are presented.
Delaminations in composite plates under transverse static or impact loads - A model

A method is presented for calculating the locations, shapes, and sizes of delaminations which occur in a fiber reinforced composite plate subjected to transverse static or dynamic (impact) loads. The plate may be simply supported, clamped, or free along its edges. A model of the delamination formation was developed. This model was then coupled with a finite element analysis. The model and the finite element analysis were implemented by a computer code which can be used to estimate the load at which damage is initiated as well as the locations, shapes, and sizes of the delaminations.